The Crimson Horned Panther lay motionless on the forest floor, its blood slowly soaking into the earth.
Damon stood over its body, breathing heavily. His sword remained in his hand, but the faint blue glow that had surrounded its blade was long gone.
He tried circulating mana again.
A weak sensation stirred within him before quickly fading.
He frowned.
Still not enough.
"You should stop."
Roderick's voice came from behind him.
Damon turned. "I can continue."
"I know you can. That doesn't mean you should."
The captain approached, examining the dead panther before looking at Damon.
"Your physical abilities have improved considerably. Your swordsmanship is also becoming more refined. And that attempt to combine mana with your Crosswind Sword Art was impressive."
Damon waited for the criticism.
"But your endurance is still lacking. You rely too heavily on your physical strength, and your mana control is unstable. If that fight had lasted longer, you might have exhausted yourself before defeating the beast."
Damon glanced at his sword.
He couldn't disagree.
The brief mana circulation had given his attack considerably more force, but maintaining it had been difficult. Every moment he used it seemed to drain him faster than expected.
"I understand," he replied.
"Good. Understanding your weaknesses is the first step toward overcoming them."
One of the guards approached and offered Damon a waterskin.
"Here, young master."
"Thank you."
Damon accepted it and drank.
The three guards had watched him fight throughout the expedition. At first, their expressions had been filled with professional caution. Now, however, there was something different in their eyes.
Respect.
Damon noticed it but said nothing.
Instead, he looked towards them.
"You have all served the Jubo family for years, haven't you?"
"More than a decade in my case, young master," one replied.
The others gave similar answers.
"Then you've probably fought more beasts than I can imagine."
The older guard chuckled. "Enough to know that surviving a battle is often more important than winning it."
Another added, "And knowing when to retreat can save your life."
Damon smiled.
"Then I suppose I have plenty to learn from you."
The guards exchanged brief glances.
They had expected the young master to be proud of his achievements, especially after demonstrating such impressive abilities. Instead, he was openly acknowledging how much he still had to learn.
It made them view him differently.
Roderick watched the exchange without interrupting.
Marcel's decision to bring Damon into the forest had served more than one purpose. The expedition was meant to give the young master practical combat experience, but it was also an opportunity for the guards to see his progress with their own eyes.
A young lord could command loyalty through his title.
But genuine respect had to be earned.
And Damon was beginning to earn it.
They continued deeper into the outer forest, though Roderick made sure they avoided areas where stronger beasts were known to roam.
Damon was no longer allowed to charge ahead carelessly. Roderick occasionally stopped him to point out tracks, broken branches and other signs that revealed the presence of nearby creatures.
It was during one of these pauses that Damon noticed something unusual.
A small plant grew beneath the roots of an old tree. Its leaves were dark green, with faint silver lines running through their surfaces.
It was easy to overlook.
But the moment Damon focused on it, his Discerning Eye activated.
[Discerning Eye Activated.]
[Identifying Target...]
[Target: Silver-veined Spirit Herb.]
[Classification: Rare Medicinal Herb.]
Damon's eyes narrowed.
A medicinal herb?
He crouched beside it, studying its leaves.
The information was limited, but it was enough to establish that the plant was valuable.
"Young master, have you found something?" one of the guards asked.
Damon pointed towards the plant.
"Do you recognise this?"
The guard crouched beside him and examined it.
His expression changed slightly.
"A Silver-veined Spirit Herb."
"Is it valuable?"
"Quite. Alchemists use it in certain medicinal preparations. It is especially useful in medicines intended to support the body and improve energy circulation."
Damon looked at the plant again.
That description matched what his Discerning Eye had revealed.
"Can it be harvested?"
"Yes, but carefully. Damaging the roots or leaves could reduce its value."
Roderick approached and inspected the herb.
"Finding one of these in the outer forest is fortunate. We should preserve it properly."
The guard carefully harvested the plant and placed it inside a protective container.
Damon watched with interest.
He had entered the forest expecting to improve his combat abilities. He hadn't anticipated discovering something that might prove useful to his future cultivation.
