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Chapter 15
“Krung, let’s go!”
Krrrrr—!
Tania rode atop a four-legged beast and tore through the maze-like underground prison. She had already identified Rosemary’s location when they entered, so there was no need to wander around this vast place.
Before long, the underground was filled with monsters that Raspi had brought in. Fortunately, Tania had smeared Raspi’s scent on herself, so she wasn’t attacked and was able to pass easily among them.
She headed straight toward where Rosemary was being held, glancing around as she went. Screams filled the air—cries steeped in despair and fear from those who believed they would soon be killed by monsters. The people who managed this place were nowhere to be seen; they had either fled or been eaten alive.
Only the prisoners remained, clasping their hands together and desperately praying to their god to spare them. They seemed terrified that the monsters might break through the iron bars and come inside. But Raspi had already accounted for that and was controlling the monsters.
Knowing how desperate they were made Tania’s own heart race with urgency.
“…After rescuing Rosemary, I need to regroup with Raspi as quickly as possible.”
Saving all of them alone wouldn’t be easy. The original plan had been to rescue only Rosemary and escape immediately with Raspi. But once she arrived, her feelings changed. She couldn’t bring herself to turn away from the people who had been dragged here against their will and were trembling in fear.
Focusing on reaching her destination as fast as possible, she soon arrived at the cell where Rosemary was held.
Black bobbed hair. A small frame.
Tania hopped down from the monster’s back and slowly checked on Rosemary’s condition. The girl was crouched inside the cell, ears tightly covered, face buried in her knees—as if she were simply waiting for the horrific moment to pass.
“Rosemary.”
Tania called her name, but Rosemary didn’t hear—she was pressing her ears shut too tightly.
In the end, Tania pointed at the barred cell and gave the monster a command.
“Krung, tear it open.”
The beast lunged forward and ripped the bars apart with a crunch. The loud noise made Rosemary flinch and tremble.
“P-please… I just hope it ends without pain…”
She wasn’t asking to live—she was wishing only to die without suffering. That alone spoke volumes about her mental anguish.
Tania quietly watched her. When no pain came even after a while, Rosemary cautiously lifted her eyelids.
Tania had waited for her to open her eyes. She smiled gently and held out her hand.
“Hello, Princess. I’m here to rescue you.”
Lovely pale-pink hair. Clear amber eyes.
Rosemary stared blankly at the small Tania—who looked much younger than herself—and blinked in disbelief. Calling her “Princess,” she overlapped in Rosemary’s mind with the prince on a white horse she’d only ever seen in fairy tales.
Of course, the tiny pink-haired girl in front of her wasn’t a prince, and what she rode wasn’t a white horse but a monster—but that didn’t matter.
What mattered was that she had come to save her.
“…Who are you?”
“Me? I’m Raspi’s friend. He asked me to rescue you.”
Rosemary’s small shoulders shook. The mention of her brother seemed to reassure her; tears pooled in her round eyes.
“R-really? You came because my brother asked you to save me?”
“Yeah. I promised I’d rescue the Princess.”
“…Then I don’t have to die? I won’t be sold to strange people?”
Tania’s heart ached. How terrified must this child have been to speak first of death?
She deliberately curved her lips into a relaxed smile so Rosemary could feel at ease.
“Did you know? There’s no hero who fails to rescue a princess.”
Even if you fail, you can just turn back time and try again.
Once she decided she wanted to do something, there was no such thing as impossible.
Perhaps that confidence reached Rosemary.
As if entranced, Rosemary stared at Tania for a moment, then tightly grasped her hand.
“…Thank you for saving me.”
“It’s a bit early to say that. Save your thanks for when we’re safely back.”
Tania grinned and ordered the monster to snap the restraints on Rosemary’s wrists in one go.
Rosemary’s ability was super strength—but it hadn’t awakened yet. If it had, she never would’ve been captured in the first place.
“Marie, can you walk?”
“Yes, Hero!”
…Hero?
Tania blinked in surprise, then realized she’d been playing the part of a princess-saving hero all along. She shrugged lightly.
“Good. Listen carefully, Princess. First, we regroup with Raspi. We’ll rescue everyone else after that.”
“Y-yes!”
Tania put Rosemary on the monster’s back, then climbed on herself.
[The current viewpoint overlays Viewpoint 2.]
She sped off, searching for Raspi, who was likely causing havoc somewhere. Because the prison was designed like a maze to prevent slaves from escaping, finding him was harder than expected.
After racing through the underground for quite some time—
“We found the one who brought the monsters! He’s an ability user!”
“Alive or dead doesn’t matter! Kill him and the flood of monsters will stop!”
Tania clenched her lips and turned toward the voices.
Soon, she saw administrators swarming toward Raspi. He tried to hold them back using the monsters, but some of the administrators were ability users as well, making it difficult.
Then, someone slipped through the monsters and rushed toward Raspi from behind.
“Raspi!”
At Rosemary’s startled cry, he reflexively turned and tried to counterattack—but outnumbered, he was quickly subdued.
“Got him!”
Strong hands twisted his arms behind his back, and sharp blades glinted threateningly.
“Let go!”
Raspi struggled fiercely, but they pressed him down mercilessly.
Just as Tania was about to rewind time, thinking it was already too late to save him—
A masked old man appeared from nowhere and muttered lowly,
“Isn’t it shameful to gang up on a child like that?”
In an instant, his figure vanished—then reappeared beside Tania as if by magic.
“What the—?! Where did that brat go?”
“H-he’s over there, with the VIP!”
When he reappeared, Raspi was with him, freed from the administrators’ grasp.
The old man, having rescued Raspi with ease using his ability, ignored everyone staring at him and fixed his gaze on Tania.
“I’ll consider this repayment for you saving me from the monster earlier.”
Though surprised by his appearance, Tania let out a sigh of relief.
“…You know I still have that wish you owe me from our bet, right?”
“Haha! Yes. If we meet again, I’ll grant your wish.”
Laughing heartily, the old man added casually,
“I released everyone who was underground. Looks like you and I are accomplices now.”
“…Why do that now?”
“Partly because I felt ashamed of running from responsibility as an adult—and partly because you made me realize something.”
“What was that?”
“That if no one finds out, no one can hold me accountable.”
The words were arrogant—but knowing who he really was, Tania was glad he’d joined them. With his ability, he could handle things alone.
“Grandpa, then… is it okay if we escape first?”
“Yes. If you don’t want to see something ugly, you’d better leave now. Since it’s come to this, I plan to wipe everything out without leaving a shred of evidence.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Tania bowed deeply, then picked up Raspi, who was slumped beside the old man.
“Let’s go, Raspi.”
Since the man had decided to erase this place entirely, leaving quickly was the safest option.
As Tania rode away on the monster, she glanced back once more and raised her evaluation of the so-called villain.
“He wouldn’t be a bad choice for family.”
