A knock echoed through the room.
Ryle groaned and pulled the blanket slightly over his head.
Another knock.
"Young Master?"
He sighed.
"…Come in."
The door opened gently.
Ryle sat up halfway, rubbing his eyes.
A girl stepped inside.
She looked around his age—maybe a little younger. Light brown hair tied loosely behind her head,
a few strands falling over her face. Her uniform was neat, but she held the tray in her hands a little
too tightly, as if afraid to drop it.
She gave him a bright, slightly nervous smile.
"G-Good morning, Young Master!"
Her voice was cheerful—but a bit shaky.
Ryle blinked.
"…Morning."
The girl quickly bowed, almost losing her balance in the process before straightening again.
"My name is Elira!" she said quickly. "I was hired a few weeks ago, and the family head assigned me
as your personal maid!"
She looked proud after finishing that sentence.
Ryle stared at her.
Personal maid?
He didn't remember Lucien having one.
"Elira, right?" he said slowly.
"Yes!" she replied instantly.
"You were assigned to me?"
"Yes, Young Master! Lord Severin gave the order himself."
That made Ryle pause.
Father assigned her?
He studied her for a moment.
She didn't look like someone dangerous. Just… energetic. A bit clumsy. The type who smiled too
easily.
Elira shifted slightly under his gaze.
"Is something wrong, Young Master?" she asked carefully.
Ryle shook his head.
"No. Just surprised."
She let out a small breath of relief.
"I'll be assisting you from now on! Preparing your clothes, meals, and anything you need."
She smiled again.
This time, it felt genuine.
Ryle leaned back slightly.
"…Alright."
He wasn't sure why Severin assigned her. Maybe because he asked for Arcanum Academy. Maybe
because of yesterday's monster incident.
Or maybe—
Someone really had been watching.
He pushed that thought aside.
"Then I'll be counting on you," Ryle said.
Elira's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Young Master!"
She nearly bowed too fast again and caught herself at the last second.
Ryle couldn't help but let out a faint laugh.
"You don't have to be that formal," he said, waving a hand lightly. "Just call me Lucien."
Elira froze.
Her eyes widened.
"I— I can't do that!" she said quickly. "That would be disrespectful!"
Ryle raised a brow. "It's not like anyone's here."
She shook her head rapidly. "Even so—! I'll at least say Sir Lucien!"
He stared at her for a second.
"…Alright," he said. "Sir Lucien is fine."
Elira visibly relaxed.
"Thank you, Sir Lucien," she said, nodding seriously as if a huge crisis had just been avoided.
Ryle studied her quietly.
She seemed honest. A little nervous. Definitely not the type to hide sharp intentions behind a smile.
What do I do with her…
Having a personal maid could be useful. Information. Access. Small tasks that would save him time.
Then an idea crossed his mind.
"Elira," he said.
"Yes, Sir Lucien?"
"Do you know the layout of the estate?"
She blinked. "The layout?"
"The map," he clarified. "The grounds. The outer walls. The forest area. Storage rooms. Guard posts.
Things like that."
Elira tilted her head slightly, thinking.
"Well… I don't know every detail," she admitted. "But I've memorized most of the main paths and sections. The servants are expected to know them in case of emergencies."
Ryle's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Most of it?" he asked.
"Yes," she said with a small nod. "I can guide you anywhere inside the estate. Even the side passages."
That was better than he expected.
"Good," Ryle said quietly.
Elira straightened. "Are you planning to go somewhere, Sir Lucien?"
Ryle leaned back slightly.
"…Maybe."
Ryle looked at Elira carefully.
"Let me ask you something," he said. "Do you know anything about monsters? The ones near the estate."
Elira blinked, surprised by the sudden question.
"Monsters, Sir Lucien?"
"Yes. Their types. Habits. Where they usually appear."
She hesitated for a second, then nodded slowly.
"I don't know everything," she admitted. "But… I know some."
Ryle leaned forward slightly. "Some is fine."
Elira placed the tray down on a small table and folded her hands in front of her.
"My father was an adventurer," she said. "Or… more like a mercenary. He took monster-hunting jobs when I was little."
Ryle listened quietly.
"He used to tell me stories," she continued. "About the creatures they fought. How some monsters act like animals, and some are much smarter. How territory matters more than strength sometimes."
