Chapter 6: The Werewolves of Asher Village

“Ah-woo-woo…”
Not long after Agus finished speaking, the howls of wolves coming from nearby grew increasingly louder. Those repeated howls told the children that there was more than one beast lurking in the darkness.
“No… it can’t really be werewolves, right, Alen?” Looking at the still-dark forest, Lisa stammered, hiding fearfully behind Alen and clutching his robe.
“Please stay behind me, beautiful lady. Your knight is ready to draw his sword for you at any moment!” Saying this, Alen seriously drew his knight’s sword, exuding a hint of chivalry. But in less than three seconds, he returned to his usual self and said cheerfully to the girls around him, “Of course, that includes Misses Ravia and Lelira, as well as Senior Dia…”
“Tch!” Scott rolled his eyes in exasperation and sneered, “I hope I won’t have to pick up your bones later!”
“Hey, don’t be so ominous, buddy!”
As Alen retorted indignantly, Ravia, who had remained silent, stood up. She took out a small sandalwood wand from her robe and said calmly, “I don’t need your protection!”
As soon as Ravia spoke, Dia also stood up and smiled, “Alen, I appreciate your kindness, but I believe I can protect myself…”
“I think I can protect myself too!” Lelira said, stealing a glance at Scott.
“Oh, that’s really unfortunate!” Alen shrugged nonchalantly.
“Hehe,” Agus, who was still sitting by the stump warming himself and watching the scene with a smile, joked, “Um… Alen, right? I need your protection…”
“Huh?” Alen turned to look at Agus in surprise, scratched his head, and said oddly, “I only protect beautiful ladies. Uncle, take care of yourself!”
“Un… uncle?” Agus’s smile froze on his face as he stared in disbelief.
“Stop joking. ‘They’ are coming!” Scott said gravely, making the group of children tense up.
The howling gradually stopped…
Replaced by faint sounds—soft noises made as leaves and twigs were trampled. With these sounds came a pair of faint green lights emerging from the dim forest in the distance…
If nothing went wrong, those must be the eyes of the beasts…
One pair, two pairs…
Ten pairs, twenty pairs…

In just a few seconds, the woods across from them were filled with faint green lights, giving people an eerie feeling.
“Guh,” even Allen, who was usually quite brave, spoke with a tremor in his voice. Swallowing hard, he said awkwardly, “Scott, I think I can read their eyes… They’re hungry…”
“Hmph!” Scott snorted coldly, mocking in a low voice, “There’s no food here for those beasts to eat!”
“But there’s plenty of food for them here…”
Frustrated by that clueless idiot, Scott’s temples bulged as he snapped, “Do you really want me to pick up the bones for you?”
“Heh,” Argus, sitting among the children, laughed and shook his head jokingly, “Kid, when wolves are hungry, they’ll even chew up bones and swallow them!”
“…” Scott frowned in disgust. Clearly, he didn’t like Argus’s joke. After giving him a brief glance, he turned to Jiang Zhe and said, “Sos, please!”
“Mm!” Jiang Zhe nodded. He understood Scott’s meaning—among everyone, only he could use magic without any cost.
Amidst the wary gazes of everyone, a wolf slowly stepped out of the shadows, growling at the children. It was a common mountain wolf, which surprised them.
Weren’t they werewolves?
Were they just ordinary wolves?
Argus, sitting by a tree stump warming himself by the fire, glanced coldly at the woods in the distance and said casually, “So they’re not werewolves after all. What luck! Oh, by the way, I seem to have heard that werewolves have the ability to command wolf packs…” It sounded like he was talking to himself, but those words made the children, who had just relaxed, become alert again.
“Uuuu…” Growling, a dozen or so mountain wolves stopped about ten yards away from the children, staring at their prey with savage, bloodthirsty eyes.
Perhaps the children’s small size wasn’t threatening enough, making the wolf pack grow restless. The lead mountain wolf seemed ready to attack at any moment.
“What are you waiting for, little dogs?” Allen stepped to the front of the group, holding his knight’s sword, and beckoned at the wolf pack with a provocative gesture.
Although the wolves couldn’t understand human gestures, they could at least read the look in this little guy’s eyes. Hearing their growls grow more intense, it was easy to guess that they were in a bad mood.
“Roar!”

