Among them was Fire grass, a reddish herb known for its bug-repelling properties. Aaron recognized it from the map’s inspection function and plucked a few strands, tucking them into his bag. It might not fend off wolves, but it could keep the smaller nuisances away while he rested.Half an hour later, Aaron sat beside a small fire and he had started using the primitive method, rubbing two pieces of wood together. Thanks to his strength and technique, it took him less than a minute to ignite the flame.As the fire crackled gently, casting flickering shadows around him, Aaron turned his attention back to the map. While scanning the area, something new caught his eye, a yellow dot had appeared.He blinked in surprise.Until now, he had only seen two types of markers: red, which indicated danger, and blue, which represented his own position. The sudden appearance of a yellow dot startled him.With a curious expression, he zoomed in and inspected the yellow marker. To his relief, it displa

Tely and Molt exchanged a glance, and in that moment, both reached the same grim conclusion: kill the girl and flee Frostmoon territory before word could spread. They both got down from the horses and took out the sword from their sheath.Maria’s expression darkened. She had gambled everything by revealing her identity. If before they had wanted to capture her, now they would surely try to silence her permanently.But just as the situation reached its breaking point, an arrow whistled through the air.It struck Tely squarely in the head, dropping him instantly.Molt barely had time to react before a second arrow flew toward him. He twisted instinctively, avoiding a fatal blow, but the arrow still pierced his shoulder, sending him reeling.Aaron, calm and focused, nocked another arrow and let it fly. This time, it struck Molt directly in the chest, puncturing through bone and flesh. The bandit collapsed with a grunt, his sword clattering to the ground.Silence fell over the clearing.A

Outskirts of the Dark Forest. A simple camp had been set up, three tents arranged in a rough triangle, with seven bandits patrolling the perimeter. The air was thick with anticipation and the scent of damp earth.Near the campfire, a few bandits chatted casually."Hey, do you know which noble lady Boss Spider is targeting this time?""No idea. All I know is, if we capture her, the boss promised gold coins for everyone.""Gold coins, huh? I’ll be heading straight to the brothel. This time, I’ll make it count." He grinned obscenely, and the others chuckled in agreement.But one of the bandits frowned, glancing toward the forest. "Tely and Molt have been inside for over an hour. They should’ve caught the noble girl by now.""True. Maybe we just wait a little longer."Another bandit looked up at the sky, noting the fading light. "It’ll be dark soon. You, take two men and find some food. We’ll need it before nightfall."The chosen bandit nodded and left with two others, disappearin

Inside the tent. Boss Spider was reading the notes he had found inside a cave. He studied them carefully, hoping to uncover clues about how to increase the power of his spider.He was so absorbed in the text that he didn’t notice someone quietly pulling back the curtain and watching him from a distance.Outside, Aaron had already spotted the bandit. But what about the spider?He remained hidden, observing silently. What surprised him most was how relaxed the man appeared. Boss Spider looked like a leader, yet he wasn’t vigilant at all.But then again, he didn’t need to be.This was a secret mission. There were no expected enemies, and the bandits under his command feared him, or rather, feared his pet spider. That fear was well-earned. With the creature, Boss Spider had once killed a knight in combat.That victory had inflated his confidence.And with confidence came carelessness.At the same time, Boss Spider, still absorbed in the notes he had found inside the cave, suddenly felt

After relieving themselves, Aaron continued his journey toward Brindle Hollow village.Maria followed behind with an embarrassed look on her face. Growing up in a noble household, she had never faced such situations before. She sighed, feeling a pang of regret for running away from home.But at the same time, she was grateful for meeting Aaron. People like him were truly rare in this world.Despite the uneven terrain, the horse moved steadily without slowing down. Within an hour, they reached Brindle Hollow.Aaron saw tall wooden walls built for fortification. The sight brought him a sense of relief. Soon, they arrived at the entrance. The gate was massive and tightly shut. A watchtower loomed above, and from it, a voice called out loudly:"Strangers, state the purpose of your visit to Brindle Hollow!"Aaron responded without hesitation, raising his voice:"Hey! We’re lost. We need directions to get back to Raven Shore. We also want to refill our supplies."The guard glanced down at t