Leaving

The frigid snowfield was filled with deathly silence.

In this land where the temperature was more than ten degrees below zero, there seemed to be no sign of life.

Yet even in the harshest places, life always found a way out.

Even this seemingly lifeless snowfield was home to quite a few living creatures.

It was just that, several years ago, because of a certain maiden—

The powerful creatures nearby had either died or fled, and not many living things remained.

Looking down from the sky, the entire snowfield was utterly quiet. Other than snowflakes swept up by the fierce wind, there was nothing unusual to be seen.

But upon closer inspection, there were still two people on this snowfield.

Lilith and Esdeath lay prone in the snow, watching the area ahead.

Their silvery-white hair provided excellent natural camouflage against the snowfield.

Without looking carefully, no one would have noticed that two people were lying there.

Lilith was currently learning how to hunt from Esdeath.

So that she would not become a burden, Lilith had taken the initiative to ask Esdeath to teach her how to hunt. While Esdeath taught her, she had studied with utmost care.

At that moment, Esdeath had brought Lilith to a place where a certain type of Dangerous Species often appeared.

They were waiting for that Dangerous Species to show itself, then deliver it a fatal blow.

Of course, Lilith would be the one making the move.

To become a good hunter, one needed sufficient patience.

Lilith did not consider herself an impatient person.

So even though she had been lying motionless in one spot for a long time, she showed no trace of impatience.

Esdeath, naturally, needed no mention.

As Lilith and Esdeath waited, a small pure-white beast poked its tiny head out of the snow.

Its sneaky manner was unexpectedly rather adorable.

Seeing a creature emerge, Lilith remained completely still.

Just as the little beast furtively looked left and right, the snow behind it suddenly exploded!

A white shadow pounced onto the little beast, sharp teeth sinking into its body.

A single strike killed it!

The moment the white shadow stopped, Lilith moved.

Like a streak of white lightning, Lilith shot toward the white shadow.

The white shadow was startled. It leaped more than a meter into the air on all fours, then turned and fled. Even so, it did not release the prey clenched in its mouth.

But by the time the white shadow tried to run, it was clearly too late.

Lilith pounced onto its back in an instant, wrapping her delicate little hands around its head before twisting!

With a crack, Lilith snapped the white shadow's neck.

The white shadow's body collapsed limply into the snow, while Lilith rose from its back.

Only after it died could one see that it was a creature resembling a fox—or rather, it simply was a fox.

"Very good. It seems you've become skilled enough at hunting ordinary animals."

Esdeath appeared soundlessly beside Lilith as she spoke.

At the same time, Esdeath was immensely surprised.

She had not expected Lilith to learn so quickly.

It had only been a few days, yet Lilith was already highly proficient at hunting ordinary animals. Her progress was far greater than Esdeath's had been back then.

"Now that we have enough food, should we continue hunting on the snowfield, or leave?"

Lilith dragged the snow fox by its tail and held the small beast that the fox had bitten to death in her other hand. After all, it was meat too.

"That depends on you," Esdeath replied. "I was just about to teach you how to hunt Dangerous Species."

"...Then let's leave. We have plenty of time in the future anyway."

Lilith's days had been very fulfilling these past few days. During the day, she learned how to hunt from Esdeath; at night, she reviewed the day's memories and considered how she could do better.

Together with Esdeath's attentive instruction, Lilith had grown remarkably quickly without even realizing it.

Although Lilith had been very satisfied with these past few days, especially when she heard that Esdeath would teach her to hunt Dangerous Species, there had been a moment when she felt that living on the snowfield was not so bad.

But she had not forgotten that Esdeath had actually been able to leave the snowfield long ago, and that Lilith herself had delayed her.

Esdeath had already done more than enough by teaching her how to hunt. Lilith had no right to ask for anything more.

Besides, Esdeath no longer had any memories worth cherishing on the snowfield. The only thing there was the sorrow of her father and clansmen having died upon it.

"All right. Your strength, speed, and physique are all powerful. Hunting ordinary Dangerous Species would be easy for you—no different from hunting ordinary beasts."

"And the powerful Dangerous Species nearby have already all been eaten by me. The ones left are not worth practicing on. It is time to leave."

Hearing Lilith's answer, Esdeath felt somewhat expectant.

She truly wondered what the world outside looked like.

What were mountains like? What was the sea like?

And were the Dangerous Species outside any different from those on the snowfield?

She was deeply curious about all of it.

Then Lilith dragged the snow fox's corpse and carried the small beast's body as she followed Esdeath toward her home.

Walking behind Esdeath, Lilith could tell that Esdeath was genuinely happy now.

Seeing Esdeath's happiness, Lilith's lips curled upward as well for some reason.

After spending these past few days together, Lilith had already come to regard Esdeath as a friend.

After all, Esdeath's guidance over the past few days had made Lilith feel that Esdeath truly cared for her.

The reason Esdeath trusted Lilith so much was not only Lilith's strange "charm," but more importantly, because Lilith bore no ill will.

No ill will toward Esdeath.

Esdeath was someone who loved and hated boldly. Although Lilith had previously refused to become her younger sister, that did not prevent Esdeath from treating Lilith as one.

Wasn't it perfectly natural to be good to her younger sister?

After returning to Esdeath's dwelling, they did not pack their luggage.

Because it had already been packed days ago.

Or rather, there had been nothing to pack in the first place.

One was a mysterious vampire, while the other had eaten an unknown number of powerful Dangerous Species and possessed a physique far beyond that of ordinary people. They had no need for heavy clothing; they only needed to bring food for the journey.

However, when they left the next day, a curved blade hung at Esdeath's waist.

It was the curved blade Lilith had seen in the tent, the one that had been so well maintained.

Wisely, Lilith did not ask any questions and followed Esdeath out of the tribe.

At the end, Esdeath gave the ruined tribe one last look, a trace of reminiscence flashing through her eyes.

"Let's go."