Chapter 23: Summoning into another world again!!!

One hour before the prison break.

"Hmmm…?" I was thinking hard, mapping out our escape strategy as I carved a few potential plans into the dirt floor of the cell.

"Hey? What are you doing?" Diana asked, holding onto the bars of her cell and raising her voice.

"Sshhh… Lower your voice. There might be guards around who can hear you."

"Don't worry. We goblins have great hearing," she said with a smug smile, puffing out her chest proudly. "We're no match for elves or beast-kin, but our hearing ability is still pretty solid."

"I see. Well, I'm thinking about our strategy in case someone catches us…" I told her, my voice heavy with concern.

"Catch us? You're way too pessimistic," she teased. "You know, your kin would feel deeply ashamed if they heard a demon talking like that."

"Yes, I might be pessimistic," I replied. "But if they find us, it will bring danger to both of our clans—my demons and your goblins."

Reading the serious expression on my face, her smugness faded. "Yeah… now that I think about it, I see why you're concerned." Her face troubled, she sighed. I stayed quiet, worried that thinking about the worst-case scenario might jinx us.

"Hey, Diana…" I called out.

"What now?" she asked, confused.

"I have a suggestion. Let's assume someone actually catches us while we're trying to escape. If one of us manages to get away, that person has to deliver a message."

"Go on."

"If you get caught, I'll escape and tell your people they need to retreat from their hideout. But if I get caught by them, I want you to deliver a message to our Queen. Her name is Verixa. Tell her this: 'She needs to escape along with the other demons. The plan has failed. I will try to find a way to get back to you, but it may take time, so take care of her.'"

Act II: The Council Room – Present Time

"Well, that's what he said to me," Diana explained to the council. "He sacrificed himself for my freedom. He might have been caught by the Knight Commander… I'm sorry… I wasn't able to protect him."

"I see. So that means—" Alira began, her gaze dropping dejectedly.

Verixa interrupted her, raising her voice desperately as she declared, "We don't have time to waste! Let's go, we need to save Zacken!" She looked on the verge of tears, but everyone else remained silent, staring at the floor.

"Hey… why do you all look so defeated? We just need to—"

Valkira lifted her head, her eyes filled with determination. "Chief, tell everyone we are abandoning the village. Pack every essential item; we are leaving this evening. From this moment on, I will act as the leader of the council."

"Val… kira…" Verixa's eyes widened in shock.

"As you say, Commander…" The Chief bowed to her, then turned to the other council members. "Ken, I want you to gather the demons who can fight and distribute weapons. We need soldiers to protect the civilians. Liriel and Siriel, I want you to watch for any movement around the village perimeter; if anything happens, report back immediately to me or the Commander. Tez, please secure the supplies."

"Yes, Chief!" they shouted in unison as they exited the room.

"What… are… you doing…?" Verixa's body shook, creaking under the emotional weight as she imagined what might be happening to him. "We need to save him! If we don't, he will be—"

"I am sorry, my Queen," Valkira said. She felt deeply frustrated but forced herself to hide it; if she panicked or showed any vulnerability, the others would panic too. "If he really was caught, it means he has likely already been executed. And if he hasn't, they will use him as bait to lure us into a trap."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?!" Verixa shrieked.

The moment she raised her voice, a sudden surge of raw mana erupted from her body, forcing everyone in the room to take a few steps back. "HE SAVED ME WHEN THAT HUMAN SOLDIER WAS ABOUT TO STAB ME! AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING WE SHOULD JUST LET HIM DIE?!"

The windows started creaking violently, and the tables and floor began to shake under her power.

Seeing this, Valkira walked straight toward her. She knelt in front of the Queen and placed her hands gently on Verixa's cheeks as tears began rolling down the girl's face.

"He sent us a message through this goblin so we could escape… If you don't do what he asked, he will be incredibly upset with you. So please, remain calm, my Queen," Valkira said. Her voice softened, and though her own hands were shaking, her words hit home.

Verixa's eyes met Valkira's, and she slowly calmed down. Wiping away her tears, she whispered, "But he promised me he would return safely…"

Valkira patted her head gently as Verixa wept. Standing up, the Commander turned her attention to Alira and Diana.

"Elf, Goblin. You are not related to our race, so I think it would be best if you both leave and return to your clans," she suggested out of genuine concern.

"Diana… My name is Diana," the goblin corrected her. "And I don't have a home to go back to anyway. My people were cut down by that human commander. I won't be a burden to you, but I want to join you. He saved me, and now I want to pay him back by protecting his loved ones."

"I see. And you, elf? What about you? If you wish, I can lend you a few soldiers to escort you back to the elf village."

Alira's face was hidden beneath her bangs. She silently walked up to Valkira and suddenly delivered a fierce headbutt.

However, because Valkira was a trained soldier and a demon, her forehead was practically made of concrete. The entire impact recoiled directly into Alira, who immediately slumped to the floor, clutching her forehead.

"Alira?!" Valkira asked, completely bewildered by the sudden attack.

Alira lifted her head, tears pricking her eyes. "Why the hell is your head like a rock?!" she complained first, squeezing her eyes shut as the throbbing pain passed. Once she calmed down, she looked up and declared, "Zacken is the only reason I'm traveling with you guys, but that doesn't mean I'm going to leave my friends in danger!"

"Friends…?" Valkira tilted her head. "Are you talking about me?"

Embarrassed, Alira's face turned bright red. Overcome with frustration, she tried to headbutt Valkira again, only to instantly knock herself unconscious and fall backward onto the floor.

Back to Zacken. Two months after Diana delivered the message to the demons.

A glowing red magic circle suddenly materialized high above the very river where, two months prior, he had nearly fallen to his death.

"WHAAAAAA—!"

Slam!

He hit the water's surface hard. Fortunately, because the height wasn't too extreme, neither of them sustained any injuries. He swam hard against the current, carrying Coco tightly in his arms; she was completely unconscious.

Dragging himself and his sister onto the rocky shore, he collapsed onto his back. His chest heaved up and down as he panted heavily, leaving Coco resting safely beside him.

"Hahhh… hahhh…" He checked Coco over for any injuries, but found none. "Thank goodness… she's not hurt."

He sat up and scanned his surroundings. A short distance away stood the mouth of a dark cave, and everything else was swallowed by a deep, dense forest filled with massive trees.

"Am I really back? That's great, but… where the hell am I?"