The Pursuers
At that same moment, on the forest path Leon's party had left behind.
In the depths of the woods, where the stench of blood hung thick in the air, four shadows fell over the scattered corpses of ten goblins. Kyle casually nudged a rolling goblin head with his boot.
"The cuts are rough. This wasn't skill—it was a strike forced down by sheer, brute strength."
He squatted down and ran a finger over the wound; the blood that smeared his skin had not yet fully congealed.
"It's Dean's work. That bastard still hasn't cured himself of his crude habits."
Luna sniffed the air as she scanned their surroundings.
"The scent of blood is fresh. They died not long ago. They couldn't have gone far."
Kyle slowly stood up, his gaze piercing into the dark depths of the forest.
"They would have traveled by horseback, but with this kind of time gap, they must be staying in Verden."
Just then, Ella, who had been probing the ground with her staff to search the area, spoke up.
"Hoofprints lead that way. There are three of them."
"Three, huh..." Kyle's eyes gleamed coldly. "Dean, Leon... and who is the third?"
"Could it be an accomplice of the kidnapper?" Sera speculated, but Kyle shook his head.
"It doesn't matter who it is. Anyone holding Leon is getting cut down. That's all."
Kyle gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, a thick wave of bloodlust radiating from him.
At that moment, Ella adjusted her grip on her staff as if something had just crossed her mind.
"Wait, Kyle. If Leon is still carrying that absurdly massive shield..."
"What about the shield?"
"I placed an enchantment on it back then to boost its magic resistance, remember? I think I can reverse-track its mana signature. If I expand the detection range to its absolute limit..."
Ella closed her eyes and began to chant her spell.
Aura Detect: Resonance
Waves of violet mana rippled outward from the tip of Ella's staff. A moment later, her eyes snapped open.
"Got it!"
"Where is it?"
"Verden! I'm certain. The shield's unique mana wavelength is coming from the direction of Verden."
A cruel smirk played on Kyle's lips.
"Verden, just as I thought. The rat walked right into the trap."
"Let's move. Before they realize we're on to them."
Kyle's party immediately mounted their horses and began riding toward Verden at full gallop.
Meanwhile, at the inn in Verden.
The atmosphere among the party that had descended to the lobby for breakfast was polar opposite.
Dean was slumped in his chair like a boneless mollusk. His hands trembled so violently he didn't even seem to have the strength to lift his spoon.
On the other hand, Lia was as radiant as a freshly bloomed rose. Her skin glowed with a lustrous sheen, and her eyes sparkled with vibrant life.
Elena looked back and forth between the two of them and clicked her tongue.
"Tsk, tsk... Dean, what the hell happened to you? You look like a walking corpse after just one night."
"Ugh... Elena... It's not that... Yesterday was just... so intense..."
Dean trailed off, his face flushing red. Utterly unaware that his vital essence had been drained, he simply blamed his own lack of stamina.
"Good grief, you pathetic fool. This is why you should have trained more."
Elena scoffed and turned her gaze toward Lia. Looking at Lia's beaming, smiling face, she felt a subtle sense of dissonance.
What is this? Her vibe is different from yesterday. In just one night, her energy has... changed.
They say a woman changes once she knows a man, but this wasn't that kind of change. There was a strange, wild allure to her, and an unmistakable, turbid wave of mana radiating from her that she couldn't quite hide.
It was then. Zing. Elena's brow furrowed.
A cold shiver ran down her spine, bringing with it the unpleasant sensation of an unseen gaze sweeping over them.
At the same time, Lia also flinched and snapped her head up.
Huh? What was that just now?
Elena glared at Lia with a sharp, piercing gaze.
"Lia. Look at me for a second."
Elena's voice had dropped to a freezing cold register, her playful demeanor from moments ago vanishing without a trace.
"You're hiding something from us, aren't you?"
"Pardon...? What do you mean..." Lia stammered, caught off guard by Elena's sudden shift from friendly to dead serious.
"Don't play dumb. You felt it just now too."
"......!"
"It's detection magic. Someone is looking for us... no, to be precise, they're looking for you."
At Elena's confident assertion, Lia's heart sank.
Detection magic? How did she know? No, more importantly... I felt it too. If it were the old me, I would have never been able to sense it.
Had her senses grown sharper after absorbing Dean's essence? Before she could even marvel at her newfound ability to sense magic, Elena's interrogation pressed on.
"Spit it out. Who is it? Who's going so far as to use magic to track you down?"
Startled by the murderous aura rolling off Elena, Dean quickly chimed in.
"W-Wait, Elena! What's gotten into you? Why are you speaking so harshly to Lady Lia..."
"Shut the hell up, you idiot! Can't you read the room?"
"But...!"
