The sword princess' tale

Volume Two Chapter 4 - Countermeasure

I swear, nobody could have expected this kind of encounter. Right after the bloodcurdling howl, the mountain became restless. Hundreds of animals we encountered were running away in fright, monsters quickly hid their bodies and melding into the darkness, and everything became deathly silent.

Me and Leon who were bewildered could only prepare ourselves as we tried to return to the Hideout. All of the weapons and useful items crafted by me were stored in there and we must spend six hours of travel if we wanted to reach it unnoticeably. I wished we would encounter nothing but......

In contrast to our hope-a presence loomed from the darkness.

"-!?"

Whether it was due to luck or because of the live combat experience, I and Leon jumped to the sides. Of course, due to the sudden flash of silver we went in opposite directions. The chain should have stretched and stopped us and yet...!

"The chains shattered...!? What the fuck was...?!!"

Leon became speechless as we saw witness of... a being which planted fear into our bones.

Its fur was silvery-white. However, it had strands of blacks and there existed deep scars all over its muscular figure. It stood at the height of seven meters or more at most, and it possessed long arms with huge claws as sharp as razors. The head was akin to a wolf, but it signified the ferociousness of a bear and it had only one eye as the other was thoroughly lost. Probably by its past battle to survive in the wilderness.

It was menacing. The air vibrated just by its presence alone. The land trembled as it took a giant stride like a human walking. Compared to us, which looked like ants to it, I could sense the chills like a rabbit glared at by the hungry wolf.

Adrenaline suddenly rushed inside me. I took an evasive measure before a lightning speed thrust of claw gouged a chunk of the ground where I was at a moment earlier!! It's fast! So ridiculously fast and powerful!!

"Oy!!" -I heard Leon shouting but the bear was blocking my view.

Damn... looks like it locked on to me.

"-ha... ha ha... this is no joke!!"

"GRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!"
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-Leon's POV-

What the hell is this creature!? I was cursing on the inside as I went deeper into the forest. After the surprise attack which came from nowhere, I immediately deployed my 'Detection' skill as wide as possible. But what I got was no response, as if all animals and monsters and spirits alike were avoiding him.

This monster... it must be a Magical Beast then! An animal that survived by eating the flesh of monsters and evolved to a greater height. It of course possessed a compatibility with the inedible monsters otherwise it would die but that was the rarest talent an animal could have. One-in-a million.A gifted creature which only appeared once every ten thousands of years.

But why? How did something like that found us? Just how-

"Don't tell me......!!"-as I reached an answer that was absurd and yet very likely to happen, I clenched my fists and put mana at the sole of my feet.

With a booming sound I flew. With a leapt, I reached unimaginable distance and was constantly shortening the gaps between me with the Hideout to accomplish the thing that human told to me at the first night we stayed there. But, deep down inside me... flare of hatred and vexation were raging.

"Is this even a training? Is this even a method a teacher should do? Don't fuck with me!! Do you think you can throw away your student as if throwing a garbage!? What the hell does she deserve to be put in this absurdity, Takeru Roundtable!!?"