Free Web Novel“Maybe I’m a little overconfident, but my instincts are rarely wrong. Even if it’s not a person, something’s definitely lurking behind us, peeping.”
Vieya’s words instantly drew the other two’s attention to her line of thought.
She wasn’t wrong.
Among the three of them present, if one compared just raw attributes, she might not surpass her own student Rania. But in terms of overall capability, Vieya was certainly no weaker than anyone here.
That strength came from years of daily training during her days as a Hero — it had honed her soul’s experience and her sixth sense to near-perfection.
Menesis knew Vieya could be flighty at times, but she respected her integrity.
In a situation like this, for her to speak up so seriously meant there had to be a good reason.
The path underfoot was narrow, covered with tenacious, thorny bushes and brambles.
On either side, tall, dense trees crowded the way.
In such terrain, even a veteran adventurer had to move slowly and cautiously to avoid being cut by the venomous thorns.
If something truly was following them, it would have to stay hidden in the trees along the path, avoiding their line of sight.
“When we walked through earlier, we kept our noise to a minimum, yet we still startled a few wild birds and venomous bugs into scurrying about,” Menesis murmured, regaining her composure. “But look—”
“Those bushes only show the marks we left behind. The whole forest is silent — not even birds or insects.”
“If someone really is tailing us, then it must be a mysterious powerhouse with an instant-death domain... or a ghostly observer in a spirit state.”
The one standing silently by Vieya’s side — Rania — finally spoke up.
“Though I haven’t sensed anything either, I don’t think Vieya’s imagining things. If Captain Luna went out of her way to warn us, the enemy must be extraordinary, especially since she knows I’m a Hero.”
She paused, then continued firmly, “If possible, allow me to clear this path.” Then she added softly, “With my Authority.”
Authority.
Menesis clearly knew what that word meant from a Hero’s mouth. In a world of countless humans, a few were born with exceptional fortune — the so-called blessed players.
And among those blessed, the Heroes were the elder siblings — the supreme “cheat players.” Each one possessed a god-like power, known as Authority.
Unlike Menesis, who looked on with envy, Vieya’s eyes were fixed on her student — curious how far Rania’s power had grown since that last incident.
“Heroic power is built on idealism. The stronger the emotion in your heart, the greater the potential you can unleash under pressure...” Vieya sighed softly. “But the same surge, if it exceeds human limits, can consume your life.”
“So using their power has a price... I thought the Heroes were like gods — untouchable,” Menesis said quietly.
“They’re not gods.”
Vieya shook her head. “They just have a will that’s more stubborn than ordinary people’s.”
A huge scythe materialized in Rania’s hands. Her violet eyes glowed brighter as energy filled every cell of her body, and her cloak rippled behind her.
From the depths of the forest came a faint rustling — poisonous insects scurrying in panic, sensing danger.
“Is that the wind?”
“I’m spreading the power of rending into the air. This way, every breathing creature nearby will carry traces of my energy,” Rania explained briefly. “It’s a marking method — something like the domains only gods can ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) use in myths, but weaker by one ten-millionth.”
“Wow, you’ve really improved,” Vieya said with genuine satisfaction.
“...”
Rania pressed her lips together. Being praised like that didn’t make her happy at all — it made her skin crawl, like ants crawling up her back.
It was exactly like helping a three-year-old write their homework, only to have that same toddler say with pure wonder and admiration, ‘Wow, you’re really good at homework!’
Damn it.
Her power started wavering along with her mood. She couldn’t afford distractions now — she had to focus!
So she forcibly pulled her attention away from the white-haired woman and threw herself fully into the delicate control of her Authority.
Sha... sha...
Something with many legs was crawling over dry leaves.
Menesis was the first to notice — a strange rustling noise, mixed with countless tiny, sharp sounds.
Then, a great flutter erupted — a flock of birds took off from the trees, circling high above them.
“Those birds are suspicious!” Menesis shouted. “Don’t let them escape!”
“!”
Rania cursed under her breath and detonated the faint traces of Authority within the birds before they left her perception range.
Like dumplings dropping into soup, the birds began plummeting from the sky one after another.
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One sparrow fell nearby. Quick as lightning, Vieya reached out and caught it — then swallowed hard.
The last thing she’d eaten had been twelve hours ago.
She was very hungry now.
“Hey! You can’t eat that!”
Menesis, finally relaxing after the danger passed, turned her head — only to see the slime girl drooling over a handful of dead sparrows. She nearly fainted in horror.
“They might still be tainted with black magic!”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t eaten it yet... but I am starving.”
Vieya rubbed her stomach. Honestly, even if the birds were poisonous, she wouldn’t care at this point. “I was thinking of roasting them — they’ll taste better that way. Do you have any salt? ...Hungry.”
Menesis felt a vein pop. “Salt your— ugh, forget it...”
Meanwhile—
After confirming that all the suspicious birds were dead, Rania didn’t relax. She activated her power again, double-checking the surroundings multiple times before finally exhaling in relief.
The ability to control animals as one’s eyes wasn’t rare.
Some monsters were born with it.
“The sun’s about to set...” Rania murmured, glancing toward the forest’s dusky edge. An uneasy feeling settled in her chest.
No matter what, she was the leader of this three-person team now.
And as leader, she had to bear the responsibility for everyone’s lives.
That was what her teacher had once taught her — something she hadn’t thought much about back then. But now, for some reason, that lesson resurfaced vividly.
Don’t worry, teacher.
I’ll never bring shame upon your name.
Rania’s eyes grew firm. She clenched her fists, ready to return to the other two and discuss their next steps.
The true enemy still hadn’t appeared — they needed to be prepared.
Rania stepped forward.
And then—
She saw the white-haired girl squatting by a fire, roasting skewers of sparrow meat.
Their eyes met.
The firelight reflected on Vieya’s pale face, turning it bright red. She looked embarrassed, then blurted out hurriedly,
“Menesis went to gather firewood. I’m just... taste-testing for poison ahead of time! Yes, poison testing!”
