The group appeared from among the trees and bushes, slowly and with extreme caution. Dan was sitting near the fire on a large tree trunk, calm, looking at them with cold eyes. The girls stopped when they saw him and were shocked. Before them was a young man with strong masculine features, long sky-blue hair reaching his waist, and clear blue eyes that were cold and expressionless. His appearance was strangely striking, and around him was a momentum that seemed powerful and heavily dominant. Due to Dan's increasing strength, an aura of pressure emanated from him unintentionally, filling the air around him, making the girls feel heavy.
After moments of awkward silence, one of the girls leading them stepped forward. She was slightly taller than the rest, with dark brown hair and determined eyes despite the obvious exhaustion. She bowed respectfully, and the girls behind her did the same. "Hello sir, my name is Rin. I and the girls with me have been lost in the forest for a long time. We beg you to receive us even for just a short period. Please." Her voice sounded tired but clear and direct without any beating around the bush.
Dan watched quietly, slightly admiring her direct style. She didn't try to lie or manipulate; she just said what she wanted clearly. Moments of silence passed. Dan didn't move or speak; he just looked at them with those cold blue eyes. The girls began to feel more nervous. Some of their hands started to tremble. Then finally, Dan spoke in his calm, deep voice. "What is the reason for you entering such a wild area?"
The girls raised their heads and looked at each other with sad features. It was clear that the question triggered painful memories. After a few moments, Rin answered in a sad, low voice. "In fact, sir, we escaped from a slave trader while he was transporting us." She paused for a moment, swallowing with difficulty, then continued. "His caravan was raided during the journey, and many girls like us fell. We were able to escape in the chaos." She looked at the ground, her voice becoming sadder. "But after we entered a wild area, we lost our way for days. One of our companions died due to an attack by wolves." Tears began to gather in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. "So after days of wandering, we saw smoke rising and came toward it. To find you."
Dan remained silent, analyzing her words. Slave traders. A raid. Escape. Death. It sounded like a tragic story, but it wasn't uncommon in this world. Slavery exists; human trafficking is a harsh reality. These girls were victims of this system. But this wasn't his problem. Dan thought about what he would do. There were limited options.
The first option: to move from this place to another and leave them here. But this would be annoying. He had spent years building this place, digging the hole, creating pens, and making it his ideal home. He didn't want to abandon all of this. The second option: to kick them out. But this would also be a problem. If he kicked them out and they somehow survived and reached civilization, they would talk about him. About the man with blue hair who lives alone in the mountains. He doesn't want any rumors about him to reach the outside world. Especially since he will live for a very long time thanks to the Vitality Seal—at least one hundred and eighty years, and maybe more with improvements. Dan doesn't want any trouble from some madmen who might suspect he is immortal if they know his current location.
The third option: eliminate them here. It was the simplest solution. There would be no witnesses, and no information about him would get out. But he saw it as a slightly extreme option. Yes, Dan was selfish and didn't care much for others' lives, but killing twelve ordinary girls without a real reason... was too much. So he preferred to avoid unnecessary killing. The fourth option: receive them here, at least for now, and see what he will do with them in the future.
The girls looked toward the striking young man with extreme tension. They were exhausted, afraid, and desperate. They didn't know they had just survived a death sentence—that one of the options in the man's mind before them was to eliminate them all. The silence extended and became suffocating. Some girls began to tremble from cold, fear, and exhaustion. Then finally, after long moments of thinking, Dan spoke. "Fine. You can stay for now."
The girls breathed a sigh of relief. A wave of relief washed over them, almost tangible. Some fell to their knees from exhaustion and sudden joy. Tears began to flow from most of their eyes—tears of relief and gratitude. Rin herself, who had been trying to stay strong the whole time, felt her knees trembling. "Thank you... thank you, sir..." she said in a choked voice.
Dan looked at them calmly, without expression. Then he stood up, slowly. "There is a river there," he pointed in the direction, "you can drink and wash." After days of hunger, thirst, and wandering. Rin bowed again, deeply this time. "Thank you very much, sir. We are extremely grateful." The girls behind her did the same, bowing respectfully. Some smiled with relief, some cried quietly. They had survived. At least for now, they were safe. And that was all that mattered at this moment.