Chapter 49

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

 

Freyer pushed his horse faster, weaving between the trees toward the stream.

 

It was where Nazlee Idarand claimed to have seen Lilithia.

 

He searched the area around the water, but nothing—nothing that even resembled her hair.

 

“Where are you… Lilithia.”

 

Freyer clenched both fists so tightly the joints cracked.

 

KROOOOH—!

 

The earth trembled with an orc’s roar.

 

The vibration in the ground felt like something huge was chasing someone.

 

A thought he had prayed would never come true rose coldly in his mind.

 

Lilithia being chased by an orc.

 

“…Damn.”

 

He couldn’t reassure himself otherwise.

 

Not when she wasn’t here.

 

Not when there wasn’t a trace of her.

 

There were orc footprints near the bank—fresh.

 

Freyer grabbed his reins and followed the trail at full speed.

 

After a long time tracking the monster, something glimmered faintly between the disturbed bushes.

 

Even from far away, he recognized it instantly.

 

The necklace he gave Lilithia.

 

Freyer jumped from his horse and snatched the necklace off the branch it was caught on.

 

His teeth clenched until they ground.

 

This confirmed it.

 

Lilithia was being chased.

 

Orc tracks.

 

Unnaturally trampled foliage.

 

Every sign pointed to the same truth.

 

‘Please…’

 

He tightened his grip on the reins until his knuckles whitened and shot forward, following the orc’s trail.

 

 

***

 

 

‘I ran forward blindly.’

 

“Haa… haa…”

 

Sweat drenched my whole body, my breath clawing up my throat.

 

But I couldn’t stop—not with the monster’s footsteps pounding behind me.

 

Thorns scratched at my arms, tearing skin, but I clenched my teeth and barreled through the brambles.

 

“Ah—!”

 

Sharp thorns pierced through my clothes and pricked my skin.

 

But if the alternative meant losing to that monster, I could bear any pain.

 

After running endlessly, I reached what looked like the forest’s end—solid rock rising before me.

 

“Haa… ha…”

 

I grabbed the rock wall, forcing air into my burning lungs.

 

The footsteps behind me had faded.

 

The roars were gone.

 

Only birds chirped faintly through the forest.

 

No red gleam of eyes between the bushes.

 

“I… think I lost it…”

 

I exhaled deeply and collapsed in front of the rock.

 

“Ow—”

 

My hand stung when it touched the ground.

 

Scratches covered my palm—no doubt from the brambles.

 

“God… that hurts…”

 

Only now did I feel everything.

 

The sting of cuts, the ache of muscles screaming after pushing too far.

 

For someone like me, who barely walked more than between the caravan and the estate, running like that was almost unbelievable.

 

“How do I get back…?”

 

My body was a mess.

 

Dark clouds were gathering overhead.

 

And I had no idea where I was.

 

I couldn’t even remember how I reached this place—I had run blindly for my life.

 

“I know this is the end of the forest but… which way leads back to the camp…?”

 

If I could find a high place, I might spot the campfire.

 

I needed elevation—something above the treeline.

 

“Something tall…”

 

I looked around.

 

Only towering trees.

 

And I wasn’t exactly Tarzan.

 

“Oh! The rock! I can climb it.”

 

I slapped my knee—pain shot up my leg instantly.

 

“Ow…”

 

Of all things to forget, I forgot I was covered in wounds.

 

Grimacing, I stood up.

 

“I think… I can climb this much.”

 

There were ledges—places to put my feet, rocks I could grip with my hands.

 

Even in my condition, it seemed barely doable.

 

“It’ll hurt a little, but…”

 

Touching rough stone with my torn palms would hurt, but pain could be endured.

 

I had to find the camp before nightfall.

 

I set one foot on a small ridge.

 

Next was that rounded knob of rock—perfect to grab.

 

Tap—

 

I grabbed it with all the strength I had.

 

Pain stabbed through my palm, making me wince.

 

“Whoo…”

 

I took a deep breath and reached for the next hold.

 

‘There.’

 

If I could grab that spot and push off, I’d be able to pull myself up.

 

I stretched my left hand and thought I had a firm grip—

 

“Huh—? Wait—?”

 

I forgot one thing.

 

The air was damp with the coming rain.

 

The rock was slick.

 

My hand slipped instantly.

 

My body pitched backward.

 

I fell.

 

THUD—!

 

I hit the ground hard, rolling painfully across the dirt.

 

When I lifted my head—

 

Two glowing red eyes stared at me from the forest.

 

KROOOOH—!

 

“I-it found me again—!”

 

I scrambled up, but my leg buckled beneath me.

 

“Aah!”

 

I must’ve twisted my ankle when I fell.

 

Agony shot through my foot.

 

THUMP—!

 

A huge shadow fell over me.

 

“Grrrrr… found you.”

 

That boiling, guttural voice sent ice up my spine.

 

My mind went blank white.

 

Tears began spilling down my cheeks.

 

I wanted to scream for help, beg someone to save me—

 

but fear crushed my voice.

 

KROOOOH—!

 

The orc raised its club high.

 

Its shadow swallowed me whole.

 

My entire body trembled uncontrollably.

 

‘I’m going to die.’

 

I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

CLANG—!

 

The sound of metal clashing was heard.

 

And then—warmth enveloped my shoulders.

 

“You’re safe now.”

 

I opened my eyes.

 

Freyer was holding me, shielding me with his body, sword raised to block the club.

 

A gust of wind blew past, sweeping his silver hair across my cheek.

 

This wasn’t a hallucination.

 

It was him—really him.

 

I could hardly believe it.

 

“Why… are you here…”

 

“I came to save you.”

 

‘You shouldn’t be here.’

 

I had changed the novel’s events—or so I thought.

 

Freyer hadn’t struggled.

 

Everything had gone smoothly.

 

As long as he didn’t come here.

 

Only now did I understand.

 

‘I became the bait that would endanger Freyer.’

 

Even if I changed the story, I couldn’t change his fate.

 

If I left things like this, he would be gravely injured.

 

BANG—!

 

Freyer blocked the orc’s attack, making it snarl in frustration.

 

It lifted its club again.

 

‘No!’

 

I couldn’t let Freyer be hurt and live a miserable life.

 

My body screamed, but I forced myself to stand.

 

“Run! Please—run now!”

 

Freyer’s swing froze for a heartbeat.

 

“I—I’m fine! I don’t know why you came here, but you have to survive! Please!”

 

For your happiness.

 

‘I wanted to change the story for your sake. I couldn’t let you be hurt.’

 

I grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it at the orc’s face.

 

Thunk—

 

The orc jerked its head toward me, eyes widening.

 

“I’m right here!”

 

Drool dripped from its mouth as it stared.

 

‘Good. It’s focused on me.’

 

Grrrrr—

 

If I ran now, it would follow.

 

I forced one step forward.

 

“Ah—!”

 

My ankle screamed.

 

‘Please… please move…’

 

I forced another step—

 

A sharp slicing sound tore through the air.

 

The orc staggered backward.

 

And Freyer’s voice cut through the forest.

 

“Don’t say something so stupid.”

 

“I’m fine, so please run!”

 

My legs trembled, but I balled my fists and shouted.

 

“How can you claim you’re fine when you’re crying like that, Lilithia.”

 

Warm tears streamed freely down my cheeks.

 

I had said I was fine, but I was terrified—absolutely terrified.

 

“I’ll end this quickly. Stay still.”

 

Relief washed over me.

 

My legs gave out and I fell onto the ground.

 

Tears blurred my vision until everything wavered.