Chapter 14: A Level 100 Monster?

Words : 1056 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Doran doesn't budge. Instead, he crosses his arms, tilting his head slightly with a knowing smirk. "Oh really?" he says, his voice laced with mock curiosity. "As far as I know, these two women are Lord Vylan's slaves. In fact, we were tasked by Lord Vylan himself to deliver them to someone." The merchant stiffens, his hands twitching nervously. Doran leans in slightly, lowering his voice just enough for the merchant to hear. "I wonder why they're here now, in your possession. Should we ask Lord Vylan about it? I'm sure he'd be very interested to hear how his property ended up back in Misorn." The mention of Vylan's name visibly shakes the merchant. His face pales, a chill running down his spine. Everyone in the city knows of Vylan's cruelty and paranoia—being on his bad side is a death sentence. "N-No need for that," the merchant stammers, his voice trembling. "I... I just found them wandering outside the city gates. No owners in sight. So, as a merchant, I... I had to pick them up. That's all." Doran raises an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Is that so?" "Yes!" the merchant says quickly, his desperation evident. "I didn't know they were connected to Lord Vylan. Please, take them. I don't want any trouble." Doran steps back, giving the merchant a long, cold stare before nodding. "Smart choice." The merchant hurriedly unlocks the cage, motioning for the women to step out. They hesitate, but with Doran's reassuring nod, they climb down. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood," Doran says, his tone sharp. "But if I ever see you with Lord Vylan's property again, I won't be so forgiving." The merchant bows repeatedly, his voice shaking. "Thank you, sir. I promise it won't happen again!" Doran turns to Lina and the rest of the group, gesturing for them to follow. "Let's go." As they walk away, Lina leans in and whispers, "That was intense. Do you think he actually believed you?" Doran smirks. "Doesn't matter. Vylan's name is enough to scare anyone straight." The two women glance nervously at their saviors but remain silent, their The two women glance nervously at their saviors but remain silent, their expressions a mix of fear and gratitude. Lina sighs softly. "What do we do now?" "We'll figure it out," Doran replies, his gaze fixed ahead. "But for now, we keep moving. Misorn's a dangerous place, especially for them." The group disappears into the bustling crowd, leaving the shaken merchant behind. Later, the group secures a quiet room at an inn near the edge of Misorn City. Doran instructs the other three members to leave, leaving only him, Lina, and the two rescued women in the room. The room is simple but clean, with a wooden table in the center and a few chairs. The women sit close together, still tense and wary. Lina moves first, grabbing a loaf of bread and some dried meat from her pack. "You should eat something," Lina says softly, placing the food in front of them. The women hesitate, exchanging a glance before cautiously reaching for the bread. They eat slowly, their movements careful as if expecting the offer to be taken away. Doran leans against the wall, arms crossed, watching them silently. Lina pulls up a chair and sits across from the women, her expression kind but curious. "What are your names?" Lina asks gently. The first woman, a slender figure with tangled blonde hair and bruises on her wrists, looks up hesitantly. "My name is Seria," she says in a voice barely above a whisper. The second woman, taller and with sharp green eyes that contrast her haggard appearance, speaks more firmly. "I'm Mari." As the silence stretches in the room, Lina clears her throat, breaking the tension. Her voice is soft, almost hesitant. "I know you probably hate us for what we did... handing you over to those monsters." Mari shakes her head, her green eyes meeting Lina's. "We don't," she says firmly. "Though... we were hoping—praying—that someone would save us. When you left, we thought it was the end for us. The things we've heard about orcs..." She trails off, her voice trembling. "They say being captured by them is like living in hell." Lina winces, guilt flickering across her face. "What kind of slaves were you?" Lina asks, changing the subject slightly, though her voice is tinged with sadness. Seria speaks this time, her voice quiet and hesitant. "We worked in the mines. It was... exhausting. Day and night, no rest. They didn't care if we were sick or hurt." Doran, who has been silent, finally steps forward. His voice is low but direct. "How did you manage to flee from that monster?" Mari's jaw tightens, and she glances at Seria before responding. "We didn't flee," Mari says, her tone flat. "That orc... he died." The air in the room seems to still, and both Doran and Lina stare at Mari in shock. "He died?" Doran repeats, his voice sharp with disbelief. Seria nods slowly, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and memory. "It was chaos," Mari continues, her tone steady but her expression dark. "He got into a fight with someone—another monster. I don't know who or what it was, but they killed him. Slice him apart like he was nothing. We were chained nearby, but when the orc went down, we saw a chance and took it. We broke free and ran." Lina leans forward, her brows furrowed in concern. "Do you know who or what killed him? Could it have been another orc?" Mari shakes her head. "I don't think so. Whatever it was... it moved too fast, faster than any orc. And it's wearing a robe, so we can't even tell what it looks like." Doran exhales deeply, his eyes narrowing as he processes the information. "Something strong enough to take out a level 80 orc." Doran's thoughts race as he leans against the wall, arms crossed. 'A level 100 monster? The only creatures capable of taking down a level 80 orc easily, would be level 100 or higher.'

Chapter 14: A Level 100 Monster?

Comments (0)