“Prepare yourself, ugly monster! Because this will only end in an instant”

Hearing Lyle’s listless calm voice from above, the girl then looked up on reflex and could see that he had jumped far into the air.

“”

Crimson fire wrapped the blade of the black katana and took the form of a crimson blade that was wrapped in flames.

Not just his blade that was wrapped by flames, even in the tip of his three tales has crimson fire in the tip.

“HaaaaaaaaAAA!!!”

The crimson blade struck into the titan’s defenseless torso. It couldn’t even react at his quick movements.

What happened next is hard to explain.

For the girl who was watching it. It was almost as if she could not make out what had happened at all.

With only ten graceful slashes as if he was dancing elegantly in the air, the fight was already over in an instant. What she saw was burned right into her retina and very mind.

His movements were so fast she can’t follow him at all. Each time the blade swung with a speed that left afterimages, a trail of crimson light and flames drawn in the air.

Because of the first five strikes, the titan’s posture was destroyed. The five strikes that followed completely burned the titan’s life.

That was all it was. He was able to defeat an S-rank monster without a problem.

His was a strength that was all of its own. A power that was altogether absurd and impossible.

For her who was hailed as a genius in her entire life, this power was so absurd that it was even hard to imagine much less believe.

And most importantly, that nonsensical power was without a doubt wielded by a boy much younger than her.

"No way!? Impossible!?" That was the only thing she could muster.

Her voice was filled with shock and disbelief.

That power has truly far transcended the limits of human capabilities.

The inside of her head was already in disarray, which was the least of her concerns.

‘A boy.... Defeated an S-rank monster? And what the heck is that power? This kind of nonsense....!’

The moment Lyle landed on the ground, the crimson light and the flames had already disappeared from the blade and even his clothes had already reverted back to normal.

His fox tails and ears vanish as well as if they were nothing but an illusion cast by a messy mind.

Lyle turned around casually.

His face revealed a wry smile as if his appearance just a while ago was nothing but a dream. His overall appearance was now reverted to his normal black shirt with coat and pants.

The only aspect of him that was different from a while ago was that he’s face right now was very solemn and gentle.

Like a beautiful face of a girl; innocent and filled with naivety.

“You just now, wha- “ShkreeeeeeeeehhHH!!!!”–t, aaargh! What is it this time!?”

The girl was startled. She wanted to asked him about what just happened however, she suddenly heard a shrill cry from somewhere.

They just finished fighting that giant titan and they had already spent most of their magic just now. And now another ominous shadow was flying in the sky.

The girl couldn't help but feel horrified. Her face paled because of the pressure the monster was letting out.

It was a disaster!

Truly a calamity!

However, contrary to the girl's reaction, Lyle seemed relieved and full of life.

He was even smiling while looking at the sky.

She couldn’t understand why and felt irritated by it.

“What the hell are you doing, feeling relieve and all! Another monster is coming you know! Although I don’t know what kind, but I can felt it. It is a horrible and strong monster. Stronger than the one we just fought! We should run now that it still hasn’t found us!”

“Didn’t I tell you to calm down? Really girls in this world!”

Lyle said while shrugging his shoulders and he was even shaking his head in disbelief much to the girl's displeasure.

“Just what are you saying!? Are you an idiot? No you are really an idiot!” She changed her question to a statement as an intended insult.

She glared at him with an annoyed look and was even shouting at him but her words didn’t seemed even reach him.

Suddenly, Lyle raised his two arms.

“Hey!!! We’re here!”

Because of Lyle’s sudden action, the girl was startled and trembling.

“Wha-!? What the hell are you doing?! Why are you calling it here! Just keep quiet; no scratch that! Let’s get out of here fast!”

She grabbed Lyle’s collar and started dragging him.

She was feeling restless while thinking what monster could it have been.

‘A bird type monster? But from what I know, there is no monster that can make such sound! Although this is a high-level forest, there is no such monster in here? Or am I mistaken?’

She was absorbed in her thoughts when a shrill cry that she’d never heard before suddenly entered her ears.

A cry as if it was containing a hint of anger, frustration and a hint of happiness at the same time. She stopped her feet and carefully searched for the direction of the sound.

It wasn’t big and huge like the monster titan before.

It has brown fur and sharp claws. Its body was like a lion and a head of an eagle. It was surrounded by a glowing golden aura that can make anyone feel they were looking at a majestic and divine being.

As the girl focused her eyes on it, she immediately recognized it.

She held her breath and muttered, " A Gryphon."

It was a rare mythical being which is said to have a body of lion and head of an eagle.

It was the first time she’d actually seen the real thing. The are very prideful being. They don’t want to

socialize from other creatures especially humans as they think of them as lower species.

But even so, the girl noticed that the gryphon in front of them was totally different from what she know. She had read all information regarding gryphons. But this one is different.

“Shkruaaaarr!”

The gryphon let out a growl while slowly walking towards them.

Frightened, the girl step back a few steps while trembling. She wanted to run away immediately but then,

“Oh! It seems you’ve taken so much time! Did you fly far away leaving this place, thinking that I died?” Lyle’s raised voice was laced with sarcasm.

