It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

"I didn't think I had any obligation to fight for them, so I just did my duty as a miko, healing and supporting them. Who knew..."

At this point, her eyes reddened. Even if Bai Lin was slow to understand what she was referring to, she silently raised her hand and stroked Katie's back to offer comfort.

"That's not your fault. Who could have predicted that things would happen so suddenly?" Bai Lin said in a calm tone.

"I understand, it's already happened, and there's no point in regretting it. But I clearly have the ability, but I couldn't even protect the people around me. It's strange no matter how you think about it."

"So, this time, I will follow you closely and protect you. It's not just because you are the so-called Holy Son that I will fulfill my duty, but as a, a..."

Seeing that Katie Pello quickly recovered her composure, Bai Lin couldn't help but smile. She started to help Katie finish the rest of the sentence.

"My dear."

Katie chuckled, "Yes, dear."

"But you don't have to worry too much, I'm still very strong."

Although Bai Lin was no longer so confident in front of Katie, she still said so. After that, she showed off her biceps, which were barely there, and then grimaced because of the headache.

When Doctor Katie saw this scene, she naturally knocked on Bai Lin's head and told her to rest well, and then went out to get Bai Lin's dinner.

Only then did Bai Lin realize that he had been unconscious for such a long time. His stomach had already started to protest, but he didn't notice it when he first woke up.

——Will dying right away save me some supplies?

*, what am I thinking, that must be very painful. Bai Lin shook his head, discarded this stupid idea that suddenly popped up, and then curled up in his bed again to rest.

After dinner, the two of them slept together as usual. Tonight was just like the last few nights, uneventful and uneventful. Perhaps because tomorrow she would be leaving the village for the first time, preparing to face the world, she dreamed of someone from another world.

Reasonable parents, the stinky courier, and his girlfriend...

In the morning, after scooping up a handful of mountain spring water to sober herself up, Bai Lin turned her thoughts of them into her own determination. She put on her heavy iron armor with great enthusiasm and walked out of the village.

set off!

On the way, Katie briefly explained the Ice Forest's terrain and some precautions. Bai Lin had memorized most of it, and now she was confident. The Fiery Iron Forging Technique provided a constant supply of heat, dispelling the frost and the mist before her.

After Katie's explanation, she understood just how harsh the village's location was. The deeper into the ice forest one went, the colder it became. The chances of freezing to death were very high, which was why the entire guard team used the scorching iron forging method.

The village often relocated to avoid powerful monsters. Exploration was the primary mission of their guards. The Monster Handbook wasn't created out of thin air; it was built from the corpses of generations of village guards.

Knowing this, Bai Lin couldn't help but take this outing even more seriously. Although Katie was indeed very strong, the danger clearly exceeded Bai Lin's expectations. She could be resurrected, but Katie couldn't.

Unconsciously, the two had already passed the place where Katie usually practiced. She suddenly stopped walking behind, and Bai Lin also stopped naturally and turned to look at her.

"You still remember what I just said, Bai Lin."

Katie's demeanor was different from usual. She was very serious and earnest. She didn't look like the cute and shy little girl who usually acted coquettishly in Bai Lin's arms. Bai Lin also nodded seriously.

"Well, try to avoid combat as much as possible and focus on exploration while ensuring safety."

Bai Lin had been besieged before because she'd made so much noise, attracting too many monsters. After understanding the situation, she learned that even the guards, acting as a group, only fought when necessary. She'd dared to fight that alone... It was impressive that she'd been able to hold out that long.

Hearing Bai Lin's answer, Katie Pelo nodded with satisfaction, "Then let's go."

Not long after setting off, the two encountered the same black-skinned wild boar they had encountered previously. They quietly took a detour. According to Katie, she could sense the presence of monsters within a certain range through magic.

Fortunately, the two did not encounter many monsters along the way. However, after traveling a certain distance, they finally had their first encounter.

The giant with blue skin and some white hair approached Bai Lin and Katie with heavy breathing. Bai Lin was about to go around when Katie pulled him back. She stared at Bai Lin and explained.

"It's the Frost Giants. Their senses are very sharp. If they're deliberately searching for us, then simply running away won't solve the problem."

"So, are we going to fight?" Bai Lin looked at Katie through the iron barrel. After this trip, her thin body had become very reliable in Bai Lin's eyes.

Katie nodded slightly. "Although I can use Mirror Magic to lure it away, we still have a long way to go to the center of the forest, so it's better not to waste too much magic power."

I posted it by mistake before, luckily no one saw it hahaha

Chapter 37 Central Lake

Bai Lin leaned slightly to the side, and sure enough, the Frost Giant was marching resolutely toward where they were. The terrifying muscles in its arms surged, releasing invisible panic. She immediately prepared for battle, waiting for the enemy to come within striking distance.

Katie quickly formed a simple magic circle in her hand and nodded to indicate that she was ready. After receiving her confirmation, Bai Lin took a step forward and launched an attack.

Strike first to gain the upper hand.

After the Frost Giant confirmed Bai Lin's presence, its breathing became noticeably faster. According to the manual, this was a sign of a war cry. Without hesitation, Bai Lin thrust his dagger at his opponent.

