Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 533 - 533 255 The Hunt Ends_2

533: Chapter 255: The Hunt Ends_2 533: Chapter 255: The Hunt Ends_2 We rangers, once our ancient vow is fulfilled, cannot remain in another lord’s territory to help guard these mighty beasts—especially when there’s not just one Horror Mountain Bear…

“Rest assured, sir.

I am not someone who lacks discernment, nor must I tame them.

I merely think that there are alternatives to killing them.”

Leon waved his hand, saying, “If I truly fail to teach them to coexist with humans, it won’t be too late to act then, or…

once my Griffin companion has fully recovered, I could take the cubs to the distant, barren wilderness far away from the human Kingdom, returning them to the solitary mountains.

It might be extra trouble, but there’s no need to execute them all at once right now.”

Even wild and ferocious dragon beasts like Flying Dragons have been tamed as War Beasts by the Drakemar Royal Family—what if it works?

Not to mention, I still have Miss “Lora A” to consult.

Olivia, upon hearing Leon’s plan, glanced at the Horror Mountain Bear cubs and felt somewhat relieved.

Seeing Glenn Soren and the others hesitating, she sheathed her sword and supported Leon, saying, “I swear, I will carefully guard these three bear cubs and ensure they won’t escape to wreak havoc.”

The previously silent Northland Ranger, Ork, looked at her, then turned his gaze to Leon: “Baron, can you swear on your honor?”

Leon nodded seriously to the rangers: “I swear by the name of Pendragon that under no circumstances will I allow these three Horror Mountain Bears to bring calamity upon the world.”

The rangers, hearing this, exchanged glances and finally shared their opinions.

Eventually, they decided not to insist on killing the cubs immediately.

Persuasion had been made.

As long as this baron could manage the bear cubs—whether attempting to tame them unsuccessfully, taking action to dispose of them, or asking the Griffin to carry them to the remote wastelands—it would be his own effort to expend.

If it had been any other noble, the rangers might worry about them raising these cubs only to secretly unleash them onto enemy territories as “weapons.”

But this Baron Leon, renowned for his integrity and kindness, had always been well-regarded by the locals in his domain and neighboring areas.

Aside from some rumors about his fondness for beautiful women—a minor flaw—his actions and words had been exemplary.

Moreover, he swore an oath before the knights, and his credibility carried substantial weight.

Deciding to spare the cubs for the time being, the group split into a team that returned to the village where they had initially set out—to contact Knight Hengkel and bring sturdy iron cages.

The others stayed to set up camp around the bear cubs in the cavern, lighting fires and resting.

Soon, the three bear cubs, seeing that these strange intruders did not harm them and seemingly calling out in fear until exhausted, gradually quieted down.

Yet, unable to see their mother return, one of the cubs, braver than the others, tried to break free from the encircling “outsiders” to search for its mother.

The bear cub cautiously stepped out of the den, suddenly broke into a run, attempting to escape past the people in front.

A nearby ranger reached out and grabbed the cub’s hind leg, lifting it back.

This “cub” of a Horror Mountain Bear, several months old and already human-sized, cried out angrily and struggled fiercely—its strength so great that, if it were a normal human, it would take four or five people working together to catch it.

But in the hands of these Orland heroes in the cavern, the bear cub was merely a larger-than-life-sized plush toy.

A stout middle-aged ranger stood, seized the flailing, furry cub, and threw it back into the den.

Rolling clumsily several times, the cub failed in its escape attempt but didn’t give up, flipping over with its paws skyward and charging headlong in another direction.

Sitting on a rock, Olivia saw the cub dart past her and had no choice but to step forward, her movements blocking its path.

With a clunk, the cub collided with her leg armor as if crashing into an immovable mountain rock, flipping over into a four-limbed sprawl.

Olivia looked at the cub clutching its head, finding its bumbling antics quite endearing.

She reached out to lift it by the underarms, holding this bear cub as large as herself.

The young woman tilted her head back, dodging the entirely non-threatening swipes of its paws.

Even through the Iron Gloves, the soft, furry texture made Olivia feel an impulse to pet it, as she would with her “Little Gede” back home.

