Hell had broken loose at the slave camp. Slaves fought with slavers, guards, and even other slaves. It was chaos. But it was one step to freedom.
At the gate, it was tight. Venichian combatants were trying to enter through the gate, while the slavers and guards were put in heavy armor, defending with all their might.
Lusha van Jolen assessed the situation worringly. She sat atop a horse, a few meters away from the gate.
She peered into the slave camp with a spyglass. The most important thing was to look for the head slave master. Unfortunately, she did not know what he or she looked like.
Goodness. My best shot is to find an escape route and catch them. But that's risky. If I see them, will I even be able to beat them? Well, I have no choice. This is real life, Lusha! It's now or never! Living or dying!
She grumbled.
From a back entrance, Julian hopped over a fence, landing gracefully onto the packed dirt.
"You did especially well, Julian," Umilythe reluctantly praised.
Standing there, Elyse, Veind, Glasses, and Oscar looked satisfied.
"You did it! Despite your lack of any talent, you did it!" Veind ran to hug him, but he was hot to the touch. She winced.
"Nice work, Julian. Didn't doubt you for a second," a now cleaner Elyse laughed. Julian could now properly discern her features. A young face, pale skin, with those bright purple eyes, and light blonde hair.
She's prettier than I had anticipated.
Umilythe gracefully jumped off Julian's back and cleared her throat.
"There's no time for an introduction. The head slave master believes I am injured and is likely searching around the outskirts of this camp. Julian, we'll need to catch her."
Julian nodded.
Oscar stood in front of Julian, obstructing his path.
"Julian, we're planning on heading north and settling there until we decide on our lives. It's in your best interest to come along with us-"
"No way. I'll stay here. I appreciate the offer, Oscar. But I can already see the light in your eye. I know you'll slowly live a fulfilling life. But my life will not be fulfilled until I kill that wretched beast."
"..."
"Fair enough," Elyse sighed.
"I guess it's goodbye then, Julian!" Elyse announced.
Oscar joined, albeit quieter, "Yeah. Goodbye."
Before they could all leave, Glasses spoke one more thing.
"Ailen. Ailen Helenala. That's my name, Julian."
Julian grinned.
. .
.
"Hey, Umilythe? How long will this thing last?" Julian asked. The two of them ran around the perimeter of the camp.
"I couldn't even tell you, Julian. I didn't expect the mana to go directly into your physical being."
"..."
Must have something to do with the fact that I'm from... another world.
"But no matter. It's still surprisingly beneficial."
Umilythe clung tightly to Julian.
"Umilythe. When we escape, and we kill the head slave master... what will you do? I imagine it'll be hard for you, because she's like a mother to you."
"A mother to me. Hah. No mother would do the things she had done to me."
"..."
"But, it will be hard. I've known her my whole life. I don't even know who my real parents are, where they are, or anything like that. Madam is all I've known."
"... I see."
"What about you, Julian?"
"I.. er... I'm not too fond of where I'm from. But it's definitely better than the grueling life of a slave. Experiencing all that hardship has made my opinion conflicting. I suffered a lot. But I got to meet interesting people, like Oscar, Ailen, Elyse, Veind, and you. Back where I'm from, I didn't know anyone at all. I was a weak-willed coward. Now here I am... freeing an entire slave camp."
"Cowardice? From you, I see no such thing, Julian."
"I was only able to do all of this because of you..."
"... Julian. You really are a fool."
"Hm?"
"That self-deprecating monologue of yours is so-"
[Cast: Crystal Cascade]
In the ground in front of them, shiny crystals shot out, tilted toward them. With Julian's enhanced senses, he dodged the attack, grabbing Umilythe.
"Eek!" she yelled.
The dust settled. Revealing a young man with dark blue hair and soft hazel eyes. A playful energy exuded from him. With one hand, he held a medium-sized sword.
"Slaves. Recognizable even without the signature shackle that is fastened around their neck," he mocked.
Umilythe's gaze grew angry. With this, the man in front of them grinned.
"Ah, so I was right? You two are slaves. And from the looks of it, you, young lady, are the most important one? Ere Majam's daughter."
"Don't.. call me that."
Julian whispered something into her ear.
"When you guys get up to paradise, please relay this message. 'Frun Van Jolen deserves all the blessings-"
[Cast: Fireball]
A hot ball of flames shot toward Frun. With swiftness, he cut through the ball of fire.
"!"
Bsh!
Julian dashed forward, landing a heavy kick. Frun barely managed to raise his forearm.
Thud!
The force of the attack left a stinging pain in his forearm, along with sending him aback. His feet slid across the dirt.
Before he knew it, Umilythe had run off.
"Where the hell do you think you're-"
Julian jumped at Frun, wrapping his arms around him. Preventing him from escaping.
"H-Hot! Get off me, you stupid, filthy rat!"
Frun barely managed to kick Julian off.
"Hey, Fruit, Fruni, whatever the hell your name is. In the small chance that you ever make it up to paradise, relay this message for me."
Julian threw a heavy-handed punch, striking Frun in the chin.
"Keuk!-"
"Go to hell!"