Welcome to Level 4 (3)

Konrad finished slaying all the nearby monsters but he still looked prim and neat while she looked like a child who just finished playing with mud.

He threw his sword away and it disappeared in the air. He didn't say anything about the runaway horse, since it happened that way he thought that horse could be considered good as dead.

"You look a mess."

Konrad's silver hair and deep blue eyes shone in the dark forest. He held his bloody hands in front of her and ask

"Can you stand up?"

"Yes."

She kept her head down while she picked up her fallen spear.

"The horse ran away."

"I can see that." He gave her a light pat. She looks up and sees his usual cold face but somehow it feels softer than usual.

". . . "

"Hordes of Monsters have difficulty level of Rank D or C. You did well defeating them"

". . . Is it the same as ogres?"

"Let's go." He didn't answer her. "Walk beside me."

". . . .Yes." She gives him squinting eyes before walking beside him.

Walking a few minutes after she began to wonder if she was really small. She barely reached his shoulder. Theo and Gio's height is around Konrad's too. They must've inherited his height.

"We are going further away from the group" she notices they are not retracing their steps.

"I want to know your business here."

'He can really see through me.' She is not surprised anymore. She didn't answer him and it seems that he will not push for it.

"The resources here are poisonous. How can poison be legally traded off? It is still a poison"

"There are only a few people who are allowed to buy these resources legally."

"Won't you get blamed if something goes wrong?"

"No. Even if they did, it would be hard to prove the source came to us. That could light up a war."

"Why?"

"Other monster territories have the same resources, besides these poisons cannot be easily mixed in with other food. The food will rot almost immediately."

"Then how can it use---"

"Gio seems to be not doing his job properly." He cut her off

"I've been focusing on learning Julian Language." She was suddenly reminded of the 'pleasure incident'. Blood rushed up and she looked away.

"I see. "

They walked in silence for a few minutes before she decided to open her mouth again.

"The trees here are sturdy so why not include this on trade."

"Special equipment is needed."

She internally clicked her tongue and mumbled 'obviously'.

"Why can't you cut it? Was it that hard?" she asked while she caressed one of the trees. It's true that she can't cut these thick tall trees now, even if she can it will take at least a month but she can't believe the Count can't do it.

She didn't notice immediately but Konrad stopped walking.

"Those trees from level 1, and 2 are worthless. The deeper the tree is in the forest the sturdier the trees are but nevertheless It's easy cutting it. Dragging it is the problem. "

"Why not put it in that space thing? Since I think everyone here can use it."

Konrad looks at her frowning like he is seeing an unbelievable creature.

"I will have a talk with Gio after this."

'I should've shut my mouth'

****

Konrad is walking a little behind her. He watches the girl play with her spear while walking. He had been maintaining his wide range detection for hours but he still can't locate any sign from Theo's group.

"Child, we need to look for a place to rest." He said as he put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking.

"We are almost there."

Konrad didn't see the girl open the map once after they were separated from the group.

"Where?"

"The place where I used to rest for the night."

"The lake?"

"Yes"

By the time they got to the lake the sun was already setting. She makes her way to the lake. She drinks and cleans her face with the cold water from the lake. She then glanced back at him. He had been standing from a distance and stared at the lake.

"Your Grace?"

"You, can't you see it?"

She looks again at the lake; the only thing she can see is her reflection. She frowned and tried harder. Konrad slowly walks towards the lake and she watches him cautiously approaching. She then heard ripples from the always calm and still lake. Bubbles are rising and popping like it is boiling.

"..!" Konrad scoops her from the waist and jumps backwards dodging a big splash of water. When the shower of water finished spraying, a huge moldy dark brown tentacle had risen from the lake.

Her mind went blank for a moment when she saw the tentacle waving and the previous spot where they were standing got crushed and the ground had a new hole. She didn't see it coming but somehow she knew that could kill her instantly.

"Can you stand?" He asked without averting his eyes on the tentacle and on his other hand he was holding his unsheathed sword.

"Yes, Your grace.." She was lost in thought for a moment and forgot she was still being carried. It happened too fast. She didn't see or feel anything

'if not for his grace. I already died or atleast on the death door.'

She looked for her spear and located it near the lake. She cursed internally. 'Dammit. Can I run for it?'

"Don't move." Konrad said in a very low voice. She can feel the water slide in her forehead. Slowly the tentacle went back underwater and the lake started to calm down too.

The sun has set. The surroundings become darker. Konrad sat down further from the lake and sighed.

"Are you sure this is where you stayed?"

". . . No doubt, I didn't know there was something like that in there." She slumped down on the ground facing the lake and remembered this place.

She remembers sleeping, drinking and washing at that same lake. She remembers seeing a pitch black bottom but she never . . . no she knew something sinister was down there but why did she ignore it before?

"I think we are safe around this area." Konrad said.

"How can you be sure?" She is in the middle of questioning herself and grows doubtful of everything.

"Weak monsters tend to stay away from stronger creatures and that my child, what we saw, is most likely the strongest out here."

"You can tell?"

"Mana."

"A monster that can use Mana?"

"I wouldn't call it a monster. It's classified as a beast. a severed part of a mythical beast."

She held breathe and remembered seeing the tentacle maybe 5-6 meters in height above the waters. If that is only a part, how big was the actual body?

"It really does exist." Konrad whispered. He couldn't believe seeing it with his own eyes.

"Mythical Beast?" She whispered as she remembered one of the books she read. They are recorded in books but their existence was questionable. Now the count has been saying that she has witnessed the existence of a myth.

Konrad looked at the girl. Her expression is dark but it wasn't fear nor horror. It was a curiosity. He wondered how in the world did she manage to stay alive with such a creature beside her.

"How can a severed part of a beast be alive? it can be hiding its body." She clenches both her hands together.

"Mana is continuously leaking."

"How can you tell that?" She asked in a low voice. Konrad looked up and saw only a pitch black view. The moon isn't showing yet.

"I should consider getting you a new teacher."

The girl who was looking at her fist smiled a little after hearing Konrad's reply.

She wondered why instead of fear she felt rather different, something tickling her insides.

She can't sleep after 2 hours. Her gaze keeps on returning to the lake and her spear is glinting waiting to be picked up. She stood up and walked slowly towards the lake. She stopped at a safe distance.

"Quick and faster than a second." She hype herself us while cracking her fingers and neck. She got ready in position. She sprints at her best speed. She grabs and retreats backwards as fast she can to the point she trips herself and rolls on her back.

She immediately looks at the lake but there is no movement at all. It is calm as ever.

'hmm?'

Konrad saw it all happen. His blue eyes are still and his expression is blank.

She quietly retreated inside the forest again in full alert.

"Child"

"..!" She swung her spear only to be stopped effortlessly by Konrad's forearm.

" . . . "

"I'm sorry, Your Grace," She was so focused on the lake that she lost her wariness on her back.

"Back away few more meters and stay there "

Konrad stepped away from the tall trees. He walks slowly in the open area near the lake and moves forward.

"What is he doing?"

Konrad stopped a few steps away from the lake when the ripples and bubbles started to rise again then the huge moldy brown tentacle came to view again and wasted no time in slamming the direction of Konrad. He backed away once more and the tentacle extended its reach trying to swat him. There are several holes near the lake now because of it. He finally stepped back inside the forest, the tentacle stopped chasing and slowly came back down.

She appeared near him and observed him silently.

"You never knew its existence before today."

"Yes."

"And you used to come by the lake right?"

". . . Yes."

"Try it again."

"Yes?"

"Try getting close to the lake again."