A group of soldiers marched forward, their armor clinking under the afternoon sun.
"Hey, kids! No time for playing around,"
one of them called out, voice firm but not unkind.
"You've been summoned for the arena."
Mika flashed a cheeky grin and waved.
"Ohh, good luck, boys! Enjoy your hunting!"
Hina clasped her hands together, offering a gentle smile.
"Stay safe out there."
Daichi let out a long, dramatic groan, shoulders slumping.
"Uhhh… so I wish I could sleep right now, and things have just gotten even worse."
Kairo brought two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. Moments later, the steady thud of hooves announced Wind's arrival. The loyal horse trotted up and nuzzled his shoulder.
Akio puffed out his chest.
"Nah, you're not the only one who has a horse. Am I right?"
He whistled loudly. A horse with a comically goofy expression bounded over, ears flopping.
"Hey, let's go, Akio the Great! I, the conqueror of the wild, have arrived to help you in hunting!"
Daichi's own horse finally ambled up at a painfully slow pace, looking half-asleep.
"Uhh… how is he so energetic?"
Daichi muttered, swinging onto its back with a resigned sigh.
Renji was already mounted, real swords and a bow strapped securely to his side.
Akio's eyes widened.
"Woah! When did you even equip all that?"
Renji smirked, gripping the reins tightly.
"Hey, you slowpokes. I'll be on the front line and make sure I bring back all the heads of the wild animals."
Leonhart rode up smoothly on his elegant white horse, posture perfect. Kairo swung onto Wind's back with practiced ease.
Leonhart flashed a confident smile.
"Well, can't let Renji hunt all alone, am I right?"
With that, Kairo, Leonhart, Daichi, and Akio urged their horses forward, hooves kicking up small clouds of dust as they joined the procession.
Uhh, I hate this already, Kairo thought, jaw tightening. Why are we supposed to go hunting? I just don't want to be here… In my old world, at this age I'd probably be glued to my smartphone or watching TV. Isn't it too brutal to send kids out like this?
The group soon reached a wide clearing where dozens of other children had gathered—some their age, others slightly older—all mounted and buzzing with nervous energy for their first official hunt.
A stern butler stepped forward, distributing hunting equipment with brisk efficiency. When he reached Kairo, he offered a respectful bow. "Master Kairo, I know you will be able to handle those monsters."
Kairo nodded, though his stomach twisted with discomfort.
"Yeah… I will."
I didn't make this rule to go hunting, he thought anxiously, fingers gripping the reins a little too tightly.
A large, muscular man with a booming voice strode to the front, his presence commanding immediate attention.
"You kids are not kids anymore! You have to fight and conquer in the future. This will be the first step to becoming a man. You have to protect your women. If you think you will just play with girls, then wear girls' clothes and change your name—because real men aren't meant for that! We men are born to protect our family. While God says to women, 'I will protect your father and mother,' God says to us, 'You have to protect your mother and father.' So men, don't quiver! Men, forget your weaknesses! Ohh men, come forward! Ohh men, die in the name of God!"
A powerful roar erupted from all the boys. Even Kairo, who had been filled with dread moments earlier, felt something stir inside him. He raised his fist and roared along with them, voice strong and steady.
"Yeah! I am a man! I have to protect and die for the sake of the kingdom and for the sake of God!"
The muscular man nodded approvingly and called out, "The prince!"
The other children on horseback respectfully stepped aside, clearing a path.
Kairo urged Wind forward, riding to the front with his head held high.
The man looked up at him with stern respect.
"Kairo, you are the prince. Even though the throne chooses the king during the ceremony, as the current prince you will lead from the front field for this hunt. The title of prince isn't for nothing."
Kairo's voice rang out bold and clear. "Understood."
"Very good,"
the man replied with a satisfied nod.
"Now you may enter. If you find a beast, make sure you bring it back for food. Our supplies are running low."
Kairo raised his arm.
"Let's go!"
