TRSM 06

chapter 06

Monsters.

They were creatures so grotesque that they could hardly be considered normal living beings.

“Still makes me want to puke…”

Strange tentacles sprouted in every direction. On top of that, they exuded some unknown slime.

“And the stench is overwhelming, too.”

The smell alone was so intense that even after dealing with them, the stench would linger for a while. They truly lived up to the name “monsters.”

“Evacuate the villagers!”

Baron Beratan swiftly ordered the villagers to retreat. They moved in perfect unison at his command, hiding behind him and the knights.

“This is the only territory we have… No wonder the family isn’t particularly powerful.”

It was the only territory the Beratan family possessed. But since it bordered the Monster Forest, growth was naturally impossible.

“Whatever we do, we have to clear the Monster Forest first.”

Noah silently organized his priorities and drew his sword from its sheath. It hadn’t been used for years, but thanks to Hansel’s maintenance, it was in good condition.

“Noah, you should step back as well.”

Baron Beratan said, his expression more serious than ever. But Noah had no intention of retreating.

“I will fight with you.”

“Noah, this isn’t a game. You could lose your life!”

The baron shouted, angry at Noah’s response. Still, Noah didn’t back down, meeting his gaze with calm composure.

“I am aware of that.”

Noah’s voice was calm, like a still lake. At that moment, the other knights spoke up to him.

“Master, now is the time to retreat.”
“This is different from sparring, Master.”
“You also have to think about the possibility of the family head being killed!”

Noah shook his head at their warnings and fixed his gaze on the monsters approaching the territory. The monsters, having emerged from the Monster Forest, were now nearly at the boundary.

“Keep your mouths shut unless you’re offering advice.”

Baron Beratan and the knights were dumbfounded. Noah had never spoken so harshly before.

“We should send a messenger to the Bismarck family, just in case.”
“Understood.”

Noah’s advice made the baron nod. He then pointed to one of the mounted knights, who acknowledged the order.

“Good luck.”

The knight then rode off in the direction of the Bismarck estate.

At that moment…

-CRASH!

The monsters broke through the wooden fence and entered. The soldiers and knights flinched as the grotesque creatures crossed into the territory.

Noah, however, calmly sized them up.

“They’re not intelligent.”

Monsters had tiers based on strength. The most dangerous were those that could speak like humans.

Fortunately, these intruders were not at that level. They were low-tier, mere prey from the perspective of the vast Monster Forest.

“Assign three per monster—one knight and two soldiers. Don’t be afraid, even though we’re outnumbered.”

Before Baron Beratan could speak, Noah issued his command. The soldiers and knights looked confused, then glanced at the baron.

“Follow Noah’s orders!”

Beratan relinquished command to Noah. The soldiers and knights quickly organized into squads.

“Father, it’s best if you move with me.”

Noah looked at Baron Beratan, who, though only the head of a minor rural family, was second only to Noah in skill among them.

“With Father’s skill, he should handle these monsters easily.”

Noah had never personally tested the baron’s abilities, but observing him train knights and his aura gave Noah a sense of his strength.

“Understood.”

The baron drew his sword and charged at the monsters.

-SCREAM!

The monsters’ distinctive cries echoed through the territory, making the soldiers and knights flinch—a natural fear response.

Yet…

“Is this really my son?”

Noah showed no fear, only the gaze of a predator evaluating prey. The baron marveled internally.

“He’s not afraid of monsters… his talent is manifesting for sure!”

The baron recalled his own first encounter with monsters. Even with more soldiers and knights, he had felt fear merely observing from afar.

“It happened when I was 18… and Noah is only 14. Four years earlier than I faced them, yet far more composed.”

A strange sense of defeat settled in him. While no parent dislikes their child’s success, seeing Noah surpass him as a swordsman stirred a hint of envy.

“I’ll handle this one.”

A monster appeared in front of Noah and the baron. Noah accelerated toward it.

Then…

Jintelu Type 1

Noah assumed the stance to activate the Jintelu Type 1.

-SCREAM!

Four tentacles lashed toward Noah with enough strength to dent armor.

But…

Thunk! Slash!

The tentacles never reached him. Noah expertly severed them, as if he had done it countless times.

-The monster, unaware its tentacles were gone, had its neck sliced off immediately afterward.

Thud!