Her voice softened a little when mentioning her father, but she kept smiling.
"I don't remember every detail," she said. "But I know a few of the monsters that live near the Tharvayne estate."
Ryle's attention sharpened.
"Like what?"
"There are wild boars sometimes," she said. "But those are usually driven away by guards." Ryle coughed lightly. "Right."
Elira didn't notice.
"There are also packs of wolves deeper in the forest. Not normal wolves," she added quickly. "The bigger ones. With darker fur."
"Alpha types?" Ryle asked casually.
She nodded. "Yes. My father said every pack has one. Stronger. Smarter. Harder to kill."
Ryle felt a small spark of interest.
"Where do they usually roam?"
"Not too close to the estate," Elira replied. "But near the old stone ridge, past the east side of theforest. That area is less patrolled."
Ryle memorized that immediately.
Stone ridge. East forest. Less guards.
"Anything else?"
"There are smaller creatures too," she said. "But the wolves are the most dangerous nearby. The guards avoid chasing them too deep because they move in groups."
Ryle nodded slowly.
Perfect.
The system wanted an Alpha Wolf.
And now he knew where to look.
He looked back at Elira.
"Thanks," he said. "That helps."
Elira smiled brightly.
"I'm glad I could be useful, Sir Lucien."
Ryle nodded once.
"Yeah. You were."
He stood up and stretched lightly. "Alright. Morning routine first."
"Yes, Sir Lucien!" Elira replied energetically.
Breakfast was brought in within minutes.
Ryle sat at the small table near the window and began eating.
Elira stood beside him.
Watching.
Not blinking.
"…You don't have to stare," Ryle said between bites.
"I'm making sure you're properly nourished, Sir Lucien," she replied seriously.
"I'm eating bread."
"Yes, Sir Lucien."
He sighed and kept eating.
After breakfast came washing up.
Ryle walked toward the bathing room.
Elira followed.
He paused at the door.
"…You can wait outside."
"I am assigned to assist you, Sir Lucien."
"With bathing too?"
She blinked.
"…If necessary."
Ryle stared at her.
She stared back.
"…Outside," he repeated.
"Y-Yes, Sir Lucien!"
She quickly turned around and stood stiffly in the hallway.
Ryle closed the door and muttered, "This is going to be exhausting."
A few minutes later, freshly dressed, he stepped back into the room.
Elira was still standing there, straight as a soldier.
"You didn't move?"
"I did not, Sir Lucien."
"…Right."
She immediately stepped forward and began adjusting his collar without warning.
Ryle stiffened. "I can do that myself."
"I must ensure you look presentable," she said confidently.
He let her fix it, then stepped back.
For a second, there was silence.
Then he slowly lifted a hand and facepalmed.
"Elira."
"Yes, Sir Lucien?"
"I know you were assigned to me," he said carefully. "But are you really going to follow me all day All the time?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Is that not what a personal maid does?"
Ryle stared at her.
"…I walked to the bathroom."
"Yes."
"I ate bread."
"Yes."
"I almost got supervised while bathing."
Her cheeks turned red.
"That was only if necessary!"
Ryle sighed deeply.
"This is going to take some adjusting," he muttered.
Elira straightened again.
"I will improve, Sir Lucien!"
He looked at her for a long second.
Then he sighed.
"…Alright. I'll just tell you."
Elira blinked. "Tell me what, Sir Lucien?"
Ryle crossed his arms.
"I'm planning to go into the forest."
"The forest?" she repeated.
"And kill an Alpha Wolf."
Silence.
Elira stared at him as if she had heard something completely insane.
"…An Alpha Wolf?"
"Yes."
"THE Alpha Wolves?" she asked again, just to make sure.
Ryle nodded calmly.
Elira immediately looked stressed.
"Sir Lucien, those things are dangerous!" she said quickly. "My father said even experienced mercenaries avoid fighting them alone!"
"Well," Ryle replied casually, "good thing I'm not planning to lose."
"That is not reassuring at all!"
Ryle almost laughed at her reaction.
Elira stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly.
"Alpha Wolves are vicious monsters," she said seriously. "They move in packs, they're fast, and they rarely show themselves unless something forces them out."
Ryle listened quietly.
