Deep within the forest, the disturbance caused by Naohara and his two companions brought together two groups that should never have met, crossing paths by sheer coincidence.
"To run into an unexpected bonus like this… you can only blame your bad luck."
A group of black-clad figures stood before them, faces covered with masks and blades gripped tightly in their hands. There were around a dozen of them. From their attire alone, it was obvious—they were a band of thieves.
One man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward, looking at the surrounded group with open disdain. In his eyes, they were already meat on the chopping block.
Inside the thieves' encirclement stood four figures locked in a tense standoff. Their gear clearly marked them as an adventurer party.
The four adventurers were in terrible condition, their bodies covered in wounds both large and small. It was clear the thieves had launched a sudden ambush, catching them completely off guard.
Among them, a stout man had suffered the worst. A massive gash across his abdomen continued to pour blood, cold sweat dripping from his brow. Even so, he refused to fall. Forcing himself upright, he gripped his weapon tightly and stared at the thieves with a grim expression.
Another man with golden hair, looking somewhat carefree by nature, glared angrily at the enemy. Behind him, a younger, smaller figure was being shielded by his body.
"Gentlemen, we are just ordinary adventurers. There's no grudge between us. We're willing to hand over all our money. Please, spare our lives."
The man standing at the very front, clearly their captain, spoke in a low voice. In their current state, they had no chance of winning. If they were at full strength, they might have tried to break through, but he too had been injured in the ambush.
If they chose to fight to the bitter end now, the ones who would die would undoubtedly be them.
"If I kill you, the money will still be mine. Why would I spare the four of you and leave myself future trouble?"
The thief leader pulled down his mask, ran his tongue along the bloodstained blade, and stared at the four with a twisted grin. The other thieves behind him burst into mocking laughter as well.
Hearing that, Peter's heart sank. He had clung to a faint sliver of hope, but now it was clear—he and his companions would fall here today.
After obtaining the legendary sword left behind by the "Black Knight," Peter had formed this adventurer team and named it "Swords of Darkness," symbolizing the resolve and will shared by the four of them.
Yet for the first time, Peter felt regret.
Earlier, a tremendous noise had erupted within the forest, causing the four—who had already completed their mission and were preparing to return to town—to stop in their tracks.
Thinking there might be treasure or something similar, Peter had led the group back into the forest instead of heading home. In the end, not only did they fail to find any treasure, they walked straight into a life-or-death crisis.
"Everyone… I'm sorry. This is all because of me."
Peter looked back at his companions, guilt written plainly across his face. If he had chosen to return to town back then, none of this would have happened.
"What are you saying, Peter? We all agreed to it."
Lukrut, the team's ranger with golden hair, replied in his usual lighthearted tone. Even in this situation, he showed no sign of despair. His voice sounded just as carefree as ever.
"That's right. It was a decision we made together. Don't blame yourself, Peter."
Dyne, the Druid with the grievous abdominal wound, forced a small smile through the pain, trying to reassure him.
"We're not getting out of this today. But at least…"
Still speaking in that same easygoing tone, Lukrut showed no fear of death. He simply reached back and gently patted the petite figure behind him.
"Ninya…"
Peter stared at the small figure behind them and froze for a brief moment. Then his expression hardened. Slowly stepping back, he lowered his voice and spoke to the three of them.
"Ninya, listen. The three of us will force a path open for you. You're a Magic Caster. When the opening appears, run. Don't stop, no matter what."
"Captain, I…"
Ninya, who had been hiding behind Lukrut, stiffened and tried to speak, but Dyne cut her off.
"Be good and listen, Ninya. The three of us have nothing holding us back. If we die, we die. But you're different. Don't you still have to save your sister?"
Dyne smiled as he reached into his robes and pulled out a potion. It was one he had kept hidden away—a treasured elixir that could greatly boost his strength. But it would only last three minutes. When the effect ended, so would his life.
He wasn't going to last much longer anyway. The wound in his abdomen was still pouring blood. Rather than collapse slowly, he would stake everything on one final gamble and carve out a path for Ninya before he lost consciousness.
"Even if only one of us makes it, at least there'll be someone left to put up a grave for us. Ninya, you have to survive. I don't want to end up as some wandering ghost."
Lukrut spoke in his usual flippant tone, but his eyes were sharp as he surveyed their surroundings, weapon poised toward the thieves encircling them, searching for the best point to break through.
"As long as you're alive, the Swords of Darkness haven't fallen. Live on, Ninya!"
Peter gave her one last instruction, then gripped his weapon and charged to the right. He had to catch them off guard and tear open a gap. Only then would Ninya have a chance to escape.
Seeing this, Dyne tilted his head back and drank the potion.
Almost instantly, his skin flushed a deep red, and a painful roar tore from his throat. Without hesitation, he raised his staff and began casting. He had no time to waste.
[Nature's Blessing]
[Wall of Earth]
After casting a strengthening spell on Ninya, Dyne unleashed the most powerful magic he possessed.
The ground shook violently as two massive walls surged upward from the earth, cutting off the surrounding thieves and sealing them out. He turned toward Ninya and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Run!"
"Go, Ninya!"
Lukrut struck at the thieves closing in while shouting at the stunned girl.
"Everyone…"
Tears streamed down Ninya's face. She clenched her teeth, forced her magic to surge through her body, and poured it into her legs as she sprinted forward.
She couldn't waste their sacrifice. She still had to save her sister. She couldn't die here…
"Ninya, don't look back!"
Peter swung his blade in a frenzy, pressing forward against the thieves before him. Even as enemy weapons cut into his flesh, he refused to retreat, fighting with reckless abandon as if dragging his opponents down with him.
When Ninya ran past him, Peter's blood-covered face broke into a faint smile. At least, in the end, he hadn't failed completely.
Behind her, the thieves howled and her companions roared, but Ninya didn't turn around. She just kept running.
Don't stop. Don't stop.
Even as the sounds behind her began to fade, she didn't slow down. Instead, she squeezed every last drop of magic from her body, pushing her speed higher and higher.
"Hm? Someone's coming?"
A puzzled voice rang out ahead.
But Ninya, focused on nothing but running, failed to notice the three figures standing directly in her path.