The night Weiss and his men departed from the village, Roy called Ren out to the garden of the Ashton Manor.
"Remember this, Ren."
Roy had only just returned from the forest. "Powerful monsters tend to gravitate toward places where food is abundant. They don't care if it's a weaker monster or livestock."
He added that the defining difference between a monster and a normal animal was whether or not it possessed a Mana Stone within its body.
Before Ren, who listened intently, lay a haphazard pile of Little Boar carcasses that Roy had brought back.
(I suppose there’s a high population of Little Boars around here.)
"That’s why I’m going to start over-hunting them," Roy declared.
"To thin out their food supply?" Ren asked.
"Exactly. If I reduce the number of potential prey in the area, they’ll have less reason to wander near the village."
Roy planned to maintain this grueling pace for twenty days, until the reinforcements arrived.
"But damn, a real nasty one had to show up..." Roy muttered, rummaging through his pockets. He pulled out the parchment he had received from Weiss and studied it.
Curious about what kind of creature was described, Ren stood on his tiptoes to steal a glance, but Roy placed a hand on his head to stop him.
"There’s no need for you to see this."
"Aww... why not?"
"No. It’s better if you don’t go getting curious about things like this."
Stung by the accuracy of his father’s words, Ren let out a frustrated groan. Still, since Roy wasn't exactly keeping the hunt a secret, Ren wished he would at least let him look at the parchment.
"Anyway, look at this! A hell of a haul today, isn't it?" Roy pointed at the monster carcasses with a grin.
It was an impressive amount—nearly double his usual take. However, more than the fact that Roy had hunted them all alone, Ren was shocked that he had managed to carry all the carcasses back by himself.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
From that day forward, Roy’s life grew more frantic than ever.
He woke earlier and returned home later. A day turned into a week, and soon the exhaustion was etched deeply into the lines of his face.
"...Dear. Don't you think you should rest for just one day?" Mireille suggested at the dinner table one night, but Roy wouldn't hear of it.
He simply laughed and said he only had to endure for thirteen more days.
(If I knew things would get this bad, I should have insisted he train me for real combat in the forest, too.)
Regret was futile, yet the thought wouldn't leave Ren.
——Then came the tenth day after Weiss’s departure.
The veil of night had begun to fall. The crimson sky was slowly being swallowed by shadows; night would fully descend in a matter of minutes.
"Mother."
Uneasy that his father had yet to return, Ren went to the kitchen to find Mireille.
"Father isn't home yet. Isn't he a bit too late tonight?"
"You're right... maybe he’s just pushing himself harder than usual..." Mireille started to say, but her own anxiety quickly surfaced. "Actually, I am worried. I’ll go take a look."
"Then I’ll go."
"No. It’s dark out, it’s too dangerous."
"But I’m a better fighter than you are, Mother."
"Still, no. What kind of parent sends their child out alone?"
Mireille spoke with a firmness that brooked no argument. Ren, however, remained unconvinced. It was just as dangerous for her—especially at night.
"——In that case, let’s go together."
He quickly offered a compromise.
"If you go alone, I’ll just follow you in secret anyway. Wouldn't it be safer if we stayed together?"
"Sigh... Honestly, Ren. Where do you get such a devious mind?"
Mireille lacked the verbal dexterity to talk him down. She considered forcing him to stay, but as Ren pointed out, it would be far more dangerous if he followed her in the dark without her knowing. Reluctantly, she nodded.
"Fine. But only as far as the forest entrance."
She instructed Ren to put on his training gear. She also told him to bring a kitchen knife just in case. Ren obeyed without a word and quickly readied himself.
Mireille donned a set of armor she didn't usually wear. It didn't fit her properly—the pieces were far too large. They likely belonged to Roy.
(This is the first time I've been out at night since I was born as Ren.)
When they stepped out from the kitchen’s earthen floor, a cool breeze brushed against his cheeks. The climate in this region was mild, making even the early summer nights pleasant.
"Ren, take my hand."
They began to walk. The scents of grass, flowers, and damp soil tickled his nose, carried by the wind.
The insects were out in force. The grand chorus echoing from every direction made Ren wish he were listening to them under more peaceful circumstances.
(Everyone else must be inside by now.)
The villagers who usually worked the fields in the morning were nowhere to be seen. Walking along the pitch-black paths, the silence was heavy enough to feel lonely.
"Watch your step."
Mireille swayed her torch as she spoke. It was their only real source of light. The stars above and the distant lamps of other houses barely reached them, certainly not enough to illuminate the ground. They could only see a few meters ahead; one moment of carelessness could lead to a nasty fall.
"Ah—!"
"...Mother. Please don't trip immediately after telling me to be careful."
"A-Ahaha... sorry."
Mireille, who had nearly lost her footing, realized Ren was gripping her hand firmly. She found herself wondering when he had grown so dependable.
Beside her, Ren let out a soft exclamation as he saw something ahead.
"............There."
They had been walking for about thirty minutes when a path lined with torches came into view.
"That's the forest entrance. The river there separates the village from the woods."
The path between the torches led to a wooden bridge. It wasn't the work of a master craftsman, but the thick logs used in its construction made it look incredibly sturdy. Judging by the span of the bridge, the river wasn't particularly wide.
(The current sounds fast, though.)
Ren noted the roar of the water, which was far too loud to be a simple stream.
"I wonder where that man—oh? Is that...!"
Beside him, Mireille spotted something on the far side of the bridge. Ren followed her gaze. Past the bridge, a figure was slumped against a tree.
They both realized instantly that it was Roy.
"Honestly, what is he doing resting in a place like that?"
Mireille broke into a run. Relieved to have found him, she hurried across the bridge.
(...Something’s wrong.)
Ren followed, but a sense of unease gnawed at his mind. It was bizarre that Roy hadn't reacted to their arrival. The only sign of life was a slight, sluggish tilt of his head toward them. He didn't look up; his shoulders were merely heaving with shallow, irregular breaths.
"Dear! You had me so worried—!"
Mireille’s voice died in her throat.
Something was very wrong. Ren sprinted across the bridge and rushed to his father’s side.
"—F-Father!?"
His heart sank. Roy, who had set off for the hunt with such vigor only that morning, now lay drenched in blood, the ground beneath him stained a dark, metallic crimson.
"Mire... ille... Re... n..."
"Don't talk! We have to get you back to the manor. Just stay still!"
"No... can’t..."
A trembling, blood-slicked arm reached out and gripped Ren’s shoulder.
"............Go...!"
"Father!?"
"Scent... of blood... monsters... coming..."
Roy’s words trailed off into silence as he slumped over. Ren pressed a hand to his father’s chest. A heartbeat—faint, but there.
He was alive. For now. That meant they had to get him out of here immediately.
"Mother! We have to carry him, now!"
"Y-Yes!"
But as they moved to lift him, the woods around them came alive. From the shadows between the trees, the sound of heavy, excited snorting erupted.
Ren’s blood ran cold as his father’s warning echoed in his mind.
(The blood drew them in!)
They had arrived. Drawn by the scent of Roy’s wounds, they had come for the kill.
"Gruu!"
"Huff, huff—!"
"Guraa!"
Three Little Boars emerged. They were the size of large dogs, their thick fur matted with mud. They looked as solid as armored tanks. Their tusks were sharp, jagged things that would tear through flesh with ease.
"Aaaaaah!"
There was no time to weigh the options of fight or flight. One of the Little Boars lowered its head and charged straight at Ren.
"Tch—Mother! Take Father and get back!"
"Ren!?"
"Just do it! Go!"
Ren stood his ground. With Roy’s life hanging by a thread, there wasn't a single second to waste.