Casting those thoughts aside, Roland’s expression turned serious.

"Qiao, those goblins—the green monsters you mentioned—are attacking us."

"My companion and I need to avoid them and leave this forest safely."

"So, I need you to scout the goblins’ patrol routes and help us stay out of their sight. Can you do that?"

"Leave it to me!"

Qiao puffed out its small, furry chest, its big tail wagging excitedly.

"A simple task like this? I’ll get right on it!"

Just as the man and squirrel came to a happy agreement, a weak cough echoed from the depths of the cave.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... Roland..."

Dalko struggled to open his eyes. The pain radiating from all over his body had made it impossible for him to fall into a deep sleep.

Hearing the call, Roland gave the Red Squirrel a few more instructions, then deactivated the [Animal Companion] Trait.

A wave of slight dizziness washed over him, and Roland subconsciously rubbed his temples.

’Compared to [Concentration], it seems [Animal Companion] consumes far less Spiritual Power...’

Turning back into the cave, Roland asked with concern.

"Did you get any rest?"

He uncorked the waterskin and handed it to Dalko, who was leaning against the rock wall.

"I’m afraid fighting is out of the question..."

Dalko took the waterskin, tilted his head back, and gulped down a few mouthfuls of clear water, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

After wiping the water from his chin, he managed to force a smile.

"But escaping shouldn’t be a problem."

"Good. Let’s get ready to leave."

Roland reached out a hand to help him up.

Leaning on Roland’s arm, Dalko pulled himself to his feet, sucking in a sharp breath from the pain.

"You’ve found a way to avoid the goblins?"

"Yeah."

Roland nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then simply said...

"Just... stick with me."

"No problem!"

After everything that had happened, the young nobleman’s trust in Roland was already deeply ingrained.

He didn’t even ask for the details of the plan, simply following resolutely in Roland’s footsteps.

The rest of the journey was incredibly smooth. In fact, if not for the goblin patrols they saw passing by each time they took cover, Dalko would have thought the creatures had left the forest entirely.

The only thing that puzzled him was the red squirrel that had, at some point, appeared at Roland’s side.

Watching the familiar way the man and animal interacted, Dalko couldn’t help but wonder.

’Does Roland like red squirrels as pets? Hmm... It’s a bit strange, but maybe after we get back, I should have the Guards catch a few for him?’

Roland, however, was oblivious to Dalko’s musings.

He simply stood just far enough from the young nobleman to speak with Qiao in a very soft voice.

"You’re saying... there are three goblin patrols up ahead, alternating their routes, and there isn’t a large enough gap to slip through?"

"That’s right."

Qiao stood on Roland’s shoulder, gesturing with a small paw.

"Are there any other paths out of the forest?"

"There are even more of the green monsters on the other paths..."

"Tsk... I see."

With a soft click of his tongue, Roland instantly made a decision, his gaze sharpening on the path ahead.

In an instant, a transparent Professional Panel appeared before his eyes.

’Six point six Agility. So it wasn’t my imagination... I really do feel lighter.’

’I can’t believe Adaptability Training has already given me a full two points to my Agility Attribute in less than two hours...’

After taking a moment to appreciate the changes in his body, Roland gave the Red Squirrel a few instructions and gently set it on the ground. He then turned back to Dalko to explain his plan.

"Take out one of the patrols during the shift change... Isn’t that plan too risky?"

Dalko looked worriedly at Roland, his voice laced with anxiety.

It wasn’t that he questioned Roland’s ability to kill goblins.

But the plan required lightning speed. The slightest hesitation would alert the others, and they would be surrounded and annihilated.

This was completely different from simply hunting goblins; the difficulty was worlds apart.

"It’s our only option."

Ignoring the worry in Dalko’s eyes, Roland gripped the hilt of his sword and pointed ahead with his other hand.

"You’ll move with me to that thicket over there."

"Once you see me take out one of the goblin patrols, come out quickly and regroup with me. We’ll keep moving from there. Got it?"

"Of course, but..."

Dalko trailed off, hesitating.

His gaze fell to his injured leg, and he nodded, dejected.

"Then be careful, Roland."

"Don’t worry... Just don’t reveal yourself until I’m done. I won’t be able to protect you while I’m fighting."

"I understand."

With the plan decided, the two moved silently toward the target thicket.

Amid the dappled shadows of the trees, their figures moved like Ghosts melting into the forest, quickly vanishing behind the dense thicket.

From within the damp thicket, Roland held his breath, observing the rotation pattern of the three goblin patrols.

He noticed a limping goblin at the rear of the leftmost patrol, which had loosened the entire squad’s formation. Seizing the opportunity, Roland shot forward like an arrow loosed from its string.

At that moment, his 6.6 Agility Attribute was unleashed to its fullest potential.

His first strike precisely slit a goblin’s throat.

Before the spray of blood had even begun to fall, his second strike pierced another goblin’s heart.

As the third goblin’s head flew into the air, the first two corpses had yet to fully hit the ground.

Only then did the remaining two goblins react.

One had just opened its mouth to scream when a thrown Dagger pierced its throat.

The other staggered back, only for Roland to close the distance and run it through the heart.

Ten seconds.

Five corpses.

"That was... incredible..."

Dalko emerged from behind the thicket, his face a mask of utter shock.

"Roland, your speed... I could barely even follow your movements..."

Roland did not answer immediately.

He quickly checked each corpse to make sure none were playing dead before speaking in a low voice.

"Let’s go! The other patrols could be here any second!"

Dalko snapped out of his daze and hurried to follow Roland.

By the time the first warning horn blew, the two had already vanished deep into the forest.

"If you skirt the edge of the forest, cross the clearing up ahead, it’s not much farther to the exit."

the Red Squirrel said, flicking its big, fluffy tail.

Roland gently set it on the ground and tapped its little head.

"Thank you, Qiao."

"Do you want to come back with me? We can live together."

Qiao wrung its little paws nervously, its black, bead-like eyes shimmering with indecision.

After a moment of silence, it finally looked up.

"Roland, you’re a good person... but I think... I belong here." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Alright, little guy."

Roland nodded lightly and didn’t insist.

He then tore a piece of cloth from Dalko’s food pouch, crumbled the rest of their bread into it, and carefully tied it into a small bundle with a bit of twine, placing it in front of Qiao.

"A token of my thanks. See if you can carry it."

Qiao’s black eyes lit up. It eagerly picked up the bundle with its forepaws, its little nose twitching incessantly.

"I can carry it! I can carry it! It smells so good!"

It was so excited its tail quivered, and it looked as if it was about to start spinning in circles.

"Thank you, Roland! You’re a really good person!"

"Alright, alright..."

Roland waved a hand, smiling with a hint of resignation.

"We have to go. Maybe we’ll see each other again."

Clutching the small bundle, Qiao nodded reluctantly.

"Goodbye, Roland!"

With that, it nimbly scurried up a tree trunk and vanished into the dense woods.

"Let’s go, Dalko."

Roland turned and said in a low voice to his companion, who had just hobbled over.

"Just a little longer. We’re almost out of the forest."

"Celestial Father above!"

A hint of color finally returned to Dalko’s pale, weary face.

"I can’t stand another moment in this godforsaken place!"

The two rallied their spirits and pressed onward.

After walking for some time, Roland suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing.

He could clearly hear the clang of metal on metal not far ahead, interspersed with the piercing shrieks of goblins and the stifled roars of humans.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out.

It shook the leaves from the treetops, and the acrid smell of something burning and foul washed over them on the wind.