“Keureung, let’s go!”
*Growwwwwl—!*
Tania surged through the labyrinthine underground prison, riding atop the quadrupedal monster.
Since she had identified Rosemary’s location beforehand, there was no need to wander through the vast, sprawling expanse. By now, the tunnels were thick with monsters brought in by Raspi. Fortunately, Tania had smeared Raspi’s scent on her body, allowing her to slip through the chaos without drawing their hunger.
She navigated toward Rosemary without hesitation, casting a quick glance around as she passed.
Screams—hollow with the despair and fear of those facing certain death—echoed against the stone walls. The men who had managed this place were nowhere to be seen; they had either fled or were already being torn apart by the beasts. Meanwhile, the captives behind the bars were clasping their hands, desperately begging God to spare them, terrified that the monsters would shatter their cages and spill inside.
Raspi, however, was already aware of this and was manipulating the monsters to keep them at bay. Seeing their desperation, Tania felt her own heart tighten with anxiety.
“……After saving Rosemary, I must rejoin Raspi immediately.”
It would be impossible to save them all on her own. The original plan had been to rescue Rosemary and escape with Raspi at once, but once she arrived, her resolve shifted. She could not bring herself to turn away from those trembling in the dark, dragged here against their will.
She focused on her speed, and soon, she reached the cell where Rosemary was held.
Black hair cut short, a small, fragile frame.
Tania hopped off the monster’s back and studied the girl. Rosemary was huddled in the corner, face buried in her knees, ears tightly covered, as if waiting for a horrific moment to pass.
“Rosemary.”
Tania called her name, but the girl pressed her palms harder against her ears, oblivious.
Tania gestured toward the barred gate and commanded the beast.
“Keureung, rip it open.”
The monster lunged, tearing the iron gate from its hinges with a piercing, grinding *screech*.
Rosemary flinched, her body shuddering violently at the sudden noise.
“P-please. Just let it end quickly… don’t let it be painful.”
The fact that she was praying for a painless death rather than rescue broke Tania’s heart. She watched the girl quietly. When no pain followed, Rosemary cautiously lifted her eyelids.
Tania, who had waited patiently, smiled warmly and held out a hand.
“Hello, Princess. I’ve come to save you.”
Lovely pale pink hair, clear amber eyes.
Rosemary blinked blankly at the small girl, who seemed younger than herself. Hearing the title “Princess,” she couldn’t help but see a reflection of the shining knights from her fairy tales. The girl before her wasn’t a prince, and she rode a monster instead of a white horse, but that didn’t matter. She had come to save her.
“……Who are you?”
“Me? A friend of Raspi. He asked me to rescue you.”
Rosemary’s shoulders trembled. Hearing her brother’s name brought an immediate, tearful relief to her face.
“R-really? Did you come because he asked?”
“Yes. I promised I would save you.”
“……Then I don’t have to die? I don’t have to be sold to those people?”
Tania’s chest ached. How much terror had this child endured to speak of death as an expectation? To put her at ease, Tania forced a relaxed, confident smile.
“Did you know? A hero never fails to save the princess.”
Even if she did fail, she could simply turn back time and try again. As long as she set her mind to it, nothing was impossible. Perhaps her confidence reached the girl; Rosemary stared at her, mesmerized, and gripped her hand tightly.
“……Thank you for saving me.”
“It’s too early for thanks. Save that for when we’re out of here.”
Tania grinned and signaled the monster to snap the heavy shackles on the girl’s wrists. Rosemary’s ability was super strength, but it seemed she hadn’t awakened yet; had she, she never would have been captured in the first place.
“Mari, can you walk?”
“Yes, Hero!”
……Hero?
Tania was flustered for a moment, but then she shrugged.
“Good. Listen well. First, we join Raspi. We’ll rescue the others after that.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
Tania hoisted Rosemary onto the beast and hopped up behind her.
[Overwriting current timeline onto Timeline 2.]
She sped off, tracking the chaos of Raspi’s rampage. Finding him in the labyrinthine prison proved difficult, and by the time they drew close, voices drifted through the air.
“Found the one bringing the monsters. It’s an Abilitator!”
“Forget capturing him! Just kill him, and the monsters will stop!”
Tania bit her lip, veering toward the sound. A group of managers was closing in on Raspi. He was trying to hold them back with his beasts, but the presence of other Abilitators among the managers made it a losing battle.
Just then, someone darted through the fray from behind Raspi.
“Raspi!”
At the sound of Rosemary’s voice, he reflexively turned, leaving his flank exposed. He was immediately swarmed and subdued.
“Got him!”
Rough hands twisted his arms, and a sharp blade glinted against his throat.
“Let go of me!”
Raspi struggled, but they pinned him to the ground. Tania panicked—she was ready to turn back time, fearing it was already too late—when a masked old man appeared from nowhere, muttering lowly.
“Aren’t you ashamed to swarm a mere child in a group?”
In a heartbeat, the man vanished, reappearing beside Tania like magic.
“What! Where did that brat go?!”
“T-there, with the VIP!”
When the old man reappeared, he brought a rescued Raspi with him. He ignored the gasps of the onlookers and fixed his gaze on Tania.
“I’ll consider this payment for saving me from the monster earlier.”
Tania felt a surge of relief.
“……You know I still have a wish left from our bet, right?”
“Haha! Indeed! If we meet again, I shall grant it.” The old man laughed, his tone nonchalant. “I have set everyone in the underground free. Now, you and I are accomplices.”
“……Why do it now?”
“I felt ashamed of living as an adult who shirked responsibility. Watching you, I realized something.”
“What is that?”
“That as long as you aren’t caught, no one can hold me accountable for my sins.”
It was an arrogant sentiment, but given his strength, Tania was grateful to have him on their side.
“Grandfather, can we leave now?”
“Yes. You’d better go, unless you want to see something unpleasant. Since it has come to this, I intend to blow everything to bits so not a single piece of evidence remains.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Tania bowed her head and gathered an exhausted Raspi.
“Let’s go, Raspi.”
As she rode away, she glanced back at the old man. She found her estimation of him rising significantly.
“At this rate, it wouldn’t be so bad if he became family.”