*Clang—*
Inside the dense forest, the sharp claws of a demonic wolf collided with the shortsword in Ron’s hand.
“What incredible strength.”
Ron didn’t forget to complain even as he barely managed to parry.
Now that the game’s suppression of negative sensations was gone, the act of blocking made his entire arm feel as sore and numb as if he had been electrocuted.
However, he couldn’t let go. That would mean the demonic wolf would strike again with a speed much faster than his own.
‘It seems I didn’t even keep my most basic levels or attributes?’
Based on Ron’s extensive gaming experience, this demonic wolf’s level would be approximately **[Level 15]** in the game.
According to the customs of the inhabitants of the Uthis Continent, it was called a **[Tier 1 demonic beast]**.
Even against a monster of this level, Ron could only passively defend. This meant there was a high probability that his level had returned to zero upon his transmigration.
“Still, don’t look down on me!”
The struggle between the man and the beast was like a tug-of-war. Ron, who had been falling back, grit his teeth and finally forced the wolf’s claws away with raw power.
“Die!”
*Awoo—*
Sword and claw separated. Ron seized the moment the wolf stumbled from being pushed back. He raised his sword and thrust it into the creature’s skull.
*Thud.*
The demonic wolf, which stood over half a person tall, collapsed to the ground. Ron closed his eyes and shook the blood off his shortsword in an action he thought looked cool and sharp.
“Whoa! Teacher, you’re amazing!”
Lifa, acting as the hype squad, clapped from the side. This demonic wolf was the first demonic beast they had encountered since entering the magic beast forest.
To test his own strength, Ron had specifically told Lifa not to intervene.
“Next, let Teacher see how much little Lifa has improved.”
Ron soaked in Lifa’s admiring gaze with great satisfaction. He hid his right hand—the webbing of which was throbbing in pain—behind his back and ruffled Lifa’s hair with his left.
‘Sigh… that wolf’s strength really was something. Fortunately, I had the boost from this **[Ascetic Shortsword]**.’
As the two prepared to continue their journey, Ron hurriedly checked the state of his right hand behind Lifa’s back. Although he wasn’t injured, his fingers and joints had begun to tremble uncontrollably.
*Thump.*
Ron, who had his head lowered, bumped into Lifa.
“Sorry… Lifa, what’s wrong?”
After apologizing, Ron saw Lifa draw her sword and take a combat stance. He immediately began to scan the surrounding dense forest as well.
“Did you not hear it, Teacher?”
“Uh… hear what?”
Ron’s voice weakened slightly. Right now, he was like a supreme master who had lost all his internal energy.
He possessed the skill experience and combat techniques, but his ordinary body was unable to utilize them effectively.
“Wolves are pack animals. While it was fighting you, that fellow was already calling for its companions.”
Lifa didn’t seem to notice the change in Ron’s expression. Instead, she looked eager to jump into the fray.
“I understand your intentions, Teacher~!”
“You created an illusion of being evenly matched with the demonic wolf so it would lure the pack here to test my current abilities!”
Ron had never realized that the usually overly simple Lifa had a talent for overthinking things. Just as he was about to say something, Lifa had already leveled her longsword.
Left foot forward, crouch, spring.
The extreme speed of her movements left Ron stunned. In the next moment, Lifa leaped into the bushes like an arrow released from a bow.
*Snap!*
A demonic wolf of even larger proportions was decapitated the moment it lunged out.
Like an elf dancing in the forest, Lifa stepped on a nearby tree trunk almost without pausing after killing her first target. She didn’t land on the ground but used the momentum to leap again.
*Crack—*
Another instant kill. Every one of Lifa’s movements seemed perfectly calculated, slaying the demonic beasts without the slightest hesitation.
“Jump Slash, Aerial Strike, Lethal Tempo…”
As the spectator of this battle, Ron called out the skills and moves Lifa was using one by one.
Although these originated from his teaching, Lifa had combined them and figured out how to use them in combat herself.
‘No, Lifa isn’t predicting… it’s pure combat instinct.’
Ron rubbed his hands together repeatedly.
Even though the level of the demonic wolves was far lower than Lifa’s, being able to turn a one-against-many fight into a perfect, one-sided slaughter was something Ron had only seen before from a friend who was a top-tier combat instructor and content creator.
‘Lifa is incredible.’
‘As expected of my original “top disciple.”‘
He didn’t forget to praise himself in his heart. Seeing that Lifa’s battle was nearing its end, Ron wanted to step forward and give her a proper compliment.
“Teacher, watch out!”
Ron noticed a moving shadow on the ground in front of him, and his vision darkened. To be more precise, a demonic wolf had already lunged into the air right above his head.
‘Crap, I can’t react.’
His body’s speed and strength couldn’t keep up with his thoughts. That sense of frustration and fear caused Ron to subconsciously close his eyes.
“Get lost! Stay away from Teacher—!”
An enraged Lifa was like a small beast whose tail had been stepped on. Just as Ron could clearly see the fur on the wolf’s claws, a flying longsword struck the demonic wolf, pinning it directly to a large tree.
“Cough, cough.”
Only then did Ron realize that, compared to the wolf pack Lifa had wiped out, the one he had barely managed to defeat earlier was probably just a cub in terms of size and strength.
‘**[Tier 2]** and **[Tier 3]**?’
After estimating the strength levels of the wolf pack in his mind, Ron suddenly felt his body become incredibly heavy.
“Teacher, are you okay?”
Lifa’s arms wrapped around Ron’s waist as she threw herself onto him from behind. Her tone was serious and full of concern.
“I’m fine. Though, little Lifa… your radiant set is poking me a bit~”
Ron scratched his head, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as he spoke. It was truly a wise decision to bring Lifa along.
Otherwise, he might have ended up in the belly of a demonic beast before those blackened, obsessive girls even found him.
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”
Lifa hurriedly let go. As she took a few steps back, she felt that her actions just now were a bit too bold and offensive.
“Mmu.”
Lifa took a rag out of her storage pendant and wiped the bloodstains off her armor.
‘I was just worried about Teacher. Teacher shouldn’t mind…’
“There’s no need to apologize for that, Lifa. On the contrary, I should be the one thanking you for saving my life.”
Recalling the events after reviewing them, Ron realized he had actually heard the sound of the ambushing wolf moving.
It was simply because his attention was entirely on Lifa that he hadn’t thought much of it, which led to that dangerous situation.
“Thank you, Lifa.”
Ron stepped forward. He wanted to provide a more tangible reward, but being destitute at the moment, he could only pat the girl’s head as usual to show his encouragement.
“Hehe~”
Fortunately, Lifa particularly enjoyed this gesture. However, just as they were about to set off again, Lifa pursed her lips hesitantly.
“Teacher…”
“Hmm? Is there something else?”
“No, nothing.”
Lifa’s small hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
In her memory, Teacher’s strength was almost unfathomable. The only point of comparison Lifa could think of was the Hero Isis, who had slain multiple Demon Kings.
Because of the massive gap in strength, knowledge, and status, Lifa had looked down on herself to some extent, constantly suppressing the special feelings born from her reliance and admiration.
But that battle just now… Even if Lifa initially thought Ron had “struggled” against the wolf earlier just to test her…
Now…
Lifa, whose pace had slowed down, was overtaken by Ron, who had been walking behind her. She watched Ron’s back, her hand on the sword hilt repeating the motion of gripping and loosening.
‘Teacher seems to have become… very weak?’
‘If that’s the case, then he truly needs me to protect him.’
‘And that would mean—’
*Gulp.*
A blush crept onto the girl’s cheeks. She shook her head vigorously before catching up to Ron’s pace.