Chapter 22

◈ Chapter 22: The Hunter of the Mechanical Winding City (1)

Five years ago.

The Kingdom of Durmang, one of the smaller nations in the southern continent, was plagued by a sudden surge of cryptids. Wolves roamed the city center, and bizarre beasts devoured people every night, creating a nightmare that lasted for over a month, with the stench of blood never ceasing.

Even the police were at a loss, and deploying soldiers and knights did little to stop the cryptids, who mockingly evaded their encirclements.

Among them, one cryptid was particularly notorious.

A monster that had been active in Jévaudan, one of the major cities of Durmang, this creature had devoured three elite knights, making it a legendary beast of terror.

The monster of Jévaudan, the worst cryptid to reign over the kingdom in fear.

The King of Durmang, realizing the situation was dire, issued a public notice offering a substantial reward to anyone who could exterminate the cryptid.

Freelance mages, wandering knights, and famous mercenary groups from across the continent gathered in Durmang, launching a large-scale cryptid extermination operation.

Many cryptids were killed, and not a few people lost their lives.

The blood that was spilled turned the ground red, and people began to call this event the 'Night of Blood.'

The Night of Blood was enough to bestow fame upon many.

Among them, one person left the greatest legacy.

Single-handedly defeating the most notorious monster of Jévaudan and achieving the highest kill count of other cryptids, this person was none other than a mere hunter.

His name was 'Abraham Van Helsing,' a hunter known for his mysterious nature, as he rarely revealed his true identity.

* * *

Equipped with all his gear, Rudger slowly walked out onto the street.

The damp night mist settled heavily on his coat.

The hazy crimson light from the street lamps spread out like water in the fog.

The subtle scent of animal urine mixed with the smell of wet mud brushed past his nose.

'Memories.'

Bang!

Rudger immediately kicked a drum can lying on the street.

Clang!

The loud noise echoed through the air, and a werewolf, which had been wandering around looking for prey, turned its head at the sound.

Its fierce eyes caught sight of Rudger standing alone in the middle of the street.

Grrr.

The werewolf, leaping down from a rooftop, landed in front of Rudger.

'Quite large.'

Rudger could see the werewolf more clearly now. It stood over 2.5 meters tall, with bloodshot eyes and a body covered in black fur.

Its hands were equipped with sharp, pointed claws that were so menacing they could be felt through the skin.

If caught by those claws, even steel would tear like paper.

But what caught Rudger's attention the most was the metal restraint around the werewolf's neck.

'As expected. I didn't see it wrong.'

There was no way such a thing would be casually attached to a werewolf's neck.

A beast that had lost its reason would not voluntarily wear such a device.

That meant only one thing.

'Someone intentionally raised or created this werewolf.'

He didn't think it was entirely impossible.

After all, this was a world where magic existed, and science had developed in strange ways. Even his acquaintance, Hans, had a condition where he would transform into a beast if bitten by one.

It wouldn't be strange at all if a secretive organization had created werewolves as experimental subjects.

'The question is, why now?'

Until now, there had been no significant news, and everything had been quiet. Yet, the incident erupted shortly after Seo-ron Academy reopened, and it happened in the year he was assigned here.

The situation was too overt to ignore.

'Well, I'll find out once I catch and beat this thing.'

Rudger immediately assumed a fighting stance.

The werewolf, sensing that the human in front of it was not fleeing but preparing to fight, contorted its face in displeasure.

Auuuuu!!!

Rearing its head back and howling to the sky, the werewolf charged at Rudger with incredible speed.

Running on all fours, the werewolf was faster than a car.

Rudger watched its movements and subtly stepped back. The werewolf's claws sliced through the air where Rudger had been standing just moments ago.

Grrr!

The werewolf swung its arms relentlessly. Rudger continued to step back, focusing on evading.

Thud.

The moment Rudger's brown shoes touched the ground, a strange vibration spread around.

Kwang!

Each time the werewolf's attack missed, Rudger tapped his feet, spreading a wave of magical energy.

In the extreme situation where even a slight touch could shred bones, Rudger never allowed the werewolf's attacks to land.

Kwaaa!

The enraged werewolf roared and spread its arms wide, intending to pounce and pin Rudger down, preventing him from escaping.

It's using its head.

Rudger's lips, hidden under the brim of his hat, curved into a smile.

Kiiiiing!

The werewolf, about to charge at Rudger, suddenly contorted its face and fell to the ground.

Clunk!

It slid across the muddy ground.

"Eh, eh?"

Hans, who had been watching from a distance with bated breath, widened his eyes in surprise at the sudden collapse of the werewolf.

Did it eat something wrong?

"Your head will throb quite a bit."

Rudger gently stepped on the werewolf's back as it writhed in pain.

Werewolves are closer to beasts than humans.

Being canines, they are particularly sensitive to high-frequency sounds that ordinary humans cannot hear.

Rudger's evasive footwork while dodging the werewolf's attacks was a preparatory step for casting such a spell.

A sound and vibration magic mixed in just the right proportions would have no effect on humans, but for a werewolf that could hear sounds beyond a certain frequency, it was a different story.

The ultrasonic waves were continuously shaking the area, ringing in the werewolf's ears and causing its brain to rattle.

"There's no need to use expensive silver."

Since the goal was to subdue rather than kill, there was no better method than this.

So, let's see where such a creature was created.

Just as Rudger was about to take out a syringe to collect the werewolf's blood, a shrill whistle pierced the air.

"Over here! The sound came from here!"

"Everyone, move quickly!"

