Alice walked beside Aaron and said thoughtfully,

"Aaron, do you know how rare element-infused bones are? Even if they're found, they're sold at extremely high prices, starting from 500 gold coins. These weapons are scarce and can only be crafted using special techniques. Fortunately, Uncle Kolo is one of the few who possess such skill. In all of Verdia Kingdom, there are fewer than ten people capable of this kind of craftsmanship."

Aaron was stunned by her words.

He replied,

"Miss Alice, this is the first time I've encountered something so extraordinary. The creature I faced was a spider, much larger than any ordinary one. I tossed a barrel into the fire, and it turned out the spider was resting inside. Even after its body was fully burned, it still had a terrifying life force and ferocity unlike anything I've ever seen."

"It looked like a monster from hell. Killing it wasn't too difficult, but the mental fatigue it left behind… I've never dealt with anything like that before."

He paused, then asked sincerely,

"Can you tell me more about monsters in Verdia Kingdom? I'd be truly grateful."

Alice thought for a moment, then replied,

"Well, monsters are classified too. From what I've read, they're divided into six main types."

She continued with a calm, instructive tone,

"Let me give you a brief overview of each."

"Beast-type monsters: These are often based on real animals but are enhanced in size, strength, or aggression. Creatures like giant spiders, wolves, and serpents fall into this category."

"Elemental monsters: Infused with elemental powers such as fire, wind, or lightning. Gale Wolves, for example, carry wind attributes and can manipulate air currents."

"Undead monsters: Reanimated corpses or spirits, commonly appearing during the last day of each month."

"Demonic or infernal monsters: These beings possess high intelligence and terrifying power, often commanding lesser monsters."

"Mythical beasts: Rare and legendary creatures like phoenixes, hydras, or dragons. They're tied to ancient lore and are extremely difficult to defeat, even for seasoned warriors."

"Hybrid monsters: Mutations or magical combinations of multiple species. Examples include wolf-orca hybrids or spider-humanoids, creatures with unpredictable abilities and forms."

"Of all six types," Alice continued, "the Undead and Demonic, or Infernal, monsters are the most recently added to the classification."

"Undead monsters appear on the last day of each month, emerging from mysterious red portals. No one knows where these portals come from, but their timing is disturbingly precise."

"As for Demonic or Infernal monsters, they've only appeared once in the history of Verdia Kingdom, two hundred years ago."

Her voice grew quieter.

"That event is still feared to this day. Nearly half the population of Verdia Kingdom was wiped out. Entire cities were reduced to ash."

"There are evil cults, dark groups that worship forbidden powers. Whenever they're discovered, they're eliminated without mercy. These cultists possess the ability to summon creatures from other dimensions… and that's what led to the catastrophe."

Alice paused, then patted her forehead and said,

"Ah! I almost forgot about the question you asked."

"Some Beast-type monsters, especially those of Tier 2 and above, have inherent abilities that allow them to enhance their speed, defense, and, though rare, their attack power."

"These traits make them incredibly difficult to kill. Their bodies adapt mid-battle, and unless you know their weakness or have overwhelming force, they can wear you down quickly."

Aaron had a thoughtful look on his face.

He murmured to himself,

"So they're monsters within monsters… layered threats hidden beneath brute strength. I'll have to remember this. It might be useful in the future."

Aaron stepped onto the training ground, slipping on the leather gloves.

It was time to test the bow.

With calm confidence, he said,

"Miss Alice, please tell me the target. I'll shoot them down for you."

Alice felt her heart skip a beat at his composed tone.

She pointed toward the farthest dummy and said,

"Aaron, since you're so confident… aim for the farthest one."

Without hesitation, Aaron drew the bow and released the string, without even aiming.

The moment the arrow left the bow, a sharp whistling sound filled the air, followed by a small explosion. 

Looking closer, they realized the arrow had detonated mid-air, scattering fragments.

Aaron scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"Miss Alice… I think I'll need another arrow to actually hit the target."

Before she could respond, he had already drawn and fired again.

This time, the arrow struck the dummy cleanly, embedding deep into its core.

Alice stood frozen, her mouth slightly open.

The arrow Aaron had used was just a wooden one, yet it had pierced the target with precision and force.

She realized in that moment:

Aaron's mastery over the bow was far beyond anything she had imagined.

From the shadows, Kolo watched silently.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

This young boy had just hit the farthest dummy with an ordinary arrow.

Even seasoned archers struggled with that feat.

Kolo felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He had entrusted the bow to someone truly worthy.

And now, he was certain,

Aaron's talent for archery was terrifying.

Aaron turned to Alice and said with quiet confidence,

"Miss Alice, I've fulfilled my promise. Now, I'll start getting familiar with the arrows I'll be using."

Alice closed her mouth, a smile forming on her lips.

"Aaron, you'll have to guide me in archery now."

Aaron nodded.

"Of course."

Meanwhile, Duke Alaric had already dispatched Gloden from the castle.

He was growing uneasy, his daughter spending so much time with Aaron didn't sit well with him.

By chance, he arrived at the training ground and witnessed Aaron's archery firsthand.

He saw the bow, an extraordinary weapon that required Knight-level strength to wield.

And Aaron had handled it with ease.

In that moment, Duke Alaric understood:

Aaron was a genius Knight, his strength already rivaling that of the Second Prince.

No matter how he looked at it, he felt Aaron was destined to win his daughter's hand.

And suddenly, a wave of regret washed over him.

Sending Aaron to Green Fort… had that been a mistake?

If given another chance, he might have assigned him to a safer territory, perhaps even kept him closer.

With a look of melancholy on his face, Duke Alaric quietly retreated, lost in thought.

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