The smoke still lingered in the air. The smell of burnt flesh made my stomach turn, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the lifeless body of the Alpha Wolf. For a few seconds, no one spoke. Only the sound of our breaths and the faint groans blending into the charred-wood-scented air filled the silence.

Gareth was sitting on the ground, leaning against his shield, breathing heavily. His face was pale, drenched in sweat from the wound on his leg. He rested his head on his knees for a while, then gritted his teeth and forced himself upright. Joseph stood with his sword planted in the ground, seemingly unaware of the blood trickling from the deep cut on his shoulder. Isabel scanned the surroundings with tired yet vigilant eyes.

The first to speak was Gareth.

"If I find that bastard, I'll kill him."

There was no need to ask who he meant. It was obvious: Roy.

Isabel stared silently at a distant point, as if trying to gather her thoughts. Then she shrugged. "If you do, let me know first."

Joseph grumbled, nodding. "I never thought Roy would run from the battlefield. That bastard promised to watch our backs."

Gareth tried to get up, but his injured leg betrayed him, and he collapsed back onto the ground. He punched the dirt. "We shouldn’t have let him get away! Did he think he could just escape while leaving us here to die?"

Isabel sighed, kneeling beside him to examine his wound. "We can talk about this later, but right now, we need to patch you up."

Joseph stepped in and extended a hand to help Gareth up. "You shouldn’t push yourself too hard."

Gareth glared at him but eventually accepted the help. As he struggled to his feet, I could see his jaw clench from the pain.

I, on the other hand, was still trying to process everything. Roy’s escape, the Alpha Wolf’s death, the crushing exhaustion of battle... it was all too much.

Eventually, I broke the silence.

"We need to leave. Now."

Joseph, clutching his wounded shoulder, lifted his head. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere safe," I said. "If we stay here, we might attract more wolves or worse. We're exhausted, injured, and most of our weapons are damaged."

Gareth cursed again but nodded in agreement. Isabel narrowed her eyes briefly, then kicked a stone on the ground. "What bothers me is... why did Roy leave?"

Everyone fell silent.

Gareth spoke up, his voice seething with anger. "Because he’s a coward."

But Isabel shook her head. "It’s more than that. He had combat experience. He knew how hard this fight would be. So why fight until the last moment, only to run?"

Joseph frowned. "Maybe he panicked when he got hurt."

I exhaled slowly. "Fear alone doesn’t explain it. We were all terrified, but we didn’t run. Maybe he planned this from the start?"

Gareth clenched his fists. "Damn it! We were dying while he fled. He’s a coward, a traitor, and if I ever see him again—"

"There’s no point in arguing about this now," Isabel cut in, her voice sharp and clear. "He left. He abandoned us. What matters now is us, not him."

She was right. But something in my gut told me it wasn’t that simple. Roy’s escape couldn’t just be out of fear. There had to be something more.

Joseph finally raised a hand. "Alright, enough. We’ll figure it out later. Right now, we need rest, and we’re out of proper bandages. We need to get to the nearest settlement."

We were exhausted, but staying wasn’t an option. I stole one last glance at the Alpha Wolf's corpse. Its death was my doing. The Embercry stones had ignited inside the creature, burning it from within. I felt a sense of grim satisfaction, but also a strange sadness.

Killing a beast wasn’t the same as killing a person. But... would I have to kill a human someday?

I pushed the thought aside, slinging my pack over my shoulder, and trudged after my friends. We were tired, but we were alive. And for now, that was enough.

I glanced back one last time at the Alpha Wolf’s body. Its flesh was still faintly warm, the smell of charred meat lingering in the air. Despite my exhaustion, curiosity stirred inside me. It was time to use my [Examine] ability.

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I knelt down, placed my hand near the creature, and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath, emptying my mind and focusing on the material I touched. That’s when I felt a surge of warmth—a flow of knowledge rushing into my brain.

Examined Materials:

[Alpha Wolf’s Fang] – B Rank Extremely durable, sharp, and with a natural flow of magic. Can be used to craft high-quality daggers or ground into powder to act as a catalyst in special potions.

[Alpha Wolf’s Pelt] – B Rank Much thicker and more flexible than ordinary Steel Fang Wolves’ pelts. An excellent material for crafting light armor. Resistant to regular weapons and, if magically processed, can grant stealth abilities.

[Alpha Wolf’s Claw] – B Rank Incredibly sharp and sturdy. The tips emit a faint magical vibration. Can be enhanced with poison or mana to create specialized weapons.

[Steel Fang Wolf’s Fang] – C Rank As the name suggests, these wolves' fangs are nearly as tough as metal. Suitable for weapon crafting, especially for small daggers or throwing knives.

[Steel Fang Wolf’s Pelt] – D Rank While not as strong as the Alpha’s, it still provides good protection against cold and physical damage. Ideal for light garments or durable armor linings.

[Steel Fang Wolf’s Bones] – C Rank Denser and harder than regular bones. Highly valuable for blacksmiths seeking a light but durable material.

