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Felix stared intently at the backpack Ayla was carrying on her back, thinking.
'I refused even when I offered to carry it for her, there was a reason.'
Ayla nodded her head towards Felix, who was standing there blankly.
"Let's go quickly, we don't have much time."
Felix nodded with a serious face at her words.
Then, following her, he stepped back into the gloomy forest.
Felix quickly swung his sword and launched an attack. His sword glinted in the moonlight.
Whoosh!
His sword accurately cut off the neck of a wolf rushing towards its target.
Yelp!
Some of the wolves were frightened by his resolute hand and retreated.
'Is it okay to have a forest like this behind the academy?'
Perhaps because of the full moon's influence, the beasts inhabiting the forest were also rampaging wildly.
They were almost Monsters.
After finally chasing away the pack of wolves, Felix gasped for breath and plunged the tip of his sword into the ground.
'No. I'm not mistaken, these guys are Monsters.'
As he fought them, he could sense Mana within them.
'I never thought I'd experience a subjugation exercise that upperclassmen do so soon.'
He turned his head and glanced at Ayla.
She was panting, but she maintained a relatively calm attitude.
In fact, until just now, he was doubtful whether Ayla could endure this situation.
Encountering Monsters would be a first for her today.
Even if they were low-level, people usually froze up when they saw Monsters for the first time.
But before long, he realized that he had been worrying for nothing.
Ayla was bolder than he thought.
She didn't just obediently receive his protection, but also helped Felix from time to time by using the Magical potions she had made in advance.
Magical potions that paralyze the target, powdered medicine that amplifies pain, and so on.
Felix couldn't hide his surprise at the sight.
'I thought she was timid, but was I wrong?'
It was so different from the rumors that had been circulating about Ayla.
People said that she had a tender heart and was easily hurt, but there was no sign of that in Ayla now.
"You know a lot about Monsters. Have you ever dealt with them separately before?"
"No, I haven't."
"But how..."
Felix frowned and tried to continue the conversation, but there wasn't time for that.
Kieeeek!
No sooner had they taken a few steps than another Monster pounced on them from somewhere.
He skillfully slashed the Monster with his sword and changed the subject.
"At this rate, we'll both be exhausted before we can even get the herbs. Do you know where the herbs are located?"
Ayla nodded.
"Yes, it'll be in the center of the forest."
"......"
Now Felix didn't even think about asking how Ayla knew the location.
Instead of continuing idle chatter, he focused on clearing the way in the direction she pointed.
Thanks to this, they were able to reach the center of the forest faster than expected.
"It's right here."
At Ayla's words, Felix looked around.
Except for the large tree in the center, there was a large open space around it.
Under the pouring moonlight, all kinds of herbs could be seen growing.
Ayla put her backpack down on the ground and quickly crouched down to start collecting the herbs.
"Shall I help you?"
"No, I'll do it because the herbs shouldn't get damaged. You guard the surroundings."
"......"
Before long, the several pouches she had brought were filled.
Then she shook off her clothes and stood up again.
"Now I'm going to go over there."
Felix frowned at the direction she pointed.
In the midst of a cluster of beautiful blue flowers, a huge Monster was sleeping in the center.
A long, muscular body, sharp thorns growing on its back, scales and jaws as sharp as swords.
Felix, recognizing its appearance, opened his mouth with a worried face.
"It's a Drake. A rare Superior Magical Creature."
He hesitated and looked back at Ayla, asking.
"Shall I kill it?"
"It looks quite strong, are you sure you'll be okay?"
"It won't be easy. But if I attack it by surprise..."
"No, it's okay. It doesn't seem like picking the flowers will wake it up."
Through the information in the original story, she knew that the Drake living in this forest fell into a deep sleep on the night of the full moon.
There seemed to be no need to provoke a sleeping Drake and put themselves in a dangerous situation.
She wasn't even sure if Felix's skills were enough to defeat that Monster right now.
"Then I'll pick them. Teach me how to pick them."
"That won't do either. The roots of the blue evening primrose must be picked without damaging them, and that's very tricky. I have to do it myself."
Felix frowned as if he couldn't understand.
He didn't like the idea of Ayla having to risk approaching a Superior Magical Creature.
"Are you sure that Monster won't wake up?"
Ayla nodded confidently.
"Yes, it will."
"If the Drake wakes up, I'll run over right away."
"Thank you, Felix."
Ayla gave a light eye smile and carefully approached the cluster where the blue evening primroses were blooming.
Fortunately, the Drake was not waking up even though she had reached right nearby.
'It seems to be in a deep sleep as I saw in the original story.'
Ayla carefully sat down as she was and began to dig up the soil with her bare hands.
This was because the roots could be damaged if she used tools.
'I have to pick them without damaging the roots.'
Picking blue evening primroses was a difficult task even for most herbalists.
But after she paid several times more attention, she was able to pick more than ten intact evening primroses after a long time.
Ayla carefully put the flowers in her pouch and put it in her arms.
Then, just as she was about to leave.
Snap.
Something was stepped on by her foot as she carefully backed away.
Ayla lowered her head in puzzlement.
Then she saw something round broken on the ground, with mucus flowing out.
Ayla frowned at the sight.
'What is this... It looks like an egg?'
It was then. Felix's urgent shout was heard.
"Ayla!"
As soon as she heard the sound, Ayla's gaze turned urgently to the Drake.
The first thing she saw was a pair of yellow eyes blazing with anger.
The black pupils turned sharp and a bizarre light was emitted.
Kuaaaak!
The Drake roared in anger and shook itself up. Ayla quickly rolled her body on the ground.
Kwaaaang-!
Soon after, with a terrible roar, the place where Ayla had been standing just a moment ago was deeply dented.
She was breathless. If she had been even a little late in dodging, her body would have been shattered to pieces.
Felix could be seen running madly towards her.
Ayla gasped for breath and moved her body to avoid another attack that was flying towards her.
Kwaang-!
She had taken a body-enhancing Magical potion just in case, but dodging the Drake's attack twice was purely due to luck.
Her athletic ability was usually quite poor.
Then the Drake's tail quickly rushed towards Ayla.
'Am I going to die like this here?'
Ayla gritted her teeth. She couldn't die here unfairly.
She still had a lot to do.
She had to clear her unfair charges and reveal Rosia's identity.
And she had to find the person behind sending her to Duke Blanche's family and take revenge.
As she thought that, her body moved with superhuman speed.
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