She had already memorized the Frost Giant's weakness.

The opponent before her opened his bloody mouth, but made no sound. Meanwhile, the magic circle beside Katie began to emit light, clearly silencing the opponent.

But the Frost Giant wasn't surprised, nor did he hesitate, thrusting his spear forward. Bai Lin then sidestepped, swinging his sword horizontally, creating a shallow gash three inches below the Frost Giant's abdomen. Simultaneously, he brushed the spear with his shield, delivering a perfect return strike that landed squarely on the opponent's spearhand.

"Giant's massive size naturally makes them powerful, but the intervals between their movements are long, so careful planning is crucial." This was the manual's description of their combat characteristics. Bai Lin naturally couldn't miss this opening. She pulled her sword back, shifting her center of gravity. Flames erupted.

Shield Reaper: Energy Release

Without hesitation, she unleashed the energy she had just acquired. Flames transformed into sharp blades, effortlessly piercing the freshly scratched wound. The giant's ignited blood splattered on Bai Lin's armor, but her actions didn't cease.

Seeing the giant staggering backward, Bai Lin pressed forward step by step, then slashed the sword sideways again to destroy the giant's internal organs, maximizing the effect of his attack.

The intense pain finally brought the giant to its knees. Bai Lin stomped hard with his foot, then kicked the spear away, depriving it of the opportunity to grasp the weapon again. Finally, without mercy, he struck the giant in the head with a single blow.

Under such a series of attacks, the giant's body no longer responded, losing its life force. Bai Lin drew out his dagger, spilled the blood into the grass, and walked towards Katie.

Katie had already put away her magic. She looked at Bai Lin with a half-smile, then took out a handkerchief from her waist and wiped the blood off Bai Lin's armor. In the white ice forest, the red was still a little too conspicuous.

Bai Lin didn't say anything, but her body was trembling. Strictly speaking, she was now immersed in the pleasure of killing with this blow and the excitement of revenge.

It seems that I am still very strong after doing homework and training!

"You, after all, are still holding back on me."

Katie's calm words brought Bai Lin back to her senses. She lowered her head as if admitting her mistake and met Katie's gaze.

"Don't judge your enemy's strength based on their appearance. Just like you, despite your girlish appearance, harbor the power of a monster, the same goes for your enemies."

"I'm grateful for your advice, Teacher Katie," Bai Lin replied playfully. She also understood that many monsters had deceptive appearances. After battling Katie, she realized even more profoundly how wrong she was in this regard.

"Hmph, if you don't pay attention, I'll make you go hungry for a few meals." Katie seemed to enjoy being called "teacher" and closed one eye. The cute expression struck Bai Lin's heart, and she turned her head away and coughed twice.

"Just keep going."

Katie stuck out her tongue behind her. It was Bai Lin who had been the one to liven things up, but now he was suddenly serious again, which was a bit strange. But she didn't say much and continued walking forward.

After defeating the giant, the journey returned to normal. They encountered some other monsters they hadn't seen before, but which were mentioned in the manual. Individually, they weren't very threatening, but they chose to avoid them.

Despite the records in the manual, actual combat is still different from theory, so Bai Lin still chose to avoid fighting first.

After all, up to now, the two of them have only gone halfway.

"We're here. This is the center of the forest."

After the two of them passed through a dense forest, Katie pointed to the back of a patch of grass and said. Bai Lin curiously poked his head through the bushes and saw an unimaginable view.

Amidst this utterly silent world of ice and snow, there was surprisingly a large lake with flowing water. Naturally, there were no trees around the lake; instead, a large group of various monsters lived in groups. Some drank, while others slowly paced, as if on a stroll.

Bai Lin's impression of monsters has always been the kind of ferocious beasts in standard RPGs that are highly aggressive towards humans, but the scene before her reminded her of some works in the original world that described monsters as civilized and intelligent and living in harmony.

Or, in other words, like the wild animals in the original world, they also have their own social ecosystem.

But these are not the most important things. Although she began to feel curious about the lives of monsters, according to the current situation, it is unlikely that she will be able to understand them.

"It's so beautiful. It would be great if I could settle down in such a beautiful place." Bai Lin expressed his truest feelings.

Yes, this is what she longs for the most at this moment. As a human being, it is instinctive to want a comfortable place with a pleasant view.

Katie smiled slightly and patted Bai Lin's butt. "What are you thinking about? If you were really in a place like this, you would be freezing to death."

"If you look at beautiful scenery every day, you'll get tired of it, right?"

Bai Lin withdrew his body in dissatisfaction and stood up. Indeed, Katie was right. If you look at it every day, even the most beautiful scenery will eventually become a part of your ordinary life.

But it's also sad that people who live nearby can't easily take a peek, she thought, and then stretched out her hands to ruffle Katie's hair.

"I'll teach you a lesson, but you're actually hitting me, little girl. Show some respect to your Lord Saint," Bai Lin grumbled. Under this attack, Katie Pello begged for mercy, but both of them kept smiling.

