บท 41: The Whispering Woods

"Hey, we're five. How about we combine our parties?"

Reynold turned toward the voice, but his view was blocked by a broad wall of muscle—a brawny, towering figure. Raising his gaze, he found himself looking into the scarred face of a massive man, his features hardened by battle and years of experience. Behind him stood four companions, each marked by a similar array of scars, suggesting they were seasoned warriors. Despite their strong appearance, they wore green badges pinned to their chests, identifying them as [E]-Rank adventurers.

Lua, a black-haired girl standing at Reynold's side, instinctively clutched his sleeve, her wary eyes fixed on the strangers. "Rey, maybe we should find someone else… These guys seem—"

"Yeah…" Mona, another friend, muttered, her expression equally uneasy as she glanced at the scarred group.