“I’m saying… are we really going through with this?”
At that moment, Moray was standing at the edge of the dense forest.
Beside him was a thin man wearing a mask that obscured his face.
“What, you still have no backbone after being looked down on like that?” the masked man sneered.
“It’s just some hot-blooded brat who charged into the Northern Wastelands Forest. Think about it—those two dying in here is actually a pretty normal thing, isn’t it?”
“You mean…”
Moray’s expression shifted slightly as he looked toward the old friend standing beside him.
It had been a long time since they last met.
They had originally arranged to take this mission together through letters, using it as a chance to catch up.
But he hadn’t expected the mission to be this difficult—or for things to turn out this way.
When Moray told his old comrade what had happened, the man insisted they come after the others.
At first, Moray had doubts, but now everything was starting to make sense.
“If no one would question them dying in the forest… then we might as well just…”
His eyes lit up.
That arrogant brat had been rubbing him the wrong way from the beginning—especially when he claimed to be better than the “big oaf” standing next to him.
If they hadn’t been inside the Adventurer’s Guild back then, Moray would’ve already drawn his sword and taken the brat’s head off.
Moray had earned his reputation not just through strength, but also through ruthless determination.
He was merciless to monsters—and just as merciless to people.
If that kid had just stayed hidden in the town, he could’ve lived.
But stepping into the forest? That was asking to die.
Moray hadn’t had the thrill of slicing off someone’s head in a long time—that burst of blood, the moment of silence before the body hits the ground.
It made his heart race.
‘And now? The perfect opportunity.’
‘Kill the brat, and while they’re at it… take the girl’s money too.’
The thought alone made a savage smile creep across his face, eager to see that kid’s head roll.
As for the masked man beside him, he didn’t seem nearly as worked up.
A faint smile tugged at his lips, as if he didn’t care at all about what Moray was saying.
He had only one goal in mind…
***
As they delved deeper into the forest, Li Xian didn’t feel much of anything.
But Sara was growing more and more uneasy.
Everyone in the Roland Empire knew how dangerous the Northern Wastelands Forest was.
According to legend, deep within its heart, there were even beings whose power surpassed the “Transcendent” level.
And what did it mean to go beyond Transcendent?
It meant entering the realm of legends—beings so powerful they were practically myths.
Across the entire continent, those known to have reached this “Legendary” level could be counted on one hand.
Even her parents, with all their strength, would stand no chance if they ever encountered a Legendary beast.
It would be a death sentence.
However, they were just passing through the forest—surely their luck wouldn’t be that bad, right?
Besides, it was just a legend.
Whether it was even real was still up for debate.
Although she kept telling herself that, Sara still couldn’t shake off the uneasiness in her heart.
Especially with the recent rumors of demons appearing in the area…
“Don’t worry! I told you, I’m really strong,” Li Xian said, noticing her anxiety.
He gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
“Mm…” Sara nodded slightly, but the fear in her heart didn’t subside much.
After all, Li Xian looked far too young.
Even she had some idea of how much power someone his age could really have.
She just hoped her luck would hold, and that they wouldn’t run into any dangerous magical beasts.
It seemed the goddess of fortune was still watching over her.
They had been walking for a long time without encountering any monsters.
The journey was so uneventful that even Li Xian started to feel something was off.
Logically speaking, after venturing this deep into the forest, it didn’t make sense that they hadn’t seen a single beast…
Suddenly, Li Xian came to an abrupt stop.
“Li Xian? What is it?” Sara asked, puzzled.
“Listen closely.”
Li Xian raised a finger and made a quieting gesture.
Sara blinked and immediately fell silent, even holding her breath.
In the distance, the faint sound of countless footsteps echoed through the trees.
At the same time, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble slightly.
Something was happening deep within the forest.
Li Xian frowned, his expression growing tense.
Sara, meanwhile, was already starting to panic.
The unknown was always terrifying—especially to someone already living in fear.
Without any sense of security, her anxiety only grew worse.
‘What was up ahead? A horde of magical beasts? Or perhaps demons?’
No one knew.
And it was precisely that uncertainty that made it all the more terrifying.
In the past, whenever Sara was scared, she would instinctively grab the hem of her parents’ clothes and hide behind them.
They would always make everything better.
But now… they were gone.
She had watched with her own eyes as her parents collapsed into a pool of blood—killed by demons, right in front of her.
Sara bit down hard on her lip.
Even though danger hadn’t struck yet, a wave of hopelessness was already flooding her chest.
Without her parents to shield her, she now had to face this cruel world on her own.
She had to confront every threat with her own strength.
This fragile girl had already endured far too much.
And the more she bore, the more helpless she felt.
She missed the days when her parents were still alive—when they stood between her and the world, protecting her from every storm.
***
Just then, behind them, from the tall grass they had recently passed, came another sound.
A soft rustling, faint but unmistakable.
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