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However, Limberton’s vision was exceptional enough to discern even the subtlest differences in brightness.

Thanks to that, he could see the scene in front of him as if it were a painting in black and dark gray.

Cough.

He saw dust being pushed by a wolf’s cough, and as the wolves moved, black clouds left shapes in their wake.

Limberton cautiously followed the airflow between the wolves.

Just then, a gentle breeze swept the smoke in a dome-like hemisphere.

‘This should be the barrier, right? I estimated it to be around here.’

When he confirmed it by touch, the barrier vanished just in time.

Limberton sprayed the perfume on Silla with a hissing sound.

“W-what?”

“Shh.”

Limberton grabbed Silla’s hand and helped her up.

She complied silently, keeping her mouth shut.

After all, she probably didn’t think a wolf had grabbed her hand.

Now, all that was left was to navigate through the wolf pack, relying on the compass needle.

However, the hand holding Silla was abruptly yanked.

“Ah!”

Silla lost her balance.

Thanks to her quick footwork, she didn’t fall completely.

But her footing was poor.

She stepped on a wolf’s tail.

Grrr!

The wolf let out a fierce growl, displaying its anger towards a random direction.

The wolves, whose nerves were heightened due to the obscured vision, quickly got agitated.

The wolf wrongly accused let out a growl, which spread like an infection, turning the place into chaos.

Thud!

During the commotion, Limberton, weaving through the wolves, was pushed and dropped his compass.

‘Oh no!’

He had to escape the area.

Finding the compass amidst the raging wolves was impossible.

Moreover, the smoke had a limited duration, so there was no time to linger.

‘If I don’t want to die, I need to get out of here!’

Limberton carried Silla on his back.

He had been training his stamina.

He could somewhat handle strength-enhancing mana, albeit imperfectly, allowing him to briefly dash swiftly.

Tatata!

As he sprinted with all his might,

“Huff, huff…”

He got lost.

Limberton panted, pushing through the bushes.

His mana was depleted, and his leg muscles felt like they were tearing apart.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

Already exhausted, Silla’s irritating voice grated his nerves from behind.

“Why did it have to be you? I didn’t even know and grabbed your hand.”

Silla leaned on a crude splint made from chopped wood.

“…And whose fault do you think that is?”

When Limberton said that, Silla widened her eyes.

She hadn’t expected him to talk back.

“What?”

“If you hadn’t stepped on the tail, none of this would have happened. It’s your fault.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I injured my leg falling from a high place. It was already hurting because of your captain.”

Now she was playing the victim.

“What did Hersel do wrong? She scolded you because you beat me up.”

When he logically countered, Silla ground her teeth.

“A coward like you, talking back to me. If my leg were fine, I’d kill you.”

“Oh, really? That’s good to know.”

Limberton grumbled and quickened his pace.

From behind, Silla shouted urgently.

“Hey, hey. Slow down a bit.”

“I’m saying it’s good because I won’t have to hear your annoying voice anymore.”

Silla frowned but kept quiet.

She seemed to have realized her situation.

Limberton adjusted his pace to match hers and continued walking.

“Where are we going now? We don’t have a compass, is it okay to wander around?”

“We’re heading to higher ground. It’s safer up there. The wolves are focused on the lowlands. We just need to wait for rescue in a safe place.”

Silla’s eyes widened.

“Wait. With this leg, you’re telling me to climb a mountain?”

Limberton squinted.

“You wouldn’t need to if you had just carried the compass. Why didn’t you have it?”

“Belman took care of that stuff.”

Silla was defiant.

Limberton looked at her blankly.

The habit of dumping all troublesome tasks on others hadn’t changed.

“Don’t ask me to carry you later. You’re heavy.”

Silla flared up.

“Heavy? Do you want to die? And I don’t want to touch your disgusting back again either!”

He had heard it too many times to respond.

While pushing through the bushes, his eyes widened.

Limberton urgently grabbed Silla’s arm and threw himself to the ground.

Rustle-

Something was nearby.

***

We formed a search party of four and decided on the search direction.

The destination was higher ground.

Belman and Leana had their doubts, but I quickly convinced them.

“It’s a simple guess. Limberton would think that with the wolves focused on the lowlands, the chances of encountering them on higher ground are lowest. Besides, from a high point, it’s easier to locate the camp. Especially since he has excellent eyesight.”

But thinking it was safe was a mistake.

There was a reason why we built the fortress halfway up the mountain.

The higher ground was the most dangerous.

I asked Belman.

“How long until your mana recovers?”

“It’ll take about 30 minutes to use any effective magic.”

Perhaps understanding my question’s implication, Belman’s expression grew serious.

