Chapter 87
What revealed itself before my eyes was a bear—walking on two legs.
One glance was enough to know it wasn’t an ordinary bear.
If you looked only at its bloodshot red eyes and the drool hanging in long, sticky strands, you might have mistaken it for a starving beast searching for prey.
But black sludge was creeping up its body, clinging to its fur as if merging the creature with the cave itself. That alone was undeniable proof that the bear had already begun turning into a monster.
‘It’s not even winter. Why is a bear inside a cave…?’
The situation felt like common sense had been thrown out the window. I unknowingly stepped back, as if blaming the world for presenting me with this nonsense.
─ Grrrr… GRAAAAAAH!!
“Damn it…!”
It had been quiet for a moment—maybe my small movement was the trigger. The bear roared menacingly and charged toward me with its massive body.
I reacted instinctively and thrust out my hand.
“Divine Shield!”
With a low chant, a blinding light flared and formed a round barrier.
THUD—!
The bear’s colossal paw slammed into the shining shield. A shockwave—like metal grinding against glass—rippled through the air.
That was close. Too close. Had I been even one step slower, I would’ve been smacked cleanly by that incoming paw.
─ Krrrk…!
The bear staggered back, unable to break through the Divine Shield, groaning in visible agony.
‘T–thank goodness I bought defensive magic…’
Sweating, I quickly read the description of the spell I had somehow managed to cast.
— Divine Shield (Lv. 1)
Encases the caster or designated target in holy light, blocking external damage for a set duration.
While the barrier is active, resistance to demonic energy and curse-type attacks increases greatly. (Consumes 250 Holy Power)
Affected by the Authority of “Purification.” When the barrier is deployed, weak demonic energy in the vicinity is dispelled.
I could have used a regular defensive spell of another attribute.
But the opponent was a monster.
Nothing was more effective against monsters than holy magic, so I used the spell I had purchased before leaving on the expedition.
Even though it was just a defensive spell, seeing that bear writhing in pain simply from touching the shield made it clear I’d made the right choice.
‘Is it because the weak demonic energy was dispelled by the Authority…?’
Beyond the shield, the bear was still stumbling, unable to regain its senses.
It shook its head wildly, like someone trying to awaken after being struck.
I hadn’t even attacked it. All I did was use a defensive spell.
…Honestly, compared to the other monsters I’d encountered so far, this one looked rather weak.
‘Maybe… this is actually doable?’
Buried confidence pushed past my fear and started rising.
What happened during the Spring Artwal festival left a deeper scar on me than I expected.
The imperial palace forest.
When the monsterified Veronica almost killed me.
Now that the Grand Duke had saved my life, I found myself feeling pity for Veronica, whose existence had vanished without a trace.
But if it hadn’t been for him, the one who would’ve disappeared from the world was me.
‘I pretended to be fine in front of everyone…’
But sometimes, I had nightmares.
In those dreams, I was killed by the monster Veronica.
And unlike in reality, no one came to save me. I was swallowed alone, helpless, and died.
After entering the Monster Forest, the nightmares only grew worse. Probably because this environment made it impossible to know when something might attack.
On the first night, I could barely sleep at all.
Still, humans are creatures of adaptation, aren’t they?
Over the past few days, I hadn’t had a single nightmare. Traveling through the Monster Forest with the expedition for two weeks, I thought maybe I had overcome my fear.
I thought seeing monsters didn’t scare me anymore…
‘…What a bluff.’
Right now, I was overflowing with holy power.
A massive level-up had greatly increased my holy power, and I had several trump cards ready just in case.
Unlike in the palace forest, I could now even use offensive holy magic—magic powerful enough to harm monsters dwelling in the deepest parts of the forest, where even elite knights struggled.
Compared to that, a bear that couldn’t even break through a level 1 shield, and was suffering just from touching it… was clearly an easy opponent.
“I’m stronger than you. Way stronger… So stop shaking…”
But my hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
I couldn’t help wishing desperately for someone to save me.
Edwin, who always protected me throughout the forest.
Roq, who tirelessly kept watch around me.
The knights who threw themselves forward to keep monsters from reaching me.
And—
The one who sliced through monsters like paper at the very front lines, yet whenever he turned around, always worried about my safety first…
‘…Get a grip. I’m alone right now.’
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcefully pushing away the image of that reassuring back.
Unlike when I was sheltered within the expedition, facing a monster alone made my fragile heart appear at every opportunity.
Even if his solid muscles were strangely reassuring, and his strong body held surprising warmth, and he smelled ridiculously good every time I fell into his arms—
‘What am I thinking right now? Get out of my head, you demon.’
Anyway, the bear in front of me was nothing to be afraid of now.
Repeating that to myself, I exhaled slowly, letting out the tension.
‘I’m stronger. Calm down… steady your breathing. When the shield disappears—that’s when I strike.’
The bear, after staggering for so long, finally seemed to regain its senses.
Perhaps even monsters had some degree of reasoning.
It didn’t charge immediately. Lowering itself on all fours, it circled me carefully, looking for an opening.
It was waiting for the shield to disappear.
“……”
─ Grrrk…
I couldn’t attack recklessly.
Despite its bulk, it was surprisingly fast. If it dodged my attack and countered while the Divine Shield was about to end, I would be in trouble.
So instead, I should wait for its attack—and then counter.
The best timing would be right as the shield vanished.
If it charged at me then…
“……”
─ Grrk… GRRRAAAK!!
Just as I visualized—
As soon as the shield shattered, the bear lunged.
Faster than any normal bear. In the blink of an eye, its enormous paw was already swinging down toward me.
Now!
“Holy Bolt!”
A burst of pure white light shot from my fingertips.
I closed my eyes instinctively. The bright light pierced through my eyelids—and a brief stillness followed.
─ Grr…rrk…
When I heard the weakening sound, I slowly opened my eyes.
A clean hole was carved right into the center of the bear’s forehead.
Its body collapsed downward. Cracks spread across its form like shattered glass, and then—
It dissolved into dust and scattered through the air.
A familiar sight—monsters in this forest often disappeared like this upon death.
“…I…”
Watching it, my lips tingled with temptation.
I shouldn’t say it.
Now was not the time.
I tried hard to suppress the urge—
but in the end, I failed.
“I… did I defeat it…?”
The instant the words left my mouth, my whole body tensed.
I watched closely, just in case the crumbling form suddenly rebuilt itself with dark red miasma.
Fortunately, the bear disappeared entirely, without even a trace of demonic residue.
“…Even revival spells won’t work on it now. Completely destroyed.”
A perfect victory.
I wiped the sweat running down my forehead, savoring the lingering triumph.
[……What are you doing?]
“No, it’s just… someone in the Monster Forest earlier spouted a death flag line. It suddenly made me want to say one too.”
[…]
The ellipsis felt like the system was silently struggling, but I ignored it cheerfully.
Like I said—you chose this saintess. Endure it.
