In this dangerous situation, I felt a surge of confidence that we could overcome it.
“Sinel, the wolves are here!”
“E-eep…”
Sinel curled up at my words, trembling with fear. I turned my gaze back to the two men fighting the wolves.
The wolves were cautious, circling around Philip and Ned as they waited for an opening.
Then, suddenly, Philip sprang into action. He charged forward, lowering his body as if to slide along the ground. I saw him pick up a stone that had fallen on the ground.
The wolves seemed to interpret this as a signal, lunging at him from all sides.
Without hesitation, Philip swung his sword.
With a crack, his blade sliced through the air, grazing the body of the lead wolf. In an instant, its head was nearly severed from its body.
—Graaah!
The wolf’s scream pierced the night as blood sprayed into the air.
But Philip’s attack didn’t end there. He rushed toward the staggering wolves and swung his sword again.
With each flash of the blade illuminated by the pale moonlight, another wolf fell. In total, Philip took down three of them.
However, among the pack, the smallest wolf broke away and began a solo dash toward the wagon, bypassing Philip and Ned.
It seemed they were confident in the gray smoke surrounding them, as neither of them turned to follow the smaller wolf.
But this wolf was undeterred, closing the distance with each passing second.
Its eyes were locked on me, hidden within the wagon.
I grimaced, realizing I was in its sights. As the dim moonlight illuminated its face, I saw its nose was crushed.
It couldn’t smell me—it was likely incapable of scenting the danger around it.
Tack, tack, tack!
The small wolf dashed through the gray smoke at an alarming speed.
As I had guessed, the odor was ineffective against it. Philip and Ned couldn’t help me now; they were too far away.
Just then, something flew toward me at a frightening speed from Philip’s direction.
Thud!
—Grrr!
The wolf was struck and tumbled over. I noticed a small stone had landed nearby.
It dawned on me that Philip had picked it up while sliding forward earlier.
Could he have anticipated this scenario?
But despite Philip’s help, the wolf struggled to get back on its feet. It looked disoriented but continued to advance, growling as it aimed for me.
“That crazy wolf!”
Ned watched in horror, his eyes wide with shock, while Philip looked equally astonished.
But I knew I couldn’t rely on Philip for further help; other wolves were still charging at him.
Grinding my teeth, I unsheathed my sword.
Swish!
The chilling sound of the silver blade being drawn filled the air. Having only used a wooden sword until now, the weight of the real weapon felt awkward in my hands.
“E-Emily!”
Sinel’s scream came from behind me, clearly having spotted another wolf rushing toward us.
I hurled the scabbard behind me and jumped down from the wagon.
Thud, thud!
The wolf was closing in fast. I had to swing my sword to stop it.
Even though I understood this logically, my body wouldn’t respond. How often would I come face-to-face with a wild wolf in my life?
Something I had never imagined was happening right before my eyes.
I couldn’t maintain my composure; my heart pounded as if it would burst, and cold sweat poured down my back.
Fear crept in, sticky and heavy, wrapping around my ankles.
At that moment, the oncoming wolf leaped into the air, its wide-open jaws filling my vision.
I had to swing my sword. When? Now? Or should I wait a little longer?
My mind raced to keep up with my pounding heart.
But I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
“Eek!”
A short, panicked scream escaped my lips as I swung my sword in a desperate motion toward the wolf.
I couldn’t tell if I had put enough strength into it.
The moment my blade made contact with the wolf, an immense weight hit my wrist.
The backlash was greater than I expected, causing the tip of my sword to waver as the wolf’s body veered off course.
Slash!
—Graaah!
Red blood splattered across my face.
The wolf landed on the ground, trembling, and as the blood flowed down beneath it, I realized my sword had struck true.
I lunged forward, swinging my sword again.
“Hyah!”
A shriek escaped me, mingling with the howl of the wolf.
The wounded creature opened its mouth wide as if trying to make a final stand, but my blade pierced deep inside.
Crack!
What I used to kill the wolf wasn’t swordsmanship; it was pure, frantic energy.
My body, overwhelmed with adrenaline, swung the sword like a club.
Thud! Thud!
I slashed, struck, and stabbed.
Even when the wolf lay motionless on the ground, I didn’t stop attacking.
Panting heavily, I delivered one final, crushing blow to the wolf’s head.
That attack was my last.
I dropped the sword from my hands, gasping for breath. My fingers trembled, unable to grip the weapon any longer.
The relief of having survived the fight and the victory washed over me. My tightly wound muscles began to relax, and I collapsed to the ground.
“Hah…”
Only then did I start to take in my surroundings.
As the adrenaline subsided, my senses returned to normal. The battle had ended. While I had occupied myself with one wolf, Philip and Ned had apparently dealt with the rest.
The two stood a short distance away, watching me as if waiting for my excitement to fade.
“Well done.”
Philip broke the silence, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
I raised my hand to wipe the blood from my face.
After the situation had somewhat stabilized, Philip and Ned began to skin the dead wolves.
As I blankly watched from the wagon, Sinel approached and handed me a small vial.
“What’s this…?”
“Your shoulder…”
“My shoulder?”
It was only then that I noticed the blood trickling down my shoulder. It seemed a wolf’s claw had grazed me when I had stabbed it.
As I registered the injury, a sharp sting surged through me.
But the moment I applied the potion Sinel had given me, the wound vanished as if it had never existed.
I stood there, mouth agape in astonishment at the miraculous effect—something modern medicine could never replicate. Sinel chuckled softly and ruffled my hair.
“I made the potion.”
After the wolf pack’s ambush, no further danger arose. Ned handed me a piece of wolf hide he had skinned, and Sinel crafted a perfectly fitted fur coat for me from that hide.
On the seventh day since we had left the village, we finally arrived at our destination—the capital.
A long line stretched in front of the capital, waiting to enter. Ned’s wagon also had to queue in this line.
“Looks like we won’t be getting in until late evening,” Ned muttered with a sigh, observing the slow-moving queue.
I peeked out of the wagon to take in the surroundings.
There were luxurious carriages that made Ned’s look like nothing in comparison, along with a group of menacing-looking mercenaries.
I thought I might catch a glimpse of any wizards around, but I found none that resembled magic users.
As time passed, late evening finally arrived.
At last, Ned’s wagon was able to pass through the capital’s main gate.
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Yeah, this definitely is like a classic adventure story. Her first battle reminds me of that. Love it so far.
Thanks for the chapter!