Sunlight slowly crept in through the prison vent, piercing through the cold darkness. Accompanied by the creaking of metal hinges, the silence in our cell was shattered.

  Heavy footsteps approached, stopping right between my cell and Eve's. Then, the sound of shifting metal filled the air.

  "Time to wake up," a firm voice echoed from beyond the bars.

  I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the incoming light. In front of my cell stood several Canidra in blue uniforms, and among them, a fierce-looking Belgian Malinois stood out the most.

  Eve, from the adjacent cell, muttered lazily, "Why are you waking us up so early? Are we finally being moved to a proper place?"

  The Belgian Malinois' lips curled into a thin smirk. "Starting this morning, you will be transferred to another kingdom. Get ready."

  Eve scoffed. "Didn’t you promise to release us? Why are we being moved somewhere else?"

  The dog simply shrugged. "Being taken to another land is no different from being free from this kingdom, isn’t it?"

  Eve glared. "That’s not the same thing!"

  The Canidra before her showed no concern. "You have no right to protest our decisions. You only have two choices—walk on your own or be dragged out?"

  I knew arguing was pointless, so without saying anything, I stepped out of my cell. Eve sighed but eventually followed, still muttering under her breath.

  We were escorted out through the prison’s main door. As we stepped outside, the brighter sunlight momentarily blinded us, forcing Eve and me to shield our eyes with our hands.

  In front of us, a prison cart was already waiting. Several humans, from adults to teenagers, stood in a line with their hands tied behind their backs. The ropes were connected to metal rings around their necks, restricting their movements. Three Canidra in blue uniforms stood guard around them, weapons at the ready.

  "You two will be transported in a more proper carriage," said the Belgian Malinois as he walked ahead of us. "We still respect your victory in yesterday’s game."

  As I followed his lead, my steps halted at the sight unfolding on the other side of the yard.

  An old woman had collapsed in front of the prison cart, her body trembling as she struggled to stand.

  "Move faster! Don’t waste time!" barked one of the Canidra soldiers, stomping his boot against the ground.

  Beside the woman, a young man hurried to support her, his voice shaking as he spoke. "I’m sorry… my mother’s legs hurt. Please don’t hit her."

  But before his plea could move anyone’s heart, the blue-uniformed Canidra raised his leg, preparing to kick the elderly woman.

  I clenched my fists, wanting to step forward, but my body felt frozen. Even my lips refused to form words.

  "Stop!"

  I turned my head quickly.

  Eve had already rushed forward, pushing the Canidra soldier away.

  The soldier’s eyes flared with anger. "How dare you touch me?!"

  I finally found the courage to move. I ran towards them. "Please, don’t hurt them. If you want to hurry, we will help carry her into the cart."

  The soldier seemed even more enraged, but before he could act, the deep voice of the Belgian Malinois cut through the tension.

  "Guardian Dog, stand down."

  The soldier turned around, immediately saluting with an open hand over his chest.

  The Belgian Malinois sighed. "Help them into the cart, then return to your carriage immediately."

  Without wasting time, Eve and I carefully lifted the elderly woman, assisting her son in getting her into the prison cart.

  With faint voices, both of them whispered their gratitude for our help.

  As we returned to the carriage prepared for us, more prisoners emerged from a distant building—twelve people in tattered clothes with their hands bound, escorted by heavily armed Canidra.

  Four of them were Siberian Husky Canidra dressed in black uniforms.

  And among them…

  I saw Lucky.

  Without saying a word, Eve and I boarded our carriage. Before entering, our hands were tied with thick ropes, restricting our movement.

  The carriage interior was simple—wooden seats without embellishments, thin cushions, and small windows with plain curtains for ventilation.

  Eve sighed, glancing around. "At least this is better than a cargo cart or that prison wagon."

  I remained silent, staring straight ahead.

  Eve glanced at me. "Where do you think they’re taking us?"

  I swallowed hard, pretending not to know. "No idea."

  If I told her now, I feared it would only make things worse.

  Through the window on Eve’s side, we saw six humans being led out of the building. They held onto a rope connected to the prison cart, preparing to pull it. In the front and back, four Canidra stood alert, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

  "So... this carriage is pulled by humans?" I frowned, finding the sight strange. "No wonder I didn't see a single horse."

