Chapter 12: Misunderstanding

Not a single one left inside the maze could put up a fight.

On top of that, the super-powered Tree Armor technique hadn't faded yet.

Only ten minutes.

All twenty people in the entire maze were taken down cleanly by Rod.

Rod wiped the blood from his steel sword as he asked Citi.

Citi, the Wing Crystal boy.

"Would it be all right even if I led human soldiers here?"

Citi nodded.

"We'll use precious materials to craft an Illusory Realm to conceal the stone gate—even high-tier spells won't be able to see through it."

"Then why didn't you use it when those people came in?"

"This Illusory Realm spell costs us a great deal; it can only last about two days, and they've been here for nearly half a month."

Citi gave a wry smile.

Rod said no more to him, picked up Daphne—who was still in a daze—and left the maze.

The two agreed to wait until the searchers had left, then re-enter the stone gate together.

On the mountain path.

The half-deer man broke out in cold sweat and pointed toward the northern slope.

"It might be over there."

His deer ears, serving as a medium, twitched as he kept receiving the so-called 'flow of spirituality.'

"Lady Isabella, you understand, premonitions are limited and vague; we can't foresee things with too much precision."

He was terrified that Agar's eldest daughter would strike him on the spot; his speech now carried none of its former arrogance, only a timid, cringing tone.

Isabella gave a soft "Mm."

Along the way, she had dispatched scouts to investigate the traces.

Twin-Peak Mountain had always been a place rarely visited by people.

Yet recently, no small number of strangers had appeared.

At that moment she knew the half-deer man's spiritual premonition had not been wrong.

She simply had the idea of taking this man into her service, so she was giving him a little warning, nothing more.

As for Daphne.

Sweet little Daphne.

A wave of sorrow welled up in Isabella's heart.

The family's stern upbringing constantly influenced her, keeping her from showing any weakness.

In truth, she was a pessimist who was always prepared for the worst.

She believed that this lovely younger sister had, in all likelihood, already met with harm.

Any scoundrel who dared lay a hand on a noble—

Was a money-grubbing, ruthless sort.

They knew full well the power of nobles, so they hid their identities with all their might; the moment they got the ransom, they would certainly cut the grass and dig out the roots.

"Daphne, I will kill every single person who hurt you."

"On guard!"

The forward scout suddenly said in a low voice.

Because Twin-Peak Mountain's range was too vast, the half-deer man could only point out a rough direction, which meant they had never managed to find the right place.

To avoid startling the bandits, once her party entered Twin-Peak Mountain they gave up their horses and switched to covert travel on foot.

Isabella hurried over at once.

Under the scout's guidance, she saw a man.

The man was stained with blood, a cross-shaped steel sword hanging at his waist.

He was carrying a demon with sharp horns and a heart-shaped tail on his back; the demon kept whispering and giggling in his ear.

Most importantly—

He was leading a horse.

On the horse sat a young girl in a daze.

It was Daphne.

Isabella's heart jolted.

Daphne was safe.

"All troops! Attack!!!"

Overjoyed, she drew her greatsword and charged forward first.

The guards were half a beat slow, but all roared as they burst out of the grass.

Rod immediately tensed up at the sudden commotion.

Not far off, a female general in white armor and a cloak charged ahead of the rest, greatsword in hand.

The spiritual pulse coming off her was extremely powerful—stronger than Father Owen's.

"Give Daphne back to me!!!"

Rod flung Tally off his back.

Tally was quick-witted too, slipping straight into the shadows.

In an instant, he stacked on the BUFFs: 【Chang En Fa Yin】, 【Minor Body Enhancement】, 【Tree Armor】, 【Lei Guang Blade】, and so on.

Fortunately, he hadn't yet left Twin Fingers Mountain.

With the special buffs of 【Tree Armor Art】 and 【Trees' Blessing】, Rod once again gained the 【Super Strength】 BUFF from the giant locust tree.

Clang!

The two collided.

A violent blast of air surged outward from where the two stood.

Even the dust and gravel on the ground were kicked up.

Rod shot backward out of the dust, coughing up a large mouthful of blood with an agonized expression.

Even the steel sword in his hand was left with only half its blade.

Isabella didn't move an inch, completely unaffected.

Her white cloak billowed in midair as she charged again.

Her speed and strength were even greater and faster than before.

Three massive steel vines anticipated her position and suddenly burst from the ground.

【Steel Vine Charge】!

Yet a white spiritual light flickered over her body.

The steel vines slammed into her armor and actually broke themselves instead.

"Where did this monster come from!"

Rod cursed inwardly.

In the blink of an eye, the opponent cut through all the steel vines and arrived before Rod at extreme speed.

Rod had no intention of clashing head-on with her.

He cast 【Steel Vine Charge】 once more, but this time on his own ground.

Isabella's sword slashed through empty air.

Meanwhile, Rod stepped on the steel vines and leaped high into the air.

His hand crossbow and the lime mixed with poison powder were unleashed at the same time.

Isabella's reaction was truly monstrous — her greatsword had just been swung, with no time to defend.

She actually swatted the crossbow bolt away with her other hand.

But the poisoned lime hit its mark.

It smeared all over her face.

Rod landed steadily, immediately turned around, and ran.

No good.

Can't beat her.

Run!

"Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!!"

"This is my lord Isabella Argyle! This is Rod, the Warden of Windwall Forest!"

"We're all on the same side!!"

David came charging over, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Several of the constables beside him recognized Rod and helped shout along.

Hearing this, everyone halted their charge.

After all, they weren't Isabella's personal soldiers — apart from a few individuals, they were all temporarily conscripted from the town, so they didn't obey orders with the same blind discipline as a military unit.

Isabella Argyle?

Daphne's sister can fight like this?!

Rod stopped running and looked at David with suspicion.

Fortunately, upon hearing this, Isabella showed no intention of continuing the fight.

She gave a light scoff, and all the poisoned lime on her face was blasted away.

She fixed Rod with a burning gaze.

"Tch"

David came over to smooth things over.

"Rod! You saved Young Lady Daphne!?"

He excitedly led his horse over.

When Isabella saw her own sister, her gaze finally softened.

But upon seeing her sister's condition, she frowned again.

Rod had no intention of souring the relationship.

So he took the initiative to tell them about the halfling Ari's attack, how he found the secret letter, and how he went to the abandoned labyrinth to launch a surprise attack.

Of course, he concealed the matter concerning the Wing Crystal Clan.

"Father Owen said that returning Daphne, who was under mind control, to the Argyle family was exactly what they wanted."

Hearing this, Isabella seemed to recall something, and her expression changed.

She ordered her men to bring her horse.

She took Daphne and left with swift, decisive efficiency.

Before leaving, she looked at Rod and left a single line:

"The Argyle family will remember your help."

David walked over, his gaze complicated.

"Rod, do you know? I always thought that if you and I were to fight, the outcome would be unknown."

Rod gave a soft laugh.

"It's a secret."

(End of Chapter)