Chapter 8: Scrutiny

Raine's footsteps faltered, but he didn't give an immediate answer.

With the support of the Exploration Chapter, a map in his mind clearly displayed the path he had taken, ensuring he could successfully navigate out of the forest. Her words, however, undoubtedly proved that she had lost her bearings. An injured Adventurer who couldn't find her way back, no matter how good her Swordsmanship was, faced an almost foreseeable fate.

He wondered, "The question is, should I take her out with me?"

Raine's mind raced, carefully weighing the pros and cons. Undeniably, she had spoken up for him at the inn. Though he didn't know her motives, she had indeed done so. However, that wasn't enough for him to shoulder the risk of being trapped in the forest.

He had mastered Stealth Step and plotted a relatively safe return route that bypassed the territories of most Magical Beasts. Returning alone seemed to offer a higher success rate. But on second thought, no matter how perfect his route was, it couldn't account for sudden emergencies. There was no guarantee of absolute safety.

If he really encountered Demons, having an extra capable fighter would obviously increase his chances of winning and his hope of making it out alive. That was assuming she didn't treat him as prey.

Just as Raine was hesitating, the Red-haired Female Swordsman spoke again. Her first sentence confirmed his speculation.

"I chased them too deep trying to kill these two Goblins that ambushed me, and I accidentally strayed from my original route," she said. A hint of urgency surfaced in her guarded gaze, mingling with anxiety about the approaching nightfall. "It's getting dark, and I'm not familiar with these woods. Can you take me out with you?"

The Red-haired Female Swordsman wasn't lying. She had only been in Mottled Town for three days. For the first two days, she stayed at the edge of the forest to adapt to the environment. Today was her first attempt at venturing deeper into the outer rim, where it was far easier to get lost than she had anticipated.

The young man in front of her, despite his rather poor reputation, was her only choice right now. An Adventurer who could safely escape from the forest proved, if nothing else, that he knew the way. She even planned to protect this young "guide" if necessary, just to secure a chance to leave the woods.

Meanwhile, Raine remained silent. That silence itself felt like a rejection.

Gritting her teeth, the Female Swordsman eagerly threw out her bargaining chips. "I'll pay you." She shook the bloodstained cloth bag in her hand and continued, "There are five right Goblin ears in here, worth 10 Silver Lions. After we get out, I'll pay you another 40 Silver Lions. How about it?"

"50 Silver Lions?" he thought, the number striking his heart like a heavy hammer.

His entire haul from this expedition amounted to a mere 2 Silver Lions, one crude Short Bow, and six rough Arrows sharpened from branches. Fifty Silver Lions, on the other hand, was enough to completely lift him out of his current poverty. He could even afford a decent set of defensive gear and a few good meals.

Raine subconsciously pulled his thin, coarse linen coat tighter around himself. It was late autumn, and the weather grew colder by the day. Without gear that provided both warmth and protection, his situation would only become more difficult.

"Come to think of it, I only have a Short Sword and a broken bow I just picked up. I don't seem to have anything worth her coveting," Raine thought, quickly assessing himself. An Adventurer wearing Leather Armor who could casually offer 40 Silver Lions probably wouldn't care for his scraps. Not to mention, he was the one capable of leading her out of here.

"Deal." After weighing his options repeatedly, driven by the lucrative reward and a clear assessment of his own situation, Raine made his decision.

"Maintain our current distance. I'll lead, you follow, and don't come a single step closer to me," he immediately laid down the rules. "Once we get back, the balance must be settled right away. No credit."

"Understood." The Female Swordsman breathed a sigh of relief and tossed the bloodstained bag over without hesitation. Her swift action demonstrated her sincerity. "Could you wait a moment? I need to tend to my wound."

Catching the bag, Raine verified its contents and gave a slight nod.

The scent of blood might attract the attention of certain Magical Beasts, making it entirely necessary to bandage the wound. Even inside this bloody Goblin bag, there were herbs to mask the metallic stench.

The Female Swordsman immediately walked over to a large tree, using its trunk to block most of her body. Moving with crisp efficiency, she quickly removed her damaged leather Arm Armor. A wound with slightly parted flesh was revealed, still oozing blood. She took out a hemostatic ointment and clean strips of cloth from her waist pouch, using her teeth and her free hand to apply the medicine, wrap the wound, and tie it tight.

The entire process was smooth and fluid—a level of Skill honed only after countless times of tending to her own injuries. Although cold sweat beaded on her forehead, pasting strands of red hair to her face, she didn't make a single sound. Her lips were merely pressed into a tight line beneath slightly furrowed brows.

A moment later, she put her Arm Armor back on and nodded to signal that she was ready to go.

The two of them began to weave through the darkening forest in single file, maintaining a safe distance.

Initially, the Red-haired Female Swordsman just followed behind, not holding high expectations for this young "guide." The courage and strength of an Adventurer who had once been frightened out of his wits by Goblins were highly questionable, even if she empathized somewhat with his plight. She only hoped he knew the way—nothing more. She would step in if it became necessary.

However, it didn't take long for her to realize something was amiss. The slender figure ahead moved with extraordinary fluidity through the dense forest. What was even more unbelievable was that his footsteps made almost no sound!

"Is that... a Combat Technique?" she thought, her eyes widening involuntarily at the discovery.

Combat Techniques were the stepping stones to the realm of Professionals, the Power countless Adventurers dreamed of obtaining! Even for veterans who had spent years in the adventuring world, mastering just a superficial Combat Technique was enough to be a point of pride.

But this guy looked like nothing more than a greenhorn who had just left home. How could he possibly have mastered a Combat Technique? One had to understand that even prominent nobles and wealthy merchants spent massive fortunes hiring famous Professionals for personal tutelage, supplementing their training with expensive Magic Potions and Magic Tools, just to barely grasp one.

How on earth did he do it? It was simply unfathomable. But undeniably, relying on this point alone, he stood head and shoulders above ninety percent of Newbie Adventurers!

Suddenly, Raine's image grew somewhat mysterious in the Red-haired Female Swordsman's mind.

"No, it seems to be just a Support Combat Technique for hiding footsteps," she thought, quickly calming down and silently evaluating the situation. "It offers limited enhancement for head-on combat, but it's excellent for scouting and retreating. Looking at it this way, it makes sense that this guy managed to escape."

Despite her attempts to convince herself, the initial trace of contempt had vanished from the Female Swordsman's fair face, replaced by a scrutinizing gaze mixed with surprise and curiosity.

This young man, who seemed to be only a few years younger than herself, didn't appear as simple as the rumors in town made him out to be. She followed silently, her eyes fixed on Raine's noiselessly moving back, truly acknowledging this temporary teammate for the first time.