Ch.55Turning Point (1)

S-Rank.

Monsters and parties both start at D-rank as the lowest, then progress upward through C, B, A, and finally S-rank at the top.

In other words, an S-rank monster is stronger than almost every other monster regardless of type.

Except for the few S-rank parties, they’re impossible to subjugate, and for lower-ranked parties, they’re essentially natural disasters.

If you encounter one…

You’re simply unlucky.

And right now, I wasn’t just unlucky—I was being driven into the ground.

Not only had I encountered an S-rank monster, but two of them stood before me, so I couldn’t help thinking that way.

If I’d met them in an unexplored labyrinth, I could have accepted it.

That would make sense—a place no one knows about.

But this situation defied understanding no matter how much I thought about it.

‘Their habitat should be in the south.’

The Royal Capital is located in the center of the country, and the Great Forest lies to the north of the capital.

In other words, this isn’t supposed to be the Great Red Bear’s habitat.

Yet, the situation before my eyes was undeniably real.

Even if I couldn’t defeat them, I needed to retreat safely without casualties.

And that role fell solely to Derin and me.

Just then, Derin, who had gone to evacuate the students, returned.

“Crow, I told them to return straight to the Academy if we don’t come back in an hour.”

“Good, thanks for your hard work.”

An hour, huh.

I hope that’s possible.

And…

“Derin, you should go back too. Wait with the students.”

“Huh…?”

Derin blinked in disbelief.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

She probably thought it made no sense to fight two S-rank monsters alone.

But objectively speaking, I didn’t think Derin could inflict any meaningful damage on these monsters.

If that were all, it would be fortunate.

‘She could die…’

It was entirely my decision to involve her in this escort request.

Of course, she made the choice herself. But I knew she wouldn’t refuse, and I took advantage of that.

How could she refuse when someone she liked asked for her help?

That was my selfish desire, so one death—mine—would be enough.

“Return to the Academy after an hour passes. And tell the master about what happened.”

The Academy professor…

“Tell them I died fighting to protect the students.”

Of course, I’ll struggle desperately to survive.

If there’s even a straw to grasp, no, even the thinnest thread, I’ll grab it and pull myself up with all my might.

But that clearly won’t be easy.

And if, just if, I die, someone needs to relay that information.

It might be a painful task for Derin, but…

“No. I won’t. I absolutely won’t leave you alone.”

Derin was already on the verge of tears, shaking her head vigorously.

Behind her appeared a beautiful girl with flowing red hair.

“Professor, no. Just this once, I’ll call you Crow. You’re not planning to do this alone, are you?”

All the Black Crows had gathered, except for Elin.

Seeing her savior appear, Derin seized the opportunity to speak.

“Lael, listen. He was really going to do it alone!”

“Crow, I know you’re strong, but aren’t you overestimating yourself?”

I’m not overestimating myself. I just don’t want you to die. Why can’t you understand that?

With one more person to convince, I spoke even more firmly.

“Both of you, go back. I’ll handle this alone.”

“Then you go back. The Black Crows will take care of the S-rank monsters.”

Lael said, drawing the greatsword from her back.

“I agree with Lael.”

Derin said, holding daggers in both hands.

One more time…

“If you act like this, I’ll never see your faces again even if we survive. That’s the end of it.”

They probably know this isn’t sincere.

I just wanted to express how much I was pleading with them.

Yet they wouldn’t give up.

“Think about your role. You’re a professor. You’re supposed to guide students on the right path. So prioritize the students.”

In response to Lael’s serious words, Derin smiled mischievously.

“But you’re a student too.”

“Derin, is this really the time for that?!”

“Why not?”

“This is—!”

As they bickered, fond memories flashed before my eyes.

I spoke softly.

“I won’t forgive you even if you die.”

I meant it.

The day I subjugated that S-rank lizard was purely because luck was on my side.

If that creature hadn’t been reckless and had fought seriously, none of us would be here now.

