Exiled Prince and His Succubus Army-Chapter 40: Thank you for saving me

Morning came with a pale layer of light settling over the town, slipping through thin curtains and waking the three who shared the same routine by now. Renji rose first, stretching his arms once before checking his equipment. Aya was next, quiet and efficient as always, tightening straps and adjusting the small pouch where she kept her things. Kaede walked out last, still tying her hair back as she joined them at the table for a quick breakfast.

Nothing about the morning felt unusual until Rei approached them.

She stepped into the room wearing a determined look, her hands clasped tightly together. "I want to come with you today," she said.

Renji paused mid-bite. Kaede blinked once, slow and visibly skeptical. Aya looked up from her food with a soft movement of her eyes.

All three of them took a second to process it.

"You want to... come hunting?" Renji asked.

Rei nodded. "Yes. I want to go too."

Kaede leaned back slightly, studying her. "You do know we’re not going to the shallow parts of the forest."

"I know." Rei swallowed once and added, "I won’t get in the way."

Aya gave a small nod toward Renji, leaving the decision to him. He inspected Rei for a brief moment, then stood and grabbed his sword.

"Alright," he said. "Stay behind us and don’t wander."

Rei lit up with relief and confidence all at once. "Thank you. I’ll do exactly that."

With that, the four of them headed out.

They followed a familiar trail at first, one they had taken many times. Birds scattered above them, and the grass dampened the sound of their steps. The deeper they went, the more the air changed. The greenery grew denser, the smell of earth thicker, and distant sounds echoed from parts of the forest they usually avoided. This time, they did not turn away.

Renji led, Aya walked just beside him, Kaede stayed slightly behind, and Rei trailed closely, clutching the dagger she carried even though her hand shook lightly around the handle.

When they crossed into the deeper region, the attack happened almost instantly.

The trees around them rustled with heavy pressure, and four hulking shapes stepped out from different angles. Their forms were massive, towering over any normal beast. Blue fur rippled over their frames, long and coarse like cold steel fibers. Their fangs hung past their lower jaws, thick and curved. Their eyes, however, were the most unsettling thing about them. No pupils, no retinas, nothing but blank, pale surfaces.

"Those are dead beasts," Kaede muttered, her voice low. "Be careful."

The bears circled them with slow, grinding steps.

Renji pointed toward two of them. "Leave those two to me. I need them for the quest."

Rei took several steps back, visibly overwhelmed by the sheer pressure coming from the creatures

Renji didn’t hesitate. The moment he got acknowledgment from Kaede and Aya, he dashed forward toward his first target.

The nearest bear let out a guttural, choking roar and lunged with surprising speed for something so large. Renji met its charge with his blade. The impact shook through his arms, but he managed to redirect the swipe. The bear followed with another attack, forcing him to duck under its swing. Its claws carved through the soil, leaving deep gouges.

He circled around it quickly and slashed its legs, then jumped away before it could retaliate. The creature snapped toward him with its massive fangs, barely missing his arm. Renji drove his sword upward and caught its jaw from below, pushing the head back long enough to reposition.

The beast tried to crush him under its weight, rearing onto its hind legs, but Renji slid aside the moment it landed. His blade flashed again and again, cutting into its side. The bear growled, its blank eyes unfocused yet aggressive in every movement.

With a final step inward, Renji swung his sword across its neck. The strike tore through muscle and bone. The bear convulsed once, then fell with a heavy thud that shook the ground beneath them.

A soft, metallic chime echoed in front of Renji’s vision.

[Secret Quest: kill 10 Giant Monsters]

[Progress: 9/10]

He exhaled once, but he barely had time to process the message.

Another roar blasted from his right.

The second blue bear had turned from the formation and gone straight for Rei.

Rei froze, her dagger raising only halfway, fear locking her in place. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Renji didn’t think. He sprinted with speed that startled even Kaede and Aya. He reached Rei right as the bear’s claws swung down. He slammed his shoulder into the creature with all the force he had. The collision emitted a loud, violent crack of impact.

The bear staggered back several steps.

Rei stumbled, caught herself, and stared at him, wide-eyed.

Kaede’s brows shot up. Aya blinked once, impressed.

Renji stepped in front of Rei, raising his sword. "Stay back."

The bear recovered quickly and lunged again. Renji sidestepped the charge and slashed at its ribs. The blade skidded across the thick fur and muscle but dug in enough to make the creature recoil. It spun and swung a massive paw at him. Renji blocked with the flat of his sword, but the force pushed him back several steps.

He steadied himself and closed in again, aiming for the bear’s head this time. The bear swung downward, and Renji avoided the blow, but the claws grazed his side. A sharp sting ran across his ribs.

Kaede hissed under her breath. "Renji."

"It’s nothing," he called back.

The cut wasn’t deep, but it burned with every movement.

The bear snapped its jaws toward him, but Renji stepped inside the attack and brought his sword down toward the base of its skull. The blow cut deep. The bear shook violently, trying to throw him off, but Renji pulled the blade free and struck again, this time across the side of its head.

The creature gave a final roar, one that dissolved halfway through as its body collapsed onto the dirt.

A bright wave of system text appeared again.

[Secret Quest: kill 10 Giant Monsters]

[Progress: 10/10, Complete]

[Reward granted: Appraisal Eyes.]

Renji glanced at the notification as lines of description scrolled across his view.

[Appraisal Eyes:]

[Allows user to see abilities and power levels of individuals.

Allows detection of some illusions of lower rank.

Skill improves as user level increases.]

He blinked once as the words faded away.

Kaede and Aya had already finished the remaining beasts on their side. They stepped over the bodies calmly, brushing stray fur and dust from their clothes as they approached.

Rei stood still at first, staring at the four fallen monsters sprawled across the clearing. Her gaze traveled from Renji to Kaede to Aya, taking in the aftermath. The neat precision in Kaede’s strikes, Aya’s controlled movements, Renji’s strength and speed. All three of them looked calm, capable, and composed.

Rei held her dagger loosely, realizing her hands were shaking.

She remembered what Renji had told her before, the promise he made that she could get strong too if she joined his harem, that she would eventually be able to fight like them.

She stepped closer, looked up at him, and without thinking twice, wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you," she said, her voice small but clear. "For saving me."