The pouring rain drenched the Mavul Forest.

The gloomy forest, a sky stained dark, the pouring rain and the Krollins that growled lowly and slowly approached.

Estelle, holding hands and smiling faintly.

“Johan. I’m fine.”

Estelle seemed as though she might be crushed and disappear by those massive creatures at any moment.

That thought was not wrong. If Johan were to abandon her, Estelle would undoubtedly die.

The reason the Krollins didn’t charge at them right away was because they were wary of Johan.

‘… It’s scary.’

The hand that inadvertently tried to grab her was trembling. She quickly feigned calm, but Johan did not miss her expression.

At first, he thought she was trying to cling to him like this. But Estelle was sincere.

‘Why?’

Estelle urged Johan.

“Hurry, if we linger, it’ll be too late to escape.”

“Shut up.”

“But …….”

“I won’t leave you.”

One Krollin, observing Johan’s reaction, charged at him.

Swish[Dash] Johan killed the Krollin with his sword.

‘If it wasn’t for the Mavul Forest.’

The aura of Mavul Forest interfered with dark magic. Therefore, he had no choice but to defeat his enemies with swordsmanship.

Several Krollins attacked at once.

Johan fought as efficiently as possible, clenching his teeth.

‘It’s hard to kill them all.’

Then, at least he had to inflict an injury that would make it difficult for them to attack Estelle right away.

He cut off one’s leg with a sword, and stomped on another one.

Next, he stabbed and killed one that was targeting him from behind after pinning it to the ground with his hand.

But no matter how efficiently he fought, the situation was not resolved.

‘It should not have been just the two of us.’

He felt his mistake bonedeep.

The reason Johan and Estelle came alone was simple.

‘The idea was to quickly escape from Mavul Forest together and then teleport with magic.’

It wasn’t a big miscalculation if you think about the typical behavior of Krollins. Krollins don’t usually travel in groups.

‘The target of the Krollins was Estelle.’

By the time he noticed that, it was too late.

He couldn’t even bring back the scattered knights.

There were ten Krollins left.

He felt monsters approaching from behind, but the immediate need was to eliminate about ten.

“My lady, take shelter under the tree.”

“Got it.”

Estelle followed his directions, making it easier for Johan to protect her.

Estelle picked up rocks from around her. She seemed to be trying to attack with rocks, but it was not very effective.

‘The Krollins will soon target Estelle.’

He had to deal with them before that.

This time, Johan charged first, trying to stab the Krollin in the neck.

Crash[Dash]

The Krollin opened its grotesque mouth and resisted by biting Johan’s sword.

“Caw!”

Another Krollin charged towards Johan.

He let go of the sword and staggered the resisting Krollin, then killed another one by piercing its jaw with his hand.

Even so, it did not die easily and had to be stabbed several times.

A tedious process.

“Two left.”

The two remaining Krollins exchanged glances, preparing to charge simultaneously.

One sleeve of his nearly torn arm dangled, blood flowed from the wounded arm, and his grip was numb from overexertion.

However, instead of fatigue, his head grew hotter. Anger was unbearable.

‘Go alone, Johan.’

Estelle was not wrong.

‘I can escape if I’m alone?’

Leaving Estelle was the most rational option for Johan.

But why.

He arrogantly laughed, gripping his bloodsoaked sword.

“Come.”

The two Krollins charged simultaneously.

They were quite annoying, but not unmanageable.

He had to exert a lot of strength for the last one.

‘It’s not over yet.’

He felt the approach of the Krollins rushing towards him.

‘I have to get out of Mavul Forest at this moment.’

Johan frowned and clutched his chest. He felt a stinging pain.

He seemed to have suffered an internal injury by forcibly exerting strength.

Just as Johan was catching his breath and about to look at Estelle, who was crouched behind a tree waiting for him.

“My lady. Again[Dash]”

“Is it over?”
It was then. A Crollin charging, suspended in the air.

‘Was there one more?’

It was right above Estelle’s head.

There was no time to think with her head.

‘Please—’

Johan kicked the ground and ran.

He forced dark magic into action. Then, the uncontrolled dark magic ran wild.

It didn’t matter.

Johan recklessly swung at the Crollin.

Kuwoong… eudeudeuk!

The Crollin was impaled on Johan’s hand and pinned to the tree.

Crollin’s blood, wooden debris, and dirt splattered on the ground, sounding like an earthquake.

“Johan. Your wound—”

Estelle turned her head and looked up at him. Her blue eyes widened in surprise.

Crollin’s hot blood dripped down his injured arm and fell on Johan’s face.

“You think I would abandon you?”

Johan bent his knee to meet Estelle’s gaze.

“Yes, in fact, everything the wife said is true.”

“…….”

“It would be easier if I left you.”