“Mimi.”

Leciel, who had packed all the luggage, called out to Mimi, who was sitting quietly watching herself with a small bundle on her back.

Mimi’s long, large ears perked up, and she stood up and approached Leciel.

“Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I relied on Mimi all this time.”

Mimi had provided great help in purifying Leciel’s eyes and stabilizing her mind. Leaving behind such a Mimi made her feel a bit sorry and bitter.

However, she couldn’t take the monsters with her.

No matter how friendly they were to her, their nature could be dangerous to other humans.

“Take care, Mimi. Goodbye.”

Leciel smiled brightly as she bid farewell.

Although Mimi didn’t understand Leciel’s words, she somehow sensed that something was different from usual, and her expression turned subtly melancholy.

Her tail hitting the ground seemed to indicate Mimi’s discomfort.

Leciel hugged Mimi as a final farewell.

Mimi’s body, which was much larger than an adult man, made it difficult for Leciel to hug her properly, but she tried her best to embrace Mimi by wiggling her small body.

Mimi looked at the small child nestled in her arms.

She softly whimpered, sensing instinctively that this was their final farewell.

However, Mimi didn’t try to hold onto Leciel or threaten her with a hostile aura.

After bidding farewell to Mimi, Leciel called out to Chacha.

Perhaps because of the effect of repeatedly calling out to her, Chacha approached Leciel at her call.

“Thank you, Chacha.”

Leciel reached out her hand in parting, unable to muster the courage to embrace Chacha like she did with Mimi.

Chacha hesitated but eventually took Leciel’s hand cautiously.

She seemed extremely careful, fearing that her sharp claws might harm Leciel’s hand.

Watching the two monsters and humans, Kael wore a subtle expression.

Who would believe it? Monsters and humans embracing each other affectionately and shaking hands.

It seemed like a scene he would want to capture and preserve forever.

“Well then, let’s go.”

Although her heart felt unexpectedly heavy, Leciel didn’t hesitate to move forward; it was inevitable.

Leaving at the right time was the mark of a beautiful departure.

Her bond with Mimi and Chacha ended here.

If only they weren’t monsters, she could hope for another meeting, but that was unlikely.

“Sure.”

Kael glanced at the monsters without regrets and moved on without looking back.

Thus, the two of them left the house they had come to appreciate in their own ways.

“But how do you get out of the Monster Forest?”

Alone, it might not be too dangerous, but going out with her was far more dangerous than that.

Although she accepted the offer reluctantly, she couldn’t help but worry.

Even if the worst happened, she would be safe, but Karciel wouldn’t.

“I trust you, little one.”

“Huh?”

Shouldn’t you not trust her? Even if he did, she wouldn’t be able to help him anyway?

Leciel sent Kael a troubled look with an expression clearly burdened.

“I’m willing to push forward, even if it means enduring some injuries. But because I’m not immune to monster venom, that’ll be your job to deal with.”

“Ah, I see. So, I just have to diligently treat you like a healer?”

“If you do that, there’s a good chance.”

Thanks to Leciel, the serious injuries from before had completely healed without a trace, and his condition was better than ever before.

It was the first time Kael’s body felt this light.

Therefore, he wasn’t worried.

Even though he wasn’t confident of leaving here unscathed, it seemed possible to leave the Monster Forest itself.

“I’ll do my best!”

If she could leave this place, couldn’t she do that much?

The conditions outlined in the contract, safely tucked away in her possession, also demanded that much.

“Even if it’s called the Monster Forest, it’s just an ordinary forest after all.”

Walking while seeming indifferent to the forest, Kael casually remarked.

“I haven’t seen any other forest besides this one.”

“… that’s true. Once you leave this place, you’ll experience and see a lot.”

Kael planned to ensure that Leciel had many experiences during her prime of growth.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m also curious what kind of place is outside.”

For Leciel, the outside world was like a distant story from a fairy tale. It was a world she could never experience.

But now she could leave this place.

The chance encounter with the villain was a significant turning point for her, and her life would be very different from now on.

So, she felt a little anxious and worried, but Leciel didn’t dwell on it too much.

After all, worrying and being anxious wouldn’t change anything. Therefore, she decided to focus on the present.

Even if she fell into a tiger’s den, as long as she regained her composure, she could survive. Likewise, if she prepared diligently for what lied ahead, things would work out somehow.

There was no other way anyway.

“Now that I think of it, we’ll become the first survivors to leave the Monster Forest.”

“I hope so.”

“We will.”

Kael spoke with conviction.

Meanwhile, the two arrived near the boundary of the Monster Forest.

Until now, the monsters would obediently retreat when Leciel said “no,” but as she approached the boundary, they began to stand their ground more clearly.

“Stay by my side no matter what.”

“Yes!”

Leciel replied resolutely, as if she was ready to cling to him like a koala if necessary.

