In the darkness of twilight, with my bag slung over my shoulder, I quickly made my way out of the Blackwood estate, taking steady steps.
Even at a fast pace, I knew it would be impossible to leave the estate by dawn, so securing transportation was my first priority. I briefly considered stealing one of the horses from the Blackwood stables, but doing so would undoubtedly give Harold an excuse to pursue me.@@novelbin@@
Harold had gone out of his way to let me leave without incident, and creating a reason for him to capture me would only increase my chances of being caughtâand potentially punished. At this hour, borrowing a horse from the village was also impossible, as everyone would be asleep. That left me with one option for obtaining transportation: theft.
âIf I walk around this area, Iâll probably run into some bandits.â
Intentionally choosing a quiet, secluded mountain path far from the village, I strolled along, aware that a lone woman carrying a large bag would make an appealing target.
At my level, I could easily take down any ordinary group of bandits, and even if a wild monster appeared, it would hardly pose a threat. Remember that Hooked Tusks I faced at level 2? Even if a herd appeared in the woods, Iâd wipe them out.
With that thought, I walked down the mountain path leading out of Blackwood territory, when suddenly I heard rustling from the underbrush, and something emerged.
Rustle.
Sniff, growl...
Thud!
Thud!