Extra in a Romance Fantasy

113 – Monster (4)

“I’m ashamed.”

Wrapped in bandages from head to toe, Hector said this.

“Who wouldn’t be? To be taken down by that mere monster. I guess you’re getting old now.”

Looking at Hector, Max clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Yeah, it seems like it’s about time for me to retire.”

Hector could only smile at Max’s prickly remark.

“…Well, at least it’s not a fatal wound, so that’s a relief.”

At that response, perhaps something sank in, as Max’s expression softened a bit.

“Well, my body is tough, you know.”

Max exaggeratedly raised his arm.

It was a somewhat unconvincing statement coming from someone wrapped in bandages, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.

The wounds he bore would have been life-threatening for an ordinary person.

However, Hector was not only an exceptional mercenary but also a remarkable warrior.

His physique was on a different level than that of an average person, and thanks to that, he was able to survive even after sustaining a fatal injury.

Still, it was undoubtedly a serious wound, and with no healer among their group, the best they could do was use potions and medicine to treat it, meaning he couldn’t say he was fully healed.

While it wouldn’t be accurate to say he was in critical condition, he was certainly in a state where he needed to avoid vigorous movement for a while.

For that reason, Hector was essentially rendered useless for this journey.

It would be difficult to proceed with the commission normally, and he might even find himself in a position where he had to pay a penalty.

“What about the commission?”

“Don’t worry about that. I took it on with someone else from the start. Normally, it would be dangerous if I dropped out, but in this situation, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“…Then that’s a relief.”

Max nodded quietly.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to help catch that guy anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t mention it. We’ll manage just fine without your help. Stop worrying and focus on getting better.”

Leaving those words with a nonchalant expression, Max turned and exited the tent.

“Take care of yourself.”

Johanna also left, expressing her concern for Hector.

Following behind them was Wade, who had been quietly listening to the conversation.

“…….”

As soon as Max stepped out of the tent, his expression darkened.

It was a stark contrast to the playful demeanor he had maintained just moments before.

What emanated from him was a palpable rage.

Naturally, that anger was directed at the monster that had harmed Hector.

Until now, he had thought about killing the creature, but it had been merely a matter of necessity; there had been no true conviction behind it.

However, due to this incident, he had genuinely come to harbor a desire to kill.

“Your spirit is high, but are you sure you’re okay? Hector was hurt too.”

Johanna, sensing Max’s fury, asked.

“We have to be cautious. But… we can’t afford to delay any longer.”

“That’s certainly true.”

Johanna nodded in agreement.

“It’s time to put an end to this.”

Max declared with a cold gaze.

Yet, despite Max’s declaration, the outcome he desired did not materialize.

The creature had completely avoided any encounters with Max since then.

Of course, Max charged at it with fire in his eyes, but each time, the creature slipped away like an eel with its characteristic movements and speed.

Max ground his teeth in frustration at its behavior, but there was nothing else he could do.

If the creature was determined to escape, there was no way to catch it.

In the end, Max could only chase after it, left to gnaw on his own fingers, while the creature would flee at the sight of him, resulting in a bizarre game of tag that continued for a while.

However, even that game of tag eventually came to an end.

The day finally arrived when the creature did not evade him, even with Max right in front of it.

Once again, Max and the creature clashed—

Kaaang!

This time, the confrontation was different from all the previous ones.

“…You.”

Max’s expression hardened.

It wasn’t due to anger.

What solidified his expression was confusion.

In that brief moment of collision, Max realized.

The creature had ascended to a level entirely different from before.

Its strength and speed were beyond comparison, and above all, it had begun to wield technique.

Martial arts were unfolding at the tips of its claws.

Creeeak—

From within the black shadow, white teeth erupted like a tear.

Max realized that it was smiling.

“…I’ll rip that neck apart.”

With a face hardened in resolve, Max steeled himself.

Setting aside the fact that it had been a nuisance to him and his companions.

Setting aside the fact that it had inflicted serious wounds on Hector.

Max felt it.

He had to deal with this creature here and now.

He could no longer afford to give it time.

Otherwise, a truly unstoppable monster could be born.

Thus, Max summoned all his strength.

Whooom—!

His hand axe vibrated, emitting a sound as if it would burst.

With that destructive power contained within, Max swung the axe toward the shadow.

The axe, swung with the force that seemed capable of shattering even a great tree in an instant, aimed at the creature.

Kwahng!

With a sound close to an explosion, it was halted by the shadow’s claws.

“……!!”

A look of shock crossed Max’s face.

