The area near the forbidden forest was now filled with a mixture that made the air feel suffocating.
The sound of heavy breathing.
Low growls.
Clear noises coming from the half-human, half-monster males.
And among it all,
the scent of the humans—Tina, Claire, and Rena—mixed with the smells of decay, blood, mud, and the bodies of the half-monster males now standing silently around them.
Seeing all that, Rena still stared blankly at the half-monster males, then muttered.
Their forms… are truly stable… even if only half…
Then Tina clapped her hands together sharply and said, her gaze now sharp toward the half-monster males, speaking loudly.
They are no longer human…
No matter what form they take,
it's still wrong!!!
Instantly, Rena quickly drew her great sword, which now appeared in her right hand like any other contract weapon.
Seeing Rena, Hero Claire, without a word, also summoned her contract bow in her right hand, which shimmered brightly for a moment, making the half-monster males cover their eyes.
Hero Tina, hearing something behind her, was startled, then shifted her gaze, her eyes darting around as if still on guard against the half-monster males.
No… we must not attack those monsters…
Suddenly, Hero Tina paused for a moment, then quickly continued, her lips trembling.
Remember… they are human… yes, human…
At least, that's what the kingdom said—they don't deserve to be killed!!
Hearing those words, Hero Claire was startled, but this time Rena stepped forward, trying to move away from the protection of Hero Tina's magic.
Seeing that, both Hero Tina and Claire quickly stopped Rena—Tina making her protective barrier impenetrable from the inside, and Claire grabbing Rena's shoulder.
Then, calmly, Hero Claire said, her brows slightly furrowed, her gaze squinting toward the half-monster males.
Rena, wait… what Tina said is true… maybe there's a way…
Suddenly, Hero Claire paused for a moment before continuing. Her face turned shadowed, her lips trembling—as if an emotion was now visible from Hero Claire, who was also worried. Then she muttered softly.
I hope that way might exist…
To heal them…
Hearing that, Rena still felt uneasy. Her body now felt hot.
Then, loudly, Rena said, her eyes sharp toward the half-monster males.
What do you mean, Hero Claire, Tina!!!
The enemy is right in front of us!!!
We have to kill them!!!!
No matter who they are!!!
They are creatures!!!
Suddenly, Rena fell silent—not from a brief pause, but this time she bit her lip so hard it drew blood, then shouted loudly while thrusting her sword several times toward Tina's protective barrier.
They are filthy creatures!!! They deserve it!!!
Hero Tina, hearing that, still maintained her protective spell that Rena was trying to break. Then she spoke, her lips slightly parted, this time her breathing more stable and calm, and said—now fully looking at Rena.
You're right… what you said, Rena…
I'm not denying it.
B-but…
Hearing that, Rena was startled, stopped her attacks, and this time looked back at Hero Tina without speaking.
Seeing that, Hero Tina continued calmly, as if she no longer cared about what was in front of her.
Doesn't Rena have someone she loves??
Or… at least friends, and people around Rena that she cares about??
Hearing that, Rena turned her face away—her eyes now teary toward the ground—and simultaneously released her sword from her right hand, letting it fall as if it were nothing, almost touching the ground. But before it hit the ground, the sword vanished like a spark of magical dust.
Quickly, Rena covered her eyes with both hands.
Instantly, the atmosphere fell silent—both the half-monster males standing motionless, and Tina and Claire, both now with shadowed faces.
Suddenly, a sound came from Rena… not a voice of defiance or argument, but a broken sound, as if wanting to release something.
Hikkss
Hikss!!!
That's right… the sound of crying…
Rena was truly crying now.
Then, thinking in her heart, Rena put her hand into her large robe pocket.
My secret admirer…
Forgive me…
Seeing Rena sad, the half-monster males began to slowly step toward Rena.
Hero Claire and Hero Tina, seeing that, nodded to each other as if they knew what to do. Then they both spoke simultaneously, staring sharply and analytically at the half-monster males.
We'll wait for the right moment…!!!
One of them had the form of a giant chicken monster.
Its body looked almost normal from a distance—beak, feathers, bird legs—
but its size was too large to be called an ordinary animal.
Its eyes stared blankly… too human for a chicken.
On the other side stood a Cockatrice.
A chicken body mixed with reptile.
Its neck was scaly, its eyes pale yellow without blinking, and its claws left black marks on the ground with every small movement.
Not far from there,
a wolf monster also stepped forward.
Its black fur moved like living smoke, constantly swaying even without wind.
Its jaw was too large for a normal wolf.
And from between its teeth,
hot steam mixed with blood slowly escaped.
Then a wet sound came from its sticky steps—
A frog monster stared and moved, even though it could have jumped straight toward the three of them.
Its transparent stomach showed strange bones that hadn't yet dissolved inside its body.
Suddenly,
its tongue slowly extended—
too long, too sharp, like a spear.
And the strangest of all—
a fish monster at the back.
Its body was slimy and wet, covered in small eyes that kept blinking beneath its own skin.
But at the bottom of its body, unlike the other half-monsters,
its two legs were human.
Walking slowly on the ground, as if forcing that aquatic body to live on land.
Slowly, their eyes remained fixed, like a cat's wide, curious eyes,
constantly aimed at the three humans still standing there.
And beneath the silent sound of the forbidden forest,
that area no longer felt like an ordinary monster territory or a place for young adventurers.
Rather, it was a place of history—
where humans and half-monster males had mixed too far to be separated again.
Unless the three humans and the half-monster males decided on something that could change it.