Chapter 16
The creature puffed itself up and spread its wings, ready to launch at me.
However, its wing movements were slow and clumsy, unable to lift it off properly. Instead, it began sprinting toward me on its two legs.
The branch I held in my hands was far too weak. It would snap the moment I swung it. I quickly scanned the surroundings for something more suitable as a weapon.
As if by divine providence, I spotted a discarded metal skewer a short distance away. I threw the branch aside and ran toward the skewer.
The creature must have noticed me eyeing the weapon, for it shifted its body in the same direction.
It seemed capable of fairly rational thought. At least a higher-class monster.
I could already anticipate that the fight would be messy and troublesome.
If only I had my sword… I wouldn’t be this anxious.
Once again, Alonso Vargas’s words came to mind: “Your sword is like an extension of your body.”
Why did his words keep popping into my head in a moment like this? I had no idea.
Fortunately, the creature was just as slow and clumsy as it was big.
Looking closer, I realized it wasn’t moving in a straight line—it shifted left and right, seemingly disoriented. Perhaps its mind wasn’t fully intact.
But I wasn’t in the ideal position either. The hem of my dress snagged on my knees, making running difficult.
Riiiip.
Reluctantly, I tore the skirt of my dress. I needed mobility to fight this monster.
Losing to the creature because I lacked a weapon was acceptable—but I wouldn’t allow the disgrace of tripping over my dress and being defeated.
With mobility secured, I reached the skewer before the creature did.
Clack.
I spun, grabbed the skewer with one hand, and assumed a combat stance. To the monster, I probably looked like little more than a human wielding a metal stick.
Hoo…
I exhaled and began searching for the creature’s weakness.
Its tough scales were impenetrable by a mere skewer.
Could I even injure it with this?
No time to despair over pessimistic thoughts.
The monster had already advanced close enough to cast a shadow over me. Retreat was no longer an option.
As it lifted its foot to strike me, I charged straight at it.
When its claw threatened to engulf my head, I twisted my body and slipped through a gap. Swiftly, I moved behind it, stepping on its tail to climb onto its back.
It resisted violently. I clamped my legs around its neck to avoid falling.
Its hide was far tougher than I expected. Piercing it with the skewer would be impossible. I had to aim for a weak point.
It thrashed about like a dancer, swinging its forelimbs fiercely. I planted my feet and grabbed the horn on its head.
Using both hands, I yanked with all my strength. Its neck bent backward.
Its red glare flashed. Without hesitation, I plunged the skewer deep into its eye.
Kraaaah!
Blood gushed from its eye, and the creature let out a scream that sounded eerily human.
It thrashed in agony and slammed its back into the ground.
“Ugh…!”
My body, caught beneath it, was crushed. My legs unclenched from its neck from the impact.
Damn it—I needed to pull the skewer from its eye!
My only weapon was still lodged in the creature’s eye.
I scrambled to my feet and scanned for anything else I could use as a weapon.
The creature leapt up and down in place, trying to dislodge the skewer. Its forelimbs hadn’t yet reached the eye.
Then, overcome with rage, it howled and stomped.
Craaaah!
Flames spewed from its wide-open mouth. Weak, but strong enough to potentially cause burns if I stayed in range.
…A fire-breathing monster?
I froze. I wasn’t about to risk my life getting burned for heroics.
I had to run.
I spun, but the creature, stirred by its own excitement, moved faster than expected.
It was suddenly close, inhaling deeply before blasting flames directly at me.
Too late.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
…
But something was wrong. My body, which should have burned, remained unharmed. Rather than heat, I felt a chill radiating around me.
Could it not have been fire…?
I slowly opened my eyes and saw a wall of ice.
Impossible…
I checked my hands.
Had my hidden ability awakened in this crisis? Could I really use magic as well as swordsmanship?
At this point, even I was frightened by my own power.
Hesitantly, I reached out, intending to use my ability again.
…
But nothing happened.
Ah… perhaps it required a strong desire.
Just as I was about to silently command, “Ice, appear!”
Thud.
Something collapsed.
