The masked figures were holding longswords in their hands.

That meant they had clear intentions to attack us.

“Kaern, what should we do?”

Quickly counting the enemies, there were more than twenty people.

Even if Kaern was strong, it was impossible to block all their attacks, especially with me, who had no combat skills.

Then it happened.

As I held onto Kaern’s arm, I felt something moist and sticky.

“Kaern, blood… you’re bleeding!”

It seemed like the wound was caused by the dagger that grazed Kaern’s arm earlier.

“It’s okay, just a scratch.”

“But…!”

“My subordinates will be here soon, just hold on until then.”

“Yes, okay. What should I do then?”

“Stay by my side, don’t take a step away.”

I nodded vigorously, understanding his instructions.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll protect you.”

Looking straight at Kaern, I felt no fear at all.

“Yes, I trust Kaern.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the enemies began to attack us.

Kaern firmly held my hand, swiftly pulled out the dagger stuck on the ground, and started fighting against the enemies.

Fighting with a dagger against longswords, while also protecting me, was undoubtedly challenging.

However, Kaern, with his exceptional swordsmanship, began to defeat them one by one.

Around the time he took down about five of them…

“Ugh.”
Kaern suddenly let out a painful groan and staggered.

“Kaern!”

I supported Kaern, quickly assessing his condition.

Sweat was dripping down his face, and he seemed incredibly exhausted.

“Why are you like this? Are you okay?”

“Haah, I’m fine.”

With a face that clearly indicated otherwise, he kept insisting that he was okay.

At that moment, the enemies, showing no mercy, rushed towards us again.

Unable to control his body properly, Kaern once again defeated another enemy.

No, this can’t go on.

Please.

Helplessly pondering our fate from behind him, I fervently wished for Kaern’s subordinates to arrive soon.

However, for some reason, those who could save us were nowhere to be seen.

Ultimately, I had to accept that I would have to navigate this situation on my own.

So, quickly scanning the surroundings, I searched for any possible escape routes.

Fortunately, amidst the misfortune, the darkness around us provided the possibility to hide in the forest, avoiding their eyes for some time.

“Kaern.”

I called him with a very soft voice, audible only from the side.

“We can’t stay like this. Let’s hide for now.”

In response to my words, Kaern nodded slightly.

“…I know a place to hide.”

Simultaneously, Kaern knocked down another enemy and confiscated his longsword.

Threatening more strongly, he cleared the way, and I, alongside the Kaern who couldn’t control his body well, rushed wildly, desperately avoiding the impending danger.
“……This way.”

Kaern led me through the temple, towards the mountain behind the forest.

Kaern seemed to know this side of the mountain very well.

He took me up the mountain without hesitation.

However, Kaern’s entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and his eyes were cloudy; he seemed to have reached his limit.

In the end, we hid our bodies in a small cave that came into view.

Afterward, we tightly sealed our mouths and relied on sounds to assess the situation. The enemies tracking us were dangerously close.

‘Please, please.’

I didn’t know if it would be the end if we were discovered here.

It couldn’t end so anticlimactically.

So, I held the increasingly hazy Kaern in my arms and prayed, over and over again.

Time of tension, fear, terror, and despair passed.

We remained silent until it was certain that the enemies had left.

Only the sound of leaves fluttering in the wind echoed in the surroundings.

Even after that, we stayed still until it was confirmed that they had truly left.

Only when there was absolutely no sound did I hastily check Kaern’s condition.

“Kaern, are you okay?”

“……Herena.”

“Kaern, you must never lose consciousness.”

It was evident at once why Kaern was acting like this.

His symptoms were unmistakably those of someone poisoned—clearly from the dagger that had been coated with poison when it cut his arm earlier.
“Kaern, I’ll go out and look for herbs that can be used for detoxification. So, please don’t fall asleep. Understand?”

“Herena, no… it’s dangerous.”

“Now is not the time to discuss that. Kaern is really in danger at this rate.”

I tried to get up to go outside the cave.

But because of Kaern, who held me tightly, I couldn’t move at all.

“Kaern, please.”

I was willing to do anything to save him.

But he still wouldn’t let me go and was resisting.

“Please, Kaern, let go. Okay?”

“…No. Wait until reinforcements come…”

Even at this moment, Kaern’s breathing was getting rougher.

Because of that, my heart became more and more anxious.

“What if they don’t come?”

“…They will. So stay by my side.”

“Kaern…”

It was at that moment, as I tried to convince him with a frustrated heart.

Whether the enemies who hadn’t discovered us had returned this way or not, footsteps echoed in the previously quiet cave entrance.