I traveled with Earl Coldwell to the southern border of the territory.
It was to confirm the true nature of those so-called carps.
No matter how much explanation I heard, it seemed impossible to understand.
“That’s the spot.”
“It’s not a river?”
“They’re quite unique. They crawl out from underground.”
“So that’s why the wheat fields get ruined every time?”
“Yes, they tear up the ground and even bore huge holes.”
Just piecing together what I’d heard, they sounded like truly terrifying monsters.
But why call them carps?
It just didn’t make sense.
“This is it. These are their traces. Doesn’t seem too old.”
“Hah!”
Looking where Earl Coldwell pointed, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
The situation was far more serious than I’d imagined from words alone.
It’s practically scorched earth.
The wheat field was barely recognizable.
Holes about 10 meters in diameter punctured the ground everywhere, and massive mounds of dirt rose up, blocking the view.
It was a scene straight out of a war movie.
As if hours of artillery bombardment would create something like this.
“Incredible.”
“It’s not just the newly cultivated fields. They wreak havoc on existing farmland too.”
Looking at the distant wheat field he indicated, the soil color was different.
It seemed like a trace of a hole that had been filled in.
“Must cost a fortune to fend them off.”
“Our granaries are nearly depleted. We’ve been holding on by raising taxes, but we’re at our limit now.”
Where did all that collected money go?
Labor costs, of course.
They’d probably hired a ton of mercenaries.
I said with a regretful expression.
“Have you requested support from the capital?”
“Hm. That…….”
From his lukewarm response, it seemed he hadn’t reached out anywhere.
He must have wanted to handle it internally.
Asking for help meant paying a price.
“At first, I thought we could manage on our own. Then it got to this point.”
“You should mention it to His Majesty, even if late.”
“Of course, I’ve sent a letter. But it’ll take time. Unless they see it in person, they won’t grasp the severity.”
“Then I’ll make a separate request. I’m headed to the capital anyway.”
“Your Grace!”
Earl Coldwell called me in a grave voice.
Then, he suddenly dropped to one knee on the ground.
Thud!
“Why are you doing this?”
“Aren’t you the warrior who pacified the north, Your Grace?”
He omitted the “mad” part, but it wasn’t wrong.
Even now, if I showed up on the northern front, the nomads would tremble in fear.
“I beg you like this. Please lead our territory’s forces and crush those carp bastards!”
It was good up to the grave plea, but I kept wanting to burst out laughing.
Of all times, the enemy had to be carps in such a serious moment.
Anyway, Earl Coldwell’s desperation touched my heart.
For a high noble to kneel for his territory showed how desperate he was.
Plus, it’d be much faster than waiting for central support.
How could I not help when he went this far?
Of course, I intended to accept.
But something still felt off.
“If you’ve failed several times, you must have known it was impossible alone. Why not ask neighboring territories for help?”
“This is awkward to say, but they’re trash.”
“Pardon?”
“They demand territory and even the luminescent stone mine in exchange for troops? That’s our biggest revenue source.”
At first, I wondered if the insult was necessary.
But that thought vanished quickly.
That’s pretty harsh.
Of course, it was a natural, cold reality.
Bad relations with neighbors was a hallmark of imperial nobles.
They were potential enemies, so no lord would help without compensation.
But coveting territory or key industries was over the line.
“I see. I understand the situation. Shall we go see those carps’ faces then?”
“It’ll be dangerous—are you sure?”
“I’m just checking their appearance. Is that not okay?”
“No, it’s fine from a distance. It’s right over this hill.”
I crossed the gentle hill with Earl Coldwell.
Then, a pit on a whole different scale appeared.
At least 1 kilometer in diameter, easily.
“Is this their lair?”
“Yes. They come and go through that central hole, but it’s hard to see now.”
“Hm.”
The situation seemed far more serious than I thought.
They weren’t just ruining wheat fields—they were poised to devour the entire land.
What kind of monsters are these?
The scale was beyond most large monsters.
I was gazing at the pit with a hollow laugh.
Kurrrrr!
Sudden vibrations began.
Earl Coldwell’s face turned ashen white instantly.
“Th-they’re here.”
“The carps?”
“Yes! They seem to be moving now, so let’s retreat. Better to come back with the territorial army.”
“Okay. But can I just see what they look like?”
