“Prepare yourself, ugly monster! Because this will only end in an instant” Hearing Lyle’s listless voice from above, the girl then looked up on reflex and could see that he had jumped far into the air.

“”

Crimson light like fire wrapped the blade of the black katana, and took the form of a crimson blade wrapped in flames. Not just his blade that is wrapped by flames, even in the tip of his three tales has crimson fire in them.

“HaaaaaaaaAAA”

The crimson blade struck into the titan’s defenseless torso. It couldn’t even react at his movements.

What happened next is hard to explain. For the girl who was watching it, it was almost as if she could not make out what had happened at all. With only ten graceful slashes as if he was dancing in the air, the fight was over in an instant. What she saw was burned right into her retina and very mind.

His movements were so fast she can’t follow him at all. Each time the blade swung with a speed that left afterimages, a trail of crimson light and flames drawn in the air. Because of the first five strikes, the titan’s posture was destroyed. The five strikes that followed completely burned the titan’s life.

That was all it was. He was able to defeat an S-rank monster without a problem. His was a strength that was all its own. A power that was altogether absurd and impossible. Such was a boy younger than her.

"No way!? Impossible!?"

The girl’s voice was filled with shock. That power has truly far transcended the limits of human capabilities. The inside of her head was in disarray, which was the least of her concerns ‘A boy.... Defeated an S-rank monster? And what the heck is that power? This kind of nonsense....!’

The moment Lyle landed on the ground, the crimson light and the flames disappeared from the blade, and his clothes reverted back to normal. His fox tails and ears vanish as well.

Lyle turned around to face her. He was smiling wryly and as if his appearance just a while ago was a dream, he was now reverted to his normal black shirt with coat and pants. The only aspect of him that was different from a while ago was that he’s face right now was very solemn and gentle.

Then the girl asked like she remembered something.

“You just now, wha- “ShkreeeeeeeeehhHH!!!!”–t, aaargh! What is it this time!?”

The girl was startled. While talking she suddenly heard a shrill cry from somewhere. They just finished fighting that giant titan and it spent those most of their magic and now another ominous shadow was flying in the sky. The girl was horrified. Her face paled because of the pressure the monster was letting out.

It was a disaster!

However, to the girl, Lyle seemed relieved and full of life. He was smiling while looking at the sky. She couldn’t understand why and felt irritated by it.

“What the hell are you doing, feeling relieve and all! Another monster is coming you know, although I don’t know what kind, but I can felt it. It is a horrible and strong monster, stronger than the one we just fought! We should run now that it still hasn’t come!”

“Didn’t I tell you to calm down? Really girls in this world!” he said shrugging his shoulders while shaking his head in disbelief.

“Just what are you saying!? Are you an idiot? No you are really an idiot!” She changed her question to a statement as an intended insult. She glares at him with an annoyed look and was shouting at him but her words didn’t seemed even reach him.

Suddenly, Lyle raised his both arms.

“Oi!!! We’re here!”

Because of Lyle’s sudden action, the girl was startled and trembling.

“Wha-!? What the hell are you doing, calling it here! Just keep quiet; no let’s get out of here fast!”

She grabbed Lyle’s collar and started dragging him. She was feeling restless while thinking what monster could it has been.

‘A bird type monster? But from what I know, there is no monster that can make such sound! Although this is a high-level forest, there is no such monster in here? Or am I mistaken?’

She was absorbed in her thoughts when a shrill cry that she’d never heard before suddenly entered her ears. A cry as if it was containing a hint of anger, frustrated and happiness at the same time. She stopped her feet and carefully searched for the direction the sound came from.

It wasn’t very big like the monster titan before. It had brown fur and a body like a lion and a head of an eagle. It was surrounded by a glowing aura that can make anyone feel they were looking at a majestic and divine being.

As the girl focused her eyes on it, she immediately recognized it. She held her breath and muttered under her breath: . It was a rare mythical being which is said to have a body of lion and head of an eagle. It was the first time she’d actually seen the real thing. The are very prideful being. They don’t want to socialize from the other creatures especially humans as they think of them as lower species.

But even so, the girl noticed that the gryphon in front of them is different. She had read all information regarding gryphons. But this one is different.

“Shkruaaaarr!”

The gryphon let out a growl while slowly walking towards them. Frightened, the girl step back a few steps while trembling. She wanted to run away immediately but then

“Oh! It seems you’ve taken so much time! Did you fly far away leaving this place, thinking I died?” Lyle’s raised voice was laced with sarcasm.

When the gryphon heard him, its eyes seemed burned fiercely as he glared towards Lyle.

Feeling the tense atmosphere, the girl shivered but Lyle, who was the center of this situation, showed no response. Yet,

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

as though he were enjoying himself, the corners of his mouth were upturned in a faint smile.

