The scale of the upcoming expedition was massive.

In front of the mercenary guild’s building, the knights from the royal capital and five priests stood in formation. Meanwhile, the Cavalry Mercenary Guild completed their preparations and lined up in four neat columns.

At the front stood Lavi, dressed in sleek black leather combat gear.

The armor, crafted from werewolf hide tanned thousands of times, fit his muscular frame perfectly, with short daggers neatly strapped to his side.

The massive sword slung across his back, nearly two handspans wide, refracted the warm sunlight into sharp metallic gleams.

The knights standing nearby blinked repeatedly, averting their gazes from the dazzling light.

Next to Lavi, Choro unfolded a map nearly as large as himself. Lavi began explaining the movement routes and camping sites in the Black Forest.

“The northern region of the Black Forest is home to powerful beasts. Ensure that no one strays from the formation!”

In the wide-open space, Lavi’s voice rang with a commanding weight.

“Yes, sir!”

A unified and resounding reply echoed through the air.

Thus began Sel’s final expedition with the mercenary corps.

***

Sel pulled the trigger of her Desert Eagle.

A faint hum emanated from the enchanted weapon as the magic-infused bullet shot out at high speed.

Though the strong wind sweeping through the forest caused the bullet’s trajectory to veer sharply, it hit the intended target with precision.

Thud!

A yeti covered in thick white fur let out a screech before collapsing to the ground. The nearby knights quickly ensured it wouldn’t rise again.

“Sel, 5 o’clock, behind you!”

Philip’s urgent shout came from the rear.

Sel swiftly turned, aimed at the approaching group of yetis, and fired her weapon.

‘As expected, this gun’s range isn’t enough. It’s hard to inflict a fatal wound.’

With a quick motion, Sel holstered the Desert Eagle and pulled out the long sniper rifle strapped to her back.

She closed one eye and peered through the scope.

The strong, unrelenting wind continued to blow, making it difficult to aim as the rifle’s muzzle wavered.

Sel quickly scanned her surroundings and spotted a flustered priest standing idly by.

“You there, Priest.”

“…Me?”

The male priest, wide-eyed, pointed at himself.

“Stand straight at attention.”

“Wh-why? What are you doing, brother?”

The priest’s eyes filled with tears. This was his first battlefield, and he was terrified. To make matters worse, a cold and stern young man wielding a long rifle was giving him sharp commands.

When he hesitated, Sel clicked her tongue in irritation and gestured slightly with her hand. The coldness in her eyes made his knees tremble.

“Hurry!”

At Sel’s urging, the priest squeezed his eyes shut and stood stiffly at attention.

Click. The heavy sound of metal loading echoed in his ears, making his shoulders twitch involuntarily.

Then came another sharp tsk sound.

Peeking through slitted eyes, the priest glanced sideways at his shoulder.

Sel had rested the long rifle’s barrel on his shoulder as a makeshift support.

The magical mechanism of the rifle whirred as it prepared to generate bullets.

The priest began softly singing a hymn, trying to steady his nerves.

“You… you were born to be loved… loved by the Goddess…”

“…Be quiet.”

“Sniff… The Goddess’s love, from the beginning of time… bears fruit through this meeting… with my brother… h-heuk…”

“I can’t focus. Stop singing, Priest.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots rang out in quick succession. The priest’s eyelids fluttered as yetis struck in their weak spots, falling to the ground, writhing before going still.

The advancing group of yetis tripped over their fallen comrades, creating an opening.

The vanguard quickly moved in to eliminate the remaining monsters.

Sel continued firing from the priest’s shoulder, picking off any stragglers.

When the battle was over, the priest stood there trembling, tears streaming down his face, mixing with the snot running from his nose.

“Well done, Priest.”

Sel lowered the rifle and patted the priest’s shoulder.

“…Oh… Goddess…”

The priest collapsed to his knees as if his legs had given out.

