Chapter 17

“That’s an even more grotesque sight.”

The scene resembled a slaughterhouse more than an engagement party, with pig heads and goat heads hanging in view. Despite the unsettling atmosphere, Violetta dismissed Lanken’s worries.

“And, you know, I think Lanken’s very concerned about me. He doesn’t believe a delicate flower like myself could possibly hunt a beast.”

“Do you remember when you almost got killed while looking for that giant crocodile?”

“I don’t dwell on the past. Don’t get hung up on what’s over and done.”

“Please, learn from the past!”

“I’m only looking to the future, walking the glorious path laid before me! I’ll capture a mighty beast to prove my worth!”

“Violetta, are you planning to hunt by yourself?”

Beside Violetta, as she cleared twigs and brush, Iola’s eyes widened. Violetta flashed her a sweet smile.

“Of course!”

She hadn’t exactly thought that far, but now it would be her goal.

“I knew you were passionate and determined, but I didn’t expect you’d roll up your sleeves and go hunting yourself.”

“Did you think I’d only stand back and give orders?”

“Well, I admit, I did have that assumption, given your attire.”

Violetta was dressed in a high-waisted, long skirt. It wasn’t voluminous, but it flowed lightly, reaching about a hand’s width above her ankles.

With every stride, her teal skirt fluttered in the air.

“And you’re wearing that short cape, which doesn’t seem particularly practical.”

“It’s the latest fashion. The times will catch up with me.”

Her dark cape, purely for style, barely reached her chest.

“Not to mention, those high heels.”

Violetta tapped her 5-centimeter heels on the mountain slope. They might have been uncomfortable for some, but Violetta, accustomed to high heels, walked the slope as if it were level ground.

“They’re comfortable once you get used to them. This is just my everyday wear.”

“Is that so? Why do you choose high heels for everyday wear?”

Even without heels, Violetta was about half a hand taller than the average woman. When she added heels, her eye level was on par with most men.

In heels, she stood eye-to-eye with both Iola and Lanken. Violetta raised a hand to her brow, as if scanning the distant horizon, and laughed.

“It’s stylish.”

Looking down on others was a delight she enjoyed. Violetta liked her height.

“And it gives me a broader view.”

Once you’re used to them, high heels are no problem. Iola nodded thoughtfully as she observed Violetta’s shoes.

“So even high heels become comfortable in time. But honestly, that’s all secondary... it’s that you’re without any weapon.”

“…”

She had indeed forgotten. Embarrassed by Iola’s straightforward remark, Violetta kept her gaze forward.

Lanken and Iola each carried a sword, while Violetta had come empty-handed, leaving her large luggage at the inn.

“And you don’t have any tools to set up traps, either.”

“Well… anything in the mountains can be used as a tool, right?”

Admitting she’d forgotten wasn’t an option now.

Fortunately, Iola was someone who would humor even flimsy excuses.

“You’re right. Besides, as a mage, you don’t need any tools. Being unarmed isn’t a problem, and I overlooked that.”

“Oh, that’s right. I know magic. I was trained for two whole years by a distinguished mage!”

“Of course. That explains your confidence. What kind of magic can you use, and to what extent?”

“I know a bit of light and wind magic. My teacher always said they’d never had a student like me before. They told me I have potential.”

Having found her escape route, Violetta proudly puffed up.

While Violetta prattled on, moving effortlessly through the mountain terrain without a weapon, Lanken remained silent. He neither mocked her boasts nor stopped her plans.

Through long experience, he knew how these things usually went. Words would never change Violetta’s mind; only outcomes would.

Like a flame, Violetta would only relent once she’d burned out. Only when she nearly got bitten by the crocodile did she realize she’d ‘understood the monster’s nature’ and backed down. She needed a moment like that.

In short, if today’s hunt failed, she’d likely say, “I’ll improve and seize my next opportunity!” and head back home. If anyone were injured during the hunt, she’d certainly leave.

Even Violetta knew that if she couldn’t capture a large beast, slaying a dragon was out of the question.

Violetta was absurd but not entirely out of touch with reality.

“So, what are you going after?”

“They said the largest predator on this mountain is the great-horned ox, right? It’s tiny compared to a dragon, but it’ll make a suitable test for my skills.”

“Right.”

Thus, Lanken stayed quiet. If they ended up going home, he saw no point in stopping her brief escapade and enjoyment.

If they failed today, they’d be back just in time for the engagement party. That would solve everything.

“Are you finally going to join me on this with a happy heart? Wonderful. Let’s prepare for our hunt. I’ll go flush out the great-horned ox.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yes. I’ll lure it out, and the two of you can jump down from the trees and take it down.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Of course. I don’t have a weapon. It would’ve been nice to have a bow, but there’s no point in blaming our lack of preparation. The ox should come charging through this path in the afternoon, so let’s wait here.”

“That’s a risky choice.”

“It’s fine. Violetta can handle herself,” Lanken reassured, patting Iola’s shoulder. Iola blinked her clear green eyes.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. If Lanken, who has watched over Violetta, says so, I’ll trust you both entirely.”

“Yes.”

In truth, he hadn’t thought it through.

As the outcome neared, Lanken became calmer. He was certain they’d be heading home soon.

After all, Violetta couldn’t possibly take down a beast.

It was something they all needed to consider, each in their own way.

Violetta, Lanken, and even Iola—all three harbored the same thought.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

Screaming, Violetta sprinted through the forest. As she’d predicted, her high heels didn’t hinder her running in the slightest. She dashed down the mountain path as if barefoot, leaping over rocks and bushes, glancing behind her.

“There are so many of them! Why are there so many?!”

However, the number of great-horned oxen was the issue. A herd of ten oxen was thundering toward her.

“Great-horned oxen usually travel in herds!”

Perched in a tall tree, Iola shouted down at Violetta’s head as she fled.

“You should have told me sooner!”

“That’s why I tried to warn you!”

But the timing for warnings always seemed too late.

Only after climbing the mountain did they notice the lack of weapons and proper attire. Only after being chased by the herd did they mention that great-horned oxen were herd animals.

Violetta ran with all her might. Thankfully, the dense trees and rocks hindered the oxen’s path, keeping her just barely out of reach.

“Of course, with my superb skills, I could handle a hundred of these oxen, but please try stopping me in more detail next time!”

The plan had crumbled from the start. If there had only been one ox, they could have lured it between the trees where Iola and Lanken were positioned, allowing them to jump down and strike its back.

But ten great-horned oxen were far beyond the three of them.

Each ox, with its massive horns, was larger than a wagon and weighed as much as four grown men combined. Even a single hit from those horns could result in serious injuries.

“In that case, let me add something else! Ordinary swords won’t cut through an ox’s hide! They’re usually hunted with bows or spears!”

“You should’ve told me that earlier too!”

“You said you knew magic, so I assumed you had a plan… Actually, use your magic!”

“Magic? What magic! She’s hopeless at magic!”

Across the way, Lanken anxiously looked down at Violetta from another tree.

Being chased by ten oxen was more than just a failed hunt—it was a life-threatening situation. If he’d foreseen this, he would have watched her more closely.

While he’d hoped she would fail, he hadn’t wanted her to get hurt.

“You did say you have potential!”

“Yes, but my potential is so deeply buried that it might only bloom in the next life!”

Her teacher hadn’t denied her potential but had told her it was so latent that it wouldn’t be of use in this life.

The exact phrasing had been, “There’s no hope in this life. Study it in the next.”

“Not incorrect, then! But… forget it. I’ll lure them instead.”

Finally, a sense of urgency appeared on Iola’s usually composed face. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Iola gripped her sword tightly.