The massive creature collapsed without a single strike. Soldiers, knights, villagers, and Baron Beratan were awestruck.

“The weakest type of monster. Stay calm and we can defeat them.”

Noah wiped his bloodied sword, inspiring courage in those around him.

“Kill them!”
“Just watch out for the tentacles!”

Those who had shrunk in fear now gritted their teeth and attacked. The monsters were caught off guard by the sudden change.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sounds of monsters dying echoed everywhere. Villagers who had been hiding stepped forward, supporting from behind the soldiers and knights.

“Am I dreaming?”

Baron Beratan wondered if this was truly happening. Noah then spoke to him.

“There are still monsters left. We should finish them off.”
“…Understood.”

Beratan nodded and resumed killing monsters entering the territory.

“They’re retreating!”

Within ten minutes, the tide had turned. Monsters that had surged forward now struggled to escape.

But…

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Baron Beratan and Noah stood where the monsters had entered, killing those that tried to flee.

Thunk!

The baron split a monster’s head in half. Noah admired his skill silently.

“Quite capable, indeed.”

The baron had reached the level of an Aura Knight, superior to regular knights.

“An Aura Knight…”

Aura Knights were in a league above ordinary knights. No matter how strong ordinary knights tried, they could not surpass one.

However…

“Only a novice Aura Knight, just that level.”

The baron couldn’t exceed the basic mastery of Aura. Noah felt regret, knowing Aura Knight growth couldn’t be helped externally.

-SCREAM!

The last monster charged at Baron Beratan. The baron, looking elsewhere, was a step too late.

“Already too late…!”

The monster was too close. The baron braced himself to lose an arm to strike it down.

Then…

“Don’t let your guard down.”

Noah moved first.

“I had planned to show this later, but it won’t hurt to reveal it to Father now.”

-HUM!

He heated a single Aura Heart without blocking the path.

-WHOOSH!

He channeled the Aura from his Aura Heart into the sword tip—a level only another Aura Knight could perceive.

Then…

-CRACK!

The monster was split in two by the Aura. Low-level monsters couldn’t withstand pure Aura.

“…The difference in level is clear. Just touching the Aura melts them.”

Noah marveled at his own power. Without extra force, the monster melted like tofu under the Aura from his Aura Heart alone.

“Wow…”
“Incredible.”

The knights, soldiers, and villagers watched in awe, mouths agape.

Baron Beratan, closest to Noah, stared at the sword tip.

“Au… Aura?”

A tiny amount of Aura shimmered at the tip.

Aura—power beyond ordinary knights—required time and effort to control.

Yet Noah, only 14, could wield it. The baron couldn’t believe it, eyes fixed on the sword tip.

“When did you learn to use Aura?”
“Not long ago. But I’d like only Father to know. I’m not fully an Aura Knight yet.”

The baron nodded, recalling Noah’s mysterious past illness.

“It mustn’t repeat what happened then.”

Fourteen-year-old Aura users were rare, and half were assassinated by those jealous of talent and strength. Beratan didn’t want Noah to suffer the same fate.

“This stays secret.”
“Yes.”

Noah shrugged. Using Aura wasn’t exactly something to hide, anyway.

“Two Aura Hearts.”

Possessing two Aura Hearts was a bigger secret, but Noah didn’t intend to reveal that yet. No need to draw attention now.

Clap… Clap.

The baron approached Noah, lifting his left hand.

“Noah has defended the territory!”

At Beratan’s shout, everyone’s attention snapped to Noah.

“Woooaaah!”
“Long live Master Noah!”

Everyone cheered, louder than any time since Beratan became family head.

That night…

Noah sat cross-legged in the center of the room, staring at the monster’s heart before him.

“…Still looks disgusting.”

He instructed his personal maid, Hansel, to prepare the monster’s heart. The only instruction he gave was:

“Use plenty of seasoning.”

Hansel followed his orders, pouring in all available condiments. Still, the result wasn’t great—monster hearts were fundamentally inedible.

“Haa…”

Yet Noah had to eat it. To grow faster than others, he had no choice.

“Yes.”

The heart’s appearance alone made him want to gag. The stench was unbearable. Killing a hundred monsters might have been easier.

But Noah didn’t intend to waste this valuable tonic. He just needed to prepare himself.

“Hoo…”

Taking a deep breath, he finally…

CRACK!

Bit into the monster’s heart.