Chapter 253: A Place That’s Incredibly Impressive (3)
Kaor wondered if he had misheard the number and asked again.
“Ten thousand?”
Ghislain slowly shook his head. Kaor repeated his question, his voice laden with disbelief.
“...Really, a hundred thousand monsters?”
Nod, nod.
Kaor erupted in anger.
“No, how does that make any sense? A hundred thousand? How are we supposed to hunt that many monsters? Is there even a place where that’s possible? Oh, come on! Stop joking and tell me the truth!”
“Why not? There is. A place where monsters endlessly appear.”
“There’s no such... Wait. Oh? Could it be?”
“Yeah, it’s exactly the place you’re thinking of. That famous one.”
Kaor, momentarily dumbstruck, asked again.
“I heard rumors that there are a lot of monsters there, but... Are there really as many as a hundred thousand?”
“Of course. That’s why it’s been such a big deal for so long. Even if they don’t show up all at once, they keep coming steadily, so the numbers add up easily.”
“So, what, I’m supposed to live there until I die?”
“If you kill a hundred a day, it won’t take you too many years.”
“...”
“If you want to speed it up, kill a thousand a day or something.”
“...”
Kaor was speechless.
Though he was often called “Mad Dog” for a reason, the lord standing in front of him seemed like an entirely different species.
Seeing Kaor’s silence, Ghislain continued.
“Well, if you don’t have the guts to stake your life on it, just go back and train quietly.”
Saying no would be humiliating. The proud Kaor immediately raised his head haughtily.
“I can do it, you know?”
“No, on second thought, it’s not going to work. It’s too dangerous. You’re not good at fighting, after all.”
That was the one thing Kaor hated to hear the most. He instantly flared up.
“I’m good at fighting!”
“Can you beat Gillian?”
“...Probably? I think I can.”
“Well, if that’s the case... Then come with me. Let’s grab some monster hides while we’re at it.”
“Why are you coming, my lord?”
Kaor’s prickly response made Ghislain chuckle.
“Because if I send you alone, you’ll die in no time. That place is pretty dangerous. You’re not good at fighting, after all.”
“...I told you I’m good at it.”
“Sure, sure. Anyway, I’ll help you adjust a bit, then I’ll head back. Let’s move out immediately.”
Although the lord would accompany him there, he’d be returning alone. Kaor felt a twinge of unease. Truthfully, he didn’t want to be left alone in an unfamiliar place.
“Are we going just the two of us?”
“No, we’ll bring all the weak and lazy ones.”
Ghislain gave him another cryptic smile.
* * *
Fifty knights, who had been training so hard they were coughing up blood, were suddenly summoned.
Ghislain and Gillian meticulously selected the ones who would accompany them to the Shadow Mountains, evaluating their performance and current training progress.
They picked those who were the weakest, or who had grown increasingly lazy and complacent.
Since the criteria were so varied, the knights had no idea why they had been chosen.
“Why us? Where are we going?”
“Maybe they picked only the best-looking ones?”
“Looking at your face, that doesn’t seem likely.”
As murmurs spread through the group, Ghislain approached and addressed them.
“From now on, we’ll be hunting monsters.”
The knights exchanged glances. They hadn’t been briefed properly and had been yanked straight from their training.
“Are we going to the Forest of Beasts?”
One of the mercenaries, who had accompanied them during the mission to retrieve the runestone, asked cautiously. There was a hint of tension in his voice.
More than half of the mercenaries who had gone on that mission had died. It had been a grueling journey. Though he had grown much stronger since then, the dreadful memories still lingered.
Ghislain shook his head and replied nonchalantly.
“No, not there.”
“Then where are we going?”
“Alright, you’re black, so from now on, you’re Black King.”
Claude, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow.
“You’re really giving a horse a name like ‘King’?”
“Of course. I’ll be riding it, after all, so it deserves that much. Anyway, I’m tired of arguing, so no more complaints. It’s good enough. And its nickname is still Kkoko. Got it?”
