/
“No,”
“Even nearby?”
The escort scanned the surroundings, holding his breath momentarily, but eventually shook his head.
Realizing that Ainar was nowhere to be found and showed no signs of appearing, Lyna immediately pushed Becky forcefully.
“Go! Go anywhere!” Lyna urged urgently, her actions catching Becky off guard, leaving her bewildered.
But Lyna pushed her shoulder again, with unwavering determination.
“Get away from me.”
It made no sense.
Wasn’t Becky supposed to be Lyna’s closest servant?
They were meant to stick together, whether things went well or poorly, with Becky taking any threats on Lyna’s behalf when necessary.
Moreover, in this chaotic situation, being surrounded by Bolsheik guards would provide some safety.
Yet, Lyna instructed Becky to keep her distance.
And it wasn’t the first time Becky had heard such words from her.
Becky bit her lip hard, but if it was Lyna’s command, she would willingly comply, even if it meant walking through fire.
She promptly stamped the ground and moved far away from Lyna.
How much time had passed as Becky distanced herself?
ROOOARRRR!
“Ugh!”
“We can’t stop it! Dodge! Dodge
!”
As if on cue, the black tiger pounced in Lyna’s direction.
Simultaneously, the escorts moved forward, leaving Lyna behind to ensure she wouldn’t be entangled.
Lyna glanced at their retreating backs for a moment before swiftly leaving the spot.
It was wiser to create distance rather than foolishly stand still, crying or attempting futile assistance.
Moreover, it seemed instinctual, or perhaps a result of accumulated experience, that the black tiger wouldn’t harm the escorts.
That beast, like a blind person, would follow the path she took.
“Gasp!”
“No, why is it suddenly here?”
“No! Block it! We must block it!”
“Throw a spear! No, throw a net!”
As if confirming Lyna’s foreboding, the moment she exerted all her strength to move in the opposite direction of the black tiger

The black tiger swung its front paw toward Lyna.
-Crack!
With a single strike, not only a tree branch but the entire trunk was devastatingly shattered, sending splinters flying.
Lyna, covered in splinters, grimaced.
She had known this would happen.
“Grrrrrr.”
Blocking Lyna’s path, the black tiger bared its teeth and growled, seemingly mocking her.
“Ugh!”
“Oh, Miss.”
“This is hell
”
Unbeknownst to them, the situation unfolded as the sole heir of the Bolsheik and the black tiger faced off.
People were on the edge, breathless, unsure of what to do next.
The contrast between the massive beast and Lyna was staggering, to the point where it felt like she could collapse even if the black tiger simply exhaled.
Why on earth did that creature suddenly leap over there?
Of course, there was no discernible pattern to the black tiger’s rampage.
However, weren’t arrows piercing the air and spears thrust into the ground, slowly herding the black tiger in one direction?
Thanks to these efforts, the situation appeared to be somewhat under control.
Amidst the silent screams and growing madness, Lyna, the one who should have been trembling in fear, was the only one who remained calm.
Was she unafraid because she had foreseen this, or was it because she had already tasted death once?
Or perhaps she no longer had any attachments to life?
Or maybe it was a combination of all these factors?
Meeting the gaze of the brooding black tiger, a faint sigh escaped Lyna’s lips.
“Hoo.”
The black tiger seemed to inhale her sigh, flaring its nostrils, but it refrained from rushing forward to devour her in a single bite.
How long had it been since the sole heir and bloodline of the Bolsheik had faced off against the most dangerous and colossal beast in this forest?
Anxiety and urgency were evident on the faces of the seasoned hunters who had captured the black tiger.
The movements of the black tiger’s paws and tail gradually shifted into a posture ready to charge at its prey.
“We must do something.”
As they realized that there were only a few seconds left before the black tiger would consume Lyna entirely, their faces turned pale.
Anyone with eyes could see the gravity of Lyna’s predicament.
Smith, the one responsible for all the trouble, also directed his gaze at Lyna, his face contorted.
His eyes lacked the worry, anxiety, and fear present in others.
In Smith’s eyes, there was a sticky desire, a sense of superiority, and even a hint of excitement.
“Perfect.”
“Huh?”
