The hot spring trip ended after Celia and her companions entered the changing room. Sharin returned to her own home, while Celia and the others followed Lena back to their residence.
Night fell. Tucked under their blankets, they quickly drifted into deep sleep.
Two months slipped by in the blink of an eye.
On the outskirts of the Silent Forest, a Hero squad weaved through the trees.
Their condition looked grim. The man leading them clutched his arm, pain twisting his face as blood seeped through his fingers, dripping onto the forest floor and drawing the attention of wild beasts.
Only when they’d fled far enough did they finally halt.
The man hastily bandaged his wounded arm, then led the group a short distance further before truly stopping.
“Did you notify the Guild? Multiple Third Rank demon beasts have appeared on the forest’s edge for some unknown reason. Without backup, we might not make it out alive.”
His name was Bruler, captain of this Hero squad. While carrying out a Guild mission deep in the woods, they’d been ambushed by two Third Rank beasts. They’d barely escaped with their lives after fighting desperately.
Bruler was severely injured—his right arm was nearly useless, crippling his Third Rank strength. His three teammates weren’t faring much better.
The scar-faced man was the least injured, with only a gash on his thigh that didn’t hinder his movement much. He was also the squad’s other Third Rank warrior; the remaining two were Second Rank Heroes.
“I’ve notified them. Lise said reinforcements are already on the way.”
He showed Bruler the communicator. Only then did the captain exhale heavily, slumping against a tree.
“Thank goodness. We just need to hold on until they arrive.”
The communicator’s positioning function allowed the Guild to track their exact location. To be rescued, they simply had to wait right here.
Rushing onward blindly risked another encounter with a terrifying Third Rank beast.
Tension gripped the squad members. They scanned the surrounding bushes and trees without pause. Bruler knew this constant vigilance would exhaust them long before help arrived.
He forced a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood: “I wonder who’s coming to our rescue. If it’s Roland, one fireball from her would set even the toughest Third Rank beast ablaze.”
Bruler’s crush on Roland was common knowledge in the Guild. But he wasn’t alone—many Heroes admired her.
Though Roland had a sharp temper, her beauty and strength made her the undisputed top female warrior in the Guild, second only to Sharin in raw power.
How could such a woman attract only a few admirers?
To the scar-faced man, they were all living in a fantasy.
“Wake up. Roland’s from the big city. With her talent, she’ll surely reach Sixth Rank someday. Someone like you? You don’t stand a chance.”
“I know that,” Bruler admitted. “But even if I can’t have her, just seeing her is enough.”
His words made the scar-faced man’s teeth ache. In his view, unattainable women weren’t worth pining over—it only brought pain.
“Anyway,” the scar-faced man changed the subject, “why are so many Third Rank beasts suddenly appearing on the forest’s edge? You rarely even spot a Second Rank one out here.”
Bruler shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe a high-rank beast was born deeper in the forest and drove them out to claim its territory.”
This wasn’t uncommon. When a powerful beast emerged, it would carve out its domain in the inner forest, forcing weaker creatures to flee.
Long ago, a Beast Tide had struck Vedona for exactly this reason—triggered by the birth of a Fifth Rank beast.
As they spoke, time slipped away unnoticed. Suddenly, rustling broke the silence from the trees.
“Something’s coming!”
Bruler’s warning snapped his teammates’ attention toward the sound, their guard instantly spiking.
Then, three girls emerged slowly from the foliage.
Leading them was a blonde girl with a single ponytail. Arms crossed, she sized up the battered squad. “Are you the Heroes requesting backup?”
Her words confirmed their identity as reinforcements. Bruler and his team visibly relaxed.
While Celia assessed them, the scar-faced man scrutinized the newcomers. Realizing all three were merely Second Rank, fury flared in his eyes.
“Second Rank? *You’re* our backup? Did Lise lose her mind?”
He’d specifically warned Lise about Third Rank beasts in his message. Sending Second Rank rookies was like delivering fresh graves.
His outburst made even Bruler’s expression shift subtly. The other two teammates exchanged uneasy glances.
The blonde girl—Celia—gave the scar-faced man a cool, dismissive glance before turning to Bruler with detached politeness:
“You’re Bruler? The one who requested aid? If not, don’t waste our time.”
Sensing her irritation, Bruler held back the scar-faced man.
“Yes. I’m Bruler, captain of this squad. We requested the backup.” He recognized her. “I know you. Celia. The young mistress of the Fiona Clan.”
The Fiona Clan’s fame was widespread. He also knew that two months ago, the Clan’s heir had arrived in Vedona—a trainee no Guild instructor dared to accept.
He’d seen her portrait back then.
But if he recalled correctly, Celia had only just begun her journey to become a Hero two months ago. Her companions seemed equally inexperienced.
Weren’t they still trainees?
Why would Lise send them? A single Second Rank beast would be trouble enough for them.
A headache throbbed behind Bruler’s temples.
After a brief pause, he addressed Celia carefully:
“You might handle Second Rank beasts now. But Third Rank ones roam this forest—multiple of them. If you encounter one, escape will be nearly impossible.”
“For your safety, you should wait here with us for the *real* reinforcements.”
Before Celia could reply, Isa blurted out, “Waste of time! Third Rank beasts? Look how scared you are!”
Aurora gently tugged Isa’s sleeve, urging silence. Celia simply turned her back on Bruler’s group.
“Bruler,” she said without looking back, “bring your teammates and follow us.”
She saw their disbelief clearly. No explanation was worth the effort.
Let their actions speak.
