Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 66: Royal Hunting grounds (Part-6)

The monster’s fur burned like living fire, heat distorting the air around it.

A Mid-stage Earth realm beast that was fast, vicious, and infamous for ambush kills, enough to even take out a late-stage Earth realm cultivator in one sweep, too, with its surprise attacks.

But as soon as she saw it, steel flashed into Zora’s hand, her sword humming with a faint, icy gleam.

*Graaa*

The flame raccoon bared its fangs, snarling. Failing the first strike had clearly enraged it. Heat rippled violently across its fur as it lunged again—

Zora moved.

Her eyes, cold as moonlight, locked onto the charging beast.

Silver light then drew a perfect arc.

And a clean, crisp impact split the silence.

Boom!

The flaming raccoon—cocky and snarling moments earlier—lay collapsed in a heap, its body still twitching as the glow faded from its ember-like fur.

Zora’s boots touched the ground lightly.

Her sword slid once in a practiced motion, once again, and the demon crystal flicked free, still warm from the creature’s inner fire.

"Hmpf, weak..."

At her current level, a mid-stage Earth realm flame raccoon posed no threat at all.

She continued deeper into the mountain.

One beast after another lunged from bushes, branches, and shadows, but each fell in a single, precise strike. She neither wasted energy nor lingered in battle.

Mt. Philanos had long been maintained by the royal family for the hunting competition; its monsters varied in strength, but none exceeded what young participants could reasonably handle. The royals wanted excitement, not mass funerals.

Zora was aware of that, too. So, she was confident as she rode deeper and deeper...

Eventually, darkness swept over the forest like a dropped veil.

Mt. Philanos at dusk felt far more alive, yet far less welcoming for Zora. The chorus of nighttime beasts rose around her with growls, chitters, and heavy wingbeats.

"Master, it’s getting late," Black murmured. "We should rest."

Zora nodded, agreeing with the furball. "First, we find a safe spot."

Since it is nighttime when cultivators’ vision is compromised and combined with fatigue, while the monsters have perfect night vision in the dark, resting in the wrong place meant waking up inside a monster’s jaws.

Her steps were sure. Her past life’s countless wilderness trials sharpened her instincts; she could read terrain the way others read scrolls.

Black and White exchanged baffled looks. Left and right, every patch of shadow looked identical to them.

She darted through the treetops in the distance, making sure she went unnoticed.

After about half an hour, Zora stopped beneath a wide old tree whose roots formed a natural barrier.

"This will do."

Her two spirit beasts perched nearby, dutifully assuming guard positions.

"Master," Black asked in confusion, "aren’t we going to make a fire?"

Out in the forest, faint bonfires marked where other competitors had settled down for the night. They seemed Warm, bright, and inviting.

Zora’s lips curved at the suggestion.

"Fire comforts people for sure. But it also draws monsters. And curious competitors as a bonus."

The low-level beasts were particularly sensitive to flame. A bonfire was essentially a beacon shouting: "Dinner here!"

Black and White looked at her with wide, admiring eyes.

Master always had answers they never even considered.

Zora settled down, closed her eyes, and welcomed the rich, wild spiritual energy flowing through the mountain. It surged faster here than within city walls.

She sank into cultivation.

Elsewhere in the shadows...

High above the hunting grounds, unseen by any competitor, a group of observers watched through a special mirror.

"So that girl is the rumored ’waste’ of the Imperial City?" A middle-aged man in black robes leaned forward, surprise flickering in his sharp eyes. "Her talent is clearly above average—far above."

Another man, Miel, chuckled. "That Luna really miscalculated. She tried to cripple the girl and ended up embarrassing herself."

Sebastian stroked his beard. "What interests me more is that the others have all clustered together for safety. But this girl..."

He nodded toward Zora, now cross-legged and calm amidst the night beasts. "She chooses solitude without hesitation."

"For someone her age to handle the wild so naturally, her temperament is... unusual."

The observers exchanged meaningful looks.

The "waste" of the Imperial City was anything but.

*

Most contestants huddled in groups, sharing watch duty, guarding one another, relying on the comfort of numbers.

Everyone... except Zora.

Miel watched her lone silhouette in the crystal screen and let out a pleased hum. "This girl, I really like her. Aside from rogue cultivators, it’s rare to find someone this steadfast and calm in a royal hunt as if she were a veteran."

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "The officials’ children get softer every year. I thought we’d find no outstanding seedlings this time. Seems I was mistaken."

A distant cry tore through the forest.

"Help!"

"Someone—please!"

Terror dripped from every syllable.

Zora’s eyes opened. Her gaze briefly flicked toward the sound before she rose and began walking.

Black and White exchanged a knowing look.

Their master was not the type to offer charity. If she was moving, she had her reasons.

As she approached, a flickering glow pulsed against the trees—firelight.

Zora’s voice tilted with dry certainty.

"As expected."

Fire in the wilderness was a direct invitation to death. Of course, someone had drawn monsters.

Ahead, two figures—a young man and woman—were surrounded by four flame raccoons, each creature’s red pelt burning with heat like live coals.

The pair were mid-stage Earth realm warriors, capable enough to match a single raccoon, but panic had shredded their coordination. Claw marks striped their arms; their breathing was ragged.

Nigel and Rose were moments from despair.

They had never imagined lighting a fire would summon a pack.

No one had answered their earlier cries, and the monsters were closing in.

Just then, there was a rustling of movement.

A white figure appeared at the edge of the clearing.

Nigel’s eyes lit with desperate hope. "Miss! Please—help us! We’ll be forever grateful!"

But the woman in white didn’t even spare them a glance.

Zora turned away, voice feather-soft and flat with disappointment. "Tch. I thought it was the storm wolf." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Just four flame raccoons? Hardly worth slowing down for.

Rose, who had been ready to beg, froze.

Recognition struck her like ice.

It was Zora?

Hope collapsed instantly.

Even if anyone could save them, it certainly wasn’t the so-called waste of the Imperial City.

"Girl!" Nigel called again as Zora continued walking.

Rose grabbed his arm, voice bitter and hoarse. "Don’t bother, dear. Asking her is useless. Zora is nothing but a waste—she can’t help us."

Nigel’s face stiffened at Rose’s dismissive remark.

They had glimpsed hope in the jaws of death... only to discover that their "rescuer" was Zora, the woman the world called useless.

Before he could think further, one of the flame raccoons spotted Zora.

With a shrill screech, it lunged straight toward her.

"Princess Consort, be careful!" Nigel shouted instinctively.

Zora didn’t even bother turning her head.

Sensing the beast’s killing intent, her eyes sharpened. A flash of cold steel answered.

Silver light flickered.

A soft chi—

And in the next moment, the raccoon collapsed lifelessly at her heels.

Nigel and Rose froze, eyes widened in surprise.

"Good, Lord..." Both of them said in unison.