As the knight walking in front opened the exit on the opposite side, the rusty iron door moved, making a chilling sound. Ibnel stepped into the space beyond with a bit of tension.

“This is……”

Though there was lighting, the overall dark space had iron bars divided like prisons on both sides, stretching all the way to the end. It looked like cages to confine magical beasts.

Even though three people had entered, the interior was terrifyingly quiet. At the same time, a heavy air that felt suffocating filled the space.

Ibnel naturally became vigilant, perhaps due to the aura of magical beasts surrounding her. Even though she knew they wouldn’t harm her, it felt like the beasts might burst through those iron bars from the darkness at any moment.

‘Calm down.’

For now, she tried to relieve this tension by taking deep breaths.

Davian too was busy looking around, seemingly scared by the presence of magical beasts. But since they weren’t immediately visible, there was also a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

“Please do not make loud noises here. It could agitate the magical beasts. Of course, don’t approach the iron bars, and don’t open the doors recklessly. I’ll give you about 30 minutes to look around. I’ll wait here.”

After the knight finished giving a few warnings, Ibnel looked at Davian and said,

“Shall we go inside then?”

“Yes.”

She took the lead and walked, with Davian carefully following behind. The only sound in that vast space was the footsteps of the two people.

As the knight had advised, they arrived at the first cage while maintaining an appropriate distance. The inside of the iron bars, which were so densely packed that not even a finger could fit through, was dark and hard to see.

“Are there really magical beasts in here? I can’t see anything.”

As if he had already forgotten the knight’s warning, Davian tried to approach to get a closer look, and Ibnel hurriedly reached out to stop him.

“You mustn’t get close.”

“But it seems empty here……”

Before he could finish speaking, something crashed into the bars with tremendous force, making a huge noise. At the same time, a growling sound was heard, threatening them.

Davian was greatly startled by the huge teeth and claws visible between the bars. Soon after, when he met the glowing eyes in the darkness, he hurriedly hid behind Ibnel.

In contrast, Ibnel calmly faced the magical beast. She could recognize its identity as soon as she saw the familiar form. It was the same magical beast she had first encountered in Caries.

“It’s a Nelang.”

“A Nelang?”

Davian, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, peeked out from behind her and asked. Ibnel gave a detailed explanation about the Nelang.

“It’s characterized by its huge body and sharp claws. They mainly inhabit the plains area in the south of Caries. They run at incredibly fast speeds.”

As she continued her explanation about the magical beast without hesitation, Davian listened as if entranced.

‘This is a completely opposite situation from back then.’

Unlike the past when she had desperately fled for her life, Ibnel felt a new sense of emotion seeing the magical beast helplessly confined in a cage.

As she calmly gazed at it without any sign of fear, the growling sound gradually decreased, as if overwhelmed by her aura. But its eyes still showed strong vigilance.

“How does it feel? You need to get used to facing magical beasts up close.”

At those words, Davian gathered his courage and looked straight at the magical beast, but the moment he met its flashing eyes, he immediately turned his head away.

Being this close only made him think of how frightening it was, reminding him of when he was attacked on the street before.

“It still seems difficult. I’m still scared.”

“Can you see the core?”

“Yes, in the left foreleg.”

Ibnel nodded as she discovered the glowing core where she pointed.

“We need to identify and report the location of the core as quickly as possible in any chaotic situation. As detailed as possible. We can only completely cut off the magical beast’s lifeline by eliminating that core.”

She also emphasized that they should be prepared for situations where multiple magical beasts attack at once. She wanted to convey everything she had experienced to her, no matter how trivial.

“It’s really amazing. That only I can see that.”

“I felt the same at first. Shall we move on to another place?”

Ibnel gave sufficient explanation and moved towards the inside.

Her tension about visiting this place for the first time had already disappeared, and she felt excited about what kind of magical beasts might be there. It felt completely different seeing them in person rather than just pictures and words in books.

She stopped in front of cages with magical beasts, first identifying the location of the core, then continuing her explanations repeatedly. Davian’s reactions of surprise or confusion had noticeably decreased compared to earlier.

Perhaps because she clearly recognized that this place was safe, there was a slight hint of boredom in her expression at Ibnel’s explanations.

The fact that those huge and terrifying magical beasts would die helplessly if just their tiny core was attacked made her confidence swell. As if she had gained invincible power herself.

“By the way, how do you know so much about magical beasts, Ibnel?”

“After going on subjugations, I realized that knowing the characteristics of magical beasts is very helpful. So I’m still studying diligently even now. It’s also more interesting than I thought.”

“Should I do that too?”

“Davian’s will is most important, but I think it would be good if you did. It will definitely be of great help, just as it was for me. They say you see as much as you know, right?”

Davian didn’t readily understand those words. Since magical beasts die if you just attack their core anyway, isn’t this ability alone enough? He wondered if there was really a need to go that far.

In her eyes, it seemed like unnecessary effort.

Perhaps because the inside of the cages was half empty, they soon arrived at the last iron bars at the very back. But what was inside wasn’t the huge and scary magical beasts they had seen so far.

“That’s.”

Davian also showed immediate interest.

Two perked-up ears, fluffy golden fur, and four adorable paws, its appearance reminiscent of a cat. However, the long tail split into two at the end proved it was a magical beast.

