The Retired Hero is an Extra

—Bzzt!

Lightning crackled around the arrow as Caera released it, and within a second, it was already in front of the berserk wolf.

The wolf had kept its entire focus on the arrow; yet, all it could see was a blur approaching it.

It instinctively dodged the arrow but the speed caught the wolf off-guard, allowing it to scrape against its furless cheek and side.

As soon as the lightning came into contact with its skin, it penetrated deep into the wolf's body, electrocuting its insides.

—Grrr!

Even though it dodged the direct hit, the lingering lightning made it whimper in pain as it moved its body around to get rid of it.

The arrow that it dodged finally lodged in the cavern wall before it crumbled apart, leaving behind a charred area.

All enchanted arrows crumpled to dust, becoming one-time use items and the reason they weren't well-liked.

But it wasn't like there was no way around it.

If one reached a high enough rank, they could create arrows of their own mana and elemental affinity without having to worry about their usability.

It was just that Caera was far from that level as of now, but that didn't mean she didn't have good instincts.

'Success!' she nodded internally at the first step of her plan working as she immediately dashed towards the wolf unimpeded.

The wolf remained unaware of her swift movements as it focused on its agony and how to end it as fast as possible.

Suddenly, its instincts warned of danger and it moved out of the way.

At its previous location, a dagger slashed nothing but air.

"It missed," Jash blurted out, observing the scene with intrigue.

He hadn't expected Caera's arrow to miss due to his overestimation of her abilities, but that wasn't without reason.

Her performance up until now was praiseworthy, if one ignored how Jash fought after unshackling himself to finish things fast.

"That's a nice ability! When did she learn it?" Jash muttered in surprise, wide-eyed at the sight.

After the wolf dodged Caera's attacks, it tried to slash at her, but she too evaded skillfully, trying to inflict damage on it.

Finally, after a plethora of rounds of attacks and dodges, she struck true to the wolf's flank.

As the dagger got impaled, she let go of it and jumped back by kicking on its hilt, pushing it deeper.

Alas, that wasn't the end.

She used her mana and fire element to put the lone dagger on fire, but its blade remained unharmed due to its high quality.

Naturally, she knew they weren't just some random pair of daggers, given who they came from.

As if it was something to be proud of, Jash had a smug expression on his face, oblivious to Emma's funny face.

'Hmph! That's my daggers! Mine!' Jash praised arrogantly, letting his narcissistic side takeover for a split second.

However, he immediately cringed inwardly at his own words. 'She was right. I really need to close down on those things.'

If Caera knew what was on Jash's mind, she would no doubt come at him with the dagger instead of the wolf.

There she was, fighting the wolf with her life on the line, and he was here making stupid jokes and cringing over them!

Luckily for him, Caera had no no free time to pay any attention to him, fully focused on the crazed wolf.

Despite the impaled dagger and the other blazing dagger, the wolf remained steadfast, growling in rage as it swung its claw at Caera's abdomen.

Alarm bells rang inside her head as it was her first time fighting a monster with reckless abandon.

"It's dangerous!" Jash shouted, noting the recklessness of the wolf to at least injure Caera heavily, even at the cost of its own life.

That was the toughest enemy one could ever end up fighting.

One might remain wary of those with good or bad intentions, but what about crazy people who had nothing to lose and no care for any gains?

The wolf was exactly that kind of enemy!

Fortunately, Caera was no slouch and had practiced extensively, unlike a certain someone relying on their past life memories and experiences.

She didn't withdraw her attack entirely but used the blazing dagger to deflect it and gain some distance.

—Tnng!

A sound of metal clanging against metal seemingly echoed, making Jash extremely uncomfortable yet it did the work.

Some fur around the wolf's paw got incinerated before it instantaneously quenched it in the crimson water, giving rise to steam.

'Impressive,' Jash mused, observing the fight carefully while recovering his mana passively.

His focus was diverted yet he could see the outcome as clear as day.

The wolf was on its last legs since it had been nearly an hour from the first time they met. It was even having a hard time standing straight.

Unfortunately, Caera wasn't in her best state either.

She was exhausted and the numerous small cuts and injuries only worsened the situation for her.

'She should win,' Jash thought to himself, believing in her potential.

'There's no way someone destined to be a Heroine would lose so easily,' he lamented her fate as a heroine.

Sadly, he couldn't deny its advantages and allowed him the ability to guess much more accurately.

And just as he predicted, the wolf fell after a few more exchanges as its skin burned, wounds cauterized and fur incinerated.

Still, it was alive.

It drowned in the crimson pool as it couldn't stand on its three limbs. The fourth one was severed by Caera.

Although the battle was brutal, Jash had a different opinion.

"Caera, finish it! What are you waiting for?" he shouted, wanting to test her mettle.

"But..." she hesitated to do it and bit her lip before she finally muttered, "It's stopping too low..."

"What kind of dumb thought is that? It was ready to fatally injure you even at the cost of its life! There is no need for any sympathy!"

Hearing the quiver in her tone, Jash felt fully enraged. 'How can she be so soft? That would only get her killed!'

'No, it might be worse. On the verge of death, that darned protagonist will save her while showing her the flawed way, and she will become enamored with him?'

Just the thought of it disgusted Jash to no end as he hardened his resolve to push her, but Emma's voice brought him to reality.

"Young Master..."

"What?" Jash lashed out. "Do you think what I am saying is wrong? Aren't you two hunters as well? Tell me if I am wrong!"

Despite their inner wish to help Caera, they found themself in a steep hole, unable to choose as his words were indeed correct.

However, the sudden change in his attitude and his anger shocked the trio completely.

With hesitant, unsteady steps and slightly moist eyes, Caera reached the wolf's body.

She raised the dagger, but she just couldn't thrust it inside the dying wolf.

'Is this her limit?' Jash wondered, having calmed down in the precious moments of silence that followed.

"Forget it, Caera. Don't do it if you can't," he declared with a sigh of resignation, not wanting to break her vulnerable heart.

Hearing him, Caera had mixed feelings in her heart. Both relief and disappointment washed over her.

Unable to make a decision, she bit her lower lip until blood leaked out as she stood in the same position.

Should she follow her mind or her heart?

She didn't know and would never even get the time to make a decision.