"Zent!" shouted Elfi as he ran towards me, followed by his two younger siblings who suddenly jumped and tightly embraced me, tears streaming down their faces.
"Zent!! They're mean!" shouted the twins.
Their hands clung to my clothes so tightly that I had to slightly bend down, ending up kneeling in front of them.
"Come here," I said softly, pulling them into an embrace, hugging the two children who were now crying loudly and trembling.
I didn't know what had happened, but I would never forgive those pirates.
They truly have no hearts to make two children who haven't even reached the age of six (Human age) tremble in fear like this. I sincerely hope they won't be traumatized.
"I'm sorry, Zent. I couldn't properly protect my younger siblings and made them witness terrible things," Elfi lowered his head, unable to look at me due to immense disappointment in himself, reminding me of my past self.
I took a deep breath, pulling him into a tight embrace that instantly shattered the dam holding back the tears, allowing the emotions to flow out. The feelings he had tried to hold back so as not to cry in front of his two younger siblings to still be able to appear strong for the both of them.
"You did your best, Elfi. There's no need to feel bad about yourself. I'm sure not only I am proud of your courage, but everyone in this room, including Zhao and Wei. I believe they will cook the finest meat for the three of you because you managed to survive," I said.
Not only Varren, but everyone in the room smiled at the scene before them, sharing in their happiness, especially after witnessing firsthand how the pirates had treated the three siblings. However, unfortunately, the sound of pirates could be heard in the distance, a sign that we needed to leave immediately.
I stood up, looked at the three little elves, and gave them a warm smile as I said, "Come with us. We will take you to a safe place, far away from those pirates."
They were happy to hear that but then remembered the adult elves and Elfa asked with concern, "What about them? Won't they come with us?"
The adult elves were touched, and the elderly male elf approached them, gently stroking the twins' heads with a warm smile adorning his face, got a spirit to survive. "Don't worry, they will come for us soon.
Now, it's the three of you who have to leave because brave children like you deserve it. So, from now on, smile for us, so we can be motivated to meet you again, understood?"
The twins nodded firmly and turned to me. Wide smiles appeared on their faces. "Zent! We're ready!"
Just as the twins finished saying that, one of Varren's subordinates rushed in. "Captain, we have to move now, or we'll be discovered by the pirates," he said.
"Go, take them back to Prince Alcya, and we will find a way to deceive the pirates temporarily," he replied.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Varren nodded at the elderly elf, expressing gratitude. "Thank you, we will definitely come back." And he led us back to the underground path we had taken before.
Fortunately, the pirates were busy extinguishing the raging fire, so most of them were far away from us. However, for some reason, I continued to feel uneasy as if something had been watching us since we left together with the three of them.
However, when I looked back, I found nothing but a dark, poorly lit path. So, I didn't pay too much attention to that feeling and refocused on the mission because we were only a few blocks away from reaching the underground passage.
"Finally! We're almost done!" exclaimed the same young elf who had nearly attacked the drunken pirates.
"Don't say that!" Varren replied to him.
Suddenly, from behind us, one of Varren's subordinates fell to the ground. We stopped and turned to find him now covered in blood, with a bullet hole in his back.
Instinctively, I closed the twins' eyes while trying to figure out the direction of the gunshot. I spotted the one-eyed pirate who had previously kicked Elfi. He walked leisurely with a bottle of beer in his left hand, holding a flintlock pistol in his right hand, now aimed at us.
Varren was about to move forward, but I quickly handed the three elf siblings to him while continuing to cover the twins' eyes and telling them not to look back. "What are you going to do?" Varren asked, confuse.
"Continue the mission. As a captain, you have to lead them. Take Elfi, Elfa, and Elfo with you. I will give a little lesson to that pirate," I replied as I walked away from them.
Not far ahead, the pirate grinned widely, appearing intoxicated with a body that couldn't stay still. He kept swaying from side to side, trying to find balance, which made me doubt if he could aim correctly.
However, considering what we had witnessed before, I realized that it was a foolish thought because he became far more dangerous when drunk.
"Go!" I shouted.
They ran away with the twins crying, begging me to join them, while two people had to drag Elfi to continue their journey.
I felt relieved seeing them go, and then I felt my blood boiling. Remembering the vivid image, what the pirate in front did to Elfi.
"I don't know if you're foolish or simply brainless. You could have still run with them without facing the pirate in front. Are you sure you can defeat him?
He can even use a Flintlock from that distance, let alone up close. You might end up dead before even launching an attack," Z complained and let out a long sigh. "Never mind, just focus on him. You want to go berserk, don't you?"
Of course, I won't forgive those who dare to touch my loved ones.
Why? Do you want to call me foolish too because of that?
Z grinned, "Certainly not, because I can't resist the urge to destroy him immediately myself."
.
.
"Captain! Is it alright to leave him alone there? Doesn't he lack the ability to use magic?" one of the subordinates asked, concerned that the human would not be able to survive.
Varren turned his head back, then gazed straight ahead. "I know, but for some reason, I sense something else within him. He may not possess magic, but I feel there is something hidden within him, waiting to reveal itself.
Perhaps that's why I trust him, while also fearing that something will happen if I don't let him face the pirate."
Suddenly, from behind, a powerful surge of energy erupted, pushing them several steps forward accompanied by a strong gust of wind. When they looked back, not far ahead, they saw a black pillar of light with contrasting purple hues on the outer side.
The pillar soared high into the air, piercing through the dense, swirling dark clouds accompanied by flashes of lightning. Thunder rumbled continuously, as if signaling the imminent arrival of a massive storm.
One thing they didn't realize was that the entire continent felt the impact of that tremendous surge of energy, causing all races to become wary of the presence of something far more terrifying than angels or demons.
For the first time, simultaneously, every pair of eyes witnessed a terrifying pillar of light.
Signaling that the true ordeal had just begun.
.
.
"Zent, how do we face that?" Z asked, observing the scene ahead, causing his hearts to race with the desire to escape.
You know what? I regret acting all cool earlier.
"Damn it, we're really going to die now."