Soon, a battle broke out between the monsters trying to prevent Leciel from leaving and Kael trying to leave this place with her.

Thanks to Leciel’s abilities, Kael, who had fully recovered from his injuries and regained his strength, easily overcame the monsters.

During the process, Kael’s body accumulated a few wounds, but he didn’t mind.

Anyway, he didn’t think he would leave this place without a single scratch.

Nevertheless, it was fortunate that even though this was his first experience in such a battle situation, Leciel stuck by his side without interfering with his attacks while providing intermittent healing.

Thanks to her, Karciel no longer had to worry about injuries.

With his health being replenished in real-time, he was able to continue the battle in top condition.

The sight of the two people seemed natural and familiar, as if they had been fighting together for a long time.

“Huh.”

In the midst of the relentless battle, Kael took a moment to catch his breath.

The monsters hesitated to rush to Kael.

They instinctively sensed that he was different from the humans they had encountered before.

However, that didn’t mean their will to attack had disappeared; they still exuded a fierce energy.

The gaze of those monsters was directed towards Leciel, who was by Kael’s side.

“It may not be wise to continue this battle any longer, so our top priority should be to simply leave this place.”

Although they continued the battle due to the monsters blocking their way, there was no longer a need to do so.

Thanks to the monsters keeping their distance and being on guard, there was now room to leave without further combat.

“Yes. I will follow your words entirely.”

With survival being their priority and Leciel lacking the aptitude for battles against monsters, she obediently followed Kael’s instructions.

“Then, let’s be on our way.”

With those words, Kael lifted Leciel into his arms.

It was more efficient to do so when leaving the forest.

After all, Leciel couldn’t match Kael’s running speed, and it would be risky for her to keep up and overexert herself.

Soon, Kael began to run towards the exit.

The monsters hastily chased after Kael to block his path, but they couldn’t keep up with his speed.

And thus, the moment came when Kael and Leciel safely exited the forest.

“Ah!”

“Roar!”

The monsters roared in unison.

It was a strangely poignant and melancholic sound.

Kael glanced back warily at the forest, feeling as if it might shake.

However, the monsters only roared; they didn’t attempt to attack recklessly.

They just looked at Leciel pitifully, as if they had lost something precious that shouldn’t be lost.

Ignoring those monsters as if he didn’t notice them, Kael continued walking.

He didn’t let his guard down until the monsters completely disappeared from sight.

Meanwhile, Leciel remained lost in thought as she was cradled in Kael’s arms.

‘What was that all about?’

The voices that echoed in her head along with the monsters’ roars a while ago.

– Please don’t abandon us.

– Save us.

– Only you can save us.

The voices were so jumbled and desperate that they seemed like hallucinations, yet they were hauntingly clear and urgent.

As if they were echoing in her heart and mind.

‘Why would they say such things to me?’

For what purpose, and for what reason?

Surely, the owner of that voice must have been a monster.

It didn’t sound like a simple request to spare them from Karciel’s attacks.

The earnest and affectionate voices kept lingering in her mind, and without realizing it, Leciel found herself gazing towards the direction of the forest where the monsters were.

But by then, the forest had receded into the distance, and the monsters were no longer visible.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Kael, who was finally able to take a breath, asked Leciel, who was cradled in his arms.

The serious expression on the 10-year-old child’s face, furrowing her small brows and pursing her lips in deep thought, was so cute that Kael almost let out a laugh, but he restrained himself.

“It’s nothing, really.”

Leciel shook her head, still looking serious.

It wasn’t a question that could be solved by talking to Kael, so for some reason, she was cautious about telling him.

Leciel’s response made Kael refrain from asking again.

There seemed to be something bothering her, judging by her unusually firm expression, but it wasn’t necessary for Leciel to tell him what it was.

Given her personality, if it was something important that he needed to know, she would have told him without hiding it.

Deciding to let it go, Kael opened his mouth again in an attempt to lighten the mood, speaking in a casual yet gentle tone.

“We’ve finally made it out of the forest.”

“Yeah, it’s really outside.”

At his words, Leciel finally stopped worrying and responded, looking around curiously.

“You did well, kid.”

“It’s thanks to you.”

“Perhaps if it wasn’t for you, it would have been more difficult.”

If Leciel hadn’t been there, if she hadn’t naturally assisted Kael, who was accustomed to battle, they wouldn’t have been able to get out of there unscathed.

Thinking that, Kael gently stroked Leciel’s head, praising her.

It was a rough but affectionate touch.

 

* * *

 

Two days after leaving the Monster Forest…

Leciel and Karciel finally arrived at the Grand Duke’s mansion that was located near the Monster Forest.

All the people of the Grand Duke’s mansion came out to greet Karciel upon hearing of his return.

Among them was Carren, Karciel’s only son and heir to the grand duchy.