After entering the forest, he was confronted by several monsters. However, not a single one of them posed any real threat. With swift and precise movements, he cut them down one by one with his sword. He was a seasoned and formidable adventurer, low-level creatures like those were no match for him.
He continued his search until he arrived at a cave hidden behind dense bushes. Curiosity drew him inside. Using fire-element magic, he conjured a small fireball that floated above his palm, just enough to illuminate the dark passage within.
The moment he stepped inside, a foul stench assaulted his nose. Reflexively, he raised a hand to cover his face. Yet curiosity overcame his disgust, and he moved forward. Every few meters, he carved a mark into the cave wall as a guide for his way back out.
The deeper he ventured, the quieter and more oppressive the atmosphere became. Soon, he began to notice animal carcasses scattered across the cave floor. Some were torn apart, others reduced to nothing but bones. All of them looked like the remains of a savage predator's feast.
At the end of the cave, he discovered a massive nest built from piled bones. Resting atop it were two eggs, faintly glowing with yellow lines across their surfaces, shimmering dimly in the darkness.
He approached the eggs and extended his hand to touch one of them. But before his fingers could reach the shell, he felt a subtle tremor beneath his feet.
Instinctively, he turned around, just as a Phantom Wolf leapt toward him. He jumped aside, narrowly avoiding the attack. The monster gave him no opening. With swift movements and its ability to vanish at will, the Phantom Wolf quickly overwhelmed Axel. He kept searching for an opportunity to strike, but every swing of his sword met nothing but empty air.
Realizing he could not fight effectively in the narrow space, Axel decided to retreat. He dashed out of the cave, following the marks he had carved into the walls. The monster pursued him relentlessly. Occasionally, Axel cast Fire Wave behind him to slow his pursuer, but the effect was minimal.
Once he emerged from the cave, Axel stopped and turned around, breathing heavily.
"Hahh… where did that monster go… I cannot let my guard down. It might be watching me from a distance…"
Suddenly, the sharp splash of water from a puddle shattered his thoughts. A Phantom Wolf lunged out from the bushes and slashed at his leg, causing him to stagger.
"Damn it… where did that monster co–" Before he could finish his sentence, another attack came from the right. He quickly blocked it with his sword.
His eyes narrowed.
"So… I am fighting more than one monster."
With one leg injured, Axel forced himself back to his feet. He knew this battle could not be avoided. There was no option to flee.
Meanwhile, from a distance, a boy in a brown hood could be seen running into the forest, a sword gripped tightly in his hand.
Axel managed to kill one of the Phantom Wolves. But one still remained. Though his breathing grew ragged, his body trembled, and the wound on his leg worsened, he still lunged forward, aiming his blade at the monster's head.
But just like before, the strike missed. The creature dodged with agile ease. Axel immediately began chanting various fire spells, yet nearly all of them failed to hit their target. When the monster counterattacked, Axel attempted to evade, but his body had already reached its limit. He fell to the ground, barely able to shield himself with his sword.
Just as the monster's claw was about to strike him, a sword shot through the air from a distance and pierced the Phantom Wolf's abdomen.
The monster let out a pained snarl and collapsed to the ground, black blood flowing from its wound.
Someone ran toward him.
"Father, are you alright?"
Axel looked up. "Clusius? Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to go home?"
"Of course I was worried! I don't want anything to happen to you!"
Axel let out a heavy sigh. "Even if your intentions are good, you were still reckless. Do not repeat this again, Clusius."
"Yes, Father…" Clusius lowered his head, then helped his father stand.
Before leaving, they severed the Phantom Wolf's heads as proof of completing the mission for the guild.
Leaning on his son's shoulder, Axel slowly walked out of the forest. Their mission was complete… for now.
———
"We're home."
Clusius stepped into the house while supporting his father, Axel, who could barely walk on his own.
"Welcome back, Clu–good heavens! What happened to your father?" Marley rushed toward them as soon as she saw Axel struggling to endure the pain.
"Father's leg was injured while fighting monsters in the forest. Do we have any healing potion left?"
"Unfortunately, no. We've run out of our entire supply." Marley's face was filled with worry.
"Clu–Clusius… listen to me. Can you go to the guild, collect the reward money, and buy me a healing potion?"
"Collect the reward? Isn't the payment supposed to be given tomorrow?"
"This mission is different. I'll explain everything once I've recovered…"
Without arguing, Clusius immediately ran to the adventurer guild, carrying the two Phantom Wolf heads in his hands as proof that they had completed the mission.
