Jackalman

"Wait a moment?"

Rein turned his head and saw those deep blue eyes, like a starry sky, staring at him.

However, there was no killing intent in her gaze.

Rein breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Is there anything else, Miss Ymir?"

"..."

Ymir frowned.

After a moment of thought, as if she had made a decision, she finally spoke, "This is the 'Bakenya Highlands,' and you really plan to cross it alone?"

Bakenya Highlands?

Why was she emphasizing this place name?

Rein was unfamiliar with this place name. The Ice Ridge Wasteland was vast, and there were countless small place names.

Hearing it, he naturally didn't pay much attention.

Of course, Rein thought he couldn't let her see that he was lost, so he pretended to be calm and said, "Of course. As you can see, I am a wasteland hunter who likes to travel alone."

"..."

Ymir looked at his clumsy performance and gently touched her forehead.

As expected, this guy didn't know his current situation.

After a pause, she explained more directly, "I mean, the 'Bakenya Highlands' is one of the empire's notorious dangerous areas, with many high-level magical beasts appearing. Few wasteland hunters who haven't advanced to a third-tier Demon Hunter come here."

After speaking, she looked at Rein with a strange expression.

"Dangerous area?"

His mind felt like it had received some strange information and couldn't process it immediately.

Rein's first reaction was: Is this woman trying to scare me?

Immediately after, he heard her say again, "Half a year ago, the famous 'Feathered Serpent Wasteland Hunting Team' from the Wasteland Hunter Guild was annihilated nearby. Their captain was a well-known strong individual among the fourth-tier transcendent beings, the Contract Mage Mekasi. And our current location is precisely the heart of the 'Bakenya Highlands.'"

"A fourth-tier transcendent being died here?"

This time, Rein's expression immediately froze.

Finally, he understood why she had given him that strange look earlier.

It turned out she had seen through everything long ago.

A dangerous area that could annihilate a fourth-tier Grand Demon Hunter team – how could a rookie who had just advanced to transcendent dare to trespass?

Recalling it, he realized that the few "Canine Rabbits" he encountered last night weren't due to bad luck, but rather him being incredibly lucky, which prevented him from encountering high-level magical beasts and allowed him to ride his motorcycle deep into the heart of this "Bakenya Highlands."

He also understood that this woman saying so much wasn't because she had some twisted idea of repaying kindness with enmity, but rather a tactful reminder of his foolish actions, wanting to save his life.

"According to her, this place is so dangerous that if I walk alone, I probably won't survive tonight."

At this moment, Rein immediately realized his predicament, and his face grew increasingly grim.

He knew this woman had no reason to lie.

Moreover, she could have ignored him, but she went to such lengths to speak, clearly wanting to repay him for saving her life last night.

The woman's tone was always very calm, indicating that she had the confidence to get out of this dangerous area by saying this.

Continuing to go alone would likely mean he wouldn't make it out of the 'Bakenya Highlands.'

Shamelessly staying behind would allow him to live.

The situation had dramatically reversed 180 degrees. The rescuer had now become the one needing rescue; and the stranger who had been rescued earlier had become the key to Rein's survival.

However, it was difficult to ask for help.

What was even more unexpected was that the woman not far away, instead of pointing out his awkward dilemma, proactively offered him a way out.

"Well, I think my injuries still need a companion doctor to help nurse them..."

She looked at Rein, pondered for a moment, and then asked with a serious expression, "Are you willing to accept my employment, Doctor Rein?"

These words conveyed a high level of emotional intelligence and refinement, making him feel no embarrassment at all.

Rein almost thought he had misheard.

But the next moment, his eyes lit up, and he strode forward, placing his hand over his chest and bowing as he replied, "It is my honor, Miss Ymir!"

His pride hadn't been shattered; it had been lifted by someone else.

This woman was not only smart but also considerate.

For the first time, Rein saw kindness in this world towards him.

The camp had plenty of supplies: sleeping bags, food, wilderness survival gear, as well as surgical instruments and medicinal materials.

