Velt advanced, crushing everything in his path—including the guards who tried to stop him.

  “This is way too easy…” he muttered, crashing through walls as if they were made of paper. “These walls can’t withstand anything.”

  He smashed through one after another until he reached a different section. The cells here were far more reinforced than the previous ones.

  “What is this place…?” he wondered, reverting to his human form.

  He moved forward cautiously.

  Inside, he found several cells. Every single one of them held women—some dressed in simple clothes, like farmers, others wearing garments far more expensive.

  “A separate section… men and women?” he thought.

  Then he heard voices.

  “All right, ladies, it’s mealtime,” a guard said as he approached with a bucket. “Drink this, then it’s bath time. The young lady wants you clean.”

  He left the bucket of water and several rags, but none of the women moved.

  “What now?” the guard growled.

  “Why don’t you just kill us already?” one of them said, her voice breaking. “We’ve been here for months… forced to watch that bitch destroy the minds of our brothers, husbands, and sons.”

  “And?” the guard replied with a twisted grin. “You should be grateful the young lady doesn’t let us touch you.”

  Before he could say anything else, his body was slammed violently against the bars of a cell.

  “Hello,” Velt said with a dangerously calm voice, gripping the guard by the neck. “I have a question. I’m looking for a girl named Rosa. Have you seen her?”

  “W-who are you…?” the guard stammered, struggling uselessly.

  “Nobody important,” Velt replied, tightening his grip and covering the man’s mouth to silence his screams. “Answer me.”

  “H-Hey… who are you?” one of the women asked.

  “Just someone who woke up a little while ago,” Velt replied without looking at them. “Have any of you seen a girl wearing priestess clothes?”

  “Yes,” one answered. “She’s with that bitch. In the cells at the back.”

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  “Thank you.”

  Without another word, Velt smashed the guard into the wall until he went limp.

  “Now… the key.”

  He searched the body, took it, and unlocked the cell.

  “Have you seen my husband?” one woman asked, fear filling her eyes.

  “I don’t know,” Velt replied. “But if he was here, he should be with the other men.”

  Just then, a familiar voice echoed behind him.

  “Hey, Velt.”

  He turned to see Jack approaching.

  “You got here fast.”

  “I followed the trail of destruction you left behind,” Jack replied with a half-smile.

  “Yeah… I got carried away,” Velt admitted.

  “Here.”

  Jack tossed him a sword and a dagger.

  “Careful, the sword’s new,” Velt said, catching it.

  “Whatever,” Jack replied. “Who are they?”

  “The wives and mothers of the men we freed.”

  “I see. Then what?”

  “Take them,” Velt said. “I know who I need to find.”

  “You sure?”

  “Do you doubt me?”

  “No,” Jack said with a grin. “Just don’t die yet. I still owe you a proper thanks.”

  “Relax. I’m about to cause a small disaster.”

  Jack nodded.

  “Ladies, follow me. The others should already be in the forest.”

  The women followed him.

  Velt clenched his fist, feeling rage swell in his chest.

  “Alright… now let’s kill everything that gets in my way.”

  Back to the present

  “W-why is there an orc here…?” Sarha stammered, backing away in terror.

  Velt didn’t waste time. He shattered Rosa’s chains and lifted her into his arms.

  “What do you think you’re doing?!” Sarha screamed, her tone sharp with authority.

  The answer was a brutal backhand that sent her flying into the wall.

  “Velt…? Is that you?” Rosa whispered.

  The orc let out a low growl.

  She understood—and smiled.

  “Guards! Help! An orc!” Sarha screamed in panic.

  Velt burst out of the castle, laughing.

  “This isn’t over, Rosa!” Sarha shouted after them.

  Already deep in the forest, Velt continued forward in his Orc King form, heading toward the village.

  “Velt… I want to apologize,” Rosa said quietly. “My sister was going to do terrible things. I’m truly sorry. I’ll take responsibility if I have to…”

  Velt stopped, gently set her down, and returned to his human form.

  “You don’t have to carry that burden,” he said firmly. “The problem is your sister and Eivan. You shouldn’t be caught in the middle.”

  “Thank you… truly,” Rosa said. “And thank you for coming back for me.”

  “I had to,” Velt replied. “We’re companions. Besides, Dash and Luke would kill me if I didn’t bring you back safely.”

  He paused.

  “Though I might’ve gone a bit too far and hit that woman pretty hard…”

  Rosa let out a genuine laugh.

  “Don’t worry. She deserved it.”

  “Come on,” Velt said. “They’re waiting for us.”

  “W-Where…?” Rosa asked hesitantly.

  “The village. Where else?”

  She hesitated, then followed him.

  A few minutes later, they arrived.

  “Velt!” Ky exclaimed, dropping down from the trees.

  “Hey.”

  “We received the people you sent, but… what happened?”

  “There’s no reasoning with those people,” Velt replied. “Tell everyone to stay inside the village and have the hunters return.”

  Inside, men and women were embracing each other, crying.

  “Looks like everyone’s here,” Velt murmured.

  “Velt!” Dash shouted.

  “Good thing you made it back,” Luke added.

  Before he could respond, someone tackled him to the ground.

  “You came back,” an emotional voice said.

  “Yeah, Rurhy… I promised.”

  She didn’t hesitate and kissed him in front of everyone. Rosa looked away, embarrassed, while Dash and Luke smiled—until Rosa covered their eyes.

  “Welcome home,” Rurhy said.

  “Yeah… I’m home,” Velt replied, returning the kiss with even greater intensity.