Chapter 8

3. A Refined Flower Amidst Mediocre Penmanship

"Among the soldiers who have completed their training, those who have shown outstanding talent will be eligible for specialized training programs."

"Do you mean they can enroll in the Hero Academy?"

"Yes. The Hero Academy is an educational institution that trains military commanders, knights, priests, mages, and special agents, but in practice, it is more like a semi-combat unit. Do you have any career aspirations?"

At Etrange's serious question, I almost burst out laughing.

Career aspirations. It was the first time I had heard that word since elementary school.

"Hmm, a Demon Hunter?"

"…I asked about your preferred class, but a Demon Hunter is quite extraordinary."

Clang.

At that moment, the sound of a piece of brass falling was heard.

Reflexively, I gripped the spear leaning against me and aimed its tip at the cave entrance.

"Mr. Russell?"

"It's an enemy. Prepare for battle."

"It's a trap. I was curious about what you were doing."

"Of course, in the Forest of Monsters."

"Please step back. I'll handle the battle."

She smiled faintly and clenched and unclenched her fists a couple of times.

I scratched my cheek at her confident stance, even without a weapon in hand.

Still, she's the main heroine, so she won't die in a situation like this...

"You've shown many amazing skills, so I'll try to repay you with my humble abilities."

Then she bowed and clicked a button-like protrusion on the side of her shoe.

'Wow, I've never seen this before.'

What she activated is called 'Armored Parts,' a unique piece of equipment in this world.

Head, torso, hands, feet.

Four parts that assist in battle, essential for any hero to master.

It's a basic item used before obtaining a combat suit.

In an instant, as the light flashed from her boots, Etrange's body shot forward.

It was lightning fast.

The moment she identified the creature and the instant her foot struck the creature's neck were almost simultaneous.

'The boots must have speed and strength enhancements.'

Bang, Kwa-kwa-kwa!

The creature, lured by the smell of food and merely trying to snatch a bite, was mercilessly decapitated and died instantly.

"There are five in total. I won't let them escape, but please be careful."

I confirmed the fallen creatures as Etrange briefed me.

Gnoll.

A creature resembling a hyena walking on two legs. With a keen sense of smell, they occasionally attack humans, but they are among the weakest of monsters.

However, even the weakest monsters are a significant threat to civilians who are not heroes.

During the past Demon War, a group of gnolls once devastated an entire village.

They usually travel in groups of at least six, and this time they appeared in a rush. Despite being low-level monsters, they looked ridiculous with their missing and rusted scimitars.

When I turned my gaze back after confirming the monster corpses, Etrange had already smashed the head of the second gnoll into the ground and was kicking the third one.

Her speed was unbelievable, even to watch.

With a single leap, she closed the distance of several meters in an instant.

It had been a year since she became a cadet, yet her movements were as threatening as Builtred's.

What caught my eye more than her movements were the armored boots she wore.

I couldn't take my eyes off them, they were so fascinating.

They looked like they were made of leather but shone like metal shoes, with strange buttons and an odd design.

When she kicked, it sounded like a hammer strike, even though she was wearing leather shoes.

In the blink of an eye, four gnolls had turned into cold corpses.

Just as Etrange was about to finish off the last one, I called out urgently.

"Etrange-senpai, wait!"

Her kick aimed at the gnoll's body instead hit the scimitar in its hand.

It seemed she deliberately missed while in mid-air.

The scimitar clattered away, and I approached the gnoll, which was rolling on the ground from the impact.

"…?"

"Can I take on one of them?"

"No, it's dangerous."

"It's just one gnoll."

"Even trained soldiers can die in real combat if they let their guard down. Please step back."

"But this is a perfect opportunity. I can gain real combat experience before entering the training camp."

"It's dangerous. Even if they look weak, gnolls are beasts that attack and hunt humans like it's second nature."

"If it gets dangerous, I can help immediately."

I smiled and took a step forward.

Gnolls are typical monsters used in the training camp's live combat drills.

I needed to test my special ability and build up my prey stats against them.

This was a golden opportunity I couldn't miss.

"…"

Etrange's expression hardened, as if she knew I wouldn't be dissuaded.

But I wasn't about to back down either.

So, before she could argue, I immediately drew my short sword.

A short sword I had swindled from my uncle, about the length of my forearm, which I gripped and aimed at the gnoll. As I did, I felt my ability activate, and a faint light flickered around the gnoll.

'This must be the signal that [Hunting Time] has started counting.'

The moment I and my opponent showed hostility, my body automatically entered combat mode.

