Chapter 46: ​​A flash of sword

Time rewound slightly, to just before Gawasa and the little demons appeared.

Before that, Lora had planned to quietly leave with her companions while the “Forge Hook” and that suddenly appearing shadow were locked in combat.

Though it was only a brief moment, she had already recognized the shadow—it was likely the person who had helped her back in the prison. But now, she had no time to repay that kindness; her priority was to find a way to lead her companions out of danger.

Lora carefully led her companions through the tall grass, trying not to make a sound, so as not to draw the attention of the two fighting nearby.

Just then, she suddenly noticed the grass around her swaying in waves. From within stepped out a small, ugly, pitch-black creature.

The moment it appeared, it pounced on the companion at the front, pinning him down and biting wildly.

Like a chain reaction, more creatures of the same kind began to emerge from the surrounding grass, one after another leaping out to tear apart Lora’s companions, swallowing them whole.

Seeing this, hearing the agonized cries of her companions around her, Lora froze in place, utterly at a loss.

Should she go help the others? But she was completely outmatched… Should she take this chance to abandon her companions and escape on her own? But where could she possibly run? In fact, she probably couldn’t escape anymore.

The creatures emerging from all directions of the grass launched continuous attacks on Lora’s companions, while simultaneously forming a circle that trapped Lora and the rest inside. There was no way to break free.

Facing this hopeless scene, Lora collapsed to her knees. The other beast slave companions tried to break through the encirclement, but each one was torn apart and devoured.

Lora was utterly despairing. She had no methods, no strength left to change her fate. All she could do now was quietly await death.

Weakly kneeling on the ground, she silently waited for the creatures to extend their claws toward her.

After a while—perhaps by luck or misfortune—Lora was not targeted even as her companions were devoured one by one.

But that mercy ended there. When the last companion was killed, the creatures turned their eyes to Lora, and she knew what was coming next.

Watching the creatures approach, some still clutching her companions’ severed limbs, Lora couldn’t help but wonder: What had she done wrong to deserve this?

Was it because she insisted on escaping the underground chamber, refusing to be slaughtered like livestock? Or because she didn’t want to be sold away to live as a slave for life? Or maybe it was a mistake to live with her family deep in the mountains from the very beginning?

She didn’t know the exact reason for her plight. But even if she did, nothing could be changed now. All her companions were dead. How could she possibly survive alone? Thankfully, she was about to die soon.

As the monsters closed in and extended their claws, Lora closed her eyes, trying to suppress her trembling and fear.

Thinking of her companions’ tragic deaths, and what she was about to face, fear overwhelmed her. She still didn’t want to die. Even if she were to live as a slave forever, she didn’t want to die like this.

She began praying silently to the “Holy Light,” hoping someone might come to save her. She had never had any faith before—this so-called “Holy Light” was just something she’d heard about from her childhood friend.

But now, she had no other choice. She just wished the “Holy Light” would truly respond. No matter what she had to give in return, as long as it meant survival, she was willing!

Perhaps her prayers worked. After a long moment, she didn’t feel any movement from the monsters.

Carefully, she opened her eyes, and before her was a sword’s gleam—a brilliant, dazzling light shining like the Holy Light itself.

Accompanying that sword’s glow were the dying wails of the creatures, and a tall figure clad in full armor—helmetless—stood before her.

Just like the “Holy Light” her childhood friend had described, simply standing there, the figure filled Lora with an overwhelming sense of safety. It felt like there was nothing left to fear.

The one who saved Lora was, of course, Colin. After Gawasa teleported away, Colin gathered the entire rookie squad and, just before the cave collapsed, whisked them out instantly.

Then, while healing the injured members of the rookie squad, Colin was pondering where Gawasa might have escaped to. At that moment, the Paladin’s emblem he had previously entrusted to Liamy sent out a signal.

Though Colin didn’t know what was happening with Liamy, he immediately made a split-second decision between pursuing Gawasa and aiding Liamy.

After apologizing briefly to the rookie squad leader, he rushed here in haste.

When he arrived, he found someone about to be attacked by the little demons. Without hesitation, he swung his sword and cut down all the demons, rescuing the person.

Looking at the scattered little demon corpses before him, Colin breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, he had arrived just in time.

He turned around and extended a hand toward Lora, who was staring blankly at him.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Only then did Colin realize he had saved a beastman. Though he couldn’t tell if she was a fox-type or dog-type beastman.

But Colin didn’t mind. To him, whether beastman, elf, or human, as long as they hadn’t committed unforgivable sins, he would do his best to save them. Even if it were demons… well, demons were a different matter for now.

Seeing no response from the beastman in front of him, Colin first cast a “Quick Heal” on her and then surrounded her with a “Holy Light Shield” to protect her.

Only then did he turn to the side, where Liamy was looking at him impatiently, as if annoyed at his slow actions.

Gawasa’s expression was extremely sour. It glanced at Liamy, then at Colin, before grudgingly and furiously spitting out a sentence.

“So you two are working together!”

“? Of course. Why else?”

Liamy didn’t understand Gawasa’s meaning. Since Colin was called here by her, of course they were on the same side. Had the demon lost his mind?

Seeing Liamy’s self-evident expression, Gawasa grew even angrier. But before it could speak again, a dazzling light flared beside them that couldn’t be ignored.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here. I must be lucky. Or maybe you’re just really unlucky.”

The Paladin’s sword in Colin’s hand burst forth with brilliant radiance, seeming ready to strike Gawasa down at any moment.

“Since you dared to lay a hand on my companions, you should be prepared to pay the price. Just so you know, that price might be more than you can afford!”