  "There are no animals used for transportation here," Eve replied without looking away. "Except for fish and poultry, which are only used as food."

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  I grew even more confused. "Fish and poultry are animals too, right? Why can't they be turned into humanoids?"

  Eve let out a short sigh. "I don't understand the system of this world either."

  Before I could ask further, a whistle suddenly rang out sharply. I sat back down and noticed a Bluetooth earbud lying on the bench, with an elephant logo engraved on its surface.

  I stared at the object in surprise before glancing outside the window. Near the entrance of the carriage, Lucky stood there, his eyes meeting mine.

  "Maybe he wants to communicate through this," I muttered softly. I then placed the earbud in my right ear.

  The carriage started moving, leaving the prison building and heading towards the big city.

  Along the city's main road, sturdy stone buildings lined up neatly, some adorned with large trees and flags fluttering in the wind. The wide cobblestone street echoed with the slow movement of the prison carriage, pulled by human prisoners.

  On the sidewalks, various creatures gathered. Not only dog but also humanoid cats and hyenas stood in rows, watching us with different expressions—some curious, some scornful, and some indifferent.

  They wore clothing that reflected their social status—some dressed simply, while others were draped in long robes with fur hats and flashy jewelry. A few small children, with pointed ears and furry tails, hid behind their parents' legs, peeking at us with curiosity.

  In the distance, a bell tower chimed, its sound echoing in the air. Though the crowd remained silent, I could feel their gazes piercing through me. It felt as if... we were part of a spectacle they didn’t want to miss.

  I observed the city with mixed emotions. The stone buildings, the cobblestone streets, and this unfamiliar atmosphere reminded me of the medieval era. But one thing that intrigued me the most was a grand structure towering at the end of the road.

  Its architecture resembled a church, with a tall bell tower and stained glass windows glistening under the sunlight. However, what stood out was the large emblem of a rat engraved on its facade, replacing the usual symbols found in places of worship. Below the emblem, there was an inscription in a language foreign to me.

  "Why does that church have a rat emblem? Isn’t that unusual?" I asked Eve.

  Eve glanced briefly, then replied casually, "According to rumors, the first founder of this world was a rat. That's why many consider rats their god. But I don't know the full story."

  The journey continued. We passed through the kingdom’s main gate after a brief inspection, and before I realized it, we had traveled more than two kilometers.

  During the ride, Eve and I shared stories about our lives in the previous world.

  Eve turned out to be an office worker who also worked as a Ladies’ Companion—a night job that required her to accompany clients for karaoke or casual conversations. She worked hard to pay off her family's debt after moving to the big city. Unfortunately, she ended up in this world after being captured on her way home from work.

  Now, we were entering a dense forested area. The carriage slowed down, and it was clear the pullers were getting exhausted after walking so far.

  Suddenly, a faint voice came through the earbud in my ear. "Elio, can you hear me?"

  I jolted and quickly replied in a low voice, "Yes, I can hear you clearly."

  Eve glanced at me in confusion.

  "Tell your friend to start singing right now," Lucky said quickly.

  I frowned. "Singing? What for?"

  "No time to explain. Just tell her to sing. Now."

  Even though I didn't understand, I obeyed. I turned to Eve and whispered, "Sing."

  "What? Why all of a sudden—"

  "Just do it," I urged.

  Eve sighed in annoyance but eventually gave in. With a clear and heartfelt voice, she began singing My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

  At that moment, Lucky’s voice came through the earbud again.

  "Listen to my plan carefully. I can’t talk for long; this is dangerous," he whispered.

  I furrowed my brows, focusing on every word he said.

  "Very soon, I will make the pullers stop to rest at the incline ahead. That’s when you both must jump out and roll down the slope to your right. If anyone chases you, I’ll help distract them and continue giving you positional updates."

  I tensed. "And after that?"

  "Run south. There, you'll find some ruins. Hide inside until the pursuit is over."

  I grew even more suspicious. "Why are you so sure they won’t chase us into the ruins?"

  Lucky was silent for a moment before answering, "That ruin is a sacred place for the creatures of this world. Legend says it's the birthplace of their founding god. No one dares to enter it."

  I took a deep breath. So the plan was to escape and hide in a place that even the beings of this world wouldn’t dare to approach?