Police officers in uniform, who had been patrolling due to the werewolf rumors for the past two days, rushed over from beyond the fog.

'Of all times, now.'

In the moment Rudger took his eyes off the werewolf, it suddenly got up.

Rudger quickly stepped back to avoid a fall.

He immediately braced himself for the werewolf's counterattack, but the werewolf seemed to have no interest in Rudger.

After shaking its head a few times, the werewolf turned and fled.

'Oh no.'

He didn't expect the werewolf to run away in such a situation.

Rudger sighed and canceled the high-frequency magic he had spread around.

As more police officers with magic lanterns appeared, Rudger decided it was time to leave.

"Over there! There's someone over there!"

"Restrain all suspicious individuals!"

The werewolf was already climbing the wall of a factory, heading for the rooftop.

Rudger chased after it, dodging the police officers' magic lanterns and whistles as he ran through the alleys.

As he ran through the dark alley, Rudger felt the werewolf's presence growing distant and extended his arm toward the sky.

Swish!

The mechanical winding on the wrist of his gauntlet quickly spun, and a wire with a hook shot out toward the rooftop.

Clank!

The hook latched onto the rooftop railing, and the gears spun, rapidly reeling in the wire.

The taut force.

Rudger used the recoil to leap onto the rooftop.

This device, known as a wire launcher, was something Rudger often used during his time as a hunter.

Rudger landed gracefully on the rooftop.

Swish!

Pulling the wire to retrieve the hook, Rudger spotted the werewolf's fleeing figure in the distance.

'I won't let it get away.'

Rudger infused his legs with magical energy.

In this world, where mages can enhance their physical abilities with magic to prepare for any situation, Rudger used his enhanced leg strength to push off the rooftop and chase after the werewolf.

Whoosh.

The night scenery of the industrial area passed by quickly. The fleeing werewolf's figure gradually came into closer view.

The werewolf, while running, turned its head to something strange and, upon spotting Rudger chasing it, increased its speed.

Continuously leaping between rooftops, the werewolf suddenly jumped down onto a large railway track below.

Just then, a freight train loaded with mana stones passed by.

Boom!

The werewolf landed roughly on the cargo car.

Rudger, not wanting to lose it, also jumped down and landed on the cargo car.

Releasing the magical energy from his legs to his feet, he minimized the impact of the landing.

Rudger lightly dusted off his shoulders and stared at the werewolf.

The werewolf, realizing it could no longer run, stood up and turned to face Rudger.

Clunk, clunk.

On the train, Rudger and the werewolf faced each other, about three cars apart.

The strong wind from the moving train made Rudger's coat flutter.

The crimson street lamps stretched out in a long line, their light reflecting and scattering around.

"I was planning to just subdue you appropriately, but."

Grrrr.

"It seems that won't be possible."

Given the werewolf's condition and the police officers who had heard the commotion and were approaching, there was no time for that.

The night wind and the steam from the train's engine momentarily obscured his vision.

Whoosh!

Taking advantage of the obscured vision, the werewolf charged at Rudger.

A sharp and precise movement, aiming to exploit any weakness in the opponent's guard.

However, Rudger had already anticipated the werewolf's move several steps ahead.

Swish!

The werewolf, charging at Rudger, stopped mid-charge at the strange ringing sound near its ears. This was an instinctive reaction of a beast.

Indeed, the judgment was correct.

Something sharp and fast had just grazed the werewolf's neck.

"Good reflexes."

The object that had grazed the werewolf's neck and then spun back to Rudger was a boomerang with sharp, fan-like blades.

If the werewolf had hesitated even a moment longer, those sharp circular blades would have sliced its neck.

The werewolf quickly regenerated the wound on its neck, and its veins bulged in anger at being injured.

"I was hoping to end it with that one move."

Rudger, suppressing his disappointment, took out a cane from his waist.

This time, it was Rudger's turn to charge.

Holding the cane in his right hand, he gathered magical energy in his left hand to create a [Shining Stone] spell, which he launched like a bullet, aiming for one of the werewolf's eyes.

Whip!

The werewolf ducked its head to avoid the [Shining Stone]. At that moment, Rudger flicked his left index finger.

The [Shining Stone], which had passed the werewolf, circled back in the air and struck the back of its head.

Smack!

Stunned by the intense pain in its head, the werewolf was caught off guard as Rudger charged and swung the cane with all his might at its face.

As the werewolf tried to block with its arms, the boomerang, which Rudger had thrown in advance, pierced through both of its hands.

Kwaaak!

The werewolf, now panicking, opened its mouth wide and bit down on the cane Rudger was swinging.

Crunch!

The powerful jaw strength threatened to break the cane.

The werewolf's eyes narrowed into crescent moons.

With the cane in its mouth, the werewolf thought it could do anything to the arrogant human in front of it.

It intended to tear him to pieces as soon as the wounds on its hands healed.

But Rudger, as if mocking the werewolf's inner thoughts, immediately took his next move.

Swoosh.

The handle and grip of the cane separated, and a gleaming white blade shot out.

The werewolf, caught off guard by this unexpected sight, didn't even think about letting go of the empty shell of the cane in its mouth.

A cane sword.

Commonly known as a swordstick, this weapon is more akin to a concealed dagger used to exploit weaknesses rather than a primary combat weapon.

And in a fight where both lives are on the line, the moment to draw this weapon is only one.

When there is absolute certainty that the opponent can be killed.

Rudger's body spun around in place.

Swish!

A thin, yet distinct, white line appeared in the air.

The fine but clear light gently sliced through the werewolf's neck.