Sel gave a faint, bitter smile and helped him to his feet.

***

The returning knights and mercenaries were engrossed in a lively debate over who had slain more monsters.

The only ones silent were Lavi and the knight commander, Graham.

“No matter how hard you lot try, you can’t beat the royal knights!”

“You talk big for someone who failed the mercenary entrance exam last year. We took down way more!”

Braeden and one of the knights were raising their voices and jabbing fingers at each other.

“What are you talking about? We killed seven more than you!”

“Ha, if you’re counting the ones that were already wounded, they don’t count.”

“What?”

“Those wounded ones were all finished off by Sel over there. So, by that logic, we win!”

Braeden pointed proudly at Sel.

“That scrawny boy?”

A knight sneered, scoffing as he walked over to Sel, who was cleaning her rifle with a dry cloth.

The knight kicked over her long rifle, which was propped up nearby.

Sel, who had been quietly polishing the barrel, raised her head sharply.

The knight, sizing her up from head to toe, smirked and curled one corner of his mouth.

“What’s this? A rookie? Does the Cavalry Mercenary Guild take in kids now? Why don’t you go home and drink some more milk, kid?”

“I don’t have a mom.”

“…Did your dad raise you like a kid, then? Huh?”

“I’ve never even seen my dad’s face.”

“Oh… sorry.”

What kind of tragic backstory is this?

The knight, covering his mouth with one hand, quickly offered an apology. An awkward silence hung in the air.

Trying to regain control of the situation, the knight crossed his arms and adopted a haughty stance.

“Anyway, are you seriously claiming you made that shot from that distance?”

“You’ve already seen my skills during the last wager with the knights.”

“Still, hitting a target from that range? You probably just fired at the yetis we already brought down.”

“…Hah.”

Sel sighed, deciding it wasn’t worth arguing. This wasn’t someone who would listen to reason.

Ignoring the taunts, she continued wiping her rifle clean with a dry cloth.

“Look at this brat. Not only is his face smug, but his attitude’s just as shiny, huh?”

“Are you ignoring a knight’s words? You’re clearly a commoner. Should I just…!”

As the knight stepped closer, reaching to grab Sel by the collar, he froze.

Click. A cold, metallic sensation pressed against his chin.

The thick barrel of Sel’s Desert Eagle was pressed firmly beneath his jaw.

Her speed had been so quick, the knight couldn’t even react.

“Should I ‘pierce through’ you as well?”

“You—you insolent wretch! Lower that right now!”

“If you insist, I’ll lower it.”

Sel adjusted her aim, pointing the gun between the knight’s legs.

Her movements were so swift, the knight stumbled, his knees buckling inward.

“Take it down now!”

“Should I aim back at your chin, then?”

“You little…!”

Bang! Without hesitation, Sel pulled the trigger.

“Ahhh!” The knight screamed, collapsing onto the ground.

The bullet narrowly missed between his legs, hitting the ground and leaving a small, round indentation.

The scorched mark between his legs was a stark reminder of how close it had been.

“I’ve got nothing to lose, so don’t mess with me,” Sel said calmly, lowering her gun.

She had spared the knight out of some sense of decency, but only barely.

The knight, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, quickly retreated to the other side.

“Wow, that was incredible! Sel, you’ve got the spirit of a true warrior!”

Philip, who had been watching from a distance, ran over and hung off Sel’s neck.

The weight of him caused her shoulder to slump to one side.

Though Philip had grown taller than Sel, his behavior was still like that of a playful monkey.

He mimicked her words, saying, “I’ve got nothing to lose,” over and over.

“Don’t worry about them, Sel. They’re just jealous.”

“Jealous of what?”

“All the guys trying to learn swordsmanship want to join this mercenary corps. Our commander’s a Sword Master, and the reputation here is better than most knightly orders. Plus, they’d get personal training from the leader.”

“Then why don’t they just join?”

