A month has passed. 

Yun’s plans worked out in his favour. 

Since they had the cooperation of the people from the town, unbeknownst to Ephert, Cecil could procure the herbs and flowers to make the cure for the disease running rampant. The clean sheets and clothes also brought about better hygiene for everyone, which allowed a faster recovery for the people. 

Moreover, Hana have been taking care of their diets meticulously. Alas, the two ladies weren’t enough to take on this duty on their own, hence, the group had been busy trying to assist Cecil and Hana. 

Thankfully, they had been keeping up their disguise well, as well as keeping the lips of the mercenaries shut. If one of them tried to sneak out, Kiyae or K’xug would bring them back here after they were beaten black and blue. 

The mercenaries wanted to cry without tears. 

“Any news?” 

“Nope, not at all,” Kiyae shook her head, snorting. “Not even a peep from him. For once, I’m happy Ephert is the way he is.” 

Yun had been waiting for Ephert to come down to the caverns by himself. Just like he expected, the man himself would not come down until a month later, and he was looking out for any appearance from Ephert any time now. 

“Years have passed, and he is bursting with confidence,” Yun stated, his eyes glinting maliciously. “He sincerely believes his plans won't be foiled now.” 

Ryo yawned, scratching his head. 

“Hmm...I don’t see it,” Haru muttered out, placing his hand over his squinted eyes. “Or maybe I do?” 

The next ship transporting the slaves would arrive anytime soon. 

In order to keep up with his demands, every month, illegal slaves were transported here every start of the month. Since Ephert neglected their care, it was evident that the slaves here would die due to the disease and the severe lack of nutrients. 

Hence, there would always be a lack of manpower. 

They were waiting by the docks that were hidden by the open cavern system. Everyone was present except for Cecil and Ryo. Ryo was assigned to watch over the mercenaries, and Cecil joined him. 

However, it was more of Xue, Hana and Kiyae pushing the role onto her. Since, the job wouldn't be as taxing as fighting the mercenaries on the ship. The three of them stood there and lectured Cecil for a good few minutes, making the raven-haired woman want to go deaf. As usual, she had been pushing herself too hard. 

Even K’xug joined in, nodding his head. 

Cecil admitted defeat eventually. 

“I see it, I see it! In the distance, there! It’s reaallllllly small!” Hana pointed out from the docks, to the open sea. 

K’xug swung his twin swords around a few times, nodding in approval. 

There was a small object in the distance, resembling a ship. 

“Finally.” Kiyae smirked, punching her fists together. 

“Yeah, just like we promised.” Haru grinned. 

“Remember, keep the ship perfectly intact,” Yun warned. “We need the ship to bring everyone out of here.” 

All of them nodded in understanding, except Xue who remained indifferent as he approached Yun. 

“He’s closing in,” Xue stated to Yun, furrowing his eyebrows. “I doubt he’ll be barging in here alone.” 

“Are you implying your soul fragment would be coming here with Ephert?” 

“It’s likely.” 

Yun contemplated. “It would seem we need to split into three different groups.” 

“Doesn’t matter,” Xue walked away, taking out his spear and his voice turned colder. “In the end, I’ll be handling him alone anyway.” 

Yun looked towards the others, and he thought about Cecil and K’xug. 

I doubt any of them would want to leave you alone. 

“Suit yourself,”  Yun hid his smile, shrugging and raised his voice slightly, allowing Xue to hear him. “But know that you are not alone, friend.” 

Xue stiffened, his eyes widened and he recovered from the surprise, picking up his pace. 

***

A woman was sobbing, and beside her, a man hugged her close with a miserable expression. All around this couple were people similar to them in age. Someone clicked their tongue in annoyance, a noise like a strong gust of wind whooshing by was heard. They stiffened, looking up, noticing it was a man dressed in a roguish outfit, brandishing a weapon. 

“Shut up.” 

“Please, let us go.” 

“We have a family too you know, we ain’t gonna forfeit their lives in exchange for yours.” 

The woman embraced the man with a wretched look. 

In the distance, they could see the docks leading into an open cavern. Someone waved up from the crow’s nest of the ship, signalling to his comrades with hand gestures. 

All the mercenaries nodded in understanding. 

There were still faint sobbing heard all around, and the mercenaries were starting to get a headache. All of them have been through this process numerous times, to the point where their guilt-ridden heart had grown cold. 

It didn’t matter if they became the bad guys. 

Their family or loved ones, or their own lives, were all that mattered.

Eventually, the ship neared the docks and someone prepared to put the anchor down while the others climbed up to wrap up the sail. The mercenary standing at the front of the ship only started to notice something odd around the docks. 

“Hey, why are you wearing your mask now?” he questioned, leaning in as he squinted his eyes at the masked figure standing directly below their ship at the docks. “And why is there only one of you? Where are the others--” 

The orange blonde-haired masked figure suddenly pushed off the ground, leaping up straight to the mercenary. 

He jumped so high--! 

The mercenary was kicked in the face, making him collapse and roll down the wooden stairs leading to the front of the ship. He sat up, holding his bloodied nose and glaring at the orange blonde-haired masked man. 

