All eyes in the venue gathered at once.

  "—Master Kreis von Altona."

  As Julius's voice rang out, Kreis quietly stepped forward. Not just his contract with a greater spirit, but combined with his trained physique, he exuded even more intensity.

  His steps were calm, yet with each one, the temperature in the venue seemed to drop. The floating orbs of light flickered unsteadily, as if frightened by the presence radiating from him.

  "Here."

  With that single uttered word, he turned his gaze toward a thick oak tree standing at the edge of the courtyard.

  He didn't take a stance. He didn't chant.

  He merely swung his right arm casually, as if brushing away a cobweb.

  SHRIIIIIEEEEEK—!

  A high-pitched sound, like the air itself screaming, tore through our eardrums.

  In the next instant, three distinct lines raced across the darkness.

  There was no impact sound. Instead, the massive oak tree slid apart in four pieces, defying gravity for a split second before collapsing heavily. The cuts were not just on the tree; deep gouges, resembling the claw marks of a giant beast, were carved into the stone pavement behind it.

  Thud. Thud. Thud.

  The severed logs hit the ground. The cut surfaces were smooth as mirrors, reflecting the moonlight eerily.

  The venue fell utterly silent.

  It wasn't admiration. It was fear.

  The sheer violence of the act, executed with such casual ease, robbed everyone of their voices. I could tell everyone held their breath, instinctively sensing that if that "claw" had been directed at a human, not even dust would remain.

  'Hmm, as always, that wolf has a nasty temper. Tearing up the garden like that.'

  Words oddly out of place echoed in my head. Instead, they helped ease my frozen tension.

  Eventually, as if remembering to breathe, small applause arose—hesitant at first, then gradually spreading as the fear turned to awe.

  "...Remarkable."

  "So that's a greater spirit's power..."

  The murmurs eventually became thunderous applause echoing through the venue. Kreis merely nodded slightly, as if accepting this as natural.

  Truly heroic power.

  ...Vacuum Fangs.

  A technique far more vicious than the game's standard "Wind Slicer." In the game, it was a simple damage effect, but reality was completely different. It was a manifestation of pure destruction. After being shown something like that, I couldn't help but be conscious of the gap between us.

  "Splendid, Master Kreis."

  Julius quietly offered words of praise, though his eyes remained sharp, assessing the threat level.

  "You honor me."

  Kreis answered briefly and returned to his original position. Watching that back, my brother exhaled softly beside me.

  "Dylan. Is that the scion of Baron Altona?"

  "Yes. He apparently made a name for himself at the recent Monster Studies practical."

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  "...I see."

  My brother's amber eyes sharply pierced Kreis.

  "Baron Altona... I'd never heard the name before, but he'll attract attention now."

  "Indeed. By the way, where exactly is Baron Altona's territory...?"

  His existence concerned me as well. Most importantly, the fact that he hadn't appeared in the original. Even without contracting a greater spirit in the original, he had the ability to easily face goblins at this stage. I couldn't imagine he'd remained unknown.

  "The family holds territory in the Western Region. I wouldn't call it the frontier, but it's far from the capital. Fertile land surrounded by hills and streams, also known for wine production."

  Hearing about naturally rich, quiet territory, a peaceful pastoral landscape rose in my mind.

  For context, the kingdom was located in the continent's center, with roads extending north, south, east, and west. The South had the only port, the East spread with deep forests, and the West was a region of gentle hills and orchards. Our Belmond marquisate was in the North—strategic land surrounded by mountain ranges and lakes. And humanity's sworn enemy, the Demon King, was even further north—beyond the snowy mountain ranges.

  "The Western Region..."

  Something bothered me. The west had relatively little monster damage, and adventurer guild requests centered mainly on bandit suppression and small magical beast extermination. How did he gain such ability in that peaceful land?

  And above all—the Western Region was also hero Leon's birthplace.

  A strange correspondence with hero Leon. Coincidence, or inevitability?

