The idea of mutations among monsters was not new. For example, the Nightwolf that Soren had just killed was a mutated beast after coming into contact with the Abyss.

Maybe, because it already had a dark affinity, it managed to mutate successfully.

However, gaining a new skill and mutating just by eating the mana core of another monster?

’Is this... luck?’

Soren had no idea.

He simply gazed at the beaming lizard below, his face filled with a mix of frown and annoyance.

’Damn... this guy.’

Seeing how happy it looked after gaining a new skill, Soren could not help but roll his eyes, left speechless.

Did it even realise how great a loss it had just caused him?

A level 72 mana core from a dark attribute beast could have been his trump card.

*Ahwwoooo!*

Soren was about to reprimand it, telling it not to be careless like this next time, when he heard a distant roar echo across the area.

’Crap... we need to leave immediately.’

In an instant, he realised the danger. So, he rapidly dove toward the wolf’s body and cleaved it in half.

Then he quickly stored them in his inventory before teleporting to Sylvia and Aria along with Frost.

"Soren..."

"Are you alright? You are not injured, right? Let me heal you quickly."

As soon as he appeared, Sylvia and Aria rushed to his side, worry clearly visible on their faces.

The anger they had felt earlier about his involvement with Elise had already disappeared completely.

What remained was self-blame, endless worry, and a sense of awe.

After all, being a low-level archer and still managing to kill a level 72 beast was no small feat.

Just how many secrets did Soren have?

How strong was he really?

"I am fine. Don’t worry."

Soren did not have time to entertain them. He waved off their concern and swiftly grabbed Sylvia and Aria by the waist, startling them.

"Let’s get out of here. If a pack of wolves shows up, I will not be able to protect you both."

As much as he was glad he had killed the Abyssfang Terrawolf, if even two of them appeared at once, he would be finished.

Well, he might be able to save himself by activating his S rank state, but with them holding him back...

*Swoosh!*

As the howling grew louder, Soren wasted no time and used his SS rank skill, Phantom Steps, to escape the area.

Judging by how late those packs appeared here, he was sure not all the wolves had managed to mutate.

But he was not willing to take any risk.

So, he used every bit of agility to rapidly run towards the camp, all the while activating his Artemis’s Sight to scout his surroundings for any danger.

Since the darkness had invaded the entire forest, it wasn’t that easy to navigate around as before, not to mention the increased number of weird monsters around that he could sense.

’So warm!’

Seeing how caring he was, trying his best to take them to safety, both Sylvia and Aria couldn’t help but feel warm.

To be honest, while Soren was frivolous, he was always a reliable man when it really mattered.

Wasn’t the situation the same when they almost got injured in the E-rank dungeon before?

That time too, Soren carried them both in his arms, flying up into the sky and taking them to safety.

For a moment, Sylvia and Aria couldn’t help but look at each other, each with their own thoughts, their arms tightly holding onto his waist, silently.

Their faces tinged with a slight smile of satisfaction as they both squirmed comfortably, trying their best to cling to his warm embrace, all the while Soren rapidly closed in.

’Hmm?’

Soren didn’t notice the weird silence as he was too focused on his surroundings.

Only when he got really close to the camp and felt the intact Anchor point in his tent did he finally relax.

’Now... it should be safe enough. Those wolves don’t seem to be pursuing me anymore,’ Soren thought.

However, once he made sure he could teleport directly inside, instead of doing so, Soren abruptly stopped in his tracks.

Then, suddenly, he looked to the side and swiftly changed his direction, heading elsewhere instead.

"Soren?"

For a moment, both Aria and Sylvia were confused as to why he didn’t just enter the camp ahead when he took them both into an inconspicuous cave instead.

"What are you doing?"

Aria asked again, totally puzzled as Soren released them from his hold and used mana to clear up the cave instead.

"Frost... go outside and guard the area. If anything happens, send me a message. Don’t attack as you did before."

He then gave an order to his pet, who swiftly disappeared, leaving him all alone with Aria and Sylvia.

"..."

Only then did he finally look at Aria and Sylvia; a deep relief washed over his face, in stark contrast to his serious look from before.

"That was too dangerous."

Soren finally spoke, walking closer and placing his hand over the heads of Sylvia and Aria, caressing their hair lovingly.

Even in the darkness shrouding everything, he could still see how beautiful they looked, their presence bringing him a quiet sense of comfort.

"S-Soren? Are you alright?"

Sylvia saw his gentle gaze and couldn’t help but ask, not dodging his hand as it caressed her hair, her face full of confusion.

"Shouldn’t we... return to the camp?"

As much as Sylvia liked his attention, the situation was bad after all.

So, she hurried Soren, only to see him shake his head.

"Not now. We still have something to do before that."

"Something? What is more urgent than returning to safety?"

Both Aria and Sylvia were puzzled when Soren lightly smacked their glabella with his finger playfully.

"Of course, there is something urgent. Aren’t you curious about the strength I just showed you?"

He bet they were.

He could see curiosity oozing from their eyes from the beginning. They just didn’t ask, probably because they were waiting for him to tell them.

"Hmm?"

Sure enough, after hearing him, both Aria and Sylvia perked up. Aria even quickly spoke her guess,

"Soren... you have a Dual Class, right?"

In fact, she was already mostly sure, as, besides that, she couldn’t think of any other reason for his ability in close combat.

"Hmm? Dual Class?"