The girl fell silent. Lyle’s calm and relaxed expression sent her focus in an about-face towards him. She had seemed to go through shock because of his nonchalant demeanor. She had the look of a 14 year old girl when her parents

discovered that she was collecting BL magazines.

The gryphon shook her eagle head and said

“What do thou think of this one? *sigh* this one believe thou art alive. It’s just that there were some unforgivable birdbrain who almost cause mo to lose some…*cough* never mind.”

“Hooo! I see, hahaha” as if pleased by what the gryphon, Sheila said. Lyle was laughing non-stop while running towards Sheila. He hugged her while caressing her fur.

“Hey, stop that! Get off on this one's back!” although she said that, her voice doesn’t contain any discontent but instead her voice was filled with joy for some reason.

Hearing the conversation between Lyle and the gryphon, the girl stood in blank surprise. She was dumbfounded while watching them. She moved her gaze to the gryphon and next she looked towards Lyle who was happily caressing the gryphon’s fur. Then suddenly as if she realized something she pointed at the gryphon with trembling hands.

“I-it t-talk? H-how?”

No wonder she was so surprise, just like Lyle before, this is also the first time she heard about a beast talking like a human. This surprise might even be greater than the time Lyle displayed his unbelievable power just a while ago.

“What happened here? It seems like there is a fight here just a while ago?” looking around Sheila said.

“hm? Yeah, we are attack by an overgrown ape” Lyle answered while climbing at her back while completely ignoring the the girl who was fearfully trembling like a puppy.

“Overgrown ape? What art thou saying?”

“A titan called . There you can see it right?”

“Oh! Where art the one who defeated it? Doth an S-rank, right?” she asks while surveying around the surrounding.

“It’s me; I’m the one who defeated it! Well, so much for that, let’s go home, I need to change my clothes!”

“ho? really?...........Fine! Grabbed tightly to this one’s back! Make sure thou won’t fall a second time!”

Lyle happily grabbed the gryphons back while riding her back. When they started flying a voice called them from behind.

“Wait! Where are you going? Are you leaving me behind?” said the girl who was just watching them until now.

“Ah, yeah, right! You’re also here!” Lyle casually said while turning his head to face her.

“What!? You already forgot about me?”

“Well, there’s no monsters now, so you can now go back yourself! So that’s that bye!”

“Then, just tell me!” she hurriedly said when she saw Lyle and the gryphon was about to leave.

“What?”

“Your name! I still don’t know your name!” she asks.

‘Should I tell her, or not? If she knew maybe she will go and find me, later on! it seems like she is also a student of the academy and I don’t really want to have trouble in the school. But now that she saw my power, *sigh*’ Lyle was pondering whether he will tell her, his name or not. He decided to lay low inside the school to avoid any trouble but this girl in front of him.

He leaned his body sideways and tilted his head. Intending to have an impudent expression, he coolly glanced at the girl’s face. He shrugged his shoulder and, as apathetic as he could muster, he calmly said

“I’m just a common, normal, average and super ordinary boy who just happen to pass by here, so no need for a beautiful young and noble lady like yourself to remember such commoner like me. Although some things happened in here, please forget it because they are only dreams. But don’t worry for I will never forget your bod*cough* I mean you! that’s why, I hope and pray for all of the gods that we will not see each other again. Sarabada!”

Although the last words he said is very rude, the girl seemed not to notice it; maybe she decided to ignore it, and still continue standing as she stared at Lyle’s face. After finishing his words, the gryphon turned and left as though running in the sky.

Listening towards Lyle’s outrageous speech, she was left somewhat stunned. Only after she can’t see them anymore, she came back to her senses. “Wait!” she tried to call him out, but Lyle was already seated on the back of the gryphon and had flown away.

**********************

- In a certain mansion-

The time was evening.

While the sun was setting, it gave a parting of vivid orange color. Inside a certain quiet room, there was a man happily drinking wine alone. He stood up and walked towards the door when he felt someone’s presence. When he turns around, he saw a man-like figure inside the shadow.

“How’s the plan going?” the shadow spoke with a somewhat powerful yet cold voice.

The man felt a chill ran down his pine when he heard the voice. He was trembling and was staggering as he fell on his butt.

“T-that is, I-it’s going well! W-we o-only n-need an f-few m-more y-years!”

“We have been waiting for six years!”

“W-we didn’t e-expects t-that t-the s-seal would be t-this h-hard!”

“Hmph! As expected of that cursed man! Hasten it, we will be waiting!”

“Yes master! We will do our best!”

The shadow vanished as if there it wasn’t in there the first place, while leaving a breeze that silently blew in the room. Shortly after, the room completely regained its silence.