— Hazel’s POV —

  “Stay in formation! Do not rush!”

  A commanding voice rang through the vast green fields.

  At the front of the evacuation line, a noblewoman on horseback led the march with practiced composure. Earl Sheila Senian, younger sister of Lavender Town’s lord, radiated calm authority, keeping the few thousand citizens behind her orderly and moving.

  Some rode in carriages, others on horseback, but most were on foot—slow, vulnerable, and painfully unprepared for danger.

  Behind the noblewoman, I walked alongside Esta, Greg, and Tian, flanked by her five private knights. More knights from various noble houses patrolled the left and right flanks of the citizens.

  Our primary task was simply to reassure the citizens.

  Truthfully, we weren’t necessary for protection. This well-maintained road had no monsters, and the real fighters—those with the rank of Sword Experts—remained in town, defending against the orcs.

  The town’s lord himself stayed behind as well, awaiting reinforcements from Vale City. According to reports, troops from other nobles were also on their way. Sooner or later we would eventually meet them.

  Vale City was only four hours by carriage at normal speed, but with this slow-moving crowd, the journey would take at least twelve. Maybe even longer if we take breaks for meals and rest. Maybe we would be called back to Lavender Town before we even arrived at Vale City if the town was already secure..

  Three hours had passed since we left town. By now, the battle must have begun.

  But I wasn’t particularly worried. As long as the guildmaster was there, the town would be safe.

  That’s why, as I walked, my thoughts weren’t on them. Instead—

  My mind was trapped in the past.

  Matias, my master… No, my former master.

  Compared to the trash who owned me before him, he was better.

  Far better.

  I didn’t care that I had to obey his orders. That he forced himself on me. That he never gave me proper clothes or food.

  I hate it, but I know my place.

  I am just a slave.

  But still…

  No matter how much I love to fight, I despised the recklessness he demanded.

  I hated fighting impossible battles.

  Because I refused to die.

  Not because I’m scared of death.

  But because I have not fulfilled my revenge.

  I don’t wish to die—Not before those nobles in the empire as well as the so-called priests in the holy kingdom perished from this world.

  That’s why I hated him. Hated Matias.

  Yet—his eyes had always been filled with regret.

  Why?

  Why did he always look as if he didn’t want to do it?

  Why were his actions so different from his expressions?

  If he had told me why, maybe I could have understood.

  If he had trusted me, maybe I would have shown him my real strength.

  If he had treated me with kindness, maybe I wouldn’t have hated the things he did.

  Maybe I would have even enjoyed them.

  After all—

  He was far better than those scum nobles.

  In this world, no kind person would buy a slave.

  So as a master, he was already good enough.

  But why?

  Almost seven years.

  Seven years, and he never told me anything.

  And now—

  He died, leaving me with nothing but questions.

  I gritted my teeth.

  I already had enough frustration from all the nobles I couldn’t kill.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  And now he had the audacity to make it worse by dying!?

  <“Huh!?”>

  A violent presence snapped me back to reality. My ears flicked up—alert, on edge.

  A burst of overwhelming aura and mana surged from behind us—fast.

  Too fast.

  If not stopped, its aura and mana could kill civilians.

  My fur bristled as my body tensed.

  Whipping around, I glanced at my companions.

  Esta was already moving. She had vanished from the ground, using her Air Steps to soar above the citizens.

  Tian had disappeared into shadows, his presence flickering through the darkness.

  Greg’s booming voice shattered the rising panic.

  “Run fast! There are strong enemies from behind!”

  The citizens and even the novice knights were still grappling with the sudden turn of events. They are still lacking experience to notice the enemies. After all, the enemies are still far behind.

  But Greg wasn’t.

  He leaped high into the air, an impossible feat for someone of his size and weight.

  My ears twitched again.

  Damn it!

  I should have been the first to notice.

  Instead, I was lost in thought about that detestable master!

  The noblewoman leading the evacuation turned back to me, concern etched across her face,

  “What’s happening!?”

  I took a deep breath, my tail flicking in alarm.

  “Magisters and Sword Masters are approaching from behind, nya!” I declared.

  Their presence alone could kill the citizens just by getting too close.

