Chapter 35

The royal carriage, having left the capital, rattled southward for several days. As they left the well-paved royal road and headed to the frontier, the view outside the window changed from splendor to rough, vast nature.

Inside the carriage, Count Aaron kept checking his son’s complexion. The imposing noble who had ruled the political scene of the capital was nowhere to be seen; only a father worried for his son remained.

“Rian, are you really all right? Any discomfort in your body? The royal physician seemed to be sleeping in the next carriage; shall I call him and have him check your pulse again?”

“I’m fine, Father. Actually, I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve traveled alone like this. It’s even nicer than when I was at the estate.”

Rian smiled and took his father’s hand. Aaron, a little embarrassed, cleared his throat but couldn’t hide the smile at his lips. Taking his son’s hand, he spoke softly.

“When you… when you collapsed like that, I felt like everything was falling apart. What use are family honor or titles? Without you, Kaion, and Lily, those things mean nothing.”

“I know, Father. That’s why I returned. From now on I’ll firmly protect your and my siblings’ backs. No one will dare touch our family.”

Rian’s gaze flashed deep and cold for a moment before returning to its usual calm. Aaron did not notice the brief change; he was simply proud and overwhelmed by his son’s composed, more formidable presence.

A few days later, the familiar landscape finally began to appear in the distance: the stark but homely Aster estate, surrounded like a folding screen by the vast monster forest.

When the carriage entered the estate, all the villagers and the manor servants came out to greet them along the road. Their faces were full of respect and joy for the master returning triumphantly from the capital and for the young master.

The manor doors opened, and the faces Rian had most wanted to see rushed out.

“Rian! My son!”

His stepmother Serena hugged him tightly and burst into tears at the sight of his gaunt appearance. Her embrace was still the warmest and coziest in the world.

“Brother!”

Behind her stood Lily, who had grown noticeably into a little girl. The seven-year-old child was now ten. Lily hugged her brother’s waist tightly, then looked up and began to inspect him carefully.

“Brother, they say everyone in the capital gets all shiny-faced—why are you so pale? Didn’t they feed you?”

Lily’s odd question set off laughter around them. Serena scolded Lily, but Rian laughed as he ruffled his sister’s hair.

“The capital’s food didn’t suit me. Once I eat Mother’s stew, I’ll be fine very soon. And this is your present.”

When Rian handed over the pretty doll and the fancy dress he had taken from the carriage, Lily squealed and jumped up and down. The manor was lively for the first time in a long while.

That night, after filling his stomach with warm stew and enjoying conversation with his family, Rian sat quietly in his room late, staring out the window after everyone had gone to sleep. Then, a shadow beneath the window stirred faintly.

When Rian opened the window, Kael slipped silently into the room and dropped to one knee. He had grown so much since they first met years ago; the skinny boy had become a young man with a sharp gaze.

“Master, welcome back safely.”

“Rise, Kael. I received your report. But I want to hear it in person. What on earth is happening in the forest?”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“The situation is far more serious than the report states. Not only mass deaths of low-level monsters, but even bodies of mid-tier monsters like ogres or trolls have been found. All of them were killed with their hearts pierced by a single attack. It’s as if… someone is destroying the forest’s ecosystem and carving a path toward its deepest parts.”

“Carving a path?”

“Yes. And at the end of that path lies the lair of the Red Dragon ‘Ignis’.”

Rian’s gaze chilled. Ignis. The ancient lord and guardian of the monster forest with whom he had once met and connected as a child. Someone was deliberately provoking the dragon.

“Have you identified the nature of that evil energy?”

“Not yet. But… all living beings around where that energy is felt had their blood turn black and rot away. It wasn’t mere mana or poison, but a dreadful, curse-like force that seems to negate life itself.”

Rian looked out at the vast forest. Shrouded in darkness, it seemed to open its mouth like a colossal beast.

“Prepare for a hunt tomorrow morning. The lightest, stealthiest gear.”

“Master, do you intend to go yourself? It’s dangerous!”

“When catching a stray hound that entered my hunting grounds, the hunting dog cannot be allowed to go ahead of its master.”

Rian’s voice was cold as steel.

“I should loosen up a bit after a long time. Facing the beasts of the forest will be far more comforting than dealing with the snakes of the capital.”