Chapter 7

#007 Episode

The night sky was as usual thick with dark clouds.

On the endless road.

Ian leisurely urged his horse into the dense darkness.

Ahead of him, Mev and Philip, also on horseback, were moving forward.

Ian neither rode alongside them nor tried to make conversation.

He didn't want to share emotions with those who might become enemies.

Indeed, after leaving the village, he had spoken less than ten words.

The same was true for Mev.

She was one of the most serious knights Ian had ever seen.

"Strangely, I don't remember seeing many clear days lately. Don't you think, sir?"

If it weren't for Philip, the group would have been on a silent march.

Ian and Mev barely responded, but Philip chattered away as if it were second nature.

"Is this a sign that the madness of the Black Wall has seeped into Agel Ran? Or perhaps the twilight of magic is affecting the climate?"

Auuu—

Philip added, as if in response to the faint howl of a wolf.

"...I thought I heard it earlier. It seems the wolves are getting active as the sun sets."

"Ian."

At that moment, Ian spoke up suddenly.

Philip turned his head as if he had been waiting for a response.

"Yes, sir?"

"That forest. How big is it?"

Ian pointed to the dark forest stretching far ahead.

It was a forest filled with dry, brittle trees, far from lush.

The path through its center looked like the entrance to a dungeon.

"It will take a little over half a day to cross."

"Then it would be best to pass through early tomorrow morning and camp here tonight. What do you think, sir?"

"That's fine."

Mev nodded and turned to Ian.

Her helmet could be adjusted to only lift the faceplate.

"There's a stream where travelers camp halfway through the forest."

Philip added cautiously.

Ian replied matter-of-factly.

"There are wolf packs in the forest. I don't want to go in and have a sleepless night."

"Ah, I see. Such a deep meaning."

Philip, immediately understanding the reference to wolves, moved ahead.

"I'll start the campfire!"

Philip busily unpacked their gear on a field a little away from the forest.

His movements were as noisy as if he were advertising his presence.

Ian chuckled.

"To think you can handle such a scatterbrained fellow."

Mev, dismounting from her horse, replied.

"He just lacks experience. In a few years, he'll do his part well."

If he's still alive by then.

Ian muttered to himself as he dismounted.

Phew.

The horse snorted, looking tired.

It was an old horse he had bought for next to nothing from a stablehand.

Since he didn't plan to keep it for long, there was no point in riding a good horse.

'The ride isn't comfortable either.'

Ian frowned at the soreness in his groin.

If he hadn't been skilled in riding, standing like this would have been difficult.

This was similar to how he could wield a sword naturally.

Though he had never learned it in his original world, horse riding felt as natural as if it were ingrained in his body.

Thanks to the shared skills.

Of course, he could only ride and wield a sword, not perform acrobatics on horseback like some skilled riders.

'I can't just raise the riding skill level to make the ride more comfortable.'

"Everything is ready, sir."

While Ian was tying his horse next to Mev's, Philip's voice echoed.

He had already built a decent campfire and arranged their sleeping area.

Even a snail has its way of rolling.

His preparations for death were also proficient.

Ian sat by the campfire.

The flickering flames barely pushed back the darkness. The uneven ground. The howls of wolves.

He finally realized that his comfortable life was truly over.

Naturally, the shabby room on the second floor of the tavern came to mind.

'I knew this would happen. I already miss it.'

Ian chuckled and pulled a bundle from his subspace.

Philip's face lit up.

"Oh. Finally, the bundle filled with your affection. Just by looking at the maid's expression, it's clear—."

"You're just talking a lot about wanting to eat rice."

"...Did you plan to share?"

Philip asked, taken aback.

Ian replied without even looking at him.

"Only if you shut up."

Philip's mouth snapped shut.

Still, his eyes remained fixed on the bundle in Ian's hands.

Ian's hands, which had been leisurely unwrapping the bundle, suddenly stopped.

Philip, nervously licking his lips, finally spoke again.

"Sir, are you teasing me—."

"Shut up."

Ian snapped.

Philip, who had reflexively closed his mouth, looked at Ian, sensing a change in his tone.

Ian was frowning, staring beyond the campfire.

It seemed as if a faint light was flickering in his eyes.

However, when Philip followed his gaze, he only saw the dark forest.

"......?"

