Just after leaving the Central Hub, the group had faced only assassinations from the Blood Race. But as the trio ventured closer to the Northern Region, werewolves joined the ranks of their attackers.
Sang’s understanding of werewolves remained hazy at best. They were just a pack of shape-shifting lunatics. 【Supernatural Abilities】 were equally rare among them as among humans. However, werewolves held one overwhelming advantage: their physical attributes were extraordinarily high even in their baseline state. Once they activated Semi-Werewolf Transformation, their bodies alone outclassed those of high-level Blood Race members.
In short, werewolves boasted the strongest physiques; the Blood Race combined superpowers with physical prowess; humans were rather awkward by comparison.
However.
When it came to sheer numbers, werewolves were the scarcest, the Blood Race came second, and humans vastly outnumbered them—not just by a little, but by dozens of times.
The reason for the werewolves’ low population was much like why there were so few foreigners.
Courting death!
One midday, two werewolf youths appeared together, claiming they had come to assassinate Snow Hill. They had the tender look of fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds, yet each stood over five foot nine, with physiques that were somewhat exaggerated. They weren’t quite at He-Man levels of bulk, but they definitely had that vibe.
The intruders were none other than Shika and Wolvo.
Defying their tribal elders’ objections, the pair had answered the Wolf King’s emergency summons on their own. To prove their worth to the king, they had come specifically to defeat Snow Hill.
“Aha~ Ice Princess, we meet again!” Shika was a total brute. He crowed arrogantly, “Today, I’m going to wipe away my past shame and beat you!”
Wolvo seemed like the brains of the operation. He said timidly, “Young Master Shika, we should probably go…”
Staring at these two clowns, Sang scratched his head. He’d encountered plenty of bizarre assassins lately, but natural wonders like these were a rarity. Even Aisha Hodhua wasn’t particularly scared. She and Snow Hill asked, “Snow—Miss Hill—do you know these two werewolves?”
“Hmph, of course she knows me. I’m the young master of the Five Townships Ten Tribes—Shika…”
However.
Just as the werewolf youth Shika lost himself in his daydreams, Snow Hill fixed him with her calm, placid gaze. She even blinked, somehow managing to look adorably vacant.
After a long moment, she shook her head.
Shika and Wolvo were dumbfounded. What the actual fuck! This was an attitude crueler than scorn or disdain—she had completely forgotten him.
“You bastard… how dare you look down on me!”
In a fury, Shika swung his fist at Snow Hill. She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword for a moment, then let it drop. She merely glanced coolly at Sang and said, “He’s perfect for your training.”
Sang instantly grasped her meaning. Snow wanted him to treat Shika as a real opponent, not just swing his sword at empty air. True insight came from actual combat.
Well… she might not admit to being his teacher, but she certainly acted like one in moments like this.
Without a second’s hesitation, Sang charged at Shika. Midway, he drew the Knight Sword – Dawn and slammed it against the werewolf’s fist. He’d expected to draw blood, but there was none—just some scraped skin.
Shika smirked smugly. “Don’t underestimate a werewolf’s body.”
Sang paused in mild surprise. He’d nearly pegged the guy as a simpleton, but no—this was a brawny simpleton. Strength, speed, even durability—they were all about on par with his own. No wonder Snow Hill had sicced him on the kid. Without question, Shika made an ideal training partner.
He really was strong.
He even had a bit of the vibe of a pint-sized Cyclops.
In the next instant, taking advantage of Sang’s momentary distraction, the claws on Shika’s other hand suddenly extended. With a vicious swipe, they tore through the boy’s shirt.
Fortunately, Sang dodged in time. His clothes were ruined, but he wasn’t hurt.
Wolvo watched from the sidelines without interfering. He knew Shika preferred fair fights. Smiling confidently, he said, “Young Master Shika is the heir, after all, with the chief’s blood in his veins. Naturally, he’s a genius.”
Aisha Hodhua snarked, “He’s strong, sure. Shame he’s an idiot, though, right?”
“Uh… yeah. Shame he’s an idiot.” Wolvo sighed in pained agreement.
Wolvo was actually the son of one of the chief’s subordinates, about the same age as Shika. He’d served him since childhood and was the kind of best friend who’d grown up sharing everything. No matter how outrageous Shika’s schemes got, Wolvo would follow him through thick and thin.
This wasn’t the first time the pair had attacked members of the Hill Family—and they’d never succeeded.
The Five Townships Ten Tribes were among the friendlier werewolf groups, usually limiting themselves to robbing the rich to help the poor. They had a certain roguish, chivalrous flair to them, so the Hill Family never killed their people.
That was precisely why Wolvo was willing to indulge Shika’s antics.
Snow Hill wouldn’t kill them anyway.
Just as Wolvo brimmed with confidence in Shika’s prowess, Aisha Hodhua’s expression turned serious. She warned, “But… I wouldn’t underestimate Watermelon if I were you. He’s no slouch either.”
“Uh… come again?”
Wolvo scoffed inwardly. Among humans, Blood Race, and werewolves, humans sat at the bottom of the pecking order. At least among their peers, Shika was a genius. He might not match a Blood Race prodigy, but he towered over any human.
Hmph. A mere human… nothing special. No way he could beat a werewolf.
Snap!
Suddenly, the sharp crack of metal shearing through claws rang out from nearby. The sight that met Wolvo’s eyes left him stunned: the human boy had severed Shika’s werewolf claws.
“Great Power Creates Miracles!” Sang’s signature move never failed.
“Hmph, you’re not bad for a human… First time running into such a weird one.” Shika was a die-hard battle junkie. A minor setback like this didn’t discourage him—it only stoked his fighting spirit higher.
Truth be told, Sang was getting into it too. Sparring with this werewolf youth felt just like back at the Orphanage, play-fighting Knight Duels with his buddies.
It wasn’t a fight to the death. More like kids roughhousing.
This was great!
Whoosh~
At that moment, a frigid gust swept through without warning, flash-freezing Shika and Wolvo in place. Just like last time: Shika’s legs were locked in ice, while Wolvo turned into a human popsicle, chilled to the bone everywhere but his face.
It went without saying who had done it.
Snow Hill.
“Snow… what was that for?” Sang grumbled, feeling inexplicably annoyed.
Snow Hill glanced at him indifferently and let out the faintest sigh. She’d taught him swordsmanship for days, only for him to fall back on brute force. What a waste. Some wood was just too rotten to carve. Fine then—no more wasting time.
In the end, amid Shika and Wolvo’s colorful cursing, the trio pressed onward. Sang even gave Shika a playful wave goodbye.
Bye-bye~
“Stop right there, human! And you too, Ice Princess!”
Wolvo shivered violently. “Young Master… I’m freezing…”
Shika: “…”