That matched the quest.
If the system specifically wanted an Alpha, then it probably wasn't going to be easy.
Elira looked genuinely confused.
"But… why?" she asked. "Why would you suddenly want to hunt one?"
Ryle paused.
He obviously couldn't say:
Because a mysterious system window gave me a quest.
So instead, he gave the simplest answer.
"…It's a personal goal."
Elira blinked.
"A personal goal?"
"Yeah."
He looked toward the window, toward the distant forest beyond the estate walls.
"I need to get stronger," he said quietly. "And practice alone won't be enough forever."
That much wasn't a lie.
Magic inside the backyard was safe.
Real combat wasn't.
Elira watched him carefully.
Then, after a moment, her expression softened slightly.
"…You've changed, Sir Lucien."
Ryle's eyes flicked toward her.
"That obvious?"
"A little," she admitted honestly. "The servants said you rarely left your room before."
Ryle rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well… people change."
Especially after waking up in another world.
Ryle shook the thought away before it could linger too long.
"Anyway," he said, clapping his hands once, "I should start preparing."
Elira blinked. "Preparing?"
"If I'm going into the forest, I'll need supplies."
Food. Water. Extra clothes. Maybe a knife if he could find one useful enough.
Because honestly—
Ryle already knew this wasn't going to take one day.
An Alpha Wolf wasn't some random monster wandering around waiting to die. If they were rare near the estate, then finding one alone could already take time.
And even if he found one—
Killing it would be another problem entirely.
Still…
Ryle's eyes narrowed slightly with excitement.
I still have one month before Arcanum Academy starts enrollment.
One month to train.
One month to grow stronger.
One month before the real story truly began.
"Might as well kill one before going there," he muttered.
Elira looked concerned again. "Sir Lucien, you're saying that too casually."
Ryle laughed lightly.
"Maybe."
But inside, he was serious.
Arcanum Academy would be filled with monsters wearing human faces. Talented nobles. Skilled fighters. Future war heroes.
If he walked into that place weak—
He'd get crushed.
The Alpha Wolf wasn't just a quest anymore.
It was preparation.
By noon, Ryle was ready.
A small bag rested over his shoulder, packed with what he needed for a few days in the forest.
Water flask.
Simple food.
Bandages.
A spare set of clothes.
A small set of tools he found in the storage room.
Not perfect.
But enough.
Ryle adjusted the strap on his shoulder and quietly opened the door to his room.
If I leave now, nobody should notice until evening, he thought.
The plan was simple.
Slip out of the estate.
Head toward the eastern forest.
Find traces of the Alpha Wolf pack.
Easy.
At least in theory.
Ryle carefully stepped into the hallway—
And immediately bumped into someone.
"Ah—!"
The person stumbled backward, nearly dropping two bags.
"Elira?"
The maid froze.
"…Sir Lucien."
Ryle stared at her.
She was carrying her own backpack. Smaller than his, but clearly packed for travel.
There was even a rolled blanket tied to the side.
Ryle slowly narrowed his eyes.
"…What are you doing?"
Elira looked away awkwardly.
"…Preparing."
"For what?"
"To help you."
Ryle blinked once.
Then again.
"You're coming with me?"
Elira nodded nervously.
"I-I can cook a little," she said quickly. "And I know some safe paths near the forest. Plus, someone should treat your injuries if you get hurt!"
Ryle immediately shook his head.
"No. Absolutely not. It's dangerous."
"I know!"
"You just told me Alpha Wolves are deadly yesterday!"
"I know that too!"
"Then why are you packed already?!"
Elira puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Because it'll also be dangerous for me if Lord Severin finds out I'm not taking care of you properly!"
Ryle opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
"…What?"
Elira lowered her voice dramatically.
"What if Lord Severin asks where you went, and I say, 'Sorry, I lost him in the forest while he was hunting monsters alone'?"
Ryle imagined it for half a second.
"…Fair point."
Elira nodded firmly, as if she had won a major argument.
"So I'm coming."
Ryle rubbed his forehead.
This was a terrible idea.
Bringing someone along meant more responsibility. More noise. More chances for things to go wrong.
But leaving her behind would probably create even more problems.
He sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
Elira's eyes sparkled instantly.
