Faces of the surrounding guild members twisted in various reactions.
"Y-You…! How did you get there?!"
"H-He stabbed Young Master Julien!"
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
SHKKK—!!
Without responding to their growls, Eren stabbed the shoulder of the so-called Young Master Julien with another dagger that appeared in his left hand.
"…!"
Julien's body twitched in pain, but he couldn't utter a single sound, nor could he move.
Everyone in the surroundings froze at the sheer ruthlessness displayed so casually before them.
"Open the exit."
Eren spoke directly, his voice deep and altered from original voice, completely ignoring the twitching body of Julien in his grasp.
The whole hall fell into a deep silence, shaken by the sheer audacity of the man before them.
Not only had he broken their Young Master's legs earlier, but now he had taken him hostage so effortlessly, especially in front of everyone.
This is the biggest humiliation they have ever faced.
A man in full plate armor, holding a shield in his left hand and a mace in his right, stepped forward.
"Release our Young Master right now… You have no way to escape. Be smart and surrender yourself…"
SHK—!
Without giving the man even a glance, Eren calmly pulled the dagger out of Julien's chest in a single motion.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Eren then placed the dagger against Julien's neck as he repeated,
"Open the exit."
"Y-You…!"
The armored man couldn't believe the disrespect he was receiving.
A mere Tier 2 treating him like dirt made his blood boil, enough to smash the assassin's skull with his mace, but gritting his teeth, he held himself back.
"Vice Guild Master… the dagger this demon is using seems to have a powerful curse-inflicting effect. I can sense Young Master Julien's pulse getting weaker as time passes…"
The Tier 3 sorcerer spoke in a hurried tone, making the shield-bearing man's face tighten.
"What the hell are you thinking? Do you believe you can escape after killing our Young Master?"
Julien's skin had already turned slightly purple, his eyes rolling upward, indicating he was about to pass out.
But the armored man spoke again, forcing calm into his voice,
"Everyone here has seen your face… and they will remember you forever. Stop wasting our time and surrender yourself…"
He tried to create the impression that Julien's life wasn't worth letting Eren escape, but the expressions of the sorcerer and the others said otherwise.
Eren's lips curled slightly as he leaned closer and muttered into Julien's ear,
"It seems no one gives a fuck about your life…"
At that exact moment, his grip tightened on the dagger, raising it toward Julien's neck.
"OKAY! STOP!"
The dagger emitted a dangerous green aura as it was about to reach the neck, but it stopped mid-motion upon hearing the desperate shout.
"We will open the gate…"
Eren just threatened a little and there was no calm left on the face of the shield-bearing man as he spoke hastily.
"Once we open the exit, will you release our Young Master Julien?"
There was no more pretense maintained.
Eren's lips twitched at the complete change in attitude as he replied calmly,
"I don't care whether this guy lives or not… I just want to leave…"
The man and Eren looked at each other silently for a moment before he ordered his subordinates,
"Open the gates!"
"Y-Yes, sir…"
Seeing that no one objected to the man's orders, Eren calmly dragged the berserker's body, which hadn't moved since the moment he was stabbed.
Blood was splattered everywhere as Eren moved forward, vigilantly scanning everyone's movements.
"Y-You…!!"
Some of them, seeing the gruesome scene of a bleeding body being dragged so disrespectfully, were stunned beyond belief.
Members stood in every direction around Eren, their eyes fixed on Julien's barely conscious body.
One dagger rested against his throat, while the other continuously emitted an ominous aura ready defend any surprise attack.
All guild members formed a wide, net-like formation, preventing Eren from escaping, yet not daring to provoke him while Julien's life remained in his hands.
Eren was actually surprised that no one had tried to sneak attack him all this time, but he still maintained his vigilance.
'No one taking a risk of losing him…'
He was silently pleased with his decision to choose him as a hostage.
When Eren arrived at the hall of the main gate, a group of guild members was already positioned near the far end.
Eren remained at the center, watching as the steel gate began to open.
Clank…
One of the guild members placed his hand on a locking mechanism.
CHKK—!
The first seal disengaged.
A dull metallic vibration echoed through the hall.
More and more locks were released before the massive gate slowly swung open, dust falling from its edges.
All dungeons monitored by the guild had such security measures, ensuring not only that monsters from the wilderness couldn't breach the walls, but also, in the worst-case scenario, preventing monsters from escaping the dungeon and damaging the surrounding ecology.
"The exit is open now… release him—huh?!"
The moment the dust cleared, everyone looked toward where Eren had been standing.
But only Julien lay there, bleeding, his body pale and lifeless.
Eren's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"QUICK!! Heal Young Master!"
The first to respond was the sorcerer, urging the healers to treat Julien, while the Vice Guild Master looked around vigilantly.
"Where did he go?!"
"Sir! We were keeping our eyes on him the entire time, but… he simply vanished without any trace!"
"What?!… CLOSE THE GATE—!"
The Vice Guild Master immediately gave the order, but stopped midway as he looked around sharply.
"…When did he use his stealth?"
One of the members spoke in a hesitant tone,
"The exact moment the door opened, sir…"
"Vice Guild Master… we think he already escaped…"
The man's eyes turned bloodshot upon hearing that.
His hands clenched tightly in anger.
"Damn it…! We let that traitor escape… This is utter humiliation! Inform everything that happened here to the Association immediately… I will personally inform the Guild Master…"
"Yes, sir!"
The surrounding members responded at once.
The man gave one last glance at the entrance before his gaze shifted to Julien, who was now letting out painful cries.
Meanwhile,
Eren, who had already transformed into the Crescent Fang Wolf, was running at full speed.
He only stopped after crossing over a hundred kilometers, gasping heavily for air.
"Huff… haa… that was freaking scary… I'm never going to do that again…"
His gaze then landed on his hands, which were covered in thick red blood.
His eyes twitched at the sight as a wave of complicated emotions surfaced in his heart.
"This is… really sucks…"