The Master's Relief

Eugene, who had quietly accepted the pat on the head, sensed a feeling of relief in Godfrey's tone.

“Are you, by any chance, thinking of leaving the Monastery too, Master?”

“Always so quick-witted, you rascal.”

Godfrey withdrew his hand.

“Even if I am a thorn in their side, the Priests won’t be happy if you leave, Master.” “It’s their own doing; who else is there to blame?”

The Principal Religion Priests, whose influence was steadily waning, were desperate to increase their followers. Their belligerence, which spared no means, was enough to make even Godfrey frown.

*Peeep—!*

Just then, a whistle sounded from afar. It was a clear yet captivating, beautiful tone.

Within it lay both welcome and an eager desire for them to look her way. It was like a letter written in whistle. Godfrey’s face softened at its pure resonance.

“Homi! Don’t rush, come slowly!”

Despite Eugene’s shout, the girl sprinting down the hillside didn’t slow her pace.

She looked to be in her late teens. She was tall, yet with a lovely, fairy-like face that contrasted her height. However, there was an untamed, wild impression about her.

True to her Beastfolk nature, she grew quickly and had a large physique, making her a good match standing next to Eugene. She was an Herbalist and a Hunter who had inherited the Cabin where Eugene and his mother had lived.

“A squire’s squire, you say.”

“Don’t tease me.”

Eugene glared at his Master, who let out a hearty laugh.

Just as Godfrey had taken in Eugene, Homi was a girl Eugene had taken in. The age difference between them was only two years, making them feel more like siblings than master and Handmaiden.

Despite Homi's having run a considerable distance, Homi’s breathing was steady.

*Bow.*

She politely bowed to Godfrey and Eugene.

“We’ve come to catch the wild boar that’s threatening the village.”

*Nod.*

She responded to Godfrey’s words as if she already knew. Living in the Cabin at the edge of the forest, she was always the first to notice the appearance of unfamiliar beasts.

“If you have any clues, will you let us know?”

Homi thumped her chest at Eugene’s words, signaling him to leave it to her.

She couldn’t speak human language. It wasn’t that she was mute, but rather a problem stemming from her racial origin.

A thick, long white tail protruded from Homi’s pants as she walked ahead. It swayed playfully, seemingly enjoying itself.

Her tail was particularly striking compared to any other animal’s because she was a Snow Leopard Beastfolk.

Her Wild Blood was so potent that she couldn’t speak. No matter how hard she tried, what came out of her mouth wasn’t human language, but the growls of a beast.

Only on rare days, when the wildness in her blood thinned, could she speak.

“I’m curious about the *Origin of Bloodline*. I’ve seen countless Beastfolk, but I’ve never seen a case like hers.”

Was it a blessing in disguise? The gods often give one thing when they take another.

The dense Wild Blood had taken Homi’s language but granted her corresponding physical abilities. Even seasoned Hunters and Herbalists had to concede to her.

“Even if she’s a spirited child, wouldn’t she be lonely living alone?” “If it were any other village, perhaps, but here, many people are uncomfortable with her.”

Eugene subtly glanced towards the Monastery.

“True.”

“Besides, Homi is probably better suited to life here than in a crowded village. She’s the type whose feet can’t stay still, after all.”

Soon, the Cabin appeared. The place of cherished memories from a happy childhood greeted its owner, unchanged.

*Thump!*

Homi bent at the waist and extended her arm.

*“Welcome! Always welcome!”*

Her kind heart was evident even without words.

Around the time Eugene was adjusting to life at the Monastery, an orphaned girl appeared in the village. It was Eugene who extended a hand to the girl, who was huddled in an alley, shivering from hunger and cold.

Homi still vividly remembered that first encounter, his warm smile and touch as he transitioned from boy to young man.

Homi’s pride was protecting the Cabin, a gift of memories from Eugene.

“Thank you always. You’ve taken such good care of it.”

Eugene stroked Homi’s head, then stepped inside.

“When I first said Homi would live here, I was worried. But now, it looks more comfortable than Monastery life.”

“Master. Homi eats better and lives better than us.”

Godfrey looked around the interior with an expression of admiration. Dried herbs, fruits, and jerky hung densely everywhere.

This was knowledge the Witch, Eugene’s mother, had taught Eugene, and Eugene had passed on to Homi.

On the bed lay a stuffed doll Eugene had made and given as a gift. He had intended to make a stuffed bear, but it turned out to be a Bugbear.

Even though it was regularly washed, it was imbued with Homi’s scent because she always hugged it when she slept.

Bubble, bubble.