A mountain wolf let out a fierce roar and charged at Allen, but before Allen could draw his knight’s sword, a fireball struck the wolf’s head, exploding with a loud noise and sending up a cloud of black smoke. The fireball didn’t kill the wolf, but it sent it flying, causing it to crash into a tree behind it before falling to the ground. It could only growl weakly, clearly badly injured, and after struggling for a long time, it failed to get back up. “Hey!” Allen glanced back irritably; he had been ready to strike with his sword just now. Tsk! Wasted a good stance. What fast casting speed… Looking at the little kid with dark golden hair raising his right hand beside him, Argus was slightly surprised before smiling and teasingly saying, “Ahahaha, impressive! But… but that wolf still seems to be breathing. Kid, if I were your professor, I’d definitely mark your magic as ‘unqualified’…” Although Argus’s tone seemed mostly playful, Jiang Zhe still felt upset and retorted, “Then do it yourself! I’d like to see how powerful your magic is!” “Hehe,” Argus laughed, raising his hands in surrender. “You’re really annoying… Okay, okay, I’ll stop. I don’t want you to leave me behind. Compared to those guys over there, I prefer you little guys!” As he spoke, he casually glanced aside and saw a red-haired girl muttering a few spells. A circle of flames rose from her feet, and within the blazing fire, several waves of flame, like fire snakes, shot toward the beasts on the other side. Flame Wave Magic? To be able to master third-level magic at such a young age is truly amazing! Argus smiled slightly, whistled, and turned to Jiang Zhe beside him, saying, “That little girl is also learning fire-based blue magic. She seems stronger than you, kid!” For some reason, among those little kids, he had a particular fondness for the dark golden-haired boy. He felt there was a charm about him that made him want to get close—something Argus had never encountered before. “So what?” Jiang Zhe shrugged indifferently and snapped, “It’s still better than some idle person, right?”

To be honest, Jiang Zhe dismissed Argus’s claim of being some great mage. In his eyes, this guy not only lacked any trace of magical power but also didn’t act like a mage at all—more like a scheming swindler he had seen in past lives. It wasn’t that Jiang Zhe judged by appearance; it was simply that Argus’s outfit was a complete failure. Aside from a tattered black coat that barely fit the image of a mage, his tone and behavior had nothing to do with a mage at all! Not to mention the lack of any magical artifacts on him—everything valuable he had probably didn’t even amount to three or five silver coins, not including his two silver coins… Could there really be such a failed mage in the world? Of course, it wasn’t just Jiang Zhe who thought this way; the other children shared the same view. After all, they had been deeply influenced by Professor Riox’s teachings and instinctively classified Argus as a talkative vagrant who could at most use a few low-level spells to deceive people. Diya, on the other hand, was more concerned about the wound on Argus’s chest—the clearly corrosive scars… [Curse: Binding] [Curse: Blindness] Scott cast several spells in quick succession. The mountain wolves struck by his magic either slowed down drastically or stood frozen in place, confused. Although these low-level curses weren’t particularly harmful, they were ideal for holding them back. “Roar!” Allen’s body suddenly swelled slightly in an instant, emitting a faint red glow. Already strong, his strength became even more astonishing after enhancing his Bull Force. With a single swing of his broadsword, he sent two mountain wolves flying several yards away. Then, turning around, he grabbed one of the attacking wolves by the neck with his left hand, which was covered in iron gloves, and smashed it hard to the ground before finishing it off with his broadsword, splashing wolf blood everywhere. “Huh?” Argus, sitting by the campfire, was filled with surprise. He turned to Jiang Zhe beside him and said in astonishment, “Is that brat really a mage apprentice? He doesn’t seem like one to me.” “Hmph!” Jiang Zhe snorted irritably. He raised his right hand and took a slow breath. Without any visible action of casting a spell, multiple red vortices appeared in front of him, gathering a large amount of fire elements. “Go!” “Whoosh whoosh whoosh!” Three fireballs appeared almost simultaneously, shooting at their targets at high speed, all hitting them precisely. Abandoning incantations? Multiple spells at once?

