EPISODE 75

Perhaps Evan had learned Raven before he even grew up. He had started training in swordsmanship at an age when even a toy sword would have been too much for him. By then, the boundary between martial arts and everyday life had already started to blur.

It wasn't in a combat situation but in daily life—like walking down the street or eating—that the influence of swordsmanship would show.

What would happen if he tried to strip away something so deeply ingrained in his body? Naturally, his limbs would falter, twisting awkwardly as they did now.

"Evan! Snap out of it!"

My shout made him flinch, but he still refused to actively use Raven.

This bastard's been off his game for a while now, I cursed inwardly.

This was a real battle, and I couldn't afford to coddle him any longer. I stepped up, taking a more aggressive role, and lunged at the spider.

It didn't take long for Charles' mace to crush the spider's skull. Its eight giant legs twitched violently before it collapsed in a heap.

Mir continued hacking at the corpse with her sledgehammer, her cries echoing through the air.

Evan shook his head.

Charles wiped the spider's foul fluids from her face and sighed. "This is messier than I thought."

"My thoughts exactly," I replied.

***

Breaking ingrained habits was never easy, especially in martial arts.

It was often said that in a battle between skilled fighters, victory favored the one who could identify and exploit their opponent's habits more quickly. Thus, the greater the expertise, the more effort was required to shed these detrimental patterns.

However, this process came with its own challenges. Overcorrecting to eliminate a habit could distort even the movements one had previously mastered.

Why bring this up now? Because, to Evan, Raven seemed to embody nothing but a collection of habits.

Not long after my arrival at Spirit Mountain, my master had said, "Generally, the earlier one begins learning martial arts, the better.

"But this doesn't mean there are no drawbacks. An immature body isn't suited for martial arts. Even if you master the movements, unnecessary habits are bound to form. Furthermore, a child's mind absorbs everything without filters.This is why a teacher is indispensable in early education.

"In that sense, you are fortunate, Youngest Disciple. You are already grown, capable of correcting any flaws in no time."

Of course, this correction was made through physical means, but the point was simple.

Evan must not abandon Raven. If he chose to discard it, doing so in such a short time would be impossible.

As if confirming my premonition, we encountered several monsters shortly after.

"Dieeeeee—!"

"Kuek! I-I'm sorry!"

Mir and Evan's condition showed no improvement. Only Charles and I fought effectively.

At this point, Charles turned to me with a serious expression. "I think we should focus on gathering rather than hunting."

I hummed.

Charles had been talking to me a lot since our first hunt. It seemed I was the only one she could discuss things with. Absurd as it seemed, I felt the same way. Evan, whom I had once trusted without question, was now unreliable, making Charles the most dependable member of our group.

"Wouldn't it be difficult to hunt monsters with these two?" Charles added, glancing behind her.

A few steps away, Mir and Evan trudged along.

I considered her words carefully. Mir's trauma and Evan's dazed state were not issues that could be resolved quickly. Yet, we had only seventy-two hours—far too little time.

In truth, Evan's situation was more concerning. While Mir seemed disappointed by her own inadequacy, she was not entirely discouraged.

However, Evan was completely lost. Disappointment in Raven, guilt toward his father, and doubts about his choices churned within him, creating a storm of turmoil.

I sighed. Being a teacher was no simple task. A teacher worried for their student, offered guidance, and steered them toward the right path.

But what of these so-called instructors? Instead of nurturing, they seemed intent on crushing spirits.

Are they truly Great Masters? I wondered.

Of course, I shouldn't judge them too harshly. In my eyes, the Hunting Master was an exceptional teacher, as was Carzakh, whom I had met in the mountains.

"Switching to gathering will save us time, but..." Charles trailed off, then snapped, "Hey! Are you even listening?"

"I'm listening," I replied. "And I think we should change our plans."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"We might need to use all three days."

Charles blinked. "Weren't you the one who said the forest at night was hell and we should finish before sundown?"

"I did. But this is a training camp." I glanced around. "This area is still within the instructors' range."

"What does that—"

"Look closely," I interrupted. "The path is faint, but it's there. The grass on our side is shorter."

Charles followed my gaze and looked around, but she didn't seem to notice it.

That was understandable. Even if she'd received education for gifted children from a young age, when would a noble lady have had the chance to venture into the mountains?

What was certain was that the wild forests beyond this were far more chaotic. Still, it was true—there were no instructors visibly present here.

"Maybe the grass is worn down because we've walked back and forth? Or it's a carriage trail," Charles speculated.

"There's more. Remember what Instructor Juan said? If we attack other hero disciples, we're immediately disqualified," I pointed out.

"Ah!" Charles' eyes lit up with realization. Thankfully, she wasn't stubborn. "If we're eliminated immediately, that means the instructors have a way to track our movements."

"Exactly. So as long as we don't stray too far, staying here for three days shouldn't be too dangerous," I said.

