Dragging the corpse of the monster wolf out of the forest turned out to be far more exhausting than killing it.
The creature was heavy, stiff, and reeked of old blood. Its dull black fur scraped along the ground, leaving dark trails that refused to fade. Every pull on the rope made Eiran's and Ruen's hands burn hotter, their breaths growing shorter by the step.
"If I'd known it was this insanely heavy," Eiran muttered as he stopped to catch his breath, "I would've played dead a lot longer back there."
Ruen wiped the sweat from his brow.
"You already did. The difference is—you were still breathing."
The joke landed thin. Not entirely funny.
A monster wolf like this was supposed to live deep inside the Forest of Auren—not near the edge, not anywhere close to paths used by people. That fact kept circling in Eiran's head, growing heavier with every step.
When they reached the western gate of Loxra, the atmosphere shifted.
The evening market was still alive. Merchants shouted their offers, children ran between stalls, metal and cloth clashed in noisy chaos. Then one person stopped.
Then two.
Then many more.
"What is that…?" "Oi, look!" "That's a wolf?" "No… it's way too big." "Don't tell me—those two killed it?"
People gathered, forming a loose circle. Their eyes widened as they took in the monster's body up close—muscles far too dense, teeth too clean, old scars that no ordinary beast could've survived.
"Those two kids did this?" "The ones from the old bar?" "That's insane…"
Eiran dropped the rope and collapsed onto the ground without caring about the dust.
"If it's allowed," he said between breaths, "I'd really like some water before I die with dignity."
A few people laughed nervously. Others immediately ran to fetch water.
The news spread fast—too fast.
A monster wolf. At the forest's edge. Killed by two boys from the old bar.
Before the sun fully set, they were asked to give a brief report. Not to the Baron directly, but to a city official whose stiff expression screamed caution.
"We'll report this," the official said after hearing their story. "To higher authorities."
"How high?" Ruen asked.
The man hesitated.
"The special unit."
The words changed the air.
Night fell by the time Eiran and Ruen returned to the bar.
Oil lamps flickered. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the room. The moment they stepped inside, the noise dipped for a fraction of a second.
Then someone shouted—
"HEY! LOOK WHO'S BACK!"
Laughter exploded.
"The monster-hunting brats!" "One smells like blood, the other nearly died!" "So it's true then?!"
Eiran stopped at the doorway, scanned the room, then raised one hand slightly.
"Relax," he said. "We didn't bring the other one inside."
Ruen didn't answer. He limped straight to a bench and collapsed onto it with a heavy thud.
"I swear," he groaned, "I'm not standing again tonight."
"They said it was the size of a horse!" someone yelled.
"A very angry horse," Eiran replied.
Helder emerged from behind the counter, his face as stern as ever—then froze when he noticed the dried blood on their clothes.
He walked up without a word and smacked Eiran on the head.
"You're an idiot," he said flatly.
Then, quieter—so quiet only Eiran heard it:
"But you came back."
Helder turned to the room.
"Water for them. Now. And no alcohol. The world already tried hard enough to kill them today."
A small cheer followed.
From a corner table, a man raised a coin and shouted, "Oi, monster hunter! You playing tonight or what?"
Eiran glanced at the coin, then at the fresh cuts on his arms.
He smirked.
"Tomorrow."
"Scared you'll lose?" someone jeered.
Eiran shook his head.
"No."
He lifted his hand slightly, showing the wounds that hadn't fully dried.
"I just don't want you all losing," he said casually, "to a kid who almost died today."
The bar erupted with laughter.
"That's brutal!" "Damn, he's got a point!"
Ruen snorted from his seat. "He's got a heart. He just saves it for emergencies."
"Besides," Eiran added, "if I win tonight, tomorrow the story turns into— 'the monster hunter also stole our money.'
That's a bit much."
More laughter.
Stories jumped from table to table. The monster grew twice its size. The fight became more heroic. Fear softened into a small legend.
Eiran just sat there, listening.
And for the first time, he realized something he had never planned for—
his name was starting to spread.