Chapter 8: The Beautiful Sisters Are Struggling
Cedric and the Rosemary sisters, along with two young baron’s sons, ventured deeper into the Forest. As they progressed, the trees grew denser, casting an increasingly dark shadow around them. By this point, even lumberjacks and hunters avoided this area, allowing the vegetation to flourish unchecked.
“Hey, shouldn’t we head back soon? We’ve hunted enough monsters already, right?”
Viola, the elder sister of the Rosemary sisters, spoke up, sensing the danger of going any further.
“There are strong monsters deeper in the forest. The sun will set soon; let’s go back,” she urged.
“No… just a little further. Let’s push on a bit more!”
“Cedric, enough already…”
“Just a little more! I just want to fight one more monster!”
Cedric insisted desperately. He hadn’t yet captured the hearts of the Rosemary sisters. If he could defeat a stronger monster and showcase his magical talent, surely they would fall for him. Having been praised for his magical abilities since childhood and having bullied his half-brother, Cedric was convinced of his own superiority.
“Ugh…”
“…”
In reality, the sisters’ gazes were laced with disdain due to his arrogant and selfish behavior. However, Cedric, who had never been denied by others, remained oblivious. Ignoring the sisters’ warnings, he continued to stride deeper into the forest.
“Cedric! Wait for us!”
“Don’t leave us behind!”
His two friends chased after him, the three boys pressing on into the depths of the forest under the sisters’ cold stares.
“Wait a minute…”
“Hey, sister…!”
Reluctantly, the sisters decided to follow the boys. They briefly considered abandoning them and returning alone, but it was too late to act on that thought. Now that they had ventured this far, it would be dangerous for the sisters to leave the forest alone. They should have made the decision to turn back while they still could.
“Look, there’s a wolf monster!”
A large wolf, about the size of a big dog, appeared before them. Its shimmering silver fur was a rare sight, making it a beautiful creature.
“Wait, is that…?”
Viola’s eyes widened in recognition. She had an inkling of the true identity of the silver wolf monster.
“Haha! There you are, monster! I’ll take you down!”
“W-Wait! That monster is…!”
“[Wind Cutter]!”
“Yip!”
Before Viola could stop him, Cedric unleashed a magical blade. The silver wolf was struck in the body, blood spilling as it fell.
“Grr… Grr…”
“Alright, time to finish it! I’ll take this one back and turn it into a trophy!”
“Stop! You can’t kill that monster! It’s…!”
“GRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
A chilling scream echoed through the forest. The trees trembled, and the ground shook with a thunderous sound.
“W-What was that?!”
Startled, Cedric stumbled backward, losing his footing. His two friends fell to the ground in shock as well.
“Viola!”
“Primula! Quickly, over here!”
Viola grabbed Primula and attempted to flee. However, before the sisters could escape, the trees were uprooted, and it emerged.
“GRRRRRRRRR!”
“Ah…!”
It was a wolf draped in silver fur. It was far larger than the one Cedric had just defeated, towering like an elephant. Its golden eyes, resembling a full moon, locked onto the fleeing sisters, freezing them in place.
“T-The White Fenrir…!”
Viola uttered the name in a trembling voice. This was a monster known to inhabit the colder regions far to the north. It was a powerful creature that could only be defeated by elite knights, court magicians, or seasoned adventurer parties, renowned for its intelligence and ferocity. Cedric had only defeated a juvenile form of the White Fenrir. Even in its juvenile state, it was as large as an ordinary wolf, so Cedric had failed to recognize it as a young one.
“U-WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
“Cedric!”
“Help… HIIIIIIIIIIII!”
Faced with the terrifying beast, Cedric panicked and attempted to flee. It was an utterly reckless decision in this situation. The White Fenrir lunged forward, kicking Cedric aside with its powerful front legs.
“Guh…!”
Cedric flew through the air like a ball, crashing into a thick tree trunk. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
“C-Cedric!”
“WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
The two boys screamed in unison as the White Fenrir swatted them away like bothersome insects. Two dull thuds echoed as they were slammed into the leaf-strewn ground.
“W-What do we do, sister? At this rate, we’ll be next…!”
“C-Calm down, Primula. It’ll be alright…!”
The White Fenrir was a creature that typically resided in the far northern cold regions. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be dragging its hind legs and bore various injuries, both large and small. It seemed that it had fled south after being defeated by an enemy in the north.
“…I’ve read that while the White Fenrir is ferocious, it is also very intelligent and can understand human speech. It’s injured, so maybe it will let us go.”
“GRRRRRRR!”
The White Fenrir fixed its golden gaze on the sisters, growling as it threatened them, yet it did not immediately attack.
“I-I’m sorry for hurting your child. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“GRRRRR…”
“We’ll leave this place now. We won’t harm you or your child. So… could you please let us go…?”
Viola spoke cautiously, watching the White Fenrir’s reaction.
“…”
The White Fenrir observed the sisters for a moment before raising its massive jaws toward the sky.
“GROOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
““Hii!””
The sisters huddled together, sitting down in fear. The thought of fleeing didn’t even cross their minds. They were paralyzed by the predator’s overwhelming presence, unable to move as if their shadows were pinned to the ground.
“Primula…”
“Sister…”
The sisters called each other’s names and embraced tightly. Trembling in fear, they were incapable of fighting back or escaping. The White Fenrir slowly approached them, opening its massive jaws to devour the sisters.
This was the end. Their minds were consumed by despair.
“[Wind Ball]!”
“Yip!”
““Huh…?””
Suddenly, a powerful strike hit the side of the White Fenrir, causing its massive body to roll sideways. The sisters widened their eyes in shock, turning to see where the magic had come from.
“Good grief… I can’t believe this. My foolish brother has done it again…”
Emerging from the thicket was a boy around the same age as the sisters. He had black hair and eyes, wearing slightly tattered clothes, yet his features were handsome.
“Sorry for the trouble caused by Cedric. You don’t need to worry anymore; everything will be alright.”
With that, the boy—Rest—offered a gentle smile to the sisters.