Chapter 92

Part 17: I'm Coming to Save You (2)

Whoosh.

As I landed on a branch, it sank deeply under my weight.

However, the trees in the forest were much sturdier than those outside, perhaps due to the mana.

The branch sprang back up, and I used the recoil to leap to another tree.

Being a forest near a jungle meant the trees were closely spaced.

Until now, I had only moved on the ground to travel with my teammates who lacked physical abilities, but if I were alone, there was no need to run on the ground.

I could see the monsters passing below as I ran.

In the past, I would have taken a wide detour, but now there was no time for that.

Moving through the trees didn't guarantee I wouldn't encounter monsters.

There were monsters on the trees too. I faced a spider monster as big as my arm and a bug monster that mimicked a branch.

The monsters on the ground used their large bodies to charge, but the ones in the trees ambushed suddenly while hiding.

If I couldn't sense mana, moving through the trees would have been impossible.

Thanks to sensing the mana in advance, I could cut down the spider monster falling from above with my dagger and avoid the branch-mimicking monster.

Other monsters lunged at me, but I dodged what I could and dealt with the rest, advancing quickly.

Fortunately, the sun hadn't set yet.

After about an hour of moving through the trees, I sensed human mana in the distance.

And I heard Katrin's voice.

"Just a little further. Everyone, keep going!"

In the distance, I could see Katrin and the students through the trees.

I watched her fighting, dazed.

She wasn't pale from losing a lot of blood. Our professor was actively moving and fighting.

Seeing Katrin alive, the deep pain of death seemed to vanish.

I also noticed other familiar faces.

Mirisa, Pia's cousin, and Bria, who survived until the end.

Students from the Knight Department and the Inherited Ability Department, who were said to have died, were also fighting.

Ryde was there too.

The fight seemed like it would end easily even without my help.

I forced myself to stop my body from rushing out.

Unfortunately, reason overcame instinct. I glared at my hand gripping the tree.

'Damn it, should I just join them?'

So far, everything had gone according to plan, but there was no guarantee it would continue.

A slight misstep could mean failing to save Katrin.

However, seeing Ryde fighting with the group, I couldn't move recklessly.

The main reason for enduring repeated deaths and overcoming the pain was to avenge those who killed me.

I had let my stepmother go and ultimately killed the mercenaries during the viscount's time.

I returned to kill the baron, and this time, I was determined to kill Ryde.

I wanted to save Katrin, but I couldn't let Ryde go.

'Damn it!'

I punched the tree and took off again.

Instead of heading towards Katrin and the students, I moved forward to avoid them.

I wasn't sure of the exact location, but the direction was clear.

I moved ahead of Katrin's group and climbed to the top of a tree to check the mana ahead.

I found the place where mana and miasma were concentrated, where the monsters gathered.

Fortunately, it was easy to find.

There was a spot ahead where mana and miasma were swirling.

It wasn't just a place with many monsters but a spot where they had stayed for a long time, accumulating mana and miasma.

"Is this the monsters' nest?"

I flew towards the spot where the mana was concentrated.

I arrived at the monsters' nest quickly.

I hid my mana and approached the nest quietly from the tree.

The nest was filled with lizard monsters with six legs and red tails.

"Is the item Ryde is looking for somewhere here?"

I infused my eyes with mana and searched thoroughly, but unfortunately, I couldn't find the item.

"Did I come too early?"

I thought that if I found it first, I could turn Katrin's group around, but it wasn't that easy.

"Dealing with them alone seems difficult... Should I stick to the plan?"

The number of monsters was overwhelming. Just the number alone was enough to overwhelm Katrin.

In the end, I gave up on finding another way and waited for Katrin's group.

As time passed, the sunset began to descend.

Katrin and the students appeared at the monsters' nest.

Even from a distance, I could see Katrin's face bathed in the sunset.

Seeing the nest, Katrin's face contorted, and the students were stunned.

"This can't be!"

"What is this?"

Fortunately, Katrin quickly regained her composure.

"Everyone, fall back! Form the formation!"

Thanks to Katrin's shout, the students regained their senses, but the monsters noticed them.

Roar!

The largest monster in the center let out a roar.

All the monsters turned to face Katrin.

In the next moment, they charged at Katrin and the students.

I flinched.

