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Hans understood.
Cluna and Clara weren’t simply rampaging without a plan. But this realization only made him more anxious.
The leader of the Half-Demons was Revil.
Information on Revil was scarce. He was known as the new Demon King leading the Half-Demons, surprisingly cunning, and fiercely protective of his own.
That had been enough information before. After all, how much attention did a final boss in an erotic ga really warrant?
Unless, of course, the final boss was also a romanceable heroine…
Regardless, Revil was known for his cunning.
Many had fallen for his honeyed words, including Helia in the original storyline. Hans couldn’t predict what Revil might do to Cluna and Clara.
The Half-Demons had only made contact with the Alliance a year ago.
‘They should still be safe… right?’
He forced himself to think positively. He didn’t have ti to dwell on worst-case scenarios. He quickly finished his preparations.
“You’re going to them now?”
“Of course.”
“There are other options.”
“What?”
“You could find your other comrades first.”
It was sincere advice.
Even with the Half-Demons opposing the True Demons, it was still demon territory, a deadly place where one could easily lose their life.
Logically, it would be best to gather the other Royal Knights first, then rescue Cluna and Clara.
If they couldn’t hold out until then… well, it couldn’t be helped. Even Great Elder Makenis, an elf with a long lifespan, had to acknowledge that reality.
Hans had nearly died at the hands of the True Demons, after all. But Hans replied incredulously,
“Wouldn’t it be natural to help the comrades in the most danger first?”
“You’re right. I misspoke.”
Makenis chuckled and nodded.
This was the Commander of the Royal Knights. He understood the gravity and danger of the situation better than anyone. Yet, he still chose this path.
He chose to help the comrades in the most perilous situation.
‘That’s why they respect him. That’s why he’s their Commander.’
He was finally starting to understand.
‘Damn it, please be safe.’
Contrary to Makenis’s thoughts, Hans didn’t have the luxury of worrying about the bigger picture.
He had endured three years of confinent, finally earning his freedom. He had so much to say to them. He didn’t want to lose them again.
But what could he do? He had no wyvern, no teleport scrolls.
“You’re going there? To that hellish place?”
“Yes. How many tis do I have to say it?”
“Then I’ll help you.”
“You’ll help ?”
“Yes. I’m quite skilled in magic, you see.”
Makenis struck the ground with his staff.
A large magic circle, glowing with a soft, forest green light, appeared beneath Hans and Lua’s feet.
A teleportation spell!
Hans nodded. This would get him to them quickly. Makenis paused, looking at Hans, then spoke,
“Please, save them.”
“I will.”
“Wait! This is…!”
Lua tried to intervene, but Makenis had already received Hans’s consent. Besides, Hans had no intention of stopping him.
Every second was precious. Ignoring Lua’s protests, Makenis activated the spell. The green light engulfed them.
A mont later, Hans opened his eyes to a forest. But it wasn’t the Elven Forest. If the Elven Forest was a picture of natural beauty, this forest was twisted and corrupted.
The weeds, trees, even the insects… everything was unfamiliar and hostile, wary of the intruders. Hans was taken aback.
“Where are we?”
“That’s why I told you to wait! We should at least know where we’re going!”
“The Great Elder sent us here. I trust him.”
Hans offered a reasonable excuse in response to Lua’s complaint. Makenis wouldn’t send them just anywhere.
This place must be related to Cluna and Clara, or at least close by.
‘That’s what I want to believe, anyway.’
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They searched the forest all day, but they couldn’t find Cluna and Clara, or even a proper path.
They were forced to make camp. Lua, surprisingly, was delighted. It was her first ti sleeping outdoors. This, of course, ant that Hans had to do all the work.
He was grateful that he had packed supplies. Otherwise, they would have been truly stranded.
“These berries are disgusting.”
“They might be poisonous.”
“Twisted or not, this is an apple. It’s just… incredibly bland.”
“Oh.”
He had already tested the local flora. He had caught a passing monster and force-fed it various berries. Most were harmless.
Except for one that resembled a banana.
“We would have been in trouble if we ate that banana-looking thing.”
“The monster died in three seconds.”
“Yeah.”
Hans grimaced at the bland taste but continued eating. He needed to conserve their supplies.
He had considered roasting the monster, but the sll was so repulsive that he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
anwhile, Lua happily drank the monster’s blood. Hans looked at her with a mixture of disgust and amusent.
“You really enjoy that, huh?”
“No, it’s not good. But I’m hungry.”
“Right.”
Lua stared at Hans silently.
He ignored her. She had been giving him these looks from ti to ti, ever since they were in the tunnel three years ago.
‘Co to think of it, I owe that kid a lot.’
Whether intentional or not, her daily visits, her shy retreats whenever he tried to engage… her cat-like behavior had made him smile.
It had helped him lighten his emotional burden, even if just a little.
Hans decided to trust his comrades. He believed they could survive without him. It might have sounded irresponsible, but it was also a testant to the faith he had in them.
Lua, however, didn’t understand. She didn’t know the details, but her mother had told her that Hans had been betrayed by his comrades.
“How can you still trust them? They hypnotized you!”
“I don’t think of it as betrayal.”
“What? They manipulated you!”
“People make mistakes. Especially in difficult situations like this.”
At first, he had been confused.
He had questioned their motives, and yes, he had been angry. But as ti passed, all that remained was longing. He wanted to see them again.
“So you’ll forgive them?”
“It depends on what they have to say.”
“How can you be so… forgiving?”
“Forgiveness is like that. Difficult, yet simple.”
Truthfully, Hans wasn’t sure himself. He just wanted to hear their side of the story. He would decide afterward.
He sighed.
He needed to find them first.
He forced down the last bland berry.
Suddenly, he felt a familiar sensation, similar to the nights when Zaerkan haunted his dreams.
But this… this was different. It was on a completely different level.
Hans looked up. The world froze, the colors fading to gray. And there she was, sitting on top of Lua, smiling.
“How did you get here?”
‘Ti. That bitch, what’s she doing here again?’
“Just… thought you might need my help.”
“…I don’t need your help anymore.”
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
); }
“Really? I don’t think so.”
The body she had stolen from him was now hers, except for the eyes. One was red, the other black. Both were fixed on Hans.
“Just so you know, the heart is next.”
“You’ll kill if you take my heart.”
“Not necessarily.”
“What do you an?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. When it’s too late to turn back.”
Hans was about to retort to Ti’s casual pronouncents when she vanished.
Lua blinked.
“Hans? What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Hans shook his head, his expression cold.
‘Whatever you’re planning… it won’t go the way you want.’
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[Translator Notes]
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