Peering cautiously beyond the ice wall, I saw that the monster from moments ago had vanished. In its place lay a boy with red hair.
A skewer—the same one I had stabbed into the monster’s eye—was lodged in his eye, blood streaming down.
“What… the hell is this?”
All signs indicated this boy was the monster. There was no way he had defeated it and stabbed the skewer in himself in that brief instant.
I approached the boy and tapped him with my foot.
He was limp, showing no movement—perhaps unconscious.
“Huh… a human who turns into a monster.”
I’d never encountered such a thing before—not in reality, not in novels.
Thump.
Footsteps behind me. I yanked the skewer from the boy’s eye in one smooth motion.
Ack.
Ignoring the boy’s writhing in pain, I turned to see who had approached.
“Huh?”
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Why… are you here…?”
It was the man who had given me the red stone before.
Approaching from a distance, he raised both hands in a gesture of peace, signaling he meant no harm.
I, forgetting the blood on my hands, swept my hair back and asked sharply:
“You didn’t… follow me all the way here, did you?”
He must have known the danger from afar… and approached to save me after watching secretly.
“Ah…”
The man muttered a short sound of acknowledgment and nodded slightly.
“Do you know how dangerous this is…? You have no idea what’s at stake.”
I felt a surge of emotion—not admiration for his affection, but amazement that he had come to rescue me amidst danger.
Had I become too absorbed in the dramatic situation?
“Did you think I’d let that sway my feelings?”
He paused, startled, then slowly advanced toward me.
Finally, he was right in front of me.
“Are you hurt?”
“…Worry about yourself. I rarely get injured.”
I didn’t know exactly what kind of body I had, but I hardly ever got hurt. Even injuries healed within a day or two.
When I broke my ankle fighting a monster before, it healed in less than a week—astonishing even the doctor and my subordinates.
To be asked if I was injured felt strange.
It wasn’t just that he cared for me.
The man smiled faintly, then approached the fallen boy.
“Wait! That boy is…”
Slap.
I tried to warn him not to approach—but in an instant, he slapped the boy.
Slap.
Grabbed by the collar, he struck again.
I adjusted the skewer and pointed its tip at him, demanding:
“You two know each other, huh?”
The way he struck showed no unfamiliarity. I had thought he followed me—but perhaps he had been tracking the boy instead.
Grinning, he held the bloodied boy by the collar, a smile that sent a chill down my spine.
“Only acquainted by face… but I felt I had to clean up after him.”
“You… wait, who is he?”
“Well, just know I’m not your enemy.”
The faint trace of his earlier smile lingered on his face. I remained skeptical.
“How do I trust that you’re not an enemy?”
Even someone fond of me could still be dangerous.
The man hoisted the boy onto his shoulders.
What now? Should I detain him?
“I’ll handle this myself. No need for you to be troubled.”
I flinched. Even in this chaos, he seemed to anticipate reporting to Commander Alonso.
I feigned calm and asked:
“Do you think I’ll just let you go?”
“I’m certain it’s better for you this way.”
Confidence underlined his words.
“Fine. If you want, I’ll leave this boy with you.”
“…”
I looked at the boy on the man’s shoulders.
From appearance, he seemed like a boy around early teens.
The wound from my skewer still marked his eye.
Should I detain him? And then what would happen afterward?
The Empire would likely interrogate him, torturing the boy to uncover his identity. He was still young… even if not fully human…
My hesitation was simple: I couldn’t tell if the boy was human or monster.
Beyond transforming into the monster, he hadn’t caused notable harm.
Thinking I had made my decision, the man bid farewell.
“You’ll see me again soon.”
“Soon?”
Without answering, he turned and vanished in an instant.
I watched him go, then dropped the skewer I still held.
“Ha… should I have detained him?”
While racking my brain on what to do, Commander Alonso appeared amidst the commotion, sweat beading on his forehead.
Seeing me, he exclaimed:
“What happened here? The monster? Siona, did you defeat it?”
The boy who had transformed into the monster had been here moments ago. Should I tell him?
After continuing my unresolved thoughts, I finally made a decision.