A teapot was boiling, as if prepared in advance. Homi brewed wild tea leaves and served them to her guests.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

*Smile.*

“This is always amazing, no matter how many times I eat it.”

Godfrey put a dried fig, which Homi had served as dessert, into his mouth. He was a stern Master, but he couldn’t resist the sweet and chewy texture.

“It’s a food from my hometown.”

“Weren’t you a wanderer since you were in your mother’s womb?”

“Shall I call it a spiritual home? Something like that.”

While the two chatted, Homi, true to her role as a squire’s squire, busied herself with hunting preparations.

“What a crude weapon.”

Godfrey frowned at the presence of the large club next to Eugene. With his extremely keen senses, he could discern its form without seeing it.

“That’s a weapon for a Barbarian Tribe, not a Knight.” “But all decent weapons are expensive, Master. And they break easily.”

Godfrey, having retired and living frugally, only had his personal equipment. There were weapons belonging to the Monastery, but Eugene couldn’t touch those.

“This one is quite useful, though.”

An Oak Club was repeatedly coated with a Witch's Arcane Sap Mixture and dried. The resulting Darkwood Club was incredibly hard.

He had once seen a mouse try to gnaw on it and break its teeth.

“I always feel this, but I wonder if you’re truly human.”

The club was more than just big; it was *massive*. It looked more suited for a medium-sized Monster to wield than a human. Godfrey was exasperated by his Disciple’s strength, as he lifted such a thing with one hand.

* * *

After finishing their tea, the party, now three strong, set off.

The fence surrounding the Cabin emitted a unique scent. It was coated with a sap that wild animals and insects intensely disliked.

As they took a path they didn’t usually use, a fallen tree blocked their way.

*Thump!*

Godfrey chuckled at the sound of Homi's effortlessly clearing it.

“You two are quite well-matched.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

This was why a woman could live alone in a cabin outside the village without issue. Any man with ill intentions who dared to trespass would have his soul knocked out of him with a single punch from her. Broken teeth and a fractured nose would be a bonus.

Homi led the group to a Mountain Garden. It was a secret spot created by the village Herbalist, where he reportedly planted valuable Cash Crops.

He had carefully hidden it with bushes, but he couldn’t fool Homi’s nose. However, the fence meant to keep out wild animals was shattered.

“The creature’s tracks. The old Herbalist will wail if he sees this.”

Seeing the crops mercilessly devoured brought to mind the face of the old man they had greeted in the village.

Suddenly, Godfrey’s ear twitched, and he turned his face towards a rabbit lying in the grass.

“It came all this way and is sleeping so peacefully?”

Homi darted over, tied the rabbit’s hind legs, and hung it from her backpack.

“It’s a Bait Trap mixed with fragrant sap, herbs that lower alertness, and Mushroom Powder that induces deep sleep. Rabbits are especially susceptible to it.”

That was why there was so much jerky in the Cabin.

“That must be a highly coveted skill among Hunters.”

“It’s our Family Secret Technique, left by my mother. We’d never teach it to anyone, right?”

*Nod, nod!*

Homi vehemently agreed.

“Don’t hunters bother you, asking for it?”

*Nod, nod.*

This time, she agreed with a frown.

“Homi says she’s set bait traps everywhere to lure the wild boar.”

“That child will serve you excellently on your journey ahead.”

A Squire who served a Knight with unwavering loyalty was a treasure. Homi was more devoted and capable than any Squire Godfrey had ever seen.

“I don’t really plan on leaving the village. Living off the mountain in the Cabin is good too.”

“It’s a waste of your talent to rot away in a rural place like this.”

“I’ll think about that slowly.”

They continued for a long time, checking the Bait Traps Homi had laid.

“Got it.”

Godfrey was the first to react.

*Twitch.*

Homi was next.

*Oink!* Eugene only pinpointed its location after hearing the boar’s grunt. It was a cliff-like area in a corner of the mountain. The place was a prominent, cliff-like rock formation, rising majestically from the mountainside, from which one might imagine a king being presented to his subjects. Below lay a sheer cliff, and beyond it stretched a vast forest. It was the extremely dangerous forest known as the Demon Realm, west of the village.

*Grrr-!*

A dazed wild boar, its massive body swaying, stood on the overgrown cliff edge.

“Is it so big that the medicine didn’t work properly? It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

Eugene stroked Homi’s head, and Homi looked apologetic.

“It’s your turn.”

“Indeed.”

Eugene stepped forward, holding his large club.

Godfrey and Homi waited patiently. They were certain that even a large boar was no match for Eugene.