"Be careful! The road is very slippery because of the rain!" Marley shouted from behind.
Clusius glanced back briefly and nodded before continuing to run.
Meanwhile, Marley helped her husband into their room. Axel looked pale, his body burning with heat, his breathing heavy. Seeing his condition only made Marley more anxious.
"Calm down… it's just a small wound and a bit of exhaustion. After I drink the healing potion, I'll recover quickly. Don't worry too much about me." Axel smiled as he gently stroked his wife's head.
On the other side, Clusius ran through the pouring rain toward the guild. The raindrops struck his body harshly, leaving him not only cold but stinging slightly. Still, he did not care. To him, saving his father was what mattered most.
When he arrived at the guild doors, he hesitated. His heart pounded loudly. He feared how the other adventurers might react upon seeing him without his father beside him. He feared they might treat him harshly. But he steadied himself, what mattered now was buying medicine for his father.
CREEEEK!
The old wooden door groaned as he pushed it open.
To his surprise, the guild was quiet. Only an elderly receptionist sat at the front desk, sorting through a stack of papers whose contents Clusius did not know.
Clusius stepped forward and explained that he had come to collect the payment for the completed mission. He handed over the Phantom Wolf heads as proof. The old man examined them and gave him the promised reward.
Clusius looked at him in confusion.
"Aren't you… afraid of a cursed child like me?"
The old man turned his head. "Afraid? Why should I be?"
"People usually avoid me… some even chase me away. Why don't you?"
The old man paused for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
"Because God teaches us not to judge a person merely by appearances. I have observed you for quite some time. You have caused no trouble at all. In my view, you are not dangerous. That is why I do not avoid you."
Clusius fell silent. "Do you… truly believe God exists?"
"Of course."
"Then… why was I created like this? Does God hate me? Does He not care about me?!" he shouted, his voice competing with the thunder outside.
The old man looked at him calmly.
"God always has a reason for every one of His creations. If you wish to know why you were created, then you must discover it yourself."
Clusius stood there, confused by those words.
"Enough. One day, you will understand."
Before leaving, Clusius noticed a golden necklace hanging around the old man's neck, a four-pointed star with sharp tips. Then he turned and ran out of the guild.
From the guild, Clusius headed toward a potion shop located quite far away. The rain grew heavier, and the air bit against his skin. He sneezed several times along the way.
When he arrived, he saw a sign that read "OPEN" hanging on the door. He knocked, but there was no response. After waiting for a moment, he knocked again.
"Yes, just a moment!"
The door opened, revealing a woman dressed in green.
"What do you want to bu–oh, aren't you Axel and Marley's child? Go away, devil's brat! We serve only beings of light here, not bloodthirsty creatures of darkness like you!"
Clusius froze. "What do you mean? I'm human too!"
"Silence, little demon! Leave now, or I'll send you straight to hell!" the woman hissed with hatred.
Clusius clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to strike her. But he knew he could not.
"I only want to buy a healing potion."
"What for?" she sneered.
"To throw it at your face? Of course it's to heal someone who's injured!"
"Watch your filthy mouth, you cursed brat! Apologize and kiss my feet. Otherwise, you won't get a single potion from me!"
Clusius lowered his head. He had no choice but to comply. The woman smiled with satisfaction–then suddenly kicked him in the face, causing him to stumble and fall.
"You–!" Clusius restrained his anger.
"What?!" she snapped, glaring at him contemptuously.
"…Nothing. Just give me the potion."
The woman went inside and returned with a small bottle.
"One madarica."
Clusius handed over the money, took the potion, and immediately ran home.
The woman merely smirked as she watched his retreating figure.
When he arrived home, Clusius handed the potion to his mother.
"Your clothes are soaked. Go bathe and change. I'll give this to your father."
"Yes, Mother. By the way… how much does this potion usually cost?"
"Hmm… normally ten matria for one bottle."
Clusius went still. "One madarica equals how many matria?"
"One madarica is worth one hundred matria. And one manatria equals ten madarica. The smallest unit is nit, one hundred nit equals one matria. Why do you ask?"
Clusius' face flushed red with anger. "I bought this potion for one madarica… I was cheated! That wretched woman!"
Marley tried to calm him. "Enough. Calm yourself, Clusius. What matters most right now is that your father recovers. Go bathe and rest in your room."
Clusius fell silent, struggling to suppress the storm of anger rising within him.