“So, asking that means higher ground isn’t safe?”

I nodded.

“Right. It’s where the leader resides.”

“I saw two leaders. They didn’t go to higher ground though…”

“There are three leaders in total. One must be based there, which is why you didn’t see it.”

The wolves were divided into the lowlands, midlands, and highlands.

As the mountain narrows higher up, the chance of encountering the leader is high.

Belman pondered and asked.

“That’s strange. Why didn’t that one participate in the attack?”

“I’ll explain as we go.”

The important thing was to rescue them as soon as possible.

According to Belman, Silla was injured.

Limberton was the only one able to fight.

“We’ve already wasted a lot of time. Don’t slow down.”

As we picked up the pace, Belman spoke.

“But if Limberton wins the duel, maybe…”

How optimistic.

That was the confidence of someone who could handle the tri-headed wolves alone.

If he had that much skill and the duel condition, he might win.

But Limberton…

“…can only use a bow.”

Limberton’s specs were among the lowest of playable characters.

In a world dominated by swords and magic, archery had little standing.

He was vulnerable in close combat, and his ranged attacks paled compared to magic.

He was always overlooked by players, only used as a support at best.

Even if he had trained recently, unless the blessing ‘Wind Recluse’s Grace’ manifested, he remained weak.

“And you think wolves are the biggest threat to them, but that’s a mistake.”

“Mistake?”

I glanced at Belman and explained what I had delayed.

“You asked why one leader didn’t participate in the attack.”

“Yeah.”

“The leader in the highlands was already captured.”

Belman and Leana gulped.

“Captured? By people?”

“Yes.”

It was no longer the territory of the tri-headed wolves.

That meant wolves would have been preferable.

“The highlands are likely occupied. By just four people.”

I checked the black rod.

Its blinking had quickened.

“This way.”

I hastened my pace to rescue Limberton before he encountered them.

***

Limberton covered Silla’s mouth and held his breath.

Voices of men came from beyond the bushes.

“Ugh, disgusting. Why did you pull that out after already having fun?”

“Snicker, I’m curious about what the fetus looks like.”

Hearing human voices in a crisis should have been welcome.

But not when those holding a wolf’s fetus like a toy were the ones talking.

‘Who are they…?’

Limberton frowned with caution.

Those two were known for their cruelty as executives of Lethe.

If they were discovered, things would not end well.

“Even monsters mate. What are we doing?”

“Yeah, it’s been months since we had any fun.”

“Too bad. If it were a bit bigger, it would have been fun.”

Limberton’s eyes trembled.

Another man held a fairy in his hand, mocking it as he plucked its wings.

“But it feels like we’re lost. We’re circling back. I think I saw that branch before.”

“Could it be the fairy’s curse is real?”

“Curse?”

“You know, the hunters who disappeared deep in the forest after hearing about fairies. So, it’s your fault?”

“Curse? Ew. I don’t like that.”

The man forced a smile and gently set the fairy on the ground.

“Sorry about your wings. Hope they grow back? Go back to your family.”

The fairy glanced at the man before running off.

But the man’s smile vanished, and he stomped the fairy like a bug.

Crunch.

The man dragged his foot to scrape off the blood on the dirt.

His casual disdain for life was evident.

Limberton thought hiding was the right choice.

“I knew it. You’re not capable of good deeds.”

“Hey, curses are for fools. If the trees block our path, just cut them all down.”

The two men vanished, cutting through thick trees with their swords.

Trees that would take several ax blows to fell.

Limberton broke into a cold sweat.

‘Cutting through that thickness like paper?’

When the men left, Silla pushed away Limberton’s hand from her mouth.

“How long are you going to keep it shut!”

Silla scrubbed her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Still scared of those guys, huh?”

“…You saw them swing their swords.”

“What’s so great about it? If my leg were fine, I could do that too.”

“Yeah, you’re amazing.”

Limberton moved cautiously.

“Anyway, let’s go down. This place seems more dangerous.”

“Knew it. Trusting you was foolish.”

“…Just move quietly.”

“Don’t give orders like a fool.”

Silla’s voice was filled with irritation.

Being stranded with someone she despised made her edgy.

But Limberton was equally stressed.

“Really? Forgot who saved you from the wolves?”

“The danger hasn’t changed.”

“You agreed to follow me, didn’t you? Then just be quiet.”

Silla’s emotions intensified.

“Trust you twice? You know why you’re called an idiot and why girls hate you? Because everything you do is disgusting. Even now. If you had followed the path correctly, we’d be with the unit by now.”

Listening to Silla’s rapid-fire insults, Limberton sighed, thinking, ‘I must be patient.’

