As night approached, Ibnel lay down early in bed, but due to nervousness about tomorrow, sleep did not come easily.

She had never felt this nervous even before important matches.

‘This won’t do.’

Finally, she got up and went outside. Breathing in the cool air seemed to calm her nerves a bit.

“It’s okay. Just do as you’ve practiced until now. You’ve studied thoroughly too.”

As she was walking while comforting herself like that, an unidentifiable heavy sound carried by the wind reached Ibnel’s ears.

‘What is this sound?’

She felt as if a strong force was being driven in, but it was a completely different resonance from gunfire.

Ibnel was about to return to her room, but unable to overcome her curiosity, she moved towards where the sound was coming from.

Arriving at the back of the mansion, another training ground different from the one she had been to during the day revealed itself. And someone was standing in its center.

As she carefully approached to check, it was none other than Shuher. And in his hands was a silver bow.

‘Something’s different.’

The atmosphere was completely different from when she had left the training ground without saying anything. Especially his green eyes, filled with seriousness, stood out.

Soon, the arrow that left Shuher’s hand made the heavy sound she had heard as it struck the target. As if to show his skill, dozens of arrows were already embedded in the center of the target.

“Amazing…”

A voice of admiration flowed from Ibnel’s mouth without her realizing. Noticing her belatedly at that sound, Shuher’s face showed clear signs of surprise.

“You.”

“Ah, sorry for disturbing you. I just happened to hear the sound.”

As Ibnel approached, Shuher hastily hid the bow behind his back, as if he had done something wrong. It was a useless action for her who had already seen everything.

“Your skill is really excellent. I was really surprised just now.”

Even though she spoke words of praise, for some reason Shuher’s expression remained dark. Soon, a self-deprecating voice flowed from his mouth.

“I heard that the young lady does shooting. It’s nothing compared to that. Archery is not very helpful compared to shooting.”

Saying that, it was rather Ibnel who became flustered. That was certainly not the intention with which she had spoken.

“No, I…”

“Unlike solid bullets, arrows just bounce off when they hit monsters. So it’s completely useless.”

As he muttered, belittling himself, she turned her gaze to the target pierced with numerous arrows. Then she bluntly spoke her thoughts.

“But you like it, don’t you?”

At those words, Shuher’s gaze, which had been directed at the ground, reached her. Unlike before, his green eyes showed wavering.

Ibnel could be certain. Because his figure standing before the target, aiming the bowstring, overlapped with herself when shooting.

“Isn’t that why you were training until this late? Unlike your words that it’s worthless.”

If he really thought that way, he would have been practicing swordsmanship instead of archery, but the fact that he wasn’t meant that the bow clearly held a specially important meaning for him.

Shuher gripped the bow hidden behind his back tightly and shook his head strongly as if he couldn’t accept her words. And for the first time, he showed a sharp reaction.

“It seems you’re saying this after hearing what the knights said, but don’t presume to pity me. Worry about yourself instead. You won’t be able to speak so carefreely when there’s a monster in front of you.”

He coldly passed by her, and Ibnel, left alone, approached the target. The numerous arrows embedded in the target spoke of his efforts.

“He really likes it though.”

“As he said, that’s not important.”

Turning around, Shuher was standing there watching her, having been there since who knows when.

“Your Majesty, how are you here?”

His discovery of Ibnel was purely by chance. He had come out to the terrace and spotted her walking somewhere below.

Wondering where she was going at this late hour, he ended up following her here. Soon, Shuher also approached the target like her.

“I didn’t know he was still doing archery.”

“Did Your Majesty know about it?”

“I saw it a few times before, but recently I’ve only seen him holding a sword, so I thought he had given it up.”

“I don’t understand what he said. That it’s useless. Even to me who doesn’t know archery, it seemed like really excellent skill.”

On the other hand, Shuher understood the meaning of those words as soon as he heard them. Even the reason why he was training like this, avoiding people’s eyes.

“As I said before, the Perti family is a family of knights who have practiced swordsmanship for generations.”

“But that doesn’t mean he has to practice swordsmanship, does it?”

“Moreover, at some point, guns with more powerful effects than bows began to be used more usefully to deal with monsters. Research was also conducted more actively.”

As a result, now the number of people doing archery has noticeably decreased, and even the perception that it is unnecessary has arisen.

“Ah, so that’s why he said that.”

Ibnel could understand Shuher’s reaction after hearing his explanation. But she couldn’t fully agree.

Shuher could clearly see what she was thinking just by looking at her expression. But this wasn’t an issue that could be spoken of so lightly.

“Young Master Shuher is the heir of one of the few families endowed with power. That choice has great repercussions.”

“So everyone must have said it’s not allowed until now. But isn’t it okay for just one person? To do as their heart desires.”

“As expected, you don’t know anything, young lady.”

“Let’s just say it’s my selfish desire.”

Nevertheless, Ibnel couldn’t easily forget Shuher’s eyes. What must he have been thinking while training alone in this darkness?

She looked up at the pitch-black night sky and left the training ground, and Shuher watched her for a moment before following.

The night breeze was cool, but just pleasantly so.

