Every time Yulia barged into his bedroom on a biting northern morning like today, yanking away his blankets and letting the icy wind sweep over him as he shivered awake in agonizing misery, Dante would ache with longing for those blissfully idle days half a year ago—back when he’d first arrived at Fort Posein, a year and a half ago, a time now as distant as paradise itself.
"Dante-san! Wake up! It’s already nine! You promised to take me Corpse Eater hunting this morning!"
"Mercy, Lady Yulia… Give me back the blankets. Just thirty more minutes… I’ll take you tonight, I swear—"
"Frostwind, heed my call—adorn this room in ice!" Yulia pouted, chanting the spell.
The room’s temperature plummeted. The embers in the hearth froze solid, encased in frost.
"Darn it," Dante grumbled, shivering as he fumbled for his scattered clothes. "Lawrence’s files said Unicorns can’t use offensive magic on others! Why’s she so skilled at freezing *me*?"
"I’ll wash up and take you. Just… warm the room first. Please."
By noon, a lethargic Dante trailed an exuberant Yulia to the Hunter Settlement north of Fort Posein—a village built beyond the fortress walls, outside the guarded zone.
Fort Posein existed to suppress the periodic Corpse Eater swarms triggered by their overpopulation. The military handled most threats within the alert perimeter. To avoid clashes with soldiers, the settlement sat at the edge of the defense zone, carved out by skilled Corpse Eater hunters themselves.
Yulia navigated the crooked paths between haphazard log cabins as if she’d memorized every turn. Blessed as a Unicorn’s ward, she couldn’t cast direct attack magic on humans—but her talent for support spells was extraordinary. At her age, she already wielded diverse White Magic enhancements. Now, under the "Lightstep Blessing," she darted through the camp like a sparrow. Dante, panting heavily behind her, gulped air.
"Wait up! At least cast Lightstep on *me*! I can’t keep up!"
"She’ll leave if we’re late!" Yulia didn’t slow, her pace quickening.
"Found her!" Four burly, bearded hunters stood before Yulia, who ignored them completely. Eyes sparkling, she dashed past the men and lunged at a tiny figure in their midst, wrapping her arms around the child and nuzzling her cheek against theirs. "Alice-chan! You’re even cuter than last time!" Yulia chimed with delight.
The girl—Alice—flinched in surprise, then melted into the embrace, rubbing her own cheek against Yulia’s. "You’re cuter too, Yulia!"
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the two girls nuzzling like fawns.
Dante might be bullied by Yulia daily, but he was still "Dante Graywhite, Commander of Fort Posein—the Northernmost Stronghold Bearing the Kingdom’s Might," the "Ghostblade" himself. While the four hunters gaped, enchanted by the surreal, tender scene, murmuring "So cute…" in unison, Dante had already snapped back to clarity.
*So that’s it. Yulia clings to me because she has no peers. Surrounded by gruff soldiers and the rigid, humorless Miss Aileen… she’s lonely. She latched onto sunny, handsome me as her only playmate.*
*If I find her a friend her age… I’m free from babysitting duty. Why didn’t I see this sooner?*
*Yes. Shift her attention to them. My peaceful life awaits.*
Reinvigorated, Dante strode forward, cutting through the tender moment. "My apologies for Yulia’s overzealous greeting—she’s young and spirited. I’m her guardian, Dante Graywhite, stationed at Fort Posein. Might I ask your names, gentlemen?" His voice dipped low, but pride laced his tone as he announced himself, already savoring his freedom.
The hunters—Alice’s companions—snapped to attention. They’d noted the sharp, clean-cut soldier trailing Yulia, assumed he was her guard. Hearing his name, their eyes widened. "*Dante*? The Kingdom’s Strongest, newly assigned to Posein?" They saluted hastily, introducing themselves and shaking his hand. Dante returned each salute flawlessly, though inwardly startled they recognized him.
As they gripped his hand, they felt the weight of his sharp gaze. *A "Ghost"-titled master… so refined for a young officer?* Their straightforward hunter hearts misread his calm. Had they served at the fort, they’d have recognized the faint, knowing smirk on his lips—the same look Miss Aileen gave him whenever Yulia pestered him relentlessly. (Though Dante never noticed the deeper resentment beneath Aileen’s gaze—the grudge from a broken engagement years ago.)
To Dante, these four hunters might as well be oversized nursemaids. He’d long ago secured Yulia’s safety with failsafes; he’d gladly hand off "guardianship" to reclaim his office sofa and count the days until nobility and his own fiefdom.
First, he needed to assess their strength and character. His deputy, Feng Indel, had mentioned his friend—the formidable ex-mercenary Marn—was among them. But could Marn and his crew truly handle Yulia’s magical antics without snapping? This was the perfect test.
Yulia’s instant bond with Alice was unexpected luck. If these simple hunters proved trustworthy—and could endure Yulia’s whims—he could "gift" her to them under the guise of "childhood friendship." No more babysitting that troublesome little Unicorn.
*They’re heading into the forest. Hunting Corpse Eaters. Perfect chance to vet these babysitters.*
He knew civilians often hunted stray Corpse Eaters. Seeing them bring a child along, he guessed it was a training trip. *Convenient. Yulia’s dead set on watching a hunt anyway.*
Dante’s smile widened. "Planning to take this young one on her first hunt? Yulia’s fascinated by tracking too. Mind if we join you?"
The hunters exchanged glances. They were confident in their skills, and Alice had hinted Yulia might come. But today’s target was a rare *horned* Corpse Eater deep in the forest—a risky venture. Yet Dante’s casual tone, as if suggesting a stroll in the Royal Capital’s park, awed them. *With him along, even if he doesn’t fight, we’ll be safe.* And after Lem’s tales of Yulia’s abilities, one more child didn’t worry them.
Dante’s heart soared. *Freedom is near!* He itched to charge into the woods, slaughter every moving thing, then wave goodbye: "Yulia-chan, learn hunting from your new uncles and aunts! Your noble guardian retires!"
Then reality struck. *Deep forest? Rare Corpse Eaters? Gone for days?* His complaint died unspoken. He’d assumed a quick edge-of-forest hunt. *Should’ve asked details first.*
Grimly, he had Yulia contact Miss Aileen via magic, informing her they’d be gone seven days. He delegated duties to his deputy—Feng, who knew his commander was lazy but peerlessly skilled. Feng sighed, recalling Dante’s "office duties" usually meant napping on the multi-purpose sofa, and let the impulsive guardian go.
And so began the ill-fated hunting trip: a grumbling, homesick Dante; two giggling girls who seemed "perfectly ordinary"; and four seasoned hunters.
Ah—*seasoned hunters*, I meant.