  There was also Erna's matter. In this world, I couldn't know how things connected.

  "...Brother, was Master Kreis affiliated with the knight order?"

  "No, at least not on the kingdom knight order roster. Perhaps he worked as a border count's private soldier, or..."

  My brother cut off his words and stroked his chin.

  "If he reached that level through individual training—that's no ordinary talent."

  A hint of wariness mixed into my brother's voice.

  My brother pondered for a while, but eventually shook his head lightly.

  "In any case, further investigation now would be pointless. ...Don't strain yourself too much either."

  "Yes."

  Even answering thus, the unease in my chest didn't disappear. I exhaled once and decided to walk around the venue to change my mood.

  Suddenly, I spotted the person in question standing alone.

  "May I step away briefly?"

  When I called to my brother, he nodded shortly.

  "Go ahead. It's a good opportunity."

  Prompted thus, I approached Kreis. As I drew near, the venue's murmuring seemed to recede.

  "...That was splendid spirit arts earlier."

  When I called out, Kreis moved his eyebrows slightly and answered quietly.

  "My thanks. You're... Dylan, wasn't it? I saw you a bit at the Monster Studies practical."

  His tone was low and calm, but somehow tinged with a probing quality.

  "Ah, right. Well, I didn't show much of anything good."

  "No, for a first time, you moved well."

  Kreis stated matter-of-factly. His tone held no sarcasm or contempt, just the calmness of stating facts.

  "...I appreciate you saying so. Wasn't it your first time, Kreis?"

  "No, I once hunted monsters with village hunters."

  Kreis's gaze looked slightly distant. In that profile dwelled not coldness, but quiet heat.

  "...Did monsters appear in your territory?"

  "Yes. Not a major threat, but the village had no stationed soldiers."

  Kreis stated flatly. Due to the Western Region's peaceful nature, standing forces were few, and security maintenance was often entrusted to lords and villagers' self-defense.

  "Were you alright?"

  I recalled that practical where I'd first faced monsters. The sensation of fear making my legs freeze, my body unable to move properly. Moreover, in Kreis's case, it had been real combat, not a practical exercise.

  "...No, naturally I received my baptism of fire. Fortunately no deaths occurred, but I never wanted to feel that way again."

  Kreis's voice was low, but certain heat resided within. That was the voice of one who'd overcome fear—not simple boasting of the strong, but words backed by definite experience.

  "So I trained. Sword, body, mind. So next time something comes, I'll be the one standing on the front lines."

  At that quiet declaration, I lost words. This man was serious. He wielded the sword not to flaunt power—but to protect.

  I saw the hero's image in that figure.

  'Hmm, Dylan. He's kind of cool, that person.'

  Lou's innocent impression echoed in my head. While smiling wryly, I felt a burning emotion in my chest.

  The role hero Leon should have shouldered in the original. But the one here now was a man named Kreis von Altona. And I found myself thinking that wasn't wrong at all.

  "...Do you know about hero Leon?"

  At the question that suddenly escaped my lips, Kreis narrowed his eyes slightly.

  "...Yes, of course I know. But he abandoned his duty and stopped fighting."

  Though Kreis's words were matter-of-fact, they somehow had thorns.

  "I've heard as much. Was the cause truly goblins?"

  "Yes, as widely known."

  Kreis answered briefly, but his tone was low, emotion like burning embers seeping from deep within. Those who held disappointment or anger toward the hero like him were surely not few. Moreover, being the same age and from the same region, those feelings might be even stronger.

  "I see... I understand, thank you. I look forward to working with you as a fellow student."

  Kreis bowed his head lightly and returned to the crowd. Watching that back depart, I exhaled softly.

  He too was one tossed about by this world's distortions. In a world without a hero, he stood on his own and continued his efforts.

  Though our motives differed, in changing fate through effort, we might be the same.

  The scenario had warped into a world even gods could no longer read. In such a world, how far could I achieve anything, struggle?

  Before I knew it, I'd clenched my fists.