65 years.
That is how long Nara had waited to hear those magic words: “I am here to rescue you.” Those words struck like a hammer hitting a nail.
It was the phrase anyone in her situation would want to hear.
However, never in her wildest dreams did she think she would hear those words from a bat.
Her eyes snapped open, and for a moment, she expected a human to be standing before her. But all she saw was nothing.
[Don’t make it obvious. Just think of what you want to say, and I will hear everything,] Kent said, causing the lady, who was now looking around frantically, to stop.
She then looked back at the bat.
[Is that you?] she asked, and for a moment, she nearly gave up hope. Talking to a bat should be the last thing someone in her situation should be doing.
One could even say she had finally lost her mind. Kent could see it in her eyes. She was losing it, so he did the only logical thing and brought her back to reality.
[Your baby sister Mara sent me.]
Those were the magic words meant to bring her hope. In fact, the moment she heard the name Mara, she became lively, almost standing up.
[Lady, please, we wouldn’t want your captor to know something is wrong. So just sit there and let’s talk.] Kent was being cautious.
Of course, the lady obeyed him and remained sitting.
[Is Mara really the one who sent you? How is she? Where is she now? Please tell me she has become the greatest dancer the world has ever seen.]
The lady became so happy that if she were to die, she wouldn’t complain. Hearing about what she had been holding on to for all these years, her life had finally gained some hope and joy.
[Well, Mara is alive and living. But she wasn’t exactly living, considering when you apparently died, she followed in your footsteps and became a swordsman just like you so she could learn what truly happened to you.
However, don’t worry. She is safe and has become someone you will be proud of the moment you are out of here.
In fact, I think you should be happy. She never forgot about you, for she never for one moment believed you died. Your sister really believes in you, lady.]
Kent’s words brought a smile to her lips, but the pain in her eyes said it all. She craved to see her sister.
[So she stopped dancing so she could one day come and rescue me? What a silly girl.]
[She, indeed, is one silly little girl. Be sure to spank her when you are out of this place. I can even help you if you don’t mind,] Kent said. He probably would have been smiling if he were in his human form.
[I will be sure to make that happen,] the lady said, smiling slightly as tears fell down her face. Kent said nothing for a few seconds.
[Tell me, Nara, who was the one that captured you and made everyone believe you died?] Kent asked. He knew it was the sect master, but he wanted confirmation.
For all he knew, the sect master was long dead, and someone else was portraying him. So, he needed confirmation first.
Most captors tend to reveal their true colours to their captives, so she was the best person to answer this question.
[It’s the sect master. He was the one who captured me years ago and turned me into his blood bank,] she said, clenching her fist.
[Gate Master Mara was right. Looks like that bastard is the evil practitioner all along,] Kent said.
[Wait, Mara is the gate master?] The lady, however, was focused on something else. Hearing Kent call her sister “gate master” made her raise an eyebrow.
[Like I said, she has become someone you will be proud of. Because of you, she trained and kept training every single day. Right now, she is a sword sage—and a powerful one at that.]
[I knew it. I knew she was talented, but she just hated violence, so she chose to become a dancer. If only I had seen this day coming, I would have joined her and lived a more peaceful life.]
She doesn’t need a genius to tell her that the innocent Mara she knew wasn’t the same innocent girl. Now, Gate Master Mara is as ruthless as they come.
That is what happens when something important to such an innocent person is taken from them. They become the most ruthless people.
[Don’t worry; when you are rescued, she will have her peace back and more. Now, let’s talk about the sect master. Can you tell me everything you know? Anything at all is okay,] Kent asked.
[He is an evil practitioner, alright. However, he is also a mage who, for some reason, has the ability to create abominations.
The last time I saw one of these abominations was 20 years ago, but even back then, when the sect master was just a Peak Root Transcendent, the abomination was a Peak Root Great Sage.
So it can only be assumed that now that he has reached Root Ascension—and from his aura a couple of weeks ago, he was already past level 5—his minions wouldn’t be far behind either.
However, over the past years, I have been analyzing loads of what I managed to gather, and from it all, I can tell that if the cauldron filled with blood were destroyed, something bad would happen to him.
Also, if all the beasts in the cages were killed, the same would happen to him.]
Nara said quite a lot, and from all she said, Kent could tell the lady wasn’t someone simple. Despite the depressing situation she was in, she never lost hope.
She had been studying him from her cage, and from the look of it, she had gathered a lot. Someone like that is worth having as a teammate, a friend and perhaps, a lover.
They will never pull you done.
[Gate Master Mara wasn’t exaggerating when she said you are a one-of-a-kind genius. Now, I can see why.] Kent turned toward the next cage beside her.
[Is that the disciple of the Spear Gate Master?] he asked.
[Yes.]
[I see. This is good enough. At least she is alive, also. Now, I have to investigate this place more and find the best possible way to rescue you and this lady.]
Kent spent close to 30 minutes talking to her, and as the quest demanded, he gave her some hope to hold on to.
The lady perhaps only wanted to hear more about her baby sister, so Kent, who knew only a little, had to exaggerate a few details.
Obviously, he didn’t hold back and told her his desire to make her sister his woman one of these days. The lady just smiles in her head and assures him she will help him when she is free.
Kent thanked her for that. He then planned to let Gaia and Akira go bananas and create one of the best vacation towers where he would allow her and her sister to spend months together.
When he was done, he went deeper into the cave and started investigating things.