“There’s no time. They’re absurdly fast!”
“Then you go ahead, Earl Coldwell. I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“How can I leave you alone…….”
“It’s fine—go.”
When I pushed his back firmly, Earl Coldwell retreated hesitantly.
He slid down the hill, constantly looking back.
He seemed terribly worried.
“Come on out. What do you look like?”
I stared at the pit with a somewhat grave expression.
As if answering, something surged from the central hole.
“Booong-eo—!“
“……”
I could understand the antics and even that they looked like actual carps.
This world had all sorts of bizarrely shaped monsters.
Plus, half the flora and fauna weren’t even documented.
It was a far more dangerous place than Earth.
But carps that leaped while shouting “carp”?
What kind of insane case was this?
Is this what they call extreme concept commitment?
Of course, they weren’t real carps.
Only the head, body, and tail resembled fish.
Surprisingly, they had four legs.
The front paws had mole-like claws, and the hind legs were rabbit-like.
They must burrow wildly underground and occasionally leap like that.
“Booong-eo!“
While making those weird sounds.
I frowned and drew my warhammer.
No matter the appearance, they were extremely threatening.
Nearly 10 meters long, with piranha-like sharp teeth—a monster.
Just because it looked like a carp didn’t mean it was to be taken lightly.
I get why Earl Coldwell fled in a panic.
If you got body-slammed by one while nearby, you’d be done for.
Imagine a killer whale-sized thing leaping and slamming down.
How terrifying.
“Let’s take down one for now.”
He said they were a swarm.
There must be countless carps lurking underground besides that one.
I keep calling them carps—it’s confusing with the real ones.
I should rename them.
Since they weren’t actual carps.
“Let’s call them crucians.”
Just the English word, but it distinguished them clearly.
I started advancing toward it, twirling the warhammer.
As the crucian sensed something off.
I hurled the weapon.
Shwoosh!
This was my only ranged attack.
But it wasn’t weak.
Beast’s Heart lingered quite a while after leaving my hand.
Boom!
As the warhammer struck its head, the crucian writhed madly.
The impact seemed considerable.
“But why that sound? Boom?”
Like hitting an empty can or thick armor.
No other way to get that metallic clang.
But the writhing crucian suddenly stopped.
Now tolerable, it glared at me with dumb eyes.
The problem was how ridiculous it looked.
“Pfft!”
“Booong-eo!“
While I burst out laughing briefly, it soared high into the air.
Just extending its legs without a run-up, easily 50 meters up.
“Huh?”
I was buried in its growing shadow.
The crucian’s descent was instantaneous.
Dash! Splash!
I threw my body to escape the attack radius.
A desperate evasion, but the result was very satisfying.
I got out with plenty of room.
—Whew! That was close.
“What? Plenty of space.”
—20 cm is only twice my body!
Essentially a 2-Shugl difference, but who cares.
As long as I dodged.
“Carp? Carp! Carp!”
Thud! Boom! Booom!
Leaping into the air repeatedly with weird cries.
It utterly smashed the hill where I’d stood.
Thrashing like that to destroy everything before burrowing back underground.
That’s why the huge holes everywhere.
“To stay fine after a hit from Hector Punisher—what is that thing?”
A Beast’s Heart-enhanced strike could split thick iron doors.
Humans would die instantly, and most monsters would be stunned.
But it seemed to have little effect on the crucian.
Just as I started feeling weary.
Feltron suddenly snapped his fingers.
—Ah-ha!
“Why suddenly? Don’t distract me—stay put.”
—I figured out something amazing, and you want me to shut up?
“What?”
Ahem! Not for free. Need proper compensation…….
“Before I shove you in its mouth, spit it out.”
What strength did the tiny bat have?
But he was a half-demon, after all.
If eaten by the crucian, he wouldn’t die.
Just chewed like gum and spat out in pain.
—Ah! Fine. Fine. That thing’s in filthy agony right now.
“Huh?”
—The attack’s working!
Ah-ha?
That insanely vicious reaction was from pain?
Then things changed.
I extended my right arm dramatically and intoned gravely.
“Hector Punisher, assemble.”
Then, the warhammer that had flown far away shot back to me.
Swoosh! Clang!
Ah, but is this copyright okay?
Who cares? This is dark fantasy.
Is that thing a pokemon or something lol