The retainers, though reluctant, nodded begrudgingly. Even this compromise was a small victory.
At least “Black King” sounded dignified. It could be used officially in public and recorded for posterity.
“Please, my lord, keep the nickname to private moments only.”
Even Black King seemed pleased with its new name, snorting and baring its teeth in approval.
With the horse-naming debate settled, Gillian approached and asked,
“Are you sure I shouldn’t come along?”
“Yeah. Someone needs to keep training the knights and soldiers. I’ll be back soon enough, so don’t worry.”
“Understood. Take care out there.”
After Gillian bowed, Ghislain turned to Arel and said,
“Don’t slack off on your basic training while I’m gone. Once your stamina improves, I’ll teach you the mana control technique. Until then, follow Gillian’s guidance.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Arel bowed deeply. For now, he was focused entirely on building his stamina through regular meals and rigorous physical training.
Having been a frail rural boy picked up during the subjugation of the savages, Arel needed time to develop a solid foundation.
Despite his humble origins, the estate’s people treated him carefully. After all, they assumed he was Ghislain’s disciple.
Moreover, Belinda doted on Arel as if he were Ghislain’s younger brother, which made everyone extra cautious in their interactions with him.
“My lord, please return safely. I’m so worried I can’t go with you this time because of all the work here. Don’t skip meals, alright?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Knowing Ghislain’s strength, Belinda was far less dramatic than before, though her concern remained due to his unpredictable personality.
After exchanging farewells, Ghislain and the knights set off. As they departed, Kaor muttered to Gillian as he passed by,
“Remember my words. When I return, I’ll crush you.”
“...”
Gillian ignored him as usual. In the past, he might have thrown a punch and left Kaor half-dead, but with Ghislain present, he chose to stay silent.
Kaor, knowing this instinctively, only picked fights when others were around. He had never once provoked Gillian in private.
Still, Gillian’s disregard for him never failed to rile him up.
“Just you wait! I’ll kill those hundred thousand monsters and take you down!”
Fueled by anger, Kaor accompanied Ghislain and the knights to the Turian Kingdom.
—
Under the guise of cavalry training, they moved tirelessly and arrived near the Shadow Mountains faster than anticipated.
“Wow...”
“So this is the Shadow Mountains we’ve heard so much about...”
“Incredible.”
The towering mountains loomed high, casting deep, ominous shadows over the surrounding area.
The knights were overwhelmed with a mixture of awe and apprehension. The mountain range, blanketed in endless trees, seemed to twist and distort under the heavy darkness.
The oppressive atmosphere underscored just how dangerous this place was.
As they gazed upon the mountains, the knights revised their earlier thoughts.
“This... doesn’t feel like a vacation.”
“Maybe I wasn’t chosen because I’m handsome after all...”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
* * *
The Turian Kingdom had built multiple fortresses along the Shadow Mountains to defend against the monster hordes.
Each fortress was positioned at a critical choke point, and behind them stood walls to protect cities in case the defenses failed.
Since it was impossible to enclose the entire mountain range, only key routes to the cities were blocked.
Any monsters slipping through unguarded sections of the range were dealt with by hunters or the kingdom’s army. Though some monsters managed to bypass the fortresses and walls, their numbers were much smaller compared to the main assaults, preventing any major crises.
Ghislain and the knights headed to “Ironcliff”, one of the largest and most prominent fortresses in the region.
Acting as both a military base and a bustling city, the fortress housed numerous hunters, traders, and soldiers.
Seeing the massive fortress encircled by towering walls, the knights’ jaws dropped.
True to its reputation, it stood as a testament to countless battles fought against relentless monster waves.
As soon as they arrived at the gates of Ironcliff, Kaor, brimming with energy, asked eagerly,
“Can we drop off our gear and head out to hunt monsters right away?”
Ghislain shook his head and replied,
“There’s something more important to do first when you’re in a lawless town like this.”
“What’s that?”
Ghislain raised a fist, his lips curling into a sly grin.
“You start by punching someone.”