Chapter 41

In response to Isarco's call, the royal guards first evacuated to the breeding grounds. Only three of them could move properly, but they dragged their fallen comrades and entered through the door of the breeding grounds.

Only two were carried in, and the remaining five seemed to be dead. Their faces were filled with fear and regret.

Isarco gave orders to Tania and Patrick to treat the injured. The two ran to the guards after descending from the roof and began treatment with the healing magic.

When Ricardo tried to join in the treatment, Isarco stopped him.

"Wait, we need to prepare for the Netherwolf. Its regenerative abilities are not to be underestimated."

The injured Netherwolf had moved to a place slightly away from the breeding grounds, waiting for its wounds to heal. The giant wolf was not just waiting for its wounds to heal; it was also positioned to prevent Theobald and Santi from escaping into the breeding grounds.

The blood flowing from the Netherwolf stopped, and the leg near the wound, which had been trembling, also stopped. Its heavy breathing had returned to normal.

"Wouldn't it have been better to launch a surprise attack when it was injured?"

Ricardo asked, but Isarco shook his head in denial.

"At that time, the chances of winning would have been fifty-fifty. A beast driven to the brink of death is terrifying."

Ricardo felt a bit relieved knowing that Isarco was being cautious.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Of course... but the guards we were counting on are in no condition to help."

The treatment was completed, but all the guards were pale and trembling, having suffered significant psychological damage from the battle.

If time passed, the Netherwolf's wounds would heal, and it would finish off Theobald and Santi. They needed to take action before that happened.

"Can you use the magic you used against the Bicorn Armored Bear?"

"The Mud Bind? Of course, but it will only slow down the Netherwolf's massive body."

"Even slowing it down will do. I'll finish it off with a high-level spell."

At that moment, the Netherwolf began to move, slowly approaching Theobald and Santi. The two mages seemed to have given up and made no attempt to escape.

"Nothing else for it, let's go."

Isarco went outside, and Ricardo followed.

Ricardo aimed at the Netherwolf and released a composite magic spell, the Magma Flame Bullet. Isarco noticed something and looked at Ricardo.

The Magma Flame Bullet hit the Netherwolf's rear, and the scorching lava burned its fur. The giant wolf used its tail to scrape off the attached lava and glared at them with eyes full of anger.

The Netherwolf changed direction, barked, and ran at full speed.

Ricardo took out the catalyst for Mud Bind and focused on the Netherwolf's movements. He cast Mud Bind in front of the wolf.

The Netherwolf's front legs sank into the mud as it tried to push off the ground. The momentum of the giant wolf's body caused it to spin halfway and fall on its back into the mud. The wolf struggled in the mud.

During this time, Isarco took out a special catalyst and extracted magic power from within his body. He didn't use a magic rod, perhaps because he knew it couldn't withstand the power.

After gathering the necessary magic power, Isarco aimed at the struggling Netherwolf and began to cast the high-level spell, Earth God's Collapse.

"Amril, Earth, Melgafas, Ririgo, Bashuretga"

Isarco's powerful incantation completed, and Earth God's Collapse was activated.

First, the ground shook, and cracks appeared under the Netherwolf's feet as it struggled to get out of the mud. The cracks widened and swallowed the giant wolf. A terrifying roar echoed from underground.

The Netherwolf tried to jump back to the surface by kicking the walls of the crack with its powerful legs and reflexes.

The crack began to close. As the wolf jumped up, it was about to return to the surface when the crack closed, trapping its right hind leg.

The Netherwolf's leg was crushed. In a frenzy of fear and pain, it forcibly pulled its crushed leg out of the ground. The muscles and bones of the pulled-out leg were crushed, and blood flowed from the entire leg.

It glared at the humans who had caused it such suffering with intense anger.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't finish it off."

Isarco said, his face pale.

"I'll finish it off."

Ricardo took out the catalyst for Sun Flame Bullet and gathered magic power into his magic rod.

The Netherwolf, dragging its crushed leg, approached with a demonic expression.

Ricardo sprinkled the catalyst over the gathered magic power, which began to glow a brilliant crimson. Ricardo chanted the incantation as if praying to a god.

"Fana, Fire, Lapiseravon, Sperogoma"

A ball of light, so hot and bright it was blinding, flew toward the Netherwolf.

It instantly crossed the distance and hit the wolf's snout. The superheated Sun Flame Bullet burned the fur and turned the skull to ash, damaging the brain before flying off diagonally upward.

The Netherwolf's head didn't turn to ash like a mole's, but it staggered a few steps and then collapsed.

Ricardo and the others watched for a few minutes, wondering if the Netherwolf would get up again.

"It seems to be dead."

Isarco said quietly.

