The pack fanned out, sniffing, tracking. My pulse hammered as I ducked low into the nearest bush. Their noses twitched, closing in.
Four at once? Yeah, no chance in hell.
The leader barked again. The others prowled forward.
I gritted my teeth. My body screamed at me to run. And then—
[Skill Unlocked: Haste][ 30 MP] [-10 MP every minute]
Temporarily boosts movement speed when fleeing danger.
New Skill now, It looks like luck is on my side. I didn't stop to think or read the description—I just activated it on instinct..
Energy surged in my legs.
I bolted.
Bushes whipped against me, branches clawing at my arms as I sprinted with every ounce of strength. My lungs burned, heart hammering, but my feet flew faster, lighter.
Behind me, howls erupted. Two wolves burst from the underbrush, hot on my trail.
The trees thinned. My eyes widened as the forest cleared—
There.
The mansion spires loomed ahead, glowing faintly in the last orange light of dusk.
"…Almost there!"
The forest shook with howls. My legs blurred, lungs burning as I sprinted through the thinning trees. Haste pushed me forward, but the snarls behind me weren't letting up. The wolves were faster than I thought.
One leapt ahead, snapping at my heels. Another's glowing eyes flashed closer from the left.
"Damn it, they're cutting me off!"
I yanked one of the blankets from my satchel, sparked mana into my palm, and hurled a Fireball at it mid-air.
FWOOOSH!
The blanket ignited instantly, falling in a fiery sheet. It smacked onto the lead wolf, engulfing its fur in flames. The beast shrieked and rolled frantically. The other wolf dodged wide, barreling after me instead.
[MP: 210 → 160]
"Sorry, blanket… survival first!"
Branches snapped as I burst into the clearing. My chest heaved, legs pumping harder. The mansion's stone spires loomed ahead—so close I could taste safety.
That's when the shadows moved.
The massive dark-colored wolf I'd seen earlier lunged from the side, its fangs bared. Another wolf flanked it, while the one that dodged my blanket raced up from behind.
Three against one.
My stomach flipped. "No, no, no—this is bad!"
My MP was nearly drained, my HP scraped down by cuts and grazes. My legs trembled with exhaustion.
The wolves circled.
And then—
Congratulations! You have defeated [Lvl 6 Forest Wolf].
EXP gained: +130
Total EXP: 2000/2000 → Level Up!
You are now Level 16.
HP and MP fully restored!
Mana surged back into my veins, my wounds sealing, my chest light again.
I blinked. "…I leveled up?! Now?!"
My lips curled into a wild grin. "Heh. Perfect timing. Alright, let's go then—"
Shadows swirled.
Before I could even react, Kael appeared at my side. He snapped his fingers—
WHOOSH!
The world twisted, and suddenly I was standing inside the mansion gates.
"Kael! The wolves—they're right outside, they'll—"
"Look outside," he cut me off.
I turned. The pack had skidded to a halt, slamming against something invisible. Claws scraped the air, fangs snapped, but they couldn't cross the shimmering veil that rippled faintly at the boundary.
"…They… can't get in?" I muttered, wide-eyed.
"This area is protected by a barrier," Kael said calmly, adjusting his coat as if none of this mattered. "Monsters are powerless here."
I gawked, dumbfounded …That's… actual fantasy nonsense.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Get used to it."
I clenched my fists, teeth grinding. I'd just leveled up—restored, ready to fight—and he stole it away. Still, I swallowed the words, knowing he'd just mock me more.
Kael's lips curved into a wide, almost playful smile. "Now then… let's rate your performance."
"…Rate?" I muttered, blinking.
"Of course. This was part of your training—the first trial to test your basic magic knowledge."
My head whipped toward him. "WHAT?! This is basic magic knowledge."
Kael didn't flinch. His eyes stayed cool, voice even. "Three days just to cross this forest and reach the mansion? Too slow. At best, you should've managed in two. Your result: B-rank."
My jaw nearly hit the ground. "WHAT?!"
"A B-rank," Kael repeated, utterly unfazed. "You should have done better."
"I nearly died out there!" I threw my arms around wildly. "I fought a horned rabbit, a giant centipede, poison lizards, and wolves! I got poisoned, burned through my potions, slept in a dungeon full of skeletons—"
"And yet," Kael interrupted smoothly, "you stand here alive. Which means you passed. Barely."
I opened my mouth to argue, but my body had other ideas. My knees buckled. I collapsed onto the cold stone, groaning as the world tilted.
Kael didn't even blink. "Rest well. You'll need it for what comes next."
The mansion doors creaked open behind him, warm light spilling out like a welcome I didn't deserve.
I dragged myself up with what little strength I had left, muttering under my breath. "A B-rank… unbelievable…"
And with that, I staggered after him, stepping back into the mansion at last.