New Era of Xin, Year 21 Before
Northern Countries · Arter Forest
"Huff... huff..."
In the forest, a young man leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.
"I finally... finally got away."
The young man looked at the sword in his hand, its blade bitten into a notch, and felt a chill run through his heart.
"There are actually such vicious bird-type Magic Beasts in Arter Forest. Good thing I blocked its beak with my sword, or there would probably be a huge hole in my chest."
Once his breathing had steadied, the young man, Milo, began reviewing the battle. "If Father or my brother had faced it, would they have ended up in such a sorry state?"
"No, if it had been my brother, that bird-shaped Magic Beast should have been the one running away."
Thinking of his brother's ferocious prowess, Milo slumped to the ground and sighed weakly.
"That kind of talent is simply monstrous. How could someone with my aptitude ever catch up?"
"I really don't know what that old man at home is thinking, insisting that I train with my brother as my goal."
"But..."
Milo glanced at the scroll tucked into his chest, and confidence immediately welled up within him.
"Mother, wait for me."
"Once I find this secret realm, my strength will never be inferior to my brother's again. You won't have to argue with Father over me anymore."
Suddenly, Milo, who had only just recovered a little strength, seemed to hear a faint voice echoing through the woods.
"Who's there?!"
Milo instinctively shouted toward the source of the sound, but the moment the words left his mouth, he clapped a hand over it.
Damn it! I forgot Father's teachings!
In the jungle, before identifying your target, you must never reveal your own position first.
Forcing himself to focus, Milo gripped his nicked sword tightly.
Now that his mind had cleared, he did not choose to flee. With only a sliver of strength left, he would not get far even if he ran. Rather than be caught by his opponent without any ability to resist, he might as well preserve enough strength to fight for his life.
Holding his sword tight and keeping his back against the tree as he scanned his surroundings, the young noble Milo suddenly gave a bitter smile.
When life and death truly hung in the balance, Father's techniques turned out to be so useful. He only needed to follow the steps Father had taught him, as if his veteran warrior father were standing beside him right now.
If he made it back alive this time, he would definitely listen properly to the combat experience Father tried to teach him.
"Tap... tap..."
Light footsteps came from afar, instantly caught by the intensely focused Milo.
"There!"
The sword let out a sharp whistle as its point aimed directly toward where the sound had come from. Every muscle in Milo's body tightened as he poured his last reserves of strength into it.
This strike would decide victory, defeat, life, and death all at once!
As Milo concentrated to the utmost, a thin mist seemed to rise around him, while those footsteps drew near.
Suddenly, someone emerged from the woods to one side.
Milo, who had assumed his stance and gathered all his strength, thrust out in an instant. Yet after the sword point had moved less than half an inch, he forcibly stopped it himself.
"M-M-Mother?"
"Why are you here?!!"
Milo stared at the figure in shock. She was none other than his mother, Yawa.
His mother stood there with tears in her eyes, calling his name.
"Milo."
"Why did you suddenly leave home without telling Mother?"
"Never mind, Mother won't ask about that now. Come here, let Mother have a look at you."
Hearing his mother's call, Milo immediately threw down his sword and ran toward her.
"Right, Mother."
"It's so dangerous here. How did you get here? Did Father and my brother come too?"
After reaching his mother's side, Milo suddenly asked and looked behind her for his father and brother.
"Mother... flew here!"
As a thick beam of magic power streaked past, the figure of Milo's mother before him was blasted apart by magic.
"Mo-ther!"
Milo was devastated as he cried out at the scattered remains of his "mother."
"Enough. Why are you shouting so loudly?"
"Look carefully. That isn't your mother."
Suddenly, another voice came from the other side of the forest. Milo looked over and saw that it came from the direction the beam of magic power had struck from.
"What do you mean?! You attacked my mother, and now you're insulting her! How could I not know whether she is my mother?!!!"
Milo roared at the mage who had appeared. His exhausted body was forcibly squeezed for a trace of strength as he grabbed his sword and prepared to slash at Guter.
"Hmm."
"Should I call you filial, or unfilial?"
"You're willing to fight me to the death for your mother, yet you refuse to turn around and look at her one more time?"
Look at Mother's corpse?
Unable and unwilling to see the scene he imagined, Milo immediately closed his eyes and tried his hardest not to look in that direction.
Yet this mage kept bringing it up.
After hesitating for a moment, Milo clenched his teeth and turned to look behind him.
However, there was no sign of his mother's body on the ground. There were only chunks of a Magic Beast's corpse, blasted into pieces and gradually dissipating into the air.
"Th-This is!!!"
"Phantom Ghost," Guter said calmly from behind him. "Young Master Milo, as a noble, you should have learned about this kind of Magic Beast, right?"
"Y-Yes."
"I knew such Magic Beasts existed. I just never expected to encounter them in the Northern Countries."
"Shouldn't these Magic Beasts only be found near the Vilai Region of the Central Countries?"
"Heh, since when does Magic Beast migration follow any logic?" Guter shrugged.
The young noble Milo was still shaken. Recalling the danger he had just been in, fear washed over him, and his heart pounded wildly.
After taking several deep breaths to steady himself, Milo placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply to Guter.
"Esteemed mage, thank you for saving my life."
Ding! Daily mission: Daily Good Deed completed
Hearing the system prompt, Guter's eyes flashed. He also gained a measure of goodwill toward the young man sincerely thanking him.
Then again, it was only natural. It was a life-saving favor. If the young man could not even feel genuine gratitude for that, Guter might as well have saved a dog.
"Do you still have enough strength to walk?"
Guter looked at Milo. Given Milo's condition, Guter could not simply leave a fellow human behind.
"Um..."
"Although I would very much like to travel with you all right now, I truly have no strength left."
"I would like to rest here for a while. Could I ask you to keep watch over me until I recover a little strength, then leave together with you?"
"I swear on my family's honor that I will reward you generously once I get out. My family is..."
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