Moreover, in its current drugged state, there was no need to say more.

*Squeal—!*

The boar, realizing the intruder’s presence, turned towards Eugene. It struggled to open its constantly closing eyes and pushed up its weakening, buckling knees.

“...Hmm?!”

“What’s wrong?”

Godfrey was puzzled by his Disciple’s sudden rigidity in front of the boar.

“Something’s off.”

Eugene had seen many pigs raised in the village.

As with all livestock, male pigs were castrated when young. Otherwise, their meat would become tough and gamey.

The few male pigs kept for breeding boasted magnificent testicles. The sight of them strutting around with two melon-sized sacs was astonishing.

However, the large boar before him had small testicles, like a stunted piglet's.

And then, that chilling feeling ran down his spine! Eugene trusted his intuition.

“It’s not an adult, this one!”

“Are you serious? Where in the world would you find a piglet that size...?”

*At that moment, Godfrey stopped speaking and turned around.*

Eugene didn’t ask the obvious question, “What”s wrong, Master?’ He knew something had surely caught his Master’s senses.

Trees in the distance swayed, and mountain birds took flight all at once.

The swaying of the trees surged towards them like waves, as if some colossal entity was charging.

Escape seemed difficult. This was a long, protruding landform, effectively blocking their only escape route.

“This place is good for trapping prey, but conversely, we’re the ones trapped.”

As Godfrey drew his sword, Homi also pulled out the Heavy Crossbow slung over her shoulder.

*Moments later, a Colossal Wild Boar, more than twice the size of an ox, appeared.*

“My goodness.”

Godfrey groaned. It was already of a size that should be called a Monster Boar, not just a wild boar.

*Whoosh!*

Godfrey and Homi split to either side, and the Monster Boar passed between them, radiating a blast of wind. Since there was nothing between its legs, it was clearly the mother.

*Splat!*

Godfrey’s sword aimed for its ankle, but its hide was so thick that it didn’t penetrate properly.

Godfrey had pierced the joints of arrogant Knights in Full Plate and taken down many dangerous Monsters.

But this prey was *Beyond Standard*. To catch such a Monster, one needed not excellent Swordsmanship, but a Siege Weapon.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

The ferocious beast’s eyes were fixed on Eugene, who was threatening its piglet. It paid no attention to the old Knight who had merely scratched its hind leg.

But then, something unexpected happened.

The dazed piglet, swaying from the drug, lost its balance from the vibrations of its mother’s charge and plunged over the cliff.

*ROOOOAAARRR—!*

The mother, having lost her child before her eyes, roared in fury.

“I didn’t kill it, you did!” “Do you think that will work? Get out of the way! No matter who you are, you can’t handle this opponent!”

Godfrey cried out urgently.

*Ping!*

*At that moment, Homi’s Heavy Crossbow fired a bolt.*

She had aimed for the eye, but it hit nearby, by a hair’s breadth, causing only a graze. As expected, its defense was incredible.

The mother boar ignored it, as if a pesky fly was buzzing, and charged forward.

*Click.*

Homi, undeterred, reloaded while running. It was a large crossbow, one that would be used in a siege.

It was a task that even strong men would need to step on the crossbow head and pull with both hands to accomplish, yet she did it while moving—truly monstrous strength.

Eugene also ran to the left, creating an easy firing angle for Homi.

And then, the second shot.

*Thwack!*

This time, it hit its mark.

*Squeal—!*

The bolt lodged itself in the left eye of the mother boar, which had been moving in a straight line in its rage.

Half its vision gone, an immense, unprecedented pain erased even its maternal love and desire for revenge.

The mother boar turned to Homi, who was reloading for a third shot, and glared with its hateful single eye.

“Where are you looking?”

Just then, Eugene’s voice reached his ear, as he ran as if flying, stepping on its rump and back.

*Squeal—.*

*CRASH!!!*

Before its cry could even finish, a massive club struck the top of its head.

With a thunderous sound, its head was driven into the ground, and its large hind legs shot up from the recoil.

Blood gushed from its nostrils, which were large enough for a human head to fit inside.

But it wasn’t dead yet. As it staggered, trying to get up, another full swing landed on its temple.

*SMASH!!!*

This time, it couldn’t even scream.

The massive body swayed, then tumbled over the cliff, following its child. It bounced off rocks repeatedly for a long time before coming to a stop in front of the dark forest.

“Oh, my God.”

Godfrey was speechless at this unbelievable situation.

The world is vast, and its hidden mysteries are boundless. I was arrogant.

He knew of his Disciple’s power, but he never imagined it would be *this* much!