Chapter 62: The Beginning of The Change (2)
When I entered the barracks, people were busy moving around. Abel quickly noticed me and Sigren. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“You both came back together.”
“What’s going on?”
Abel nervously ran his hand through his hair. “The other hunting team caught a monster, but it’s strange.”
“How so?”
“It would be better for you to see and judge for yourself.”
I followed Abel’s suggestion and went to where the ‘new monster’ was. It wasn’t difficult to find the location since people were gathering around it.
A monster’s corpse lay spread out in the center.
“The speed was so fast that several people barely managed to catch it. One person is dead, and one is injured.”
“It looks like a low-level monster for this area…”
However, upon closer inspection, it was clearly different. The skin of the monster, which resembled a large hunting dog, was hard and black.
“Originally, it should have been weak against fire… If its outer skin is this hard, using fire would be ineffective.”
I examined the monster’s teeth and claws. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“It’s harder than normal low-level monsters. It has large teeth and claws.”
“When it was alive, its eyes glowed red. They weren’t like that originally.”
“I know. Also, the leg muscles were much stronger. I can see how it could move so fast.”
After slowly examining the monster, I looked at Abel. “Honestly, I don’t understand this sudden transformation.”
Abel regarded me flatly. “And you’re saying that after only making a rough guess?”
I sighed lightly. “Honestly, there’s only one explanation for this transformation: the emergence of Darkness.”
Abel nodded. “Yeah, it’s my first time seeing it with my own eyes.”
“It’s the same for me. Also, I didn’t see the ‘dead land’ that usually appears after the emergence of Darkness in the hunting grounds….”
If it had been present, the hunting competition would have been stopped immediately.
“That’s true. Anyway, it was decided that the hunting competition had to be abruptly stopped. It would be dangerous if there were many such transformed monsters in the forest.”
“Then, are we just going to leave it alone?”
This was a forest not far from the capital. No one knew whether more monsters would come down and attack the capital. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“No, a subjugation team will be formed soon. This isn’t a playful competition; it’s an official matter.”
“I see.”
That was odd. This didn’t happen in the original novel. The hunting competition scene was just a process in which Sigren and Eunice confirmed each other’s feelings little by little.
Abel glanced at my face. “Don’t worry too much.”
He must have thought I was worried about the monsters.
“It’s okay. It hasn’t been confirmed that Darkness is the cause. By the way, did everyone return safely from the hunting grounds?”
“No, I heard Ernest’s party hasn’t returned yet. Have you seen them?”
A sigh escaped. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Sigren… No, the Prince said they were heading towards the control line.”
“Why?”
“He thought he was going to lose, so I guess he went looking for stronger monsters.”
Abel clicked his tongue. “Anyway, that old man… fighting to the death just to win and beat a young girl who’s the age of his daughter. It’s really pathetic.”
That was true. Ernest was older than Abel. In fact, Ernest was older than my father.
“I’ll have to send a search team. Get ready to go back.”
“Yes.”
After answering, he was heading back to Heilon’s tent when suddenly, a commotion erupted at the corner of the headquarters tent.
“There’s an injured person!”
“Hurry and call the physician!”
People rushed in.
I grabbed one of the restless women and asked about the situation. “What’s going on?”
“Duke Ernest’s party returned and they’re injured.”
Oh, they came back. In that case, it seemed there was no need to send the search party. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. I made my way through the crowd to approach the party. There appeared to be many injuries.
“Did the duke get hurt?”
“Stop the bleeding!”
“I’ve tried, but this wound… is it poisoned by the monsters?”
At first glance, Duke Ernest didn’t seem too badly injured. Most of the serious injuries were among his knights. There had been many knights protecting the duke, but only a few had returned.
‘Are the other knights dead?’
It seemed they had run into a group of transformed monsters head-on.
Amidst the chaotic shouts, a clear voice cut through the commotion.
“I’ll take care of the poison.”
The voice was as clear as a bell.
Naturally, all eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
Bright golden hair, as if touched by the sun, brushed past me. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
‘Blond hair?’
It wasn’t one of the healers who stepped forward calmly but a noble girl who appeared to be around my age.
“No way—”
The girl glanced around, perhaps having heard my exclamation. I met her purple eyes, which sparkled like amethysts. Her peach-colored cheeks and delicate features were surprisingly lovely.
I swallowed my words involuntarily.
‘Eunice Arlyn’
The girl was the female lead from the original story. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
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