“Master Albert, we’ve brought back a haul!”
“Me as well!”
“We got a deer!”
Before long, the Royal Guards returned one after another, each bearing the fruits of their hunt.
They had everything from rabbits and snakes to birds and fish—even deer and boars. Albert stared at the mounting pile, his expression one of sheer disbelief.
“Well, you certainly caught quite a lot. You weren’t gone long at all; how did you manage this?”
“Honestly, Master Albert, this forest is teeming with animals! And strangely enough, none of them seem cautious. It’s practically all-you-can-hunt! Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at it later, sire?”
The Royal Guards spoke with buzzing excitement. I suppose with a haul like that, it was hard not to get caught up in the thrill.
Albert looked over the rows of game, his brow furrowing as he fell into thought.
“...Hmm. However, these animals are a vital resource for the nearby village. Just because they are easy to catch doesn’t mean we should overindulge. Having enough for today’s meals is plenty. No more hunting is necessary. See that the others are informed.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Reprimanded by the prince, the Royal Guards hurriedly saluted.
Regardless, the preparations for the meal began. The game was butchered, bled, and prepped before being brought to Sylpha. With practiced ease, she sliced, simmered, and seared the meat, laying out dish after dish on the table. The Royal Guards watched her work, voicing their admiration at her incredible efficiency.
“Everyone, thank you for waiting. Please, help yourselves.”
Once the cooking was finished, a lavish spread covered the table. There were steaks dripping with juice, wild rabbit soup, grilled skewers, and a salad of wild greens. Everything looked—and smelled—heavenly. Watching the guards dig in with such joy made my own stomach growl in anticipation.
“Please, you two should eat as well.”
“Ah, thank you, Sylpha.”
“Thanks for the food.”
I folded my hands in thanks and reached for the beautifully plated meal. First, the meat... I took a bite. Oh, this was incredible. I hadn't realized wild game could taste this good.
“This is delicious, Sylpha!”
“Yes, even though this was just caught, there’s almost no gamey odor at all. Remarkable skill, Sylpha.”
Albert was also savored the meal with a look of pure satisfaction.
“I am honored it is to your liking. I selected cuts that had the lowest concentration of blood. Furthermore, I found an abundance of wild herbs nearby to use as aromatics to mask the scent.”
“Heh, you really know your stuff. You’re amazing, Sylpha.”
“It is merely a basic duty for a maid,” she replied, bowing respectfully.
With that, I returned to enjoying the feast to my heart’s content.
“Phew. I’m stuffed.”
We lingered over post-dinner tea, relaxing as the meal settled. Since the sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon, the magical beast hunt was scheduled to begin tomorrow morning. I was picking at some sweet fruit for dessert when I noticed Albert wore a grim expression.
“Is something wrong, Albert-niisan?”
“I just find it all rather strange. We caught far too much game. Rabbits, deer, boars... their active seasons are all slightly different. For them to be gathered here and caught so easily is definitely an anomaly.”
Albert rested his chin in his hand, lost in his analysis. I didn't know much about the ecology of wild animals, but now that he mentioned it, I’d felt a lingering sense of wrongness ever since we stepped foot in this forest. I wondered if there was something lurking beneath the surface.
“Woooooooh!!”
Suddenly, a deafening roar tore through the air. I turned toward the sound just in time to see a massive wolf emerge from the treeline.
“A—A magical beast!”
Though they had been resting, the Royal Guards scrambled to their feet, drawing weapons and surrounding the creature. It was covered in thick, black fur that looked as stiff as wire, and its eyes glowed a deep crimson. Sharp fangs protruded from its massive maw. Calling it a wolf felt like an understatement; its body was gargantuan.
If I remembered correctly, that was a Bearwolf. Its body, bloated by mana, was large enough to be mistaken for a bear.
“Let’s go! Lloyd, with me!”
“Right!”
Even without the prompt, I stood up and moved to follow Albert.
“Gaaaaaooooh!”
The Bearwolf charged, its roar shaking the very ground. The Royal Guards braced themselves to intercept—but it was futile. The Bearwolf ignored their slashes entirely, its sheer momentum scattering the guards like leaves. It kept coming, charging straight for us.
“Both of you, get back!”
Sylpha stepped in front of us, her skirt fluttering. In that split second, I caught a glimpse of the countless throwing knives secured to the underside of the fabric. She drew and unleashed them in a blur of motion, her speed far exceeding what the eye could track. One knife buried itself in its forehead, two struck its eyes, and another flew deep into its wide-open gullet.
“Ugoooooh!?”
“Blazing Fireball!”
As the Bearwolf thrashed in agony, Albert unleashed a massive sphere of flames.
Thoom! The fire slammed into the Bearwolf, instantly incinerating its fur. The beast struggled for a few moments, but the magical flames refused to die down. Eventually, its strength gave out.
“Ga... ah...”
The Bearwolf let out a final, pained groan and collapsed. Once the creature stopped moving, the Royal Guards erupted in cheers.
“Whoaaaa! As expected of Master Albert!”
“What magnificent magic!”
In the blink of an eye, Albert was swamped by his men. They looked like they were about to hoist him onto their shoulders in celebration.
“Hmph. That was only possible because of Master Lloyd’s magic sword. It wasn’t his own strength at all. These guys have no eye for the truth, boss.”
Grimo was grumbling nearby, clearly irritated by the scene.
“What are you so annoyed about?”
“Of course I’m annoyed, sir! You’re the one who should be praised, so why is that guy getting all the...”
“...?”
Grimo suddenly cut himself off.
“W-What am I saying...? If Master Lloyd gets all the credit, it’ll just make him harder to exploit later. This should be a good thing for me... Damn it, I don't understand... What is this irritation I'm feeling...?”
He descended into his usual habit of muttering to himself. He really was an incomprehensible fellow.
“Lloyd!”
Albert’s voice carried over the din of the cheering guards.
“It was only thanks to the magic sword you enchanted for me!”
He waved his hand vigorously toward me. I gave him a polite smile and waved back. At any rate, it seemed the enchantment I’d placed on the blade was working perfectly. Good, good.