“Our commander only picks people based on skill, so not just anyone can get in. Plenty of knights fail the entrance test. That guy’s no exception.”

“Still, picking a fight on the first day like that… childish.”

Sel sighed, slung her rifle onto her back, and rejoined the formation.

The campsite wasn’t far now. She kept her eyes sharp as they walked.

Still, there was no trace of her mother to be found.

Since this was a large-scale expedition, an extra supply wagon had been brought along, meaning she didn’t have to carry her own gear.

Though the monsters here were much stronger than those she had faced before, Sel had no trouble providing rear support.

Lavi, who had originally claimed he would only observe, swung his sword like a man possessed, frequently glancing in her direction.

‘What’s with him?’

Every time their eyes met, Sel tilted her head in confusion. Not that she minded—his frenzied attacks made her job easier.

“Tonight’s camp will be here. Unload your gear.”

After traveling for a while, they finally reached the campsite.

The knights set up their tents in a circle on the right, while the mercenaries did the same on the left.

Sel wandered near the supply wagon.

“Rookie, don’t you have your gear?”

Eric approached her, already fully prepared in his neatly adjusted attire.

“It’s not here.”

Sel scratched her head and nodded.

Eric began helping her search for her gear, checking to see if it had been mixed up with someone else’s.

From a distance, Lavi’s voice called out.

“Sel, your spot’s over here. Come on over.”

He was standing near the campfire, waving her over.

There stood a neatly pitched tent. Eric frowned.

“Don’t tell me you set up Sel’s tent for him, Lavi?”

In the history of the mercenary corps, Lavi had never set up someone else’s tent.

Even when Eric had developed wrist inflammation from overwork, he still had to pitch his tent one-handed.

“…I thought it was my tent, but it turned out to be Sel’s.”

“Your tent doesn’t even look the same.”

“Sometimes I get confused.”

“Confused between yellow and black?”

“Shut your mouth, just shut it!”

Lavi gritted his teeth and grabbed Eric’s lips with his fingers, stretching them out like a duck’s beak.

Eric, grimacing in pain, slapped Lavi’s hand away and pulled out a handkerchief.

He vigorously wiped the spot where Lavi’s fingers had touched his lips.

“What are you doing? That’s disgusting to watch.”

“I’m wiping it because something filthy touched me. Feels like I’ll get an infection.”

Eric tossed the handkerchief into the campfire.

Lavi stared blankly as the silk handkerchief burned away in the flames.

“By the way, if you burn firewood again like last time, I’ll kill you, Lavi.”

“It’s winter. It’s cold.”

“Cold people can just use their sleeping bags.”

“Sleeping bags aren’t that warm, though.”

Lavi, who had never actually used a sleeping bag and had no idea how effective they were, grumbled as he made it his excuse.

“Fine. Go ahead and try. I’m always ready to sleep without one.”

Eric’s smile was sweet, but his eyes were brimming with menace.

Shocked by the mention of sleeping without a bag, Lavi glanced sideways at Sel’s tent and lowered his voice.

“You lunatic. Do you even know where we are? What if someone sees you?”

“Let them. I’m confident.”

“Just try it, I dare you.”

“And you just try disturbing my sleep like that.”

Eric gave Lavi a once-over, his gaze a clear warning.

At that moment, Sel peeked her head out of her tent.

“There are two extra sleeping bags in here. They’re yours, right, Eric? I could tell by the smell. Thanks, I’ll use them well!”

Sel waved cheerfully at Eric before disappearing back into her tent.

Eric’s scent. Eric’s sleeping bags.

Lavi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sleeping baaags? Unbelievable. You’re giving up your sleeping bags? Not just one, but two?”

“That’s probably less surprising than you pitching someone else’s tent,” Eric said with a casual shrug.

Lavi clenched his fists, glancing back and forth between Eric and Sel’s tent. Breathing heavily, as if he had made up his mind about something, Lavi spun around and disappeared into the forest.