The beige bandages stained with blood were wrapped around the abdon, arms, and thighs, and the freshly cleaned longsword was already sheathed, resting gently by her side.
Margaret huddled by the campfire, holding a cup of tea with floating leaves that exuded a refreshing aroma. The rising steam enveloped her face, still stained with mud and dried blood, making her appear more dazed.
At this mont, she seed no longer the captain with considerable authority, always calm, as if everything was under control.
Just an ordinary adventurer who barely survived from the clutches of vicious demons.
Even now, she still could not grasp the reality of everything that had happened earlier.
Clearly, what should have been the most ordinary investigation mission resulted in the loss of two precious teammates, and the enemy they faced was unexpectedly a Great Devil, likely from the Bator Nine Prisons.
It wasn’t even necessary for the foe to make a move; rely the so-called "minions" summoned by that presence had already dragged their squad into a deadly quagmire.
Even now, after the battle had ended, with ample ti and a clear mind to reflect, she couldn’t imagine any possibility of turning the tables.
Closing her eyes and waiting for death, praying that her soul could escape the devil’s search to find peace instead of being made into spirit coins for reuse, eternally wandering in the ghostly wastelands of Hell seed like all she could do.
Yet in such a situation where no light could be seen, in the extre despair, a turning point... erged from an unimagined corner in an unbelievable manner, right before her eyes.
Perhaps many years later, when she had fully retired, successfully handed the "Oathkeeper Blackwood" squad over to reliable successors, or when she lay dying in so other dark, damp cave, she wouldn’t forget the fleeting scene just now, a breath away.
The embers and sparks falling like snowflakes, the sorrowful swirling red flas, the molten sword light, and those eyes as dark as eclipses...
The devils were beheaded, illuminated by the firelight.
And the source of all these changes, which allowed her to continue living and let the na "Oathkeeper Blackwood" be passed on...
Margaret suddenly looked up, her gaze directed across the campfire.
In sight was a young black-haired man, engrossed in devouring the crab at in his hands.
The wound that had almost taken his life through the middle of his chest had already healed, leaving a hollow in the middle of his black shirt, exposing the smooth skin beneath where faint muscle contours could be seen.
There were slight burn marks visible on his shoulders, waist, and abdon, but the bone armor on his legs and the Dark Arm Shield on his forearm remained intact, showing no signs of damage.
His physical state was much better than hers and Soldin’s.
ntal state as well...
Margaret had been in this profession for over a decade and had seen nearly all types of adventurers.
But even the most cheerful and carefree among them rarely relaxed after such a bitter battle that nearly wiped out their group.
At most, they would joke with teammates a little and use so rations to fill their stomachs. It would take a couple of days to gradually ease before they had the mood to celebrate anything, which usually only ca after returning to town.
Yet, the expression of enjoynt when the young black-haired man chewed and swallowed, savoring the taste, could not be faked.
Adding a touch of indescribable strangeness to the complex expression already on the female knight’s face.
As if sensing her gaze, he swallowed the food in his mouth. The young adventurer known as Xia Nan raised the crab at in his hand towards her in an inviting gesture.
Margaret awkwardly declined, instinctively shifting her gaze away and took a sip of the tea.
The warm aroma rose, leaving a sweet aftertaste on her tongue. The pain and fatigue throughout her body seed to ease under the comforting tea fragrance.
Making Margaret’s body tremble slightly in comfort, she sighed:
"This tea is truly excellent..."
"Isn’t it?" Xia Nan raised an eyebrow at their shared appreciation for the taste of the food. "I specifically asked the receptionist at the Association for it."
"If you want to buy so, you can check with Ms. Edwina. I rember she had so in stock at her shop."
Margaret nodded repeatedly in agreent, then turned her head, exchanging glances with Dwarf Soldin, who was wrapped in a blanket and stretching his hands toward the fire.
Slightly nodding.
Now that the battle was over, they naturally exchanged information about each other’s identity and purpose.
They knew Xia Nan’s task was to clear out the goblin nest they were currently in, and the other party was aware that they had co there tracking demon traces.
By a twist of fate, they happened to co together at just the right ti, which led to the encounter just now.
Margaret wasn’t particularly noble, and being an adventurer ant she couldn’t exactly be called kind.
She considered issues primarily from the perspective of interest and safety.
The current situation is very clear.
Morally, Xia Nan saved them from the hands of the devil, allowing the Blackwood Squad to survive;
In reality, the kind of strength he had shown earlier ant that even at her and Soldin’s full strength, they wouldn’t be his match.
In a way, whether the two of them lived or died was really just down to his whim.
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