“Look at the way he talks!”
That tone—like the Golden Lion Division just charges in blindly without any strategy!
Just as Cassium and I were about to continue our discussion, Captain Denver slammed his sword down onto the center of the table as if he meant to drive it straight through.
The aura of the flame-infused demonic sword was so fierce it felt like it could burn the table itself. Both Cassium and I turned our gaze toward him.
“If you both want the job that badly, then go together!”
“…What?!”
Together?
“You mean… carry out the mission together?”
“Just think of it as a competition. You have to find their base anyway—whoever finds it first gets the credit.”
Cassium and I locked eyes.
“Wait—”
He tried to say something, but I cut him off and shouted first.
“Understood! I’ll do it!”
I shot him a sharp glance. He raised an eyebrow, clearly wondering what I was thinking.
“Let’s make it a bet. Whoever finds it first wins.”
“…What?”
“The winner gets priority in choosing missions for the next month. Sounds fair, right, Captain?”
The captain waved his hand dismissively, looking utterly exhausted, as if to say do whatever you want.
Cassium smirked.
“You’re quite good at digging your own grave, Lize Artiela.”
“Yeah. I just don’t dig my own. Looks like this one’s yours.”
“That’s enough! Then it’s settled—both of you, get out!”
We both bowed our heads briefly and left the captain’s office at the same time.
The moment we stepped outside, I went left, Cassium went right—and neither of us looked back.
And that’s how it started.
“Fine, whatever! If he didn’t show up, that’s his fault!”
“Pii.”
I pushed through the underbrush, walking briskly, while the rabbit in my bag kept trying to climb out.
“No, Gold Rabbit. The forest’s too rough.”
The Bezen Forest wasn’t far from the capital, but it hadn’t been fully cleared of monsters yet.
Because of the demonic energy they emitted, the entire forest felt cold, and thorny brambles were everywhere.
If those soft little paws of his stepped on a thorn, it’d be a disaster.
As I went deeper, small monsters began appearing one by one.
With my sword drawn, I cut them down as I moved forward.
“Pii.”
The rabbit kept calling to me insistently.
After focusing on the surroundings for a while, I glanced at him—he was pointing upward with his tiny paw.
I looked where he pointed.
The sky, darker than before, was now filled with heavy clouds.
“The weather doesn’t look good.”
“Pii. Pii.”
The rabbit gestured back the way we came.
“You want to go back?”
“Pii.”
“Not yet. I haven’t found Luxka.”
Since I’d come this far, I had no intention of turning back before finding its base.
Besides, after Cassium stood me up multiple times, I wanted to crush his pride completely.
‘And I did find tracks.’
My gaze fell to the ground—massive footprints.
They belonged to Luxka, a monster resembling a bear made of solid rock.
Luxka usually stayed hidden, but it would seep demonic energy into farmland, killing crops, or come down at night to slaughter livestock.
All the more reason to find its base quickly and take down the leader.
‘It’s cold… I should’ve worn thicker clothes.’
The winter forest, thick with demonic energy, was colder than I’d expected.
“Pii.”
“Gold Rabbit, don’t come out—it’s cold.”
But he ignored me and jumped out anyway.
“Don’t run off.”
At my firm tone, he raised a paw as if to say okay.
He walked beside me, matching my pace. Though tiny compared to me, he somehow felt like a reliable partner.
Then—
From the distance, I heard something metallic.
“…!”
It was Luxka’s cry.
I was close.
Luxka usually formed groups centered around a leader. Once the leader was defeated, the others would lose their will and weaken.
So taking down the leader alone would complete the mission.
‘Almost there!’
Pushing through dense trees, I came upon a stone wall covered in vines.
And beneath it—a small cave.
The metallic sound was coming from inside.
I dashed toward it.
The moment I reached the entrance, the rabbit leapt in ahead of me.
“Gold Rabbit, it’s dangerous!”
I shouted in a hushed voice.
No matter how fast he was, one hit from the leader Luxka could break his bones.
