Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 532 - 532 255 The Hunt Ends

532: Chapter 255: The Hunt Ends 532: Chapter 255: The Hunt Ends The torch illuminated the pitch-black underground cave.

In the crevice acting as a hiding nest, three Horror Mountain Bear cubs, nearly the size of ordinary humans, crowded into a corner, continuously letting out frightened cries.

Their underdeveloped, sharp voices echoed in the cave, calling out to a mother who would never return.

The bloodstains on the blades had already been wiped off, but the lingering scent of blood still instinctively forced the cubs to retreat in terror.

However, behind them was the rock wall—there was no escape.

In the wavering dim light, the group slowed their steps before the bear’s nest.

Olivia silently gazed at the frightened cubs, shrieking desperately before the group.

She was not a sheltered noble heiress untouched by blood.

Growing up in the village, she had helped out when the villagers slaughtered pigs or sheep on occasion.

But killing to obtain food and survive felt completely different from executing the cubs just to eradicate future threats at this moment.

Momentarily dazed, the girl lowered her head to glance at the sword at her waist, her heart stirring with doubt.

Was she truly any different in essence from those thugs who plundered and slaughtered the innocent?

In the eyes of these bear cubs, was she not also a ruthless demon?

Glenn Soren, passing by Olivia’s side, noticed her expression.

The old knight realized this child was still just a young girl after all.

Glenn Soren explained, gently advising the girl, “Miss Olivia, these three cubs are almost weaned.

While it is natural to feel reluctant, we cannot risk future sacrifices by sparing them.

Perhaps you should wait outside the cave—leave this to us.”

The rangers certainly would not let the cubs live here on their own.

While Horror Mountain Bear cubs posed little threat to the Knights of Valor, they were still far more powerful than ordinary young animals.

If left unchecked, even if only one of the cubs survived by instinct and luck, driven by hunger to seek food before starving, then a few years later, the lands of Leding Castle would face yet another dangerous man-eating giant bear.

It must be known that even during its teenage growth stage, a Horror Mountain Bear was two to three times larger than a tiger or lion.

In the struggle for survival, there was truly no space for extravagant mercy.

The old knight’s words brought Olivia back from her thoughts.

The girl looked toward him, her bangs lightly swaying.

“Thank you, Uncle Glenn Soren, but I’m not that fragile,” she said.

Olivia raised her hand and drew her longsword.

She didn’t want to entirely leave this decision to others, pretending she hadn’t seen or heard anything by covering her eyes and ears.

Neither the mother bear nor these three cubs were doing anything more than fighting to survive.

But the struggling villagers on this land…

those poor souls who met their tragic ends in bear stomachs—were they any different?

Recalling Leon’s decisiveness in killing Baron Shatai, she reaffirmed her belief in choosing the lesser of two evils to protect what truly mattered.

“Everyone, let me do it.

My sword is fast enough…

I can spare them from feeling any pain.” The girl, blade in hand, walked toward the bear’s nest.

The rangers turned their gaze to her, halting their steps one by one.

They had witnessed the girl’s extraordinary swordsmanship and knew her words were true.

Granting these three cubs, who had yet to harm anyone, a swift and painless death was perhaps the only mercy they could offer.

But suddenly, as Olivia prepared to act, Leon placed a hand on her shoulder from behind.

The girl stopped walking, puzzled, and turned her head to look up at him.

Leon smiled at her, noticing the flicker in her eyes under the torchlight.

In the glowing gold of her gaze, he seemed to see the kindness and reluctance buried deep in her heart.

“You don’t want to kill them, do you?” Leon said softly.

Olivia stared into her lover’s eyes, momentarily stunned by his words.

The grip on her sword tightened, then loosened slightly.

“They haven’t harmed anyone yet; they’re still innocent.

But we…

it feels like there’s no other choice,” the girl said with a helpless voice, a small thread of hope igniting toward her beloved within her heart.

Leon lifted his gaze, scanning the cubs not far away.

Sensing death approaching, they tried to threaten the knights into staying away.

Perhaps reminded of his pampered little chicken back home, he felt it was a pity to kill these three cubs outright.

If Horror Mountain Bears could also become war beasts, he wouldn’t have to rely solely on Death Claw in battle anymore.

Thinking of his own injured chicken, lying limply in its nest, Leon felt a pang of sorrow.

“You won’t know until you’ve tried.

At least confine them for now—these cubs currently have no ability to leave and cause harm,” Leon said.

“My lord, are you considering trying to tame these three Horror Mountain Bears?” Derek asked, catching Leon’s meaning.

Glenn Soren frowned slightly, then spoke to dissuade the young lord.

“Mr.

Leon, I must remind you—there have been attempts in the past, but none have succeeded.

The personality of Horror Mountain Bears is far wilder than your Griffin or Derek’s Horror Wolf.

These giant bears are exceptionally untamed.”

The old knight worried that the Baron underestimated the danger posed by Horror Mountain Bears.

Although it had seemed easy today when the group ambushed and killed the mother bear…

Not to mention the ambush, catching the Horror Mountain Bear off guard—ordinarily, the gathered rangers and heroes from across the land would never act together like this.

Glenn Soren knew that any one of them, alone against the giant beast, would be forced to consider escape.

Even two or three working together would still be gambling with their lives.

Keeping the cubs now wasn’t dangerous, but once they matured?

These inherently solitary beasts needed only one fit of rage or whim to cause a catastrophic tragedy.