I ran toward the river as fast as my legs would carry me.
My original plan was to reach the town walls and call for help, but that was wishful thinking. My lungs were already burning, and my stamina was dropping fast.
The terrain wasn't helping either.
The ground here was slightly elevated and uneven, forcing my legs to work harder with every step. At this pace, I wouldn't last long.
…No choice.
I dropped the sack I was holding and sprinted toward the riverbank.
The river was deep in the middle, but the current wasn't too rapid. If it came down to it, I could swim.
I'll survive if I have to.
The goblins were still some distance away.
I raised my hand and began chanting.
"O Lady of Eternal Flame, Goddess who dances in hearth and sun, Grant me a spark of your blessing. Gather, burn, and take form. By your grace, Fire Ball."
I aimed at the goblin in the center.
The fireball shot forward before they could react.
Boom!
The goblin collapsed instantly, its body charred like overcooked meat.
The one beside it screamed, half of its body scorched black from the blast.
Their shrill voices pierced the air, full of rage as if shouting, Stop resisting and let us eat you.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
I still had time.
I chose fire again.
"O Lady of Eternal Flame"
Another fireball formed.
I aimed for the healthiest goblin.
The fireball shot to the right.
The goblin tried to dodge but failed.
Flames swallowed half of its body. It screamed, collapsing to one knee, but it was still moving.
Damn it.
No time to chant again.
I grabbed the dagger I'd taken from the earlier goblin and hurled it at the last one at nearly point-blank range.
The blade hit.
Not fatal, but enough.
The goblin staggered.
I rushed forward and drove my own dagger into its chest.
Then its neck.
Thud.
It fell.
Two down.
One left.
The last goblin limped toward me, snarling, its movements sluggish from burns and injuries.
It lunged clumsily.
I retreated, forcing distance, then began chanting again, this time faster.
A Water Ball formed and shot forward.
It struck the goblin squarely.
The impact sent it flying back, slamming it into the ground. Still alive but stunned.
I didn't wait.
I grabbed a large rock and hurled it with everything I had.
I wasn't about to risk a desperate last strike.
The goblin stopped moving.
Silence.
I staggered back, panting heavily.
My legs trembled.
My hands shook.
"I… survived…"
I never imagined I'd live through something like that.
I needed to rest.
Just for a moment.
My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.
Then a roar.
Deep.
Heavy.
The ground vibrated.
My blood turned cold.
A massive boar emerged from the trees.
Three no, almost four meters tall.
Brown hide thick as stone.
Its body radiated an oppressive presence.
Earth affinity.
Enormous tusks curved forward like weapons forged for war.
Anyone could tell.
This was the end.
The noise from the goblin fight must've drawn it here.
My mind raced.
Think. Think.
Swimming.
That was my only option.
If I dove into the river, maybe it wouldn't follow.
The boar charged.
Just as I turned to run
A massive water sphere slammed into its side.
Then…
BOOM!
The explosion was violent.
The boar was launched several meters away, rolling across the ground before crashing into a massive tree.
The shockwave nearly knocked me off my feet.
I stumbled, barely keeping my balance.
My eyes widened.
"…What?"
Then I saw him.
A man walking toward me calmly, as if the forest belonged to him.
His presence alone was overwhelming.
Mana radiated from him, dense, controlled, authoritative.
A powerful mage.
He had protected me.
I didn't know why, but gratitude flooded my chest.
My thoughts scrambled.
I needed to say something.
Anything.
He stopped in front of me and looked down with a serious gaze.
I opened my mouth.
"Are you my knight in shining armor?"
(WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?!)
My brain short-circuited.
I completely messed that up.
"…No," the man replied flatly. "I'm not a knight. Though I am planning to be one."
(Wow. No sense of humor at all.)
"How did you know?" he asked seriously. "That information is only known to my family."
(Isn't that normal? Power, status, ambition, it's obvious!)
I swallowed and bowed quickly.
"No! I don't know anything. I just… thought you were a knight because of your heroism."
His chest puffed up slightly.
If this were a cartoon, his nose would've grown.
Clearly, the compliment worked.
"I thank you for saving me," I said sincerely. "My name is Sylvan. It's a pleasure meeting you."
I copied the librarian's bow.
His eyes widened.
"I am Sebastian," he said, returning the bow. "You seem accustomed to noble greetings. Are you one?"
"No. I just copied the librarian. I thought it would be safer to greet everyone that way."
"…Smart," he said after a pause.
I pulled out my bag.
"If you don't mind, please take some fruit. It's the least I can do."
"I'll take one," Sebastian said politely.
Good manners.
Rare for someone his age and clearly powerful.
I gathered the goblin ears and their daggers as proof and materials, maybe worth something.
"I don't have much," I admitted, "but I don't know how to repay you."
"Repayment isn't necessary," Sebastian said. "But if you insist… tell me about yourself."
His gaze sharpened.
Right.
He was the one staring at me back at the classroom.
"Sure," I said carefully. "But let me finish my quest first."
I collected the remaining flowers, then glanced at the fallen boar.
"Aren't you going to take it?"
"I could," he replied, "but I don't need it."
As expected.
Rich.
I approached the boar and stabbed it.
The blade barely penetrated.
Thick skin…
I worked from the wounded area instead.
After some effort, I took about three kilos of meat and one damaged tusk as proof.
That alone should fetch a good price.
Then we headed back toward town.
We talked a little on the way, but I stayed alert.
We were still in the forest.
Sebastian seemed curious about me.
I couldn't tell why.
Thankfully, we didn't encounter another monster.
For now, I was alive.