When the setting sun pierced the clouds and foliage, casting its last rays through the forest, it was time for Rosa and Cesyana to rest.

"Did I say it was a very, very, very bad idea?"

Rosa wasn't usually that much of a complainer, but she couldn't help but sigh at the red-haired girl who was tied up and haggard and still glared at her fiercely.

She obviously came out to make money, not to make trouble for herself......

"Yes, you said that. Sesyana replied earnestly, "Twice...... Three times. ”

Even though she was depressed, Rosa couldn't help but let out a low chuckle: "Elf, not every question needs to be answered. ”

Sesyana looked at her puzzled—why would she ask if she didn't need to answer?

Rosa sat down with her back against an oak tree, stretching her stiff legs. It had been almost ten days since they had been separated from Norvi, and from the hillside they had just climbed, they could already faintly see the smoke curling at the foot of the mountain, which, according to the map, was the village of Karnak...... In a day or two they would be at Christenburg and leave the big trouble to Ed and Naria—if only they could appease the irascible little red-haired feral cat.

The ten-day journey was more exhausting than any task Rosa had ever undertaken. If it weren't for the fact that she knew Tess and her endless little tricks, and that Sesyana was vigilant and agile enough, and that she was a big man who was loyal to her duties, Tess would have escaped long ago.

She even had to tie up that cute little mongoose and throw it in a bag, its sharp teeth being a wonderful helper for Tess.

Right now. The fat little thing was writhing desperately in the strap beside her, making an aggrieved chirp.

Tess glanced at Mo in the bag, and then glared at Rosa hard. His eyes were full of accusations.

Rosa sighed, took the little mongoose out of the bag, untied the elf's braided muzzle, and stuffed it with a small piece of meat.

Sethyana stood not far away, staring in the direction they had come. The sun went down, and the cold hit in an instant, and Rosa thumped her legs. Resignedly, he got up and prepared to make a fire to cook. The elves are good hunters, but the food they make is so terrible that even Xiao Mo refuses to eat it.

"Wait!"

Sesyana suddenly spoke to stop.

Rosa threw the flint away, reaching for the hilt of the sword at her waist.

Except that a flock of crows followed them for two or three days. They didn't notice anyone following them along the way, but the look on Norvi's face when she left had always made Rosa a little uneasy, and with the fact that there were still undead wandering in the woods, it was always a good idea to be careful.

A moment later. Sethiana shook her head.

"Nothing. He said. "Maybe it's ......"

The elves had always been confident in their keen senses, and Rosa had never seen him so hesitant and uncertain, which made her even more vigilant.

"Maybe we'd better keep going. She suggested.

Sesyana nodded, no objection.

But Tess protested the hardest. She was rudely gagged by Sesyana, who could no longer stand her endless roars, begging, cursing and crying, and could only whine from her throat. At the same time, he kicked his legs and rolled on the ground, looking like he would not leave.

Akan silently took her in his arms. Tess once tried to break free. A deep wound had been made in his thick arm with her small dagger that she had not yet hidden—but he did not let go, and Rosa sometimes even suspected that the big man felt no pain at all.

Maybe a little guilty, then when Tess is firmly held to her chest by the big man, she will always be involuntarily well-behaved.

They continued south—toward the place where smoke was rising. Thinking that this journey was finally coming to an end, everyone was tired, but the pace was getting faster and faster. The good thing about having elves is that they never have to worry about getting lost in the forest. Cessyana can accurately determine the direction by looking up at the starry sky or touching the bark and moss.

However, the elves often forget that their companions do not possess his extraordinary eyesight, and on several occasions they have lost their figures in the darkness of the night, and have to call out and wait for Cethiana to return to them.

If it weren't for that, they'd probably be in Christos by now......

But tonight, Segiana's steps were unusually cautious.

He even prevented Rosa from lighting a torch.

"That makes the darkness darker. He said.

Rosa shrugged and didn't insist.

She realized something was wrong. Sesyana looked back frequently, as if he felt something, but he couldn't be sure.

It didn't feel good at all for her heart to be suspended in the air - eventually, she was relieved when the faint sound of breaking the air hit Tess in Akan's arms.

The sword flashed, and Sethana's slender blade narrowly blocked Tess's forehead, and a tiny arrow slammed into the blade, falling feebly along with a few red hairs.

"Get down!" Sesyana shouted, his tone tense as never before.

