He became the most insane emperor of all time

“Normal tracking skills involve using various knowledge and observation to patiently follow traces,” Jack explained.

During his time serving in the Rangers, Jack had taught various tactical skills to the soldiers, including tracking. While few were as skilled as a true Ranger, it was still a useful set of skills.

“However, there are enemies that can’t be tracked with normal tracking skills. There are techniques that can disrupt or erase traces and signs of their presence.”

Right now, Jack and I were chasing after a very special target.

It was so fast and stealthy that even the guards we brought couldn’t keep up with us.

[Tracking and eliminating the King of Wolves, Silver Mane] This was the target from the previous trial, the Trial of Bravery.

But unlike other targets we’d faced before, this one was proving difficult to track from the very start.

“Luckily, there is a special method to track such enemies.”

A method that could track even when the signs were erased or disturbed.

“What’s that method?”

“It’s simple. We use aura.”

“Aura?”

Even hearing Jack talk about it, I couldn’t easily imagine how aura could be used for tracking.

I was familiar with aura enhancing physical abilities or being infused into a weapon to make an aura blade, but I hadn’t thought of it as a tracking tool.

“That’s just one way to use aura,” Jack said, placing his right hand on the ground.

From his hand, a small, thread-like shape of aura extended outward.

“With enough mastery, you can extend aura like threads and spread them in all directions.”

After he spoke, the relatively bright blue aura thread disappeared from view.

It hadn’t vanished, it had simply become invisible to the eye.

The invisible threads of aura continued to spread in all directions from Jack’s hand.

“Are you using those threads to track?”

“Yes, we use the invisible threads of aura to spread out and track.”

It was a technique where you extend aura threads, sharing sensory information, and cleverly locate enemies who were attempting to avoid being tracked.

“By the way, there’s almost no blind spot, and if you master it, there are records of detecting within a 1 km radius.”

“That’s amazing.”

With a technique like that, isn’t there essentially no such thing as an enemy who can’t be tracked?

“In theory, yes. But the fact that you have to use aura means it’s not something just anyone can do.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Ordinary people couldn’t use aura, so it wasn’t a technique just anyone could employ.

[The ‘Genius’ trait has understood the principle of the ‘Spider Web of the Observer’ skill.] But I wasn’t just anyone.

With my Genius trait, I understood the technique immediately just from the explanation.

“Is this how it’s done?”

I immediately created the aura threads, or rather, the aura spiderweb, just like Jack had done.

“…Amazing. To think you could replicate it immediately after seeing it once.”

Jack’s voice was filled with admiration, but I was so fascinated by the sensation that I focused entirely on extending the aura.

The aura threads spread wildly in all directions according to my will.

There were even quite a few threads.

Enough to detect all the objects and creatures in the surrounding area.

“I found it.”

I was soon able to locate where the Silver Mane was hiding.

“I’ll take it from here, Jack.”

“Are you going to fight alone again? It’s too dangerous.”

“This time, it’s not on purpose.”

Last time, in Goblin Village, the mission’s condition was to do it ‘alone’, which was why I fought by myself.

But this time, there was no such condition.

“But Jack, you’re not specialized for combat. While I fight, you should call in reinforcements.”

In other words, it was a strategic choice.

Of course, while Jack was summoning reinforcements, I planned to fight to prevent the Silver Mane from escaping.

“You probably won’t listen even if I try to stop you. Understood. I’ll hurry and catch up.”

Jack gave up on convincing me and quickly headed toward the direction where the guards had fallen behind.

After he left, I immediately moved toward where the Silver Mane was hiding.

“Then, how about we have a little match.”

-Grrrrr…

It was the kind of creature that would give a legendary quest.

No wonder, it looked extraordinary from the outside.

As its name suggested, the Silver Mane’s fur was a dazzling silver, almost like the glow of will-o’-the-wisps.

-Kraaaargh!

“Impatient too!”

Its size was enormous, even though it was crouched on all fours, towering over a human.

Yet, despite its large size, its movements were surprisingly agile.

Just barely avoiding its dash, I unsheathed my sword and slashed its back.

Clang!

“Hard, huh?”

However, my sword bounced off its hide.

Given that the sword was infused with aura, it should have sliced through even tough iron with ease.

This meant its hide was far stronger than expected.

“The hide can’t possibly be made of metal…”

-Grrrr!

“Just as I thought, it’s aura.”

Despite its large size, it moved with incredible speed and agility.

It was clearly made of leather, but its durability was as strong as steel.

And just a moment ago, when it attacked me, the Silver Mane infused its teeth and claws with a sharp, blue aura as it charged.

“For a beast to use aura… is it a spirit beast?”

-Grrr! Kraaaargh!

The Silver Mane relentlessly attacked.

Incredibly fast movements, each strike powerful enough to leave deep gouges in the ground.

Each blow was potentially lethal if it hit.

However, I was evading its attacks with considerable ease.

[Neural Acceleration Activated] [Due to the effects of the Neural Acceleration specialization skill, I can adjust my neural acceleration speed.] [Current Neural Acceleration: 35%]

A skill I gained after slaughtering 400 goblins.

This skill enhanced my neural acceleration using aura.

What was once a simple sensory speed boost could now be finely controlled for even faster reactions.

“No matter how fast you are, it’s useless.”

