"There are more."
The moment Aelira said those words, Ayan didn't hesitate. He moved forward instinctively, his steps careful but faster than before, his mind already racing ahead, trying to make sense of what they had just encountered, but the deeper they stepped into the forest, the more something began to feel wrong, not in the obvious sense of danger, but in the way the surroundings seemed… disturbed. The trees ahead bore marks, deep, jagged cuts carved into the bark, not clean like weapons, but rough, uneven, as if something had clawed through them with overwhelming force.
Ayan slowed.
His eyes narrowed.
"…These weren't here before."
He stepped closer to one of the trees, raising his hand slightly as he traced the mark without touching it, the depth, the width, the angle, everything about it felt unnatural.
"Not weapons…"
He muttered quietly.
Before he could take another step forward—
Aelira moved.
Her hand caught his arm.
Stopping him instantly.
"There are monsters ahead."
Her voice was calm.
But this time—
There was no softness in it.
Ayan froze for a brief moment, his body reacting before his thoughts could catch up, and slowly, he lifted his gaze forward, his instincts already warning him before his eyes confirmed it.
Then—
He saw them.
His breath stopped.
Kobolds.
But not the ones he had fought before.
These—
Were different.
Their bodies had expanded unnaturally, muscles stretching and tightening beneath darkened skin that no longer resembled anything natural, their limbs longer, their claws sharper, extended into something closer to weapons than hands. Their teeth had grown as well, jagged and uneven, protruding from mouths that no longer resembled the smaller creatures they once were, and their eyes—
Were completely red.
Not glowing.
Not flickering.
Just—
Red.
Ayan's mind went blank for a moment.
"…What… is that…"
The thought didn't even fully form.
Because what he was seeing—
Didn't make sense.
Among them stood one.
Larger than the rest.
Different.
Its body had gone beyond simple growth, its entire structure twisted into something closer to a beast than anything humanoid, its back slightly hunched, its claws dragging faintly against the ground as it moved, its presence alone enough to make the air feel heavier.
And around it—
Goblins.
Kobolds.
All changed.
All with darkened skin.
All with those same red eyes.
But none—
Like that one.
Ayan felt it then.
Not clearly.
Not logically.
But instinctively.
"…That thing…"
His body tensed slightly.
"…It's stronger."
He didn't know how.
He couldn't measure it.
But something deep inside him—
Told him.
This creature—
Was beyond what he had faced before.
Even beyond the orc.
"…No…"
His breathing slowed slightly.
"…Stronger than that."
The realization hit harder than anything else.
Because kobolds—
Were supposed to be weaker.
Even evolved—
They shouldn't reach that level.
But this—
This wasn't evolution.
This was something else.
Something wrong.
Ayan couldn't move.
For a moment—
His thoughts completely stopped.
No plan.
No reaction.
Just—
Silence.
Until—
He forced himself back.
His breathing steadied.
His mind snapped back into place.
"…We need to leave."
His voice came out lower than expected.
But firm.
"We leave. Now."
Aelira didn't argue.
She didn't question.
She simply released his arm.
And followed.
They moved carefully, slowly at first, then faster once distance began to form between them and whatever that thing was, neither of them speaking as the forest stretched behind them, the tension only easing once they had completely exited the area.
Only then—
Did Ayan stop.
His hand tightened slightly as he exhaled, his gaze lowering as his thoughts began to return all at once.
"…How…"
The question slipped out quietly.
Because nothing about that made sense.
"Kobolds aren't supposed to be like that."
He spoke again, more clearly this time, his thoughts racing.
"Even if they evolve… even if they change… they shouldn't surpass something like an orc…"
But that thing—
Had.
He clenched his jaw slightly.
"…What is going on…"
There were too many questions.
Too many unknowns.
But one thing was clear.
This—
Was beyond him.
Ayan straightened slightly, his expression tightening as his thoughts settled into a decision.
"We report this."
His voice was steady now.
"The guild needs to know."
Because this wasn't something he could handle.
Not alone.
Not even with her.
If this spread—
If more of those things appeared—
Then this wasn't just a problem.
It was a threat.
They returned to the city without delay, their pace faster this time, the urgency clear even without words, and when they entered the guild, the noise that had once felt normal now seemed distant as Ayan moved straight toward the counter, his focus locked.
"I took the investigation request."
His voice cut through clearly as he reached the receptionist, her attention shifting immediately.
"There are monsters in the forest. Not normal ones."
She frowned slightly.
"…Explain."
And he did.
Everything.
The marks.
The bodies.
The transformation.
The red eyes.
The larger one.
Every detail.
The receptionist listened without interrupting, her expression growing more serious with every word, and when he finished, she didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
She stood.
"Stay here."
Her tone had changed.
Completely.
And without another word, she turned and moved quickly toward the back.
The guild fell into a strange silence for a moment.
Then—
Voices.
"…Did he say evolved kobolds?"
"…Stronger than an orc…?"
"…That's not possible…"
Ayan stood still, the noise fading into the background as his thoughts remained focused, but beside him—
Aelira spoke quietly.
"You don't need to worry."
Her voice was calm.
Steady.
As if nothing had changed.
"I'm here."
Ayan glanced at her.
For a brief moment—
He said nothing.
Because something about her—
Felt different.
Not in what she said.
But in what she didn't.
It was as if—
She already knew.
And yet—
Chose silence.
Ayan looked away.
His thoughts returning.
Because right now—
There were more important things.
But somewhere deep in his mind—
A question had already begun to form.
And this time—
It wasn't about the monsters.