The midday sun hung high, casting long shadows over the bustling Monster Extermination Society (MES). Breeze followed Sayah as they wove through the crowded hall toward the quest board. Agents argued loudly over contracts, supplies, and rumors of monsters prowling beyond the city walls.

“Stick close, kid,” Sayah said, glancing back protectively. “The crowd here can get... bothersome.”

Breeze nodded, keeping his head low to avoid unwanted attention. His agility test with Sayah had earned him grudging respect, but deep down, he knew she hadn’t shown her full potential during the test. From the snippets he’d picked up, she had used no more than thirty percent of her ability. That realization humbled him.

The skeptical, disdainful stares of other agents pressed down on him like a heavyweight. It wasn’t just that he was new; it was the unusual sight of a man choosing a woman, especially one as notorious as Sayah, as a mentor.

Sayah scanned the postings on the quest board. “Hmm… nothing too intense for your first mission.” She tapped a parchment pinned near the bottom. “Here we go. A pack of swamp crawlers was sighted near the outskirts. Easy enough to handle if you’re careful but tricky enough to test your wits. Interested?”

Breeze quickly read the details. Swamp crawlers were slow-moving but vicious, known for their sharp pincers and ability to camouflage in murky waters. It seemed manageable but nerve-wracking.

“Will you be with me?” he asked.

“Of course,” Sayah replied. “But don’t expect me to hold your hand. You’re here to learn, not cling to my skirt.” She smirked. “Unless that’s your plan?”

Breeze rolled his eyes. “No way.”

Though the mission sounded simple, anxiety twisted in his gut. It would be his first time facing an abomination alone. His father had always handled the dangerous creatures during their travels, leaving Breeze with only theoretical knowledge. Applying it for the first time—especially under the watchful eyes of a veteran like Sayah—felt daunting.

After signing up for the quest, they headed to the armory. Sayah handed him a small pouch of coins. “Buy what you need: potions, traps, and maybe decent boots. Swamp muck eats through cheap leather like acid. I’ll meet you by the gate.”

Breeze wandered through the market stalls, marveling at the variety of gear on display. He bartered for sturdy boots, a small pouch of healing salve, a coil of lightweight rope, and a bottle of thick oil to protect his weapons from corrosion.

As he strapped the items to his belt, snippets of conversation caught his ear:

“You hear about the party that got annihilated in the southern forests?”

“Yeah. A Dread Monster. A nasty way to go.”

“Apparently, it was some noble brat’s fault. He went past the swamps into the Misty Forest to show off by hunting a Feral Monster and stumbled on the Dread one instead. The party got wiped out trying to save him.”

“Typical nobles, getting people killed for their ego. I wouldn’t risk my neck for them, gold or not.”

“Shhh! The walls have ears, idiot.”

Breeze frowned but kept moving. The wilderness really is a dangerous place, he thought, his father’s absence weighing heavily on his mind.

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At the gate, Sayah was waiting, arms crossed. “Ready, my little prodigy?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

As they walked, the sunlit grass swayed under a gentle breeze, its natural beauty shimmering like liquid gold. Yet beyond the serene landscape, the swamp loomed ominously. Its twisted trees cast eerie shadows, the air grew pungent with decay, and the ground squelched beneath their boots.

“First lesson of the hunt,” Sayah said, motioning for Breeze to stop. “Always assess your environment. Swamp crawlers are ambush predators. Look for signs—broken branches, disturbed mud, ripples in the water.”

Breeze nodded and scanned the area. His sharp eyes caught a faint ripple in the murky water ahead. “There,” he whispered, pointing.

Sayah followed his gaze and grinned. “Good catch. Now, what’s the plan?”

Breeze thought for a moment. “If I can lure it out, I’ll use the rope to trap its pincers before it attacks.”

“Bold. Let’s see it.”

Breeze crept forward, his heart pounding. The ripple grew larger until, with a burst of motion, a swamp crawler lunged from the water, pincers snapping. Adrenaline surged as Breeze dodged and flung the rope around its claws, pulling it tight.

“Not bad,” Sayah called, throwing a dagger into the crawler’s exposed underbelly. The monster screeched and collapsed.

Breeze straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. “That wasn’t so hard.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Sayah said. “The rest of the pack won’t fall for that trick.”

They moved cautiously through the swamp, hunting the remaining crawlers. Suddenly, a pincer broke through the water, lunging for Breeze’s side.

Before he could think, his body reacted. With cat-like agility, he leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack. In an instant, a kick struck the creature's claw, tearing it clean off. A follow-up strike with her tekko-kagi pierced its head, killing it instantly.

“Impressive,” Breeze said, wide-eyed. “You tore that thing apart with one kick!”

“I’m the one who should be impressed,” Sayah replied. “Your reaction speed wasn’t normal. That was... inhuman.”

Breeze forced a laugh. “Probably just adrenaline. Felt like my body acted on its own when I saw a life-threatening attack.”

“Hmm. Maybe you entered the ‘zone.’ Even so, that jump...” Sayah trailed off, clearly suspicious.

I hope she won't dwell on it. It's not a thing that a non-meat consumer could do, Breeze thought, relieved when she dropped the topic.

As they ventured deeper, dispatching more crawlers, the swamp grew unnaturally quiet. A chill settled over the air.

“Something’s wrong,” Sayah muttered, her playful demeanor replaced by sharp vigilance.

Breeze tensed, gripping his dagger. A faint rustle of leaves drew his gaze. A young man stumbled into view, his clothes torn and bloodied.

“Help me,” he gasped before collapsing.

Sayah knelt, examining his wounds. “He’s alive, but barely.”

“Who is he?”

“Looks like he’s from the annihilated party. He tenaciously stayed alive for more than a day in this condition,” Sayah replied. She pulled a vial of healing potion from her pouch and poured it carefully over the man’s wounds.

“The... Dread Monster,” the man whispered weakly. “It’s coming.”

Sayah stood abruptly, her expression grim. “Carry him. We’re leaving. Now.”

“But we haven’t collected proof of the kills!” Breeze protested, panic rising.

“This isn’t about the quest anymore,” Sayah snapped. “This is survival. Move!”

Carrying the injured man, they hurried through the swamp as distant growls echoed behind them.

As they reached the edge of the swamp, Sayah turned to Breeze. “I could have taken that monster, but the problem is... I'm not certain if it's alone or not. I just remembered what you said, one critical hit can lead to certain death, while it's a common thing, not all people can think rationally when they taste a bit of power, so I prefer to play it safe. Just don't think that your master is a coward. One wrong move, and it’s game over.”

If you’re a coward, then my father and I are chickens, he inwardly confessed.

Breeze nodded earnestly. “You’re the best mentor I could ask for. Anyone else would’ve gotten us killed with his recklessness. Playing it safe isn’t cowardice—it’s wisdom.”

Sayah smirked. “I really like your silver tongue and your way of thinking. Let’s just make it back alive.”