Bell slowly pushed his way through the bushes, and came out at a opened spot where some blueberry tree grew. He decided to pick a few before moving on, even though he had walked on exactly the same path he and his sister had came through, he still haven’t seen any marked tree.

"I think I’m lost" Bell looked around, all he could see were the endless rows of trees and the darkness that lurks beyond. The tree barks were too steep and smooth, so climbing wasn’t an option.

Bell continued into the bushes, this time finding a way to get back to Ryu Instead of looking for firewood till he reached a river. He immediately kneeled down near it’s banks and took a few sips of water, he touched his back, trying to get his bag only to realise that he left it with Ryu.

There was nothing around to store water inside and Ryu must be thirsty after that long walk, he didn’t even have anything to catch a fish with, he could have caught one of the few small fishes that were swimming in the water.

Bell was about to leave the river when he heard a scream. He looked around, trying to find the source of the voice but couldn’t find it. He then followed the stream upward, till he got the the source of the river. The water were leaking out of a rock, and there was no water around it.

"Get away from me!"

He heard the voice again, this time it was louder, almost like the person was right behind him. He quickly ran into the bushes and slowly approached the direction which the voice was coming from and peeped out the bushes when he got close enough.

A girl was surrounded by a pack of wolves. She was dressed in a red gownlet and was equipped with a simple iron chestplate, a pair of leather gauntlet and a wooden staff with a sparkling red gem on the top, a brown bag hung on her shoulder. She swing her staff around, her back against a rock as she yelled.

"Stay back!"

One of the wolves ignored her warning and dashed towards her, it jumped with it’s mouth wide open, aiming at her neck. Bell immediately pulled his dagger from his chestplate but stopped after seeing the girl cast a spell at it.

The wolf fell on the ground, writhing in pain as it’s fur went up in flames. The second wolf rushed the girl, she blocked with the staff, making the wolf bite it instead and held it with it’s maw. Then the third wolf attacked, the girl tried to pull her staff from the second wolf but it held it tight.

The third wolf leaped into the air and attacked with it’s claw as the girl tries to evade it but was too slow. Luckily, Bell jumped in just in time and stabbed the third wolf from the side and quickly pulled his dagger out and slashes at the second wolf but it released the wooden staff and evaded the attack.

The girl fell to the ground with her wooden staff in her hand, she looked up and saw Bell, tears welling in her eyes.

"Thank you"

"Don’t thank me yet, it’s not over" Bell replied, his attention still on the remaining wolves.

The mage nodded and stood up then readied her staff for the next spell. With only three wolves left, they spread themselves, surrounding Bell and the girl.

Without any notice, they all leaped at the duo. Bell sidestep the attack and slashed the first wolf from the side, making it crashed into the third wolf and struggled to stand as it started bleeding out. While the girl quickly jumped backward and cast a spell at the second wolf and it immediately went up in flames.

The third wolf quickly stood up, seeing the rest of it’s pack dead wasn’t enough to convince it to give up. Instead it dashed towards Bell and tries to scratch him with it’s claw, Bell sidestep the attack but the wolf–already knowing Bell counter–spun midair and landed on a rock and launched at Bell again, this time pushing him to the ground.

Bell held the wolf maw closed as he tries to reach for his dagger which had fallen from his hand as the wolf pushed down but couldn’t reach it. The mage stood confused on how to attack, fearing that her spell might hit Bell too. As Bell continued to struggle with the wolf with his left hand while trying to reach for his dagger with the right, his hand met a rock that was nearby and he quickly picked it up and slammed it into the wolf skull.

The wolf fell down and Bell quickly picked up his dagger and pierced it into the wolf’s neck, finally killing the animal.

"*Breathing heavily*" Bell struggled to maintain his breathing as he stood up. A translucent screen flickered in front of him.

[Player gained 75 exp]

[Player gained a level]

[Player has risen to level 6]

[Player gained a special item for helping someone in need]

_special item for helping?, that doesn’t sound like a thing a god of death will do_ Bell thought, he quickly divert his attention from the screen for the mage not to notice.

"Thank you very much, sir" The girl said as she bow her head.

"You don’t need to thank me" Bell replied as he waved his hand at system screen and it immediately disappeared.

"But if you hadn’t come when you did, I would have lost my life" The girl said with tears welling up in her eyes. "I should reward you for your kind gesture and maybe I’ll ev....."

"No need. I didn’t save you for a reward, I just thought it was the right thing to do" Bell said as crouched in front of the dead animal. "Aren’t there suppose to be a core in them?"

"Huh...yes" The girl answered after being interrupted by Bell’s question. "They are suppose to be inside the monster, we just have to cut them open"

"Okay" Bell said almost casually. "Can you help me with them?"

"S...sure"