As we moved, the wolf pack spotted us. No matter how careful we were, it was impossible to completely eliminate any sign of our presence.
The wolves, who had been walking on all fours, suddenly stood up and began walking on two legs. It seemed that was the wolves' battle stance.
"Wow...."
Normally walking on all fours, but switching to bipedalism when the battle starts... truly behavior unlike any real animal....
All the monsters here were like that, and it was fascinating.
"Don't underestimate them just because they're small!"
Shi-hyun's shout reached me. I had no intention of being careless. Of course, if we were going to fight, we would fight with all our might. Considering the number of enemies and the nature of wolves, there could be more around, so I immediately used the Light Sword.
An absolute ability when dealing with multiple opponents.... As I sent magic power into the spear, it ravenously devoured the magic power, and light appeared.
The mystical power of my World Tree Spear, the Light Sword with its ignorant cutting power.
When I swung the spear at the charging wolves, they were easily cut down. Shi-hyun moved even faster than me and had already arrived in the middle of the wolf pack. But the wolves didn't attack Shi-hyun, they only watched warily.
It was such a contrast to how they immediately attacked me.
"Do they instinctively know he's strong?"
Was it an animal's sixth sense? The wolves were wary of Shi-hyun and didn't approach me either. Should I break through that gap and protect Shi-hyun's back? Or should I keep a distance and stay on guard? As I hesitated, pondering, Shi-hyun gave an order.
"Don't come!"
Startled by Shi-hyun's shout, I immediately stood my ground, extending my spear and taking a defensive stance. Confirming that, Shi-hyun immediately charged at the wolf pack. As Shi-hyun charged, the wolves also charged all at once.
Their movements were so swift and systematic that it was frightening.
Of course, not all the wolves attacked only Shi-hyun. Six wolves charged at me as well. Since I was already using the Light Sword, I went on the offensive. "Hap!"
Swinging the spear as I charged, the wolf evaded the attack. I persistently followed, swinging the spear, while the other five wolves were gauging the distance, looking for an opportunity to attack.
I continued to attack, trying my best not to show any openings, but my practical sense had deteriorated so much that I couldn't help but allow an opening.
And the wolf didn't miss that opening. The wolf's attack was powerful. Stunned by the impact, my posture collapsed, and I had to roll on the ground. It was a relief that I hadn't dropped the spear in the process.
"Ugh!"
I knew there were many of them, so I didn't let my guard down. It was just that the monster's teamwork was too outstanding.
Should I have gone on the defensive instead? The opportunity was already gone. I crouched down, extending the spear, trying to defend against the attacks somehow.
In fact, my actions were effective, damaging the claws and forepaws of the wolves that collided with the spear.
But that was only at first. The problem was that the wolves quickly realized the danger of the spear and attacked, avoiding it.... I had to create an opening somehow and escape, but I couldn't think of a way.
I was constantly being attacked, and my mind became muddled.
I should have just stayed in the back... I kept regretting it. Then suddenly, the wolves' attacks stopped. To be precise, the wolves were hit by something and flew away.
Rather than trying to figure out the situation, I immediately rolled away to avoid the attacks.
I didn't miss the brief opening when the attacks stopped and rolled diligently, creating a gap.
"Ugh!"
I didn't think any bones were broken because of the armor, but my whole body ached. Enduring the pain, I got up and looked ahead, and the wolves were hesitating.
What happened?
Dealing with the wolves' attacks was the priority.
There were only three wolves in front of me. Six had charged at me, so why?
Looking slightly to the side, I saw a lump of flesh that looked like a wolf.
It was Shi-hyun... he must have thrown a wolf to attack.
"Ha...."
My head was ringing with pain. This wasn't the time to whine about being hurt. The remaining wolves were slowly approaching me.
It was annoying and frustrating, but now was the time to fight. This time, I went on the defensive to avoid making the same mistake as before.
The wolves were watching Shi-hyun's direction, so they couldn't attack recklessly. Okay, let's just hold out until Shi-hyun finishes off the remaining monsters.
What am I doing, stepping up like this?
As the standoff continued, the wolves gradually fell into fear. Well, it couldn't be helped... they could see their comrades falling....
Perhaps in a daze... one of the wolves, with fear-filled eyes, charged at me.
Its movements didn't feel sharp. Even I, who had difficulty moving my body due to the pain, could easily handle it.
I lightly dodged the charging wolf's attack and swung the spear, slicing through the wolf's body, scattering blood and bodily fluids, and splitting the wolf's body.
"One down...."
There were still two left, so I didn't let my guard down and backed away. The remaining two wolves looked at each other, then took a step back.
Could they be trying to run away?
As I stayed on guard without letting my guard down, I felt an ominous presence from the side. Slightly turning my head to check, Shi-hyun was flying towards me with a terrifying momentum.
