Now that they were reunited with the kidnapped children, Ryan had to decide what to do next. Having to play babysitter in such a dangerous place was something he wouldn't like at all.
"Still, I can't just leave and abandon this brat here," Ryan muttered, walking up to the small boy.
"What's your name, brat?"
The boy didn't answer. In fact, Beatrice repeated once more that, ever since she rescued him, he hadn't spoken a single word. Karol approached and gently patted the boy's head; he remained motionless, hugging his knees, leaning against the wall beside the bed.
Then she spoke to him softly while brushing the hair away from his face.
"Hey, tell me your name. Don't you want to go home? We won't hurt you," Karol said gently.
"Since my sister left, I tried talking to him, but he wouldn't answer me either..." Beatrice's brother added.
Ryan sat on the bed, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
'According to Beatrice, a holy knight did this, but why would one make a deal with a demon king? Whoever is behind this... what are they planning?'
"Anyway, I want to leave as soon as possible. My companions must be worried," Ryan said, stepping over to Beatrice.
"What? What is it?" she asked, looking straight at him; she blushed slightly, perhaps remembering what had happened moments earlier.
"I want you to show us the way back to Ehres Valley," Ryan stated.
"So you came from there? That's quite far," Beatrice replied.
Then Karol walked over to them and asked, "How far do you say it is? I've never gone this deep into the demon king's lands before."
The demon thought for a moment. "It will take us at least four days to get there."
'Four days? That's a long time...'
"It will take us? Why do you talk as if you're coming along too? I don't think you have any business there," Karol pointed out, looking at the young demon.
"Oh, well... that's because... I'll just guide you so you don't get into trouble!" Beatrice asserted.
"And why would you help us? Just showing us the way is enough," Ryan added.
"That's because it will be my way of returning the favor for helping me get back to my brother! After this, I won't owe you anything, understand, wretched human?!" the demon grumbled.
She paused briefly and then continued:
"That's why it's better if I go with you: we'll avoid fighting. And I'll make sure to send a message to His Majesty. He'll dispatch capable sentinels to investigate that portal, and if there are more of Rigal's demons or holy knights, they'll handle them."
Karol placed a hand on her chin.
"Sentinels? You mean the demon elite's personal guard?"
"Yes, exactly. In fact, the sentinel duels will be held soon, and I'll be participating to earn my place as Lord Solaris's sentinel," Beatrice replied with a broad smile.
Ryan and Karol exchanged glances.
"She means him, I assume?" Ryan whispered to Karol.
"Yeah... without a doubt..." Karol affirmed.
"Huh? What are you talking about? Do you know Lord Solaris?" Beatrice asked in surprise.
Though it wasn't that they truly knew him, just a day earlier they had seen him arrive nearby on a massive dragon named Irnina.
Ryan clapped his hands together in a loud, sharp snap.
"That doesn't matter right now. For the time being, we're a temporary party, so we need to get moving," he ordered.
"Yes!" Karol replied, and Beatrice nodded in agreement.
Beatrice walked over and pulled a sort of bag from under the bed, taking out several garments from it, resembling hooded trench coats.
"We'll be quite an unusual party. Wear these. If we run into demons, I'll do the talking, and don't worry, no one will bother us," Beatrice affirmed confidently.
'I sure hope so. Now the only thing left is...' Ryan thought as he approached the boy. He was still staring at the floor, his gaze distant.
"Listen, kid," Ryan spoke aloud, his voice deeper than usual.
"We're heading back to Ehres Valley, and I'll make sure to protect you until then. So tell me: what do you want to do? Stay here? Stay like this? Or come with me?"
The boy moved his hand for a moment; then, slowly, he looked up with tears in his eyes.
"I... I want to go back to my family," he cried out.
Both Karol and Beatrice smiled.
"Well, looks like he feels more at ease now," Beatrice commented.
Now they were ready; everyone geared up and put on the cloaks Beatrice had given them. And so they set out. With a single goal.
◇◇◇
The journey was long. But with Beatrice's help, they ran into no trouble and had no need to fight.
And after four days, just as Beatrice had said, they could already see Ehres Valley in the distance.
"Alright, I think I can only accompany you up to this point," Beatrice said.
"Yeah, we can see the town from here. If you get any closer, they'll treat it as a demonic attack. It's strange... teaming up with demons shouldn't be possible, but it was exciting," Karol said.
"I'd say the same; you two are quite interesting despite being humans," Beatrice commented, crossing her arms with a faint smile on her face.
Ryan chimed in with a slight cynical grin.
"What's wrong? Are you going to miss us so much that you're getting sentimental?"
"Of course not!" the young demon snapped.
Ryan smiled and told her:
"Hmm, even so, maybe we'll run into each other again someday."
"If that happens, you must remember that... we'll be enemies," Beatrice replied.
'Enemies, huh? Well, that's only natural. I'm fine with that,' Ryan thought.
"I know. Until then, try not to die," Ryan replied, extending his hand toward her.
Beatrice took his hand. And with a firm handshake, both looked straight into each other's eyes.
"You too, try not to die, Human."
For both of them, it was likely more than just a simple farewell. But neither of them truly knew what might happen if their paths crossed again.
Once they said their goodbyes, Ryan, along with Karol and the boy, headed toward the town.
The guards were thoroughly astonished to see Ryan arrive with two small children.
One was the rescued boy, and the other was Karol, who had already run out of mana and was back in her child form. As a joke or perhaps a punishment, Ryan had suggested she remain in that form to cross the demon king's territory as if they were a family of siblings.
Ryan explained what had happened to the guards, omitting the fact that they had been guided by demons.
He also omitted the fact that, according to Beatrice, holy knights were involved. Whether he had grown to like that young demon or not, he put that aside; the fact remained that he couldn't verify holy knights were at the scene.
And accusing without proof would only invite trouble. But at that moment, he understood that he needed to pay closer attention to human organizations.
The guards said they would pass the news to their superiors, confirm the boy's identity, and look for his family.
In the meantime, the boy would spend the night in the town infirmary. There they would ensure he was fed and cared for while they uncovered his identity.
Due to the concern Ryan had about whether humans were making deals with demons, he asked to be notified once they found the boy's parents.
Even if those guards turned out to be allied with a demon, now that Ryan had insisted on personally learning about the boy's family, they wouldn't be able to make a move easily.
Still, that was just a precaution; it wasn't that he outright suspected the guards, but it was better to remain cautious.
Ryan thought about taking him along, but he didn't know if he would find Helen and Mirian at the inn or if some problem would arise along the way.
Besides, the town infirmary could care for the boy far better after everything he had been through.
So he decided to leave him in the care of the guards and the infirmary staff, agreeing to come back to visit him in the morning or upon being notified.
Once Ryan left the boy in the guards' care, he quickly headed to the tavern along with Karol.
It was already night; in fact, very late.
When he pushed open the tavern doors, there at a table in the back was Helen, and across from her, Mirian.
Both of them had several bottles of liquor in front of them.
Helen's eyes were bloodshot and red.
"Ryan is such a bastard! He dared to abandon us..." the heroine sobbed while drinking.
Mirian drank another glass. Then she spoke as well:
"I can't believe he left us... After everything he did to us... He's an idiot!"