Argus’s eyes were filled with astonishment as he stared intently at Jiang Zhe. After his gaze shifted several times, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “At such a young age, to have reached this level… what a terrifying little brat… How far can he go? Interesting!”
Argus quietly observed the children before him and found that these little brats all had considerable strength—of course, this was judged relative to their age.
The one who spoke in a cheerful tone and seemed very optimistic claimed to be a magician, but he was more like a knight. Judging from the way he swung his knight’s sword and his astonishing strength, he would likely be a model student in any knight academy.
As for the glasses-wearing little brat, he was the complete opposite—calm and quiet, yet possessing an extraordinary judgment in battle. Although he only used a few low-level curse spells, he managed to support everyone.
These two little brats were born with the temperament and potential to be leaders!
But strangely, in this team, it was the little brat named Sos who served as the captain!
Was it because he was the strongest?
No!
It was because this little brat was somewhat special…
“Boom! Boom boom boom!” A series of fireball explosions interrupted Argus’s thoughts. Glancing at the flames spreading after each explosion, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He also mastered compression and transformation?
Oh? And the skill to condense elements from a distance…
He’s really not simple!
It seems he’s the strongest among these little brats—remarkable! Usually, it takes a magician about fifteen or sixteen years to master such skills…
Heh! What a clever little brat!
It seems he’s good at using high-damage spells to attack opponents…
Hmm, compared to these three little brats, the other girls are far behind…
They also studied fire-based blue magic, but although the red-haired girl had comparable control to this little brat, the quality of her flames was much inferior. It’s a shame about her fire attribute constitution… Hmm, no—judging by her age, it shouldn’t be said that her strength is weak; rather, that little brat is stronger… Strange!

Hm? That girl who could keenly detect the smell of blood on her own body was studying water-type blue magic? Hah! She simultaneously used a shield and manifested water elements… No, it was enchanted manifestation—her strength was considerable, but her aptitude wasn’t very good. She couldn’t compare to that girl with a natural fire-type constitution. No matter how hard she tried, if she lacked luck, she might remain at the level of a mage for life and achieve little…

There were two more girls…
One studied summoning, the other illusion magic. Their aptitudes… were both ordinary…

Shaking his head, Argus lost interest in observing Dia, Lailira, and Lisa. Compared to them, he was more interested in those other children, especially that little brat named Thos. Despite not having a fire-type constitution, his strength far surpassed that girl’s, which puzzled Argus.

To be honest, Argus wasn’t a great mage—he hadn’t even passed the mage qualification assessment. But that didn’t hinder his strength. Both in the empire and the church, there were many black and white mages who, despite bearing the title of mage, possessed strength comparable to that of great mages, like Professor Hode.

Still, there were very few great mages among humans. After all, great strength wasn’t the only criterion for being recognized as a great mage. Mastery of forbidden spells, fame, and contributions were also considered in the evaluation.

Take the Royal Chief Great Mage Veston, for example. He was a great mage proficient in fire and water-type blue magic, as well as three-type forbidden spells including the combined magic of lightning magic. In terms of strength, he was almost the strongest mage in the empire. As the guardian of the imperial capital, he only answered to the current King Sassen. Even the king’s princes dared not disrespect him, let alone the other nobles.

Similarly, the headmaster of Rexox Academy, that kind-hearted old man who often stood by the bed with a pipe, watching the children—Gret Kaines—was also a great mage skilled in fire and earth-type blue magic, as well as three-type forbidden spells including the combined magic of flame magic. In addition, the old headmaster was proficient in various magical disciplines such as summoning, barriers, alchemy, and enchantment. He was highly renowned for his erudition in the magical world. The barriers in Rexox Academy were created by him.

Of course, in fact, these two individuals already meet the qualifications to be promoted to Holy Magi; all that’s lacking is a suitable opportunity. Compared to before, it’s indeed easier to become a Grand Magus now—just one recommendation from a Grand Magus or three from ordinary magi is enough to qualify one for the assessment by the Magic Association, whether in the Empire or in Salonia.

However, one downside is that once you become a Grand Magus, it means you’re tied to that country and can no longer be as free as an ordinary mage. If you’re accused of treason, it’s a very unpleasant situation, especially when relations between the Empire and the Church are tense.

In short, the way to become a Grand Magus is through someone else’s recommendation, so networking is extremely important for magi. This is also one of the reasons why Veston takes his beloved apprentice Nia to visit renowned magi everywhere. After all, recommending an apprentice by one’s mentor isn’t allowed in the evaluation process for Grand Magi. As the president of the Imperial Magic Association, Veston naturally sets an example, though it’s actually not necessary—given his fame and network of friends, they’re all willing to give him face.

Enough digressions—let’s get back to Argus!

This young man doesn’t look particularly striking, and he hardly seems like a mage at all, but he is indeed under strict pursuit by the Church. Sometimes, one’s strength doesn’t need to be shown by them themselves—just look at their opponents.

Argus, on the other hand, is being chased by a special Church task force: a Grand Magus at the level of a cardinal, two monks, and six Inquisitors. Such a powerful group is enough to overthrow a small principality. Yet even so, Argus managed to escape their grasp. Though severely injured, his strength is far beyond what Jiang Zhe and the others can match right now…

Of course, the children don’t know any of this. They seem to think Argus is just an ordinary vagrant, and Argus doesn’t seem to want to argue either. He doesn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. His greatest wish right now is to continue his unfinished escape journey without “alerting” those children.