Yes... he was literally flying.
Shi-hyun, who appeared in the air, fell right between me and the wolves.
"Are you okay?!"
Shi-hyun's eyes were full of worry. It was a natural reaction since he had seen me getting hit....
"Yeah, let's take care of the monsters first!"
To check on my condition, we had to secure our safety first. Shi-hyun nodded and immediately moved. The remaining wolves tried to run away with their tails between their legs, but Shi-hyun was too fast.
Watching Shi-hyun kill the two in an instant, I felt so empty.
To take down those quick and cunning monsters in one fell swoop....
Soon, my legs gave out, and I was about to fall when Shi-hyun caught me.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't know... it hurts."
Shi-hyun lifted me up in a flash and started moving.
"Where are we going?"
"Looking for a place to rest."
"What about the magic stones...?"
We defeated quite a few monsters, but he's not going to collect them?
"I'm more worried about you."
"Then at least take the loot."
"I know, so worry about your body first."
What is this because of my foolishness....
"I should have just held out...."
As I lamented and regretted, Shi-hyun silently listened.
"Don't you think I'm pathetic too?"
"Not at all? People can make mistakes, why are you thinking so much about it?"
"If you weren't here, I would have been dead for sure, right?"
"That's why we're together."
Ha... my husband is so kind, covering for such a pathetic me.
"It's just that the opponent wasn't good."
"And that's how you die?"
"Why worry when I'm here?"
That's true.......
"Sorry...."
As I talked with Shi-hyun, we arrived near a valley before I knew it.
"Okay, let's rest a bit."
Shi-hyun gently put me down, and my body ached all over.
"Is your body okay?"
"Yeah, it's a bit sore, but I don't think anything's broken because of the equipment."
So, this is why people use good equipment... sturdy equipment. Shi-hyun checked the equipment here and there.
"There are some broken parts."
"What?!"
I bought that equipment at a high price! It's broken? No, it's broken because it faithfully fulfilled its role as armor.
"It's a bit of a waste."
"It's important that you're safe."
Shi-hyun gently took off my equipment.
"Ugh...."
"A, are you okay?"
"I'm okay."
When I took off the equipment and checked my body, it was swollen and red all over.
"This is going to bruise."
Shi-hyun looked at my injuries with worried eyes.
"It's a relief that it ended with just this much."
"Should we just go back?"
"Where to?"
Is he saying we should leave the Gate now?
"Are you crazy? The equipment is broken, and you're saying we should just leave? We have to earn the money for the equipment!"
Shi-hyun smiled faintly at my words.
"Do you have the energy to do that?"
That's... am I in an excited state right now? Why am I like this?
"Ha, I don't know...."
Seriously, why am I like this... I felt like I was being too pathetic. Shi-hyun washed his hands and took out medicine from the luggage he had brought.
"Eat this, rest for a bit, and then let's move."
After taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and drinking water, I felt a little better.
"Ha... how pathetic."
I was too full of confidence. I was so sure that I could get a B-Rank anytime... but the reality was not easy.
My stats and equipment were definitely above the level of a B-Rank Hunter. The problem was that the contents were me.
It's not like I had been consistently active as a Hunter, and my Awakener ability was also ambiguous.
"I was stupid...."
To believe that I, who only had B-Rank stats, really had the skills....
"It could happen."
Shi-hyun worried about me and embraced me. That made me feel even more miserable, but I couldn't get angry. I was the one who was stupid and arrogant, so why would I blame Shi-hyun?
"I won't step up so much from now on."
I'll just hide well in the back or prioritize protecting myself.
"Okay, just do what's comfortable."
I was comforted by Shi-hyun's embrace, wallowing in self-pity. After that, we didn't overdo it and leisurely wandered around the Gate. Instead of fighting monsters, I admired the scenery or chatted with Shi-hyun.
Shi-hyun also didn't bother to look for monsters and avoided them appropriately. At first, I thought he just didn't see them, but later I realized he was deliberately avoiding them.
"Don't you have to catch monsters?"
Shi-hyun slightly averted his gaze.
"There's no need to overdo it."
That's true.......
Was it because he saw me in pain? I couldn't bring myself to tell Shi-hyun to catch monsters.
We just enjoyed a leisurely stroll and then left the Gate.
"The sun is setting."
"It's later than I expected."
It seemed Shi-hyun had intended to leave earlier.
"We can shower and have dinner."
"Let's do that."
Shi-hyun said he would cook dinner tonight and told me to rest well. My body really ached, so I couldn't insist and decided to leave it to Shi-hyun.
"Okay, do as you please."
I carefully examined my body while showering, and there wasn't a spot without bruises.
I'm going to suffer for a while....