Chapter 5: Battling Monsters
“Well then… time to head out.”
In the dead of night, Rest slipped out of the stable, carefully timing his departure as the inhabitants of the mansion fell into slumber. The lights of the mansion had already been extinguished, leaving only the ethereal glow of the three moons—red, blue, and yellow—illuminating his path. Gazing up at the trio of moons, Rest felt a renewed sense of wonder that he was indeed in another world.
“Night Scope!“
As he activated the spell, his vision brightened instantly. The magic allowed him to see through the darkness as if it were daytime, revealing the surroundings in vivid detail. This particular spell wasn’t one Cedric had taught him. Most of the offensive magic Rest had learned came from Cedric’s rigorous training, but he had also picked up a few other spells on his own. Night Scope was taught to him by a middle-aged man he used to see drinking in an alley when he lived with his mother. In exchange for bread, the man had imparted his knowledge of magic, and though Rest knew nothing of his background, he was grateful for the skills he had acquired, including Night Scope, Unlock, and Life Search.
(I probably shouldn’t think too deeply about what kind of work that man did…)
(Now then… where are the monsters?)
Rest arrived at the forest’s entrance. The dense trees loomed overhead, blocking out the moonlight and casting the woods into a shadowy abyss, reminiscent of a monster’s gaping maw. Without the aid of magic, he wouldn’t have been able to see even a meter ahead, making it impossible to walk.
(The monsters are… this way.)
Using Life Search, he began to scan for monsters. Just near the entrance of the forest, he detected the presence of three creatures. Moving as quietly as possible, he crept closer to find a three-eyed wolf, its forehead adorned with an eyeball, voraciously devouring the flesh of something.
Rest concealed himself behind a tree and observed the wolf.
(What it’s eating is… ugh, a Goblin.)
The creature being devoured had green skin and resembled a monkey. It was indeed a monster known as a Goblin. While Goblins were common in fantasy tales, witnessing a humanoid creature being ravenously consumed, its bones and entrails exposed, was far from pleasant.
“Gru?”
One of the wolves, distracted by its meal, lifted its head and began to scan the area. Perhaps it had caught a whiff of Rest’s presence.
(Preemptive strike… here I go!)
“Thunder Ball!“
Rest leaped from his hiding spot and unleashed the spell he had just learned. A crackling sphere of lightning struck one of the wolves, causing its large body to convulse violently.
“GUUUUUUUUUR!? “
“GAU!”
“GAH!”
Seeing their companion fall, the other two wolves lunged at Rest. Remaining calm, he prepared to fire again.
“Thunder Ball!“
“GYAN!”
The second Thunder Ball hit another wolf. He aimed for a third shot, but the wolf was quicker, leaping toward him.
“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Ugh…!”
He barely managed to dodge to the side, but the wolf’s claws grazed his arm, leaving a red line. Pain threatened to distort his expression, but he knew that panicking would play into the enemy’s hands.
(If my mind wavers, my magic will falter. Stay calm, stay calm…)
“Thunder Ball!“
“GAH!?”
With a steady heart, he unleashed the lightning spell at the last wolf, which fell to the ground. Rest exhaled in relief as he confirmed the three wolves lay motionless.
“Gr…u…”
“Ah… still alive, huh?”
It seemed that Thunder Ball didn’t possess much lethality. The wolf, paralyzed from the shock, was unable to move, but all three still drew breath.
“I’ll put you out of your misery… Wind Cutter!“
He unleashed a blade of wind, severing the necks of the three wolves. A torrent of blood gushed forth, pooling on the ground.
(While Thunder Ball has a rapid attack speed, it seems it’s not entirely useless. If I increase my magical output, its power should rise… I need to train more.)
“GYI! GYI!”
“Whoa… now what do we have here?”
From the underbrush, another monster emerged. It was a green humanoid creature, about the size of a child… a Goblin. Had it come to aid its fallen comrades, or had it simply been drawn by the scent of blood? The Goblin glared at Rest, clutching something resembling a rusty knife.
“GI-GI! GI-GI!”
“I didn’t do anything to your friends. No need to glare at me like that.”
“GI!”
“And… your ambush has been noticed.”
Rest swiftly dodged to the side. Just then, another Goblin leaped from behind, swinging a club down at the spot where Rest had just stood.
“GI!? “
“If I hadn’t used Life Search, that could have been dangerous. Here’s a taste of your own medicine!”
Using Body Enhancement, he boosted his strength and kicked the ambushing Goblin away. It seemed the first Goblin had intended to use the second as bait to bludgeon Rest to death, but thanks to Life Search, he had sensed the Goblin’s approach.
The kicked Goblin flew through the air, crashing into a tree trunk.
“GI!”
“Water Cutter!“
He launched a blade of water at the first Goblin. The creature, attempting to flee with its back turned to its fallen comrade, was struck down. Just to be sure, Rest cast another spell to ensure it wouldn’t rise again.
“Hmph!”
“GI…!”
He then pursued the Goblin that had collided with the tree. With his body enhanced by magic, he stomped down hard on its head. The skull shattered, and the Goblin’s head became a gruesome mess, akin to a broken egg. It was a rather splatter-filled scene, but Rest had grown accustomed to it. Goblins were monsters that attacked livestock and sometimes even kidnapped and devoured human children. He felt no sympathy for them.
“That should wrap up the fighting.”
He scanned the area for any remaining monster presences, but none were nearby. Rest turned his attention to his arm, which had been slashed by the wolf’s claws, and began to heal it with magic.
“Heal!“
A soft green light enveloped the wound, sealing it shut. This spell wasn’t one Cedric had taught him either. Before being taken in by the Eberrn Honorary Viscount House, he had learned it from a priest at the Temple. The priest had been the one to perform a magical power assessment on baby Rest, declaring him to have No Magical Power.
“There are illnesses that cannot be healed by magic. Your mother has been called to the Goddess.”
The priest had always shown concern for Rest and his mother, and he was the one who had stayed by their side during her final moments. When he learned that Rest, who was supposed to have No Magical Power, could use magic, he accepted it without question, attributing it to the Goddess’s will. He had also taught Rest spells like Heal, Cure, and Purification.
“No matter how difficult things may become, the Goddess is always watching over you. Please live rightly, so you do not stray from the path.”
(If I hadn’t met him, I might have used this power in a more reckless manner…)
In a fit of rage, he could have killed his stepmother and Cedric. He might have harbored hatred for his father, who had hurt and abandoned his mother.
(Perhaps I could seek revenge if I wanted to. With this magical power, I surely could…)
Even after defeating five monsters, Rest felt no depletion of his magical power. It seemed he possessed an almost bottomless well of magical energy. If he wished to misuse it, he could do so without limit.
(But… if I sought revenge, it might only bring sadness to my mother and the priest. That’s something I must avoid.)
He recalled a saying from his past life… that the greatest revenge is to live happily. He had no intention of seeking vengeance through violent means. Instead, he aimed to rise above, to make his father, stepmother, and Cedric regret their actions. Not through crime, but by following the right path.
(For that reason… I need to train my magic even more!)
With renewed determination, Rest began to search for monsters in the night forest, using his magic to sense their presence.