The forest had grown quieter the deeper they moved, but it wasn't the peaceful kind of silence, it was the kind that pressed against the skin, heavy and watchful, as if something unseen was breathing just beyond reach.
The air itself felt different, carrying a faint metallic scent mixed with the lingering traces of demonic energy drifting from the direction of the battlefield. Lee Hyun's steps slowed almost imperceptibly, his senses sharpening as the faintest disturbance brushed against his awareness.
He didn't turn his head, didn't break his pace, but his voice lowered just enough for Min Seoah to hear.
"…We're being followed."
Her expression didn't change, her posture remaining as calm and composed as ever, but her fingers tightened slightly as frost energy gathered faintly around her.
"How many?"
"…At least three."
His eyes flickered briefly, the information from his Beast Sovereign Pact faintly reacting, but this presence was different. These weren't beasts. They were human, hidden and skilled enough to mask themselves from ordinary detection.
Min Seoah exhaled slowly.
"…Likely first profession assassins."
Lee Hyun nodded faintly.
"They've been tailing us for a while."
A brief silence passed between them, their steps continuing as if nothing had changed, but the tension had already shifted. Both of them understood what this meant. This wasn't a coincidence. This wasn't random.
Someone had sent them. And they both already knew who it might be. Without another word, their pace subtly adjusted. A slight shift in direction, a barely noticeable change in rhythm, and then, they vanished.
Not through any grand movement, not through noise or force, but through precision. Lee Hyun activated his movement technique, his presence thinning into the shadows as if he had become part of the forest itself. Min Seoah followed, her frost concealing her aura, masking her existence within the natural flow of energy.
Moments later, the place they had just passed through fell silent. Then, fgures emerged. Three of them, dressed in dark, their presence sharp, controlled, their eyes scanning the surroundings with precision. One of them crouched slightly, touching the ground, sensing the residual traces.
"…They noticed us."
His voice was low, irritated. Another one clicked his tongue.
"Damn it… we were careful, still they got us."
The third stood still, his gaze narrowing.
"It doesn't matter. We've found them once. We'll find them again."
A brief pause.
"Split up."
The others nodded.
"They can't go far."
Without hesitation, they separated, each taking a different direction, their movements silent as they disappeared into the forest once more.
Minutes passed. The forest remained still. Until, a faint sound, a shift. One of them stopped.
"…Something's wrong."
He muttered, his instincts flaring just a second too late. A shadow moved behind him. Before he could react, a hand gripped his throat. His body froze instantly as a cold blade pressed against his neck.
"Don't move."
Lee Hyun's voice was calm, but the killing intent behind it was unmistakable. The man struggled slightly, but the pressure tightened.
"…Talk."
There was no anger in Lee Hyun's tone. That made it worse.
"W-what do you want—"
The blade pressed deeper.
"Why are you following us?"
Silence again took place there. The man hesitated. And pain exploded through his arm as Lee Hyun twisted it sharply, a bone-cracking sound echoing faintly in the quiet forest.
"AAARGH—!"
"Next one goes through your throat."
His voice didn't change, rise or tremble. The man's breathing turned erratic.
"…We were hired—!"
"By who?"
Another hesitation, another mistake. This time, the blade cut slightly, a thin line of blood trailing down his neck.
"WAIT—!"
His voice broke.
"A young master—!"
Min Seoah stepped forward slowly, her eyes cold.
"…Name."
The man swallowed hard, his fear now overwhelming.
"…H-He's from a high noble family… we don't say his name openly…"
Lee Hyun's grip tightened.
"Say it."
The man's lips trembled.
"…Seo… Seo Jin-woo…"
Silence.., A heavy, suffocating silence. Min Seoah's eyes darkened instantly.
"…I knew it."
Her voice was cold. Colder than anything he had heard before. Lee Hyun glanced at her briefly.
"…Your fiancé?"
She nodded once. That was enough. The man tried to speak again, to say something, to beg, but before he could, the blade moved, clean, precise and final blow dealt. His body dropped silently to the ground. Lee Hyun exhaled slowly, his gaze sharpening again.
"…Two left."
Min Seoah didn't speak. But the frost around her had already thickened. They moved again. This time, faster.
The second assassin didn't even realize what had happened. One moment he was scanning the area, the next, ice erupted from beneath his feet, freezing his legs instantly.
"What—?!"
Before he could react further, Lee Hyun appeared in front of him, the Demon's Sword already mid-swing. The crimson blade flashed. His voice cut off. The third one tried to run, but he sensed it. The death of the others, panic set in. But he didn't get far, a chilling pressure descended upon him as the air itself froze.
Min Seoah appeared behind him. Her eyes were no longer just cold. They were furious.
"You came… to kill him?"
Her voice was quiet. But it carried weight. The man turned, his body trembling.
"I-I was just following orders—!"
Frost spread rapidly across his body.
"Then die following them."
Her hand lifted slightly. And in the next instant, everything froze and shattered. Silence returned again.
The forest stood still once more, as if nothing had happened, but the faint scent of blood lingered in the air, slowly fading.
Min Seoah stood there for a moment, her breathing uneven, her emotions still unsettled.
Lee Hyun stepped beside her.
"…It's over."
She didn't respond immediately. Then,
"…He won't stop."
Her voice was quiet.
"He'll keep sending more."
Lee Hyun looked ahead, his gaze steady.
"…Then we'll keep killing them."
A simple answer, but absolute. She looked at him. For a moment, there was no doubt in her eyes.
"…You're really reckless."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"…And you're still here."
She huffed lightly, but there was no real annoyance in it.
"…Idiot."
But this time, her voice was softer and different. It was not distant, or guarded. She stepped slightly closer to him, not enough to make it obvious, but enough to feel the presence.
"…Don't die."
She said quietly.
Lee Hyun glanced at her.
"…Not before you."
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
And something shifted again.
Min Seoah smiled. Not the cold, distant smile she showed others. Not the confident smile she wore in battle. But something softer. Something that carried trust.
"…Good."
She said. And for the first time, it didn't feel like she was standing alone anymore.
---
To be continued..