The sword strike unleashed by the hero Misheana struck true, sinking deep into the boss monster’s body. Yet, it was not enough to end the battle.
However, the monster staggered, unable to maintain its stance or summon new minions. That was when Misheana’s allies struck.
First, a warrior’s slash.
Then, a mage’s blast of light.
Both hit their mark, and finally—Misheana herself followed up with a decisive strike.
That final blow shattered the red wolf’s last resistance. Its massive form collapsed to the ground.
At the same time, the remaining minions that had been swarming Elias were swiftly cut down by the knights and heroes.
Thus, the battle ended in a decisive victory for humanity.
“Hey… what exactly was that?”
After the battle, while Elias observed the knights disposing of the monster’s remains, Misheana approached and questioned him.
“I could tell you were using magic, but…”
“…First, I shattered the ground on purpose to make noise. That caught the monsters’ attention. Then, to ensure they wouldn’t lose interest, I used a special magic—one designed to lure in monsters.”
“Lure them in? Why would you even learn such a spell?”
Misheana pressed for further clarification. Elias paused for a moment before responding.
“It has to do with the geography of the eastern region. There are a lot of deep forests and ravines, and the miasma in those areas interferes with detection magic. That made monster hunts extremely difficult, as we couldn’t track them down. So, we flipped the strategy—if we couldn’t find them, we’d make them come to us by deliberately emitting magical energy.”
“That’s… absolutely reckless.”
“We don’t need it anymore, since detection magic has improved over the years. In fact, it’s been over a decade since I last used it. I wasn’t even sure it would still work, but I’m glad it did.”
Elias shrugged as he spoke. In truth, the plan had only come to him after observing the battlefield. It was, to some degree, a gamble.
Even if he could handle an onslaught of monsters without injury, it would have been troublesome if the knights and heroes had failed to react accordingly. Fortunately, they had understood the situation and acted appropriately.
(Well, all I did was draw their attention. The commander isn’t going to write some ridiculous report claiming I defeated them all single-handedly, so I shouldn’t have to worry about standing out too much.)
That said, he could feel the curious gazes of those who had witnessed his technique. However, after his conversation with Misheana, the stares subsided.
“Alright, I’m heading back.”
“Got it… Oh, by the way, would it be okay if I visited your fort later?”
“I’m not the lord of that place. And besides, it’s just a rear support fort—there’s no glory to be had there.”
“I’m just interested in you.”
Elias turned to look at Misheana, narrowing his eyes.
“…What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I’m curious about your skills as a Holy Knight. And other things. So, can I visit?”
“Do I even have a choice? I can already see you showing up anyway, even if I refuse.”
“Ah, you caught on?” Misheana stuck out her tongue playfully.
At that moment, Frenn arrived.
“Elias, good work out there.”
“Yeah. You alright? No injuries?”
“I stayed out of the attack range, so I’m fine. The commander seems relieved now that the battle is over.”
“Should I go greet him?”
“No, it would be better to leave quietly before unnecessary complications arise.”
“Understood. Then, let’s—”
Just as Elias was about to issue the command to withdraw—
His gaze suddenly snapped toward the canyon.
“…What’s wrong?”
Misheana followed his line of sight.
Even as knights and heroes began preparations for withdrawal, Elias remained still, staring deep into the canyon—toward the mountains beyond.
“…Elias?”
After a brief silence, Frenn called his name.
“Something’s there.”
“You sense it too, Frenn?”
“It’s faint, but… a presence. Perhaps the miasma that monsters emit?”
“Yeah. But the real question is—why is it letting itself be detected?”
“What are you two talking about?”
Misheana tilted her head in confusion. But before Elias or Frenn could answer—
Other knights and heroes began to notice something as well. One after another, their heads turned toward the canyon.
There, standing deep in the forest beyond, was a lone figure.
It resembled a stag.
Its fur was a shimmering silver, its antlers as dark as pitch.
And the moment it entered their field of vision, a chilling aura swept over the battlefield—an overwhelming, murderous intent.
The miasma it emitted was suffocating.
“…That’s…”
Someone whispered. A murmur of unease spread among the knights and heroes.
Elias had initially assumed the creature’s aura was strong enough to be felt even from a distance. But then, he realized something.
Among the warriors, some were whispering a name—a specific title, spoken with unmistakable fear.
And then, Misheana uttered it as well.
“…No way… Older?”
“Older?”
“If you’ve done any work in the northern frontier, you know that name. It’s a monster that has obstructed our expansion for over fifty years.”
“…So, Older is its name?”
“Yeah.”
“I see… A Named Monster.”
Monsters were typically classified by threat levels.
But sometimes, a creature would emerge that was so catastrophic, so relentless in the destruction it wrought, that it was not measured by standard rankings. Instead, it was given a name—a unique title that symbolized its infamy as an unyielding threat to civilization.
A Named Monster was a being that had brought devastation to humanity for generations.
As the knights and heroes tensed in fear, Elias simply gazed at the entity known as Older—silent, unmoving, and assessing.