They cautiously approached to confirm, and it was indeed dead. Ricardo exhaled, feeling the tension leave his body. He was exhausted from overusing his magic power.

Isarco also seemed exhausted and sat down. Ricardo sat on the ground and meditated to recover his magic power without accessing the source gate, as being defenseless outside the city was dangerous.

After recovering a bit of magic power and feeling less tired, Ricardo looked sadly at his battered magic rod.

"I didn't want to use the Sun Flame Bullet, but..."

It was necessary to finish off the Netherwolf.

Ricardo asked Isarco as a precaution.

"Will the high-level catalyst and the damaged magic rod be covered by the Mage Guild?"

Isarco frowned.

"Since we didn't officially accept the Netherwolf extermination request, this will be considered just defending against an attacking monster."

In other words, they would have to pay for everything themselves.

"Can I take anything from it?"

"No, it's a request from the royal family. We need to show the Netherwolf's corpse to General Samuele."

Isarco asked one of the guards to inform the general.

The guard confirmed the Netherwolf's corpse and headed to the Second South Gate.

The guards, Tania, Patrick, and Antonio came out of the breeding grounds to see the Netherwolf's corpse.

"Wow, it's huge."

"If something like that attacked, I'd be dead instantly."

The carpenters and day laborers building the breeding grounds were amazed by the Netherwolf's size and terrified by its sharp fangs and claws.

"But, that's impressive. Master Ricardo took it down, right?"

Dario looked at Ricardo with admiration, as did his fellow employees, Eric and Fred.

Tania and Patrick, his colleagues, were also excited.

"Isarco's high-level spell was amazing, but Ricardo's high-level spell was also incredibly powerful."

"Exactly, to finish off a Netherwolf that Theobald's high-level spell couldn't defeat is impressive."

Isarco calmed the excited crowd and instructed them to bring the bodies of the extermination team.

Theobald and Santi arrived with the dead mages, but they didn't say a word, just staring at their fallen comrades with their shoulders slumped.

After a while, General Samuele arrived with his guards.

"Director Isarco, well done."

"It was Ricardo who finished it off."

"Indeed, to think such a small person could do that."

Ricardo, aware that he couldn't have done it alone, was flustered.

"No, it was thanks to Director Isarco crushing the wolf's leg. I'm not sure if I could have hit it with my spell alone..."

"Haha... the young mage is modest."

General Samuele was in a good mood because the Netherwolf extermination, ordered by Prince Gaius, had been successful.

After praising those who participated in the extermination, the general went to the fallen guards and mages and silently offered a prayer.

The general and his men carried the Netherwolf's corpse and the bodies of the dead back to the city.

Theobald and Santi glared at Isarco and Ricardo before leaving, looking regretful.

"We saved them, but they left without even saying thank you. Their superiors need to do a better job."

Isarco criticized the two surviving mages and their superior, Cismond. Ricardo also thought it was natural to be angry after risking their lives to save them.

Ricardo was satisfied that his brother and employees were safe, but he felt uneasy about being resented despite helping the mages in a dangerous situation.

He vaguely understood it was a matter of mage pride, but Ricardo didn't think mages were superior just because they were mages, so he couldn't understand the strong elite consciousness of the Extermination Bureau mages.

Seeing Ricardo's troubled expression, Tania suddenly became angry.

"What's wrong with them? Even a child would say thank you if saved... and they glared. That's why mages are known for their bad attitudes and lack of manners."

Many mages were possessed by the idea that they were chosen people, leading to arrogant attitudes and dislike from some people.

Tania might have had a bad experience with someone who thought mages were rude.

The carpenters left, leaving only Ricardo and the others.

"Director Isarco, Tania, Patrick, thank you for today."

Ricardo and Antonio thanked Isarco and the others. Ricardo was relieved that Isarco had come; he was cold with sweat thinking about what might have happened otherwise.

It seemed that to defeat a monster like the Netherwolf, something other than magic was needed. He would think about it later.

Back at the breeding grounds, Monta jumped down from the roof and clung to Ricardo's face.

"Kuka, Kue Kue" (Rica, amazing, amazing)

Monta was incredibly happy that Ricardo had defeated the scary Netherwolf and rubbed against him.

Monta started dancing on Ricardo's head, wiggling his hips and spinning his hands. It seemed to be a victory dance, and he was very excited.

"Ita, Ita... don't pull my hair."

Ricardo cried out, but Monta was too focused.

Seeing this, everyone smiled, even the angry Tania laughed.

General Samuele returned to the capital's Veyser Castle and reported to Prince Gaius. The location was the castle's training ground, where the prince was practicing with a magic gun.

The general brought the giant wolf's corpse in front of the prince.

