Inside the camp, the campfire had long since died down, leaving only a faint warmth.
Rudeus gently pushed open the gate of the earthen castle.
Eris, Roxy, Elinalise, and Talhand were all still fast asleep.
He didn't intend to wake them this time.
After all... everything is unknown at every step now.
Besides, it's just saving a few children.
For me now, it's not a difficult thing.
However, there are some things that I need to confirm in person.
" Yanli, lead the way."
"Understood, Master."
The next second.
Magic gathers beneath your feet.
A flying sword appeared.
Rudeus stood atop the sword, transforming into a streak of light as he swiftly traversed the night forest.
The flying sword sliced through the air without alerting any demons.
Because after sensing the aura emanating from me, those beings hidden in the darkness didn't even have the courage to approach.
Not long after.
Yanli's voice rang out again.
"Master, we've arrived."
Rudeus stopped his flying sword and landed in a dense forest.
Not far ahead, there is a building hidden deep in the forest.
It looks like just an ordinary wooden house.
But through his Perception, he could clearly perceive the life force emanating from within.
as well as...
Several emotions of extreme fear.
It seems this is where those thieves hid the orc cubs.
Rudeus slowly approached.
Before I even got close to the door, I could hear people talking inside.
"Those little guys should fetch a good price."
"Especially that big one."
"I heard it's a legendary Sacred Beast. If we hadn't been so lucky this time, we would never have encountered such a thing."
"Haha, with this money, we won't have to do such dangerous things anymore."
I could hear laughter coming from inside.
Rudeus's gaze gradually turned cold.
These people...
They seemed completely unaware of what they had done.
They treated several innocent children as commodities.
He was even proud of it.
" Yanli."
"Owner."
How many people are inside?
36 people.
Where is the child?
"Seven beast cubs."
Are there any injured people?
A brief silence.
"One of the girls... has already lost all life."
Rudeus paused for a moment.
Then he sighed softly.
It seems we were still a step too late...
However... that's not necessarily true.
He pushed open the door.
"Who?!"
The thieves immediately became alert.
However, they couldn't even see the person's face clearly.
A golden light shot out from beside Rudeus.
That was a dagger.
An ordinary dagger.
But enveloped in divine magic, it has become a blade of judgment.
The next second.
A golden light flashed.
The first thief stood frozen in place.
He looked down at his body.
There are no wounds.
There was no blood.
Only countless tiny golden specks of light slowly drifted from the surface of his body.
"No... it's impossible..."
Accompanied by the last sentence.
His body completely transformed into particles of light.
It dissipated into the air.
This scene was so beautiful that it didn't even look like a massacre.
It was more like a divine redemption.
"Monster... monster!"
"Run!"
The remaining thieves finally realized what was happening.
However, the next moment...
The golden dagger slashed through the darkness once more.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each flash precisely takes away a sinful life.
There was no unnecessary damage.
The child in the corner was not frightened.
The wall wasn't damaged in the slightest.
In just a few breaths.
All of the dozen or so thieves disappeared.
The room returned to quiet.
Rudeus sheathed his dagger.
They then walked toward the place where the children were being held.
The cell door opened.
The six small figures inside immediately shrank into a corner. Almost every one of them was covered in wounds, and their eyes were full of vigilance.
It's clear these children have experienced far too much fear.
Even if the person in front of them saves them, they cannot immediately believe it.
"It's alright now, the bad guys have all been chased away~"
Rudeus tried to keep his voice down.
The children did not answer.
They just looked at each other cautiously.
Rudeus didn't force them.
They simply redeemed a few sets of clothes that suited them from the system space.
"Put them on first."
The clothes appeared out of thin air in an instant.
The children were all stunned.
They looked at the clean and tidy clothes, then at me.
The fear in his eyes gradually turned into shock.
One of the older orc girls carefully picked up the clothes.
Only after confirming there was no danger was it handed over to the other companions.
soon.
The six children were finally able to put their clothes back on.
However...
One of the locations.
But it remained empty.
Rudeus looked toward the corner.
There was a little girl lying there.
She closed her eyes quietly.
There was no sign of life.
Several children trembled slightly when they saw my gaze.
"She..."
A girl said in a low voice.
"She did it to protect us..."
Her voice was trembling with tears.
Rudeus walked over, knelt down, and checked her condition.
The time since death was not long.
There's still a chance.
"She can come back," Rudeus said calmly.
The children suddenly looked up.
"Really?"
They looked at me, and hope rekindled in their eyes.
Rudeus didn't explain, he just held out his hand.
Golden magic began to gather.
" God-Rank Healing Magic."
Buzz--
Warm light instantly enveloped the entire room.
That wasn't ordinary healing magic.
Rather, it is the power that touches the very essence of life.
Under the shocked gazes of the six children.
The little girl, who had already lost her life, twitched her finger slightly.
Then.
She slowly opened her eyes.
"Huh? Is this heaven?"
Several children rushed over instantly.