More arrows burst through the air, and Rosa nimbly dodged behind a maple tree, only to realize that all the attacks were directed at Tess.

Akan didn't lie down—it would have crushed Tess into a loaf of bread, he just let out a low roar and crouched down in a ball, holding Tess tightly in his arms like a child.

With a few soft clanging sounds, Cesyana and Rosa managed to block almost all of the arrows, except for one stuck in Akan's forearm, and the big man didn't even bother to look at it.

Rosa quickly pulled out the arrow and looked at it in the moonlight.

"It's not poisonous. She said, put her mind at ease.

"Elven weapons don't quench. Sesyana's voice was low, but it was unusually clear in Rosa's ears.

"Elf?" she was stunned, and there seemed to be a dark shadow flashing in front of her.

By the time she realized it was an enemy, Sesyana's twin swords had been swung out.

She blinked, barely making out the movements of the two men in the fierce fight. In the moonlight, only the cold light on the blade kept flashing. She was dazzled and dizzy.

She twisted her face away, took a step back, and protected Akan - if there was an enemy of equal strength hidden in the darkness. She was sure that she was not an opponent.

In addition to the soft sound of weapons clashing, the two men in the fight ...... The two elves, neither of them made a sound. Each exchange was light and short, as if neither of them was doing their best. But Rosa understands that it is because both sides are quick to recognize which blow is useless and to recover it just as quickly.

The opponent was shorter and more slender than Siana, looking petite and almost like a woman, but Sejaana's men did not hesitate.

to later. Rosa could barely hear the wind—a speed and reaction that humans could never match.

She wasn't even sure when the fight was over. It's just that in an instant, only Sesyana's figure is left in front of him. The elf bowed slightly, his swords staggered in front of his chest. Still vigilant.

His chest was heaving rapidly, and there were fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Although the battle was not long, it was obviously not easy for him.

Rosa frowned as she watched a dark trail pass from Sesyana's shoulder.

“...... Are you hurt?" As the elves slowly retract their swords. She asked softly.

"He's the same. Sesyana's answer was not without pride.

"Who the hell is that?" Rosa couldn't help but ask, "a sword dancer like you?"

Sethana shook her head, her face gloomy.

He gestured to indicate that Akan was in danger. Although he knew that Akan just couldn't speak, not that he couldn't hear, he had always been more accustomed to using gestures to communicate with big men.

Akan stood up, his slightly loosened arms revealing Tess's reddened little face and round, angry eyes.

Sesyana reached out and ripped off the strip of cloth that had been tied to her mouth.

Tess spat violently in disgust. So that the elf had to take a step back.

"What the hell are you in trouble with?" he asked in a low voice, "why did the Shadow Dancer come after you?"

Shadow Dancer?—Rosa's eyes widened in confusion. She grew up in Stonebuge. The elves were far more familiar than people from other places, but this was the first time they had heard the term.

“...... What the hell is a shadow dancer?" Tess's dry voice had a strange change of tone, "Aren't you sword dancers the most powerful killer among the elves?"

"Sword dancers are warriors, shadow dancers are killers," Sesyana retorted angrily, clearly not liking to be seen as a killer.

"Only those who threaten the entire elven kingdom will attract the Shadow Dancer......" Although there was no hesitation in the battle, the elf's voice was full of uneasiness at the moment, "What the hell have you done?"

Tess froze for a moment, and struggled violently.

"Let go of me!" she screamed, "let me go to Norway!

Rosa reversed the hilt of her sword and struck her on the head neatly.

Sethyana turned her head and glared at her.

"I need to know what the hell is going on!" he growled.

"If that's really what would lead to the killer's secret, don't you think it's better not to know?" asked Rosa calmly.

Sesyana's eyes flickered and she lowered her head.

"It's close to Christus...... If you don't want to be enemies of your own people, it's probably not too late to leave. Rosa tentatively spoke.

Sesyana was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"I'm nothing but an expelled elf...... And I promised Novi that I would send this girl safely to her friend. ”

His tone was bitter but firm. Rosa smiled and didn't say anything more.

To be honest, if Sesyana did leave, even if it was only a day away, she really didn't have much confidence that she would be able to get Tess safe and sound.

"Shadow dancers don't give up. Sethyana looked south, "We need to ...... as soon as possible"

But the human castle couldn't stop the elven killers - and Norway himself probably didn't expect the Shadow Dancer to appear.

If the killer would show up here...... I'm afraid that Novi is also more auspicious.

(To be continued......)