“Oh, dear God. Please grant courage and healing to these poor lambs.”
When dawn broke, several mercenaries were injured from their battle with the monster.
Brother Marcus, who had rushed over from the church belatedly, stood before them, making the sign of the cross and reciting prayers one by one.
There were no miracles where light poured out to heal wounds in an instant or where a simple touch made blood stop with a dramatic “ta-da.” The role of a clergyman lay elsewhere.
“I wish to know about that wicked creature.”
“Y-yes, Brother. It had jet-black fur. Truly demonic!”
“Oh, brother, I can feel the fear of the devil within you. Let us pray together.”
The trembling mercenaries and some soldiers recited prayers alongside Brother Marcus, calming their anxious hearts. Thanks to this, the chaos subsided relatively quickly.
“He is from the Lichten Monastery.”
As Keldric absentmindedly observed the scene, a soldier cautiously approached and spoke. Keldric nodded indifferently.
Lichten Monastery. He knew nothing about it. However, the fact that an elderly monk had been sent all the way to these remote mountains suggested that it must have been by an order from the church.
“Huh…”
Keldric looked at Brother Marcus from a distance. The distinctively somber black robes of the monks stood out.
Religious figures were always difficult to read. Father Martin, who had taught him to read and write in Carlton Village, was like that, and so was Brother Marcus, whom he had just met.
Not knowing someone’s true intentions was an unsettling thing. Because of that, Keldric stared at Brother Marcus for a while.
Noticing the gaze, Brother Marcus, having nearly finished his prayers, approached Keldric. Some soldiers discreetly stepped aside, making space for them.
“May God’s blessings be with you. I am but a humble monk, Marcus.”
“May God’s blessings be with you. I am Keldric of House Bellaf.”
Brother Marcus used honorifics with everyone he spoke to. Whether it was the soldiers and mercenaries he had just prayed for or Keldric standing before him, his manner remained the same.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that he would behave the same way even before a newborn child.
Keldric, in turn, used a respectful tone. An elderly monk from a monastery was likely to hold considerable religious authority. He might even be in a position of seniority.
Moreover, monks were individuals who endured hardships and dedicated themselves to religious discipline, naturally earning them a high reputation.
They were worthy of respect. They were neither kings nor emperors, but it would be improper for a mere knight to treat a clergyman with disdain.
Religious authority was something to be honored regardless of status or rank. Keldric could not afford to break that norm.
“Sir Keldric, what do you think of demons?”
Brother Marcus’s abrupt question was something Keldric had not anticipated.
He looked at the monk with a slightly awkward expression. Brother Marcus, still wearing his ever-gentle smile, waited patiently for Keldric’s answer.
“I do not intend to speak carelessly on the matter.”
“Is that so?”
“However, I always believe that one must be wary of the demons’ vile and insidious schemes and temptations.”
“A commendable mindset.”
The church’s fundamental stance was that demons—devils—were ever-present and must always be guarded against.
As Keldric slowly pieced together the church’s teachings in his response, Brother Marcus nodded slowly, his expression showing satisfaction.
“Since the day we were born into this world, perhaps we have been living in the most brutal of times. To think that the minions of the devil freely roam the homes of mankind.”
“Well… that is, indeed… quite something. I’m not sure what to say.”
“That is why, Sir Keldric, I have a few questions for you.”
“Go ahead.”
Brother Marcus began with routine inquiries—how long Keldric had been here, his purpose in coming at the request of Baron Spitzenberg, and the circumstances that led him to hunt the monster.
“What did it look like?”
“It had glossy black fur. It was large, and its eyes were the yellow eyes of a beast.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Other than that… It resembled a wolf or a dog, but nothing particularly noteworthy… Haven’t you already heard this from the soldiers?”
“I have, but gathering multiple accounts is always important, just in case. Every mouth is open, and so are my ears.”
Brother Marcus seemed to be a rather meticulous man. He persistently dug into the description of the creature, even though he must have already heard it countless times from the soldiers and mercenaries.
At this point, Keldric couldn’t help but grow curious about Brother Marcus’s true intentions. As the questioning neared its end, Keldric spoke up.
“I heard you were sent from Lichten Monastery.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“What brings you all the way out here? If I may say so… this place doesn’t seem to have much of interest.”
It was hard to believe he had come just because of the monster rumors. Even Keldric himself had only recently learned about the creature terrorizing Spitzenberg.
Perhaps Baron Spitzenberg had done a good job keeping the information under control, or maybe the incidents were so recent that the news hadn’t spread beyond these lands yet.
“Did you come after hearing rumors about the creature?”
“No, I did not. Lichten Monastery, like this place, is deeply hidden within the mountains. It is difficult for us to hear the news of the world.”
“That must be tough.”
“Haha… As long as I have ears to hear the words of God, that is all I need.”
“Then, what exactly brought you here?”
“I’m afraid I cannot tell you that just yet, Sir Keldric.”
At this point, Keldric had nothing more to say. The smile on Brother Marcus’s face was both warm and firm.
It was clear that he had no intention of bending his stance. Keldric slowly nodded in understanding.
“Is it related to the church?”
“Yes. It is a matter concerning the church.”
“Then I will not press further. However, I have been tasked by Baron Spitzenberg to hunt that monster, and I have staked my honor on this mission. That is something I cannot compromise.”
