Chapter 47: Get up, I’ll fight back with you

“Da, da, da-da-da.”

The rhythmic, rapid drumbeats echoed through the passage beneath the bridge.

It was the tapping of a snare drum, instantly drawing Anna’s attention.

Her brows furrowed, and her gaze pierced through the scorched forest, drifting toward the passage at the bottom of the nearby slope.

This was the tacitly agreed-upon Signal Drumbeat among adventurers—never sounded unless absolutely necessary.

It meant a plea for help, an offer to join forces, and, more than anything, that the side beating the drum was willing to give up part, or even all, of the reward.

“Anna? What does this mean?”

Ophelia brushed the ash from her clothes; her pristine white dress was now blotched with black and gray.

Lydia, meanwhile, maintained her streak of misfortune. Her clothes were riddled with tears, and her once knee-length skirt now barely covered the tops of her thighs.

Luckily, she didn’t seem to mind at all, completely unaware of her own disarray.

“It’s a distress signal. There’s a party over there asking for our help.”

Anna pulled the Holy Sword from the ashes, its blade gleaming in the sunlight that had broken through the clouds once again.

“Should we go help them, Sis?”

Lydia tugged at Anna’s sleeve. She clenched her fist at her chest. Anna followed her gaze, seeing an unshakable worry clouding Lydia’s eyes.

She was worried about the adventurers who had sent the signal.

“Anna.”

Ophelia gently shook her head.

“It’s hard enough just keeping ourselves alive, Anna. Think this through.”

Ophelia didn’t refuse outright. She just shrank back a little, weariness in her posture, her left hand unconsciously gripping her right arm.

She left the choice to Anna.

Anna hesitated, her eyes shifting back and forth between Lydia and Ophelia, uncertain what to do.

By nature, she would definitely reach out to help. Lydia was likely the same, but Ophelia…

Anna’s gaze swept over Ophelia. In order to put out the earlier blaze, Ophelia had clearly exhausted much of her magic.

And just before that, she had burned through half her life force to save Anna.

Even someone as proud and stubborn as Ophelia didn’t bother to hide her exhaustion now—she was clearly at her limit.

Could Ophelia… really withstand another round of battle?

Anna didn’t dare make any guarantees.

Those adventurers calling for help were, after all, a bunch of strangers they hadn’t even met.

No ties of cause or fate bound them.

No one could blame them if they chose not to help.

In fact, that’s the way of adventurers—live by your sword, eat by your skill. If you can’t manage, you admit defeat.

But… could she really abandon them?

The one blocking the bridge was the notorious Ululu.

His patrol bombs and Burning Magic Sphere would turn them all to ash.

Ululu—he was capable of any wicked deed.

Anna bit her lip, her palm pressed tightly against the Holy Sword’s hilt. In that moment of hesitation, she felt the sword quiver in her grasp.

She could feel the sword’s fighting spirit, radiating from its very core.

Ding. The sapphire at the center of the sword’s guard suddenly flashed with light.

The blade trembled and buzzed, as if voicing the will that dwelled within.

“Save them.” The sword seemed to say in Anna’s heart.

“Anna… no, the sword…”

Ophelia crouched down, her fingers lightly caressing the blade all the way up to the sapphire.

She fell silent, lifting her head with effort, looking toward the direction where the drumbeat was fading.

If it were Mother… she would probably help them without a second thought.

A shining figure surfaced in Ophelia’s mind.

That silhouette gradually faded, merging with Anna’s own.

Ophelia opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat.

Reason told her not to risk it again, but some things weighed heavier than reason.

At last, Ophelia’s shoulders, which had slackened, tensed up again.

As if venting all the pent-up emotions in her heart, she rubbed her hair, dropped her head, and quickly raised it again. But in that moment, the exhaustion in her eyes vanished.

“Let’s go, Anna. We’ll answer their signal.”

Anna was stunned for a moment, then smiled with easy relief.

“As you wish, Ophelia.”

Anna looked at Lydia, then at Ophelia—the three of them had finally come to an agreement.

“Tan, tan, tan-tan-tan.”

The clash of two swords echoed right as the drumbeat faded.

The drum in the passage fell silent for a moment, then resumed, pounding even more fiercely.

Dimly, figures stood up inside the passage.

“Ophelia, can you make a water mist?”

Anna looked at the open stretch where the forest had burned away and pressed her lips together.

“A mist?” Ophelia raised an eyebrow, quickly scanning the distance between their feet and the passage. She didn’t hesitate, just nodded. “I can.”

“Spread it across, then stay put and use magic to intercept the patrol bombs. Can you do it?”

Meeting Anna’s concerned gaze, Ophelia sighed softly.

“Who do you think I am, Anna?”

She stepped forward, patted Anna’s shoulder, and as their hair brushed, kissed Anna on the forehead.

Smooch. Reluctantly, she let Anna go.

“Take care of yourself, Anna.”

Anna smiled, planting a gentle kiss at the corner of Ophelia’s lips, then tightened her grip on her sword.

“You too, Ophelia.”

They parted without lingering, each heading for their position.

Ophelia raised her hand, then let it fall as if declaring the start of a match. Instantly, a Mist Wall dropped from the sky, curtain-like, blocking off the wide stretch before them.

“Let’s go, Lydia.”

Sword in hand, Anna dashed into the mist. Lydia hesitated for a moment, then chased after her.

Patrol bombs hurtled toward the Mist Wall, only to be knocked from the air by a flying Ice Spear. Anna didn’t have time to look back—she charged straight through the barrier, sliding into the passage. Lydia leapt in right after her.

Only a single armored knight remained in the passage—a young girl. Her helmet had been completely destroyed in the earlier fight and lay as wreckage to one side. In the scorched passage, a few blackened skeletons lay in stark, chilling relief.

Lydia covered her mouth, fighting back an instinctive urge to vomit.

“Can you still fight?”

Anna’s voice was cold.

“Y-yes, I can.”

As if to prove it, the young knight tightened her grip on her sword.

Her shield was warped and cracked, but she still clutched it tightly.

“What’s your name?”

“Je-Jessica.”

A Lion Family Crest was engraved on the girl’s shield. Another runaway Noble Lady.

“If you can still fight, come with me.” Anna’s gaze swept over Jessica, then rested on the remains.

“You don’t want their blood to be shed in vain, do you?”

Anna extended her hand to Jessica. Jessica hesitated, then nodded resolutely.

“Then get up. I’ll fight alongside you.”

Their hands clasped tightly, and Anna pulled Jessica to her feet.

They were ready to storm the bridge for a desperate battle.