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243  Oliver but something is different?

Chapter 243

'Should we attack the demons? No… Impossible; we'd be captured without mercy.'

'Then… maybe steal weapons and kill the guards.' Her eyes narrowed, a fierce glint flashing through them as she imagined it—a desperate, brutal fight for freedom, no matter the cost. She had already made up her mind that to survive, they must be ruthless toward their enemies.

But the problem was that they couldn't compete with specially trained guards, and there was no guarantee the other demons would stand by and watch.

She didn't know what to do in such a situation. Her mind raced, but every plan seemed like a dead end, another trap waiting to snap shut. There were six of them left, but where could they even go? Almost every corner had demons. Wherever they went, they would be devoured.

'Is there really no way out?' She sighed internally, lamenting the situation. Even though they'd been given a chance, they were helpless.

Her legs were injured, and she could barely balance herself, let alone attack the demons. She wasn't even sure if she could run away.

If, in the end, the demons returned and captured her and the others, it would truly be the biggest waste of an opportunity.

'Maybe they'll starve me to death…' She wondered what sort of treatment awaited her once she was taken back. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as if the pain could keep her focused.

'If that's how it was going to be… why did they even bother leaving us here? Did they already know we'd go back on our own? Was this their attempt to completely crush our spirits?'

She looked down at the ground, her eyes feeling warm for some reason. Her vision blurred, the edges softening as something hot prickled against her lashes. She quickly wiped at her face, smearing dirt across her cheek.

It was then that a voice suddenly sounded.

"Only you six are remaining? What a shame."

A magnetic voice echoed in the quiet city square, instantly attracting the attention of all six of them!

The girl's head snapped up, her heart pounding as she scanned the darkness. She looked up and saw a figure slightly taller than herself, cloaked in dark robes.

Deep blue eyes, visible from beneath the hood, stared at them scrutinizingly.

"Even after going through all that trouble, only six of you had the courage? How lame."

The girl's breath caught, her chest tightening. Those eyes seemed to pierce straight through her, cold and calculating. Her eyes widened, and she hastily asked, "A-Are you the one who… did that?"

The man turned his gaze toward her, and she felt a chill run through her as she looked into those cold blue eyes.

"Indeed, if that's what you're referring to," he nodded.

"Ah…" The girl's face went blank. A mix of awe and fear settled over her, and for a moment, she forgot the pain in her knees, forgot the hopelessness that had weighed her down just moments ago.

"W-Wait, why did you come only now!? All the others have gone back to the demons! How are we going to get them back!?" one of the remaining six slaves exclaimed in shock.

"Get them back?" The man asked in confusion. "Who said that?"

"I'm not responsible for them. If they choose to go back, that's their decision. To me, they're useless baggage—the less, the better," he said with a dark laugh. His voice held a detached amusement, as if the lives of those who'd returned meant nothing more to him than discarded trash.

"W-What are you saying…? Aren't y-you part of reinforcements from Humanity?"

"Reinforcements? Ah, there was something like that, yes. But I'm not part of it. I'm a solo traveler." He tilted his head slightly as he explained.

"B-But how could you do that…? Aren't you human?"

"Everyone, stop it!" the girl exclaimed loudly, interrupting the others. Her voice shook, but her eyes were steady.

"Be grateful that this person came to save us. Those who have left have already been corrupted by the demons. Taking them along would only add to his responsibilities."

She spoke firmly. "He has no obligation to help us. He could leave us alone in this place. Are you confident enough to fight and survive against the demons? Right now, we must stick together and follow what he has planned for us."

The man raised an eyebrow, though his expression remained hidden under the cloak. Internally, he looked at her with interest, noting that she was the youngest of the group and yet possessed such courage.

Looking into her eyes, he sensed the dominant spirit within her; she hadn't yet been broken by the demons.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"I-I don't have a name…" she stammered, her cheeks flushing with a mix of shame and defiance.

"Forget it, then. All of you who want to escape, follow me. I believe you've all made up your minds, haven't you?"

He turned around, his cloak fluttering slightly in the chilly wind as he continued, "Of course, those of you who are afraid, don't bother. I won't protect you much. You'll be on your own. So, if you're willing to risk it, follow me."

With that, he entered the nearest alleyway, waiting for them to follow him.

"We must do this… it's the same in both cases. Even if we return, there's no guarantee we won't be killed or that our treatment would get any better. This is the first and last chance to escape. Even if it costs our lives, we should risk it now."

The black-haired girl got up, trembling, her knees shaking, but her eyes filled with determination. Pain shot through her legs as she moved, but she gritted her teeth, willing herself to ignore it. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I will follow him. The rest is up to you; I can only persuade so much. We're humans and should cooperate when we can."

It was clear from her words that she valued her race and kin deeply. She was persuading them for the sake of their shared humanity. She knew she couldn't let her kin suffer any longer.

With that, she limped and dragged herself toward where the man was waiting. Every step was agony, her knees burning, but she refused to slow down.

Soon enough, another person followed her, then another, and then two more.