Ka-ka-ka-chk!

Grrr!

“I can see everything.”

And at a very slow speed.

With this ability, as long as I have it, speed battles are practically my domain.

Kaang!

Tang!

“But this is a bit tricky.”

No matter how fast the creature was, I could evade its attacks easily.

But my own attacks weren’t getting through.

Even with a sword infused with aura, it couldn’t pierce its hide.

“I was hoping to finish this before the soldiers arrive.”

I had told Jack it was fine to mobilize the troops, but now, it seemed better not to.

This creature was far too much for regular soldiers to handle.

If I called for reinforcements, it seemed like there would be casualties.

“Not that I care about casualties, but…”

It would be a waste for the soldiers I raised to die.

The best course of action was still to take it down myself.

To do that, there was only one place to target.

-Graaargh!

I raised my sword in a high stance and, this time, didn’t evade as the Silver Mane charged at me.

Instead of dodging, I aimed for its vulnerable spot.

Even with the ability to infuse its hide with aura, there was one place it could never reinforce.

Thrust!

Right into its open mouth.

The moment it opened wide to bite me, I plunged my sword inside.

Crunch!

Splurt!

-Graaah!

As I had expected, the blade easily tore through the inside of its mouth.

Blood gushed out, and I unleashed my aura at full power from within.

The aura-infused blade shredded its insides like a razor. No matter how tough its exterior, there was no surviving this.

“Ugh, it got me too.”

Although I brought it down relatively easily, the method came with risks.

As I thrust my sword, its teeth grazed my shoulder.

It wasn’t a major injury, but if I hadn’t killed it first, I’d undoubtedly have been the one to die.

-Whimper…

“Don’t take it personally. Humans survive by hunting animals, after all.”

If you don’t like being hunted, maybe next time you should be born on Earth, where animal rights exist.

Slash!

Still, wanting to end its suffering quickly, I delivered the final blow.

[‘Trial of Bravery – The King of Silver Wolves’ complete.] [4,000 Divine Power gained.] [As a reward for your bravery, the mana heart’s aura output has increased by 200 combat power.] [Additional rewards for completing a Legendary-grade quest will be given.]

The moment the Silver Mane breathed its last, the Trial of Bravery was marked as complete, and the rewards began rolling in.

For killing just one monster, the rewards were extraordinary.

“But… additional rewards?”

While marveling at the rewards, my attention was drawn to the final line of the message.

Additional rewards? It’s nice, but what could they possibly be?

-Whimper, whimper…

“What’s this?”

At that moment, from the bushes a short distance away, a small wolf pup emerged.

Like the Silver Mane I had just killed, its fur was pure silver, shining brightly.

[You can capture the young of the spirit beast ‘Silver Shabel.’] [This is a highly rare and spiritually gifted subspecies of direwolf, far beyond the abilities of ordinary wolves.] [If tamed, it can become a powerful ally.] [*Note: The taming method is currently unknown.]

“So this is the reward.”

The chance to take in the offspring of a spirit beast as a reward.

It seemed like a significant opportunity, but for a legendary-grade reward, it somehow felt a little underwhelming.

-Whimper…

“Well, it does look pretty cute.”

If I could tame it, it would be more than worth having as a pet.

-Grrrr…

However, it didn’t seem completely trusting yet. Despite its small size, it was clearly wary, pulling back as I tried to touch it.

“Your Majesty.”

“Oh, you’re all here.”

While I was momentarily petting the wolf pup, Jack, the Captain of the Guard, and Stella arrived with their escorts.

“You’ve already finished it off, I see,” said Jack.

“Well, it wasn’t that difficult of an opponent.”

“…Looking around here, it doesn’t seem like that was the case,” the Guard Captain muttered.

He had a point. Even though the battle hadn’t lasted long, the surrounding area bore clear marks of an intense fight.

The Silver Mane had rampaged to catch me, leaving teeth and claw marks everywhere.

Some trees weren’t just scratched—they had entire chunks torn out at the base.

“What’s with the pup?” Stella asked, her gaze fixed on the frightened young wolf I was stroking.

“Oh, this? I found it nearby. Seems like it was its cub.”

Now that I thought about it, maybe the Silver Mane had fought so desperately to protect its offspring. If not, it might have simply run away instead.

Killing a mother trying to defend her young… Yeah, that felt pretty cruel. But what could I do? A quest is a quest, and I couldn’t pass it up.

“It’s a Silver Shabel, which was thought to have disappeared long ago,” Stella noted. “A spirit beast of particular legend.”

“What kind of legend?” I asked.

“It’s tied to the legend of the First Emperor. The First Emperor is said to be the first and last person to ever raise a Silver Shabel.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

One of the heroes I faced in Leonis had been the First Emperor.

“So, is this a good omen? That I’m similar to the First Emperor?”

“…It would be nice if that were the case,” Stella replied, looking at me with eyes full of hope. “The empire desperately needs someone of that caliber right now.”

“If you’re planning to keep it, have you decided on a name?” she asked.

“I’ve got the perfect one.”

A wolf blazing with silvery light—there’s no resisting this name.

“Silver. From now on, you’re Silver.”

The illustrious—no, the legendary wolf, Silver.

A perfect name, don’t you think?

Let’s ignore the minor issue of it sharing a name with a certain manga character.