The deeper one traveled into Frostbound Coast...
The quieter the world became.
Not peaceful quiet.
Dangerous quiet.
The kind of silence found in ancient forests where countless predators watched from the shadows.
The kind of silence that made experienced warriors instinctively tighten their grip around their weapons.
Snow covered the landscape like a white funeral shroud.
Ancient pine trees towered toward the heavens.
Their frost-covered branches intertwined overhead, blocking much of the pale sunlight filtering through the gray sky.
The forest felt old.
Far older than the Empire itself.
Far older than most kingdoms that had risen and fallen throughout history.
Even the air carried a strange heaviness.
As though countless unseen eyes were watching.
Waiting.
Hunting.
The knight expedition eventually halted before the entrance of the dense forest.
The trees ahead grew noticeably thicker.
The shadows deeper.
Several experienced knights immediately recognized the location.
This area was infamous.
Countless monster attacks originated from here.
Merchant caravans frequently disappeared within these woods.
Even patrol squads preferred avoiding its depths unless absolutely necessary.
A place where danger thrived.
A place ordinary civilians feared.
Yet today...
Over a hundred knights stood before it.
And at their front stood Kel Rosenfeld.
The young lord calmly observed the forest.
His silver hair danced beneath the northern wind.
The floating aura sword remained beside him like a silent guardian.
The surrounding knights naturally focused on him.
Waiting.
Then Kel spoke.
His calm voice spread throughout the snowy clearing.
"From this point onward..."
His golden eyes swept across the forest.
"Monster hunting officially begins."
Several knights instinctively straightened.
Their blood stirred.
Yet Kel continued before excitement could overwhelm them.
"We are not here merely to clear this area once."
The statement surprised many.
Several knights exchanged glances.
Not once?
Then what?
Kel pointed toward the forest.
His gaze remained calm.
Cold.
Calculating.
"We are going to permanently secure this region."
The words immediately captured everyone's attention.
Even Gareth narrowed his eyes.
Kel continued.
"After this area is cleared, a frontier outpost will be constructed here."
The surrounding knights visibly blinked.
An outpost?
Inside monster territory?
Kel nodded slightly.
"As of now, monsters attack because they possess freedom."
"They gather."
"They breed."
"They organize."
"And nobody monitors them."
His eyes sharpened.
"So we will change that."
The wind howled.
Snow drifted through the clearing.
Kel's voice remained steady.
"A permanent garrison of twenty to fifty knights will be stationed here."
Several knights widened their eyes.
Twenty to fifty?
Inside these forests?
Kel pointed deeper into the wilderness.
"Their purpose will be simple."
"Monitor monster movements."
"Eliminate threats."
"Destroy nests before they become disasters."
The more they listened...
The more the knights realized something.
Their young lord wasn't thinking like a noble.
He was thinking like a frontier commander.
A strategist.
Someone seeking long-term solutions.
Not temporary victories.
Kel continued.
"This outpost will also serve another purpose."
The surrounding knights focused completely.
"A trading station."
This time even Gareth looked surprised.
A military post was expected.
A trade station wasn't.
Kel calmly explained.
"Emergency food supplies."
"Preserved meat."
"Raw materials."
"Timber."
"Minerals."
"Medical supplies."
His golden eyes swept across the surrounding wilderness.
"Travelers."
"Hunters."
"Merchants."
"Patrols."
"Nearby settlements."
"All will benefit."
The knights gradually understood.
An outpost wasn't merely a military installation.
It was a seed.
A foundation.
The beginning of future expansion.
Once trade appeared...
Roads followed.
Once roads followed...
Settlements appeared.
And where settlements appeared...
Prosperity followed.
Several veterans exchanged shocked glances.
The young lord wasn't clearing a forest.
He was planting the foundations of civilization.
Inside monster territory.
Then one younger knight suddenly raised his hand.
"My Lord."
Kel looked toward him.
The knight hesitated briefly.
"Who will be stationed here?"
Several others immediately became interested.
A dangerous assignment like this naturally raised concerns.
Kel nodded.
"As expected."
Then he calmly answered.
"Only Advanced and Expert-ranked swordsmen."
Instantly.
Relief appeared across many faces.
Especially among the weaker knights.
Kel continued.
"This outpost will not be a punishment."
"It will be a specialized frontier force."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"The knights stationed here must possess the strength to survive independently."
Several Advanced-ranked knights unconsciously straightened.
Pride flashed within their eyes.
Being chosen for such a position would become an honor.
Not a burden.
The atmosphere immediately improved.
Kel nodded.
"Good."
Then he pointed toward the forest.
"Move out."
The hunt began.
Hours passed.
The forest descended into chaos.
Monster after monster fell.
Wolf packs.
Icefang Boars.
Frost Lynxes.
Snow Serpents.
The knights moved in coordinated formations.
Years of experience against monsters finally paid dividends.
Whenever dangerous creatures appeared...
Kel often acted first.
The floating aura sword danced through the forest like a silver ghost.
Sometimes monsters died before the knights even noticed them.
The more they witnessed it...
The more terrifying their young lord became.
Several knights secretly stopped trying to estimate his strength.
The answer clearly exceeded their understanding.
Eventually.
A scout returned.
"My Lord!"
The knight knelt.
"Monster nest discovered."
