At the southeastern edge of the Rudais Kingdom, right beside a vast and mysterious jungle called Rue Forest, lies a small village named Raven. Surrounded by natural beauty, this village felt like a nest of peace, where distant mountains stood cloaked in clouds and the morning mist wrapped the land in a magical hush.
Although the dark depth of Rue Forest filled the villagers with age-old tales and quiet fear, daily life continued with habitual rhythm and quiet simplicity. It was September of the year 1862, and the evening sun painted the sky with the flaming hue of crimson.
In the field, a woman named Jubia Renar was harvesting the last crops of autumn with great care and effort.
From afar, a child's voice rang out, "Mother... it's evening now, please come home!"
Hearing her son's tender voice, Jubia called back with a smile, "Coming right away."
She lifted the bundle of paddy onto her back and walked slowly toward the house, every step carrying both the weight of the day and the warmth of love. Placing the bundle in a corner of the house's veranda, she then grabbed a handful of dry straw and fed the cattle in their shed.
Next, she went to feed the goats and began tending to each of the animals in their care. Their farm was home to various domestic animals—horses, cows, goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, and more.
With a metal bucket in hand, Jubia moved toward a cow and began milking it, each stream of milk symbolizing the steady, essential rhythm of rural life. After milking, she set the bucket down in the kitchen and then went to take a bath, a part of her daily routine after a long day's work.
By the time all the chores were complete, night had fully arrived, but Jubia, not yet resting, poured two handfuls of rice into a hand mill and began to grind. After washing the rice, she set it to cook on the clay stove, ensuring her family would end the day with a warm meal.
After some time, she stepped outside and called out, "Ken, come eat, dinner is ready."
At her call, a nine-year-old boy named Ken Renar came running from his room, accompanied by a lovely dog named Tom.
Jubia's house was made entirely of wood, crafted in the traditional rural style. She and her son Ken sat together at a dining table made of bamboo and wood, upon which a variety of delicious dishes were carefully arranged.
The meal included thick curry, a fluffy egg omelette, a bowl of salad with tomatoes, onions, and chilies, crispy fried fish, steamed rice, various types of greens and vegetables, and a warm glass of milk.
The dining room had wooden walls and a small window through which one could see outside, where under the full moon, the village was glowing with a serene and magical light.
As Ken reached for his food, Jubia gently tapped his hand with her own and softly said, "Before eating, we must always thank God."
With those words, she slowly folded her hands, closed her eyes, and began silently praying to God in gratitude for the food before them. Her expression and demeanor clearly revealed that she was a devout and deeply faithful woman who felt the presence of the divine in every part of her life.
Inspired by his mother, Ken also folded his hands, closed his eyes, and quietly began to pray, learning through silent examples.
Seeing both of them, the dog Tom, who sat beside them, lowered his head and half-closed his eyes, imitating their posture, although he did not quite understand what was happening. Yet from his behavior, it was clear that he was a clever animal, capable of watching and learning from the humans he lived with.
After the prayer ended, the mother, son, and their dog began eating together, forming a perfect moment of familial warmth under the full moon's light.
Suddenly, in the middle of their meal, the sound of a gentle meowing echoed through the room, and a lovely cat entered their home. Its face bore a mix of hunger and affection, and the way it circled their feet showed it was dinner time for it too.
Meowing softly, the cat rubbed its body against Jubia's legs, asking without words for a share. Smiling, Jubia took a piece of fried fish from the plate and offered it to the cat, who began devouring it happily, as if this home was its true and beloved place.
After dinner, Jubia and Ken quietly went to their room to sleep.
As they lay in bed, Ken turned to his mother and innocently asked, "Mom, where have all the older brothers of the village gone?"
Jubia looked at him and gently replied, "They've gone to become hunters."
Ken looked up again and asked, "What are hunters, Mom?"
Jubia stroked his head lovingly and said in a soft voice, "Hunters are those who kill terrifying monsters and protect people like us. You already know about monsters, don't you?"
Ken silently listened, eyes fixed on her face.
Jubia continued, "Under the leadership of our king, Ren Ruhad the Third, a special team of hunters has been formed. The king has given them modern and powerful weapons so they can kill the monsters."
A spark of awe and wonder lit up in Ken's eyes.
Excited by this, Ken exclaimed, "Mom, I want to become a hunter too when I grow up. I'll defeat the monsters and save people too!"
Hearing such an innocent determination, Jubia smiled gently and kept looking at her son, as if seeing a dream take shape in his eyes.
Then she said softly, "If you want to be a hunter, you'll have to work very hard. You must practice every day and make yourself strong. Do you understand?"
Ken nodded in agreement, ready to take the first steps toward his new dream.
As night faded into dawn, a soft light began to spread, and the birds started to chirp. Jubia woke up, completed her morning chores, fed the cows and goats, then the ducks and chickens. Wrapping a cloth around her head, she slowly made her way toward the field.
Meanwhile, Ken, still lost in his dream, picked up a small piece of wood from the corner of the house and began to practice with it like a sword. In his young imagination, he had already become a brave hunter who would one day defeat terrifying monsters.
Ten years had passed. It was now the year 1872. Through the depths of Rue Forest, in the dead of night, an advanced military vehicle sped toward a distant village named Lerd. The authorities had received news that a group of wild hyenas had suddenly transformed into monsters and attacked the villagers.
To eliminate this threat and save the village, a special team of hunters was dispatched. Inside the vehicle were eight hunters, one of whom was Ken Renar, now nineteen years old. Ken sat with his head lowered, caught in a whirl of fear and determination. He had spent ten years training day and night to become a hunter.
Lifting his head, he looked at the other hunters seated inside. At the front, seated behind the wheel, were two hunters Thomas and Maya. Maya was the captain of this team, responsible for its formation and leadership. Behind them sat five other hunters along with Ken. Kevin, Steve, Relar, Sylvia, and Xi.
Among the eight, three were newly recruited Ken, Relar, and Xi. Though they lacked experience, their eyes shone with hope, grit, and fire. But Ken's body trembled; he could not summon courage easily.
Only one thing echoed in his mind, his mother's words: "One day, you'll become a hunter and save the world from monsters."
Suddenly, Kevin spoke from the back in an annoyed tone, "How much longer? We've been driving forever..."
Thomas, seated at the wheel, turned slightly and replied, "Just 15 more minutes. We'll reach Lerd soon."
The other hunters in the back began talking among themselves in low voices.
Exactly fifteen minutes later, the vehicle, racing through the forest trail, arrived at the Lerd village. Where an unknown and bloody night awaited them.
Lerd was a small village nestled beside the northern mountains, with a total population of only one hundred people. Located on the northernmost edge of the Rudais Kingdom, the village often faced mountain rain and stream floods during monsoon. The group of hunters arrived at this distant place in their transport vehicle.
One by one, the hunters stepped out of the vehicle. They were armed with modern rifles, gleaming swords, and some magical weapons powered by energy and enchantments. Their battle suits were specially crafted for this mission. Some had bows hanging from their belts, others prepared their battle staff as they began to take position.
The team was led by Captain Maya and Vice-Captain Thomas.
With a firm voice, Thomas said, "Take your positions now." His tone carried the weight of leadership.