The Holy Rim Empire, huh?
On paper, it sounds impressive—a vast empire, unified under the so-called "common interest" and a single emperor.
But reality is different. It's nothing more than a paper castle, struggling to survive through endless bloody wars and the insatiable greed of the nobility.
This system works because the nobles are always rewarded—fertile lands, precious resources, and absolute power. In return, they lead armies, fund campaigns, and prevent the empire from collapsing into chaos.
"Hey, look at those nobles, living in luxury all day, feasting on fine food, and not having to toil like us!"
…That's what the poor peasants often grumble with envious eyes.
But for someone like me?
No, thanks. Responsibility? Leadership? Fighting for the royal family?
I'll pass, wholeheartedly.
Killing is simply not what I want. Coming from a butcher, that might not sound convincing—I know. But that's the truth.
A simple life is more than enough. Hunting in the deep woods, carving fresh Tricetaurus meat, plowing fields during harvest season, and stopping by the tavern to drink late into the night with friends. Maybe even sketching a bit if I feel inspired.
But living like that is hard—at least for someone of my lowly birth. I can't confess my feelings to the girl I love. I can't protect her, and I certainly can't become the spear— one that could destroys her enemies.
"Well, that's life. You win some, you lose some."
I muttered, shaking my head in resignation as I focused on the target ahead.
A wolf. It was terrifyingly large, with matted fur stained with dirt and blood. Its eyes glowed red, burning with madness. Yellow fangs bared in a deep growl, ready to attack anything that came near. For weeks, its pack had ravaged the forest, attacked livestock, killed people, and scared the villagers so much they wouldn't step outside after dark.
We didn't have adventurers; this place was too small to host a guild branch. And the guards were too busy defending the walls from greater threats to deal with this problem.
So naturally, the task fell to us.
Hunters, butchers—what's the difference? Both bring death.
I crouched low in the bushes, damp soil pressing against my knees. My fingers tightened around the bowstring, trying to steady my breath. The wolf prowled ahead, its ears twitching at the slightest sound, its body tense as if aware it was being watched.
Focus. Finish this and go home.
The entire forest seemed to hold its breath in a deadly silence. The rustle of leaves, the faint chirping of birds—all faded into nothingness. My world shrank to just the wolf and the weapon in my hand.
I drew the bowstring taut, feeling the tension run through my fingers, waiting for the perfect moment.
Then—*thwip*. The arrow sliced through the air, flying at supersonic speed, too fast for the eye to follow. For a moment, the world froze.
Then—*thud*. The arrow lodged into its side, just behind the shoulder. A perfect shot, but not fatal. The wolf staggered, a deep, agonizing growl rumbling from its throat, fresh blood staining its matted fur. Its fangs snapped wildly at the air, desperately searching for its invisible attacker.
Good. Let's finish this.
I expertly nocked another arrow, pulled back to the limit, and released.
*Thwip*. The second arrow struck its side mercilessly, weakening it further. But still, it wasn't enough. Its eyes flickered toward the arrow, locking onto my position with a wild, feral gaze.
I've been spotted.
The wolf growled, the sound vibrating through the air, shaking the surroundings. It staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its deep wounds and staining the ground crimson. But its will wasn't broken; it would fight until the end.
Well… that's not my problem. You're just unlucky to cross paths with me.
I discarded the bow without hesitation, reaching for the hunting spear at my side. The weapon's long shaft balanced perfectly, its sharp tip gleaming ominously in the dim light like a dragon's fang.
The wolf limped closer, its movements unsteady but its determination blazing in its blood-red eyes. It wanted to bite.
I stood firm like a mountain, my feet planted solidly on the ground, the spear tip aimed forward. "Alright." I gripped the weapon tightly. "Let's end this."
The wolf lunged desperately, turning into a blur of fury and pain, swift as lightning. Its claws tore through the air, its jaws wide open, craving to shred flesh.
I stepped quickly to the side, evading the attack with ease, and drove the spear into its side. The wolf howled in pain, its body twisting in agony, blood pouring out like a river from the fresh wound and soaking the earth.
It tried to lunge again, trying to muster its last bit of strength.
But it was utterly futile. I drove the spear deeper, pinning the wolf to the ground. The shaft held firm as it struggled madly, its claws scraping the dirt in vain.
Stab. The spear pierced through its chest without mercy, blood spraying across the ground like a crimson rain.
Stab. Its growls turned into weak, broken whimpers, its strength draining with every passing second. Its organs shattered under the cold steel blade.
Stab. The wolf went completely still, its body collapsing onto the cold earth.
"Done." I stepped back, pulling the spear out with a sickening, wet sound, the heavy scent of blood thick in the air.
The forest seemed to sigh in relief, the tension dissipating into a deathly quiet. Only the faint rustle of leaves and the eerie whispers of the wind remained.
Sorry, buddy. Mess with my village, and you've gotta die.
---
"Ngh… Son, are you finished yet?" A familiar voice cut through the eerie silence from behind.
I turned around, hearing the heavy crunch of footsteps on the forest floor. My father stepped into view, his face calm but clutching his arm. Blood seeped through his sleeve, staining the fabric a deep crimson.
…Damn it.
"Dad!" I blurted out, my voice catching. "Are you okay?"
He waved his hand, the reassuring smile he always wore appearing on his pale lips. "Just a scratch." He said lightly, though the trembling in his jaw betrayed the pain.
"…Are you sure?"
He nodded, his smile unwavering despite the beads of sweat on his forehead. "I'll patch it up at the chapel later. Don't worry."