He had never dreamed that his full power could be blocked so easily.

And at the same time, he realized.

The creature had been concealing its true strength.

Max was well aware that it was growing.

However, he had judged that it was still at a level beneath his own.

Though it had significantly developed, he believed he could easily defeat it if he gave it his all.

But that was not the case.

He knew that Max was weighing him up and was hiding his true abilities.

For this very moment.

As a fierce alarm rang in his instincts, Max hurriedly tried to pull away, but it didn’t go as planned.

His balance began to crumble, slipping out of his control.

In that instant, Max’s eyes widened.

He realized what the cause was.

Everything was starting from the hand axe that was touching the creature’s claw.

The creature swung the hand axe with its claw, momentarily disrupting Max’s balance.

And it was a technique familiar to Max.

It was the very technique he had used in his first encounter with the shadow.

Creak—

The shadow laughed.

Max, being a master in his own right, wouldn’t completely lose his balance from such a thing, and he could quickly regain his footing, but in situations like this, even the slightest disruption of balance could lead to fatal consequences.

The creature’s unnaturally long claw glinted as it reflected the sun.

And that glimmer was about to swing directly toward Max’s body.

Whoosh—

The wind blew, and someone rushed toward them at a speed that was literally like the wind.

It was none other than Johanna.

Like a gust of wind, Johanna closed the distance in an instant, swinging the two daggers she held in her hands toward the shadow.

Even a master could only be caught off guard in such a moment, and the speed was overwhelming.

Just before the shadow received that deadly blow, it was.

Without a hint of panic, quietly gazing at the tip of Johanna’s blade.

In that gaze, Johanna felt that something was wrong.

However, even with that feeling, she couldn’t immediately pull back.

No matter how skilled she was, she couldn’t just disregard an all-out attack.

In the end, her dagger continued on its indifferent path.

The shadow’s body moved as if dancing.

And the claw that had been swinging toward Max changed its trajectory and swung toward Johanna instead.

In that moment, Johanna felt her own death approaching.

But.

—

Thud─

With the shock felt from the side, her vision changed.

Johanna’s gaze naturally turned sideways, and her eyes widened to an unimaginable extent.

In that brief moment, she immediately realized what had happened.

That Max had pushed her away.

Judging that it was impossible to control the shadows with her balance disrupted, he had thrown himself to push her out of harm’s way.

“Don’t…!”

A scream-like cry tried to escape her lips.

Slash!

The sound of something slicing through the air echoed, quicker than her voice.

Blood splattered.

And a long scar was etched into Max’s body.

“Max……!!”

Seeing the grievous wound at a glance, Johanna screamed Max’s name like a cry of despair.

However, Max did not respond.

He merely looked at her with a calm expression.

As if he had no dissatisfaction with this situation whatsoever.

And the shadow’s claws should have swung again toward Max… but for some reason, the attack did not continue.

Instead, the shadow began to retreat with a speed never seen before.

Feeling a great sense of doubt about that fact, Johanna ran toward Max.

Right now, it wasn’t the time to worry about that.

*

The shadow raced through the forest with all its might.

What lay in the shadow’s heart was not the satisfaction of having finally surpassed its intended prey, but a chilling, icy fear.

That fear stemmed from a certain presence felt during the hunt.

A sharp energy sensed just before the shadow was about to finish off its prey.

That energy was thin and faint enough that only the shadow could perceive it, but it understood.

The overwhelming and unresisting power hidden within it.

When the shadow realized this, it fled with all its instincts screaming.

Until it had ventured far from its original territory.

—

The fear that the shadow felt was heavy and immense.

It was something it had never experienced since its birth.

After a long time of fleeing, the shadow finally came to a halt.

It did not question what the source of that energy was or where it had come from.

It simply thought.

From now on, it should not approach them.

Its instincts were commanding it so.

They were shouting.

To never, ever get close again.

It would have been a lie to say there was no regret.

It had finally surpassed its prey, and now only remained to hunt them unilaterally, to consume, and to grow stronger.

However, the shadow understood that it needed to be patient.

After all, humans were common.

Even if it felt regret in the moment, if it could endure and wait, it was certain that one day it could grow strong enough to devour all humans.

Thus, the shadow swallowed its regret and attempted to return slowly to its territory.

It was at that moment.

“You’ve run quite far.”

A voice came from behind, and the shadow turned around with the speed of a serpent, unsheathing its claws.

And it could see.

A man with brown hair was looking at it.

“Have you run away from it all?”

With an utterly calm expression, the man asked.