Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 59: Ch : Out in the Woods- Part 2

The Head Knight tightened her grip on her sword, eyes narrowing in the dark.

"I’ll circle around from the right. You - Stay alert."

She whispered, barely audible over the gentle crackling of the campfire.

Kyle gave a small nod, not bothering to respond.

He could already feel the presence lurking nearby. It was neither human nor entirely beast—something in its energy was off.

The knight moved swiftly, stepping lightly over the grass as she melted into the darkness. Kyle remained where he was, his hand hovering near his sword.

Then—

A low, guttural growl rumbled from the bushes.

Kyle tensed, watching as the head knight lunged forward toward the noise, blade flashing under the moonlight.

But before her strike could land, something burst out of the undergrowth—not toward her, but straight at Kyle.

A massive, tiger-like beast.

Its glowing red eyes locked onto Kyle, and in the split second it took to spring forward, Kyle had already moved.

His hand met the hilt of his sword, and in one fluid motion, he unsheathed it, coating the blade in mana.

The beast’s fangs were just inches from his throat when—

CRACK!

Kyle’s blade met the beast’s skull with a sharp, mana-infused strike.

The creature let out a choked snarl, its massive body collapsing mid-air before it could reach him.

Just as it hit the ground, the Head Knight reappeared, her sword flashing as she finished it off with a clean stroke to the neck.

The beast twitched once before falling still.

Kyle exhaled, twirling his sword before sliding it back into its sheath. That was easy.

The Head Knight stared at the beast, then at Kyle.

"…You barely moved. You should have dodged when that beast jumped at you. You know you could have died, right?"

She muttered, as if only now realizing the gap between their abilities.

Kyle shrugged.

"I saw no need to dodge such an attack. It’s not like the beast would have hurt me anyway."

She scowled but said nothing, turning her attention back to the beast. She crouched down and used her sword to flip its lifeless body over.

Kyle stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he observed the creature.

It wasn’t just a wild beast. Something was wrong.

The mana radiating from its body was… unnatural.

Instead of smoothly dissipating upon death, it flickered erratically, almost as if two conflicting forces were tearing it apart from the inside.

Kyle’s gaze sharpened.

’This thing was altered. It’s mana flow doesn’t feel neutral.’

The Head Knight frowned as she examined its features.

"This isn’t a normal beast. It’s a chimera—a creature bred and altered through means…"

She said, voice grim.

Kyle hummed in agreement.

"Looks like someone sent this thing after us."

The implication was clear.

Someone wanted them dead.

Kyle could not narrow down who it could be, but that was the least of his worries right now.

The Head Knight stood, wiping her blade clean.

"I’ll take care of the body. Get some rest."

Kyle didn’t move.

"No. I’ll do it."

He said calmly.

The Head Knight’s head snapped toward him.

"What?"

"I said I’ll handle it."

Kyle repeated, already reaching for the beast’s corpse.

A spark of anger flashed in her eyes. She stepped closer, fists clenched.

"Why? Do you think I’m incapable of disposing of a corpse?"

She demanded.

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

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"No."

"Then why—"

Kyle cut her off.

"Because I’m stronger than you. I’ll be faster. More efficient. That’s all."

He said bluntly.

The Head Knight stiffened. Her fists trembled slightly at her sides.

Kyle sighed.

"If you’re thinking I’m saying this because you’re a woman, don’t bother. I couldn’t care less about that."

She froze.

Kyle gestured toward Melissa, who was still staring at the dead chimera in unease.

"I’m training Melissa to be a knight too. If I had some stupid prejudice, I wouldn’t be doing that, would I?"

He glanced back at the Head Knight, his voice matter-of-fact.

"I don’t care if you’re a man or a woman. Strength is all that matters."

The Head Knight didn’t respond immediately.

Kyle could tell she was processing his words, debating whether to believe him or not.

Finally, she let out a sharp exhale and turned away.

"…Do whatever you want."

She muttered, before walking off.

Kyle smirked.

Even if she wouldn’t admit it, he knew he’d caught her off guard.

Kyle grabbed the dead beast by its hind legs and dragged it toward the edge of the clearing.

The weight wasn’t an issue—his mana-enhanced body made lifting such things easy.

However, before disposing of it, he crouched down, pressing his palm against its fur.

’That strange mana… it was there before. But now…’

He focused, trying to sense any lingering traces of the unnatural energy that had caught his attention earlier.

But the mana was already fading, dispersing too quickly for him to properly analyze it.

’Tch. Too late.’

He clicked his tongue in irritation.

’Whoever created this thing was smart enough to ensure their tracks wouldn’t be easily traced.’

Still, the mere fact that someone had sent a chimera after them meant that this was no random attack.

Someone had been watching them. Someone had planned this.

’Is it those bastards in the god’s realm? I won’t put it past them to try and kill me when I am still weak.’

Kyle exhaled sharply before lifting the beast with one arm and throwing it into the thick underbrush.

The lifeless body disappeared into the darkness, and the sound of rustling leaves followed as it tumbled down a small slope. It wouldn’t be long before scavengers came for it.

Dusting off his hands, he turned back toward the camp.

When he returned, the Head Knight was watching him from her place near the fire.

Her expression was unreadable beneath her helmet, but he could sense her gaze lingering on him longer than before.

Kyle ignored it.

"Let’s switch shifts.Go get some rest."

He said simply.

The Head Knight hesitated but eventually nodded.

Without another word, she walked off toward her tent.

Kyle sat by the fire, eyes flickering toward the trees.

If there’s one enemy, there might be more.

He’d stay awake a little longer. Just in case.