“Actually, I felt nervous for some reason and couldn’t sleep. That’s why I came out. How do you calm your mind at times like this, Your Majesty?”

“I don’t get nervous or anything like that.”

“But even Your Majesty must have been nervous when you first participated in a subjugation. No one is good from the beginning…”

“I was good. From the beginning.”

Speaking so confidently, Ibnel was at a loss for words. She had sincerely shared her worries, but he didn’t empathize at all.

“I guess I said something unnecessary to Your Majesty. Please just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

At that moment, Shuher’s low voice was heard from behind her as she walked ahead.

“That’s how you believe.”

“What? What exactly?”

He entered the mansion without answering that question, leaving her behind. Ibnel watched him for a moment before hurriedly following.

“What exactly do you mean I should believe?”

“Figure that out yourself. It’s bothersome to explain everything.”

Ibnel watched with an incredulous face as he leisurely walked away after making her as curious as possible.

‘What is this feeling like he’s just teasing me?’

But as she thought about the enigmatic words he had left behind, the tension that had kept her awake had disappeared without her realizing.

Since they had to return before nightfall after completing the subjugation, the group lined up in front of the entrance connected to the forest where monsters lived as soon as day broke.

Their faces were all filled with solemnity.

Ibnel, who was making final preparations among them, saw Lenel together with Shuher and decided to approach him.

Lenel’s gaze also turned towards her.

Ibnel took a deep breath and spoke the words she couldn’t say yesterday. Because she felt she would regret it if she didn’t say it now.

“I’m sorry, but Your Excellency’s thoughts were wrong. I didn’t come here with the light-hearted intention of becoming a hero.”

Lenel was just silently listening to what she was saying. Rather, his eyes seemed to be telling her to say more.

The one who was actually surprised was Shuher beside him. How could she look his father straight in the eye and speak so confidently?

“The words Your Excellency said then didn’t hurt me even a bit. It was something I had heard so often that my ears were used to it in the imperial palace.”

“So, are you looking for an apology?”

“No.”

Lenel waited for her to speak with a look that said it was ridiculous. He thought she would have clearly realized her position after saying that much.

“What exactly do you want to say?”

“You said we’re going prepared for death? No. I will return safely with everyone here. I will make it happen.”

For the first time, his expression cracked at Ibnel’s declaration of war.

Although they were composed of elite knights, every subjugation there were unfortunate cases where lives were lost due to unexpected monster attacks. That was something no one could prevent, even if they knew about it.

So when she boldly claimed that everyone would return together, he couldn’t help but think that she really didn’t know anything.

Lenel’s eyes were saying it was impossible, but Ibnel had no intention of backing down. No, that thought became even stronger.

“That’s exactly why I’m here right now.”

Having said everything she wanted to say, she approached Shuher who was standing at the very front. Shuher looked at her and said,

“Then let’s depart.”

The iron gate firmly blocking the entrance to the forest where monsters came out opened with a creaking sound. As the group entered, the gate closed with a thud in front of Lenel’s eyes.

The look in Ibnel’s eyes as she showed confidence remained like an afterimage for Lenel. There wasn’t a hint of fear in them.

Ibnel felt the atmosphere change completely before she had even taken a few steps into the forest. Despite it being daytime, it was dark due to the trees that seemed to pierce the sky, and even eerie.

It felt as if an unknown force was weighing down on her shoulders.

Moreover, the path was rough, and all that could be seen around were trees and soil, so it was easy to lose one’s way if not careful.

At the very front were Shuher, Ibnel, and Demil, followed by the emperor’s knights and the count’s knights.

As they walked maintaining tension, Shuher broke the silence and spoke first.

“It seems like a promise that can’t be kept.”

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

“Here, it wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment. Protecting everyone is just your wish, young lady.”

He was speaking rationally. Trying too hard to protect one person could put the entire group in danger.

“I’m prepared for that much too. Of course, I don’t intend to just talk big. I’ll show you directly.”

Ibnel, who was steeling her resolve, hurriedly turned her head to the front.

“Your Majesty.”

Shuher also raised his hand, sensing the presence. At that silent action, the knights each took up their weapons and assumed battle positions.

At that moment, a giant red snake with four eyes parted the bushes and revealed itself, opening its mouth.

“Lambro.”

Ibnel murmured the name of the monster, remembering what she had seen in books.

Having found its prey and seemingly quite excited, the Lambro charged at a rapid speed.

“Everyone, step back.”

At Shuher’s words, the knights stepped back a few paces. Except for Ibnel.

He drew his sword, which boasted sharpness even in the shade, and at that moment, a black sword aura enveloped the entire blade.

“Between the two eyes on the left, upper and lower.”

Ibnel didn’t even draw her gun, just watching. As if there was no need for her to step in.

Shuher avoided the attack of the flexibly moving tail and climbed onto the monster’s long body. Then, running quickly along that body, he leaped high towards the head and precisely slashed the part she had mentioned with his sword.

With just a single strike, the white light that only Ibnel could see disappeared. The monster fell with a thud, its fierce aura rendered meaningless.

The first battle was perfectly concluded in the blink of an eye, making their tension seem pointless.