Chapter 43
Jia hesitated for a moment before unleashing a bolt of light magic at the fox’s neck. Her practice had not been in vain; the fox stopped breathing almost instantly. An attendant following behind collected the game and placed it in the carriage.
After that, the Emperor proceeded to kill everything in sight. Each time, his eyes remained impassive, giving the impression that he hunted not for pleasure, but simply because it was something that had to be done.
Jia left the hunting to the Emperor and scanned their surroundings. Other participants were scattered about, and among them, she spotted a familiar face.
It was Savil Distevan. He was hunting with a group, but strangely, all four of them were using mana stones.
While Julia was a renowned mage in the Magic Society, magic didn’t seem to suit Savil, an Enadys. Jia found this unexpected and stared for some time, until the Emperor suddenly squeezed her hand tightly.
“What are you looking at?”
“Ah, just… Julia’s brother.”
“Hmph.”
The Emperor glanced at Savil hunting with the mana stone and scoffed, his disdain obvious.
“That’s why he’s consumed by inferiority.”
“…Mm.”
Jia gave a slight nod. She had only met Savil once and didn’t know his personality well, but she understood the Emperor’s meaning. Behind Savil, she could see Tristan. The moment he spotted Savil, his face contorted into a deep frown.
It was clear they were on bad terms. Savil, at least, didn’t show it, but Tristan made no effort to hide his animosity. Had something happened between them? Jia wondered, then finally spoke.
“…Why don’t the Straduvans and the Distevans get along?”
“Their parents had a quarrel. It’s been passed down to the children.”
For it to be passed down to the children, it must have been significant enough to affect them personally. “I see,” Jia murmured.
The Emperor continued his relentless slaughter. Foxes, rabbits, small birds, hawks, snakes, deer, and boars piled up neatly in the game carriage.
He was hunting everything, leaving nothing for her. Just then, a large beast appeared before them.
“Finally, something worth catching.”
The white beast was pure white, without a single spot or marking. A long mane, starting from its face and covering its neck, looked incredibly soft. It was not a lion or a tiger. It was a creature she had never seen before.
“Wh-what is that animal called?”
“A Henasus.”
Jia silently formed the name with her lips. The beast met her gaze and huffed softly through its nose. It was a sound closer to goodwill than hostility. She felt a sudden urge to walk up to it and bury her hands in its fluffy fur.
“Now, Jia.”
The Emperor took her hand and raised it. His gaze was fixed on one thing: the Henasus. He spoke in a near whisper.
“Kill that, and you will truly be called my hawk.”
Jia’s eyes widened. As she looked into the beast’s soft, pale green eyes staring back at her, her heart plummeted.
“…I, I really… I don’t think I…”
“You killed the fox, did you not?”
“Y-Yes, but…”
“Why is this one different? It’s just another animal.”
“…”
“Are you placing a different weight on this life?”
His words only confused her more. Jia clutched her throbbing head. Was it right to kill the fox because it wasn’t looking at her, but to spare the Henasus simply because it met her gaze and huffed kindly?
What about all the meat I’ve eaten back on Earth? Was that fine just because I wasn’t the one who killed it?
What is this? I don’t understand, I don’t understand…
“Fine. Then close your eyes.”
The Emperor whispered, covering her hand completely with his own. Their divine powers synchronized, emanating a soft, gentle light. Jia, who had closed her eyes, slowly opened them at the warm sensation.
The tranquil light drifted toward the Henasus. The beast received it, and without so much as a whimper, it closed its eyes and collapsed.
Not a single drop of blood was spilled. Its face was peaceful, as if it had merely fallen asleep, but there was no sound of breathing.
“Ah…”
“This is how you can kill with divine power.”
The attendants carrying the game gasped in unison. The creature, killed without a single wound, was placed silently atop the bloody pile of carcasses.
Jia stared blankly at the wagon, now packed full of dead animals. With every jolt of the carriage, blood dripped… thud, thud…
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