I jumped out of the carriage, urgently shouting, and threw a stone that I grabbed.

Thud-

“Direct hit!”

“Miss! It’s Tangerous!”

As I was getting excited, the skeleton’s eye sockets suddenly turned toward me.

“Dare… to… oppose… darkness… foolish…”

It seemed to be trying to direct the dark magic-like thing that was meant for Irena toward me instead, as its bony fingers started moving busily while muttering incantations. From a distance, the three men ran toward me, urgently shouting.

“Lady Lora! The attack is aimed at you! Dodge!”

But in an instant, a massive black aura from the skeleton’s hand shot toward me.

“How am I supposed to dodge something as big as a house!”

It seemed impossible, but I was in a critical moment, turning to run away.

Swoooosh-

Whooooosh-

Thud-

“How… dare you… me…!”

A sword flew in and instantly pierced the skeleton’s head.

Swooooosh-

Black energy gradually spread from the skeleton’s body. At the same time, the black bones that made up its body began to turn white, starting from the head where the sword was embedded.

As I stared blankly at the scene, magic flew in from all directions and struck the magical beasts.

BOOM-

“Kweeeek-!”

“Sheek- Magic- Sheek- Kueek-“

Amidst the single-syllable screams of the magical beasts, the three men had already rushed in front of me and were surrounding and defending me.

“Lady Lora!”

I sat down, stroking my chest in relief. Irena ran to me and examined my body all over while Demian gritted his teeth.

“Sob. Miss. Why would you do such a thing, sniff. Really.”

“Miss, when will you stop neglecting your own safety!”

“You’re nagging even in this situation? Should I have let Irena die?”

At that, everyone’s expressions sank, and Demian’s lips quivered. I spoke first before he could say more, making him close his mouth.

“Instead of nagging, let’s train in martial arts to protect the young lady from now on.”

Just as incredulity was rising on Demian’s face, who had much to say as usual, the sound of horses approaching came from nearby. It was the direction from which the sword that hit the skeleton’s head had come.

Following the gaze, about a dozen people were approaching on horseback. We watched them tensely.

Irena whispered in a trembling voice.

“Could they be mercenaries?”

“I don’t know.”

I hope they’re mercenaries or knights. In this exhausted state, if we encountered slave traders or rebels, we would surely suffer a terrible fate.

I squinted, trying to focus my dusty, blurred vision.

Clatter-

Eventually, the one who appeared to be the leader stopped his horse in front of us.

After a moment, the dust settled. My eyes widened as I looked up at the saddle.

“You are…”

“We’ve met before.”

It was that man I had seen at the care facility.

I stood up from my sitting position with Sion’s help.

Then I greeted him with a slight curtsy.

“Thank you. You saved my life.”

“It was nothing.”

As I conveyed my calm gratitude, he pulled on his reins and headed to where the skeleton had been.

Thud-

I could see him retrieving his sword that had been embedded in the head and lightly dusting it off.

I tilted my head at the sight, while Sion and Lionel were shocked with wide eyes.

“He pulled that out with one hand.”

After sheathing his sword, he approached me on foot, holding the reins of his horse. The lips that curved under his robe opened.

“It was a cherished sword, so I retrieved it first. Are you injured anywhere?”

“Thanks to you, I’m fine.”

“I have a request.”

Before I could even mention rewarding him, his demand came out, and I looked at him suspiciously, but I couldn’t read his expression hidden under the cloth. With no choice, I asked the inevitable next question.

“What is it?”

“I would like you to accompany us.”

I don’t like this. His behavior has crossed the threshold of suspicion.

Reading my thoughts from my silence, he added an explanation.

“Unless you’re right near Kalschmitz, this area is very Tangerous. It will be difficult with this number of people.”

“But that can’t be considered a reward.”

“It’s a favor.”

A favor, huh. It would be good if we could travel safely.

But I was worried that a favor without reason might return as a debt.

“What’s your reason for offering this favor?”

“A favor is a favor because it has no reason.”

He left behind a wonderful saying and swiftly mounted his horse.

I stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds. Only after Irena gently poked my waist did I come to my senses.

“Do you know where we’re going?”

“If you’re a noble at this time, it must be to high society, correct?”

I was silent for a moment before asking the most important question.

“But exactly what do you do?”

“I’m the leader of the Khan merchant group.”

That doesn’t seem right.

The suspicion that had grown since the care facility began to sprout again.

***

And so began a short journey where strange favor and strange suspicion coexisted.

My carriage was placed at the front, surrounded by the leader and about a dozen people, clearly escorting it.

Looking out the window while eating cookies in the carriage, I leaned back slightly and opened my mouth.

“What’s this? It’s like the magical beasts are deliberately not appearing.”

“I know. It’s become quiet again.”

Suddenly, a peaceful journey began. Until just now, absurdly difficult magical beasts like orcs and skeletons were appearing everywhere, but now not even an ant could be seen.

“If it was going to be like this, we could have gone separately.”

But such words were like precursors to a death flag. As soon as I finished speaking, ominous noises like “kweeek” struck my ears from both sides.

“Oh no. It seems there are more magical beasts, Miss.”

I closed the window and leaned back against the carriage seat, closing my eyes.

“Well. They’ll handle it well. You saw their skills earlier. Surely another skeleton won’t appear?”

“Still, I’m worried…”

Clang-

Kweeeeek-

The sound of clashing and battle cries could be heard from outside.

I listened carefully to see if there were any groans from my companions. Fortunately, I couldn’t hear the three men struggling.

“Sheek- We won’t let this go. Sheek-“

“Ugh-“

“Linden!”

“I’m fine!”

It seems a knight was injured.

After that, there were a few more sounds of confrontation before it stopped.

Knock knock-

“Miss. May I open the door?”

This time, Demian asked in a polite tone, along with a knock.

I got up and opened the door myself.

There were droplets of blood like thin lines here and there on his face. Seeing him, I widened my eyes and asked.

“Are you hurt? What about the others?”

“It’s not my blood. The injured are over there.”

Demian raised his hand to wipe his cheek and pointed behind him.