  I glanced at Eve, who was still singing, unaware of the plan.

  "Sorry, I can't keep talking. Dog species have a hearing range of about 40Hz to 60kHz. In other words, they might be able to pick up our whispers. But thanks to your friend’s singing, the sound of footsteps on the cobbled road, and the heavy breathing of the pullers, our voices are somewhat masked. Even so, if they focus, they can still hear our plan," Lucky said in a hushed tone.

  Eve finally finished her song and looked at me curiously. I gave her a small clap to divert her attention, then took the Goat Mountain Ring from my pocket and put it on. With a single tug, the rope binding my hands loosened. I quickly grabbed Eve's hands and untied hers as well.

  I stared at her intently and placed a finger in front of my lips—a signal for her to stay silent. Without needing further explanation, Eve nodded in understanding.

  Moments later, at a steep incline, the cart pullers began to falter. Some even collapsed from exhaustion. Seizing the opportunity, Lucky approached the head guard and suggested they take a short break.

  The head guard considered it for a moment before nodding. He ordered a brief rest for the pullers while a few guards remained on alert.

  Minutes later, Lucky approached one of the guards at the back and asked for water. As the guard’s attention was diverted, I knew it was our chance. I turned to Eve and gave her a signal.

  Without hesitation, we moved. Swiftly, we opened the train door and jumped down the slightly sloping hillside.

  "Escape now!"

  The head guard’s shout rang out, followed by orders for the guards to chase us down.

  Eve and I ran as fast as we could toward the south.

  "Where are we even going?!" Eve shouted as she struggled to keep up.

  "Just keep running south! We need to reach the ruins!" I yelled back without looking.

  Gunshots rang out behind us, demanding us to stop. But we didn’t care—we kept running.

  Unfortunately, as far as I could see, the ruins were still nowhere in sight.

  Suddenly, the Elephant AirPods in my ear crackled to life.

  A deep, rumbling voice vibrated in Elio’s ear — distorted, but urgent.

  “Avoid the ruins. Two guards—bzzt.”

  Then, the connection cut off.

  I immediately grabbed Eve’s arm, making her stop. Panting, I scanned the surroundings and spotted tall bushes at the edge of the road.

  "Hide in here," I whispered.

  We crouched down, holding our breath. Minutes passed in tense silence—then voice returned through the AirPods.

  "Move."

  I frowned. The message was too brief, but there was no time to overthink it.

  Without hesitation, I pulled Eve along, and we started running again.

  A few meters ahead, Eve suddenly gasped, "Elio! Look! The ruins are over there!"

  My eyes locked onto the ancient structure in the distance.

  "Let's go!" I urged.

  We ran faster. But just as we reached the middle of the path, there was a sudden snap! followed by a short scream from Eve.

  I turned around, stunned to see her body lifted off the ground, hanging upside down from a tree. A rope snare had caught her ankle, and at the same time, tin cans strung above fell, clattering loudly throughout the forest.

  Both of us panicked.

  "Elio! Get me down! Hurry!" Eve shouted.

  I quickly worked on the snare, trying to loosen it. The knot was tight, but with the Goat Mountain Ring, I managed to pull the supporting rope free. Eve crashed onto the ground with a loud thud, and I hurriedly helped her up.

  But before we could continue our escape—

  Eve suddenly froze.

  Slowly, she raised her hands in surrender.

  I followed her gaze, and my body stiffened.

  Behind us, several guards stood with their rifles aimed at our heads.

  I exhaled sharply. With no other choice, I raised my hands in surrender.

  A moment later, the head guard stepped forward. Without warning, he swung the butt of his rifle straight into my head.

  A sharp, crushing pain exploded in my skull, making my vision blur. My body collapsed onto the ground, unable to move.

  Pain radiated through my head, but I was powerless to resist.

  The head guard ordered Lucky and another guard to drag us back to the carriage. I could only remain still, enduring the throbbing agony as I was forcibly dragged away.

  Through the haze of my fading consciousness, I heard the sound of the head guard’s footsteps stopping behind me.

  Unaware, he bent down and picked up something lying on the ground—

  The Elephant AirPods, which had fallen during our escape.

  With slow movements, he lifted them.