Published: January 24, 2026
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A girl arrived at a certain farm in the Principality of Hitia to take care of the livestock.
“Sorry for being late! I’ll feed you right away, so please wait!”
As she spoke to the animals, the girl gave them the feed she had brought.
“Sorry I haven’t come as often lately. There have been demonic beasts appearing outside, so my mom told me not to come here anymore.”
Squinting her eyes, the girl continued to talk to the livestock as they ate.
“Oh... it’s already this late...”
After about ten minutes of one-sidedly talking to the animals, a shadow crossed the girl’s expression.
“...Sorry, I’m here without telling my mom, so I have to leave before she finds out. You know, the explorers are working hard to chase away the demonic beasts around here! When the demonic beasts decrease, I’ll take proper care of you again. So... please hang on just a little longer!”
Reluctantly pulling herself away from the livestock, the girl looked around to confirm there were no demonic beasts nearby, and hurried on her way home.
After running for a while, she suddenly felt a terrifying gaze behind her.
The girl cautiously turned around—
“—Eek!?”
Though no one had been there moments before, a gigantic wolf with blood-red fur looked down at her.
Overwhelmed with fear, the girl fell backward.
The giant wolf seemed to be a species capable of magic. It mercilessly fired a mana projectile at the girl who was crouched on the ground.
The girl shut her eyes tightly.
“—Demonic sword unification (alteration) - form five (mont fünf)”
Orun intervened between the girl and the giant wolf, blocking the mana projectile with a magic shield.
“...Am I alive...?”
Hearing the roaring sound right before her eyes, the girl let out a surprised voice, realizing she wasn’t hurt at all.
“Are you okay? Any injuries?”
Orun turned around and gently asked the girl in a soft voice.
“Ah, um... yes... I’m fine.”
Still processing the situation, the girl blinked as she answered Orun’s question.
“Good, that’s a relief. It’s scary, but please hang in there just a little longer.”
Orun smiled reassuringly at the girl.
“Y-yes... Ah! Danger!”
In the girl’s field of vision, the giant wolf raised its foreleg to crush Orun.
Normally, this would be a surprise attack from a blind spot, but Orun was compensating for blind spots with bird’s-eye vision.
Before the wolf’s foreleg could reach Orun, a jet-black trail streaked across it.
The magic shield Orun had been holding had somehow transformed into a magic sword.
That magic sword sliced off the wolf’s foreleg.
Normally, a large amount of blood would gush from the wound, but since the cut surface was frozen, not a single drop of blood flowed.
“—Ice demon greatsword”
Orun focused on the wolf and swung the magic sword.
Countless slashing strikes extended from the magic sword, assaulting the wolf.
The wolf, fatally wounded, dissolved into black mist and vanished.
“A-amazing...”
The girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Orun, who had easily defeated the giant wolf.
Orun crouched down, met the girl’s gaze, and spoke.
“I’m glad I could save you. But you can’t go outside alone anymore. When you go out, go with someone who can fight demonic beasts. Understood?”
“Y-yes... I understand. Th-thank you for saving me!”
“You’re welcome... Is that your mother?”
Orun looked into the distance, where a woman and armed explorers, probably from the town, were running towards them.
“Ah, yes! That’s her!”
“I see. She must be worried, so go to her quickly. And don’t do anything to worry your mother again.”
The girl nodded firmly at Orun’s words and ran to her mother.
“Ia!”
The girl—Ia—was tightly embraced by her mother.
Orun watched the two with a fond smile for a moment, then left the scene.
As he did, he wiped his nose with his hand, which was stained with blood.
“You went outside alone! Are you okay?! Any injuries?!”
“Yeah! I’m fine! Because—huh...?”
Ia was happily about to say something to her mother but suddenly tilted her head in confusion.