From a distance, Kara watched in stunned silence. Seeing Duchess Sofía in action was overwhelming—a lesson in power and mastery that laid bare the gulf between her own weakness and the strength of seasoned warriors. Yet her gaze kept drifting to Lusian, riding atop the great wolf and striking from the monster's rear flank. Every blow he delivered was precise; every spell he cast interrupted Basilco's attacks, creating the perfect opening for Sofía to strike without risk.

  The beast began to falter, weakening beneath the relentless assault. Its once thunderous roar dwindled into a strained whimper until, with a final effort, it uttered a guttural whisper.

  "Never… have I known… such power…" it rasped. "I curse you… in the name of Asira…"

  Then silence fell. Life left its massive body, and the forest was wrapped in solemn stillness.

  Lusian approached Sofía slowly, admiration shining in his eyes. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: That was too easy. In the game, I tried countless times and never achieved such overwhelming results. She is truly strong.

  Sofía, smiling with pride, pinched his cheek lightly.

  "Where did you learn so much about monsters, you little troublemaker?" she asked fondly.

  Slightly nervous, Lusian answered quickly, "In the academy library. I found a book about monsters and their weaknesses."

  A faint laugh escaped him as he reflected on the convenient fact that the library now lay in ruins—no one would be able to verify his story.

  Wilbur and Kara approached, gratitude written plainly across their faces.

  "Your Grace, thank you for coming to our aid," Wilbur said sincerely. "We never could have faced such a powerful beast without you."

  Kara, still wide-eyed with disbelief, asked, "Your Grace… that thing truly spoke, didn't it? It wasn't my imagination?"

  Sofía nodded gravely. "You heard correctly, Kara. Some high-level monsters gain awareness and the ability to communicate. Basilco was one of them. Unusual—but not impossible."

  Unable to resist, Lusian broke the tension with a teasing remark.

  "Hey, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you ran away from home," he said with a grin, while Sofía shook her head in quiet amusement.

  Kara's reply was sharp as a blade.

  "Nosy. That's none of your business. I challenge you right here and now—so your mother can see how weak you really are."

  Sofía observed the exchange and decided to intervene. Leaning slightly toward Lusian, she whispered:

  "I'll leave you two alone, little casanova."

  "That won't be necessary, Mother," Lusian replied at once.

  The air remained tense, but the duchess, mindful of time's value, turned her attention to Basilco's corpse. She understood the worth of such a body. With careful determination, she ordered the monster to be dismantled and preserved—a prize worthy of study and a source of strength for both herself and her son.

  Wilbur approached her, humbled by his unit's losses.

  "Your Grace, please allow Kara to remain with us. It will be safer that way."

  Sofía regarded him with serene generosity and nodded.

  "That is fine by me. All of you may join us."

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  Relief washed over Wilbur's face as he bowed. "Thank you very much, Your Grace."

  "It's nothing," Sofía replied dismissively. "I owe that brat a favor. The day the academy was attacked, I saw her protect Lusian. Consider this my way of repaying that debt."

  Meanwhile, Kara and Lusian were locked in a heated argument, their voices carrying through the mana-saturated forest. Before it escalated further, Sofía's commanding voice cut through the air.

  "Enough, both of you! We must withdraw. The magical beasts of this forest will soon notice their king's death and fight for the vacant throne. We should leave before chaos erupts."

  The knights moved swiftly. The 478 surviving Bourlance soldiers joined the 940 Douglas knights, forming a compact force ready to retreat.

  Lusian prepared to mount Umber, but Kara interrupted him, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  "Hey, Lusian… may I ride with you on that beautiful beast?"

  "Not a chance," he shot back. "Ride your pathetic horse."

  "You're incredibly rude."

  "Says the lunatic who challenges me every time she sees me."

  Without warning, Kara leapt onto Umber and wrapped her arms around Lusian, securing her position so he couldn't throw her off.

  "You're taking me, whether you like it or not."

  "Let go, you lunatic!" Lusian shouted, struggling. "I don't understand your stubbornness—it's like your skull is made of stone."

  Elsewhere, Caleb hurried to meet Isabella, leaving his escort at the restaurant entrance. Excited by the spring festival and eager for their rendezvous, he ignored standard security precautions.

  When he entered the private room described in the letter, his world shattered.

  Four men lunged at him with ruthless precision. There was no time to react—a blade pierced his chest. Confusion and agony clouded his eyes as he fought to remain standing. Betrayal, sudden and brutal, enveloped him. He could not even comprehend who his attackers were—or why.

  Days later, as dusk settled over the forest, Lusian rested inside his tent, seeking a moment of peace. It did not last.

  "And what are you doing here? Show yourself before Umber tears your head off!" he snapped.

  The intruder answered calmly, without fear. "Such aggression. You should try being kinder."

  Lusian frowned. "Kara. Leave. Now."

  She explained casually that she was looking for a place to rest. The knights who had occupied the other tents had vanished, and ever since absorbing the forest king's essence, her body felt… strange.

  "That's not my problem. Leave," Lusian replied coldly.

  Ignoring him, Kara slipped into his bed and murmured softly, "Good night," before closing her eyes.

  Lusian stared in disbelief. "Hey! Out!" he shouted—but she was already fast asleep.

  The situation felt absurd. Frustration warred with reluctant attraction. In the end, he let her rest. Keeping a respectful distance, he lay beside her, careful not to cross any boundaries. Turning his face away, he tried to silence the unwanted thoughts creeping into his mind.

  When the exploration forces finally returned to the academy, the toll was evident. Of the ten thousand who had entered the forest, only 6,432 returned.

  The forest had exacted its price.

  Though they had not reached its heart, they had at least accomplished part of their mission.

  Magnus, overseeing repairs to the wall, froze when he spotted a familiar face riding a wolf beside an exhausted-looking Lusian.

  "KARA! What in the world have you been doing?" he shouted. "Your father is frantic! They thought you'd been kidnapped!"

  Kara replied calmly, a spark of defiance in her eyes. "They didn't find my letter. I explained exactly what I was going to do. Since my father refused to give permission, that's his fault."

  Lusian added dryly, "Headmaster, I return the demon girl to you. Please punish her for at least three years so I won't have to see her again."

  "Lusian, stop giving ridiculous ideas!" Kara snapped. "This isn't the time for jokes."

  During the commanders' meeting, Sofía presented the conclusions she had discussed with Lusian.

  "The cause of the monster stampede is a demonic count. The demonic cult has recruited creatures of immense power—more dangerous than ever before. This could happen anywhere. Until we locate and eliminate them, we are not safe."

  "Your Grace, how can you be certain?" one commander asked. "Did you find evidence within the forest?"

  "There are no direct traces of the cult," Sofía replied, "but the facts speak for themselves. We must assume they have succeeded in some form of summoning. I do not exaggerate when I say there will be more attacks."

  "Your Grace, do you truly believe demons are already present?" another pressed.

  Sofía's gaze turned solemn.

  "The evidence I rely upon comes from the Era of Myth, when demons were said to control monsters. What happened at the academy bears striking resemblance to those accounts."

  Silence fell across the chamber.

  The mention of the Era of Myth evoked memories of a distant past—five thousand years ago—when humanity had stood on the brink of extinction during the demonic invasion. Helpless against overwhelming power, humans had suffered massacres, torture, and near-total enslavement.

  And then, according to legend, the gods descended to aid mankind. Through divine intervention, humanity survived—and ultimately drove the demons back.

  The Era of Myth remained a shadowed chapter of history. Fragments of those tales endured, yet no one could say with certainty whether they were truth—or merely legends carried through the ages.