A low, guttural sob tore through the stillness, a sound that ripped at the carefully constructed walls I'd built around my own heart. I watched Naofumi, my breath catching in my throat, as his gaze fell upon the telltale ridges of the slave marks marring the children's delicate skin. His hardened expression, usually a mask of weary resolve, crumbled like ancient parchment, revealing the raw, vulnerable pain beneath.
His fingers, calloused but gentle, traced the cruel scars, each touch a silent scream against the injustice of it all. A tear escaped, then another, shimmering like fractured moonlight in the dim light of our hiding place. "Why..." he whispered, the word a broken plea, a question hurled at a cruel and indifferent world.
He tore at his own hair, his movements frantic, almost self-destructive. The sound of his ragged breathing filled the small space, a counterpoint to the silent tears that streamed down his face. "Why does this happen to me?" he cried, the question echoing in my ears, a desperate cry from a man who had seen too much.
"Hey, Naofumi, what happened?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, afraid to break the fragile tension that held him together. My heart pounded against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence.
He didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the children, his face a mask of anguish. The tears continued to fall, each one a testament to the weight he carried, the burden of a world that seemed determined to crush him.
"Naofumi?" I repeated, my voice rising slightly, laced with growing fear.
He finally looked up, his eyes red and swollen, a storm of emotions swirling within them. "Why does this happen to me, Alna?"
he rasped, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I thought... I thought I could just take them and run. Make it easy. But it's impossible."
His words tumbled out, a torrent of fear and despair. "If that bastard comes here and doesn't find these two, he might kill them by the slave collar at any instant."
"Don't worry, Naofumi," I said, my voice trembling slightly, but firm. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, the rough fabric of his cloak a stark contrast to the warmth of his skin. "We'll find a way. How about… how about we threaten him? We could…"
He cut me off, his voice thick with despair. "I don't want to put their lives in danger, Alna. That man is crazy. He'd kill them without a second thought. And… and seeing those hound dog corpses up there…" He gestured vaguely towards the entrance, his eyes still shimmering with tears. "They must have realized someone's entered. We can't even get out of here." His sobs intensified, a raw, heartbreaking sound in the confined space
.
A sudden, unsettling stillness fell over him. It was as if a desperate idea had taken root, a flicker of hope amidst the despair. He moved with a sudden, almost frantic energy, tearing at the already ragged fabric of the raccoon girl's clothing, exposing the cruel brand of the slave mark on her chest. My breath hitched in my throat as I watched him press the glowing green orb of his shield directly onto the mark.
A moment of tense silence stretched, thick and heavy. The air crackled with unspoken hope, a desperate prayer that something would happen. But nothing budged.
He pressed the shield harder, the green orb glowing with an intense light, digging into the raccoon girl's skin. A small whimper escaped her lips, a sound that sent a jolt of alarm through me. He was pushing it too far, I thought, his desperation overriding caution.
Then, a flicker of something changed in his expression. A slow, almost unsettling smile spread across his face, a stark contrast to the tears that had been streaming down his cheeks moments before.
He lifted the shield, and my eyes widened in disbelief. The slave mark was gone. The scarred flesh was smooth, unmarked. He repeated the process with the other girl, and the same thing happened. The ugly brand vanished, leaving behind only smooth, unblemished skin.
"But how?" I stammered, my voice thick with confusion. "How did it disappear?"
"The orb absorbed the ink," he said, his voice strangely calm, almost gleeful. "Alna, use your sleep spell on them. I don't want them to see what's about to happen." His smile had turned mischievous, a hint of something dark and dangerous lurking beneath the surface.
"Wait, I still don't understand," I protested, my mind reeling. "How did it just… disappear?" I began the incantation, my voice a low, rhythmic murmur, and the children drifted into a peaceful slumber.
"All you have to do right now is follow my commands," he said, his gaze fixed on the entrance to the alcove. I followed his gaze, and my stomach clenched.
The noble had arrived. He stood at the entrance, his face flushed with rage, his eyes narrowed into slits. A cruel, leather whip coiled in his hand, a silent promise of violence. He was short, plump, and utterly repulsive, his presence filling the space with a suffocating sense of dread.
"Stay here," Naofumi said, his voice low and firm. He took a step forward, towards the noble.
"You know you can't attack, right? Let me fight him," I said, pushing him gently back. I stepped in front of him, my own resolve hardening. "I'll handle this." I started walking forward, ready to fight.
"Umm, hii," I said, my voice a touch too bright, a nervous tremor betraying my attempt at nonchalance. I edged closer to the noble, my hand instinctively gripping the hilt of my sword.
My plan was straightforward: a swift, decisive strike, a surprise attack to end this quickly.
"Mind telling me why you guys infiltrated my mansion?" he demanded, his voice thick with rage.
I had stepped out of the room now, the dim light of the hallway illuminating the scene.
Naofumi followed, emerging from behind me, his expression grim. I continued to close the distance between myself and the noble, my eyes fixed on him, gauging his reactions.
"Stop right there!" he roared, adjusting the whip in his hand. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, his guards flooding into the area.
"Alna, go for the guards! You can't win against him!" Naofumi shouted, his voice laced with urgency.
Oh really? I thought, a surge of defiance coursing through me. I unsheathed my sword, the steel glinting in the dim light, and scanned the area for the noble. But he was gone.
A sudden, chilling realization washed over me. He was right next to me.
When did he get so close?
The thought of defending myself flashed through my mind, but before I could react, he raised his right hand. A dagger, sharp and gleaming, was clutched in his fist.
If he's this fast while being so plump, his level must be 55+.
"Well then, goodbye," he sneered, his eyes filled with malicious glee.
A wave of dread washed over me, the cold, stark realization of impending death. I braced myself, preparing to at least land a counterattack, even if it was futile.
But before the dagger could strike, the noble was sent flying backwards, crashing against the far wall with a sickening thud.
"Goodbye to you too," Naofumi said, his voice cold and flat.
My eyes widened. I hadn't even seen him move. He had followed the nobles movements that I failed to follow?
(Actually, Naofumi used teleportation. But yeah, he is fast too.)
"Naofumi…!" I gasped, my voice a mixture of relief and astonishment.
"Hurry up and take care of those guards," he said, his voice sharp and commanding.
"…Understood," I replied, my voice regaining its focus.
I turned my attention to the guards, drawing my sword with renewed determination. If I could eliminate them, Naofumi would gain experience, increasing his chances against the noble.
I noticed the noble didn't give chase. Also, he didn't take any damage. Naofumi's attack power is too low.