When the gryphon heard him, its eyes seemed burned fiercely as she glared towards him.

Feeling the tensed atmosphere, the girl shivered but Lyle, who was the center of this situation, showed no reaction towards it.

Yet, as though he was enjoying himself, the corners of his mouth were upturned in a faint smile.

The girl fell silent.

Lyle’s calm and relaxed expression sent her focus in an about-face towards him. She had seemed to go through shock because of his nonchalant demeanor.

She had the look of a 14 year old girl after being discovered by her parents that she was collecting adult BL magazines.

After a few seconds, the gryphon seemed to be giving up as she shook her eagle head and said,

“What dost thou think of this one? Haa~ This one believe thou art alive. It’s just that there were some unforgivable birdbrain who almost cause this one to lose some…*cough* never mind.”

“Hooo! I see, hahaha” As if pleased by what the gryphon, Sheila said.

Lyle was laughing non-stop while running towards Sheila. He immediately hugged her mane while caressing her fur.

“Hey, stop that! Get off on this one!” Although she said that, her voice doesn’t contain any discontent but instead her

voice was filled with joy for some reason.

Hearing the conversation between Lyle and the gryphon, the girl stood in blank surprise.

She was dumbfounded and could only watched them in silence.

She moved her gaze to the gryphon and next she looked towards Lyle who was happily caressing the gryphon’s fur.

Then suddenly as if she realized something she pointed at the gryphon with trembling hands.

“I-it t-talk? H-how?”

No wonder she was so surprise, just like Lyle before, this is also the first time she heard about a beast talking like a human. This surprise might even be greater than the time Lyle displayed his unbelievable power just a while ago.

“What happened here? It seems like there was a fight here just a while ago?” Looking around Sheila said.

“Hm? Yeah, we are attack by an overgrown ape” Lyle answered while climbing at her back while completely ignoring

the girl who was fearfully trembling like a little abandoned puppy in a rainy season.

“Overgrown ape? What art thou saying?”

“A titan called or something. There you can see it right?”

“Oh! Where art the one who defeated it? Doth an S-rank, right?” She asked surprised while surveying around the surrounding.

“It’s me; I’m the one who defeated it! Well, so much for that, let’s go home, I need to change my clothes! They had already become somewhat dirty.”

“Fine! Grabbed tightly to this one’s back! Make sure thou won’t fall a second time!”

Lyle happily grabbed the gryphon's back. When they started flying a voice suddenly called out to them from behind.

“Wait! Where are you going? Are you leaving me behind?” The girl exclaimed.

“Ah, yeah, right! You’re also here!” Lyle casually said while turning his head to face her.

“What!? You already forgot about me?”

“Well, there’s no monsters now, so you can now go back yourself! So that’s that bye!”

“Then, just tell me one thing!” She hurriedly said when she saw Lyle and the gryphon was about to leave.

“What?”

“Your name! I still don’t know your name!”

‘Should I tell her, or not? If she knew my name, she will surely go and find me later on! It seems like she is also a

student of the academy. However, she had already witnessed my power. Without no doubt, this will become very

troublesome in the future. Haaa~'

Lyle was pondering whether he should tell her his name or not.

He decided to lay low inside the school to avoid any trouble but this girl in front of him is surely that kind of trouble.

He leaned his body sideways and tilted his head.

Intending to have an impudent expression, he coolly glanced at the girl’s face. He shrugged his shoulder and, as apathetic as he could muster, he calmly said,

“I’m just a common, normal, average and super ordinary boy who just happen to pass by here, so no need for a beautiful young and noble lady like yourself to remember such a commoner like me. Although some things had already happened in here, please forget it because they are only dreams. But don’t worry for I will never forget your bod*cough* I mean you! That’s why, I hope and pray for all of the gods that we will never see each other again. Sarabada!”

Although the last words he said is very rude, the girl seemed not to notice it; maybe she decided to ignore it, and still continue standing as she stared at Lyle’s face.

After finishing his words, the gryphon turned around and left as though it was running in the sky.

Listening towards Lyle’s outrageous speech, she was left somewhat stunned.

Only after she can’t see them anymore, she came back to her senses. “Wait!”

She tried to call him out, but Lyle was already seated on the back of the gryphon and had flown far away.

**********************

- In a certain mansion-

The time was evening.

While the sun was setting, it gave a parting of vivid orange color. Inside a certain quiet room, there was a man

happily drinking wine alone. He stood up and walked towards the door when he felt someone’s presence. When he turns around, he saw a man-like figure inside the shadow.

“How’s the plan going?” The shadow spoke with a somewhat powerful yet cold voice.

The man felt a chill ran down his pine when he heard the voice. He was trembling and was staggering as he fell on his butt.

“T-that is, I-it’s going well! W-we o-only n-need an f-few m-more y-years!”

“We have been waiting for six years!”

“W-we didn’t e-expect t-that t-the s-seal would be t-this h-hard!”

“Hmph! As expected of that cursed man! Hasten it, we have been waiting for too long!”

“Yes master! We will do our best!”

The shadow vanished as if there it wasn’t in there the first place, while leaving a breeze that silently blew in the room. Shortly after, the room completely regained its silence.