"Renee-nya is my—our benefactor. We have to take her with us!"

I blinked, startled by the passion in her voice. Her wide, earnest eyes locked onto mine, as though pleading with her kin to trust me.

"But she's human! Do you have any idea what that means?" the man roared. "This isn't just dangerous—it's a death sentence! Do you want to doom us all?"

"That's a problem for later! Right now, we have to save Renee-nya!"

"You—!"

I… didn't know how to respond.

I watched them argue over me, my lips sealed in silence.

I never intended to connect with them. Not truly.

Trust is fragile, and in a world ruled by fear, it's often a fatal mistake.

Especially when they aren't even human.

Those who are not of my kind cannot be trusted.

…At least, that's what I used to believe.

"Renee-nya always shares her food with us. Even when she could barely stand, she forced herself to unlock our cages! She could've left us behind, but she didn't—she chose to save us, every one of us!"

Her voice cracked, her emotions pouring out like a dam breaking. She wasn’t just pleading for them to save me—she was begging for her kin’s understanding and approval.

"Why? Why are you all so cold, when Renee-nya—when she—"

I reached out, my trembling fingers gently catching her hand.

It was strange.

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This was her sentimentality, not mine. All this time, I had been using her goodwill.

So why… why did her words cut so deeply?

My body, weak and battered, protested every move. But even so, I forced myself to rise.

An ache twisted in my chest, sharp and unfamiliar, driving me to speak words I didn't fully understand myself.

"...Thank you."

My voice was hoarse, barely audible. I forced a smile through the pain.

"Renee-nya?"

She froze, confusion flashing across her tear-streaked face. Then her gaze followed mine, landing on the man. Her eyes widened as she realized what I intended to do.

"As you said," I began, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest, "I'm a burden."

I turned to the man, meeting his glare without flinching.

"Take her and go."

"Smart choice."

The man sneered, motioning to his lackeys. Two figures stepped forward, seizing her arms and pulling her away from my side.

"What are you doing? Let go of me! Let go!"

She thrashed against their grip, but they held firm.

"Renee-nya… Why? Why!?"

A rough hand shoved me back, and my body collided with the cold, unforgiving bars of the cage.

I didn't move. Didn't speak.

I only watched as she was dragged away, her cries echoing like shards of glass against my ears.

"Live," I whispered, though I knew she couldn't hear me.

"No… No! Renee-nya! Renee-nya!"

Her outstretched hands clawed desperately at the air, her voice breaking into sobs.

"Why won't you let me save you!?"

And just like that, the Nako girl who had stayed by my side was gone.

The silence that followed was deafening. Slowly, I leaned back against the bars, closing my eyes against the weight in my chest.

She would've risked everything for you, a voice echoed in my mind.

And you let her go. A fool like that, ready to be used, and you just let her walk away. Are you trying to get yourself killed?

I knew the voice was right.

My body was failing. My chances of escape dwindled with every passing second. If I wanted to survive, I needed to use every resource, every ounce of leverage.

My own life should have been the priority.

Survival demands ruthlessness.

And yet, when the perfect tool had placed itself in my hands, I had let it go.

"What's wrong with me?"

I whispered the question into the emptiness, my hand clutching my head.

No answer came.