Time flies.
In the blink of an eye, another six months had passed.
As the days went by, Janice's belly grew noticeably larger.
Rennes spent each day by her side, enjoying time with his wife and playing with their daughter.
Their life was peaceful and carefree.
However…
That peace would soon be shattered.
One afternoon…
A local hunter accidentally stumbled upon the lair of a high-level demonic beast — the Flame Tiger — deep within the forest east of Eagle Village.
When the news spread, the entire village was thrown into panic.
After all…
On the continent of Roland, it wasn't uncommon for demonic beasts to wipe out entire villages.
People feared the Flame Tiger might descend upon Eagle Village, slaughtering its inhabitants.
The fear and uncertainty quickly began to affect daily life and production across the village.
"This must be dealt with immediately."
Upon hearing the news, Rennes made up his mind.
He had to eliminate this high-level demonic threat lurking so close to Eagle Village.
As long as the Flame Tiger remained in the area, the village would live in constant fear.
Merchants would avoid the region.
Residents might flee.
All of the effort and resources Rennes had poured into developing his territory could be undone by a single beast.
There was no choice.
He had to slay the Flame Tiger — and quickly — to minimize the damage.
However…
Killing the Flame Tiger was no small feat.
As a fire-type advanced demonic beast, the Flame Tiger possessed not only devastating fire magic but also fearsome physical combat abilities.
Its power was immense.
Once fully grown, it could rival a 7th-rank knight in strength.
Rennes, by comparison, was only a 6th-rank warrior.
Even with his mastery of a destructive 5-star combat technique, the Gale Sword Technique, defeating the Flame Tiger on his own would be nearly impossible.
Even if he somehow won, it would almost certainly be a Pyrrhic victory — one that left him gravely injured.
"Looks like I'll need some help."
Rennes' eyes gleamed with determination, and he sprang into action.
He ordered his butler to head to the Adventurer's Guild and post a high-priority mission.
To ensure it was taken quickly, he offered a generous reward — five thousand gold coins for the successful extermination of the Flame Tiger.
Money speaks volumes.
And this time, it spoke loud and clear.
Within two days, a small adventurer party called "Purple Lilac" accepted the mission.
Upon hearing the good news, Rennes personally welcomed the team to his estate.
Habbs Manor — Reception Room
"Greetings, Lord Baron!"
Upon meeting Rennes, every member of the adventurer party stood up respectfully.
Although they were seasoned fighters, they were still commoners.
It was customary to show deference in the presence of nobility.
"There's no need for formalities," Rennes said, waving his hand casually.
After a few polite introductions, Rennes began to learn more about the group.
Their leader was a confident and elegant half-elf named Freya, a 6th-rank Magic Archer.
Her vice-captain was Ada, a muscular and resolute 6th-rank Shield Warrior.
The other three members — all women — consisted of a Warrior, a Healer, and a Hunter, each at 5th-rank strength.
It had to be said — this all-female adventurer party was impressively strong.
Their team was well-balanced in skills and roles, with coverage for scouting, frontline defense, melee and ranged attack, and healing.
With a team like this, Rennes felt far more confident about taking down the Flame Tiger.
After discussing the mission's objectives and strategy, Rennes had the butler escort the adventurers to their guest rooms to rest.
It was already late, and the sun was beginning to set.
Heading into the forest at dusk would be far too dangerous.
Visibility was poor, and the dense forest could conceal all sorts of threats.
It would be much wiser to begin the expedition early the next morning.
After making sure the adventurers were settled in, Rennes returned to his room.
Meanwhile…
In the guest rooms of Habbs Manor, the adventurer team discussed their impressions from the day.
"That Baron Rennes is planning to join us in the fight against the Flame Tiger tomorrow. I just hope he's not a burden," said Kara, the team's warrior.
"He seems soft — probably spoiled and inexperienced," Ada added bluntly, clearly unimpressed. "We should be ready for anything."
"We'll need to be careful," Captain Freya said calmly. "He's our client. Whether he's strong or not, our job is to protect him."
She was a professional.
They had accepted the mission — and the reward — and that meant protecting their employer came first.
Everyone agreed.
They then spent time discussing how best to ensure Rennes' safety during the upcoming battle before retiring for the night.
The next morning…
At dawn, Rennes and the women of the Purple Lilac squad finished washing and preparing their gear.
Once everything was ready, they were joined by the hunter who had discovered the Flame Tiger's lair.
He would serve as their guide.
Together, the group made their way toward the forest east of Eagle Village.
As they entered the dense woodland, everyone grew visibly more alert.
The members of Purple Lilac quickly shifted into a tight, tactical formation.
Ada, as vice-captain and shield warrior, led the group from the front, holding her massive shield high.
The hunter and healer stayed in the center of the group.
Captain Freya, along with the warrior Kara, brought up the rear, keeping close to Rennes.
This formation allowed them to cover all angles — just in case the Flame Tiger ambushed them.
They marched steadily for twenty minutes.
Roughly ten kilometers into the forest, they began to see clear signs of the Flame Tiger's presence:
Scorched trees, still smoldering.
Patches of fur on the ground that looked like they were made of flames.
Everything pointed toward the same conclusion — they were now in the heart of the beast's territory.
The hunter confirmed it: the Flame Tiger's den was just ahead, in a small hollow.
"Everyone, stay alert and be ready for combat," Freya said, gripping her bow tightly.
After all—
The Flame Tiger wasn't just a wild animal.
It was a deadly predator — a monster that could end their lives if they let their guard down for even a moment.
She didn't want to lose the employer they had sworn to protect.
And she definitely didn't want any of her teammates — sisters-in-arms — to fall.
"Understood!"
Everyone acknowledged the warning and raised their guard.
No one relaxed.
No one let go of their weapon.
They knew the Flame Tiger could strike at any time.
They advanced another kilometer.
Suddenly, Rennes — who had been silent this entire time — twitched his ears.
He sensed something.
Without hesitation, his expression changed.
In one fluid motion, he wrapped his arm around the half-elf Freya beside him and leapt back.
At the same time, he unsheathed his greatsword and launched a powerful combat technique:
Gale Sword Technique — Storm Slash!