As Philip tilted his head.

"The meal is off...," Ian muttered with a sigh, putting the bundle back.

"What did you see?"

Philip finally asked.

"Uninvited guests."

Mev answered, her eyes darkening as she stood up.

"Uninvited guests? What do you mean...?"

Philip, puzzled, looked back at the forest, finally stiffening.

Dozens of glowing eyes were now visible beyond the darkness of the forest.

Yellow and red eyes, filled with silent hostility, staring at them.

"......!"

Philip, making eye contact with one of them, recoiled in shock.

"Fearful, aren't you?"

Ian muttered under his breath.

Philip, suddenly regaining his senses, turned to him reflexively.

"Who's afraid...?"

His voice trailed off as he realized it was trembling.

In contrast, Ian was already standing, sword in hand.

His face showed only a hint of annoyance, not a trace of tension.

"Is it related to the black mage?"

While Philip's mouth moved, Mev asked calmly.

Ian shrugged.

"Maybe."

His gaze calmly swept over the glowing eyes in the forest.

"Shall we find out by killing them?"

"You're right."

Philip, who had been listening blankly, asked.

"Wh-what are those?"

Ian didn't need to answer.

Auuu! Auu!

Wolf howls began echoing from all directions.

The echoes seemed to constrict the mind.

They were not ordinary howls.

Hee-hee-hing!

Ian's horse, tied up a distance away, whinnied spasmodically.

While Philip stiffened at the continuous howls.

"Unless you want to die just watching, pull yourself together."

Ian reminded him again.

Philip clenched his teeth and stood up.

"What should I do?"

He asked, trying to suppress his trembling voice.

Mev, without looking at him, replied.

"Watch the horses. Philip."

"Yes! ...But, by myself?"

Mev, lowering her faceplate, added.

"Ian. You should also retreat and watch the horses."

"I refuse. You go."

"What...?"

Mev turned to Ian.

A puzzled look.

Ian added calmly.

"You can't chase wolves in that armor. You're better suited to hold your ground and fight."

"Then let's retreat together. I can't afford to lose you."

"Is it okay to lose the horses? It's only a few meters. It's better if you cover my back."

"But—."

Just as Mev was about to protest, the echoing howls suddenly stopped.

The glowing eyes disappeared all at once.

"There's something I can do. Follow me. You won't lose anything."

At Ian's firm words, Mev finally turned around.

"...Don't die."

Bullshit. You don't die either.

While Ian was muttering under his breath.

Sssss— Sssss—

A strange sound continued.

It was the sound of the darkness on the ground rippling and surging.

"There are so many..."

Ian muttered, gripping his sword.

In his eyes, the reality of the surging black wave was clear.

Dozens of wolves charging.

The number was as abnormal as the size of each one.

However, Ian had experienced a similar situation in the game.

The scale and intimidation of the pack were much greater now, but—

'I still need to find the leader.'

That was something only he could do.

His thoughts went no further.

A strand of the approaching wave suddenly surged, scattering fierce yellow eyes as it lunged.

A large mouth filled with sharp teeth filled Ian's vision.

Crack.

The sword pierced the center of the mouth.

Ian calmly stepped forward, slashing.

The momentum of the charge added to the thrust, and the sword tip pierced through the wolf's neck, protruding out the other side.

Ian was pushed back, dragging the collapsing wolf.

As he lowered his stance to pull out the sword, two wolves charged from either side.

A grayish magical power surged in Ian's eyes.

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind from around him deflected the wolves' paths.

A swirling barrier.

Crash!

Ian, pulling out his sword, struck the body of a wolf that passed by.

Ian immediately regained his stance.

Another wolf, landing behind him, immediately sprang up to attack.

Crunch!

This time, the wolf's forehead was pierced.

Ian, pushed back by the wolf's momentum, gritted his teeth.

'Shit, should I just burn them all?'

Fire was the easiest way to deal with physical beings.

A pack of wolves could be wiped out just by casting a Flame Step spell and running around.

Like he did at the Kobold lair.

However, he didn't want to reveal that he was a mage to Mev and Philip.

They might become enemies at any time.

Moreover, they would undoubtedly ask difficult questions and make suggestions throughout the rest of the journey.

'I can't go through that trouble just to deal with these damn bastards.'

A grayish swirl of magic power surged in Ian's eyes again.

