The moment Ayan took the request from the side board, something about the atmosphere around him felt subtly different, as if the path ahead had shifted from something routine into something uncertain, something that couldn't be measured as easily as coin rewards or rank difficulty. He stood there for a brief moment, the paper still in his hand, his eyes scanning the details again, unusual monster activity along a lesser-used trade route, reports inconsistent, no clear count, no confirmed type, and most importantly, no fixed reward.
"…So this isn't even a proper quest."
The thought crossed his mind quietly.
But he didn't put it back.
Because that was exactly why it mattered.
Aelira stood beside him, her gaze resting on the paper for a moment before shifting to him, her expression unchanged, yet more attentive than before, as if she was measuring his decision rather than questioning it.
"You chose this without hesitation."
Her voice was calm.
Ayan folded the paper slightly, slipping it into his pocket before replying, "If I want answers, I can't just keep doing the same thing." He paused briefly, his gaze lowering for a moment before continuing, "And if something is really happening… then it's better to know early."
Aelira watched him for a moment longer.
Then gave a small nod.
"…Then we go."
There was no resistance.
No attempt to stop him.
Only acceptance.
They didn't waste time.
After confirming the general direction with the guild, they left the city once more, but this time, the path they followed was different from before, less traveled, quieter, the road narrower and less defined as it stretched outward toward the edge of the region. The usual presence of merchants and travelers was absent, replaced instead by long stretches of silence broken only by the sound of wind moving through the trees.
Ayan walked slightly ahead this time, his eyes more focused than before, his attention fixed not just on what he could see, but on what felt out of place.
"…Too quiet."
He said it softly.
Aelira responded just as calmly, "Because people stopped using this path."
Ayan nodded.
That made sense.
If something was wrong here—
People would avoid it.
The deeper they moved, the more noticeable the changes became, broken branches, disturbed ground, faint traces of movement that didn't match a single type of creature. Ayan slowed down, crouching slightly as he examined one of the marks on the ground, his expression tightening just slightly.
"…This isn't just one group."
Aelira stepped closer, her gaze following his.
"Different patterns."
She added.
Ayan nodded again.
"Yeah."
That alone was enough to confirm something important.
This wasn't a simple monster presence.
It was mixed.
Unstable.
And that made it worse.
They continued forward carefully, their movements slower now, more controlled, and it didn't take long before the first sign appeared.
A body.
Not human.
Ayan approached cautiously, his grip tightening slightly as he stopped a few steps away, his eyes scanning the form.
A goblin.
Dead.
But—
Not recently.
Its body showed signs of damage that didn't match a clean fight, torn, uneven, as if it had been attacked by something stronger than itself.
"…This isn't normal."
Ayan muttered.
Aelira didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze remained fixed on the body.
Then she spoke quietly.
"It was killed by something else."
Ayan exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
And that raised another question.
What kills goblins?
Stronger monsters.
But then—
Why were they here together?
The air felt heavier after that.
Not physically.
But mentally.
They moved again, slower than before, every step measured, every sound noticed, and as they advanced, the forest began to change subtly, the silence growing deeper, the absence of life more noticeable.
Then—
A sound.
Ayan stopped instantly.
Aelira's gaze shifted.
Both of them focused.
Movement.
Not far.
Ayan lowered his stance slightly, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "Stay close."
Aelira didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
They moved toward the sound carefully, pushing through the trees just enough to see—
And then—
They saw it.
A kobold.
But—
Not like before.
Its body was larger.
Its posture more aggressive.
Its eyes—
Red.
Ayan's breath slowed slightly.
"…Again."
The memory returned instantly.
The transformation.
The same red eyes.
The same change.
But this time—
It was already like that.
The kobold moved erratically, its body twitching slightly as if it couldn't fully control itself, its breathing uneven, its presence unstable.
Ayan didn't move immediately.
Because this—
Was different.
And dangerous.
Aelira's voice came quietly beside him.
"It's not natural."
Ayan nodded.
"I know."
The kobold suddenly turned.
Its eyes locking onto them.
And without hesitation—
It charged.
Fast.
Faster than before.
Ayan reacted instantly, stepping back and raising his sword just in time to block the incoming strike, the impact heavier than he expected, forcing him to slide back slightly as his arms absorbed the force.
"…Stronger."
The thought hit immediately.
The kobold didn't stop.
It attacked again.
And again.
Each movement sharper.
More aggressive.
Less controlled.
Ayan adjusted, his stance tightening as he blocked and countered, his movements focused but strained, the difference in strength clear with every clash.
A slight opening—
He took it.
His blade cut across its side.
But—
Not deep enough.
The kobold didn't slow.
If anything—
It became more violent.
"Step back."
Aelira's voice came again.
Calm.
But firmer this time.
Ayan didn't argue.
He shifted back slightly—
And in that instant—
The kobold froze.
Then—
Collapsed.
Just like before.
No visible movement.
No effort.
Aelira hadn't moved.
Not even a step.
Silence returned once again.
Ayan exhaled slowly, his grip loosening as he looked at the fallen creature.
"…This is bad."
The words came without hesitation.
Because now—
It was clear.
This wasn't just about monsters moving closer.
They were changing.
Already changed.
Aelira stepped beside him, her gaze resting on the body for a moment longer before shifting forward, deeper into the forest.
"There are more."
Ayan looked ahead as well.
His expression tightening slightly.
Because now—
He understood.
This wasn't a simple investigation anymore.
And whatever they had just found—
Was only the beginning.