**Chapter 8: The Beautiful Sisters Are Struggling**
Cedric and the Rosemary Sisters, 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, haven’t we?”
Viola, the elder sister of the Rosemary Sisters, spoke up, sensing the danger of continuing further.
“There are strong monsters deeper in the forest. The sun will set soon; let’s go back.”
“No… just a little further. Let’s push on a bit more!”
“Cedric, enough already…”
“Just a little more! I only need to fight one more monster, please!”
Cedric insisted desperately. He hadn’t yet won 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 mixed with disdain due to his arrogant and selfish behavior. However, Cedric, who had never faced rejection in his life, remained oblivious. Ignoring the sisters’ warnings, he pressed on deeper into the forest.
“Cedric! Wait for us!”
“Don’t leave us behind!”
The two friends chased after Cedric, the three boys advancing into the depths of the forest under the cold, disapproving stares of the sisters.
“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. Having ventured this deep, it would be dangerous for the sisters to leave the forest on their own. They should have made that decision much earlier, while they still had the chance.
“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 and beautiful sight.
“Wait, is that…?”
Viola’s eyes widened in recognition. She had an inkling of the identity of the silver wolf monster.
“Haha! There you are, monster! I’m going to 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 torso, blood spilling as it collapsed.
“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…!”
“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Wha…?!”
A chilling scream echoed through the forest. The trees trembled, and the ground shook with a thunderous sound.
“Yikes!? What was that?!”
Startled, Cedric stumbled backward, losing his footing as he tried to finish off the wolf. His two friends fell to the ground in shock as well.
“Hey, sister!”
“Primula! Come here quickly…!”
Viola grabbed Primula, trying to escape the scene. However, before the sisters could flee, the trees were violently uprooted, and *it* emerged.
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
“Ah…!”
It was a wolf draped in silver fur, far larger than the one Cedric had just defeated—its size comparable to an elephant. Its golden eyes, like a full moon, locked onto the fleeing sisters, freezing them in place.
“T-The White Fenrir…!”
Viola uttered the name with a trembling voice. This was a monster known to inhabit the colder regions far to the north. It was a powerful creature that only elite knights, court magicians, or veteran adventurer parties could hope to defeat—intelligent and ferocious.
Cedric had only taken down a juvenile White Fenrir. Even in its juvenile form, it was as large as an ordinary wolf, so Cedric had failed to recognize it as a mere child.
“Ugh… WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”
“Cedric!”
“Help… HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”
Faced with the terrifying creature, Cedric panicked and attempted to flee. It was an utterly reckless decision in this situation. The White Fenrir lunged forward, swiftly kicking Cedric aside with its powerful front paw.
“Guh…!”
Cedric flew through the air like a ball, crashing into a thick tree trunk. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
“C-Cedric!”
“WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”
The two boys screamed in unison as the White Fenrir swatted them down with its front paw, sending them crashing into the leaf-covered ground with dull thuds.
“W-What do we do, sister? At this rate, we’ll be…!”
“C-Calm down, Primula. It’ll be alright…!”
The White Fenrir was a creature that typically resided much further north. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be dragging its hind leg and bore various wounds, large and small. It seemed likely that it had fled south after being defeated by an enemy in its northern territory.
“…I’ve read that while the White Fenrir is ferocious, it’s also very intelligent and can understand human speech. It’s injured, so maybe it will let us go.”
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
The White Fenrir fixed its golden gaze on the sisters, growling as it threatened them, but it did not immediately attack.
“I-I’m sorry for hurting your child. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Grrrr…”
“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, then raised its massive maw toward the sky.
“GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!”
““Hii!””
The sisters huddled together and sat down, paralyzed by fear. The instinct to flee didn’t even cross their minds. They felt as if they were pinned to the ground by the predator’s overwhelming presence.
“Primula…”
“Sister…”
The sisters called each other’s names, embracing tightly. Trembling in fear, they were unable to fight or flee. The White Fenrir slowly approached them, opening its enormous jaws to devour them.
It was a dire situation. Their minds were engulfed in despair.
“**Wind Ball!**”
“Gyaaaah!”
““Huh…?””
Suddenly, a powerful strike hit the side of the White Fenrir, causing its massive body to roll sideways. The sisters turned in astonishment toward the source of the magic.
“Good grief… I really can’t leave my foolish brother alone…”
From the thicket of the forest emerged a boy of similar age to the sisters. He had black hair and eyes, dressed in somewhat tattered clothing, but his features were handsome.
“I’m sorry Cedric caused all this trouble. You don’t have to worry anymore; everything will be alright.”
With that, the boy—Rest—smiled gently at the sisters.