I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 942

Chapter 39: Companions

Swamp Forest.

As the name implies, this place is full of damp marshes, dark woods, and a flat terrain that’s hard to navigate. It’s the only way to get to the Everdark Forest, the last obstacle, but compared to the legendary Everdark Forest that many adventurers enter and never return from, this place isn’t too dangerous.

Experienced adventurers can handle the swamps and woods, as well as the monsters lurking within.

Until recently, the disappearance of an A-Rank Adventurer caught the Guild’s attention, prompting a precautionary halt to progress and sending someone to investigate first.

The scouting adventurer team didn’t disappoint, successfully finding the remains of the fallen adventurers.

At the base of the slope, countless shadows rolled and converged into hundreds of wolf shapes. In the corner lay a pile of broken bones, the very victims they were looking for.

“Damn it, Shadow Wolves?!”

“These things shouldn’t be dwelling in the Everdark Forest! Why are they here?!”

These wolves, able to turn into shadows and ignore terrain to hunt their opponents, are the most ferocious monsters of the Everdark Forest. It’s no surprise they could take down an A-Rank Adventurer.

With the Shadow Wolves lurking, the other adventurers had no way to pass through this area.

Not underestimating such a threat, the adventurers quickly decided to retreat and notify the Guild.

Unfortunately, none of them noticed the darkness creeping in behind them, far more ominous than anything they could see.

Drip.

A liquid dropped onto one adventurer’s cheek, and he instinctively turned around, but before he could see what it was, his form was dragged into the darkness.

“Kas!”

“What the hell is that thing?!”

The adventurers drew their weapons, but couldn’t catch a glimpse of the shadow in the pitch-black night.

All that could be heard in the darkness was a chilling sound of flesh and bones being chewed.

The return of countless survivors made the Shadow Wolf pack infamous. But the real monster of the Everdark Forest remains an unknown entity to adventurers.

Because, so far, no adventurer who has seen its true face has returned alive.

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The next morning.

Roy and his group walked straight through the camp to the roadblock set by the Guild, where no one stopped them. The receptionist even wanted to see them off, but Roy had to talk her into going back.

The receptionist, who was all about the rules yesterday, now seemed overly respectful, leaving Nia utterly confused.

“What on earth did you say to that girl to make her listen to you so well?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I just used a little bit of my connections.”

“Connections? The Adventurers’ Guild doesn’t care about connections…?!”

Nia seemed to have a hint of the answer, her expression turning strange.

Thinking Nia was still puzzled, Roy couldn’t help but smirk.

In any case, with the guarantee of the Sword Demon, passing through was no problem.

As for that vicious monster, Roy didn’t worry much at all; in fact, he was a bit eager for a fight.

After his previous bout with Varolan, he didn’t get to show his battle-hungry prowess; he hoped his opponent would at least be strong enough to make him serious.

Just as they were about to set off, an awkward situation suddenly arose.

Hex showed up together with the adventurers from yesterday, and the two groups bumped into each other.

An A-Rank Adventurer named Joe frowned, muttering, “What a ridiculous rule, in the end, it still comes down to connections?”

Unfortunately, his words didn’t reach Nia, who had keen ears.

Nia’s ears twitched, and she immediately shot back mockingly, “Hey, hey, we got permission fair and square!”

“It’s you guys who were planning to sneak away!”

Joe was about to turn around but stopped, shooting a disdainful chuckle at Roy. “Permission?”

“Which just means money and connections, right?”

He could easily see that the young boy and girl flanked by numerous guards were the core of the group. The powerfully built elven girl following the boy was far more impressive than he was.

At a glance, it was clear they were the useless young master of a noble family and his beautiful bodyguard!

Joe, adopting a senior’s tone, arrogantly lectured, “Kid, just to be clear, there are vicious monsters ahead; it’s not a playground. If you’re looking for a stroll, you’d better head back home!”

“Of course, if you insist on following, just behave and don’t cause trouble. That way, if danger arises, we might save your sorry ass!”

His words drew light laughter and scorn from the other adventurers.

There’s nothing more annoying than a clueless rich kid who doesn’t know his own strength walking into danger, but they were also willing to help out in necessary situations, and cash in on it.

The guards glared coldly, and Nia wasn’t about to give Joe a pleasant expression either.

She glanced back and forth between Hex and Joe, confirming they were both only Sequence 6, then couldn’t help but smirk.

“At this level, wanting to be the boss? A tad funny, don’t you think?”

Joe’s smile vanished, his shadowy eyes turning sharp. “Hey girl, let me teach you something.”

“Adventurers let their fists do the talking.”

“Heh, then how about we throw down?”

It wouldn’t be unusual for adventurers to start fighting over a few words, and both Joe and Nia were classic examples of that.

Especially Nia; it wasn’t her first time dealing with rude adventurers, nor her first time making them beg for mercy.

Just as Nia rolled up her sleeves and prepared to brawl, Roy grabbed her ear and pulled her back.

“Ouch, what are you doing?!”

“Enough already.”

Roy stepped forward and smiled politely at Joe. “Buddy, we don’t want trouble, nor will we cause it for you.”

“As for your advice, the experience of seasoned adventurers is certainly worth learning — on the condition that it’s reasonable and not foolish. Frankly speaking, you don’t look like a trustworthy veteran.”

In other words, if you want to boss us around, you’re not worthy.

The first half of the sentence eased Joe’s anger a bit, but the latter half’s veiled insult doubled his fury, like a roller coaster ride.

“Kid, you better say that again…”

“Enough.”

Joe, who was about to lunge, was grabbed by Hex by the neck.

“Since we’re going the same way, we should help each other out, so why make this unpleasant?”

Joe shook off his hand and turned away, displeased.

Hex scratched his head, wearing an apologetic smile.

Roy nodded slightly, accepting his apology. “Indeed.”

He remembered that Hex was also a combative type who used to jump into fights over nothing, so this amiable, big guy was a bit surprising; at least he learned his lesson.

Less trouble is better than more, and having Hex as a buffer wasn’t too bad.

Of course, if Joe really insisted on causing trouble, Roy wouldn’t mind teaching him a little lesson.