However, remembering that she had just killed its “mother,” Olivia’s gaze darkened, and she sighed quietly.

Turning the cub around and hugging it from behind as it continued to struggle, she gently placed the little one back in the den.

…

After several rounds of attempts, the other two cubs also joined in the fuss but ultimately failed.

Exhausted, the three little ones lay panting in the den, unable to escape the knights’ encirclement.

The knights took a brief rest in the spacious underground cavern overnight.

Early the next morning, Hengkel arrived with Wolf Family soldiers, guided by Knight Derek, at the mountain stream cave.

The influx of people into the cave startled the three cubs to the corner, crying out.

Leon watched as the soldiers unloaded the iron cages they’d brought.

Seeing the rangers place the cubs inside, Leon hesitated before pulling out a cloth from his pack and covering the cages.

In this Otherworld, even plants might possess consciousness.

Leon thought it better to conceal the cubs as they passed, so they wouldn’t see their mother’s corpse.

Outside the cave, Leon addressed the elder Hengkel of the Wolf Family: “Please have your men transport these three cubs safely to Avalon Castle and hand them over to my Knight Order’s steward.

I will cover any expenses incurred during the journey.”

Wolf Family’s old knight bowed, saying, “That won’t be necessary, Mr.

Leon.

You’ve solved a major problem for Leding Castle—why would such trivial expenses require your payment?

On the contrary, I owe a large reward to all of you.”

He sighed inwardly at relief.

These unexpected rangers and Baron Avalon had truly been a huge help.

If they failed to handle their lord’s entrusted duties repeatedly, losing his trust would bring losses beyond what gold crowns could ever recover.

As the group prepared to depart, Hengkel pointed to the enormous bear carcass still trapped and asked, “How shall we handle this bear monster’s remains?

Should I send men to skin it and deliver it to Avalon as well?”

The bear skin would be valuable, especially one from a giant-sized bear monster.

Though scarred with wounds, stripping such an enormous hide would yield enough pieces to craft cloaks, blankets, garments, and other items for common use—unless given as attire for giants.

Leon glanced at the carcass—this was not solely his spoils of war.

Turning, he consulted the rangers to gauge their intentions.

After a few words with Glenn Soren and the others, he addressed Hengkel, “Your reward alone suffices for us.

Convert the value of this bear carcass into funds and distribute it among the survivors whose relatives fell victim to the Horror Mountain Bear.”

Hengkel admired the rangers for their choice, thinking these Heroic Knights…

truly as honorable as rumored.

…

Leaving the forest, Leon and the others retrieved their horses but declined Hengkel’s invitation to Leding Castle.

Rejecting the Wolf Family knight’s offer for a feast, the group resupplied at a nearby town and continued their journey, heading towards Deyatuk County along the northeast road.

After spending two days removing the Horror Mountain Bear threat to Leding Castle, the group quickened their pace, taking a day to pass through a territory belonging to one of the Orland Nobles, reaching the outskirts of the Northern Kingdom-controlled area in Mamor County.

After consulting local guides, Leon chose a footpath along the natural northern border, the Garak Mountains, entering lands still controlled by Kantadar’s Earl in the North.

The group donned cloaks for discretion, bypassing Kantadar villages on their path, and swiftly traversing the wilderness.

Before dusk settled, they reached the junction between Orland and Kantadar regions.

In the mountain gorge, Leon raised his gaze, beholding the sealed-off mountain pass dominated by Dragon Claw Fortress.

Even as someone hailing from modern Earth, he drew a sharp breath at the sight.

Its grandeur, apart from massive dams in the past life, surpassed anything he had known.

Though aware from hearsay that the border fortresses of the King’s Domain leaned towards being imposing, he had underestimated the extent of such “impressiveness.”

This fortress wall, as high as the famed Desolate Wall, with a single glance, Leon knew it was far beyond what could be constructed by the manpower of the current era.

Like the “Small Fortress” where Lady Aphrodite secluded herself, this was undoubtedly a relic of the Lorelette Mage civilization from a bygone era.