“M-master?” Elaya’s eyes flashed hesitantly.
I had already dropped my disguise, so now I resembled a human once again.
“Who else could it be?” I asked, taking a step toward her.
“Would the Faerie Plain mean anything to you?”
I shook my head. “Darn, I was really hoping. It’s a continent on the other side of the planet. I want to Portal home, but it doesn’t seem I am able to.”
“Do you remember months… no, for you, it would have been weeks. Do you remember when the girls returned home after nearly dying?”
She stiffened. “I recall such a thing.”
“I lived.” I held out my hands. “Carmine said you all might have thought I was dead.”
“Carmine’s here?” Her eyes flashed again.
“And that you might all think she was dead, as well.” I laughed, awkwardly.
She shook her head. “I… I’m sorry… I’m just…”
“To heck with it.” I took three quick steps and grabbed her, pulling her into me and kissing her roughly.
“Mm!” Her eyes widened as I grabbed her and kissed her passionately.
Her surprise only lasted for a moment, and then her tongue became just as aggressive. The Elaya I remembered came alive in my grasp. I groped her, and she groped me back. We finally broke our grasp, the pair of us gasping.
“Master… hah… you’re usually… not so passionate.” Her cheeks flushed.
“Are the rest of them fine?” I demanded, my eyes staring deeply at hers.
“That’s… yes…” She had a strange look on her face, but I felt relief at her words.
“Yes… all of them. Even Salicia.”
“Salicia? Yes, she was probably really hurt thinking Carmine was dead.”
“Ah… yes… Carmine…” Her expression turned weird again.
“Kaia! I’m getting very tired of waiting!” A voice called out from outside the cave, catching both our attentions.
They seemed to not be aware that the others had left. That was good. It meant they didn’t have something like Map or Sense Life.
“What’s going on here?” Elaya asked.
“Do you want the long version or the short version?” I laughed wryly. “It turns out humans invaded this world through dungeons just like the demons are doing to us.”
“Yes…” She coughed. “I’ve heard something like that.”
“Well, those outside happen to be their descendants. They hate humans, and think we’re her sister who betrayed the throne to free some human slaves.”
“Ahhhh!” There was a scream as a girl was dragged out and tossed right in front of the barrier.
The woman, Nerissa, dismounted the reptilian bear thing and then grabbed the woman by her hair. She let out another cry. At this point, I could tell the woman was a human, although she seemed like a complete stranger to me.
“Kaia… let’s not waste my time.” Nerissa laughed. “Stop hiding in the dark.”
“This woman…” I narrowed my eyes.
“Well, since you’re going to be stubborn.” She pulled out a knife, and before I could even blink, she sliced it across the woman’s neck.
Her next scream turned into a gurgle as blood splattered against the barrier. The woman convulsed before falling to the ground, still spasming as she died painfully. Nerissa grinned devilishly while holding the knife to her cheek.
“Those you’re protecting, I wonder how much they are worth to you.” Nerissa laughed. “But I’ll tell you what, I’ll kill one of your precious humans every hour until you come out. I have plenty of humans to spare.”
Another girl was dragged out, but this one was young, only about ten. She let out a cry as Nerissa grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down. She laughed as the little girl struggled.
My body was shaking, rage filling my mind and soul.
“I was going to leave by Portal, leaving them to their own devices,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Now what will you do?”
“I’m still deciding.”