Lower-level gray magic was known for its subtle effects.

It was perfect for pretending to be a skilled swordsman.

In fact, the residents of the first city he visited in Agel Ran never realized he was a mage until they parted ways.

Whoosh!

An invisible wind barrier enveloped him.

That wasn't all.

Whoosh!

His collar and hair began to flutter lightly as if a gentle breeze was blowing.

Wind Blade. While imbued with wind, it added momentum to his movements and could be turned into a sharp blade at will.

In the game, it was a spell he used while running, but now, with a sword as his main weapon, it was an advantage.

Ian suddenly raised his head.

Three wolves, baring their fangs and claws, were charging at him.

The sword flashed, drawing an arc.

Swoosh! Crunch!

Just before the sword blade touched, the Wind Blade sliced off the mouth of the lead wolf and split the head of the next one.

Whoosh—

The barrier blocked the remaining wolf. The wolf, losing balance in mid-air, crashed into Ian.

Ian, catching it on his shoulder, was pushed back, and he struck the exposed neck with his sword.

Kyaauu—!

Taking advantage of the moment, another wolf howled and leaped.

Just as Ian was about to swing his sword again.

Crack!

A bright blue sword light fell in front of him, slicing the wolf's body in half.

The splattered blood sprayed onto Ian's face.

"......"

Ian, frowning, turned his gaze.

Mev, her armor stained red, was cleaning the blood from her sword.

They had been pushed back to her vicinity during the fight.

Her glowing blue sword and the magic stones embedded in her armor flickered, illuminating the surroundings.

The smell of blood filled his nose.

Around them, several wolf corpses, crushed or split in two, were scattered.

Mev, standing in the center, evoked the image of a vengeful character from the game.

'She's damn strong, even without falling.'

"Clearly not ordinary wolves."

While Ian wiped his face and stood up, Mev added.

Her voice was as calm as ever.

"I agree."

Ian looked around.

The area was a chaotic mix of the wolves' charging trails and the paths of their glowing eyes.

Perhaps because they had lost several of their own in the blink of an eye, the wolves no longer charged recklessly.

Instead, they chose to ambush.

Wolves circling around and attacking from blind spots were repeatedly cut down by Ian and Mev's swords.

Mev led the battle, fully utilizing her strengths.

No matter how much magic power they contained, they were still large wolves.

Their teeth and claws couldn't penetrate her armor, so there was no problem with her defense.

Of course, they could deliver a significant impact by using their weight and speed to collide.

Mev avoided or deflected these with minimal movement.

It was a truly knightly skill.

However, Ian could see that she was not revealing even half of her true strength.

'She probably doesn't want to show me the power of the Paladin's ability yet.'

Even Philip was doing his part.

Holding the reins of three horses in one hand, he used a round shield in the other to fend off charging wolves and draw their attention.

Mev took care of the cleanup, but that was enough.

'They're better than I thought. Both of them.'

Ian clicked his tongue.

It also meant that the time he had was running out faster.

The wolf pack seemed to be driven by a wild frenzy, but in reality, they were under the control of a leader.

In the game, the leader would flee if the pack's numbers dropped below a certain threshold.

At the same time, it was a persistent creature that would never give up on a target it had set its sights on and would pursue it to the end.

That wouldn't have changed in this reality.

If he didn't kill it today, he would have to deal with the same trouble again.

He didn't want to face a pack of wolves that wouldn't even give him decent loot.

Ian's eyes flashed.

Magic Detection.

Combined with his heightened senses from the battle, it sharpened his sixth sense.

As a result, things he couldn't see with his eyes became vividly clear.

The killing intent and madness flowing through the wolf pack.

The waves of purple magic power.

Time slowed down to match.

It was a high level of concentration created by his high mental strength, intelligence, and characteristics.

However, his own movements also slowed down to match the flow of time.

It was a phenomenon caused by his physical abilities not keeping up with the speed of his thoughts.

But now, all he needed was to move his eyes.

Ian's eyes slowly scanned the almost dreamlike scene.

In an instant, his gaze fixed on a point in the forest.

'...Found it.'

The source of the magic waves controlling the wolf pack.

Ian bent his knees and said.

"Watch the horses well."

"......?"

"I'll bring back the head of the leader."

He pushed off the ground.