Amber Sword

But fortunately, although Harpies are sensitive to light, their eyesight is quite average. Besides, they’re very cautious creatures and wouldn’t drop below the tree canopy to inspect.

Knowing this, Ben felt somewhat reassured.

However, at that very moment, he felt a twinge of unease in his heart. It was like his heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if sensing someone was peering into his secrets.

Others were fine, but Brand, with his wealth of experience, instantly realized what it was—magic! Detection Magic! He was certain that a pair of malevolent eyes was inspecting this place through a Crystal Ball, and the Evil Sorcerers draped in blood-red robes from beneath the River of Sulfur were the most adept at this.

The Princess beside him turned pale, her fragile body trembling as if she too sensed something. Ben instinctively felt something was amiss and quickly reminded her, "Quick, don’t think about anything you’re most worried about now! Just think about tonight’s dinner, whether it’s revolting carrot stew or oat porridge!"

The Half-Elf Girl looked at him with confusion in her silver eyes.

"This is a demon’s spell, Black Magic, which will affect your mind and find out the answer it wants through your thoughts. The more you fear, the more negative emotions pile up, the more it sees what you fear the most now. That would expose our location!"

"But I don’t dislike eating carrot stew." Princess Griffine replied slightly aggrieved.

"...That’s impossible." Ben was dumbfounded.

Regardless of whether it was possible or not, just as the two were slightly at ease, a scream suddenly came from the distant rain curtain. Someone had been discovered, Ben’s heart sank; he regretted not having everyone hide together since he was the only one with experience in evading Detection Magic.

"Mr. Brand." The Princess called softly.

Ben’s hand clenched the hilt of the Earth Sword tightly. Should he rush out now? Harpies were merely Silver Upper-level monsters; the Knights he brought all had Silver Peak-level skills. If he charged out now, perhaps he could save the other person’s life.

But what about the Princess? If he takes action, can he lead these people to carve a way out through thousands of Harpies?

Ben had no confidence at all.

But he suddenly felt cold fingers press down on his hand. "Mr. Brand, I understand your idea, thank you," Princess Griffine said softly. "But please, no matter what, do not betray our ideals and pursuits. That is the value of our existence."

She nodded to him.

Ben’s heart stirred slightly.

He suddenly understood why he was indifferent to Otarais’s warning to be wary of the Princess. Princess Griffine had never changed; if she chose to compromise, she wouldn’t have broken from the Royalist faction. In the face of ideals and reality, she has always been that Holy White Princess. Ben had never seen someone embody wisdom and firm belief so completely.

Nor had Erune’s players before.

He immediately made up his mind. Raising his sword and rushing out, he immediately faced a Harpy swooping down from above—its beautiful female head adorned with blood-red eyes that shimmered with malicious light, its sharp claws opening like eight knives slashing toward him.

Ben calmly retreated a step, lips pressed together, drawing the Earth Sword with both hands in a sweeping motion upwards, instantly chopping off the creature’s claws. The unbalanced Harpy screeched as it toppled backward, crashing into the trunk of a black pine tree, its brains splattered.

Ben could finally see the Knight who had been captured. The situation was dire, surrounded by seven or eight Harpies attacking from all sides. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and fired a Wind Bullet in that direction. The bullet spun through the treetops, crashing solidly into two Harpies, tearing their wings apart in a rain of blood.

The sudden attack frightened the Harpies, causing them to scatter with shrieks. The Knight finally found a chance to breathe, turned around, and looked at Ben gratefully.

"You shouldn’t have come out, Lord." He smiled.

"I don’t want to be like those Northern Men and hide like a turtle. You are Royalists, aren’t you?" Ben saw the other should be a Lantoniyan.

"Exactly."

Ben nodded and shouted, "I heard Royalists never abandon their comrades, so why not follow my orders and face the enemy head-on? Today we’ll carve a path of blood; these monsters can’t stop us!"