ITMBWFL 8

“That tone, seriously!”

So that’s how the Golden Lion Unit talks—like they’re just going to push through everything with no strategy at all!

While Kassium and I were about to continue talking, Commander Denver slammed something down hard onto the center of the table, as if he was about to drive a sword into it.

The aura of the fiery demonic sword felt like it could burn the table, and both Kassium and I turned to look at him.

“If both of you really want that mission, then go together!”

“Pardon?!”

Go together?

“You mean we carry out the mission together?”

“Just think of it as a competition. Since the goal is to find the headquarters anyway, whoever finds it first takes the credit.”

Kassium and I looked at each other.

“Fi—”

Kassium tried to say something, but I cut him off first and shouted,

“Understood! We’ll do it!”

I turned back to Kassium sharply. He raised an eyebrow and looked at me like he was wondering what I was thinking.

“Let’s make a bet. The one who finds it first wins.”

“What?”

“The winner gets priority in choosing missions for the next month. That’s fine, right, Commander?”

The commander waved his hand lazily, like he didn’t care and told us to do whatever we wanted.

Kassium let out a small laugh.

“You’re quite skilled at digging your own grave, Rize Artiela.”

“Yeah. I’m good at everything except digging my own grave. Looks like this time, it’ll be yours.”

“Enough! That’s settled! Now get out!”

We both bowed slightly and left the commander’s office at the same time.

The moment the door closed, I went left, Kassium went right, and without looking back, we split up.

And that’s how it happened.

“It’s fine, it’s fine! The one who didn’t show up is the one at fault!”

“Pii.”

As I pushed through the bushes, a rabbit kept trying to jump out of my bag.

“No, Gold Rabbit. The forest is too dangerous.”

This Bezen Forest wasn’t far from the capital, but monster subjugation here was still incomplete.

Because of the monsters’ mana, the whole forest was cold, and thorny plants grew everywhere.

If those soft little paws stepped on thorns, it would be serious trouble.

As I went deeper, small monsters started appearing one by one.

I drew my sword and cut down whatever I saw, moving forward.

“Pii.”

The rabbit kept calling me impatiently.

When I looked at it after focusing on the fight, it was pointing upward with its tiny paw.

I looked up in that direction.

The sky had become darker, filled with thick black clouds.

“The weather isn’t great.”

“Pii, pii.”

The rabbit pointed back the way we came.

“Wanna go back?”

“Pii.”

“No. We haven’t found Luxca yet.”

Now that I had come this far, I wasn’t going back until I found Luxca’s base.

Because then I could really put Kassium’s arrogant nose in the dirt after he stood me up so many times.

‘And I’ve already found a trace.’

My eyes dropped to the ground.

There were huge footprints.

They belonged to Luxca, a monster like a bear made of stone.

Luxca usually hid itself well, but it spread mana into farmland, killing crops, or came at night to slaughter livestock.

So I had to find its base quickly and eliminate the leader.

‘It’s cold. I should’ve dressed warmer.’

The mana-filled winter forest was colder than I expected.

“Pii.”

“Gold Rabbit, don’t come out. It’s too cold.”

But the rabbit ignored me and jumped out of the pocket anyway.

“Don’t run away.”

At my firm voice, the rabbit lifted its paw as if it understood.

It walked beside me in step. It was much smaller than me, but somehow it felt like a partner—reassuring.

Then—

I heard something like metal scraping in the distance.

“…!”

It was Luxca’s roar.

We were finally close to its base.

Usually Luxca monsters gathered in groups under a leader.

If you defeat the leader, the others lose their will and become weak.

So just killing the leader was enough to complete the mission.

‘Almost there!’

Pushing through thick trees, I saw a stone wall covered in plants.

And beneath it, a small cave.

Inside, that metallic sound echoed again.

I ran straight toward it.

The moment I reached the cave, the rabbit jumped in before me.

“Gold Rabbit, it’s dangerous!”

I whispered urgently.

Even if it was fast, if it got hit by Luxca’s massive body, it would be seriously injured.

I sped up and reached out to grab it—

“Kiiiik.”

The metallic sound became clearer.

A chill ran down my spine. Something was moving under my feet.

BOOM!

Something flew toward me like a blade cutting wind.

“…!”

I reflexively leaned back.

At the same time, Luxca’s foot slammed into the cave wall where I had been standing.

I quickly threw a flare onto the ground.

Light exploded, illuminating the cave.

Luxca was revealed.

A huge monster with rough, thick gray skin.

While it closed its eyes against the light, I rushed forward and stabbed its leg.

“GRAAAH!”

Its movement slowed slightly.

‘Leg, behind the knee, waist. Those are vulnerable.’

I stabbed those spots in order.

But it didn’t stop.

Instead, it roared and lashed out faster, like a whip.

‘Too fast!’

Even injured, it was faster than I expected.

One leg came at me—I dodged.

But the other came crashing down.

BOOM!

I ducked, and the wall shattered.

Rocks fell and knocked my sword away.

My only weapon—

I instinctively reached for it.

But—

“Ugh!”

Another kick came.

I dodged, but its claws scraped my arm.

A sharp pain shot through my body.

My head rang like it was being hit.

But I didn’t even have time to feel it.

The other leg was already coming for my head.

I jumped back, rolling away.

But I knew.

It was too close.

Luxca would reach me before I could escape.

‘I can’t die here.’

A bitter sound escaped my teeth.

It wasn’t a meaningful death.

And worse—if Kassium saw this, he would never stop laughing.

But—

“Rabbit… tell Bryce… my knight order vault code is 0316…”

Bryce… sorry I can’t stay until you grow up.

I closed my eyes tightly.

But nothing happened.

In that instant—

“Gold Rabbit!”

I opened my eyes and turned.

The rabbit had jumped high from the ground.

It stabbed Luxca in the eye.

The monster flinched in pain, and its attack changed direction.

That was the opening.

I grabbed my sword and leapt toward its heart.

The blade pierced through its thick skin.

A loud metallic screech echoed above.

Before I lost strength, I pushed the sword deeper.

Finally, Luxca stopped moving.

Its massive body collapsed with a heavy thud, raising dust everywhere.

“Gold Rabbit!”

Where is it?!

“Rabbit!”

Then I heard a small “pii!”

I ran toward the sound.

The rabbit came out from behind the fallen body.

“Gold Rabbit!”

I quickly picked it up.

“Pii.”

It panicked when it saw my wounds.

It tried to jump down, but I held it tighter and rubbed my cheek against it.

“Thank you.”

“…Pii.”

“Thank you, Gold Rabbit.”

I had survived because of it. This tiny rabbit.

Saving someone by risking your life wasn’t easy even for a knight.

But this rabbit had done it.

I looked into its eyes, holding back tears.

“When we go back, I’ll treat you to meat, Gold Rabbit!”

I knew it was brave, but I didn’t expect it to be this bold.

It was even more wonderful than I thought.

On the way back, no more monsters appeared.

The problem was—

“Ahh! Hold on tight, rabbit!”

The weather had gone crazy.

Just a moment ago it was cloudy, and now rain and wind were raging.

The ground was slippery, and my wound stung in the cold rain.

‘At this rate, we can’t push through.’

I quickly headed for a nearby cave.

I lit a fire with flint and branches.

Thankfully, it was empty, and the wind didn’t come in much.

A bit cold, but manageable.

I sat down in a corner.

The rabbit jumped out of my bag and sat facing me.

“Pii.”

It kept checking me.

After a moment, I realized it was looking at my arm.

The arm I injured during the fight with Luxca.

…