I shook my head.

I haven’t reached my destination yet.

I needed to conserve my strength until I got close.

As I said before, I won’t be going outside the territory.

Where my footsteps are headed.

It’s none other than the deepest part of the territory, the Arsene Forest.

By now, the pursuers must have realized that the Arsene Forest is my destination.

Because the entrance to the forest has appeared.

‘Arsene Forest.’

A place where trees are densely packed and the sound of strange insects’ wings, which I’ve never heard before, vibrates.

As soon as I entered, the eerie atmosphere convinced me that I had reached my destination.

I will use the geographical advantage of the Arsene Forest to subdue the knights.

Running on a dark forest path where even moonlight doesn’t reach was extremely dangerous.

Like right now.

“The horse’s leg is caught in the tree roots……!”

“Everyone watch your step…… Argh!”

The horses’ legs got caught on the tree roots protruding all over the Arsene Forest, and the knights fell off their horses.

I couldn’t confirm it, but they must have been injured.

At the very least, I could guarantee that they wouldn’t be able to chase me any further.

However, the knight who had been riding at the back steered his horse around the obstacles and started chasing me.

He had made a quick judgment after seeing his comrades fall victim to the tree roots.

'That's unfortunate.'

As expected of experienced knights.

I only had to be careful of Peltz.

That's what I thought...

But if this was the case, I would have to deal with him myself.

I slowed down my pace, pretending to be exhausted.

The moment I showed a gap,

"Gotcha!"

The knight swung his gleaming sword.

My mind raced, searching for a way to overcome this crisis.

Using Position Exchange.

My action was faster than my thought.

“Designation.”

I designated the knight’s helmet as the target.

“Move.”

The knight cut the helmet that had exchanged positions with me, and my body fell in the air.

I accelerated and stabbed the knight’s throat with my dagger.

Thud-.

“Ugh……!”

As the dagger pierced the knight’s neck, the knight died instantly and fell off his horse.

I couldn’t even check on him and just rolled my head in the air.

‘I’m in danger too.’

My posture was disturbed while stabbing him.

If I fell like this, it was obvious that I would break something.

“Designation.”

A leaf that happened to come into my sight.

“Move.”

I changed my position with it.

Thud-.

That’s how I supported my body on the branch and secured my position.

Now there was only one left.

“Tsk.”

The man who clicked his tongue and approached me after getting off his horse.

Peltz, the captain of the knights of the Leon Duke’s family.

I swallowed dry saliva.

‘He’s not an opponent I can deal with the same way I did just now.’

The sudden, dreadful murderous intent made me freeze in place, unable to even move a step.

I opened my mouth with difficulty and uttered the spell.

“Designation.”

I immediately activated the Position Exchange and designated the leaf that was the farthest away as the target and moved.

The moment I moved to the branch on the other side.

*BOOM!*

A huge roar rang out, tearing my eardrums apart.

Was that really the sound of a sword being swung?

I looked down at the ground while hanging on the branch.

A long, large sword mark was carved on the spot where I had been.

'If I had been hit by that attack, I would have been minced meat...'

The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine.

As I swallowed, my gaze fixed on the ground in terror, Peltz flew towards me at an incredible speed.

He literally leaped through the air, swinging his sword at me.

"Designate."

I hurriedly activated Position Exchange and escaped.

He wasn't the type to give up just because his allies had fallen.

"Huu, huu."

My heart was pounding like it was about to burst.

First, I needed to catch my breath...

As I clung to the branch, trying to calm my ragged breathing, Peltz's mocking laughter reached my ears.

"I must admit, you're quite impressive. Not only did you take down four knights, but you're also dodging my attacks."

Peltz continued,

"But it was a foolish decision to corner yourself in this forest where escape is impossible."

He wasn’t wrong.

It wouldn’t be easy to shake him off in the Arsene Forest with my young body.

My mana was also nearly depleted, so I wouldn’t be able to use Position Exchange more than a few more times.

Even so, there was a reason why I stubbornly insisted on staying in the Arsene Forest.

“Is there any other way? I’ll die if I go outside the territory anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Outside Arsene.

It wasn’t safe at all.

The Empire was ruled by six families, so their influence would surely reach me no matter where I went.

After our brief conversation, Peltz raised his sword once more.

“Then.”

Die.

With those words, Peltz lunged at the spot where I had been standing.

I quickly spread out the Position Exchange arrows and fled.

However.

I wasn’t able to dodge it perfectly this time.

“Ugh!”

The sword grazed my arm just before I could activate Position Exchange.

The wound wasn’t deep.

However, a sharp pain shot through me, forcing me to grit my teeth.

“You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be. You even killed those poor knights.”

“Isn’t that a bit premature? At least, I don’t think I’m going to die here.”

Peltz snorted in response to my question.

“Ha, do you think you can escape from me?”

“Well.”

“You seem to have some confidence.”

I didn’t answer his question. I simply used Position Exchange to put some distance between us.

Then, I took out a piece of paper and a fountain pen from my pocket and smiled quietly.

A place to escape to.

I had one.

That was the reason why I had insisted on staying in the Arsene Forest in the first place.

What was that reason?

I was going to go to the ‘Demon Realm’.