"If you want to hug death, I don’t mind at all. I’ll send you to meet the man who just died."
Mira’s voice was cold, and it was full of killing intent.
The two big men were Warriors too.
One held a Greatsword. The other carried a sword and a shield.
When they looked at Mira, hesitation crossed both their faces. They knew they couldn’t step in.
Leo had just killed Bram in a fair duel. That meant even the city’s security force had no right to interfere.
The man with the Greatsword shouted in rage.
"Our Third Brother was only joking around! And this kid took his life! Is this the kindness of your knights?"
The first man was a second-rank War Master of the third stage. The other was an eighth-rank Warrior of the second stage.
Together, they weren’t afraid of Mira. But they couldn’t ignore the Temple Alliance standing behind her.
Mira answered with complete contempt.
"Are you blind? My brother is a Retribution Knight, not a Guardian Knight. A Retribution Knight’s rule is to finish the enemy."
"And I know my little brother’s heart. If your friend hadn’t said such filthy things, Leo would never have lifted a hand to kill him."
"Don’t believe me? Then come at me together."
As she spoke, her two long swords drew a strange path through the air. Thin golden Spiritual Light streamed from her body.
*Nheeeigh!*
A long cry rang out. That strange light turned into a tall, strong horse. It had wings on its back.
The winged horse was a rare pink color.
Its body was about 2.66 meters long and about 2 meters tall. A single horn rose from its head.
Its eyes were pink. A strong fragrance drifted from its body. In those two pink eyes there was both pride and power.
Mira climbed onto its back. She looked down at the two Warriors with scorn and hatred.
Her nickname, "Hell Rose," came from this horse. It was a young unicorn, pink from head to hoof.
It wasn’t fully grown yet. Still, it was a true fifth-stage Magical Beast.
Even a Warrior of the third or fourth stage was no match for it.
"Is she really a knight of the Alliance?"
The shield-bearer said in shock.
The two men looked at each other. And without another word, they picked up their friend’s body and ran.
Several adventurers nearby whispered.
"They must be outsiders. Not knowing the Hell Rose, the greatest genius of Moonhaven Hall! They had it coming..."
"Big sister." Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
Leo had stood quietly beside Mira the whole time.
But after taking a life, his face hadn’t changed even a little.
Mira climbed down from the Rose Unicorn and smiled.
"Silly little thing. Why did you even come to the Adventurers Guild?"
She had asked around about Leo inside the guild. She didn’t like the idea of him walking into that snake pit alone. So she had followed him. And she had arrived just in time to see everything.
"Master wanted me to take a second-stage mission," Leo answered.
Mira was speechless for a moment.
"Your master must really trust you. Alright, I’m coming with you."
When Leo stepped back into the Adventurers Guild, the looks on everyone’s faces had changed.
Forget the strong big sister beside him. In just a few seconds, he had killed an axe-wielding Warrior. He had proved that his strength was truly that of a Standard Knight.
They knew nothing about Divine Obstruction.
But looking at Leo’s age, they guessed the Temple Alliance would surely protect such a precious gem.
Nobody dared to be careless now.
"Knight... Senior Knight! I need to return your badge."
The girl at the counter hurried forward the moment she saw them come back. She placed Leo’s badge into his hands with respect.
The matter was settled. Leo picked a mission north of Moonhaven City. It was to hunt ten second-stage Magical Beasts.
"Little brother, let me go with you, or I won’t be able to relax."
Mira said.
"There aren’t any high-stage Magical Beasts around Moonhaven. But there are third-stage ones. Sometimes you might even see a fourth-stage one. And if I go with you, you’ll get there faster."
"I can’t, big sister. Master wanted me to do this alone."
"What’s the problem? You’ll still be doing it alone! You’ll hunt the Magical Beasts. I’ll only make sure no one attacks you from behind. It’s decided!"
As she talked, Mira dragged Leo out of the guild. She hopped onto the Rose Unicorn, and the two of them left the city.
Leo was thrilled. It was his first time riding a mount.
The pink beast’s back was very smooth. Mira sat right behind him. He could smell a faint scent of roses.
The two of them moved fast. When they left the city, Leo was shocked.
Mira didn’t stop at all. And the guards at the gate saluted her.
As soon as they left Moonhaven City, the Rose Unicorn’s speed shot up.
A red glow burst from its body. The air around them grew warm. It ran even faster. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Thanks to the red shield around them, Leo felt no pressure from the wind at all. The mount ran as fast as a flying airship.
"It’s so fast! Big sister, your mount is amazing! How can I get a mount like this?"
After all, Leo was just a boy. How could he not get excited by a feeling this new?
Mira smiled.
"Answer one question for me, and I’ll tell you."
"Ask me, big sister."
"Was that the first time you killed a person?"
Mira asked.
"If it was, why don’t you look upset at all? I still remember the first time I killed someone. It hurt so much. I threw up for three days and three nights!"
Leo scratched his head.
He was quiet for a moment. His hands, resting on the unicorn’s mane, held still.
"I’d never killed a person before. But I have killed Magical Beasts."
"Master told me that killing an enemy is the same as killing a Magical Beast. You must show no mercy. And you must not stop until they’re dead."
"He was just like a Magical Beast. So why should I feel bad? I’ve killed many Magical Beasts."
The truth was, the harsh training in the Owl-Ants’ cave had wiped out his fear of moments like this.
Mira couldn’t hide her reaction.
"I don’t know if his heart is very pure or very stone. But his master was right. You have to pull evil out by the roots."
She said nothing more. But behind him, her eyes softened for just a moment.
Leo wanted a mount like this so badly. He asked eagerly.
"How did you get the Rose Unicorn?"
"What’s the hurry?" Mira said. "Even if I don’t tell you, you’ll find out yourself soon enough. Because like me, you’ll have to go to the Knights’ Sacred Mountain to choose a Magical Beast for yourself."
"What kind of place is the Knights’ Sacred Mountain?"
"In our Temple Alliance, most knights must choose a mount. Or tame a Magical Beast to make it their mount."
"But there’s one exception. It’s for very talented young knights."
"Those who pass the Genuine Knight test before turning twenty, which means becoming a first-rank, third-stage knight, earn the right to enter the Knights’ Sacred Mountain."
"You’re a ten-year-old Standard Knight. You shouldn’t have any trouble becoming a Genuine Knight before twenty."
Leo’s eyes lit up.
"Then I can get one too?"
"If the mountain accepts you," Mira said. Then her smile faded, and her voice grew quiet. "When I went, something happened that I’ve never told anyone. Not even Uncle Rowan."
Leo turned around to look at her.
But Mira had already looked away, and the Rose Unicorn raced on toward the northern hills.