"But," Ryle added quickly, "if things get dangerous, you run first. Understand?"
Elira smiled brightly.
"Yes, Sir Lucien!"
Ryle shook his head.
Somehow, his solo monster hunt had already turned into a two-person journey.
By late noon, the two of them were already deep inside the forest.
The trees had grown thicker the farther they traveled. Sunlight barely slipped through the branches now, and the sounds of the estate were long gone.
Only the forest remained.
Ryle walked ahead carefully, brushing leaves aside as Elira followed behind him.
"…So what's the plan exactly?" Elira asked quietly.
"First priority is survival," Ryle answered. "Before hunting anything, we need a stable camp."
"A camp?"
Ryle nodded.
"Near a river if possible. Water source. Easier to clean. Easier to survive."
And with his fire magic improving—
Fire wasn't a problem anymore.
Thankfully, Elira turned out to be surprisingly useful.
Before leaving the estate, she had secretly grabbed several travel tools from storage.
A map.A compass.A flint kit.Rope.
Ryle stared at the items earlier and asked only one thing.
"…Were you planning this before I even agreed?"
Elira looked away.
"…Maybe."
Still, because of her preparation, finding their direction became much easier.
As the sky slowly darkened, they finally heard it.
Flowing water.
"There," Elira whispered.
The trees opened into a small clearing where a river flowed calmly through the forest.
Ryle smiled slightly.
"Perfect."
The area was flat enough for resting, with nearby trees for cover and clean water within reach.
"This'll work."
The two quickly split tasks without needing much discussion.
Elira started setting up a small camp area near the riverbank while Ryle headed deeper into the trees with the hunting knife in hand.
Thankfully, hunting smaller animals was easier than expected.
A rabbit.A small forest bird.
Nothing impressive—but enough for dinner.
When Ryle returned, Elira was already crouched near a small controlled fire.
"You actually caught something!" she said brightly.
"What did you expect?"
"…Honestly? I thought you'd come back carrying random sticks."
Ryle stared at her.
"That's rude."
Elira giggled softly and began preparing the meat carefully.
Ryle sat nearby, watching the fire flicker.
The forest air was colder now.
The sounds of insects echoed quietly around them.
Elira handed Ryle a piece of roasted meat with a small smile.
"It's not the best," she said nervously, "but it should be edible."
Ryle took a bite.
"…Honestly? Pretty good."
Elira looked weirdly proud hearing that.
For a moment, everything felt calm. The river flowed beside them while the fire crackled softly in the night.
Then—
A deafening roar shook the forest.
Ryle immediately stood up.
"What the hell was that?"
BOOM!
A massive crashing sound followed from farther down the river. Trees trembled violently, leaves raining down from above.
Elira's face immediately lost color.
"Something's fighting…"
Another roar echoed.
Louder this time.
Ryle grabbed his bag quickly.
"Come on."
Elira stared at him in disbelief. "W-We're going toward that?!"
"If that's an Alpha Wolf, I need to see it."
Before she could stop him, Ryle was already moving.
The two carefully made their way down the riverbank, keeping low behind rocks and thick trees. The closer they got, the heavier the air became.
Then—
They saw it.
A giant reptile-like monster lay near the river, its body ripped apart so badly that blood had turned part of the water red.
And standing over it—
Was a monster large enough to make the entire forest feel small.
Ryle's eyes widened.
The wolf-like creature towered above the trees, easily the size of three large buses put together. Dark fur covered its body like a moving shadow, and every breath from its jaws came out like hot smoke.
Its claws were bigger than a man.
Its glowing eyes scanned the forest with terrifying intelligence while its massive jaws crushed through the reptile's bones like dry branches.
CRACK.
The sound alone made Elira flinch.
Ryle instantly grabbed her shoulder and pulled her behind a thick tree.
"Don't move," he whispered sharply.
Even hiding behind cover, he could still feel the monster's presence pressing against the area.
Elira's hands trembled slightly.
She carefully peeked out, then quickly hid again.
"Sir Lucien…" she whispered fearfully.
"…That's not an Alpha Wolf."
Ryle didn't answer.
His eyes stayed locked on the gigantic beast near the river.
Inside his head, only one thought echoed.
Fuck.
That's not just an Alpha Wolf.
That's a goddamn Fenrir.