Seeing the monsters move, I instinctively wanted to rush out, but I forced myself to stay. Moving now would only get me swept up in the wave of monsters.

Katrin wouldn't be overwhelmed.

I heard that in my previous life, Katrin and the students ran for a long time. They could hold out this time too.

Just before the monsters attacked, I saw Katrin step forward.

"I'll cover the rear. Everyone, run!"

At Katrin's shout, the students ran behind her.

'She runs well when she needs to.'

I heard they moved reluctantly, but watching her, she was running well.

Katrin cut down the charging monsters and pushed them away with her shield, retreating with the students.

"Faster!"

"Block the ones coming from the sides!"

Katrin's voice grew distant.

The monsters followed Katrin and the students out of the nest.

And then.

In the thicket where Katrin and the students had disappeared, a human figure appeared.

Ryde was lying flat in the thicket.

He stretched out his hand to avoid being noticed by the passing monsters.

I smirked at the sight.

"A perfect ability for stealing."

Eventually, when all the monsters followed the humans, only a large monster remained in the nest.

"What confidence? Staying alone?"

I wasn't sure if it was the leader, but it was a puzzling sight.

Look at it. Thanks to staying alone, the thief started to move.

Ryde approached the nest, checking the ring.

As he moved, I also approached the nest.

When Ryde got close enough, the red tail of the lizard monster stood up like an antenna.

The monster's head turned towards Ryde.

Ryde's hand spread out again.

The monster shook its head.

Sweat dripped from Ryde's face.

After a moment, the monster sat back down, and the tail sank to the ground.

'Impressive. It works even on such a powerful monster. But I'm not sure how. Is it just hiding his presence, or making the environment misperceive him?'

Just in case, I waited at a distance.

Ryde slowly moved next to the monster.

He got so close that a slight misstep would touch the monster.

After checking the ring one last time, he carefully examined the ground.

'Damn it, how long are you going to search?'

He moved too slowly. I wasn't sure if Katrin was okay.

I cursed myself for moving slowly and watching him idly.

Just as I couldn't stand it anymore, Ryde pulled a pouch from the ground.

Seeing the pouch, Ryde smiled brightly.

I also smiled and ran towards Ryde.

And I tackled him!

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Ryde screamed and rolled over.

Rumble.

The monster shook its head, perhaps because Ryde's ability had disappeared.

"What, what is this?"

Ryde looked at me, confused.

"What, a righteous hero delivering divine punishment."

Though my life had nothing to do with justice, justice is relative. I could call myself a righteous hero to this villain.

"That bastard? Why are you here... No, the pouch, that's my pouch!"

Confused by my presence, he screamed when he saw the pouch I held.

Hmm, maybe calling myself a righteous hero was a stretch.

"Then, let's skip the righteous hero part. I don't have time, so I'll just deliver the divine punishment."

I wanted to explain everything like the pre-death Ryde, but I needed to finish quickly and follow Katrin.

"Damn it!"

Ryde spread his hand towards me. In that moment, he disappeared.

It didn't matter; I already knew where he was and could see him with my mana.

I chuckled and threw a dagger forward.

Thud!

"Kyaah!"

Blood spurted from the air, and Ryde reappeared.

The dagger was deeply embedded in his side.

Ryde screamed in pain.

If you can't endure such a wound, you should feel sorry for Katrin, who suffered the same.

I walked up to Ryde and pulled the dagger sideways.

Squish.

The wound widened as the dagger was pulled out.

Ryde's mouth opened wide, and he trembled.

His eyes, wide with shock, looked behind me.

"Eek."

I quickly stepped back.

Crack!

A lizard-like monster opened its mouth and pounced on Ryde.

"No!"

Ryde's final scream faded away.

"Though the punishment was short, I don't have time, so let's end it here."

I drew the greatsword on my back and infused it with mana.

I swung it at the monster that was eagerly devouring Ryde.

Squish!

Blood spurted from the monster's shoulder.

Indeed, it wasn't an ordinary monster.

I intended to cut off its arm but stopped at the shoulder.

But this was enough.

I didn't plan to kill it.

Roar!

The monster let out a painful roar.

Roar! Roar!

The roars of other monsters echoed from a distance.

Come back quickly. Your nest and leader are in danger!

Hearing the monsters returning, my job here was done.

I waved at the monster spitting out Ryde's body and started running back.