The heavy rain fell relentlessly.
The Black Forest at night was darker and quieter than during the day.
Only the rustle of rain washing over the leaves could be heard, and only the occasional bolt of lightning streaking across the sky dimly illuminated the area.
Two petite figures were making their way along the muddy path.
Iris trudged through the sludge, her steps uneven.
The icy rain had long since poured down the collar of her maid outfit, soaking the already thin fabric through and through.
‘So cold.’
As a former Demon Lord Candidate, Iris felt that her situation had never been more miserable.
Not only did she have to lead the way in this gods-forsaken weather, but she also had to stay alert for any Magical Beasts that might pounce from the darkness.
In contrast, Celia, who was walking ahead, held a large black umbrella.
Whether it was the violent raindrops or the mud splashing up from beneath her feet, everything seemed to be deflected by an invisible barrier before it could even touch her.
‘Is this the composure of the strong?’
“How much longer?” Celia asked, stopping in her tracks.
Iris shivered and quickly looked at the landmarks, which were blurred by the torrential rain.
“Soon—very soon! That idiot—ah, no, Master Elent’s aura is near the valley just ahead!”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the nearby bushes suddenly burst open, and several pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the shadows.
“Oh no, Demon Wolves!”
Demon Wolves loved to hunt humans in packs during heavy storms. They stared at the two intruders, saliva dripping from their maws.
Awoo!
The leader howled, and a dozen dark shadows used the cover of the rain to pounce from all directions.
Iris’s face turned pale. She tried to muster her mana, but her pitiful magic was almost frozen solid by the cold.
‘It’s over. I’m going to become wolf dung.’
Just as the claws were about to reach Iris, the black umbrella in front of her tilted slightly.
“So noisy.”
Celia looked at those crimson eyes and felt a throbbing pain in her head.
Looking annoyed, she raised her hand, and a sphere of Saint Light condensed in her palm.
“Quiet down.”
The moment the Saint Light exploded, the surrounding rain was instantly evaporated.
A dozen corpses hit the ground. Celia didn’t even give them a second glance, merely looking down to inspect the surface of her umbrella.
‘Good, no blood splattered on it. Otherwise, I’d have to wash the umbrella when I get back, and that would be such a hassle.’
“Keep up,” Celia said, retracting her hand and continuing forward.
Iris stood frozen in place, trembling as she looked at the corpses on the ground.
‘Is this the power of a Witch?’
‘Is this the same lazy person who usually just lies in her chair drinking Happy Water and can’t even be bothered to wipe a window?’
‘Terrifying.’
This kind of power that could take lives so casually was more horrifying than any High Demon she had ever seen.
“Y-Yes!”
Iris scrambled to follow, no longer daring to voice even the slightest complaint.
……
The further they went, the more obvious the signs of battle became.
There were snapped trees, split rocks, and the lingering scent of blood that had yet to be washed away.
Celia looked at an ancient tree that had been sliced in half; Elent’s aura still lingered upon it.
‘What on earth did that idiot run into?’
‘I hope he’s okay.’
“There!” Iris suddenly shouted, pointing toward a rock wall ahead.
Celia followed Iris’s finger and saw a shallow indentation at the base of the cliff, barely serving as a cave to shelter from the rain.
The two rushed over. Elent was sitting at the very back.
The Hero Candidate, who was usually so full of energy, looked like a complete wreck.
His leather armor was tattered, and his exposed skin was covered in wounds of all sizes, some of which were still seeping blood.
Elent leaned against the rock wall with his eyes tightly shut.
His chest heaved violently, and every breath was accompanied by a heavy, rattling sound.
His left leg was bent at an unnatural angle, clearly broken.
In his arms, he cradled a small bundle wrapped in waterproof cloth against his broad chest.
Even in his unconscious state, the Hero’s hands remained tightly locked together.
He had curled his body into a ball, using his back and shoulders to block the wind and rain, shielding a dry space for the item in his arms.
Celia stood at the entrance of the cave, her breath hitching for a moment as she took in the scene.
“Elent.”
Celia called out to him, but there was no response.
Closing her umbrella, she tossed it to Iris and knelt down in front of Elent.
Between the high fever, excessive blood loss, and an Ice-attribute Toxin eroding his body, the Hero already had one foot in the grave.
Celia bit her lip. A soft, healing Saint Light glowed in her palm as she pressed it against Elent’s chest.
As the warm light flowed into him, Elent’s body trembled, and he let out a pained groan.
“Priestess…?”
Elent struggled to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, and he could only see a hazy figure.
‘Is this a hallucination? Why would the Priestess be here?’
‘This is the Black Forest—it’s dirty, dangerous, and raining. The Priestess, who hates trouble more than anything, could never appear in a place like this.’
“It’s me,” Celia said.
Hearing that familiar voice, a spark of life suddenly returned to Elent’s dull eyes.
He struggled to sit up straight, but the movement agitated his injuries, making him hiss in pain.
“Don’t move,” Celia said, pressing her hand against his shoulder.
Elent didn’t listen. He pulled his hands from his chest and unwrapped several layers of waterproof cloth.
Inside the bundle were three herbs that emitted a faint blue glow.
Their leaves were crystal clear and completely intact; even the soil on their roots still felt damp.
Elent pulled his lips back into a bloody, foolish grin.
“Hehe…”
“Priestess, look.”
“The herbs didn’t get wet.”
“The Recipe Book said that with these, your bump… will go down.”
“You’ll… be able to sleep well tonight…”
Before he could finish, Elent’s hand fell limp, and he slipped back into unconsciousness.
But even at the final moment of losing awareness, the bundle of herbs remained securely placed on Celia’s lap.
Celia looked at the herbs and then at the battered idiot in front of her. She laughed out of sheer exasperation.
‘Did this guy equate my mosquito bite with the end of the world in his head?’
‘To end up in this state for three herbs that aren’t useful for anything except stopping an itch… was it worth it?’
‘Is there really such a fool who would disregard cost, expect no return, and even ignore his own life just so someone else could get a good night’s sleep?’
‘Only an idiot would do such a thing.’
Celia lowered her head, her hair veiling her eyes and masking her expression.
Only a few small droplets, seemingly rain, fell onto the back of Elent’s hand, washing away a small patch of grime.
“Iris.”
Iris, who was standing guard at the cave entrance, jumped in surprise.
“I’m here!”
“Hold the umbrella steady.”
Celia pulled Elent’s heavy body into her arms, letting his forehead rest against her shoulder.
“Let’s go. We’re going home.”
Well shes upset