Inside the village chief's home in Fruitvale Village,
the atmosphere was tense.
At the wooden table, Aven sat face-to-face with Vice-captain Todd. Sutter and Fessen stood off to the side.
"I think it's time we had a proper talk," Todd said, breaking the silence as he looked at the young man before him.
Aven smiled slightly. "That's fine. I have quite a few questions I'd like to ask you too, Vice-captain Todd."
Todd nodded, signaling for Aven to go ahead. After all, Aven had just won the recent battle, and thus held the upper hand in this conversation.
"Was it really the Lady's order for you to hunt down magical beasts?"
Todd looked a bit surprised but then nodded seriously. "Yes. The knights of the Order can all attest to that."
Sutter and Fessen's expressions shifted at this response. However, to their surprise, Aven remained calm, as if he had already expected the answer.
"Is it because of the unusual events in the Black Forest?"
"Something must have happened in the Black Forest. Otherwise, those Mightyenas wouldn't have come into human territory."
Todd hesitated for a moment, then nodded again.
"It's about the survival of Aspiration City, isn't it?"
As soon as Aven said that, all three men's expressions changed. Sutter and Fessen looked at Vice-captain Todd, who hesitated once more, but eventually nodded.
"So, it really is as the Lady mentioned last time—a matter of life and death."
"Then one last question: does the Lady know that I've tamed the Mightyena and the Gloom?"
This was the question Sutter and Fessen cared most about. To their relief, Vice-captain Todd shook his head—meaning that the attack on Fruitvale Village wasn't the Lady's intention.
But just as they started to relax, Todd suddenly added, "However… all magical beasts within Aspiration City's territory must be hunted down whenever possible!"
That remark left Sutter and Fessen stunned. They couldn't understand why the usually kind Lady would issue such an order.
"Oh? So, the Lady gave such a command?" Aven said with a sudden chuckle, his tone calm. Anyone who knew Aven well would recognize this as a sign that he was angry. "Then that must mean your Rhyhorns from the Knight Order also need to be hunted, right?"
Todd's face changed. He quickly clarified, "Not all magical beasts—only those without beast gear need to be hunted."
Aven remained calm and nodded. "That makes it even easier. I'll just take the beast gear off your Rhyhorns and put it on the Mightyena and Gloom."
"Don't try to tell me that Aspiration City needs the protection of knights. I believe that my Mightyena and Gloom are no less capable in battle. The outcome of today's fight already proved that."
Todd's face darkened again and again. He stared at the calm young man before him and suddenly felt a chill rise in his heart. He realized that Aven wasn't joking.
"Are you trying to make an enemy of Aspiration City?"
Aven let out a cold laugh. "Isn't Aspiration City currently facing a life-or-death crisis? Do they really have the time to deal with me?"
Vice-captain Todd fell completely silent. After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Do you want to know the true nature of the crisis facing Aspiration City?"
"Yes. After all, I'm involved in it too."
"Alright, then I'll tell you," Todd replied, nodding. He glanced at the two knights beside him, then began explaining the beast tide of the Abyssal Caverns.
As soon as the words "beast tide of the Abyssal Caverns" were spoken, Sutter and Fessen's expressions drastically changed.
As patrol knights stationed on the outskirts of Aspiration City, they had experienced the beast tide five years ago. The memory of those frenzied monsters was still fresh, even if they hadn't known the cause back then.
"The beast tide is caused by a gray mist drifting out of the Abyssal Caverns."
"This gray mist drives magical beasts insane, turning them into monsters that attack everything in sight. Eventually, the entire Black Forest will be contaminated."
"You've probably already noticed the surge in magical beasts coming from the forest. Combined with the appearance of the gray mist, this next beast tide will be far worse than the one five years ago!"
"Our mission to hunt magical beasts in the territory is meant to reduce the number that could be corrupted by the mist. We're preparing for the battle to come."
Aven froze as he listened. The moment he heard about the gray mist from the Abyssal Caverns, he believed it—Baron Ruize had said the same thing upon waking, that the Abyssal Caverns had started to fog up. It all fit together now.
"Vice-captain, does that gray mist really drive magical beasts mad?" Sutter asked again, still having a hard time believing it. If it were true, it would be a major problem.
"It's been confirmed," Todd replied firmly. "But to avoid mass panic, the Lady issued a gag order. You're now among the few who know the truth."
He turned back to Aven. "So, will you still stick to your choice?"
Sutter and Fessen also looked at Aven with complex expressions. They didn't know what to do anymore.
Aven thought for a moment, then asked, "The gray mist doesn't make beasts go mad instantly, right?"
"It's been four months since the mist appeared, and there still hasn't been a beast tide. That proves the mist doesn't work immediately."
"Maybe it takes time. Maybe the mist isn't thick enough yet. Either way, it needs time."
Todd was surprised by how accurately Aven had judged the situation. After some thought, he nodded. It was true.
But if the gray mist reached a certain concentration, beasts would go mad within two days—or within half a day if they were near the Abyssal Caverns.
"That's enough for me."
"You should've realized too—if I can command the Mightyenas, I can steer them away from the mist."
"Don't worry. I wouldn't gamble with their lives. When the mist rolls in, I'll take them and leave."
Aven exhaled, then looked at Todd seriously. "You must've thought about this too. So, the reason you decided to act… probably wasn't just because of the crisis facing Aspiration City, right?"
(End of Chapter)