Even so, Evenel couldn’t easily forget Hibru’s gaze. What had he been thinking while training alone in this darkness?

She looked up at the pitch-black night sky and stepped out of the training area; Shuher briefly watched her and followed.

Although the night breeze was chilly, it felt just right.

“Actually, I’ve been feeling tense and couldn’t sleep. What do you do to calm yourself in times like this?”

“I don’t get tense.”

“You must have felt tense when you first participated in a campaign. No one is good at something right away…”

“I was good at it. From the beginning.”

Evenel was left speechless, too confident was his reply. She had been serious about sharing her concerns, yet he showed no empathy.

“I shouldn’t have brought it up. Just forget I said anything.”

Just then, a soft voice came from behind her as she walked ahead.

“Believe it.”

“What? Believe what?”

Without answering her question, he passed her and entered the mansion. Evenel watched him, then hurriedly followed.

“What exactly should I believe?”

“Find out for yourself. I can’t be bothered to explain.”

Frustrated, Evenel watched him walk away nonchalantly after piquing her curiosity.

‘Why do I get the feeling he’s just messing with me?’

However, the tension that had kept her awake, contemplating his cryptic words, had somehow dissipated.

Since they had to finish their campaign and return before dusk, the party quickly assembled at the entrance to the forest, home to the monsters.

Their faces were uniformly grave.

Among them, Evenel, who was making final preparations, spotted Lenel with Hibru and decided to approach him.

Lenel’s gaze met hers.

Taking a deep breath, Evenel spoke the words she had been unable to say yesterday. She felt she would regret it if she didn’t say them now.
“I apologize, but you are mistaken, Count. I did not come here with a frivolous intention to become a hero.”

Renel listened to her silently, his eyes encouraging her to say more.

The one truly surprised was Hibru standing next to him. How could she look his father straight in the eye and speak so confidently?

“The words you spoke back then did not harm me in the slightest, Count. I have heard such words ad nauseam in the royal palace.”

“So you want an apology?”

“No.”

Renel waited for her to continue, his eyes twinkling as if amused. He thought by now she would have clearly understood her situation.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“You mentioned that I’m prepared to die? No, I will make sure that everyone here returns safely.”

For the first time, her declaration seemed to disturb Renel’s composure.

They were composed of elite knights, but in every subjugation, unexpected attacks from monsters resulted in tragic losses of life. No one could prevent this, even if they knew it would happen.

So when she guaranteed that everyone would return, it was hard not to think she knew nothing.

Renel’s eyes seemed to say it was impossible, but Evenel had no intention of backing down. No, her resolve had only strengthened.

“That’s precisely why I’m standing here.”

Having said all she wanted to say, she walked over to Shuher, who was standing at the front. Shuher looked at her and spoke.

“Then let’s set out.”

The iron gate sealing the entrance to the monster-infested forest opened with a creak. As the party stepped inside, the door closed behind them with a thud.

Renel was left with the afterimage of Evenel’s confident gaze, which held not a hint of fear.

Just a few steps into the forest, Evenel felt the atmosphere change dramatically. Despite the daylight, it was dark due to the towering trees, even ominously so.

It felt as though some unknown force was pressing down on her shoulders.

The path was treacherous, and all that could be seen were trees and soil. One could easily get lost if they weren’t careful.

Leading the way were Shuher, Evenel, and Demil, followed by the Emperor’s knights and the Count’s knights.

While maintaining a sense of tension, it was Shuher who broke the silence and spoke first.
“It seems like a promise that can’t be kept.”

“How can you be so sure, Your Majesty? That it won’t be kept.”

“In this place, it wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment. The idea of protecting everyone is nothing but a pipe dream.”

What he said was rational. Trying to protect one person could endanger the entire group.

“I’m prepared for that much. I’m not just going to talk. I’ll show you.”

Evenel, who had been firming up her resolve, hastily turned her head forward.

“Your Majesty.”

Shuher also raised his hand, sensing something. At this silent action, the knights readied their weapons for battle.

At that moment, a giant red snake with four eyes appeared, parting the bushes with its gaping maw.

“Rambro.”

Evenel murmured the monster’s name, recalling it from a book she had read.

The creature, seemingly excited by the sight of prey, charged in at a rapid speed.

“Everyone, step back.”

At Shuher’s words, the knights retreated a few steps. Everyone except Evenel.

Drawing his blade, which boasted sharpness even in the shadows, a black aura enveloped the entire sword at that instant.

“It’s between the two eyes that are up and down on the left side.”

Evenel neither drew her gun nor did anything else, simply staring as if there was no need for her to take action.

Shuher deftly dodged the attacks of the creature’s swishing tail, ran up its long body, and with a high leap, accurately slashed the part she had pointed out with his sword.

With just one strike, the white light visible only to Evenel disappeared. The monster emitted a heavy thud as it fell, its menacing aura gone.

The tension was forgotten as the first battle concluded flawlessly in the blink of an eye.