But I did worry—a lot. How could I not when his blood was dripping onto the ground?
I turned back toward the forest, scanning the shadows desperately for any signs of movement. The wind, the distant murmurs—it all warned me of the lurking danger.
The hunt wasn't over. There were others still prowling. They all had to die.
"I'll handle the rest." I said quietly, my voice cold as ice, gripping the spear tightly.
---
By the end of that day, not a single wolf in the forest survived.
When it was over, the sun had begun to set, casting a red-orange glow that created long, jagged shadows over the blood-soaked scene.
Blood drenched the ground, pooling unevenly, glimmering under the dim light of dusk. Wolf fur scattered across the earth like crimson snow, mixed with shattered fangs and broken claws. The air was thick with the stench of blood, and somewhere within it lingered the scent of decaying magic.
Serves them right.
"Well, looks like it's done." I sighed, preparing to clean up the mess before heading home. But suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.
"Wow, you really did all this, didn't you?"
The voice came out of nowhere—sweet, enchanting, melodic, yet there was something chilling about it. The presence behind it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my heart thudded wildly.
Before I could think, my body reacted instinctively. In an instant, I gripped the spear and thrust it toward the source of the sound.
But the spear stopped, just inches away from its target.
Did I hold back? No… that's not it.
"Hey, that's rude!" The voice snapped, sharper now, tinged with mock irritation. "You've already destroyed my forest, slaughtered my wolves, and now you're trying to kill me?"
I blinked, squinting to adjust to the dim light as the figure came into focus.
It was a forest nymph.
No, she was something older… more grotesque… more foul. All the nymphs in this region knew me, but she was unfamiliar. And more importantly, none of them were ever this terrifyingly powerful.
Damn it.
She stood before me, her form half-blended with the nearby tree bark, her skin soft like soil, glimmering faintly under the moonlight. Her hair cascaded down like wild vines, adorned with strange, delicate flowers.
But it was her eyes that captured me—they glowed faintly, like emeralds reflecting moonlight, yet deep within them lay an ancient, malevolent force beyond comprehension.
This isn't good. I need to find a way to escape…
But… can I?
"Well?" She said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, a smirk full of challenge. "Are you going to apologize? Or are you just going to keep pointing that thing at me?"
…Apologize? Will apologizing even make this better?
"…I'm sorry." I said calmly, lowering the spear but still gripping it tightly, ready for anything.
The nymph tilted her head, her glowing eyes narrowing dangerously. "Oh, come on. You could at least try to sound sincere."
She leaned closer, examining me like one might inspect a strange insect before crushing it.
Clearly, this isn't going to work. She's just toying with me.
Fine… in that case.
I responded, unwavering despite the frantic beating of my heart. "I don't regret it." My voice was steady but firm. "The wolves needed to be dealt with. They were threatening the villagers."
Her lips curled into a polite smile, though there was no warmth in it—only icy contempt.
"Threatening the villagers? Maybe to you little humans. But to me, they were a precious part of the forest. *My* forest."
She stepped closer, and for a moment, the air around her seemed to tremble with eerie vitality. The flowers in her hair bloomed vividly, and the vines at her feet writhed like venomous snakes.
"You didn't kill the wolves for anyone." She said, her voice dropping into a dangerous tone. "Humans—you were just indulging your own savage instincts."
"I only did what needed to be done. Humans and nature are fundamentally different."
Her eyes flashed dangerously, and for a moment, I thought she might attack me then and there. But then she stopped, her lips no longer smiling, replaced by an expression of boredom.
"Necessary?" She repeated. "Hmph, fine. Big fish eat little fish—that's the way of the world." She shrugged with disdain.
Before I could respond, she vanished in an instant. One moment, she was leaning against the tree with an aura of menace; the next, the space where she stood was empty, as if she had been nothing more than a haunting shadow.
Where did she go?
I gripped the spear tightly, my knuckles aching, and turned frantically, scanning the forest for any sign of movement. Nothing. Nothing at all. The silence was deafening, the air heavy with the smell of blood and earth, foretelling doom.
Then I felt it—a chilling sensation running down my spine. Arms—soft as silk but strong as oak—wrapped around me, constricting me in a deathly embrace.
"What the—" I gasped, struggling to break free.
"Shh." The voice whispered near my ear, sweet like honey but sickeningly twisted. "As a special gift for doing what was 'necessary,' I'll grant you a blessing."
"I don't need your blessing!" I growled, struggling desperately, cold sweat dripping down my back.
But it was useless… she was too strong.
"Oh, but you do." She said, her tone playful but laced with malice. Then she leaned closer, her icy breath brushing against my neck like the touch of death. "Witness forbidden knowledge."
What?
"Argh!"
In an instant, I felt it—a searing, excruciating pain, burning like hellfire. It spread through my chest, sharp as if roots were piercing through me. My vision blurred in a haze of red, the world around me seeming to twist in madness.
The trees—were they swaying? No, I'm hallucinating.
I staggered forward, dropping the spear as I collapsed to my knees. The ringing in my head grew louder, and with it came something else—eerie whispers. At first faint, like the rustle of leaves in the wind, but then clearer, forming words in an ancient tongue.
"What… is… this?" I gasped, trembling under the unbearable pain, shutting my eyes tightly as if to escape.
But the whispers didn't stop. They grew louder, overlapping and intertwining. They were chaotic, frenzied, stabbing into my mind like thousands of needles.
The noise grew louder, louder, louder, louder. It hurt so much.
Shut up!
Then suddenly, it all stopped in a terrifying instant.
The world plunged into absolute darkness.