The Luminary before me was enormous—its sheer size reminded me of the kind of grand statue you'd expect to see dominating a city plaza.
I was close now.
Just a few more steps, just behind the chair where she sat. The object I needed was right there, practically within arm's reach.
My heart thumped with anticipation as I moved forward.
But then—
—Grrrrrr.
From the empty air, shadows swirled together, condensing into a beastly form. A wolf-like monster emerged, its massive frame bristling with formless energy.
There it was.
The guardian of dreams.
The Warden.
It shook out its dark, smoke-like fur, as though flaunting its existence, before lowering its head and growling at me.
—Grrrrrr.
I clenched my jaw. So my hopes had been in vain. This place was guarded after all.
'Should I count myself lucky it's only one?'
Either way, escape wasn't an option. I'd have to force my way through.
I slipped a hand into my pouch and pulled out my weapon.
A dagger. Small enough to hide in my palm, but its keen edge gleamed dangerously under the dreamlike light.
Of course, I would've preferred my iron sword—the weight and reach of a proper blade gave me confidence. But lugging that thing to the entrance ceremony would've drawn too much attention. This dagger was the compromise.
Even so, it would have to be enough.
I tightened my grip and muttered through gritted teeth, "Come at me, you son of a bitch."
—Awooooooo!
As if it understood me, the Warden threw back its head and let out a vicious howl before lunging straight at me.
Its speed was incredible—its form blurred, a streak of shadow hurtling through the air.
I exhaled slowly, dropping into stance.
Since being thrust into Louis's body, I hadn't been idle. Day after day, I trained, honing my movements, my reactions, the muscle memory I would need for moments exactly like this.
If you asked me whether my abilities were superior to others, the answer would be obvious—absolutely not.
The cadets who kept training while Louis wasted his days in laziness would've naturally grown stronger in proportion to their efforts. That much is clear.
But even so… I'm not so weak that I should be pathetically overwhelmed by a mere beast like this.
Even judging myself objectively, without pride or arrogance—I can say with confidence that I'm stronger than this thing.
The Warden lunged forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Its jaws split wide, revealing rows of savage, gleaming teeth.
And I—
I raised my blade, aiming straight for its head—
"…Fuck."
My body locked up.
The dagger trembled uselessly in my grip, frozen mid-swing. At the last second, I panicked and ducked instead.
The Warden's fangs sliced past me, grazing so close I felt the air tear against my skin.
A shiver ran through me. If I had been even a fraction slower, I would've ended up with a hole clean through my body.
I staggered backward, breath ragged, putting as much distance between us as I could.
The Warden landed heavily, spun, and turned its burning red eyes on me again.
Only then did my frozen brain finally start working.
I thought I was getting used to wielding a blade. Sparring with Berno had given me some confidence, at least enough to believe I could stand my ground.
But real combat?
Real combat was a different beast altogether.
The suffocating pressure of genuine killing intent, the kind of raw bloodlust that never existed when sparring with Berno—that was what slammed into me.
And when I looked into those frenzied eyes, glowing with the thrill of the hunt, my body moved on its own.
It flinched. Shrunk back. Trembled.
That's why I couldn't bring my blade down.
"Pathetic. This is fucking pathetic."
The words slipped through clenched teeth. My own fear disgusted me.
I had cowered. Not before some legendary monster or terrifying demon lord, but before a beast.
A mere mob enemy.
The humiliation burned hotter than the fear ever could.
This is a fantasy world.
I had sworn I'd travel it freely, see wonders, enjoy adventures. I'd promised myself that much.
And now I'm struggling just to survive against something this low-level?
Unacceptable.
Absolutely unacceptable.
That couldn't be right.
If I wanted to live the fantasy life I'd always dreamed of, then I needed to reach the point where taking down a Warden wouldn't even make me break a sweat.
If a quiet, easy life was all I wanted, I could've just stayed close to the protagonist, riding on his coattails and enjoying the perks. I could've avoided danger altogether.
But that's not me. That's not what I want.
So.
"This is nothing."
I want to see the elven homeland with my own eyes.
I want to walk through the snowy landscapes in the far north of the Empire.
To make those dreams real, I have to push through challenges like this. I have to overcome them.
With that thought, I gritted my teeth, tightened my grip on the dagger, and shouted, forcing out every last shred of hesitation.
"You bastard!"
—Grararara!!
The Warden's growl split the air, low and savage.
Neither of us waited for a signal.
We charged.
Its massive paw cut through the air first, a wide, brutal swing aimed to tear me apart.
I twisted sideways, the claws slicing past by inches. My heart pounded, but my body moved before panic could take hold.
Not so fast.
With a sharp exhale, I drove my foot hard into its abdomen.
—Kyaang!
The beast staggered, curling up with a pained cry.
Now.
"Die!"
I didn't hesitate. I plunged the dagger into its neck with both hands, driving it deep.
Hot blood sprayed out in a violent rush, painting my face, my hands, my clothes.
"Ptui!" I spat, choking on the metallic taste that splattered into my mouth.
The Warden twitched, let out one last rattling sound, and collapsed.
I stood there, panting, blood dripping down my chin. My hands trembled, but my grip on the dagger was firm.
"That was nothing…" I muttered, forcing a smirk. But the adrenaline running wild through my body made my knees weak, and I hated how relieved I felt.
Damn it. I was terrified. More than I want to admit.
With shaking fingers, I wiped the blade clean on the grass before shoving it back into my bag.
Only then did I raise my eyes to the chair I'd come here for.
The nuisance was out of the way. The Warden was dead.
Now it was time to finish what I came here to do.