"Lia, if you don't tell me the truth right now, we're tying you up here and leaving. We have no obligation to protect you."
Elena's threat was no bluff. She was a mercenary through and through—one who wouldn't hesitate to abandon a client if the risk outweighed the reward.
Lia swallowed hard. She couldn't hide it anymore, but she couldn't reveal the whole truth either. The moment her past identity as a man was exposed, everything would be over.
I have to mix lies with the truth.
Making up her mind, Lia raised her head. Forcing a look of sheer terror into her eyes, she spoke in a trembling voice.
"Actually... you're right. I'm being hunted."
"What?!" Dean gasped in shock, leaping to his feet. "W-Who dares threaten Lady Lia?! What bastard is it?! I'll go cut them down this instant!"
"Sit down! You're being too loud!" Smack! Elena delivered a sharp blow to the crown of Dean's head, forcing him back into his seat. "Ow...!"
"Keep talking." Elena rested her chin on her hand, staring intently at Lia.
Lia took a deep breath and continued.
"The one chasing me... is Kyle."
"Kyle? You mean Brother Kyle, the leader of Dawn's Trajectory?" Dean's eyes went wide.
Elena also knit her brows. "Kyle... I've heard the name. He's been making quite a reputation for himself lately. But why is he after you?"
Lia bowed her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "He... despite what the world thinks of him, he is an utterly vile monster."
Lia recalled the horrific memories of what Kyle had done to her. The humiliation, terror, and rage she had suffered that night—immediately after being turned into a woman—surged back with vivid clarity. It was no longer an act; genuine, raw emotion welled up inside her.
"He kidnapped me... locked me away... and did unspeakable things to me. I was nothing but his... plaything."
"My God..." Dean was utterly speechless. He couldn't believe that the hero he had admired harbored such a hideous, depraved side.
"Every single night... was a living hell. I barely managed to find an opening and escape. But... I never thought he would chase me all the way here..."
Lia's shoulders trembled as she broke down in tears. The moment Elena saw this, she instinctively knew the girl wasn't lying. Fear and tears like that couldn't be faked. Her gaze drifted casually to the massive shield resting behind Lia.
"Then what's with that shield? It's far too heavy for an ordinary woman to carry."
"This... is the shield of my older brother, Leon."
Lia wiped away her tears and replied, "I am Leon's younger sister, Lia. My brother... was used by that wicked man, and in the end... he was murdered. Kyle killed my brother, and then he coveted me, his sister..."
Lia choked on her words, breaking into heavy sobs.
"That absolute son of a bitch!" Dean slammed his fist onto the table.
"To think Brother Kyle... no, that bastard was such a piece of trash! Lady Lia, do not worry! I will protect you even if it costs me my life!"
Dean gnashed his teeth in fury. The crushing betrayal of seeing his idol fall, combined with an intense protective instinct for Lia, swirled together and burned fiercely in his chest.
Elena, however, remained perfectly calm. She crossed her arms, lost in deep thought as if weighing her options.
"Hmm... People being different from their rumors is a dime a dozen in this business. Heroes? Don't make me laugh. Most of them are just empty shells."
She stared intently at Lia. "So that bastard tracked you all the way here..."
Elena glanced out the window. "Judging by that magic just now, they're already close. They'll be here within a day at the latest."
Amidst the thick tension, Lia watched Elena's reaction, holding her breath as she waited to see if the mercenary would help her in this perilous situation.
"Lady Elena... please help me. If I get caught... I might really die this time..."
"Help you, huh..." Elena let out a smirk and stood up. "Interesting. Kyle... I've wanted to test myself against him at least once."
She picked up her scabbard and buckled it to her waist. "Pack your bags. Let's see just how tough this hotshot really is."
At those words, Lia's face lit up instantly. "T-Thank you so much!"
Elena looked down at Dean, who was struggling to stand. "You're staying behind."
"What? What do you mean, Elena! I'm going to fight too! I have to protect Lady Lia!"
As Dean excitedly reached for his sword, Elena clicked her tongue in pity. "With that body? Can you even hold a sword properly right now? You'll only get in the way."
"No! I can do it! Why do I have to stay behind?!"
When Dean stubbornly stepped closer to Elena, her eyes turned razor-sharp. "You're being a pain."
Thud! In the blink of an eye, Elena's fist buried itself squarely into Dean's solar plexus.
"Gah...!"
Dean couldn't even scream as his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the floor. It was quite a sight, with him foaming at the mouth.
"Let's leave this guy behind. He's nothing but dead weight."
Elena gave the collapsed Dean a light kick, then turned and walked out of the inn without looking back.
Lia stared at Dean with a brief moment of pity, then grabbed her shield and followed close behind Elena.
Leaving Dean behind, the two women slipped out of Verden under the cover of the pre-dawn darkness.