Roland's expression turned serious the moment he read report.
A hunter had returned in panic, claiming to have stumbled upon the nest of a high-level magical beast the Flame Saber Tiger deep in the eastern woods near Apus Village.
Alongside the scorched ground, he had seen several mangled bodies. Luckily, he'd escaped alive.
This news spread quickly, and the peaceful atmosphere in the village was replaced with fear and whispers. People knew how dangerous such beasts were. Villages had been wiped out before by creatures like that.
Roland knew one thing.It had to be dealt with quickly.
"Master, is it even stronger than you?"Roan asked, seeing Roland's expression.
"I don't know.Even if it's not, we should be careful. Except for me, we don't have knights who have stepped into Master rank."
Roan nodded while sighing.
His Lord was just too cautious and steady.
However, it wasn't a bad thing. Working under such a Lord is a blessing.
"Roan!"
"Yes My Lord!''
"How much do we have in the treasury?"Roland asked.
"Deducting the expanse, we have 500 gold coins in our hand."
Roland roughly calculated the expenditure of various projects and spoke.
"Take 100 gold coins and let's send an informant to hire a mercenary from the adventure guild. Don't take out all the sum. Put 50 first and say it's a 7th rank demon."
"I will ."
Without wasting time, Roan called guards., a trusted aide, and sent him to the town, a day's journey away to post a mission request at the Adventurer's Guild. He also gave strict orders: no one was to tell Janet his pregnant wife about the situation. He didn't want her to worry.
To make sure the mission caught attention fast, he offered a reward of five thousand gold coins.
It was a steep price—but to him, the safety of his people came first.
And sure enough, it worked.
Within two days, a group called Purple Hyacinth accepted the mission. Roland invited them to Weiss Manor himself to discuss things.
....
Weiss Manor, reception hall.
"Greetings, Lord Roland!"
The five adventurers stood respectfully when Roland walked in. Though strong, they were still commoners in front of a noble.
Roland smiled gently and waved his hand. "You don't need to stand in the ceremony. Please, sit."
They exchanged brief introductions.
The group's leader was Freya, a confident half-elf with sharp eyes and a magic bow. She was ranked sixth in strength.
Her second-in-command was a broad-shoulder man wielding a heavy shield—also sixth rank.
The remaining three were two male warriors, and one female healer. They were all at the fifth rank.
Despite their modest size, their party was strong. With both offense and defense well-covered, Roland felt reassured.
However, it also made him a bit jealous.
Despite coming from an anonymous background, they had strong talent which pushed them to this rank.
Their strength was enough to earn them a noble title, but they just lack merit.
The truth was the Kingdom of Jin was a small backwater without any prospects.So anyone who reached 3rd rank and became Intermediate Knight, they would leave the region for an Empire when they could prosper and get resources.
Sighing, he shook his head and focused on the crux.
He gave them more information about the beast and the terrain. After the discussion, he asked the butler to show them to their guest rooms for the night. It was late. The sun was nearly down, and entering the forest in the dark would be suicide.
They would leave first thing in the morning.
.....
That night.
Inside the guest rooms, the adventurers relaxed a little but still kept the mission in mind.
Freya leaned against a window frame. "That baron's polite, but I wonder if he's actually strong."
Kara, the group's healer, nodded. "Yeah, he looks gentle… I hope he doesn't slow us down."
Bran crossed his arms. "Don't expect much. He's probably all bark and no bite."
Adonis, the mustached warrior, chuckled. "Let's not be too quick to judge. Either way, our job is to keep him safe."
Freya turned to the group. "Exactly. Be ready tomorrow. If things get ugly, Kara—stay close and heal. Lia, keep watch for movement."
"Got it!"
They ended the day with a short tactical discussion and went to rest.
.....
The following morning.
The sky was clear, and golden rays lit up the trees as Roland stood outside Weiss Manor. The adventurers were already gathered, dressed in gear and checking their weapons.
Roland had personally prepared some light armor and backup supplies for them. Even though they were experienced, he didn't want to take any chances.
Once everything was ready, they headed toward the eastern forest—the place where the Flame Saber Tiger had made its nest.
Their guide, the same hunter who had escaped from the beast earlier, led the way.
As they entered the woods, a chill ran through the group.
The forest was unusually quiet. No birds chirped. No wind blew. Just the crunch of boots on dead leaves.
The adventurers adjusted into formation automatically.
Bran walked ahead with his large shield raised, his every step careful. Behind her were Kara, the healer, and Freya, who acted as the scout, both scanning the area.
Adonis, the mustached warrior, kept close to them with his axe resting on his shoulder, ready to strike.
Freya brought up the rear beside Roland, who stayed in the center.
They didn't speak much. Everyone could feel it—the deeper they went, the closer they were to danger.
After about twenty minutes of walking, the hunter stopped and pointed toward a patch of scorched earth.
"Here. Ten kilometers in. This is where I saw it last."
Charred trees and blackened grass spread across the area. There were also long red strands of fur on the ground, still warm.
"Definitely the tiger's," Bran muttered.
Freya took a step forward, eyes sharp. "Everyone stay alert. We're inside its territory now."
The group tightened their grip on their weapons and moved cautiously.
Adonis whispered with a grin, "Hope this thing gives us a good fight. I'm itching to swing this axe."
Roland chuckled softly but stayed focused.
They walked another kilometer, the silence growing heavier with every step.
Suddenly..snap!
A sharp sound in the distance.
Roland's body went stiff. He had heard something. Heavy. Fast.He turned his head slightly, his senses screaming danger.
"Everyone—back!"
He grabbed Freya's arm and yanked her behind him just as a shadow shot out from the bushes and attacked the spot Freya stood and disappeared.
Adonis instantly stepped forward, slamming his axe down with a loud roar. "Come out, you striped freak!"
But the shadow was too fast—it dodged and vanished again between the trees.
Freya looked at Roland in shock and spoke with a flustered expression.
"Thanks.."
"It's okay.."Roland answered nonchalantly.
Inwardly, though, he sighed.
"I was just supposed to stay back and observe. But here I am… saving the heroine and fighting the beast. Guess that's how it always turns out."
Bran moved to the right side, sword ready. "It's circling!"
Freya, eyes wide, looked at Roland. But he was already moving.
He took a deep breath, raised his sword high, and shouted:
"Storm Technique: Wind Slash!"
A wave of sharp air burst from his blade, cutting through trees and bushes ahead. Leaves scattered. Branches flew.
Everyone froze for a moment, stunned by the force.
The area ahead fell silent.
Adonis blinked, then turned to Roland. "...Well, damn. You've got a good swing."
Roland didn't reply right away. His eyes stayed on the treeline, scanning.
The forest fell quiet again but not for long.
The real fight had just begun.