The woman’s eyes were filled with resentment, faintly mixed with a trace of unwillingness.
Although she had already taken on this state, Lucas knew that she was not dead yet.
“Looks like you don’t need my help here anymore.”
Ivina, drenched in blood, came to his side. Evidently, her fight with the beast had also ended.
“This one’s not dead yet.”
Lucas poked the woman’s head with his sword, trying to get some reaction out of her.
But all he received in return were venomous curses from the woman.
“I know she’s not dead.”
Ivina imitated Lucas, flicking the woman’s head with her sword.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve faced her. Every time we kill her, she reappears somewhere else.”
“I think this might be the reason.”
Lucas picked up something on the ground that looked like skin.
“This woman used this as a decoy before, saving her own life.”
“I had suspected as much. But how many decoys does she actually have? Is the one in front of us the real her or just another fake?”
“Who cares? Kill her as many times as it takes.”
Lucas was about to execute the woman beneath his blade when Ivina stretched out her hand to stop him.
“Wait, I want to ask her some questions.”
Ivina said, tapping the woman’s face with the sword’s edge.
“Tell me about the other leaders of your organization. Don’t waste my time, Serfi.”
The woman called Serfi by Ivina sneered coldly and shut her eyes to avoid eye contact.
“Evading won’t help. One day, we will wipe you all out completely.”
Ivina gripped the sword hilt with both hands and raised her blade.
“Since you refuse to speak, I’ll end your life here and now.”
From the nearby forest came the sound of some creature running wildly.
Lucas turned toward the noise. His enhanced senses told him it was a beast, charging toward them.
“Watch out!”
Lucas lunged forward, pushing Ivina aside.
A pure white giant wolf shot out of the forest like lightning, aiming for the spot where Ivina had just stood.
Had Lucas been a second slower, Ivina would have been torn apart by the wolf’s claws.
The White Wolf landed lightly but showed no intention to continue its attack.
Instead, it gave Lucas and Ivina a meaningful look, then bit into Serfi’s body, swung her onto its back, and disappeared in a flash.
“Hahahahaha…”
Serfi’s laughter echoed through the forest.
“Heaven will not forsake me! You win this time, but don’t think it’s over. We will meet again!”
“Damn it…”
Ivina stared after the White Wolf carrying Serfi, frustrated, and slammed her fist hard against the ground.
“We were so close.”
“Miss Ivina, calm down!”
Lucas grabbed Ivina before she could give chase.
“If she could be rescued, it means they had reinforcements ready. You just fought a beast; there’s no way your stamina can hold up against other enemies right now.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Ivina sighed deeply.
“She escaped again.”
“So, who exactly is this Serfi?”
“She’s one of the kingdom’s most wanted criminals. That’s all I can tell you for now. I’m sorry I can’t share more.”
That was enough.
Knowing this much was already enough.
Lucas looked at the battlefield where Ivina had fought the beast.
The creature’s three heads had all been cut off by Ivina—it was beyond dead.
Ivina indeed had some skills; she fought such a giant beast alone without breaking a sweat.
No wonder she was the captain of the kingdom’s knights.
“Let’s go.”
Ivina lightly patted Lucas’s shoulder.
But as they were about to leave, Lucas heard Ivina’s low murmur.
“Next time, I will never let her escape.”
Back at the convalescent home where they had rested the day before, Lucas saw Leilia pacing anxiously at the entrance from a distance, frequently gazing toward the horizon.
Apparently, she spotted Lucas and hurried over.
“Lucas! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, alive and kicking.”
Leilia reached out to touch Lucas’s face, then ran her hand down his body, trying to check if he was hiding any injuries.
After confirming he was unharmed, she finally relaxed.
“Is everything settled?”
“Yeah, perfectly settled.”
“What do we do next? Our hometown no longer exists. Where do we go from here?”
“Don’t worry about that.” Ivina, who had been standing nearby, finally found a chance to speak. “In the contract between Lucas and me, it’s clearly stated that Leilia’s safety must be guaranteed. So from now on, both of you will come with me back to the capital. I will arrange a place for you to stay.”
“Th-thank you very much.” Leilia bowed respectfully to Ivina.
Ivina nodded at Leilia, then gently patted Lucas’s shoulder, signaling him to follow.
“I have some matters to discuss with Miss Ivina. Leilia, you should head back to my ward first. I’ll be back soon.”
Leilia nodded. Lucas was safe now, so there was no need for her to wait at the door any longer. After confirming Leilia had returned to the convalescent home, Ivina led Lucas to a quiet corner in the city and sat down.
“What’s your relationship with that girl? From the start, I sensed you two are more than just friends.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious about your relationship.”
“We’re close, that’s for sure. Leilia and I have known each other since childhood. After our parents died of the plague, we depended on each other and grew up together.”
“Oh? No wonder that girl cares so much about you. But your relationship is more than that, right?”
“Heh, you’re sharp. You’re right—I and Leilia are involved in that way. We’re just not officially married yet.”
“Is that so… If you hadn’t fled because of the enemy invasion, you’d be getting married soon, right?”
Lucas gave a bitter smile but didn’t answer.
“So, what now? What do you plan to do?”
“The gods have entrusted me with the duty to save Morovira, and I intend to fulfill it. If this world can’t be stabilized, I won’t be able to live a peaceful life with Leilia.”
“So, what exactly does this so-called ‘saving the world’ mean for you?”
Lucas shook his head. For now, he truly didn’t know.
The gods had only told him that something was invading Morovira, but what that something was, he had no idea.
“Since you’re doing this for the world, I can help you find some valuable information.”
“You want to help me?”
“It’s just a small favor.”
“Your purpose must be more than that, right?”
Ivina nodded, not hiding it.
“We can discuss that in detail after we return to the capital tomorrow. But trust me, I won’t do anything to harm you. I swear this by Ivina, Captain of the Kingdom’s Knights.”