Yuxi released her arrow and watched as it zoomed past the rabbit, making it run away. Then, like a snake, another arrow struck the fleeing rabbit as if it had eyes of its own.

“You’re not a match to Bossman yet, Yuxi.” Sergio smiled as he looked at them from beyond his book.

Yuxi pouted and turned toward the youth standing on top of the rock behind her. He wore simple clothes with a black headband. The young man was staring at her with his crimson eyes, which still made him quite scary.

“You’ve miscalculated.” Nikolai spat toward her as if she was the dumbest person he met. “How did you miss the flow in mana from that tree?”

She followed his pale hand, which had traces of black skin, to see a tree in the distance that had currents of mana around it.

“It’s called Breather for a reason; it generates random wind currents.” Nikolai pointed out again. “Your stance is also too stiff as if you’re mimicking a doll.”

“Calling her a doll, Boss knows how to flirt!” Sergio whistled from beyond his book. He hid his face in a hurry when Nikolai glared at him.

“This is useless.” Nikolai sighed with exasperation. “We need to find the Dwarves, not waste our time here teaching her how to shoot an arrow.”

“Come on, Boss. We’ve been looking for several days now.” Sergio closed his book and jumped from the rock. “We might as well enjoy a barbeque if we can’t find them.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere with a broken ship. Do you think we have the time to enjoy ourselves?” Nikolai shook his head and left.

“Don’t worry. He’ll teach you again.” Sergio turned to Yuxi and gave her a thumbs up. “Let’s pick up the score!”

Yuxi smiled and nodded, but she didn’t think he would. She turned toward the rabbit that he struck. It was almost 300 meters away, but he hit the rabbit’s head and killed it.

She was also an archer, a good one, but she wasn’t as good as him. Yuxi frowned as she tried to adjust her stance and mimic his, but it was futile. Nikolai’s stance was as relaxed and free as a morning breeze, but hers was as rigid as a mountain.

‘The academy never had such an archer before, but it doesn’t even seem like archery is his main fighting style.’

He was a mystery, layered with more secrets. Every time Yuxi thought she was about to uncover something about him, a new side of him emerged. One of those sides almost killed her.

Sergio picked up the rabbit and ran toward Nikolai to give him the camping set. Nikolai sighed and gave it to him, making Sergio grin and run toward a stream.

Yuxi felt a bit jealous that he was so kind to Sergio but so cold toward her. She did sneak into his ship and threatened him, but was she that suspicious?

“Ah, bossman, how do you turn this into meat slabs?” Sergio asked Nikolai with embarrassment.

“You were so eager to cook, but you’re asking me now?” Nikolai’s red eyes looked amused as he grabbed the rabbit and began gutting it.

Yuxi watched as Nikolai taught Sergio how to gut the rabbit with a smile. Throughout the process, Nikolai ignored her completely but made sure that Sergio learned the skill thoroughly.

Sergio began to roast his meat after taking out a cauldron that he used to control the fire. Because he used premade spices, the aroma spread everywhere.

‘This will attract some monsters.’ Yuxi gestured in front of the two. Sergio looked confused and turned to Nikolai, who seemed to understand her meaning.

She was upset that the one who understood sign language best hated her, but he seemed caring enough to explain to Sergio.

“She says this might attract monsters.”

Yuxi knew that he was explaining to Sergio rather than helping her, but it was still a relief to see him acknowledge her presence.

“Ah? Should I turn it off?” Sergio panicked, but Nikolai shook his head. He pointed toward the edge of the trees where a transparent wall of darkness stood.

“I made sure that no aroma or smell escapes.”

Yuxi stared at the wall of darkness and then back at Nikolai. In addition to this skill, which she has never seen before, she admired his readiness for everything.

He seemed to be always a step ahead of everything.

Sergio laughed as he praised Nikolai again, but the latter didn’t respond and took out his longbow. He studied it carefully as if looking for something within it.

***

‘It’s reacting to my darkness.’ Nikolai realized as he looked at the Darkmoon Longbow in his hand. He did expect some changes to it, but it began absorbing his darkness every time he used it.

He couldn’t do it consciously but could only allow it to absorb the darkness at its own pace. As he was studying the longbow’s woody structure, Sergio finished making food.

“Sergio’s Roasted Rabbit!” The blond alchemist said with a victorious smile as he presented the roasted meat on a plate.

‘It’s just a roasted rabbit, but I guess he doesn’t need to feel down.’ Nikolai thought as he decided to hide away his bow and eat. His ears twitched as he turned toward the upper part of the stream.

“Hm? Boss? Is something wrong?” Sergio turned toward stream as well after seeing Nikolai’s actions. Nikolai didn’t answer and kept walking toward the creek.

“There’s something in the water,” Nikolai said as he took out the Unbreakable Vines ropes from Alias and handed one end to Sergio. “Hold this.”

Sergio placed the plate down and ran toward Nikolai before grabbing the ropes. He held onto the rope as Nikolai jumped to the other side of the stream. He allowed the rope to sink into the water and waited.

“What now, boss?” Sergio shouted toward Nikolai as the latter kept looking at the water.

“Wait for my signal. Pull the rope when I tell you to.” Nikolai said as he squinted his eyes. “Now!” He shouted after a while, and Sergio pulled on the rope.

Nikolai, however, whipped the rope to create a circle that traveled toward Sergio. When Sergio pulled, the loop in the rope wrapped itself around an object.

The two lifted the rope to reveal a short man with a giant nose and beard. It was tied with the vines by the waist, suspended midair.

“We caught ourselves a dwarf.” Nikolai grinned.