Aelina sat quietly on the animal hide. Before sleeping, the sallow-faced woman had tied her wrists together with rope. She heard familiar footsteps growing closer. She couldn’t help but glance worriedly at the woman beside her—sound asleep. The footsteps stopped. The tent flap slowly lifted. Fro ducked down and crept in cautiously, his chainmail giving a faint clink. She held her breath. Freedom had come too easily.

Just as Fro’s torso entered, the sallow-faced woman jolted awake—more alert than a hound. She grabbed a short knife beside her and sprang upright. “Who’s there?”

The young Elf froze, sword gripped tight, eyes wide. Aelina burned with urgency. Luckily, while showing the Elf her power earlier, she’d deciphered the neck collar’s lock. She’d secretly crafted a key and hidden it under the hide. She twisted off the collar, seized the chain, looped it swiftly around the woman’s neck, and yanked tight—choking her to the ground. The woman clawed at the chain, struggling fiercely.

Gagged sounds choked from her throat. But Aelina’s strength was small; the chain loosened. She looked up at the stunned Elf and gnashed her teeth. “Hurry up and kill her!”

Fro snapped out of his daze. He thrust his sword—plunging it into the woman’s stomach. It didn’t kill her instantly. Like a cornered beast, she rolled hard, knocking Aelina over. She broke free from the chokehold and screamed, “Help! Help! Something’s happened!”

The killing blow came belatedly. The Elf pierced her chest. Her rough hands clutched his blade, eyes wide.

Chaos erupted in the camp. Frantic footsteps. Wooden racks toppling. Harelip Durant’s shouts: “Get up! You lazy pigs! Someone’s messing with my treasures!”

Fro panicked, but Aelina’s calm infected him. She reached out. Fro instantly handed her the magical handle. She stared at him like he was an idiot. “First, cut the ropes on my wrists.”

“It’s too dark. I can’t see,” Fro stammered.

“Sigh.” Aelina sighed. How could this Golden Ape be so stupid? “Grip your sword tight. I’ll bring my hands to it.”

Obediently, Fro gripped his blade. The sharp edge sliced the ropes instantly.

“Let’s go!” He grabbed the girl’s wrist.

“Wait. I’ll ‘close the door’ first.”

Aelina could see in darkness. She raised the Molecular Reconstructor. A blue beam shot toward the tent flap. The grayish-yellow hide fused shut. She’d “stitched the door.”

“Then how do we get out?”

“Idiot. I’ll make another door.”

But Aelina didn’t rush. She decomposed the hide on the ground, crafting soft leather gloves. She put them on.

Outside, uproar grew. Durant’s voice neared. The tent flap yanked violently, shaking the whole structure. “Sallow-face! What’s wrong?”

“Damn it! Why can’t I get in?”

Fro watched Aelina leisurely donning gloves. “Aelina, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!”

“Don’t be afraid. Just follow me.” She grabbed Fro’s wrist. The Molecular Reconstructor carved a new door in the tent wall. She pulled him out.

People bustled outside, dazed and confused. Pitch-black sky, thick clouds. Aelina spotted two barely alive girls tied to peculiar wooden frames. Covered in wounds, legs spread apart, a milky fluid oozed slowly. Nearby, naked men frantically searched for weapons. In the dark night, they didn’t even notice Aelina and Fro running past.

“Kill them.”

Aelina stopped, pointing.

“Huh? Aren’t we escaping?” Fro hesitated.

“It’s only been one minute forty-eight seconds since discovery. They’re chaotic. Kill a few. Create more chaos.” Her voice turned icy. “Kill them.”

“For the Queen!”

Fro gripped his sword with both hands. He charged with a battle cry. One naked man didn’t react—his head chopped off. Another clumsily raised a knife but couldn’t block the Elf’s slash. The blade cut from shoulder to belly. He screamed, swinging wildly. The Elf kicked him down. A third exchanged blows—then took a sword to the head, collapsing with a shriek.

Aelina wasn’t idle. The Molecular Reconstructor emitted pale blue light, decomposing all metal weapons on the ground.

Fro burned with battle spirit. He scanned for the next enemy. Aelina called out, “Quick! Follow me!” She reached for the Elf. He froze a moment, then reached back. She grasped his hand and ran.

The Reconstructor’s glow shone like a lighthouse. The confused pursuers instantly locked on. Durant shouted furiously, “Quick! You useless idiots! East! By the wagons!”

Aelina knew this makeshift camp like her own home. She pulled Fro around tents. Each time, pursuers passed just one tent away. Sometimes, she mimicked Durant’s voice perfectly: “Quick! Idiots! Behind you! Stop them!”

Next, they passed a tent. Mercenaries halted, torches in hand, staring in astonishment as the pair ran by.

The camp descended into chaos. Aelina’s scheme worked. Dazed men rose at screams, thinking it an attack. Seeing runners around corners, they slashed blindly. Some even opened dog cages. Mad barks and screams of the bitten added to the uproar.

They plunged into the dark forest. Frost-covered leaves crunched underfoot. Dead trees guarded their path. A hillside blocked the chaotic camp behind—dotted with firelight. Durant’s furious voice echoed far back: “I’ll catch you, bastard!”

After an hour of running, they stopped.

Fro panted heavily, leaning against a spruce, sword plunged into the earth. Above, dark clouds parted, revealing twin moons. He looked up at the exquisitely beautiful girl before him. Moonlight haloed her pure silver hair. Her flawless face seemed otherworldly.

At least she wasn’t even breathing heavily.

“I can’t believe we escaped,” he said, pale-faced. “Durant’s notoriously vengeful. I hope he never finds us.”

“I ran six thousand seven hundred eight steps,” she said. “That’s 2884.4 meters. He can’t catch us.”

“By the way—when did you get that backpack?”

A bulging brown leather backpack sat on her shoulders.

“Just made it. Holds 3.69 kilograms of iron, cloth, and leather.” She glared coldly at Fro. “Elf. Stand straight. I have one more thing to do.”

“Huh?”

The Elf straightened—and took a punch to the face. “This is for selling me!”

Fro clutched his left cheek. The next punch slammed his right. “This is for your wandering hands!”

“And this one—”

“Enough!”

Fro grabbed Aelina’s fist, glaring into her star-like eyes. Her fluffy ears stood rigid with anger. “We’re even! Your coffin crushed my father’s warhorse, Thunder! And my packhorse—carrying everything I owned!”

“Mere trifles.”

*Mere trifles? Do you know it was my only hope? Only a victorious return could let me marry my beloved and save my family. I trained swordsmanship for that conscription order. They said my human blood couldn’t wield an Elf’s blade—my father died proving it. I conquered the examiners. My family worked day and night, spent everything for tack and a packhorse. My sister suffers illness—they all hoped for my return. And you call it trifles?*

All this was Fro’s internal monologue. He didn’t shout it. He only moved his lips. For some reason, facing this jade-pure girl, he couldn’t complain. Perhaps it was pride...

“I’ll spare the last punch. I apologize.” He lowered his voice. “I’m sorry, Aelina. I shouldn’t have sold you to slavers.”

The cat-like ears on her head drooped.

“Then I’ll reluctantly accept your apology.” She retracted her fist. This Golden Ape’s repentance was decent. *Might as well have him guard my harem later.*