"Hmm, so this is the Netherwolf. It's a big catch."

"Yes, half of the guards I sent out were killed. ...If the prince could say something to the families of the fallen soldiers, it would be a comfort."

"Understood. The royal family will send condolences and a reward. The surviving soldiers should also be praised and given a reward. Of course, Director Isarco and Ricardo, who finished off the Netherwolf, should also receive a reward."

"Hai"

The general bowed deeply in gratitude.

"What about the Mage Guild's extermination team?"

"Nothing. They took the request from Director Isarco without permission and failed. It's not necessary."

The prince's face turned sour. He was displeased that the Extermination Bureau mages had taken the request he had given.

"But, seeing this monster's corpse, my suspicions have only grown. What was the purpose of summoning the Netherwolf?"

The general looked serious.

"Perhaps this was some kind of experiment."

The prince raised an eyebrow.

"Explain in detail."

"If the Netherwolf had appeared in the capital, what would have happened?"

The prince's face changed.

"Foolish. If that happened, many innocent people would die."

"Yes, the capital would be in chaos."

The prince and the general imagined the chaos if the Netherwolf had been summoned in the city and shuddered.

"But, if it was an experiment, wouldn't it be done without our knowledge?"

"Perhaps there was a mistake. Or perhaps they wanted to test the capital's defenses."

The prince thought and looked northwest toward the Yorgul territory.

"Should we recall the court mages sent to the magic realm?"

"I think we should recall those who can defeat a Netherwolf-level monster."

"You mean mages who can use high-level spells. But most of them are commanders. If we recall only the commanders, the remaining mages will be confused."

"That's true... perhaps three or four would have less impact."

"Hmm... let's do that."

The increase in monsters near the magic realm gate in the Yorgul territory was also an urgent issue. If the number of monsters increased and the magic realm barrier was broken, catastrophic damage would occur in the Yorgul territory.

Recalling even a part of the court mages fighting the increased monsters was a dangerous decision.

That night, Ricardo invited Tania and Patrick to his home. He had also invited Isarco, but he declined due to a prior engagement. So, he invited the two to enjoy dinner prepared by Julia, who had improved her cooking skills.

The dinner included homemade bread, salad, mushroom omelet, and the main dish, a herb-roasted headbutting rabbit. The bread was made with yeast from grapes and was soft.

The salad was dressed with a French-style dressing made from sasami oil, similar to olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. The mushroom omelet used shiitake-like mushrooms sautéed in butter and seasoned. The herb-roasted headbutting rabbit was a traditional dish.

All the dishes were delicious, and Tania seemed to like the mushroom omelet the most.

"I didn't know Ricardo's mother was such a good cook."

Patrick praised Julia's cooking.

Julia smiled shyly.

"Ricardo and I made these dishes together."

Ricardo had worked hard to recreate dishes he wanted to eat. Thanks to this, the once thin Julia and Antonio were starting to look healthier. Serge and Pamela were also eating their mother's cooking with enthusiasm, becoming more rounded in shape.

There were both successful and failed dishes, so the Unius family's food expenses were higher than average.

"Director Isarco should be thanked somehow."

Ricardo muttered. Tania, hearing this, suggested:

"If so, the director's birthday is in five days. You could give a birthday present."

In this country, birthdays are rarely celebrated except for the nobility, but it's common to give gifts to people who have helped you.

"A birthday present... what would be good? Do you know what Director Isarco wants?"

"Well, he once envied the storage aquamarine that Bernard had."

Patrick, surprised, spat out the tea he was about to drink, almost hitting Monta, who glared at him.

"Kuke, Kuya Kue" (Pat, bad manners)

"Sorry, I was surprised by Tania's unexpected suggestion."

"I just answered your question about what the director wants."

"Talking about a birthday present, but a storage aquamarine is too expensive."

A single storage aquamarine costs as much as a nice house in the capital, so Patrick's surprise was understandable.

"I didn't say to give a storage aquamarine. The director likes convenient tools."

Ricardo, hearing about the storage aquamarine, thought of the storage amethyst.

A storage aquamarine was impractical, but a storage amethyst might be just right.

He had started considering showing his storage amethyst to others because he had started using a large-capacity storage aquamarine. The storage aquamarine was so convenient that he understood why merchants competed to get one.

In comparison, the storage amethyst had a small capacity and was less user-friendly. It could only store a limited number of items, making it suitable only for storing valuables.

Ricardo's low evaluation of the storage amethyst was only felt by those who owned large-capacity storage aquamarines, not by those who didn't.

Thanks to this, the storage amethyst later became popular in society and was considered a must-have item for a competent merchant.

2017/7/9 Battle text revised