[Wolf’s Eyeball] – C Rank A valuable material for some alchemists and mages. Often used in potions that enhance perception or for crafting magical charms.

As the knowledge provided by my ability echoed through my mind, I began selecting the best materials. First, I carefully extracted the Alpha Wolf’s fangs and claws — materials I could later use to craft custom daggers. I didn’t have enough time to skin the entire pelt, but I meticulously cut and stored the sturdiest sections in my bag.

Then, I turned to the other wolves. I collected the Steel Fang Wolves’ teeth, bones, and some sturdy pelt pieces. The teeth, in particular, would be perfect for crafting future daggers. I also took a few eyeballs and placed them in a small leather pouch — valuable goods that magic material vendors would pay a high price for.

After gathering all the valuable materials, I took a deep breath and stood up. When I looked around, I noticed Gareth, Joseph, and Isabel watching me.

Isabel raised her eyebrows and smiled. “I guess you’re a master at collecting war spoils.”

I shrugged. “Every piece could be useful.”

Joseph nodded. “If we can craft something sturdy with these, we’ll be better prepared next time.”

Gareth let out a small sigh. “If we live long enough to see a next time, that is…”

My backpack was heavier now, but I felt a sense of satisfaction. We hadn’t just taken revenge on the Alpha Wolf — we had secured its remains to turn into our strength.

Our next goal was clear: find a safe place to rest and discuss Roy’s betrayal. Yet, deep down, I had a feeling… this was just the beginning.

As Joseph wiped the blood off his sword, he glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. “I never told you to collect monster parts, but it’s good you thought of it.”

A faint smile crossed his face, though his weary eyes still bore the weight of battle.

“We always bring back certain parts of defeated monsters as proof of completion. Most guilds require physical evidence alongside the report — especially for high-bounty creatures like the Alpha Wolf.”

He examined one of the fangs I had cut and nodded in approval. “Also, we can sell monster parts to artisans. Blacksmiths and mages pay well for rare materials. Sometimes, we can earn more from that than the quest reward itself.”

I thought about it for a moment. It made sense. The guild’s reward would be nice, but if I could get the right materials to the right craftsmen, I could gain more than just money — I might even obtain custom-made equipment.

Isabel chuckled softly. “I guess you’re not just a fighter now — you’re a merchant too.”

I shrugged and adjusted the materials in my pack. “Why not make use of what we have?”

Joseph laughed. “I like that. It’s always good to work with someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Gareth, meanwhile, checked his shoulder wound with a tired sigh. “If we make it out of here alive, I’m going straight to a blacksmith to order some new gear. These damn wolves wrecked my shield.”

I glanced at Gareth’s battered shield and smiled faintly. “Well, you’re in luck — the blacksmith you need is right here.”

Gareth frowned. “What do you mean?”

Joseph, intrigued, turned his gaze to me. “A blacksmith? You?”

Isabel folded her arms, grinning as if she was about to hear something entertaining. “You’re going to have to explain that one.”

I adjusted my bag slightly and shrugged. "Before entering the tower, I used to sell the weapons and armor I made at the market by the entrance."

Gareth let out a surprised laugh. "So you were one of the vendors in that market, huh? You’ve got to be kidding me!"

Isabel shook her head. "Seriously? I mean... you’re great in battle, but I never would have guessed you did blacksmithing."

"I'm good in battle because I know how crucial good weapons and armor are," I replied. "To truly understand that, you have to be someone who makes them first."

Joseph smiled and nodded in agreement. "That makes sense now. No wonder you can wield every weapon with such skill."

Gareth glanced at his shield and raised an eyebrow. "So, can you make me a new shield?"

I winked and grinned. "Of course. As long as we agree on the price, why not?"

Gareth laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the pain in my leg."

The conversation instantly lightened the mood. As we exchanged glances, Isabel took a deep breath. "Since we’re talking about the past... we’re all warriors here, but what did we do in the real world?"

Everyone looked at each other until Gareth shrugged. "I was a florist."

Joseph looked genuinely surprised. "A florist?"

Gareth nodded. "Yeah, so what? I like plants. Gardening brings me peace. I even know the meanings of flowers by heart."

Isabel giggled softly. "Now that I think about it, your protective nature makes a little more sense. Even in battle, you shield your teammates... Were you like that with your flowers too?"

Gareth nodded firmly. "Absolutely. If you don’t take good care of them, they wither quickly."

Joseph smiled faintly. "I guess it’s my turn, then. I was a physical education teacher."

Gareth laughed. "Honestly, not surprised at all."

Joseph shrugged. "Yeah, not exactly shocking, but... I always taught my students to keep fighting. I guess I’m doing the same thing here."

Isabel sighed lightly before speaking. "I was a taekwondo instructor."

Gareth burst into laughter. "Okay, now that’s a little scary."

Isabel grinned. "As long as you don’t piss me off, you have nothing to fear."

We all started laughing. That brief conversation strengthened the bond between us. We were no longer just a group of warriors. We were people with lives in the real world. And now, we were fighting to survive — together.