Finks tore off his own clothes first, arms outstretched like a starving tiger pouncing on prey as he lunged toward the girl.

He moved so fast he stirred the air, making his dull chest hair tremble in the draft.

Verlith snorted coldly, ready to kick these arrogant fools flying.

Just as her right leg began to lift—

Suddenly, a massive shadow leapt from the dorm bed, spinning twice mid-air!

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thwack!*

Finks and the others flying toward Verlith were all sent crashing by a single kick!

“Lal?? Are you insane!”

Finks stood up, clutching his bleeding face, his expression mottled purple—three parts rage, seven parts from the fall.

Lal blocked Verlith’s path with his towering frame, right arm outstretched.

“D-don’t be afraid! With me, Lal, here, they won’t lay a finger on you!”

Verlith watched him, lips twitching, hand pressed to her forehead. *This cliché is utterly unnecessary!*

—*And this guy’s totally stealing her spotlight!*

She could’ve easily handled them herself—snapping their arms, dropping a few threats, then walking away coolly.

But this idiot just burst in out of nowhere!

When had any hero ever saved a damsel like *this*?

“Lal, you little bastard! Ruining our fun!” Aristis glared viciously, rubbing his bald head against the wall he’d hit.

“Damn it! Should’ve beaten him to death earlier!” Mlart hissed, clutching his bleeding nose.

“Enough talk! Let’s kill him first!”

Kett lowered his head like a vicious, overweight boar and charged at Lal!

Verlith stood still, curious how this “hero” would handle the assault.

Given his build, one punch each should’ve knocked those thugs flat.

Yet again, the outcome defied her expectations.

One against four ended with… Lal’s total defeat.

Verlith covered her face, unable to watch.

The man who’d appeared like a hero moments ago now cowered with hands over his head, chased and beaten like a whipped dog by four frenzied men.

*Bang!* Lal’s head slammed against the door.

Seizing the chance, his hand found the doorknob. He flung the door open and yelled at Verlith:

“Run, beauty! Don’t worry about me!”

Then he desperately grabbed their clothes, legs, arms—anything he could reach—trying to clear an “escape route” for her.

Verlith fell silent at the sight.

Options flashed in her mind:

1. Accept his help and leave.

2. Drag Lal along while escaping.

3. Shout for backup.

4. Punch these bastards square in the face!

So.

—*Was there even a choice to make?*

*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*

Verlith clicked her tongue and threw five punches in rapid succession!

Yes—five. The last one was for Lal, the meddlesome fool.

After those five blows, Finks, Kett, Aristis, and Mlart all collapsed unconscious.

Naturally, the overzealous Lal joined them.

Verlith shook her head at the five sprawled figures.

“Pathetically fragile. How weak.”

She sighed without a shred of pity.

“Well, they brought it on themselves.”

With that thought, she lifted her foot and stomped wildly on their bodies.

The room instantly filled with screams and crunching sounds.

Even Lal got his share of the beating—though slightly lighter.

Why?

No reason. She just didn’t like him.

Perhaps it was instinct.

Verlith simply couldn’t accept being used as a prop for this idiot’s delusional hero fantasy!

Sure, beating someone who’d “saved” her seemed ungrateful.

But who cared? She didn’t need reasons—only relief.

Right now, unleashing her fury without mercy was enough.

After the beating, five bruised, human-shaped lumps littered the floor.

Verlith planted a foot on Finks—the ringleader—and twirled a military knife she’d found in the room. *Killing them feels too kind… Removing their criminal tools would be far more interesting.*

*Heh heh heh.*

With an icy laugh, Verlith’s blade flashed down. Excluding Lal, four pig-like shrieks tore through the air as she severed the manhood of the four unconscious men. A veteran in interrogation, she handled this like child’s play—though blood gushed from their lower bodies, she’d left them barely alive, bleeding but not dead.

“Spend the rest of your lives drowning in regret!”

She glared at the four unconscious figures before leaving the room.

Verlith returned to the restaurant with light steps, humming a tune.