When combat begins, [Eagle Eye] turns off and [Capture Eye] turns on.

The white marks on the gnoll's body indicate its weak points.

The longer the battle goes on, the stronger I become.

Until my will to fight is broken or all my enemies are eliminated.

I lunged lightly and swung the short sword at the gnoll. It was my first time holding a sword, so my swing was a bit clumsy.

The strike was shallow. The gnoll screamed and swung its yellow claws at me, and I stepped back.

"With such poor sword skills…"

"Just wait and see, you're too impatient."

I didn't rush.

The purpose of this battle was to test my ability and build up my prey stats.

That was all.

The gnoll's counterattack began.

It swung its claws wildly.

"Gnoll's claws are full of germs. Try not to get scratched."

"Got it."

I didn't want to be scratched by those sharp claws anyway.

They would hurt.

I swung the sword awkwardly but effectively to keep the gnoll at bay.

It was amusing to see the weak gnoll, which had been easily knocked down by Etrange's kicks, now lunging at me like a madman.

Well, that's my current situation too.

I swung the sword horizontally again.

This time, I aimed for the gnoll's neck, as indicated by [Capture Eye], but my skill wasn't enough to cut through its thick hide.

After 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, I could feel the gnoll's claws losing strength.

It wasn't due to exhaustion.

The ability [Hunting Time].

The longer the battle, the stronger the user becomes.

20 minutes. [Hunting Time] Stage 2.

30 minutes. [Hunting Time] Stage 3.

Exactly 30 minutes later, the gnoll's entire body turned white. I twisted my upper body to avoid its front paw and grabbed it.

"Danger—"

Then I lifted the gnoll and slammed it into a nearby rock.

"…?"

The heavy body, which should have weighed several dozen kilograms, flew like a deflated balloon.

I immediately leaped in and swung the sword horizontally again.

Swoosh!

A clean strike.

The thick hide was cut like tofu, and the gnoll's head floated helplessly in the air.

The feeling that followed was satisfaction.

The gnoll species was registered as prey, and the foul smell of the gnoll, mixed with the pungent smell of blood, turned into a sweet, appetizing aroma.

A prey species, once imprinted, smells delicious to humans.

It's a very intuitive and easy-to-distinguish method.

'…'

But is this okay?

Is it okay to smell delicious from a monster?

Let's say that's fine.

What about humans?

If I defeat Etrange in a sparring match and imprint her as prey, will she always smell delicious to me?

…This is really dangerous.

It's dangerous for some inexplicable reason.

I want to deny this reality.

"…This can't be."

And in another sense, Etrange was also denying the reality in front of her.

To her, I must have looked like I was growing impossibly strong during the battle.

"This is impossible. You must have received training."

"I was a hunter. Good reflexes are natural."

"Good reflexes can't explain this…"

"Let's clean up first?"

"General, what kind of monster… No, never mind."

"Sorry, I almost overstepped."

I shrugged and picked up the monster's corpse.

I wasn't in a bad mood.

While I was cleaning the blood off my sword, Etrange took out a strange object from her pocket.

It looked like a barcode scanner from a supermarket. She placed it on each fallen gnoll, and eventually, she pulled out a blue gem from the corpse of what seemed to be the leader of the group.

The same gem that came from the corpse of Ankara when I first arrived in this world.

I didn't know what it was then, but now I remembered everything.

After the battle, my curiosity was piqued. I wanted to see the results of my imagination.

I was also curious about the synergy it would create with my ability.

"Can I see those armored boots?"

"Excuse me."

"Ah, just for a moment, to look."

"Having a warrior remove their armor is like asking a lady to unbutton her clothes."

"…Really? Alright."

I couldn't help but give up, even though I was disappointed.

You can't force someone to take off their shoes as if it were the same as taking off their clothes.

"By the way, the General said something about you."

"…The General?"

No way I'm giving up!

The important thing is not to give up, kid!

"I forgot to tell you."

"It's fine. Tell me now."

"I forgot."

"Excuse me?"

"I completely forgot."

"…"

"Maybe seeing those boots will jog my memory."

"What…"

"Deal?"

That must be her sore spot.

Or her weakness.

It was the existence of General Builtred.

More like an admiration or a role model than a crush.

She blinked in surprise and her face turned red.

"Are you really going to disobey and deceive the General?"

"Me? When?"

"Not telling the General's message is as good as deceiving him."

"I didn't receive any specific orders to tell you. I just thought I should."

"I was sincerely trying to help you."

"That was your duty. Are you planning to disobey and deceive the General?"

It was amusing to watch her expression change so rapidly.

Oh.