Cries and joy mingled together.
Meanwhile, system notifications kept ringing in his mind.
"Bite!"
" Emotion Points increased by 2000."
" Emotion Points increased by 8000."
" Emotion Points increased..."
Seeing their smiles return.
Rudeus simply smiled.
But just then...
A peculiar aura emanated from the other side.
He turned his head; there was a larger cell there.
A huge figure was huddled inside.
It is a giant canine monster.
But unlike ordinary monsters, it possesses extremely high intelligence in its eyes.
Outside the cell, a faint magical barrier covered the area.
"Barrier?"
Rudeus walked closer and took a look.
After confirming that this was just a simple sealing barrier.
The next second.
He reached out and gently tugged at the air.
It was as if they had simply lifted an ordinary piece of cloth.
Click--
The barrier shattered instantly.
The big dog paused for a moment, then excitedly pounced on Rudeus.
The enormous body generated a gust of wind pressure.
However, the next moment...
Two enormous claws pressed against his chest.
His body remained completely still.
"..."
Rudeus looked at the big dog in front of him.
It was stunned.
Then...
It started wagging its tail frantically.
Its appearance was nothing like that of the legendary Sacred Beast.
It looks more like a large dog that has finally met its owner.
"It seems you like me a lot?"
Rudeus chuckled and gave the Sacred Beast a good squeeze of its chubby cheeks.
It was incredibly soft to the touch; my entire palm sank into it.
The Sacred Beast let out a soft growl and approached, as if expressing its approval.
Just then...
A sound suddenly came from afar.
" Rudeus!"
Rudeus turned around and saw Eris running towards him from the forest.
Clearly, she noticed I had left.
"Why did you run out here all by yourself!"
Eris was just about to complain when, in the next second...
Upon seeing the enormous Sacred Beast before her, her eyes widened instantly.
"Uh... what a big dog!"
The Sacred Beast also looked at her, and then...
He actually went over to them on his own initiative.
Eris was stunned.
"Is it not afraid of me?"
I smiled.
"It seems it approves of you too."
Eris happily patted the Sacred Beast's head.
"Perfect timing, you're here." I looked at Eris.
Go and call Roxy and the others over.
"Why?"
Because I think...
Rudeus looked at the Sacred Beast.
"Its people are probably searching for it nearby. They'll definitely treat us to a feast once they find it!"
Eris nodded, then stepped onto her flying sword and disappeared back into the night.
Soon after, everyone gathered again outside the hut and briefly explained the current situation.
As expected, the notification sound of increasing Emotion Points rang out again.
"My goodness! I haven't been back to the Great Forest in so long, when did this adorable big guy appear!?"
Elinalise exclaimed in surprise, and moved closer to the Sacred Beast, intending to pet it, but the Sacred Beast dodged away.
She stood frozen in place, one hand still dangling in mid-air.
However, as the Sacred Beast turned its head, it seemed to suddenly spot some prey and abruptly charged to the side...
"Eek--! Nani? Nani?"
Roxy was suddenly knocked to the ground by the enormous object. Before she could react, a wet sensation washed over her...
"Aaaaaah!!"
"No!! You can't lick there!!"
Roxy screamed and struggled.
Upon seeing this, a hint of jealousy appeared on Elinalise's face.
"Why does that big dog like Roxy so much? I wish I could be played with like that too!"
Rudeus quickly stopped the Sacred Beast's actions, such as pinning Roxy to the ground and licking her wantonly... even if she's a female dog, it's not allowed!
He led the Sacred Beast to the center of the forest and Sacred Beast stroked its head, saying:
" My Sacred Beast~ Your people are searching for you, so they need you to roar a couple of times."
The Sacred Beast nodded obediently, then raised its head and let out a rapid roar:
"Awooo! Awooo! Awooo!"
Seeing its cries for help, Rudeus quickly stopped it:
"Hey~ Big dog, you have a big mouth, so bark slowly."
The Sacred Beast glanced at me.
Then he tilted his head back.
It emitted a roar that shook the forest.
"Awoo----!"
"Since you're in such a refined mood, I'll naturally oblige." He turned to Eris and said:
"Come on, Eris, shout the slogan with me. You only need to shout the last three words I say."
"Okay!" Eris nodded excitedly.
" Sacred Beast, bark like a dog!"
"Bark like a dog! Bark like a dog!"
"When you encounter troubles, call out!"
"Say it! Say it!"
"Ding-dong chicken! Big dog barking! (A short verse follows!)"
Woof woof woof woof!
The sound traveled far and wide.
The others stared awkwardly at the scene before them, unsure of its meaning.
A moment later.
far away.
A large number of footsteps sounded.
Countless figures rapidly approached.
The trees in the forest kept swaying.
finally.
Several figures with animal ears appeared in sight.
And what they saw at first glance...
It was Rudeus standing beside the Sacred Beast.
And that undeniable aura of holiness emanating from him.
All Orcs.
Everyone stopped in their tracks.