Pulling down his mask, it revealed a good-looking man wearing a cocky grin. His orange blonde hair glimmered in the sun, standing on top of the railings. 

“Hiya there, peasants,” Haru summoned out his sword, swinging it once and pointing it at the mercenary on the ground. “We have come to rob your ship.” 

The slaves and the other mercenaries noticed the commotion, gasping in disbelief. 

Meanwhile, the mercenary at the top of the crow’s nest could see reinforcements from their unknown perpetrator leaping onto different areas of the ship. He wanted to yell out a warning, when an ice arrow shot from above him almost grazed his cheek, stabbing into the ground between his feet. 

He stumbled back in shock, glancing up. 

A slim, gorgeous red-haired woman with brilliant blue eyes seemed to float down from above him. The sun shone down on her, covering her in a bright light. 

The man blinked rapidly, rubbing at his eyes. 

It was as if she had stark white wings on her back. 

An angel? 

She landed on the crow’s nest opposite him, taking out her bow and pulling the bowstring back with ease. 

The mercenary flinched back in shock, the transition from her falling to her drawing her bow was too quick. He only realised he was in a disadvantageous situation right now. 

“I don’t like hurting people, but…” Hana said with a conflicted look. “Since you guys are the bad ones, I have to hurt you if I need to!” 

K’xug looked back at Hana, a small smile on his face before he flew closer to the back of the ship, keeping his wings and landing on it. 

The mercenaries had noticed him from afar, flabbergasted by the sight of a man flying. When they recovered from their shock, they realised that the man had already landed beside them. They readied their weapons, rushing towards K’xug, and there were as many as five.  

“K’xug, I know it’s not a favour I should be requesting of you, but if possible, don’t kill them.” 

He recalled a conversation with Haru earlier. 

“Your expression seems to be asking why, huh?” 

“Well, bad or not, they are still our people implicated in this civil war between all the lords. Compared to us, they are the innocent ones.” 

He recalled the earnest expression on Haru’s face. 

Calling them innocent ones…

I doubt so.

K’xug remembered a conversation he overheard with Zeau and Veau, when he was tortured back in the cave. 

They used the prejudice and resentment the angels held over the demons in their favour. Thus, there was falling out between those of high positions and power in the heavenly realm, leading to Xue’s downfall. 

There were also the angels leaving his friend to die, due to having the “cursed” demon blood in him. The continued cruel treatment of half-breeds across the two realms. 

K’xug smirked bitterly. 

Not all of us are innocent in a war.

K’xug flicked his twin swords to the blunt sides, charging in as well. 

...but how could I decline an earnest request from a friend? 

He knocked them all out with efficient speed and strength. After he was done, he gathered the mercenaries in a pile, glancing up and signalling to Hana who was looking down from the crow’s nest. 

***

On the other side, Kiyae landed a high kick on someone’s jaw, sending him flying before he became unconscious. She spun around, seeing the slaves huddled together and she gave them a wink. 

“Don’t worry, I’m on your side.” 

She was at the centre of the ship, and Xue was to her left. The two of them swiftly rendered the mercenaries unconscious, or ensured that they were beaten enough to be sent sprawling on the ground. 

Meanwhile, Haru handled the front of the ship. 

Soon enough, just like K’xug, the three of them looked up to Hana and gave her a signal. 

On the crow’s nest, Hana had already knocked out the person and she noticed all of them giving out the same signals. She beamed, cupping her hands around her mouth. 

“Yun! We are all done here!” 

From down below, Yun was leading a massive group of people behind him, all of them carrying a bag of their own. It was the people who were illegally brought here to become slaves. Fortunately, the amount of slaves brought this time around weren’t much, due to the efforts from Kiba and Masaru to bring an end to the kidnappings. 

They would all be able to fight on board the large ship. Even the amount of slaves they brought over the previous time, to keep up their disguise.

Finally, the hostage situation would be solved. 

Just like Yun had estimated, it would be before the time Ephert arrived here by himself to inspect the area. 

Compared to the time they arrived here, the illegal slaves were all doing well in terms of their health, both mentally and physically.

“Do you remember my words?” 

“Of course, Mr. Yun.” 

“There’s no need to call me that, just Yun will do. Remember, go to the nearest island here and there will be someone there to assist all of you back home. We have gathered enough supplies for all of you, it will last you on your trip.”

The slave, who was an experienced sailor, grabbed Yun’s hands and clasped on tightly. He was an older, robust man, yet with the way his eyes teared up and his head hanging low, it was as if the older, robust man was a frail young boy. 

“How can we ever repay all of you?” 

“My captain, and my lord would only want all of you to live on well from now on.” Yun smiled back, placing his hand on top of the older man’s hands. 

The older man heaved a sob.

The other slaves did so.

The others on the ship were busy tossing the unconscious mercenaries out from the ship, onto the dirty mattresses on the cavern floor. When Haru declared he would rob them of their ship, his words were literal. 