“Do not worry. If anything, should you require even my meager assistance, I would gladly offer it.”
“Thank you. For now, I must go see Baron Spitzenberg. May you be filled with the grace of God.”
“Thank you. And may the Lord bestow His blessings upon you as well, Sir Keldric.”
With that, their conversation came to an end.
Keldric mounted Boreas and rode off with Alyssa, while Brother Marcus watched them depart for a brief moment before finally turning away.
Keldric stole one last glance at the monk. He was old, but his steadfast and upright spirit was something worthy of respect.
“Alyssa.”
“Yes, Sir Keldric.”
“Do you know anything about Lichten Monastery?”
“Lichten Monastery? Hmm… I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere…”
Alyssa fell into deep thought. Keldric silently guided Boreas forward, waiting patiently.
“I’m sorry. I don’t really know.”
“A shame.”
“I’m quite familiar with the monasteries near the Republic… but I have little knowledge of those within the Empire.”
“It can’t be helped. If you don’t know, then that’s that.”
After assigning the remaining soldiers and mercenaries to track the monster’s blood trail and organize the situation, Keldric set off for the inner fortress with Radomar and a few other mercenaries.
They had gathered enough clues about the creature—now it was time to uncover its true identity.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
“Is it a werewolf?”
After hearing the situation, Baron Spitzenberg’s first words were—of course—about werewolves.
Keldric scratched his chin with a reluctant expression. Honestly, at this point, it really did seem like a werewolf.
Jet-black fur, bipedal stance, backward-bending legs, and even the barking and whining sounds like those of a canine.
The image of the monster lunging forward with its mouth wide open was still vivid in Keldric’s memory. With its elongated snout, it certainly wouldn’t be far-fetched to call it a werewolf.
“But if it’s a werewolf, shouldn’t it be able to return to human form?”
“That’s exactly why we must be more cautious. Who knows what form the creature might take to conceal its identity and infiltrate this city… Damn it, I need to order a tightening of security.”
Baron Spitzenberg tore into his bread irritably. As always, dried herring was tucked inside the hard loaf.
Seeing that, Keldric discreetly set his own bread back onto his plate. His appetite had vanished.
“We may need to leave the investigation to the Church. In any case, Sir Keldric, you did an excellent job last night.”
“I was merely doing my duty.”
“And that’s all the more reason you deserve praise. You fought admirably against that wicked creature… And on top of that, you managed to provide an accurate description of its appearance. That is a great achievement.”
Previously, Sir Hilfrich, a vassal knight of Baron Spitzenberg, had engaged in battle with the monster.
Though calling it a battle was a bit of a stretch—he had been swiftly overpowered and left gravely injured. Still, out of respect for Sir Hilfrich’s honor, they would call it a fight.
“Sir Hilfrich didn’t get a clear look at it. Something about his torch going out…”
“That’s unfortunate. But I suspect the only reason I was able to fight properly was because Sir Hilfrich had already weakened it.”
“There’s no need for excessive modesty. What happened at dawn was entirely your accomplishment.”
So, was it truly a werewolf?
Keldric remained silent. If they labeled it a werewolf, then sure, it fit the description. But he couldn’t shake the possibility that it was some other kind of monster.
Baron Spitzenberg fell silent as well. Managing his domain was his priority; he had little interest in the specifics of identifying werewolves.
“Alyssa. Do you know anything?”
Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to Alyssa. She had been quietly chewing her herring-filled bread when she blinked at the sudden attention.
“I haven’t formally studied biology, so I can’t say for certain. But there are several features that align with the commonly known descriptions of werewolves.”
“Then, as expected…”
Baron Spitzenberg seemed to have already made up his mind—it was a werewolf.
With things heading in that direction, Keldric didn’t have much else to say. Whether they called it a monster or a werewolf, the goal remained the same: track it down and hunt it.
“But until the Church makes an official declaration, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
“Mm…That’s true. It’s best not to make hasty judgments.”
Baron Spitzenberg let out a sigh of concern over the potential disaster that could unfold in his domain.
“We should send someone to the Church. If they send an inquisitor or a priest knowledgeable in such matters, they’ll be able to determine exactly what we’re dealing with.”
“That sounds like the best course of action.”
“You’ve done well today. Keep giving your all in hunting that creature.”
For a situation involving a monster attack, the discussion wrapped up rather amicably.
Aside from a few injured mercenaries, there were no serious casualties. At worst, some flimsy market stalls had been wrecked but Baron Spitzenberg could easily smooth things over with a handful of silver coins.
After parting ways with the Baron, Keldric headed straight for the stables.
“Sir Keldric, where are you going?”
Alyssa, who had followed him outside, asked. Arno and Helga, caught up in the moment, trailed behind as well.
Without a word, Keldric lifted his surcoat, revealing his chainmail. The chest area was nearly shredded, torn apart by claws.
The next time he faced that monster, he intended to finish the job.
And for that, he needed something to replace his ruined chainmail.
“Ah…”
“I’m going to the artisans’ district.”
He needed armor something sturdy enough to withstand the creature’s claws.
And Spitzenberg was a city famous for its metallurgy, known for its strong, expertly forged steel.
Keldric figured it was about time he put his tournament winnings to good use.