He was on his way back to the North after finishing a monster subjugation.

The forest, where the sun had begun to tilt, was filled with the smell of damp earth and thick grass, and only the steady sound of horse hooves continued on the path where not even a single person properly entered.

Felix was leading the way on his horse. The subjugation ended sooner than expected, and all that remained was to get out of this forest and return to the North.

Then, a small sound came from the bushes by the roadside.

As Felix slowly pulled the reins and brought his horse to a halt, the knights following him naturally stopped as well.

"Your Grace?"

Instead of answering, Felix turned his head. There was something among the bushes.

"...Is it a monster?"

It was far too small to be a monster.

No sharp teeth, carapace, or claws to tear a person apart were visible.

Rather, the way it huddled deep inside the grass was strangely defenseless.

It was small. Strangely so.

From the two ears rising above the round head to the slender tail and the soft fur covering its entire body.

It was a completely different appearance from the beasts or monsters he had seen so far.