The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 137 - We Will Survive

Tave had to be perfect now, no slip-ups. The four demons standing before him were sharper, more sober than the others. Their posture alone screamed power. Gaia Masters, maybe even Grand Masters. One wrong word, and he’d be dead before he could blink.

"So... you were sent for the prisoners?" the lead demon asked, his tone steady.

Tave’s mind scrambled for something smarter, but his mouth moved first.

"Yes," he said flatly.

The lead demon studied him for a beat, then gave a short grunt and smacked his hand on Tave’s shoulder.

"Ah, so you’re the one sent here. Good then." He pointed to a cage behind Tave. "Now take the forest elf girl to the Lord. The party doesn’t wait."

Wait... forest elf?

Tave turned his head slightly. His eyes locked on the cage they were pointing at.

Panpan.

Shit. What did they want with her?

He stole a glance at Fang’s cage. The door still looked shut. They hadn’t noticed.

Good. Stay here, Fang. Leave when it’s clear.

Tave let out a short laugh and grumbled like a typical demon would.

"This is an easy job. I’ll take the forest elf to the Lord myself. You can all go back to the fun."

But the lead demon wasn’t having it.

"No. We stay. Don’t waste time. The Lord is waiting."

Tave gave a stiff nod, masking the tension rising in his chest.

He had to play this right. One wrong step, and everything could fall apart.

Tave stepped toward the cage, eyes locked on Panpan, who was sitting silently on the cold floor, her hands still bound in heavy chains. The cage-like helm that once hid her face was now gone, exposing her expression.

He unlocked the door with a loud click, then grabbed the chain roughly.

"On your feet, forest rat. Lord’s waiting. Let’s not keep him bored," he said coldly, letting just enough venom slip in his voice to satisfy the watchers.

Panpan didn’t resist. She stood slowly, her movement calm, her gaze down. No fight. No words.

And that, somehow, hurt more than anything.

Tave clenched his jaw but said nothing. He pulled her forward, out of the cage.

The four demons watched him closely.

Tave dragged the chain as Panpan followed silently beside him, steps quiet. They passed the demons, but just before he was fully through, a strong hand slammed down on his shoulder.

"Oi. You forgot something," the demon growled.

"Don’t do anything stupid. Hand over the rest of the keys."

Tave let out a grumble, loud enough to be heard but soft enough to sound like just another irritated demon.

He reached behind his belt and tossed the ring of keys into the demon’s hand without looking back.

The demon caught them, still glaring.

Then, wordlessly, the four of them followed, forming a silent procession behind Tave as he led Panpan through the fortress, step by step, toward the most dangerous, most powerful being in this entire hellhole.

If something happened to Panpan after this, Tave knew, he’d never forgive himself. Not because he didn’t try. No, he did try. He just wasn’t strong enough.

He wasn’t some unstoppable warrior or high-level demon-slayer. He was just a Gaia Guardian, barely scraping by with tricks, illusions, and manipulation. That’s all he had.

And now he was leading Panpan straight into the jaws of the biggest threat in this entire rift: the Named Demon.

What’s he going to do to her...?

The thoughts hit Tave hard, again and again. Dark, horrible thoughts. Ones he hated. Ones he couldn’t shake. Because he already had a feeling. A gut-deep, soul-hollowing feeling of what was about to happen.

And he hated that he might be right.

The demons behind him weren’t making it easier either. One of them slammed the hilt of his blade into Tave’s back. Hard. Another jabbed him in the side.

He winced, breath catching in his throat. It hurt more than it should’ve. Just a simple hit, but it felt like his chest was caving in.

Of course it hurts. They’re Gaia Grand Masters.

He was nothing compared to them.

That wasn’t an excuse. Just the ugly truth.

Then it happened.

Panpan stumbled slightly, barely noticeable, but enough to make Tave flinch instinctively.

Her fingers brushed his arm.

Just a light touch.

But it sent a jolt through him.

His thoughts froze. Everything, his panic, his fear, his planning. Paused.

She’d touched him.

Intentionally?

Tave didn’t look at her. Didn’t say a word. But something had shifted.

Did she know?

Could Panpan somehow tell it was him behind the disguise? Even though he wasn’t wearing the same face as the first demon? Even though everything about him had changed?

Was it his horn? His single horn, or was it just... her instinct?

Tave glanced sideways, just barely, catching a glimpse of Panpan’s lips moving.

"We will survive."

Was that what she said?

Was it just her way of offering hope again... even now?

They reached the center of the hall, and Tave was shoved forward, nearly falling as he hit the floor. Behind him, one of the guards barked, "Leave the girl. The Lord wants her here."

Tave stepped back, blending in with the surrounding crowd of demons, heart pounding. He watched as Panpan was pulled forward, her chain now tightly gripped by one of the elite guards standing beside him.

The Named Demon.

The Marquis.

The creature rose slowly, towering, his horse-like head tilting back as he lifted his blackened goblet to the sky. Then, he drank deep.

When he spoke, the entire room hushed.

"Forest Elves..." he growled, his voice low, echoing through the area, "Vensalor will fall."

He raised his goblet again.

"They will burn. Their kingdom, their trees, their sacred lands... all of it. Total destruction."

He turned, casting his gaze down at Panpan.

"We will keep this one."

The crowd stirred.

"She will help us provoke them further. I want to see how much they care for their own kind."

He leaned forward, towering over her.

The Marquis tilted his head and smirked.

"...And how alluring their little forest women are..."

A chorus of twisted cheers and jeering laughter erupted from the demons surrounding them.

"HAAAA!"

"HAHA! Burn them all!"

"Save her for the scream!"

"Vensalor will kneel!"

The Named Demon stood tall once more, lifting his gaze to the demons gathered before him. His voice deepened, smooth yet dangerous.

"But... something about this one is making me reconsider."

He paused, eyeing Panpan carefully, his tone shifting into something darker.

"I know how interesting forest elves can be... but this one. She’s something else. Isn’t she? A little too extraordinary?"

The area erupted again.

"Ooohhh!"

"Haha, that one’s special, huh?"

"Don’t keep her for too long, Lord."

"Look at her! That calm, that silence!"

Tave heard it all, every twisted laugh, every vile word, and his hand curled into a fist so tight it trembled. freeweɓnovel.cøm

This threat is too big.

Too real.

Every single one of them here could rip him apart without blinking. He wasn’t even a match for the guards outside, let alone this.

But. Fuck it. He had to do something. Anything.

Then it happened.

The Marquis reached down and tugged at Panpan’s robe, pulling it off, revealing her full hunter gear underneath, the brown-toned armor she’d worn into battle.

She didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Just kept her head bowed.