I finally came to a stop in a shadowy alley, my heart pounding in my chest as I held my breath, desperate not to draw the attention of any guards who might be patrolling nearby. The sounds of battle echoed faintly from where the warrior was fending them off. Was I truly free? Could it be that I would never have to return to that hellish place and waste my days away in captivity? Based on his insistence for me to run, it seemed unlikely that my life was what he sought. But then, how would he find me again?

"So this is where you decided to hide, huh? It's a bit odd to choose an alley for a rendezvous with someone whose intentions you're uncertain of." The familiar voice came from below me. Glancing down, I saw the small black puppy from before, staring up at me with an unnervingly neutral expression.

"If he wanted to harm or kill me, he would've done it when he saw me and realized who I was," I replied, confident in my assessment. "So when is he getting here?" I added, my anxiety growing with each passing second. Even someone as formidable as him must have limits to how many adversaries he could face at once.

"Hopefully soon. If Ashoc isn't careful, he'll run into Ainsworth and his daughter." The puppy responded, its gaze fixed in the direction of the distant screams.

"Why would that be such a bad thing? Aside from fighting and possibly killing the guards, what makes Ashoc encountering them so dangerous? Is he really that stubborn?" I questioned, recalling how calm he had seemed until provoked.

"Long story short, they couldn't come to an agreement that the other found acceptable," it answered, offering no further explanation. How could something so seemingly complex be boiled down to such a simple statement? "That's a bit too short, no?"

"Finished." Another voice called out from my left. Turning, I found myself face to face with the warrior who had saved me. This time, I got a clear look at him. The hood obscured much, but I could see his shoulder-length pink hair, wild and unkempt. His eyes were strikingly different colors—the left a brilliant golden yellow and the right a vibrant red. A large gash-like scar marked his right cheek, and his face bore several other scars, though none as pronounced as the gash.

A necklace hung around his neck, emitting a faint aura of mana. At his waist, two swords dangled, nearly scraping the ground, their identical appearance adding to the strange symmetry. His presence was overwhelming, his aura making it difficult to breathe comfortably. His piercing stare could freeze a B-rank monster in its tracks.

"You... you're free to go," he mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear, and turned to leave.

"That's all? I thought you were hunting down anyone with a connection to demonkind," I called after him, confusion and frustration bubbling up.

"I am, but their victims won't become mine as well," he replied, his expression softening into the same pitying yet sympathetic look he had when he first saw me.

From this angle, I noticed a detail I had previously missed. "Those protrusions in your hood... please tell me you're a dragon," I muttered, a mix of anger and humiliation surging through me. He had to be a dragon; I couldn't bear the thought of feeling grateful to a demon, the very beings who had ruined my home.

"Do you feel mana from me?" he shot back, his tone subtly shifting. Ever since becoming a slave, I had become acutely aware of displeasure, and he was practically radiating it.

"Why? Why would you help me?" I demanded, my anger now overflowing.

"Does it matter?" he replied, not even bothering to meet my eyes.

"It matters to me!" I snapped, my voice rising in frustration. "I need to know why someone like you would go out of your way to save someone like me."

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He paused, turning slightly to face me. "Maybe I see a bit of myself in you. Maybe I just wanted to do something good for once. Does the reason really change anything?" His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—pain, regret, perhaps even a hint of anger.

I opened my mouth to retort, but no words came out. What could I say to that? His reasoning, vague as it was, resonated with something deep inside me. I felt my anger deflate, replaced by a confusing mix of gratitude and suspicion.

"Well, what now?" I asked, my voice softer, almost defeated.

"Now, you find a way to survive on your own," he said, turning to leave once more. "I've done my part."

"Wait!" I called after him. "I... I don't know how to survive out here. I've been a slave for so long, I don't even remember how to live freely."

He paused, his back still turned to me. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of my words hanging heavily between us. Finally, he sighed, the sound filled with a mixture of weariness and resignation.

"Then learn," he said, his voice steady but not unkind.

"But where do I even start?" I asked, feeling a surge of desperation. "I don't know where to go, what to do. I have no one and nothing."

He turned to face me fully, his mismatched eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me shiver, yet again giving me the feeling that he wasn't looking at me but at something much more distant. "That makes two of us."

"Then why don't we stick together? That way, we'll both have someone to help us when needed. To talk to..." I trailed off, this time I was the one not willing to make eye contact.

He nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Take this," he said, reaching into his cloak and pulling out a small and worn dagger. "It's a dagger that I bought shortly before starting my journey. It will help you in times of danger." I took the dagger, feeling its warmth. "Why are you giving me this?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Consider it a token of faith," he said. "A reminder that you're not as alone as you think."

With that, he turned and started to disappear into the shadows, leaving me standing in the alley, clutching the dagger. The small puppy, who had been watching the exchange silently, stepped closer, its eyes reflecting a wisdom beyond its appearance.

"He's right, you know," the puppy said softly. "He won't admit it, but he'll help you whenever and however you need it, so long as he's aware of it. You should've heard how he basically ordered me to find you as soon as you ran."

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over me. "Thank you," I said to the puppy, my voice steady.

The puppy wagged its tail slightly, a glimmer of amusement in its eyes. "Just don't make a habit of thanking talking animals," it said. "People might start to think you're crazy."

A small laugh escaped me, the first genuine one in what felt like forever. "I'll keep that in mind," I said, feeling a spark of hope ignite within me.

But as the warrior's figure began to vanish into the darkness, a sudden resolve solidified within me. I couldn't just let him leave like this. Not when he was the only one who had shown me any kindness, the only one who seemed to understand the depths of my despair as well as save me from a portion of it. Should being a demon really deter me from befriending him? After all, he wasn't the one who'd razed my town.

Without thinking further, I ran after him. "Wait!" I called out again, louder this time. "I'm coming with you."

He stopped and turned, his expression a mixture of surprise and frustration. "I told you to find your own way," he said, his voice stern. "It's too dangerous."

"I don't care," I said, my voice trembling but determined. "I've been in danger my whole life. I would rather face it with someone who understands what it's like than be alone and drown in self-pity."

His eyes softened, but the firmness in his stance remained. "You don't understand what you're asking for. The path I'm on is not to be followed lightly."

"Maybe not," I replied, stepping closer. "But I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of running. If I stay, I'll be caught again. I know it. But with you, I have a chance. Even if it's a small one, it's better than none. I'd rather die on an adventure than continue living the life I have been."

He studied me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But don't say I didn't warn you. This isn't going to be easy."

"I don't expect it to be," I said, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. "But thank you."

He nodded, turning once more to lead the way. "Stay close and keep quiet," he instructed. "We have a long journey ahead of us."

As I followed him back onto a side street, the puppy trotting beside me, I felt a strange sense of peace. "I probably should've asked before insisting to join you, but what's the goal of this journey of yours?" I asked, curious as to how dangerous any journey could be for someone as seemingly powerful as him. "My goal is the death of every single demon, especially the demon kings. No exception."

"What?"