While Russelrant was searching the city streets, Damon was also approaching Dontrell.
Throughout the week-long carriage ride, Damon had heaped every sort of humiliation upon Mitchell and Yuliana,
and as a result, the two were completely broken in spirit.
Looking at the two with their dejected expressions, Damon thought that it was about time
to let them go.
'I've made them suffer enough that my anger has mostly subsided... We'll reach Dontrell
in about half a day, so it would be best to let these rascals go now.'
In truth, Damon had planned to take them all the way to the Crosen Empire. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to waste roughly a
week capturing them and dragging them to Dontrell. His purpose had been solely
Yuliana. Of course, he harbored no other thoughts. His heart was captured by Daphne alone,
and there was no reason for him to harbor different feelings toward Yuliana. It was his intention to occasionally steal
glimpses of her resemblance to Daphne and soothe his longing. Because of
Damon's ulterior motives, the two had pitifully endured terrible hardships on their way to Dontrell.
Damon looked once more at the two, who were keeping their heads deeply bowed because of the humiliating placards,
and quietly called for Rindelf.
"This time, you'll need to do some of the work."
Rindelf's eyes went wide. Until now, Damon had tormented the two endlessly with Helvertron.
He had starved them thoroughly, fed them filthy food, or handed them his waterskin to drink from while they were parched—
things like that. But Rindelf had been thoroughly excluded. Because he had been forbidden from approaching them,
he had never even properly conversed with the two in the wagon.
"What should I do?"
"The two of us took the villain's role, so you take the good deed. That is to say...."
Having heard Damon's explanation, Rindelf nodded as if he found it very amusing.
"Don't worry. That much is as easy as eating cold porridge."
"I trust you. She's a sharp girl, so be careful."
Mitchell and Yuliana had their heads deeply bowed, completely deflated. They thought that since they had nearly
arrived at Dontrell, only being tried and having their necks cut remained.
Robbery was a serious crime in Arcadia. In most kingdoms, criminals caught
committing robbery faced very severe punishment. Cutting off the wrists was standard,
and in severe cases, execution was commonplace.
Of course, not all kingdoms were like that. In some nations where slavery was permitted,
there were cases where criminals were turned into slaves. But a great power like Terbia would
never approve of the slave system. The two thought their lives were hanging by a thread.
Because they were tied up so tightly that they couldn't even think of escaping.
Determined not to show her face to anyone no matter what, Yuliana kept her head deeply
bowed. But when the carriage stopped, she cautiously raised her head. Fortunately, there was no one around the
wagon. A tragic expression quickly settled on her face.
"Still, it's a relief. Getting my neck cut is much better than being sold as a slave."
While being transported here, she had regretted and repented her decision countless times. But
that hadn't changed the situation. She could only lament that she had been caught by a completely pitiless merchant.
Her temper had greatly subsided by now. The desperate situation she found herself in
had taught her many things.
Thump, thump.
When she heard someone's footsteps, Yuliana quickly bowed her head again. Anyway, when they reached Dontrell,
they would be executed before countless onlookers, but until then, she didn't want to show her face.
The footsteps stopped right in front of them. At the same time, the sound of a tongue clicking
was heard.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor things...."
It was a somewhat familiar voice. But it was not the voice of the mercenary who was as pitiless as the merchant,
nor the voice of someone equally loathsome. Because of a thread of hope,
Mitchell and Yuliana cautiously raised their heads.
"Why would people with such bright futures conspire to commit robbery? Pathetic creatures."
The one clicking his tongue as he looked at them was one of the mercenaries who had subdued Mitchell. He was assumed to be the younger brother of the mercenary who had tormented them endlessly alongside the merchant,
and was the taciturn mercenary who had rarely approached them.
With a pitying expression on his bearded face,
he shook his head repeatedly.
From his appearance, it was evident he thought them pitiful. Having glimpsed a thread of hope for life,
Yuliana pleaded in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's buzz.
"P-please save us. We were wrong."
"You probably won't die. The merchant bastard won't hand you over for trial, you see.
He's planning to take you north and sell you off...."
The moment the mercenary finished speaking, Mitchell and Yuliana began to tremble.
In Arcadia, what slaves did was predetermined, and they had vaguely heard of how their fate would ultimately
end. Therefore, the two couldn't help but be extremely terrified.
Looking at the two trembling like aspen leaves, the mercenary clicked his tongue again.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even though he's my employer, that guy is truly a pitiless bastard. To think he would sell
promising young people like you as slaves...."
The mercenary shook his head as if he felt sorry for them. Instinctively, Mitchell and Yuliana intuited that their fate rested
with the mercenary before their eyes. Unlike the merchant, this mercenary was at least
someone who could be reasoned with. So the two began to beg desperately.
"Please let us go. We won't do bad things ever again."
"If you save us, we will never forget this grace."
But the mercenary didn't seem inclined to change his mind easily.
"Your situation is unfortunate, but my livelihood is at stake too. Like it or not, he's my
employer.... I'm sorry, but I can't."
Seeing the mercenary shake his head, the two were frantic. They wanted to take him to Carcello and
reward him generously, but revealing their identities was something they must avoid at all costs.
In the end, they decided to appeal to his emotions.
"Please.... You must have a daughter like me, right? So just this once...."
