Rachel noticed something was off about Tervan’s footsteps before they had even taken five steps.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.

Tervan had an idea why she was looking at him but could only swallow dryly without saying anything.

“You’re hurt, aren’t you?”

Rachel asked Tervan in a low voice.

But he simply shook his head, pretending otherwise.

“No. I’m not hurt.”

Seeing Tervan feign innocence, Rachel let out a long sigh.

“You are hurt. Let me take a look.”

When Rachel grabbed Tervan’s wrist to stop him, he turned to face her.

Rachel used the mana dispersed in the air to check his condition.

It didn’t take long to detect blocked energy flows in his right shoulder and left ankle.

Rachel first placed her hand on Tervan’s shoulder. Just that touch alone made Tervan let out a small groan of pain.

“Bear with it for a moment.”

“…Okay.”

Rachel slowly began to work her healing magic. White light gathered in her hands.

Tervan watched Rachel’s magic with his lips pressed together.

As the light was absorbed into Tervan, the pain in his shoulder melted away like snow.

Rachel then bent her knee and examined his ankle.

His ankle was as swollen as Rachel’s had been. No wonder his walking had seemed unnatural when he tried to hide his pain.

“And you said it doesn’t hurt?”

When Rachel frowned and touched his ankle, pain overwhelmed him. But Tervan tried his best to suppress his groan. He didn’t want to appear weak in front of Rachel.

Rachel soon worked her magic again to heal Tervan.

The magic emitted light and then quickly disappeared.

“It’s done. Check if it’s okay.”

At Rachel’s words, Tervan lightly tapped his foot on the ground. The pain that had persisted with every movement was now completely gone, vanished without a trace.

After confirming that Rachel was getting up, Tervan awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

After her brief response, Rachel instinctively looked up to check the direction they had fallen from.

From a distance, she could hear someone calling her name. There was no need to confirm who it was—it was Ryan’s voice.

It seemed he was looking for Rachel after she had been attacked and slid down the slope with Tervan.

Rachel and Tervan silently turned toward the source of the voice, their gazes lingering for a moment. Rachel was the first to break their stillness, stepping forward with purpose. Tervan watched her walk ahead briefly before quickly catching up to match her stride, falling in beside her. For some time after, they walked together in comfortable silence, neither feeling the need to speak.

A heavy silence settled between them. Only the sounds of insects, leaves rustling in the wind, and the distant voices of people searching for them could be faintly heard.

Tervan glanced at Rachel several times seemingly wanting to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to start a conversation.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

Rachel said, unable to bear Tervan’s glances any longer.

After moving his lips a few times, Tervan carefully spoke.

“I think I did something stupid. I’m sorry.”

After much hesitation, Tervan’s words were an apology.

When Rachel glanced at him, Tervan awkwardly continued.

“Earlier, when I thought you were being attacked, I rushed in without thinking, but you could have avoided it on your own, couldn’t you?”

“Well.”

Instead of denying it, Rachel simply shrugged her shoulders.

Tervan took Rachel’s response as confirmation.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you were trying to help. Even if the outcome wasn’t good, it couldn’t be helped. I understand.”

Rachel answered in a casual tone.

Her attitude made Tervan feel even more guilty.

After walking with his head down for a while, Tervan hesitantly spoke up.

“Rachel.”

Rachel reflexively turned to him when Tervan called her name.

“Can we… at least go back to how we were before?”

Rachel paused for a moment and gazed steadily at Tervan.

Tervan calmly waited for her response.

“We can’t completely go back to how things were before. Things are different now from when we pretended not to know anything and played blind.”

“Right.”

His mouth felt bitter even as he answered. Tervan sighed softly and nodded. It seemed that wanting to go back to how things were was too much to ask.

Just as he was coming to that conclusion, Rachel continued.

“But our relationship could improve from what it is now. Depending on how much effort we both put in.”

“You mean…”

“I know you’ve been uncomfortable around me since we returned from the monster subjugation. I must have… changed a lot.”

It was inevitable. It would be ridiculous to expect her to remain the same after enduring countless periods of time.

“But Tervan, the fact that we’re friends hasn’t changed, has it? So can’t we just get along like friends?”

At Rachel’s words, Tervan looked down at her with wide eyes.

“Just like friends?”

“Yes. If that’s too difficult, then there’s nothing we can do.”

“…”

Tervan kept his mouth shut and blinked several times. After finishing his thoughts, he spoke with difficulty.

“I’ll try.”

It was hard to agree to it right away. But trying to return to how things were before shouldn’t be too difficult.

Rachel nodded as she took in Tervan’s face as he promised to try.

“I will too.”

When Rachel gave her positive response, a faint smile spread across Tervan’s face.

“Let’s go then, Rachel.”

Tervan extended his hand toward Rachel.

She could have gone alone, but they had just agreed to try to restore their relationship.

After a brief sigh, Rachel took his hand.

Tervan walked with her toward the direction of the voices.

There was no conversation, but the atmosphere between them had become much softer than before.

The two made their way back up the slope and finally reached the place where people had gathered.

By the time they arrived, the attackers had already been subdued.

“Rachel!”

Ryan, who spotted Rachel, ran toward her. He was relieved to see that she appeared unharmed. Just as Ryan was about to smile, he noticed that Tervan and Rachel were holding hands.

Only then did Tervan let go of Rachel’s hand.

Rachel glanced at Tervan once at that subtle timing, then turned her gaze to Ryan.

After a brief pause, Ryan smiled normally and approached Rachel.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine. Are you hurt, Ryan?”

“I’m fine too. Thanks to Rachel casting the barrier at the right time. Thank you.”

Ryan expressed his gratitude. Rachel responded to his words with a smile dismissively.

“Then I’ll escort you back down.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, I insist. There might be another attack, so it would be better if we go back together.”

“Alright then.”

As Rachel agreed, Ryan began to lead her to safety.

Rachel descended the mountain slowly, surrounded by Ryan’s knights.

“So what happened? A sudden attack like that…”

Rachel asked Ryan curiously, thinking it didn’t seem like Duke Bermund’s style to launch such a sloppy attack.

“We captured the attackers and questioned them, but nothing has been clearly revealed yet.”

“Nothing yet?”

“Yes. We’ll have to interrogate them further to know more.”

“Could it be his doing?”

When Rachel mentioned “him,” Ryan immediately understood who she meant.

“Well…”

However, since nothing had been clearly established, Ryan’s response was vague.

“Once the investigation is complete, I’ll let Rachel know the results first.”

“Alright.”

Rachel nodded. Instead of pressing further, she focused on descending the mountain.

Before long, they were able to reach the entrance of the mountain.

The news of the incident on the mountain had apparently spread, creating some commotion.

“Rachel!”

As Rachel came down from the mountain, Count Pluret and Countess Pluret hurriedly approached her.

“Are you alright? We heard there was an attack. You’re not hurt, are you?”

Countess Pluret asked with concern. Rachel smiled gently to reassure the Countess.

“I’m fine. You can see for yourself.”

Although it was meant to be reassuring, the Pluret couple couldn’t easily accept her words.

“Let’s return to the mansion for now.”

“Yes, Rachel. His Majesty the Emperor also said it would be best to end the hunting competition early, so let’s go back.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After responding to her parents, Rachel turned to Ryan, who had escorted her this far.

“Well then, Ryan, I’ll be heading back now.”

“Please do. And just to be safe, it might be best for you to rest at the mansion for a few days.”

“I will. Goodbye then.”

After a brief farewell to Ryan, Rachel left Mount Rodoman with the Pluret couple.