“Fine. Everything I do looks foolish to you. If you want to go separately, go ahead.”

Despite her complaints, Silla followed.

Limberton thought of saying something but kept silent.

He didn’t want to waste energy arguing.

Hiss-

Just in case, he sprayed the perfume while moving.

Drip.

A drop fell from the sky.

“Rain?”

But the liquid was red.

From behind, Silla’s startled voice rang out.

“Hey, look up.”

When he lifted his head, his heart sank.

A man, shirtless and covered in blood, was perched on a tree.

“I smelled wolves and came, but it was humans.”

Wiping the blood with wolf fur, he leaped to the ground.

“Lu-Luon…?”

Unintentionally, Limberton muttered his name.

At that moment, a dull pain hit his head.

Limberton lost consciousness.

***

Splash!

Water poured over his head.

The wet sensation woke Limberton.

Whistle-

A piercing whistle sounded in his ears.

Luon put away the canteen and gestured around.

“What do you think of our base? Pretty well set up, right?”

The place was a clearing, blocked by dense trees.

Every branch held a tri-headed wolf’s corpse.

The overwhelming smell of blood made Limberton wrinkle his nose.

“What do you want?”

His hands and feet weren’t bound.

He was kidnapped, but they left him relatively free.

Luon stepped aside, revealing what he had been blocking.

“Is that girl your girlfriend?”

Limberton’s eyes widened.

Silla was chained and gagged, held by two men.

One of them licked her cheek.

“…We’re not like that. And I asked, what do you want from me? That’s why you brought me here.”

Luon replied softly.

“It’s not much. Just join our game.”

“Game?”

“Look to your left.”

Limberton turned his head.

A tri-headed wolf was chained to a tree, its heads covered in sacks, with a horn poking out.

“The leader?”

“Yes. It was there when we set up here. It seemed wasteful to kill it, so we kept it. But now we’re bored.”

Limberton understood what Luon wanted.

“…You’re not asking me to hunt it alone, are you?”

Luon smiled softly.

It seemed like a joke, but his dull eyes were serious.

As Limberton reminded himself not to relax, Luon said.

“I found this among your belongings. Interesting. Here, take it.”

He handed Limberton a bow and four arrows.

Luon explained, sounding excited, as if explaining rules.

“See the circle on the ground? That’s the wolf’s range. You go in and hunt it with the bow. Simple, right?”

“This is a game? You’re insane.”

Ignoring him, Luon pointed at Silla.

“If you want to save her, you better comply. My men are getting restless from the professors’ watch. They might go crazy without some relief.”

Despite the threat, Limberton smirked.

Even in this magical forest, professors were present.

They were likely watching to prevent students from escaping, which meant they were observing this situation too.

“Professors know what you’re doing. Stop before they send you to punishment. They could intervene any moment.”

But Luon’s words silenced him.

“Really? Then why didn’t they intervene when we brought you here?”

“…”

“As you said, they might be watching. But if it were the academy, they’d step in immediately. Why aren’t they?”

Luon blinked and gave an answer.

“Just a guess, but maybe punishment happens after we return?”

Limberton gulped.

Having no one to stop them was a different matter.

If punished after returning, it meant the crime would already be done.

If he were dead, punishing the perpetrator was pointless.

‘These guys don’t fear punishment. That’s why they’re doing this.’

What mattered to them was mere pleasure.

Luon whispered softly.

“Honestly, this situation isn’t that fun. All these things are old news. Now they feel like kids’ play. Those guys might settle for just a girl. So, if you don’t want to, you can leave. But the girl stays.”

Limberton’s ears perked up.

“…I can go?”

Luon grinned.

“Of course. I planned to let you go if you refused. Did I bind you?”

Limberton coldly replied as he retrieved his belongings.

“You misunderstand. To me, you and her are all the same.”

Limberton moved.

Two men holding Silla smirked as they overheard.

“Looks like you got dumped. Shall I comfort you?”

“You seemed gutless anyway. Let’s enjoy ourselves now.”

Silla’s eyes filled with fear.

“Mmph!”

She headbutted the man holding her face.

The man wiped his bloody nose, grinning.

“Strong, huh?”

“She seemed to hurt when we touched this leg. Wait a moment.”

Amid her rough resistance, the man grabbed her injured leg.

“Mmpph!!”

Her screams grew louder.

“Seems she likes pain?”

“Let’s start by stripping her armor.”

Tears streamed from Silla’s eyes.

Yet Limberton kept walking.

Thud.

He stopped at the line marking the wolf’s range.

Limberton drew his bow and smiled.