The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 132:Scouting

Albert’s scream echoed through the fortress. "Are you fucking, kidding me?" His face twisted in horror as he looked at Kael’s so-called "team."

Standing beside Kael were just two people. One was Kael himself, grinning like a lunatic. The other was Lyria, carrying a massive bag over her shoulders as if she were heading on a long hike.

Veins bulge on Albert’s forehead. His teeth clenched. "Bastard, we aren’t going on a damn picnic!"

Kael casually rubbed his ears. "I know, man. No need to scream."

"Then why the hell are you bringing her?" Albert jabbed a finger at Lyria, who remained completely indifferent.

Kael smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Because she’s useful... Very, very useful."

Albert groaned and ran a hand down his face. There was no reasoning with Kael. With a deep sigh, he turned to introduce his own team.

"This is my team." He pointed at three figures standing behind him.

The first was a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp, wolf-like eyes and a permanent scowl. His name was Gregor, a hardened warrior who had survived countless battles. His heavy armor was scratched and dented, proof of his experience.

The second was a lean, dark-skinned man named Finn. He carried a long quiver and arrows on his back and had the sharp gaze of a hunter.

Unlike Gregor, Finn looked relaxed, but his fingers twitched near his belt, always ready to grab his dagger in an instant.

The last was a woman—Justina. She had short silver hair and an excited glint in her eyes. The moment she saw Lyria, she ran forward, grabbing her hand like an old friend.

"Uwuw... Finally! I have someone to tag along with! I don’t have to suffer with these stinky men anymore!" she wailed, nearly shaking Lyria’s arm off.

Lyria’s expression didn’t change, but her fingers twitched. She tried to shake Justina off, but the girl’s tearful puppy eyes made her pause. With an inaudible sigh, she gave up.

’It’s just a small sacrifice, Lyria. You can endure this,’ Kael whispered and walked off.

Albert pressed his palm to his forehead. He could already feel a headache forming. "This is going to be a disaster..."

Ignoring the mess, Kael followed the team as they left the fortress. The icy wind cut through his clothes, but he barely noticed. His gaze lifted, locking onto the towering mountain ahead.

Herllon Mountain.

It stretched into the sky, its white peaks blending with the silver clouds. Rumors spoke of endless hordes of monsters hiding within, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Few kilometers away, Kael heard the roaring of waves.

"A sea?"

To the right, the black northern sea churned violently. The waves rose like massive walls, crashing with an unrelenting force. It was a chaotic, endless abyss.

"Isn’t that fascinating?" Kael murmured.

Albert stood beside him, arms crossed. "Indeed."

For a moment, the raw beauty of the world stole their breath. Then Albert scoffed. "You’ll get bored soon enough. No... You’ll want to break it." With that, he turned and walked toward the mountain.

Kael chuckled and followed. "Since anything can pop out at any moment, stay alert," Albert warned.

"Ugh, I’m not sure whether I’m trembling because of the cold or fear," Justina muttered, hugging herself. "Everything looks dangerous..."

Kael smirked. "I don’t sense anything yet."

"R-really?"

"Yes."

Albert suddenly stopped, pointing at the snow-covered ground. "You see those footprints? Tell me what it is." His tone was cold, testing.

Kael crouched, staring at the tracks. Albert wanted to humiliate him, prove he was a reckless idiot. But Kael just grinned.

He ran his fingers across the snow, feeling the slight dip, the subtle pattern left behind. "Large beast. At least seven feet tall. Heavy, but fast. Clawed feet, which means it’s a predator. Given the spacing, it’s been hunting for something."

Albert’s eyes narrowed. "...Go on."

Kael stood up, brushing the snow off his gloves. "Judging by the depth, it passed through recently. Maybe an hour ago. And judging by the small splashes of ice shards... it wasn’t alone." He licked his lips. "It was hunting in a pack."

Albert’s expression darkened. He had expected Kael to blurt out nonsense. Instead, the bastard had read the tracks like a damn book.

Kael turned to him, his grin widening. "What’s wrong, young man? Disappointed?"

Albert clicked his tongue and looked away. "...Let’s move."

The air was thick with tension as the group advanced through the snow-covered forest. Their footsteps crunched lightly against the frozen ground, but the silence was unsettling.

Albert eyed Kael and Lyria movements and couldn’t help but frown.

Both of them moved with ghost-like movements and their steps barely made a sound.

Gregor and Finn stayed close, their eyes darting between the trees, searching for any sign of movement. Justina walked beside Lyria, still buzzing with excitement despite the danger. Kael, as usual, looked completely unbothered, as if he were strolling through a marketplace instead of hostile territory.

Albert led from the front, stopping occasionally to check the surroundings. The footprints Kael had identified were getting fresher. Whatever left them wasn’t far.

Finn suddenly raised a hand, signaling them to stop. Everyone froze. His rifle was already in his hands, aimed at a distant ridge. "Movement," he muttered.

Albert squinted. A shadow flickered between the trees. Then another. Then five more.

A low growl echoed through the cold air. The ground trembled slightly.

Gregor unsheathed his massive claymore, his grip tightening. "Here we go..."

From behind the ridge, the creatures emerged. Massive wolf-like beasts with ice-covered fur, their eyes glowing an eerie blue. Their breath came out in frosty puffs, and their claws gleamed like razors.

Kael’s grin widened. "Oh? Icefang Wolves?" He licked his lips. "Haven’t killed these in a while."

Albert shot him a glare. "Take this seriously."

The pack leader stepped forward, larger than the rest. It let out a deep snarl, and as if on command, the entire pack surged forward.

Finn fired first. His arrow cracked through the silence, and a wolf staggered back, blood staining the snow. But it didn’t go down. The ice coating its fur had absorbed most of the impact.

"Damn it, their hide’s thick!" Finn cursed.

Gregor didn’t hesitate. He charged, his claymore sweeping through the air. A wolf lunged at him, but he met it head-on, cleaving through its body with raw power.

Blood sprayed across the snow.

Lyria moved like a shadow. A wolf leaped at her, but she spun gracefully, dodging its fangs with minimal effort. With a flick of her wrist, her dagger found its throat. She didn’t even blink as the beast collapsed.

Justina, despite her earlier excitement, cursed under her breath as she parried a wolf’s attack with her twin daggers. "I hate wolves!"

Kael? He just stood there, watching, as if this was all entertainment.

Albert was done with him. "Kael, move!"

Kael finally sighed. "Fine, fine."

A wolf lunged at him, fangs bared. He tilted his head slightly, dodging it at the last second. Then, with one smooth motion, he reached out—and grabbed its throat.

The beast yelped, struggling, but Kael’s grip was like iron. He stared into its glowing blue eyes, his own gaze flickering with something unhinged. "Pretty eyes," he murmured. Then he snapped its neck like it was nothing.

Albert felt a chill crawl down his spine. This guy..."

More wolves emerged, their howls piercing the night.

Albert tightened his grip on his sword. "Brace yourselves. This is just the start."