"Okay, okay, my Lord Holy Son."

Seeing Bai Lin stop what she was doing, she re-arranged her golden hair.

Chapter 38 Snowfield

"Even though it's said that no matter how beautiful something is, you'll get tired of it eventually, but..."

She took a step around, took Bai Lin's hands, looked into his eyes and said.

"If it's you, I'll never get tired of looking at you."

Katie's innocent smile held a hint of confidence. It was like a few petals of color added to the already thawing spring breeze. Though inexplicable, the effect was truly icing on the cake.

Seeing Bai Lin frozen in place, Katie felt that her plan had indeed succeeded. She maintained this posture, waiting for Bai Lin's shy response.

But the facts are always the opposite of expectations.

Bai Lin mercilessly shook off Katie's hand. She turned around and sighed deeply.

"I don't know where you learned these words, but I'm dressed like a canned food. Can you choose the right time to say something like that? I feel like my intelligence and intelligence have been underestimated."

Katie was stunned for a moment, then coughed twice to cover up her embarrassment. Indeed, Bai Lin was right. It would be more appropriate to discuss this topic in bed...

Just as she was thinking this, Bai Lin had already brushed off the snow and set out on her journey again. Her back, as she took her first steps, was completely different from her sister's, more resolute and determined. It was like...

Just like the warriors (guards) in the village.

Katie shook her head and trotted after him.

Perhaps it was simply because she had also participated in the guard training.

"Bai Lin, I'm tired!"

"…Didn't you just take a break?"

"Are you stupid? Do you really need me to ask you to carry me?"

-

Although the atmosphere returned to seriousness, the warrior carried the shrine maiden, whom she trusted very much, on his shoulders, whether out of ambiguity or care.

Asked if it wasn't tiring to carry the weight on one shoulder, Bai Lin could only answer that it was indeed tiring, but if she used a different posture, she was afraid that this little witch, who was so bold as to wear a long white cloth dress when going on an expedition, would be exposed.

After some time, the two of them bypassed the central lake filled with monsters and continued on their way.

As they gradually reached the other side of the forest, the coldness gradually subsided. Perhaps because the monsters didn't want to disrupt the harmonious and beautiful scene between the two, there were no more monsters blocking the way to spoil the mood.

After taking a long detour, the two successfully walked out of the forest around noon and arrived at an even harsher environment.

That is the Snow Mountain Range.

Bai Lin felt that the scene before her was somewhat familiar to her, as if the first time she died in this world was also in a place like this...

Just as she thought this, several minotaurs appeared on a nearby hillside, confirming Bai Lin's thoughts. Perhaps due to bad luck, the snow was blowing fiercely. Both of them had limited vision and hearing.

"Have you seen the enemy, Katie?" Bai Lin asked, looking up.

Katie shook her head. "I've never been out of this forest before, so I don't have any plans for this heavy snowfall. It's too late to start building anything now."

Obviously, Katie didn't really understand what she meant. Bai Lin explained that he had already seen the enemy. Katie then suddenly realized and asked Bai Lin to put her down.

"The enemy is a minotaur. I think it won't be difficult to defeat him in a head-on fight. How should I deal with him?"

Bai Lin stepped forward to shield Katie from the wind and snow. Since the other party said he couldn't handle it, then the investigation would fall to him, possessing the Fiery Iron Forging Technique. Katie cooperated, closing her eyes, which were struggling to open, and leaning trustingly against Bai Lin's back.

"Although I can use magic to disguise myself, it certainly can't last long. Besides, I can only see things about four or five meters in front of me. How about we stop here for today?"

Katie put forward her opinion, and Bai Lin nodded in agreement. It wouldn't matter if she went alone, but if she went together, she still had to ensure safety.

However, if it were a person... it would probably be impossible to get here in such a short time. Without Katie's monster perception, he would probably die several times in the forest.

I didn't see any save files along the way... Not only was dying painful, but I also had to start over from the village. If I didn't make up my mind to figure out the monsters' movements, I might just end up wandering in the forest forever.

To use a game analogy, it's like you're reading a guide while a friend is running with you and showing you the way.

Just as she was thinking, Katie Pello suddenly took off Bai Lin's helmet. A cold wind blew, instantly blowing her long platinum and gold hair. The cold plate armor on her body formed a sharp contrast with her beautiful appearance.

She was slightly startled, and looked at Katie, and found that she was also looking at her. Katie stretched out a hand and stroked Bai Lin's cheek.

"Originally, my vision was obscured by the snow and wind, and I felt a little scared. But seeing your face, I felt inexplicably relieved," she said softly. It was like reading a bedtime story to a child, three parts sweetness, seven parts tenderness.

Bai Lin shrugged helplessly. Just as she was about to stop the young girl's display of affection, she caught a glimpse of her extremely serious eyes. So, she chose to lower her head and lean closer to her.

-

Soon after, the two of them set out on their return journey.

First, because their stomachs were growling, the two hunted edible monsters for lunch, and Katie was naturally in charge of the cooking. However, monsters also came looking for the scent, so Bai Lin had to take action to deal with them.