“No, I mean, it’s a perfectly perilous situation.”
Smith, inadvertently revealing his inner thoughts, quickly tried to cover it up and suppressed the curling of his lips.
Wasn’t it truly perfect?
If he were to save Lyna in a dramatic moment during this situation.
The troublesome matters that had originated with Lyna would vanish like magic.
Finally, a smile appeared on Smith’s lips, as he had already assumed his role as the hero before it was even bestowed upon him.
He took a careful step toward Lyna.
Lyna was also aware of his approach.
It was absurd.
The black tiger didn’t even spare a glance for Smith, who was slowly drawing closer with the clinking of his armor.
As if only Lyna existed in this moment, the black tiger growled, fixated solely on her.
Just as Smith was about to block Lyna’s path, only two steps away.
“How about this, you damned beast!”
One of the hunters shot an arrow attached to a bag that emitted such a putrid smell that it could make any animal recoil, aiming for the black tiger’s hind leg.
-Thud.
The bag burst, and for a brief moment, an intensely noxious odor filled the air, and in the next instant.
“Kheheng!”
The black tiger leaped, but instead of lunging at Lyna, it soared over her head and concealed itself within the dense bushes.
Even the most dangerous of creatures is still just an animal.
Even without direct harm, if its sense of smell is suddenly disrupted, it would feel threatened.
Moreover, the scent that had been intensifying the black tiger’s aggression, unbeknownst to the people, vanished in an instant.
“Is
 is it gone?” someone’s voice trembled softly, and everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on the spot where the black tiger had disappeared.
How much time had passed?
The most cunning and experienced hunter moved silently, like a ghost, carefully examining the area where the black tiger had vanished, repeating the process over and over again.
Following his lead, the others also crouched down, barely breathing, as they waited.
The hunter straightened his hunched back and gestured grandly with his hand.
“It’s gone.”
In that moment, a collective sigh of relief swept through the group.
Shoulders, once tense with anticipation, relaxed, causing many to shiver and shake out their arms and legs.
“Ah
.!”
Becky, who was about to let out a loud cry, abruptly covered her mouth and nearly rolled towards Lyna in surprise.
Her hands were covered in dirt, as if she had been engaged in some activity, and there was a smudge of dark grime under her nose.
“Are you okay? You’re alright, right? You seem fine, but can I check a little
”
Like a puppy clinging to its owner after a few days of separation, Becky brought her face so close that their noses were about to touch.
Lyna pushed her face away with one hand and shook her head.
“I’m fine, as you can see.”
Although she had been struck by flying debris like shattering tree branches, it was nothing more than a scratch.
She had expected her limbs to be crushed, but for some reason, she remained unscathed.
Could it be that Ainar’s luck, even at a slight distance, was somehow affecting her?
Lyna’s thoughts were brief, quickly interrupted by Becky’s exclamation.
“Oh, my God. You’re wounded! Here, and ah, here too!”
What appeared inconsequential to Lyna was distressing to Becky.
Upon seeing the wounds on Lyna’s neck and cheeks, she wore a distressed expression.
“If only I had stopped it
”
Before Becky could finish her sentence, Lyna cut her off.
“Stop it. We should be grateful we didn’t die in that situation. Rather
”
Lyna briefly clicked her tongue as she scanned the guards who had somehow assembled around her.
One person was missing.
“We need to address the situation first.”
As soon as she spoke those words, people gathered around her.
By hierarchy, the ones in charge should be the First Prince or the Third Prince.
But theory and reality often diverge.
The one taking charge in this moment was not either of the princes, but Lyna herself.
Addressing those who only stared at her in silence, Lyna opened her mouth.
“First, ensure the safety of the princes.”
With those words, people dispersed, quickly locating the First Prince.
“Your Highness!”
The First Prince was unharmed, without any injuries.
However, he blinked his eyes dazedly, as if he had lost all energy from facing the black tiger alone.
“As for His Highness the Third Prince
 he is also safe.”
Lyna glanced at Smith, who buzzed around like a persistent fly, and called upon the hunters, or rather, those who could comprehend the situation and anticipate the future.
Setting aside everything else, she focused on the most crucial matter.
“Can we make our way to the safe zone?”