Despite my final warning, they both smiled as if everything had worked out.

“At least the journey won’t be lonely.”

“True, dying with someone you love. That’s romantic in its own way.”

They’re truly impossible.

With that conversation over, the Great Red Bear charged first.

And the real battle began.

* * * * *

On a peaceful, sunny afternoon.

Elin, who had decided to hone the skills she learned from her mother for the next eight days, was absorbed in her needlework.

‘Now that I’ve been forgiven…!’

She was planning to formally ask to date him.

For that, she needed to become a more admirable woman.

Just then, the door suddenly opened…

Prick.

The needle pierced her finger.

“Ssss… Ouch…”

A pained sound escaped her lips.

Her mother, who had opened the door and entered, spoke softly.

“Elin, don’t leave the Great Forest for the time being.”

At this bolt from the blue, Elin naturally…

“What?!”

She was planning to meet Crow in eight days, so being told not to go was like being told not to see him. She couldn’t help but question it.

“There are reports of an S-rank monster lurking around the Un-drying Pond. Given how unpredictable monsters can be, you might encounter it if you go outside.”

“The Un-drying Pond…”

Feeling like she was missing something important, Elin repeated the words to herself.

Then she remembered.

Crow was taking students there.

As Elin hurriedly got up and tried to rush past her mother out of the room…

Her mother grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“Let me go.”

“I asked where you’re going.”

“That’s…”

Elin closed her mouth.

She knew her mother would stop her if she stated her destination.

Though her mother seemed to know already…

She still couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because those words…

“You’ll die.”

At that firm statement, Elin bowed her head and slowly embraced her mother tightly.

A faint floral scent wafted through the warm, comforting feeling.

When she was young, she had longed so much to be held in these arms…

“Mother, I’m sorry.”

But now she had found something she wanted even more.

“You’re serious…”

“Yes… I know I shouldn’t…”

She heard her mother sigh. But rather than being upset…

‘It seems like she wants to tease me…’

Not understanding the reason given the situation, Elin released her embrace and faced her mother directly.

“I really wonder who you take after…”

Her mother was smiling.

Shaking her head as if to say “what can I do?”

“Well, it’s natural for a daughter to take after her mother.”

“Mother…?”

Her mother lowered her garment, revealing one shoulder.

There was a deep scar there, as if something had pierced through it.

“I think I told you when you were young. The reason for this scar.”

“Some foolish man…”

“I can’t call him that anymore since he’s been by my side all this time.”

Her mother smiled happily, adjusted her clothes, and left the room, saying:

“Follow me. I have something to give you.”

They arrived in the living room.

Her mother took down a massive bow hanging on one wall and handed it to Elin.

“This is the Horn Bow of the Clear Wind. I’ve never used it myself, but I believe my daughter can handle it.”

“But…”

This was a family heirloom she was told never to touch…

“Consider it a small price for your life. Now hurry up and go. You’re in a rush, aren’t you?”

“Mother…”

Elin bowed her head deeply, then rushed out of the house and began running immediately.

Praying desperately: Crow, please be alive…

* * * * *

CRASH—!

Lael, who had blocked the Great Red Bear’s attack with her greatsword, slammed hard against a tree.

‘The situation isn’t good.’

Exhausted from a week of adventuring, we reached our limit not long after the battle began.

And that quickly manifested physically.

We were all battered and bruised, with still a long way to go before the hour was up.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected them to be this strong.

With that massive body, they moved at an impossible speed, dodging every spell we cast, and when our blades did connect, they reinforced their bodies to deflect them.

I questioned whether it was even possible to subjugate such creatures.

As Lael rose, breathing heavily, and we prepared to resume our battle stance…

An arrow flew from the forest.

That arrow, imbued with blue mana, created a tremendous wind as it pierced through the Great Red Bear’s arm.

And then appeared…

“Crow!”

It was Elin.