Overall, far from intimidating, it was so lovable it automatically made you smile.

“It’s cute.”

As Davian met its gaze as if entranced, the magical beast rubbed its face with its front paws, openly acting coy.

“What is that?”

“It’s a magical beast called a Nyabi.”

“Nyabi, even the name is cute.”

Ibnel fully understood Davian’s reaction. If she didn’t know anything either, she would have immediately fallen for that face too. But knowing the real face hidden behind it, she felt uneasy instead.

At that moment, as Davian continued to show interest, the Nyabi approached right up to the bars and stared at her with clear eyes shining.

That appearance was enough to stimulate human sympathy. A small creature that looked vulnerable, alone in this dark and desolate place.

“It’s pitiful. Being confined like this when it’s so small, and unlike other magical beasts, it’s not trying to attack. Doesn’t it seem harmless? Can’t we just let it go?”

“Absolutely not. Even if it looks like that, a magical beast is still a magical beast. And it’s probably the most difficult to deal with among the magical beasts here. That’s why it’s kept in the innermost part. Don’t be fooled by that face.”

As if Ibnel’s voice could no longer be heard, Davian couldn’t take his eyes off the Nyabi inside the iron bars for even a moment.

‘Yes, that’s how it must have lured and devoured countless people.’

Perhaps that magical beast’s greatest weapon was its innocent and cute face. Who could imagine that it was after your life with a face that looked like it couldn’t hurt even an ant?

And there was another reason why its small body shouldn’t be underestimated.

“The characteristics of a Nyabi are……”

“Time is up.”

Just then, the knight guarding the entrance approached the two, and Ibnel decided to return since she had already looked around once. Davian must have also had a good experience seeing various types of magical beasts in person. He should have also realized that he shouldn’t let his guard down.

“We’ll leave now. Let’s go, Davian. I’ll explain as we walk.”

“Okay.”

As Davian got up to follow her, he finally stopped at the pitiful cry from behind. The Nyabi was looking at him with tearful eyes.

As if asking to be taken out of this terrible place.

‘I can’t leave it like this after all.’

She placed her hand on the locking mechanism that could be pulled sideways to open in front of the huge iron door. The knight’s warning not to open it under any circumstances and Ibnel’s explanation not to be fooled had already disappeared from her mind.

She only thought that she had to save that poor creature.

‘Yes, such a small child. Ibnel might be mistaken.’

Having made up her mind, Davian slowly pulled the locking mechanism to the side.

“The reason why Nyabi is difficult to deal with is because it has a very unique property……”

Ibnel was continuing her explanation when she belatedly noticed that Davian wasn’t following, and turned back in bewilderment. And surprisingly, Davian was unlocking the mechanism and opening the door.

“No!”

By the time she said that, it was already too late. The Nyabi that sprang out at high speed violently pushed Davian aside and came out of the cage.

Ibnel quickly drew her gun and pulled the trigger towards the magical beast, but the Nyabi dodged the attack with nimble movements. The bullet that missed its target hit the wall with a loud noise, and at that sound, the confined magical beasts all started to rampage at once.

The tremor shaking the entire building made it difficult to even stand.

‘This is bad.’

The face of the Nyabi, now free, was filled with ferocity that looked ready to devour everything in sight, instead of innocence. Its round eyes were stretched horizontally, and long, sharp claws grew from its four paws.

“So that’s its true form.”

Ibnel took her stance and aimed her gun at the rapidly approaching magical beast, but suddenly it moved along the iron bars, making it impossible to attack. She had to prevent the worst-case scenario of other magical beasts escaping if the locking mechanisms were damaged.

At that moment, the Nyabi changed its target and rushed towards the knight with its claws extended, and caught off guard by the sudden situation, he instinctively drew his sword.

“Don’t use the sword!”

At her cry, the knight seemed to realize something and made an ‘oh no’ expression, but it was already too late. At that moment, the magical beast’s eyes flashed and it rushed forward with a fierce momentum without slowing down. Precisely, towards the blade of the sword that looked like it could cut with just a graze.

It happened in an instant, and the Nyabi’s right front leg was severed by the sword.

You might not understand this self-harming behavior, but that was exactly what the magical beast was aiming for.

‘The situation I was most worried about has happened.’

Then, a very surprising event unfolded before Ibnel’s eyes.

The Nyabi’s leg, dripping with blood, grew back and soon regained its original form. At the same time, the severed right front leg rapidly increased in size, and as if cells were regenerating, it was returning to its complete form.

She could only stare blankly at the horrifying and chilling sight.

Davian too was shocked at the scene he was witnessing for the first time. The magical beast that had been one had instantly multiplied into two.

“This is why I warned you so much.”

The characteristic of the magical beast called Nyabi was that it could multiply through severed parts. Unless the core was accurately attacked, there was no limit to their numbers. That meant one could increase to dozens or even hundreds.

Moreover, befitting its cunning nature that lures people, it could throw itself at something that would cut its body when its life was threatened. Just like the situation moments ago.

That’s why when dealing with this magical beast, it was absolutely forbidden to use swords or sharp weapons.

The two Nyabis disappeared through the door that the knight had opened to leave, as if mocking Ibnel’s dismayed expression.