The group of young riders surged forward behind him, hooves thundering across the ground. After a short while, they began to split off into smaller groups, spreading out so the noise from so many horses wouldn't scare away all the prey at once.
Kairo turned to his friends, voice steady despite the unease churning in his gut.
"So, my friends… are you with me?"
Renji grinned fiercely, raising a fist.
"Yeah! You and Leonhart are allies. Very well then—make sure you have a very good hunting journey. Good luck!"
Akio puffed out his chest with dramatic flair.
"Well, I will make sure I bring back the heads of a mammoth!"
Renji shot him a deadpan look.
"Uhh… it seems like I'm paired with this idiot."
Kairo glanced at Daichi.
"What about you, Daichi? Who are you paired with?"
Daichi shrugged lazily, scratching the back of his neck.
"I'm not paired with anyone. I chose the rank of trapper. I'll be all alone."
Well, that's my dad… Kairo thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. I can sense other men watching us from the distance.
Suddenly, a flock of birds burst from the treetops overhead, wings flapping wildly.
Wait… what did they catch already? Kairo wondered, eyes narrowing.
Akio clapped his hands together.
"Ok then, I won't let him catch all the prey. See ya!"
Renji groaned and urged his horse forward.
"Oi, wait for me! Uhh, darn it… why did I even get paired with him?"
Daichi gave a half-hearted wave as he turned his lazy horse.
"Gotta go. Well then, see ya."
Leonhart looked at Kairo, his expression calm but focused.
"So, Kairo, what's the plan? How will we capture the animals?"
Kairo's eyes suddenly widened. A faint black aura flickered around Leonhart's shoulders, dark tendrils licking the air like smoke.
"Leonhart… your black aura. It's emitting again."
Leonhart raised an eyebrow, unfazed.
"Did you forget about your own aura?"
Kairo cursed under his breath, feeling the familiar oppressive pressure rising in his chest.
"Uhh, damn it. I can't handle it. Leonhart, we have to meditate right now. If we don't… you know about the side effects."
Leonhart nodded seriously. Without another word, both boys hopped off their horses and moved toward a large tree, settling down against its trunk.
They sat cross-legged, eyes closed, focusing deeply. Breathing slowed. Minds cleared. The chaotic energy swirling inside them gradually stabilized as they sank into meditation, pushing back the dangerous surge of their auras.
The scene shifted to Daichi, who rode alone at a leisurely pace, his sharp eyes scanning the forest floor.
"Ok then… as I observed from the trail of the horses, there are around twenty groups out there. Each group contains two members, which means there are forty kids around our age. And not to mention, I can sense some men watching over us from the distance. Uhh… well, my magic—god damn it, I just take in a lot of information, huh? And my father says it's not magic, it's in our genetics. As if I care."
He pulled out a folded map from his pocket and studied it carefully.
"Well then, there are two options. These forests… they've given me a map I have to follow. And yeah, it seems like the magicians are there creating a border so no kids accidentally go outside and step into the forbidden forest."
Daichi continued muttering to himself, voice low.
"Let's see… hunting small animals gives one point, medium animals give two points, and big animals give four points. And yeah, the king of the jungle—the lion—if you kill him, you'll be directly promoted as a hunter and given the title of Genius Hunter. If we kill one at this age… huh."
He shook his head with a lazy sigh.
"And it seems like I'm overthinking again. Ok, so now… my goal is to catch a medium-level animal. It is a deer—very fast—which are getting caught by other animals, most likely the big predators."
Daichi's ears twitched. A faint rustle sounded from the bushes ahead.
Ok then… it seems like I hear some animals over there. And it might hear me too.
Daichi slid off his horse with a lazy swing of his leg. He raised one finger to his lips, giving the animal a clear signal. The horse obediently stayed silent, ears twitching but otherwise motionless.
Daichi closed his eyes and focused intensely, his round face tightening with concentration. The forest around him seemed to fade as he sharpened his senses. Then—he heard it. A faint rustle, barely noticeable to anyone else.