I quickened my pace—and just as I caught the rabbit mid-leap—
“Griiind—!”
The metallic sound became clearer.
A chill ran down my spine.
Something moved beneath my feet.
Thud!
With a slicing sound through the air, something came flying at me.
‘—!’
I reflexively leaned back.
A massive Luxka limb slammed into the cave wall behind me with a deafening crash.
I pulled out a flare from my pocket and threw it down. Light burst forth, illuminating the cave instantly.
There it was.
Luxka.
A massive monster with rough, thick gray skin.
As it shut its eyes against the sudden light, I rushed forward and drove my sword into its leg.
“Grrrraaaah!”
Its movements slowed slightly.
‘Feet, back of the knees, waist—those areas are vulnerable.’
Using what I knew, I struck each point in succession.
But it wasn’t enough.
With a furious roar, it lashed out, swinging its legs like whips.
‘Why is it so fast?!’
Even injured, it moved faster than expected.
I dodged one leg—
—but the other came crashing toward me.
Boom!
I ducked, and the cave wall shattered where it struck.
Rocks fell—straight onto my sword.
Clang!
The blade was knocked from my hand.
My only means of defense—so I instinctively reached for it.
But—
“Ugh!”
Another strike was already coming.
I dodged, but its claw grazed my arm.
A sharp, searing pain shot through me, ringing in my head.
But there was no time to feel it.
Another leg was already descending toward my head.
I jumped back and rolled away—
—but I knew.
It was too close.
I wouldn’t be fast enough.
‘I can’t die here…’
A bitter groan escaped me.
Not a meaningful death—just as pointless as in the original story.
And if I died here killing Luxka… Cassium would laugh his head off.
Still—
“Rabbit… tell Bryce… the vault password is 0316…”
Sorry, Bryce… I couldn’t stay longer.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“…?”
But nothing happened.
In that brief moment—
one thought flashed through my mind.
“Gold Rabbit!”
I turned.
There he was—
leaping high.
The rabbit struck Luxka’s eye.
The monster staggered, its attack veering off course.
That tiny opening—
he created it.
I grabbed my sword and leapt toward Luxka’s heart.
The blade pierced through its thick hide.
A deafening metallic screech rang above me.
Before I could falter, I drove the sword deeper.
Then—
it went still.
The massive body collapsed with a thunderous crash, dust billowing everywhere.
“Gold Rabbit!”
Where was he?
“Rabbit!”
“Pii.”
A faint sound.
I ran toward it.
There—behind the fallen Luxka—
he emerged.
“Gold Rabbit!”
I scooped him up in one arm.
“Pii…”
He looked at my wound, clearly distressed.
He tried to jump down, but I held him tighter, pressing my cheek against him.
“Thank you.”
“…Pii.”
“Thank you, Gold Rabbit.”
I was alive because of him.
This tiny creature.
Throwing yourself into danger to save someone—even for a knight, that wasn’t easy.
But he did it.
I looked into his eyes, holding back tears.
“When we get back, I’ll get you some meat!”
I knew he was brave in the original story—but this brave?
He was even more amazing than I thought.
On the way back, no more monsters appeared.
The problem was—
“Ahh! Rabbit, hold on tight, okay?!”
What kind of forest has weather like this?!
It had only been cloudy earlier—but suddenly, a storm broke loose.
Rain poured, wind howled, and the ground turned slippery.
My wound stung under the cold rain.
‘At this rate, I won’t make it through.’
The weather was getting worse fast.
I could barely move forward step by step.
And with my injury…
‘It’ll be a miracle if I don’t slip and fall.’
I hurried toward a nearby cave.
Using flint, I lit some branches and illuminated the interior.
Luckily, it was empty—and the narrow entrance kept most of the wind out.
‘Still cold, though…’
I sat down.
The rabbit jumped out and sat facing me.
“Pii.”
He kept looking at me, as if saying something.
After watching him for a while, I realized—
he was staring at my arm.
The one I’d injured fighting Luxka.
