It was the right time to proceed with the plan. My energy spikes up in survival mode. I took that as my cue to descend from the treetop, drag his body towards the tree trunk, and let him lean on it. Thankfully, he is still asleep.

I started searching for his body while being mindful of the sounds coming from the rotter's direction. The burning smell was an effective distraction. Both for this unconscious noble in front of me and the flesh-eating monsters. It was a wild guess, but I couldn't believe that it worked. With my short encounter with them earlier, I guessed that the monsters have a highly sensitive sense of smell more than their sight. That is why although they come in hordes, they sometimes find it difficult to track and pin down their prey. Last night, the rotter was able to track me down because of the sudden appearance of the moon that illuminated its path. It was probably a coincidence that I bumped into her and she found me swimming amidst the pool of blood. With several bloodied bodies strewn around the lake, it was quite difficult to identify my scent.

Proceeding with the task at hand, I pulled out the belt on his pants and tied it around his hands to restrict his movement. I also hacked a small part of his clothes and used it to cover his eyes. This noble might be an easy target, but I need to do as much as I can to restrict his movement before he wakes up. His physique is still large enough to overpower if an unexpected scuffle ensues once he wakes up. After securing his body, I started rummaging inside his pocket and taking anything from his possession that could be useful. He found a small pouch with a few coins inside. He also had a sword on, but it was too heavy for me to carry; luckily, he had another dagger in his pocket. It can be useful, and it fits perfectly on my hands. I started digging inside his coat and found some trinkets that I could probably sell for a high price. As I am still not familiar with the currency of this place, I should take everything that looks valuable.

As I was busy robbing the poor noble in front of me, it was too late for me to notice someone approaching. When I looked up, I found a dark-haired girl wearing a bloodied white bodice tightly clutching the rein of the horse that had run away earlier in panic. I froze in my position, unsure of how to escape the situation. It doesn't look like she's part of the group that orchestrated this bloody hunt, but still, she's a stranger. A familiar stranger. The girl who looked strangely familiar offered the reins to her.

"Take it. You should go while the nobles are still preoccupied with the hunt," she stated matter-of-factly.

I stood motionless. "What—how about you?" I couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Why is she helping me? I'm sure that this is the first time that they have seen each other, but why couldn't I stop thinking that she looks familiar? She does not appear to be one of the girls who were dragged earlier.

The girl remained quiet while her glowing lavender-colored eyes bounced in the direction of the monsters. Unfortunately, by the sound of their growling, they must have started steadily heading towards their direction. Has the small kindling already served its purpose? Unwillingly, my heart began to beat erratically once more. I needed to get out of here.

"We should escape together," I suddenly blurted out in reflex. It's better to traverse this forest with someone rather than alone. Besides, she looks harmless despite all the blood. And strangely enough, I feel safer with her around.

The girl shook her head with a determined look etched on her face. "You should not be here. I can't have an unknown variable like you ruin my plans."

Mechanically, I cocked my head on one side. Not understanding what she's getting at. "Huh—what plans?"

Before she could even explain what she meant by it, both of them jumped in surprise when they heard the sound of hoofbeats clicking on the ground heading towards them. It's not just the rotter, but it looks like they will also be caught by those nasty nobles. I already put so much effort into escaping this hellhole, and I can't get caught.

My desperate gaze bounced back to the girl in front, trying to convince her one more time to come with me, but she immediately shoved the reins to my chest and started pulling me toward the horse.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" I just couldn't give it up.

The girl shook her head vehemently. Her gaze once again fixated on a specific direction.

"Go, you should head towards the south. Once you emerge from the Lourbel forest, you will find a small town where you can temporarily hide.

I nodded my head in defeat, not knowing how I could convince her any more than I already did. Besides, I am running out of time.

"What about you?"

"I can handle myself. Worry about yours."

The girl suddenly clutched my hand tightly, finally looking at me straight in the eyes. With their faces close to one another, I can finally see the resemblance. This is why she looks strangely familiar. They look like each other—I mean this owner's body. I had only briefly seen it in the mirror, but I can't forget its striking features. However, this body doesn't remember the girl in front of me. Is it because I'm now possessing it? I suddenly felt like choking while my heart squeezed in pain. What is this I'm feeling right now?

"For both our sakes, don't get yourself caught. Live far away from this place."

However, there is no time to ponder about this any longer. I nodded. "Please be safe. I mean it."

She averted her gaze, breaking off the connection between them. Not knowing the meaning behind her action, I mounted the horse and steered it in the direction she had given me. I took one last look at her before kicking the flank, and the horse lurched forward at an incredible speed.

I will worry about the confusion that's invading my senses at a later time. Until it is safe for me to do so. That's why at the moment I need to do my best to run away.