Chapter 14: Defeating the Demon.

After calming down, I realized that while the purification succeeded, the problem wasn’t fully resolved.
The river was cleansed, but the monster upstream remained.

If we don’t deal with it, the river will be tainted by miasma again.
The monster must be defeated.

I asked the people around us.

“The monster’s still upstream, right?”

The farmer nodded, troubled.

“Yes…”

“It’s apparently quite strong, and the town’s soldiers haven’t been able to handle it yet.”

I frowned.

The townsfolk were distressed, speaking up.

“We’re hoping soldiers from the capital come soon…”
“But we don’t know when they’ll arrive.”
“At this rate, the river will get polluted again.”

Their voices carried anxiety.

I haven’t mastered strong attack magic.
I’m skilled at water purification, but combat is beyond me.

Defeating a monster is too much.
It seemed we had to wait for the capital’s soldiers—

“Then I’ll take care of it,” Cedric said casually.

“What?”

I and the others looked at him, stunned.
He smiled calmly.

“Can you really defeat it?” I asked hurriedly.

Monsters are dangerous…

Cedric nodded.

“At the academy, we train to defeat monsters in practicals. Unless it’s something extraordinary, I should manage.”

The crowd buzzed.

“Really?”
“Please, we beg you!”
“That’d save us!”

They pleaded, and Cedric nodded without hesitation.

“Alright. I’ll head upstream.”

I was worried.
Even with academy training, monsters are risky.

If something happened…

My chest tightened at the thought.

“I’m going with you,” I declared.

Cedric’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Amelia, but—”

“I’m going.”

No compromise.
I couldn’t let him go alone.

He gave a troubled smile.

“Alright, together then.”

We took a carriage toward the river’s upstream.

As it rattled along, I looked out the window.
The scenery shifted—away from the town, into deeper forest.

Trees grew denser, the path narrower.

The carriage stopped.

“The road gets rough ahead, so you’ll need to walk,” the coachman said.

We disembarked.
Cedric looked at me.

“I’ll go alone. Stay here—”

“I’m going.”

I insisted, locking eyes with him.
He sighed.

“…Fine.”

Then, seriously, he added,

“But don’t go ahead of me.”

His words startled me.
He was trying to protect me.

My heart warmed.

“Okay.”

I nodded obediently.
We began walking along the river.

The path was rough—rocky, uneven.
Tree roots jutted out, threatening to trip me.

I stepped carefully.
But I stumbled.

“Wah…!”

As I nearly fell, Cedric turned and caught me.

“Are you okay?”

His arms supported my waist.

His face… so close!

My heart raced.

“I-I’m fine…”

I pulled away quickly.

“Thank you.”

He looked thoughtful.

“Want me to carry you on my back?”

A teasing remark.
My face heated again.

Carried… by my favorite?

No, my heart couldn’t take it.

“I’m fine,” I replied, keeping calm.

But inside, I was a mess.

He smiled, a bit disappointed.

“Alright, be careful then.”

“Yes.”

I nodded, and we resumed walking, more cautiously.

Cedric glanced back occasionally, checking on me.
His kindness warmed me.

As we approached upstream, he suddenly stopped.
I nearly bumped into him, halting just in time.

“What’s wrong?”

He quietly said, “Shh,” pressing a finger to his lips.
I held my breath, silencing myself.

He pointed ahead.

There was the monster.

Five wolf-like creatures.
Gray fur, sharp fangs.

Red eyes glowed eerily.

They drank from the river.
These must be the monsters nesting upstream.

Five of them.
I’d assumed just one.
This was dangerous.

I tugged Cedric’s sleeve.

“Cedric, it’s dangerous…!”

I whispered.

“No, those are manageable,” he said, assessing them.
He smiled at me.

“Stay here.”

My chest filled with worry.

“Cedric…”

He approached the monsters.

They noticed, glaring at him.
Ears up, fangs bared, low growls.

One lunged, leaping at him with sharp teeth.

“…!”

I thought it would bite him—

Cedric raised his hand.

“Freeze, Frost.”

A short chant.
Instantly, all five turned to ice statues.

They froze mid-motion.
The leaping one, fangs bared, was encased in ice before Cedric.

Time seemed to stop.
I stared, stunned.

He defeated all five in an instant.

I ran to him.

“Cedric…!”

Approaching the ice statues, I touched one.

Cold, hard.

Truly frozen.

“Amazing…”

I gasped in awe.
He smiled calmly.

“This is no problem.”

He said it casually, but that magic was incredible.
Neutralizing multiple enemies instantly.

As expected of the top student, my favorite.

Fireworks of admiration exploded in my heart.

But the ice chilled the air.
I shivered, sneezing.

“Achoo!”

Cedric turned at the sound.

“Cold?”
“A bit…”

I rubbed my arms.

He immediately took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

“Here.”
“But…”
“I’m fine. Magic warms my body after casting.”

He smiled.

His coat… warm.
It carried his scent.

A faint soap fragrance.

Wearing my favorite’s just-worn coat… a reward? A punishment? No, definitely a reward.

But it hit me hard.
My face burned.

“T-Thank you…”

I mumbled, embarrassed.

“Let’s head back.”
“Yes.”

We started back, me in his coat, wrapped in his scent.