But as soon as she entered, a gray-uniformed security guard appeared before her.

*Did they already find out about the beating?*

She’d left them unconscious, locked the door, and turned off the lights.

With those injuries, they wouldn’t wake before dawn.

Suspicion tightened Verlith’s nerves, though her face remained calm. She was ready to react at the slightest sign of trouble.

But the guard’s next words eased her guard.

“Are you Miss Vier? Miss Alyssa asked us to find you. She’s been waiting a long time.”

Guilt surged in Verlith’s chest.

She followed the guard back to their table.

Alyssa’s untouched food had gone cold. Her hazel eyes, filled with worry, locked onto Verlith.

“Vier, where were you? I was so worried!”

“I’m sorry, Alyssa.”

Verlith lowered her head sheepishly.

“I got lost… that’s why I’m only back now.”

“I’m just glad you’re safe.” Alyssa sighed in relief, taking Verlith’s small hand.

Then she gave the guard an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s our duty, Miss Alyssa.”

The guard waved a hand.

“Our Rest Station’s layout *is* complex. We’ve had lost visitors before—it was built to wartime standards. But someone as lost as Miss Vier… I’ve never seen it take this long to find someone.”

“My sense of direction’s just terrible, ahahaha.”

“So terrible you *perfectly* evaded every patrol?” Alyssa pouted.

“Heh heh, right? Such a coincidence!”

Verlith laughed awkwardly.

“Don’t wander off alone again!” Alyssa shot her a stern look.

The restaurant was nearly empty since Verlith returned so late.

Alyssa lost her appetite and walked Verlith back to her room before finally heading to her own.

Her room was right next door. Verlith peeked through a crack in her door just as Alyssa disappeared into hers.

*Shouldn’t I be the one taking care of her?* Verlith thought. *Why does it feel like my mistress is always looking after her maid?*

Such a kind girl—if anyone ever hurt her, Verlith vowed she’d be the first to make them pay!

That night, Verlith slipped out of her room after the corridor patrol passed.

She ignored Alyssa’s orders to rest.

Instead, she planned to sneak into Horatu’s room and uncover what caused his strange behavior.

But on the male guest floor, she overheard two patrolling guards talking.

“Are they really nearby?” the thinner guard asked.

“I swear it’s true. I heard the second half of the Eastward Path is surrounded. They’re conducting strict inspections—every convoy, no matter their status, must comply.”

“That sounds troublesome. What are they even searching for?”

“How should I know? But I heard their leader’s a powerful Elven Sorcerer. The inspection team’s elite.”

“You must have *some* intel. With so many merchants passing through, didn’t you hear anything? I’m dying to know.”

“If I had to guess… it’s those things. The bloodthirsty Netherborn Elves. What else would mobilize the ‘Netherbane Squad’?”

“*Those* things? But rumors of Netherborn Elves in Tree Spirit Forest aren’t exactly rare.”

“That’s why I think these Netherborn Elves are no ordinary threat.”

“But the Netherbane Squad exists to eliminate Netherborn Elves. Why inspect caravans?”

“No idea.”

…

Verlith didn’t listen further. She abandoned her plan to infiltrate Horatu’s room.

The information she’d gathered was enough.

Netherbane Squads were typically adventurer groups commissioned by nations.

They dedicated themselves to eradicating the continent’s evil Netherborn Elves.

Their footprints spanned the land.

Of course, they weren’t a single unified force. “Netherbanes” was a blanket term—frauds existed too, preying on others under the guise of hunting Netherborn Elves.

Whether this squad was genuine or fake didn’t concern Verlith.

She was certain now: Horatu’s headache stemmed from their appearance.

He must’ve learned about the checkpoint during check-in this afternoon. He was worried about his identity being exposed.

His refusal to submit to inspection meant he had something to hide.

Perhaps she could use this to force his hand.

*How intriguing, Horatu. Who are you really? What’s your goal?*

Everything would be revealed on the second half of the Eastward Path!