Perhaps the forest had more to offer than just opponents.
By the time the sun began descending, Roderick decided that the expedition was over.
Damon had fought several beasts, experimented with mana circulation and learned valuable lessons about survival.
There was no reason to risk unnecessary injuries by continuing.
As they made their way towards the forest entrance, Damon looked back at the trees.
His first real expedition had been more demanding than he expected.
Yet he had enjoyed it.
He had experienced the difference between practising against a training opponent and facing something that genuinely wanted to kill him.
More importantly, he had discovered that his new strength still had limits.
"Young master."
Damon turned towards Roderick.
"Yes, Captain?"
"You made considerable progress today. But don't let that success make you careless. Your foundation still needs work, especially your mana control."
"I won't forget."
"Good. When we return, we'll continue your training. I want you to become comfortable using your sword before attempting to combine it with mana for extended periods."
Damon nodded.
He was already thinking about how to improve.
The three guards walked behind them, occasionally discussing the day's encounters.
For the first time, Damon felt that he was no longer simply being escorted by people assigned to protect him.
They were beginning to recognise him as their young master.
And that feeling was strangely satisfying.
The Jubo family mansion received them before nightfall.
Marcel was waiting when they arrived.
His eyes moved over Damon, checking for injuries before settling on Roderick.
"How was the expedition?"
Roderick bowed slightly.
"The young master performed well. He handled several beasts without assistance and demonstrated an initial ability to combine mana with his swordsmanship."
Marcel's expression remained composed, although a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
"And his weaknesses?"
"His endurance and mana control still require considerable improvement. He also needs more experience against different opponents."
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Marcel nodded.
"See that he continues his training."
"Understood, Duke."
Marcel then turned towards Damon.
"You look tired."
"I am, Father."
"Then rest. You can tell me about the expedition tomorrow."
Damon smiled.
"All right."
As he turned to leave, Marcel called after him.
"And Damon?"
He looked back.
"Well done."
The words were brief, but Damon understood their meaning.
"Thank you, Father."
He left with a satisfied smile.
Marcel watched him disappear before turning towards Roderick.
"How did the guards respond to him?"
"They respect his progress, my lord. I believe this expedition has helped them see the young master differently."
"Good."
Marcel looked towards the distant corridor.
His son was finally moving forward.
But the world outside the mansion was unlikely to remain quiet for long.
Several days later, the first rumours began circulating among the noble families of Platunmina Kingdom.
At a gathering hosted by a minor noble household, a group of young aristocrats discussed recent developments within the capital.
Their conversation eventually turned towards the Jubo family.
"Have you heard about the Jubo heir?"
A young man seated near the window raised an eyebrow.
"Damon Jubo?"
"Who else? Apparently, he's recovered."
Another noble laughed.
"Recovered? I thought the boy had been unable to awaken his mana."
"That was the situation before. But word is that he's been training again. Some even claim he entered the Beast Forest with Captain Roderick."
"Is that true?"
"I heard he killed several magical beasts himself."
The table fell briefly silent.
A young woman who had been listening quietly finally spoke.
"That's quite an interesting development. I thought the Jubo family had already accepted that their heir would remain an ordinary young lord."
"Apparently not."
One of the young men leaned back in his chair.
"If the rumours are true, then the Jubo heir may become relevant again."
"Or perhaps the Jubo family is deliberately spreading stories to restore his reputation."
"Either way, I'd like to see him for myself."
The conversation continued, but the name Damon Jubo had already attracted their attention.
In another noble household, a similar discussion was taking place.
Some were curious.
Others were sceptical.
And a few were more interested in understanding what had happened during the years Damon had spent unable to awaken his mana.
News travelled quickly among the nobility.
Especially when it concerned the heir of one of the kingdom's oldest ducal families.
Back at the Jubo mansion, Damon knew nothing about the conversations taking place beyond its walls.
He was resting after his expedition, unaware that his return to the world of cultivation was already becoming a subject of discussion.
His first hunt had ended.
But the attention of the kingdom's young nobility was only beginning.