  “They must be enemies, nya!”

  The noblewoman’s face paled, her knights stiffening—hands gripping their weapons with white-knuckled tension.

  *CLANK!*

  A resonant metallic clash echoed from a distance, signaling that the skirmish had erupted between our comrades and the enigmatic foes.

  Awareness spread rapidly among the citizens, and seizing the moment, I commanded.

  “Run fast! Knights, protect the people, nya! I'll assist in intercepting the enemies, nya!”

  Without waiting for an answer, I pivoted and activated my aura swiftly, propelling myself into the air with a bound akin to Greg's acrobatics.

  Two controlled sections of the ground beneath me ensured I could traverse above the masses.

  Moments later—

  I joined the fray.

  — Esta’s POV —

  I had sensed it moments before Hazel.

  That terrifying pressure, barreling toward us like a beast chasing its prey.

  Hazel had been too distracted, lost in thoughts of Matias. Her emotions were complicated. A curiosity and frustration because she was not able to know anything about Matias until the end of his life.

  But now wasn’t the time to dwell on them.

  Without interrupting her thoughts, I had already moved. I shot into the air with Air Steps, running through the wind platform I conjured, Tian and Greg right behind me.

  Our job was clear—

  Intercept the threat before it reached the civilians.

  Then I saw them.

  Three figures.

  Wearing masks.

  They weren’t hiding their power.

  They were flaunting it.

  Without hesitation, I struck. My guild-issued daggers gleamed, wind aura crackling along their edges as I dived toward the nearest enemy.

  The instant I closed the distance—

  *CLANK!*

  My eyes widened. He caught my blade like it was nothing.

  The figure with the surprised-face mask effortlessly deflected my assault using his own daggers.

  From this moment, I know—

  He was stronger than me!

  A laughing voice shot from behind him. No, she leaped above him!

  “Oops! You almost hit Shock!”

  A pink-haired girl in a happy-face mask appeared, launching fireballs without hesitation—not even caring if she burned her own ally.

  I leaped back to dodge.

  But before my foot stepped on the ground again—

  A barrage of stone bullets hurtling towards me so fast.

  I couldn’t dodge this—!

  I braced myself for impact—

  *BOOM!*

  With a roar, a greatsword came crashing down—obliterating the attack just before it struck.

  “You alright, Esta?”

  Greg landed beside me, his greatsword crackling with fire aura.

  I exhaled. “Just in time.”

  Our attention shifted to the assailant of the stone barrage.

  In an instant, Tian materialized behind the anxious-face mask.

  His dagger aimed for her throat!

  But—

  *Thud!*

  The ground itself rose, blocking his strike.

  Then, without moment of pause—

  A black-aura dagger shot toward him from the right.

  It hit Tian’s head!

  But—

  His body turned black—then fell into the shadows.

  A second later, Tian emerged unharmed, appearing beside me.

  I let out a breath in relief.

  Without delay, a familiar earth aura erupted from above and was unleashed upon the enemies.

  It’s Hazel!

  I quickly sent several wind blades towards her target, the pink-haired girl.

  But then—

  A firewall erupted between us, blocking our attacks.

  *BOOM!*

  — Hazel’s POV —

  I landed beside Tian, ready for battle.

  The citizens were running now and knights positioned themselves to defend them.

  Amidst the commotion, the noblewoman's urgent cry resounded.

  “Run!”

  The nobles on horseback and in carriages abandoned their own men, fleeing like cowards.

  Of course, I expected it.

  They are all scums.

  But—She didn’t.

  Instead, she let others pass her and led them from behind, the most dangerous position.

  I’m glad…

  At least one noble cared about her people.

  But I didn’t have time to focus on that.

  Because—There are three masked enemies.

  My fur bristled, instincts screaming.

  This wouldn’t be an easy fight.

  The battlefield was set.

  And the real fight had just begun.

  Liberation of The Slaves. I truly appreciate all of you who have followed the story so far!

  two chapters daily to one chapter daily. This will help me maintain quality while keeping a steady release pace.

  follow, set it as your favorite, and leave a rating—it really helps a lot! Your donations, comments, and feedback also mean the world to me.