At that moment, Yun, who was still engaged in the touching conversation with the slaves, did not notice a figure slipping past in the crowd. The figure stood behind the older man, something glinting in his hand as he raised it in the air. His arm reached out for the older man, wanting to grab him by the neck. 

“Everyone, move away!” Cecil exclaimed. 

Everyone did move away, including Yun who finally realised the man holding the knife. The malicious intent did not escape Yun as he grabbed the older man, pulling him away. 

At the same time, the mysterious figure plunged the knife down with a loud cry and just as he did so, a stone came flying out of nowhere. It knocked the knife off the man’s hand, and before he could take it into his hands again, a vine shot out and wrapped itself around the knife. 

The slaves had already scattered, making space for Yun and Cecil. 

Cecil held onto her dagger that transformed into a vine, tugging it back before flinging it away. The knife pierced through the air, impaling the cavern wall and far away from anyone’s reach. 

“Damn it!” the man cursed out. “That was our last chance!”

“Stay behind me.” Yun shielded the older man, narrowing his eyes at the man. 

“One of them managed to sneak out and disguise themselves as a slave,” Cecil let out a sharp breath, turning to Yun. “I am glad I made it in time.” 

The man put up a fight, which Cecil easily won as she ducked and tripped him over his legs. He fell to the ground, looking up at finding himself surrounded by Yun and Cecil. 

“Holding one of them hostage to bring them all back,” Yun murmured out, his caramel-brown eyes cold. “Is pleasing Ephert worth more than your pride and lives?” 

“You don’t get it, do you? It’s because we want to save our lives too!” 

“We’ll defeat him,” Cecil said haughtily. “That’ll free you from him, won’t it?” 

“Defeat him?” the mercenary scoffed. “That’s if you can even get close to him in the first place.” 

Cecil wrapped her vines around the mercenary, forcing him up and pulling him along. “I’ll bring him away, so you can focus on helping them escape.” 

Yun nodded. 

The mercenary accepted his defeat, a glum look on his face. The vines were so tough and strong, he wasn’t even able to put up a struggle unless he wanted thorns digging into his skin. 

[ Achievement #18: Help the Children, Help the Parents!
Achievement unlocked! ]

Cecil paused. 

“...what’s the use of achievements now? And why do you have to make it appear when I’m dragging someone away?” 

[ Congratulations! ]

“Stop ignoring me, and I don’t really care.” 

[ You have 17 achievements remaining. ]

“Like I said, I don’t really care.” 

[ There is no need for you to complete all the achievements. After all, they are all completely optional~ ]

“Stop ignoring my words!” 

AI500 disappeared after that. 

Cecil sighed, continuing the process of dragging the mercenary away. 

***

They finished helping the slaves on board the ship, along with the supplies. Since there wasn’t any need to watch over the mercenaries now, Cecil and Ryo joined in. 

Cecil noticed how unusually quiet Xue was being, along with his unreadable expression, she tilted her head in confusion. 

“Xue, is there something wrong?” 

Xue slowly lifted his head, looking at Cecil. There was a small frown on his face, and he hesitated before nodding in agreement. 

“This entire time, Shin has been trying to find his parents, but...they aren’t here.” 

Xue had already long come to terms about the death of his parents. He knew that Shin instinctively knew his parents from this life were gone, and yet, the young male adolescent wasn’t able to accept it. 

Despite that, Xue couldn’t help but think of Shin as his past self that wallowed in constant misery. 

Xue: “What will you do now?” 

Shin: “...” 

Xue: “What is your resolve?” 

Shin: “...” 

Xue: “I’ll be waiting for it, till the end.” 

Shin: “...I got it.” 

Xue still wore his inscrutable look. 

This time, what will you do? Would you repeat the same process again? 

That was the answer Xue somehow wanted to see. 

He didn’t know why. 

He just had to see it. 

The ship started to sail off, all the parties saying their farewells with big waving motion and teary eyes. When the ship was at a considerable distance, everyone started to get back to their work. 

They weren’t done just yet. 

All of a sudden, Xue, K’xug, Hana and Cecil shot their heads up. They all looked at each other, knowing that they felt the same exact presence. 

For Xue, it wasn’t the soul fragment that made him react like that. 

It was another new presence. 

The presence of light magic. 

Yun noted their strange expressions, questioning them. “What’s wrong? Is there something out there?” 

“Other than Ephert and my soul fragment, there’s someone else approaching us.” Xue stated.

“Who? Who is it?” Haru asked. 

K’xug shook his head. 

“We can’t tell,” Hana shook her head as well. “They feel...similar to Xue and K’xug.” 

“I know this feeling, it’s light magic, and that person possesses a huge amount of it,” Cecil warned. “Whoever they are, they aren’t mortal.” 

“Cecil is right.” Xue agreed. 

Rugi: “He was telling the truth after all.” 

Rugi: “It’s an angel working alongside Ephert.” 

Xue did not care. 

It only meant one thing to him. 

That angel was his enemy. 

***

《 start 》

Can I trust once again? 

Can I do that? 

Can I use the word “friend” once again, without expecting betrayal in return? 

Can I...really do that? 

《 stop 》