To avoid exposing his possession of a Storage Ring, Rein carried all his commonly used items on his person.

Several large bags, making him look like a backpacker on a long journey.

Ymir followed quietly behind him, not speaking proactively again.

Clearly, she had also guessed it. Although she didn't know where the steam locomotive had gone, the Imperial Knight she had thought of last night was probably the somewhat sly young doctor in front of her.

Although she was very curious about Rein's identity, she didn't ask.

Whether he was a commoner, a wasteland hunter, or even a phantom thief... None of that mattered anymore.

After all, she had survived, hadn't she?

"Miss Ymir, where are you going?"

"And you?"

"I plan to stay at the nearest 'Snow Eagle Fortress' for a while."

"Then let's go there."

"Oh."

"..."

Rein walked ahead with his backpack, occasionally helping Ymir behind him when they encountered difficult terrain.

This mysterious and powerful blonde lady seemed accustomed to being taken care of.

Rein guessed that she might truly be the eldest daughter of some high-ranking noble family.

The elegance and composure she displayed in her every move were not the affectations of a spoiled child, but a way of life ingrained in her very bones.

At the very least, people at the bottom of this world, and even ordinary low-ranking nobles, could never cultivate such an arrogant demeanor.

The two walked across the wasteland like this.

Ymir spoke very little to begin with, so much so that they might travel for hours without exchanging a word.

And Rein was also self-aware.

He naturally understood that while it looked like he was taking care of the blonde lady, it was actually Ymir who was bringing him, a mere rookie, along to repay his life-saving favor.

Having received a kindness, he should speak less to avoid misunderstandings and appearing inferior.

And as expected, after walking in the wilderness for a short while, Rein finally understood the true meaning of what Ymir had called the "Bakenya Highlands," a place that could claim the lives of even fourth-tier transcendent beings.

As the two humans traversed the wilderness, their scent finally attracted a pack of terrifying hunters.

"Jackalmen" were a menace in the Ice Ridge Wasteland.

They were not like "Werewolves," humans with beast genes, but true bipedal canine magical beasts – cruel, bloodthirsty, and fierce.

However, due to their high intelligence and their ability to attack in packs, they were also one of the monsters that wasteland hunters least wished to encounter.

And what Rein and Ymir encountered was a pack of over thirty Jackalmen, armed with various stone weapons.

An ordinary adult "Jackalman" was a second-tier magical beast, and their leader was a third-tier.

To put it in terms of combat power Rein understood, an adult Jackalman could easily kill three Canine Rabbits.

They had keen senses and were skilled at tracking and hunting.

If Rein had encountered this pack of magical beasts alone, he would have had no chance of escape and would have been torn to shreds in an instant.

In other words, even a medium-sized team led by a third-tier Demon Hunter would have been annihilated!

Fortunately, he had a powerful figure by his side.

Rein guessed that Ymir was very strong, but seeing as she was injured, her combat power should have been significantly reduced.

He had initially worried about a fierce battle if they encountered this pack of Jackalmen.

But unexpectedly, the crisis was instantly resolved with just a look.

Ymir, the powerful figure, didn't even lift a finger. With a mere stomp of her foot, a bit of frost formed on the ground. Then, with just a glare, the third-tier Jackalman leader let out a "huff huff" sound of submission, and the entire pack scattered!

The more intelligent the magical beast, the more sensitive it was to danger.

They knew that this human was unconquerable.

At that moment, Rein realized that this powerful figure's strength was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

And so, they traveled by day and made camp by the fire at night.

The two traversed the "Bakenya Highlands," one of the most dangerous areas in southern Oma, encountering peril multiple times.

If Rein had been alone, he probably wouldn't have survived even with ten lives.

Finally, after a few days, the two gradually became more familiar with each other and could hold conversations.

No matter how foolish Rein was, he knew that this woman had likely guessed he had secrets, but she hadn't mentioned a single word about it the entire way.

Seeking recommendation votes~ Please, everyone.