Hulim Heyerar looked up at the two figures.

  Galamand, and Scherfil?

  Had they rushed over as soon as they got the news......

  Upon arriving at the scene, the two immediately launched an attack on the Rank S Calamity Beast.

  With these two powerful reinforcements joining the fray, the Rank S Calamity Beast could no longer put up any resistance. Its once tenacious vitality quickly dwindled.

  Before long, it was taken down by the combined efforts of everyone......

  "What a surprisingly resilient creature. Still, it can’t even shapeshift—truly a lowly beast through and through."

  Scherfil spoke in his usual sarcastic tone.

  "Now that this thing’s dealt with, we should head back. There might be other places that need this lord’s help!"

  Hulim Heyerar nodded.

  "Agreed. Let’s return."

  "Winnie, Winnie~!"

  Just then, Semiris flew over.

  "Semiris found something over there~!"

  "Something?"

  ......

  Led by Semiris,

  Hulim Heyerar and the others arrived at the location she’d mentioned.

  It was a primitive tribe—not the treehouse village built by the ancient elves, but one constructed on the ground. Unfortunately, it had been completely destroyed.

  From the traces left behind, it was clear the Calamity Beast had passed through here by misfortune.

  "Let’s go down and take a look......"

  The group flew toward the ruined tribe.

  There was no sign of living humans in the ruins, but there was activity elsewhere......

  "Come out. The Calamity Beast has been defeated."

  Hulim Heyerar called out toward a cluster of trees.

  Rustle.

  A rustling sound came from the foliage, and a young boy stepped out.

  There were others behind him, but they dared not emerge.

  "Hmm? You are......"

  Looking at the boy in front of her, Hulim Heyerar felt a strange sense of familiarity.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  The boy was dressed in primitive attire, with various war paints on his body, but Hulim Heyerar recognized his race at a glance.

  "Hmm? You look odd. You’re not elves?"

  Galamand stepped forward to inspect the boy.

  The boy lifted his head to meet his gaze.

  "Hmph~. Truly a foolish, lowly barbarian. They’re humans—don’t you even know what humans are?"

  "Humans?! "

  Galamand stared at the boy in shock.

  "Really?! The short-lived intelligent species? I thought they’d gone extinct long ago! Never thought any still existed!"

  Most people would have felt offended by such words.

  But the boy remained composed—even calm and mature beyond his years.

  From the moment he stepped out, he hadn’t shown an ounce of cowardice.

  "May I ask—did you defeat that giant beast?"

  "Huh? That thing? Yeah, we took care of it!"

  "Thank you for defeating it."

  The boy bowed deeply to the group, offering his gratitude.

  He held the bow for a long moment before straightening up again.

  "This place is no longer suitable for settlement. The survivors of our tribe need to find a new home as soon as possible. Noble benefactors, please allow us to depart."

  "Oh...... I see~?"

  Galamand looked surprised. He glanced behind the boy, then down at him.

  "Hey, kid! You’re weak, but you’ve got guts. This lord admires those with guts!"

  With that, Galamand raised his right hand, grabbed one of his fangs, and pulled hard.

  Crack!

  A fang snapped off.

  Once separated from his body, the fang quickly expanded. Galamand squeezed it firmly.

  In an instant, the fang transformed into the shape of a scimitar.

  "This is made from my dragon tooth. I’ll give it to you! Use it to protect the people behind you from now on!"

  The boy froze, but Galamand roughly stuffed the dragon-tooth scimitar into his hand.

  Staring at the weapon in his palm, the boy hesitated for a moment before speaking:

  "......Thank you."

  "No need for thanks. It’s just a tooth to me—I’ll grow a new one in a thousand years!"

  "......"

  "Alright, we’re done here. Let’s head back!"

  Galamand left the boy behind and turned to leave.

  "Heh...... Who would’ve thought a lowly beast who only knows how to fight would occasionally help others."

  "The ‘lowly beast’ comment is unnecessary! And this lord has always been kind-hearted!"

  Galamand leaped into the air, muttering complaints as he flew away.

  The others followed shortly after.

  Before leaving, Hulim Heyerar glanced back at the boy once more.

  "Where have I seen him before......"

  Why did this boy’s appearance feel so faintly familiar?

  Hulim Heyerar couldn’t figure it out.

  Perhaps she’d met someone with a similar face somewhere. If this was one of humanity’s ancient ancestors, it wouldn’t be impossible for later generations to share a resemblance.

  After reasoning it out, Hulim Heyerar stopped dwelling on the thought and followed the others away......

  ......

  After Hulim Heyerar and the others left, the boy still stood there holding the dragon-tooth scimitar, lost in thought.

  Rustle......

  The surviving humans emerged from behind the trees.

  "Have they left?"

  "I think so...... I saw them fly away."

  "Thank goodness. In the face of such dangerous beings, we’re completely at their mercy. I was so scared they’d drag us out......"

  The survivors felt no joy at their narrow escape—only endless sorrow and despair for the future.

  "What do we do now? Our tribe is gone, and so many of us are dead......"

  "My dad, mom, and little brother are all gone. I’m alone......"

  "Why did I have to survive......"

  "Why do we have to go through this......"

  "We just want to live. Is that so hard......"

  "Curse this era. Someone please end it......"

  Voices of grief, sorrow, hatred, and despair spread among the crowd.

  Amidst it all, only the boy stood apart.

  A young girl approached the boy holding the dragon-tooth scimitar.

  She asked timidly:

  "......Taita, what do we do now?"

  Her voice was soft, but the others—who had been talking—fell silent. All eyes turned to the boy named Taita.

  Though he was still young, he had already become the unspoken leader of this group.

  "You’re right."

  The boy didn’t turn around as he spoke slowly.

  "Giant beasts roam, and divine beings run amuck."

  "This is an era of chaos, darkness, sorrow, and hopelessness......"

  "......"

  "So......"

  The boy slowly lifted his head to the sky.

  The others stared silently at his back, as if seeing a glimmer of hope rising from his young shoulders.

  Ahead of them, the boy’s eyes grew more determined than ever. A great vow took root in his heart.

  "I will end this era!"

  ......