Kel looked up.
"What type?"
"Wolves."
The answer came immediately.
Several veterans nodded.
Wolf packs represented one of the region's greatest threats.
Destroying their nests would significantly reduce attacks.
Kel smiled faintly.
"Lead the way."
The cave entrance was enormous.
Dark.
Cold.
Ancient.
The smell of beasts filled the air.
Bones littered the entrance.
Some belonged to animals.
Others...
Clearly belonged to humans.
The sight darkened many expressions.
The knights entered carefully.
Torches illuminated the darkness.
Growls echoed from within.
Then battle erupted.
Steel flashed.
Aura exploded.
Monsters lunged from the shadows.
Yet the outcome had already been decided.
The wolves fought fiercely.
But against over a hundred trained knights...
Their resistance proved meaningless.
One after another they fell.
The cave gradually became silent.
Only heavy breathing remained.
The nest had been destroyed.
Or so everyone thought.
Then a knight's voice echoed from deeper within the cave.
"My Lord?"
Kel walked over.
The other knights followed.
Soon they arrived at a small chamber hidden behind several rocks.
And there...
Five tiny wolf cubs huddled together.
Their bodies trembled.
Their blue eyes were filled with fear.
The cubs pressed themselves against the cave wall.
Terrified.
Confused.
Too young to understand what had happened.
They only knew their parents were gone.
The surrounding knights became silent.
One veteran scratched his head awkwardly.
"What do we do with them?"
Another knight sighed.
"We should probably kill them."
Several nodded.
It was the logical decision.
After all...
They were monsters.
Eventually they would grow.
Eventually they would become dangerous.
Then one knight pointed toward the cubs.
"My Lord?"
Kel stepped forward.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
One frightened cub attempted a weak growl.
The sound was almost comical.
Kel simply crouched.
Then gently lifted the smallest cub into his arms.
The tiny creature immediately froze.
Its body trembled.
Its blue eyes stared at him.
The surrounding knights waited.
Then Kel spoke.
"Feed them."
Everyone blinked.
"Give them proper baths."
More confusion.
"Raise them."
Silence.
The knights stared.
Several thought they had misheard.
Then a younger knight carefully asked.
"My Lord..."
His expression became complicated.
"We just killed their parents."
He pointed toward the cubs.
"Aren't they dangerous?"
"They're monsters."
The cave became quiet.
Everyone waited for Kel's answer.
Then the young lord smiled faintly.
"No."
The response was immediate.
The knights became even more confused.
Kel gently stroked the cub resting within his arms.
The terrified creature gradually stopped trembling.
"They are only dangerous if raised that way."
The surrounding knights frowned.
Kel continued.
"We are not raising monsters."
"We are raising companions."
The statement stunned everyone.
Companions?
Kel nodded.
"Train them."
"Feed them."
"Protect them."
His golden eyes remained calm.
"If raised from birth, they will naturally consider humans their family."
The cave fell silent.
No one had ever considered such a possibility.
Kel continued.
"These creatures possess extraordinary talents."
He pointed toward the cub.
"Superior senses."
"Tracking ability."
"Environmental adaptation."
"Combat instincts."
The more he spoke...
The more interested the knights became.
Kel's gaze swept across them.
"The difference between monsters and domestic animals is often upbringing."
Several knights exchanged uncertain glances.
The idea sounded absurd.
Yet strangely logical.
Kel continued.
"Most monsters kill to survive."
The cub quietly curled against his coat.
Still frightened.
But calmer than before.
"They hunt."
"They defend territory."
"They protect their young."
His voice remained calm.
"That is nature."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Of course."
"Some monsters kill simply for pleasure."
His expression grew colder.
"Those creatures should be exterminated."
The surrounding knights immediately agreed.
Kel looked down at the cubs once more.
"But these?"
A faint smile appeared.
"They are simply children."
Silence filled the cave.
No one knew how to respond.
Then Kel continued.
"If we raise them properly..."
His eyes gleamed.
"They become loyal companions."
"They help track monsters."
"They detect threats."
"They transport supplies."
"They support patrols."
"They serve as mounts."
Several knights widened their eyes.
Mounts?
Kel nodded.
"Frost Wolves possess exceptional endurance."
"They move far more effectively than horses in this environment."
The room became completely silent.
Because everyone suddenly realized something.
Their young lord wasn't merely thinking about these cubs.
He was already planning the future military structure of Frostbound Coast.
Tracking units.
Scout units.
Supply units.
Mounted wolf cavalry.
The implications were enormous.
Even Gareth felt stunned.
Kel gently placed the cub back beside its siblings.
The tiny creatures immediately huddled together.
Then he stood.
His coat fluttered softly.
"Bring them."
The knights instinctively obeyed.
No further questions.
No further objections.
As they carefully gathered the cubs...
Several couldn't help glancing toward Kel.
Because once again...
Their lord had looked at a problem.
And found opportunity.
What others saw as future threats...
He saw as future allies.
And as the expedition departed the cave carrying five frightened wolf cubs...
The first seeds of an idea had already been planted.
One day.
In the frozen wilderness of Frostbound Coast.
The howls of monsters would no longer symbolize danger.
Because those same howls might belong to the loyal companions of the frontier's defenders.
And Kel Rosenfeld intended to make that future a reality.