Gaian Gunter was originally from Khalid and served as the vice-captain of the Khalid Knights, but he lost his position after being defeated in a duel with Declan Dieter, who now stands beside him. Being quite senior in age, he had extensive experience and was well-respected within the Knights due to his long tenure with the Khalid Knights.

“Since making a contract with the Divine Beast, have you truly received divine revelation?”

Simon Frick, another Khalid Knight standing behind Declan, asked. He was originally from the Leonas Knights and was an unusual knight who had a keen interest in monsters, documenting various species and their characteristics. He would even go so far as to say he became a knight just to see monsters in person.

Although he was considered eccentric within the Knights, he actually had a painful past where his entire family was killed by monsters. Because of this, he believed that recording and learning everything about monsters was necessary for preparation and prevention of similar dangers in the future.

Kaiden remembered receiving help from this knight by chance during the war that led to Rowen’s destruction in his previous life, so after returning to the past, he quickly sought him out and brought him to Leonas. As a result, Leonas had accumulated numerous reports about monsters compiled by Simon Frick.

These monster reports proved helpful in many ways, such as discovering where monsters mate in spring to conduct raids, finding the habitats of monsters that created Huran, or treating their food with poison in autumn to eliminate them. Compared to the previous year, there were far more detailed and extensive records about how these monsters had evolved, surpassing the information available in other northern territories.

However, even this eccentric who knew monsters inside and out had never seen this new species before, and it was impossible to determine what kind of monster mating had produced it. That’s why it was even more surprising that Kaiden had insight into this new species.

Rumors that the Duke of Khalid had contracted with a Divine Beast and that this knight might truly be divinely chosen had already reached the north. This was understandable, as everything about his appearance, abilities, and actions seemed impossible.

Moreover, he didn’t even know his own parents. His unknown origins, which would typically be considered lowly, now seemed like evidence that Kaiden had fallen from divine light and couldn’t hide his true nature.

And the subject of these rumors and questions responded coldly, showing no interest in such speculation.

“I had terrible dreams, that’s all.”

In his previous life, it wasn’t Kaiden who discovered the existence of new species of monsters that ate Huran. That was learned through countless sacrifices of northern knights.

So it wasn’t divine revelation, nor was it because he was special that he could figure it out. He had simply used knowledge gained through others’ sacrifices to find ways to deal with the monsters. If turning back time was truly related to Dana, then she would be the special one who showed him the future.

Anyway, preparations to face the monsters were complete using the unwanted experiences from the past as stepping stones, and now it was time to set the bait.

In his previous life, instead of risking his life fighting against crazed mother monsters, Kaiden had found another way.

‘Monsters that eat Huran.’

The ingredients of Huran were monster egg fluid and soil. Ultimately, it was likely that these new species were after the monster fluid mixed in the Huran. Kaiden came up with a method to both lure them with the fluid and capture the rampaging mother monsters.

The method was simple. He had his soldiers make more Huran and openly scattered it across the Dorbas Mountains bordering the Leonas territory. New species of monsters gathered, drawn by the scent of the fluid to feed on it. Then, mother monsters who smelled the fluid while rampaging down the mountains also rushed in. That was all it took.

‘Mother monsters aren’t good at distinguishing between their eggs and Huran.’

The mother monsters that came looking for their eggs discovered other monsters eating what might have been their eggs. A battle between monsters began. In other words, Kaiden had found a way to use monsters to catch the new species.

That year, the north experienced an unusually peaceful autumn and winter. Kaiden thought that even King Taras couldn’t ignore this achievement, and this time he would surely be able to get closer to the princess. He planned to ask for the princess as his reward when the king offered compensation.

However, the reward he desired never came. When spring arrived after that year, the princess married the prince of Heinz. It was still infuriating to think about.

‘This time must be different.’

Kaiden thought as he left the tent, watching knights moving the Huran mixed with mud.

Once the knights spread the newly made Huran in the Dorbas Mountains, the monsters would take care of themselves, and this war with monsters would end just like that. Other territories that received Kaiden’s message were also preparing to respond. This time, they could resolve the situation early without much bloodshed.

And now Kaiden knew that when this was over and he returned, unlike the past, the sweetest reward awaited him. Dana, who would be waiting in the white and beautiful castle, with her even whiter and clearer face sparkling. Now truly his wife.

So he needed to deal with these monsters quickly and return.

‘However, there was something I missed back then.’

Despite achieving such great merit in the past, there was something he hadn’t confirmed. That was the true identity of the new species that ate Huran.

‘Why they suddenly appeared. I need to know that.’

This question had remained even in the past. The northern territories had discussions about this throughout the winter.

At the time, one lord raised the question of whether these monsters might have originated from Huran itself. After all, the fluid came from the corpses of baby monsters from their eggs, and soil was the foundation of life that allowed plants to grow. Therefore, it was a plausible hypothesis.

The northern lords discussed what to do if the hypothesis was true and these new species were indeed born from Huran, but they could never verify it. Since all the new species that ate Huran had died, there was no way to confirm it immediately.

Though they couldn’t find the cause back then, this time there was an easy way to find out. Kaiden sent one Divine Beast to follow the knights carrying the new Huran. The Divine Beast rose with its transparent body and followed the knights.

This Divine Beast would be his eyes. Kaiden didn’t know how this was possible. Like countless other impossible things that others simply couldn’t do, it was just one of many things he could do simply because he could.

Soon the Divine Beast disappeared from sight. The Divine Beast flying toward the mountains would discover where the monsters that came to eat Huran originated from, where it all began.

* * *

The war between monsters began.

In the Dorbas Mountains where black plants grew, monster attacked monster and devoured each other. Above that battlefield where black blood burst forth, the transparent Divine Beast flying in the sky tracked the direction from which the gathering monsters came, moving backward along their path.

Following the monsters that were drawn by the scent of new Huran, the Divine Beast continued to fly deeper into the mountains. The tiny Divine Beast flew at a speed that the black monsters couldn’t match, riding through various parts of the mountains, instantly spotting from high above the stems frantically crawling out. What would have been lost even if followed on horseback by a human, the Divine Beast gauged from high in the sky and flew swiftly in the opposite direction from where the monsters were coming.

Flying and flying, the Divine Beast reached a certain place. Flying past the plains that met the Dorbas Mountains, it flew over castle walls. The Divine Beast’s transparent eyes fixed upon the long-stretching castle walls.

In front of the walls were countless boxes piled up. They were sturdy boxes marked with red X’s and bound with iron chains. The clothes worn over chain mail by the knights moving these boxes were blue with silver trim. On larger flags waving above the castle walls was the same emblem that was drawn on the clothes the knights wore.

A gray wolf drawn on a blue background with a crossbow behind it.

“Lord Khalid, we’ve received word from Vicar as well. Their Huran placement is also complete…”

Knight Captain Declan, who had entered to report to Kaiden in the tent, stopped.

Kaiden’s face, having confirmed through the Divine Beast the identity of those who had released the monsters, was terribly distorted. Mirban Castle, located at Rowen’s border where it meets the Dorbas Mountains. The kingdom and its knights beyond the plains past the castle. The country symbolized by the ash-gray wolf and the mighty destructive crossbow.

‘Heinz.’

That name that should never reach him again this time. They were once again raising their disgusting heads, preparing to rush before him, no, before Dana.

Kaiden gripped the sword at his waist with anger that was clearly justified but could no longer serve as proper cause. Then he ordered the knight standing before him.

“Have the knights stand by. I’m going.”

The Divine Beasts spread their wings in front of the Khalid Knights’ camp, creating massive winds. It was time for departure.