Of course, as a fugitive from the Church, Argus also has another option…

But judging by the situation, Argus doesn’t want to hurt these children who have helped him, especially since he feels an inexplicable fondness for that little brat named Sos.

So, Argus warned these children from the start, for he could sense that aside from the mountain wolves, there were still quite a number of werewolves lurking in the forest…
Yes, werewolves!
“Poor guys!” Argus sighed softly and tossed a piece of wood into the campfire.
“Ah!” As his words fell, Lisa, who was commanding the contract beasts to fight, suddenly let out a scream.
To be honest, those common wild beasts like mountain wolves were no match for the children who knew magic. Even the girls felt a slight fear of such enemies, but the gap in strength was fatal—mere mountain wolves couldn’t cause them any harm at all.
Before long, the ground was covered with the corpses of mountain wolves—perhaps forty or fifty in number. But just as the children thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Lisa screamed again.
The children were shocked…
They stared in shock toward the direction of the forest…
What were those creatures—resembling wolves yet also humans, wearing clothes? Were they werewolves?
Wolf-like heads, thick fur, upright yet hunched bodies, hairy palms that looked more like claws, barely touching the ground, long snouts with rows of sharp teeth, from which disgusting saliva kept dripping…
W-Were these really werewolves?
The children stared in shock—not because it was their first time seeing legendary werewolves, but because of the clothes on their bodies, ordinary clothes worn by farmers…
And then there was the number…
Just those they could see numbered over a dozen… no, over a dozen…
“Scott,” Allen, who had shown no fear toward the wolf pack earlier, now also paled and swallowed hard before saying, “I saw many strange creatures, very much like the werewolves you mentioned… many…”
Scott fell silent for a moment, pushed his glasses up, and said calmly in a low voice, “You’re not mistaken. I saw them too—many!”
“What did you say would happen to someone bitten by a werewolf?”
“It’s just what you’re seeing now—the werewolves’ teeth contain venom…”

“Heavens, this isn’t good news…” Allen moaned softly, realizing that although the clothes on these ‘creatures’ were torn by their muscles, they weren’t particularly worn out. If he wasn’t mistaken, these people must have been local villagers who should have been working during the day and returning home to sleep at night, rather than roaring at him and his companions like wild beasts. If it had just been wolves like those before, the children wouldn’t have worried too much, but these ones were different… they used to be human! This left the children hesitant; the girls even stepped back a few steps, and even Ravia lowered her right hand, which had been casting magic. Compared to the girls, Jiang Zhe and the others were in a better position, but they too were unsure, as killing a beast and killing a human were entirely different things. “What are you doing?” Argus could easily guess the children’s hesitation. With a mocking smile, he shook his head and said, “What unfortunate bunch! At this time, they should be at home, sleeping peacefully with their wives and children…” His words made the girls blush, but more so, they were terrified! “Kids! You’re not waiting for them to attack, are you? Once bitten by a werewolf, one loses their sanity within a day or two due to the venom. Unfortunately, there are no plants around here that can cure this. You don’t want to become their prey, do you? Hmph! Look at their eyes—they no longer have any humanity, only brutality and bloodthirst!” “But…” Lisa protested softly, her face filled with pity and hesitation. “Hmph!” Argus curled his lips, shook his head, and said regretfully, “Kids will be kids! I was even glad to meet you, but… Tsk! Just after eating, you’re already about to become food for those creatures. Sigh!” “That’s easy for you to say!” Ravia frowned in displeasure. “Hehe, what can I do? I really can’t cast magic right now.” Argus shrugged helplessly, then fell silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, “They… no, they’re not even beasts anymore, since they no longer have human souls. If your academy’s professor were here, he would teach you what to do—like letting these unfortunate souls rest in peace…”

As he spoke, he shook his head with a hint of disappointment. Suddenly, he spotted those werewolves charging at extreme speed. With a soft sigh, his left hand, which was stirring the campfire with a stick, raised slightly before being quietly lowered again…
“Snap!” A sound of a snap.
“Boom! Boom boom!”
A series of explosions—dense flames like a storm swept up the leading werewolves. After more cries of pain, no sound was heard anymore.
“I never hesitated from the start!” Looking at the surprise in Argus’s eyes, Jiang Zhe said in a low voice, “For them, this might be a form of liberation… I know this without you having to say it!”
Huh?
Seeing the determination in Jiang Zhe’s eyes, Argus felt admiration.
This kid also has the potential to be a leader!
Interesting!