"Please look the other way just once, thinking you're saving a young person's life. If you do, we will truly
live good lives."
The mercenary, who had been looking at them with a troubled air, finally seemed to reach a decision.
"Very well. I cannot simply watch you being sold as slaves."
At the mercenary's words, their expressions brightened instantly.
"Th-thank you so much."
"We will never forget this grace, even in death."
Looking at the two expressing their gratitude repeatedly, the mercenary deliberately hardened his expression.
"But there's not much I can do. I'll only loosen your binding ropes and shackles so it won't be
noticeable. So you'll have to take care of escaping yourselves."
The mercenary broke off and glanced behind him, then lowered his voice even further.
"We'll reach the outskirts of Dontrell city soon. Around then, the merchant and that Helvertron fellow will fall into a deep
sleep. Take that opportunity to escape. And hide inside Dontrell city. I'll say you ran back the way you came.
Since you don't have horses, you couldn't possibly outrun a carriage anyway.
I think that would be best for all of us."
A light of emotion filled Mitchell and Yuliana's faces. Having resigned themselves, they could now cling to hope for life
again, so it was only natural.
"Please tell us your name. We'll definitely repay you later."
But the mercenary firmly shook his head.
"No, there's no need. We met in bad circumstances, so even if we meet later, it would only be awkward for both of us.
Just forget it. And from now on, live without doing bad things."
Overcome with emotion, tears streamed down Yuliana's eyes. She was so grateful for the mercenary's
kindness. Because of that, she didn't even dream that the mercenary was acting entirely on the merchant's orders.
Looking around, the mercenary climbed onto the wagon and
took out a dagger to cut their ropes.
"Hold onto the cut parts well. It would be troublesome if the merchant or Helvertron noticed."
"Understood."
While he was at it, the mercenary removed the fetters binding their wrists and ankles as well. Having been tied up for a full
week, their whole bodies had gone numb, but neither moved. That was how
tense they were. Having finished his work, the mercenary got down from the wagon and looked at them once
more.
"This is all I can do for you. Before long, when they fall asleep, I'll give you a signal.
The signal will be.... I'll whistle quietly. Escape then."
"We will."
"Th-thank you so much."
The two bowed their heads to the departing mercenary and expressed their sincere gratitude. Given their situation,
the mercenary was a savior they couldn't be more grateful for. Of course, they had no idea that he was not human.
"Is it done?"
"Of course. Who do you think I am? Despite appearances, I conquered countless plays in my youth.... That
much is as easy as eating cold porridge."
Damon smiled broadly after hearing the situation from Rindelf.
"Not bad for a Death Knight? Good work."
"Well, it wasn't anything to call work."
Now, playtime was over for Damon. Soon, Mitchell and Yuliana would escape.
After all, they had nowhere to go but Dontrell. On the wide-open highway, a person couldn't outrun a carriage,
so.... even without being told, they would almost certainly hide inside Dontrell.
"Those mercenary fellows must have gotten a taste of my Nega-gong to some degree. If things proceed as planned, I'll need to bring them
in first."
Settling comfortably into the seat, Damon pretended to sleep. Only then could Mitchell and
Yuliana escape. Only Rindelf remained awake, waiting for the right moment to signal the two in the wagon.
When the time was sufficiently ripe, he took action.
"Whi-whew."
The moment he whistled, Mitchell and Yuliana, who had been fully prepared, quickly jumped from the wagon.
They sent a grateful glance to Rindelf, who held the reins, then dashed off. It was precisely
in the direction of Dontrell. After confirming they had gone far enough, Rindelf woke
Damon.
"Hey. It worked."
Rindelf had cleanly completed his assigned mission. Damon nodded in satisfaction and opened
Incresia.
"Good work. You all go back inside Incresia. You'll need to prepare thoroughly.
Because when you come out again, a fierce battle with the dragon will certainly be waiting...."
"Will do."
Helvertron and Rindelf entered Incresia without another word. After confirming they had entered,
Damon returned to his original appearance. The thought flashed through his mind that the pursuing dragon might have identified his
appearance, but he didn't think there was any need to deliberately change his appearance. The moment they met, he would have to fight to the death
anyway.
"I'll have to abandon the carriage here."
Getting down from the carriage, Damon led out the one horse that looked the strongest among the tied horses.
It had been a rather expensive carriage, but there was no need to take it with him. If left here,
it would surely find a new owner.
"Hah!"
Mounted on the horse, Damon pulled the reins. The horse carrying Damon began galloping energetically toward Dontrell,
visible in the distance.
"Hah, hah."
The two literally ran with all their might. They felt that even a slight delay might bring pursuit,
so they squeezed out every last bit of strength and ran and ran again. Of course, there was no one pursuing them,
but the two didn't know that. In the end, they only stopped running when the gates of Dontrell became
visible in the distance.
"Phew."
Only then did they stop and look back. Sweat poured like rain and their breaths rose to their chins,
but they were so elated at having survived that they didn't even feel the hardship.
Yuliana shook her head as if to say it had been truly terrible.
"I've never seen such a cruel and ruthless merchant in my life."
Mitchell ground his teeth and replied.
"I tell you. If I ever run into him, I'll tear him to pieces and kill him."
Though he spoke such words, Mitchell had absolutely no confidence in doing so. The merchant was a man who held their greatest
weakness.