The wolf‑girl grinned.
"Then I'll follow the demon scent.
That'll lead me to Master eventually.
But first I'm eating the rest of my scones.
Can't track scents on an empty stomach."
Ironclaw devoured the remaining food in her bag, then dropped to all fours and leapt forward, following the foul stench of demons.
Anyone who crossed her path met no mercy:
the wolf‑beast tore apart every demon she scented.
Deep in the forest, three different hunters set out — each with a different method, a different instinct, but the same goal.
The demons had no idea what kind of predators they had unleashed upon themselves.
The King's Fate — The Worst Possible Companion
But not everyone could enjoy the hunt.
The unluckiest of all was, without question, the King — who had been paired with the worst possible companion.
"We're under demon attack!" the King screamed as he spun around in panic.
"What happened? Where are we? Bandorn, where did the army go?!"
"I—I don't know what happened!" stammered Bandorn Wolfwood.
"This must be one of the demons' tricks!"
The King and the Noble Lord had no time to look around.
A Fire Demon and three impspawn emerged from the trees, ready to tear them apart.
"Demons!" the King shrieked.
"Bandorn Wolfwood, I command you to protect me and defeat them!"
Bandorn didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat.
He protected himself — in the most cowardly way possible.
He simply shoved the King toward the demons and tried to run.
The impspawn flew after him and tore him apart within seconds.
The King, lying on the ground and trembling, watched as the demons happily feasted on the Noble Lord's flesh.
He literally soiled himself from fear.
The Fire Demon then turned toward him and crushed the King's skull with a single blow.
His crown rolled across the ground, smeared with blood.
The demon reached for the King's corpse, ready to rip out his heart —
when a long, slimy tongue shot out of nowhere.
It yanked the Fire Demon away so fast he couldn't even react.
The Demon Toad had arrived.
With one gulp, it swallowed both the Fire Demon and the King's corpse.
The powerful acid inside its mouth ensured the Fire Demon couldn't even struggle before reaching the stomach.
Nothing remained of the King — except the bloody crown lying on the forest floor.
The most valuable national treasure of the Kingdom, something people would kill for.
The Demon Toad walked past it as if it were a worthless pebble.
Thus perished Bandorn Wolfwood, head of House Wolfwood,
and King Matyas Julius Riel, ruler of the Kingdom of Riel —
in the very first battle against the demons, deep within the Greenwood wilds.
And the Earth Demon Toad continued its path through the forest,
devouring many more knights on that merciless day.
The Luckiest Pair — Fireburp and Amelia Meet the Golden Stag
After the unluckiest pair, let us look at the luckiest.
They were Fireburp and Amelia — whom the teleportation wave dropped directly in front of the Golden Stag.
"The demons' teleportation ritual…" the Golden Stag spoke in a deep, echoing voice.
"I was curious what kind of demon would appear before me.
And instead I get a human child and a dragon hatchling?"
"A huge shiny deer!" Fireburp squeaked.
"Don't eat me, I'm not tasty!"
"Don't eat me either!" Amelia joined in.
"I'm not tasty at all! I'd just give you a stomachache and you'd have diarrhea all day.
Like I did last time when my auntie was eating roasted bacon and fried onions so deliciously that I wanted some too, and then—"
The girl launched into the full story, describing the stomachache, the frantic run to the toilet, and the maids laughing at her.
The Golden Stag listened patiently, then shook her head.
"I am a herbivore, human girl. I cannot consume human flesh…
but what you just described would ruin even a demon's appetite."
"The deer says she won't eat us," Fireburp translated proudly to Amelia.
"Really?" Amelia stepped closer.
"You understand her?
Although… now that I look at you, you have horns too.
Are you one of the Wolfwood maids?
My name is Amelia."
"I'm Fireburp," the dragon girl said, puffing out her chest.
"And I'm not just a maid — I'm also a fire‑magic apprentice!"
The Golden Stag smiled.
"A dragon hatchling learning magic from humans… how nostalgic.
A thousand years ago, I too belonged to the Hero's Party.
I fought alongside the Hero, and together we defeated a Demon General."
Her eyes glowed with ancient light.
"I possess a special ability.
For a short time, I can merge with another being whom I recognize from the depths of my heart.
My fusion with the Hero was the Demon General's downfall."
"Listen carefully, Dragon Hatchling… Fireburp.
A strong demon is approaching us.
Most likely an elite demon."
"What?!" Fireburp took a step back.
"But I'm way too weak to defeat a strong demon!"
"I know," the Golden Stag nodded.
"That is why we must merge.
I could never use this ability with an arrogant dragon…
but with a dragon hatchling raised with human kindness, I can."
"Are you ready, Fireburp?"
"I don't know what you're planning…" the dragon girl swallowed hard.
"But if it helps us defeat the demon, I'm in!"
"Then I shall begin the fusion."
The Golden Stag's body turned into radiant light, and the light wrapped around Fireburp.
The dragon girl's body stretched, strengthened, and transformed into a new, eighteen‑year‑old form.
Her red scales turned golden, her crimson hair gleamed with the same golden radiance,
and her dragon horns reshaped into stag antlers.
The fusion was born.
The Dragon–Stag Warrior, a new incarnation of an ancient legend, stood ready to face the approaching demon.
The First Battle of the Dragon–Stag Warrior
"Power flows through me…" the warrior born from the fusion whispered.
"Except for the Goddess's blessing, I don't feel any weaker than when I merged with Robin.
Which means… this body holds immense potential.
Right now, I could even face Firestorm."
Amelia stared at her, mouth wide open.
"You suddenly grew up, Fireburp! Is this some kind of magic? Your hair color… and even your tail changed completely!"
"I'm not Fireburp," the girl replied, her voice now deeper and more mature.
"My name is… let's see. Call me Lightburp."
"Lightburp? Alright, Lightburp," Amelia nodded.
"Amelia, hide behind that rock. A strong demon is approaching. It'll be here any moment."
"Oh, then I'll hide right away!" the girl squeaked, lifting her skirt and sprinting off.
Amelia disappeared behind the rock — and moments later, the demon arrived.
Lightburp had sensed correctly: this was no ordinary Fire Demon.
A Clan Leader.
The demon stopped and looked the golden‑scaled warrior up and down.
"What in the hells is this?" he growled.
"I sensed a powerful presence, that's why I came.
But you… you're not one of the main targets.