This was likely a controlled area within a certain radius of the training camp. If I'd known earlier, I would've bought a sleeping bag. It wasn't that expensive.

"Well, that makes sense. Even the monsters we fought earlier weren't high-level." Charles looked at me differently. "Luan Badniker, I'm seeing you in a new light. You're not as impressive as Hector, but I guess bloodlines don't lie, do they?"

"What, do you have a crush on my brother or something?" I teased her.

"As if!" Charles screeched loud enough to startle the two people walking behind us.

"If not, why are you screaming and making a fuss? You're hurting my ears," I said in annoyance.

"How rude...! I take back what I said earlier!"

"Suit yourself."

I let Charles' words go in one ear and out the other as I glanced at the sky. The bushes made it hard to see, but my training in the First Fire Technique allowed me to sense it: the sun was about to set.

"We should find somewhere to stay," I said. "Do you have any experience sleeping outdoors, Lady Rubieta?"

"No," Charles replied.

Figures.

After a moment's thought, I said, "A tree might be best, but the cold will be a problem."

It was the middle of winter, and the forest at night would be freezing. Without tents or sleeping bags, sleeping out here would be like boarding a direct carriage to hell.

"We could start a fire," Charles suggested.

"On the tree?"

"No, just a campfire on the ground. Someone can keep watch," she answered.

"Hmm."

It was a decent suggestion coming from a noble lady, but something about attempting this in the Butterfly Forest felt off. In my view, this place was as dangerous as the Jewel Mountains.

Even though the instructors control the area, starting a fire might unnecessarily attract the attention of monsters, I thought.

Evan, who'd been zoning out, finally spoke up for the first time in a while. "Or we could just not sleep?"

I hadn't noticed when he started paying attention, but apparently, he'd been listening.

I shook my head. "No. We might manage for one day, but we'd be in terrible shape by the next."

We needed results on the first day. Otherwise, the risk was too high.

"Besides, searching the forest at night would be inefficient," I added. "What can you even see in the dark?"

"Uh... right," he muttered.

Evan wasn't usually the type to make such a foolish suggestion. It seemed he still wasn't thinking clearly.

At that moment, Mir suggested something outrageous, "Why don't we sleep in the cabin?"

Charles clapped her hands sarcastically. "A cabin? Wow, what a brilliant idea! Should we start cutting down trees, then? Plenty of wood around here—no shortage of materials! You stupid giant!"

"What are you talking about? Why would we cut down trees?" Mir asked, puzzled.

"Then do you expect a cabin to fall from the sky?" Charles rebuked.

"Isn't it over there?" Mir pointed ahead.

"Huh?"

"What the heck?"

To everyone's surprise, there really was a cabin where Mir was pointing.

"I'm not so tired that I'm seeing things," Mir said.

"Hey, could this forest have some kind of hallucinogenic effect?" Charles asked me.

"Who knows?" I replied.

Still, the possibility of a hallucination lingered, so I focused my Fire Qi on my eyes. Suddenly, my dark vision brightened, and I could see the cabin more clearly. This was the effect of Eyes of Fire, a technique that allowed me to perceive the flow of mana in greater detail.

"I don't think it's a hallucination. But it could still be a trap," Charles said.

I hummed and glanced at the group before nodding. "I'll check it out first. You should wait here."

"Are you sure you should go alone?"

"It's safer than all of us going," I replied.

Charles nodded. "Alright. If something seems dangerous, give us a signal."

"What kind of signal?" I asked.

"Let's keep it simple," she said, extending her arms to form an O. "This means it's safe."

Next, she crossed her arms into an X. "And this means danger."

"Hmm, can you show me again?" I prompted.

"Safe. Danger..."

"One more time," I insisted.

"Safe. Danger..."

"Last time..."

Before Charles could grab me by the collar, Evan intervened.

In return for the valuable signals, I headed to the cabin alone without complaint. I'd argued it was more dangerous to go together, though I wasn't particularly skilled at stealth or hiding. Still, I stepped up, believing I'd fare better than the others.

Up close, the cabin appeared ordinary. It was small and unremarkable, with nothing outwardly amiss. I sensed no presence inside, yet I remained on edge. The air carried the unmistakable scent of blood.

I sheathed the Seven Sins Sword. I didn't know about others, but releasing my weapon signaled my heightened alertness. I was prepared to respond physically.

The cabin lacked windows, and its small chimney seemed too narrow to fit a human.

I had no choice but to wait, just for a moment—then I opened the door. I immediately realized that my sense of smell wasn't wrong.

Inside lay a corpse. It was submerged in blood, but vivid orange strands of hair stood out.

I recognized her immediately.

She was a chatty girl, always quick to speak, often rambling to cover up her insecurity about her freckles. Despite that, her bright personality had made it impossible to dislike her.

Pam lay in a pool of blood.