Chapter 58 - 2nd-tier Abomination

The following morning, town criers, heralds, and official parchment notices echoed across every corner of the Myrain Viscounty.

The formal announcement regarding the conclusion of the Jeju Forest operation was released to the public, setting off a wave of shock throughout the entire region.

The first phase of the grand hunt had ended with an astounding total of forty 1st-Tier Abominations officially slaim in the deep thickets of the Jeju Forest.

The breakdown of the harvest was meticulously detailed on the official keep boards.

The divisions under the command of the two veteran Sword Sages had taken down seven 1st-Tier Abominations each with flawless military coordination.

Ser Hughway’s division had secured eight carcasses while successfully bringing back three living, heavily suppressed 1st-Tier specimens to be locked securely within the castle’s deep underground prison.

Ser Gunther’s squad had accounted for five slain beasts, along with one living 1st-Tier Abomination captured and dragged to the lower cells.

However, the singular piece of news that sent absolute shockwaves through the Viscounty’s population—from common merchants to visiting guild representatives—was the official tally recorded by the high knights:

Thirteen 1st-Tier Abominations had been single-handedly slaughtered by the fifteen-year-old Lord Viscount himself, Craig von Darkstar.

In truth, over thirty additional 1st-Tier Abominations had been eradicated during the wilderness sweep, but they were excluded from the official military tallies because they had been incinerated and torn apart directly by Dark Sister during her aerial rampage.

To handle the immense volume of monster remains, the heavy carcasses were brought together and dumped into a massive, broad processing pit dug just outside the perimeter of the ongoing Dragon’s Pit construction project.

The Dragon’s Pit was currently being excavated within the Old Valley, a vast, cliff-lined expanse located a few kilometers away from Heaven’s Net Castle.

There, positioned safely away from the active human construction sites, Dark Sister was permitted to roam freely, her thunderous roars echoing across the valley as she lazily feasted on the mountain of monster corpses left within the broad pit.

Throughout the capital, the public reaction to the hunt’s results was a chaotic mixture of intense excitement and outright disbelief.

Many traveling merchants, foreign mercenaries, and skeptical locals openly doubted the claims, whispering amongst themselves that the young Seventh Successor was merely fabricating numbers and using propaganda to build a artificial reputation as a martial prodigy.

Yet, every single knight, soldier, and infantryman who had actually stepped foot into the Jeju Forest knew the news was no lie.

They had witnessed the young Viscount’s absolute physical pressure firsthand, and they had all laid eyes upon the mangled, crushed remains of the Alpha Three-Headed Rhino—a terrifying beast with an awakened Trait that Craig had obliterated completely on his own.

Inside Heaven’s Net Castle, the morning sunlight filtered through the grand stained-glass windows, illuminating the quiet, stone-paved hallways.

Craig walked down the central corridor completely alone.

He was clad in a dark velvet tunic embroidered with subtle silver thread, his damp crimson hair neatly styled back and his dark golden eyes fixed calmly ahead.

He approached the towering, double-arched oak doors leading into the castle’s primary Audience Chamber.

The heavily armored sentries stationed at the entrance immediately snapped to attention, slamming their fists against their breastplates and lowering their heads in deep reverence.

"All hail the Lord Viscount!" the sentries chorused.

With a heavy, resonant groan, the massive doors swung inward, ushering Craig into the grand hall.

The Audience Chamber was spacious and imposing, flanked by high stone pillars and banner mounts.

Currently, the only individuals assembled inside were the landed Barons of the territory, the high-ranking knights, and the lead military commanders.

Because the Craig’s Festival was still in full swing across the capital, all administrative civil positions within the Viscounty remained temporarily vacant of official government appointees.

Nevertheless, the administrative departments were continuing to run smoothly without a single hitch under the management of experienced senior clerks—they simply lacked a single, permanent high government head.

The moment Craig stepped past the threshold, every single noble and knight in the room—with the sole exception of Ser Hughway, who maintained his position as primary Guardian Knight—dropped straight down onto their knees.

The rustle of heavy armor and fine silk echoed off the vaulted ceiling as they bowed their heads toward the floor.

"We offer our humblest greetings to the Lord Viscount!" the assembled ranks shouted in unison.

Craig walked smoothly down the long red carpet, his footfalls quiet against the stone.

He scaled the marble steps at the far end of the dais, turned around, and took his seat upon the iron-and-oak throne of Myrain.

He casually crossed one leg over the other, resting his back comfortably against the carved headrest as his golden eyes swept over his kneeling subjects.

"You may all rise," Craig spoke, his calm voice effortlessly carrying to every corner of the massive hall.

The knights and barons stood up, returning to a disciplined, upright posture with their arms at their sides.

Craig began by addressing the room, his tone relaxed and welcoming. "First and foremost, I wish to extend my personal commendations to every officer, knight, and soldier who participated in yesterday’s maiden sweep of the Jeju Forest.

The operation was executed with great precision, vigor, and efficiency. It was both a healthy exercise for our standing forces and an enjoyable display of our Viscounty’s growing martial strength."

He rested his elbow on the armrest of his throne, his golden eyes narrowing slightly with absolute conviction.

"The tyranny of the Abyss and its corrupted spawn will be systematically purged from these lands. So long as our steel remains sharp, humanity will never fall."

A low hum of approval rippled through the assembled knights, their eyes burning with pride.

"I specifically commend our two distinguished Sword Sages," Craig continued, gesturing toward the two grizzled, veteran warriors standing at the front of the military line.

"Your tactical leadership and mastery in guiding your respective divisions through the dense terrain ensured minimal casualties while maximizing our yields. Your service honors the house."

The two Sword Sages bowed deeply, slamming their armored gauntlets over their hearts.

"We live to serve the Lord Viscount!"

Craig then turned his gaze toward the right side of the dais. "Furthermore, I extend my praise to Ser Gunther for his martial prowess and successful capture of a live specimen, and to Ser Hughway for his exceptional command over the central vanguard."

After concluding his formal commendations, the relaxed atmosphere in the Audience Chamber shifted.

Craig uncrossed his legs, leaning forward slightly on his throne as his dark golden eyes took on a sharp, calculating focus.

The hall fell dead silent, awaiting their liege’s primary directive.

"Now that the outer perimeter of the Jeju Forest has been cleared of minor threats," Craig said, his voice dropping into a cool, authoritative hush,

"We must address the core of the first danger zone before we transition our forces toward the second danger zone."

He looked directly at Ser Hughway and the two Sword Sages. "Tell me... have our covert scouts located any definitive traces or mana signatures of a 2nd-Tier Abomination residing within the deep roots of the Jeju Forest?"

Craig’s lips curled into a subtle, confident smirk as he scanned their faces.

"Before we officially conclude the Jeju operation and launch our next forest raid... we must at least harvest the head of a 2nd-Tier Abomination."