I think I've found the deer. Why, you may ask? Look at the pattern of the mud. It must be a deer to leave footprints like that.
A small, satisfied smirk tugged at his lips. And yeah, that means I have a great chance of finding it in the middle of predators. I have to lay traps before it finds me. So yeah… my luck is way too bad.
His ears picked up something else—heavy, unfamiliar footsteps crunching through the underbrush nearby. The sound sent a chill down his spine.
And why, you may ask? I just heard the footsteps of an unknown animal…
Daichi's lazy expression sharpened into something far more alert. His body tensed, shoulders stiffening as he slowly crouched lower behind a thick bush.
The air felt heavier now, the playful hunting trip suddenly carrying a sharper edge of danger.
He could almost feel eyes on him—whether from the deer, the unseen predator, or the distant watchers, he wasn't sure.
His fingers moved quietly, already reaching for materials to set his first trap. One wrong move and the hunt could turn against him in an instant.
Daichi's sharp eyes locked onto the deer standing motionless in a small clearing. Behind it—nothing. No predators, no movement, just empty forest.
"No way…" he whispered, voice tight.
Why would I run from a deer? Why aren't I attacking it? The thought flashed through his mind, but his instincts screamed louder than logic. Something was terribly wrong.
He backed away slowly, feet barely making a sound as he crept toward his horse. The animal remained perfectly still, as if sensing his fear. Daichi's hands trembled slightly as he gripped the reins, sweat beading on his forehead.
"We need to rescue our friends,"
he muttered urgently to the horse.
"We have to go toward Renji and Akio. Leonhart and Kairo are smart—they'll figure it out."
With a quick gesture, Daichi activated a skill. A faint ripple of magic wrapped around the horse, completely neutralizing any sound it made. Absolute silence.
"Uhh, damn it… I should have worked harder,"
he groaned under his breath, mounting up.
"Now I can only use this skill for fifteen minutes. If I had trained more, it would have lasted anytime I wanted. Uhh… the situation has gone way worse than I expected."
But why am I running away from a deer? I'm supposed to kill it. There are no predators around me…
The horse bolted forward in eerie silence as Daichi urged it on, heart pounding in his chest.
The scene shifted to Akio and Renji riding side by side through the trees.
Renji glanced at his partner with a smirk.
"So you're going after a mammoth, huh? You won't find it. That's an elephant—they live in cold regions."
Akio waved a hand dismissively, grinning wide.
"Well, who cares? We have to gather rabbits and birds to eat anyway, so let's get going!"
Renji chuckled.
"Well yeah, we'll pass for sure."
Suddenly, both boys spotted Daichi in the distance, galloping away frantically in the opposite direction.
Renji frowned.
"Isn't he supposed to be looking for prey?"
Akio tilted his head.
"Well, let's hurry and ask him!"
They kicked their horses into motion and raced after him.
"Daichi! What's wrong? Where are you heading?"
Akio called out as they drew closer.
Daichi exhaled sharply, face pale.
"Don't bother me—you have to run away from here!"
Renji's eyes narrowed.
"Why do we have to—"
The scene shifted again to Leonhart and Kairo.
Kairo's gaze suddenly locked onto a deer standing ahead. Without hesitation, he burst forward using his enhanced speed—but instead of striking it down, he veered sharply and ran past it.
Leonhart didn't even question the decision. He followed instantly, matching Kairo's pace as they tore through the undergrowth.
"So, what's the threat?"
Leonhart asked, voice steady despite the sudden flight.
Kairo's expression was grim.
"It's unknown."
They pushed deeper into the forest when something horrifying came into view.
The muscular man who had given the rousing speech earlier now lay on the ground—his head cleanly severed from his body. Blood still glistened on the grass. And from the shadows, it was clear they were next.
Kairo's stomach dropped. Leonhart's hand instinctively went to his sword, eyes widening in shock. The air grew thick with dread as an unseen presence seemed to close in around them.
The hunt had turned deadly in an instant.