Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!

Kael lay there, still unmoving.

She raised her sword, aiming at his chest.

But just as she was about to strike—

BOOOOM!!!

A thunderous explosion shook the forest.

At the exact moment Elysia launched her attack on Kael, the Shadow Leech—drawn by his scent and movement—also lunged toward him. But instead of hitting Kael, the two forces collided with each other.

A violent shockwave tore through the glade. The ground trembled little under the force, birds shrieked and burst out of the trees, fleeing in terror.

Leaves fluttered down like green rain as the blast rippled outward.

Some of the other groups in the forest have barely heard an explosion.

Elysia was thrown back several steps. Her boots scraped against the dirt, struggling to stay upright. Dust and smoke quickly clouded the entire clearing, making it hard to see or breathe.

"What the hell was that?!" she coughed, eyes wide, blades still gripped tightly in her hands.

She crouched low, ready to react, her heart pounding.

The sheer force meant it wasn't just a normal collision—it was like something had exploded beneath their feet.

(Was that… Kael's trap? Did he set something up in advance? Or was it something else entirely?)

The thought made her pause.

She looked ahead.

The perfect opportunity to strike had disappeared. The smoke was too thick, the chaos too loud. She had lost her clear shot.

In the midst of the dust, Kael still lay against the tree. His body was trembling—barely holding on. His fingers twitched as if he were trying to get up, but didn't have the strength.

The empty vial rolled from his hand, clinking softly against a root.

He was barely alive.

Elysia cursed under her breath and clicked her tongue in frustration.

(So close… I was so close.)

Elysia turned quickly when she heard a chilling noise behind her—something heavy and fast moving through.

She barely had time to react before she saw it:

The Shadow Leech, strong beast.

Its body, long and slimy like a giant leech, twisted through the air. It moved like a spring being let loose—coiling and then striking at lightning speed.

Her eyes widened.

Without thinking, she raised her sword and crossed them in front of her chest.

CRASH!

The monster's strike hit her full force. Her swords blocked it, but the impact was massive. A loud screech rang out as the dark creature's claws scraped against her steel.

The power behind the hit pushed Elysia backward. Her feet dug into the earth, carving deep lines in the dirt as she struggled to stay upright.

Sparks flew where metal met shadow. Leaves exploded into the air. The ground itself seemed to shake.

She gasped. "What the hell is this thing?!"

Now she could see it clearly.

It was terrifying.

The Shadow Leech's skin was pitch black, like smoke given form. Its body pulsed and squirmed with energy. But the worst part—the thing that made her heart skip a beat—was the silver mark glowing on its forehead.

Her stomach dropped.

"A dread-rank…" she whispered, dread filling her chest.

(This was bad. Very bad.)

She had thought Kael would be unconscious or dead by the time she arrived. That's why she had secretly taken his elixirs earlier—to weaken him. But clearly, her timing had been off.

He was still fighting the beast when she showed up.

(Damn it… I miscalculated. He wasn't supposed to still be alive when this thing arrived.)

Behind her, Kael groaned and tried to push himself up. His face was pale, lips dry, blood staining his clothes—but he was still conscious.

He was about to stand up.

And then… he looked at her.

Elysia. The girl who had come to kill him.

But now, she was standing between him and the monster, her swords drawn, her body ready to protect.

His lips parted.

"You… saved me," he said weakly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Elysia froze.

She turned toward him, frustration tightening her jaw. "What—?"

She hadn't meant to save him.

But now here she was… between Kael and death.

And she didn't move.

He looked at her, sweat and blood staining his face. "I don't know how you found me, but... thank you."

The words hit her like a slap. Her mouth opened, then shut again. Her chest tightened.

(Save you? I was here to kill you.)

The thought echoed bitterly in Elysia's mind, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.

The Shadow Leech shrieked again, a horrible, high-pitched sound that made the air feel like it was vibrating.

It began to slither and circle them slowly, its body coiling like a predator ready to pounce. Its twisted form moved with eerie smoothness, tendrils swaying as if tasting the tension in the air.

But Elysia wasn't even watching it anymore.

Her gaze was fixed on Kael.

She walked towards over to him without a word. Before he could react—

Smack!

She slapped him. Hard.

The crack of her palm against his cheek echoed through the trees like a whip. Birds flapped their wings in alarm and took off from the nearby branches.

Kael's head turned with the force. He stumbled slightly, more from shock than the actual hit.

His cheek throbbed. His expression twisted in confusion and disbelief.

"W-What… was that for?"

Elysia's chest rose and fell rapidly. Her hand was still raised, her fingers trembling. Her eyes glistened.

Instead, her voice came out low and sharp. (What were you thinking, fighting a Dread-rank beast? Do you plan on killing us all with that beast?)

She didn't say anything.

Kael blinked at her, still trying to process what was happening. His mind was already hazy from exhaustion and blood loss, but now this?

He stared at her. Not just at her face, but at the way her eyes flicked away when she realized she had yelled. At the way her clenched fist hung at her side, tight with emotion.

"…Are you worried about me?" he asked.

Elysia flinched slightly, her lips tightening.

"No," she said far too quickly. "Don't get the wrong idea."

But Kael could see it now—her anger wasn't hatred. It was panic disguised as fury. Concern buried under irritation. And that slap? It wasn't just about his recklessness.

It was because she didn't expect to see him alive.