Griffins—flying beastmonsters that ruled the skies. With an eagle’s head, a lion’s body, front legs ending in eagle talons, hind legs like a lion’s, and a thick, powerful tail, these creatures were lethally armed beyond just magic. Every part of their body could kill.
Alan was slightly taken aback. Only the extremely wealthy or powerful could afford such a beastmonster. Verris’s identity piqued his curiosity. As far as he knew, Newdali City had no nobles or tycoons keeping griffins—only the Arcane Academy outside the city walls housed a few. That meant this silver-armored knight, Verris, wasn’t from Newdali at all.
Just then, a knight in armor, spear in hand and greatsword at his hip, leapt down from his griffin. He dropped to one knee before Verris. "Milady, as ordered, I’ve requisitioned seven Griffin Knights from our family."
"Mm. Well done. Let’s move out."
"At once."
The armored knight rose and escorted Verris to a golden-maned griffin. The beast nuzzled against her, then lowered itself to the ground. Verris stroked its head and smoothly mounted. "One griffin per person. Choose whichever you like. Don’t worry—each has a rider. Just sit tight."
"Heh, this is my first time riding one of these!" The Barbarian grinned, flipping onto the back of the nearest griffin.
Next, the middle-aged swordsman, the pale-faced man in black robes, Alan, Crimson Cherry, and Garisding all mounted their griffins.
"Go."
At the command, eight griffins spread their wings and vanished into the pitch-black night.
With trained Griffin Knights at the reins, the ride was steady. But talking? Forget it. Any words shouted would be ripped away by the icy wind. Only telepathy worked.
*Garisding,* Alan sent mentally to the stern fairy. *Do you know who this knight lady is?*
*No clue. But judging by this show of force, she’s from a major noble house in the kingdom.*
*Something feels off. Why would someone from a great house take a commission in our backwater Newdali? With this squad, she could raid the Bipedal Wyvern’s lair alone. No need for a contract.*
*Who knows? Maybe she just likes wasting money.*
*Rich people really do whatever they want.*
*You’re not much better. Owing our guildmaster that much debt and still living it up? Count your blessings.*
Alan and Garisding fell silent after their telepathic chat. Night travel’s worst part was the exhaustion. No proper rest.
······
Three days later, at Kardun Fortress, Alan’s group arrived at the military stronghold.
Just ten kilometers beyond Kardun lay the Degenas Mountains. True to its purpose, the fortress teemed with adventurers and mercenaries—but everyone else was military.
Inside a Kardun inn, Alan stretched luxuriously on a plush bed. They’d reached the fortress in a single day. This knight lady knew how to treat people—she’d booked them the best inn in town immediately upon arrival. Not bad.
"Alan, awake yet?"
As Alan finished stretching, the door swung open. Crimson Cherry, her fiery red hair flowing, strode in. Alan yanked the blanket over his waist. *Morning predicaments*—boys would be boys. Letting her see *that* would be awkward.
"Sakura, next time you barge in, could you *wait* for an answer? This is… complicated." He sighed from the bed. Boundaries mattered.
"I *did* call out." She plopped into a chair, studying him.
"I hadn’t replied yet!"
"Had to check you weren’t dead. Besides, I’ve seen all your ‘few pounds of meat’ before. Remember that sparring match where our clothes blew apart?" She waved a hand dismissively.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Sounds like I’ve stumbled on something scandalous. Planning to silence witnesses?" Garisding leaned against the doorway in a crisp white suit, arms crossed, grinning at the pair.
Alan ignored him, pulling back the blanket. "Did our client say how we’re reaching the Degenas Mountains?" he asked Crimson Cherry while dressing.
"Wagons. Flying griffins would draw too much attention. Might attract beastmonsters early." Verris’s voice cut in. She stood in the doorway in full silver armor, flanked by the swordsman, the Barbarian, and the pale robed man.
"You’re all up early." Alan headed to the washroom after dressing.
"We’ll eat breakfast en route. Stay battle-ready. Beyond the fortress is lawless territory—beastmonsters and fugitives from the Three Kingdoms. Show no mercy. Kill them cleanly."
Her final words carried a chilling intensity. No doubt—she was military through and through.
No one argued. Out there, kindness was suicide. Those fugitives were irredeemable monsters, their crimes too numerous to list. Killing them was a public service.
"I’m ready," Alan said, smiling at the group. "If you are, let’s go."
Half an hour later, on a stone road outside Kardun Fortress, a wild boar larger than a horse snorted as it barreled down the path, dragging a wagon behind it.
The beast was a Dragon Pig—a beastmonster. Thick-skinned, tough-muscled, and utterly unpalatable, humans had tamed them as draft animals. In the wild, they outperformed horses: no fear of predator scents, no hesitation. Feed them well, and they’d charge headfirst into a Bipedal Wyvern without blinking.
Dragon Pigs were the oddity of the monster world. High-tier beastmonsters scorned them for their stupidity and bad meat. Low-tier ones feared their bone-crushing charges. Their place in the ecosystem was… awkward.
But humanity saw their worth. And so, the Dragon Pig became humanity’s unlikely ally.
