The perspective returns to the wooden cabin.
“Waaah—!”
Under the intermittent whipping, Nuo Ai’er had suffered a lot.
But Stella held back the whole time—since Tina was there, she didn’t use full force. She only used the kind of strength meant for tormenting little girls. Light red marks from the whip scattered across Nuo Ai’er’s fair skin.
Now, though, the whipping was over. No matter how Stella pressed her, Nuo Ai’er, tied in place, kept her eyes down and her lips pursed, refusing to say a single extra word.
Stella had exhausted herself, too. She glanced at this stubborn white-haired little girl and lost all patience.
“Hmph.”
Stella snorted, casually flicked the whip in her hand, and decided not to waste any more time on Nuo Ai’er. She coldly swept her gaze over Tina and Nuo Ai’er, who were bound side by side, and warned:
“Both of you stay put. Wait until I wake up before I interrogate you properly.”
With that, Stella turned, lightly closed the door behind her, and left the two little girls alone in the small cell.
“Whew…”
Nuo Ai’er breathed a sigh of relief and intended to rest for a bit.
But at that moment, Tina beside her moved.
Her delicate fingertips began to twitch. Water-type mana silently gathered in her palm. Soon she compressed her mana into a water blade and used it to cut through the black whip rope binding her wrists.
Free at last, Tina gently flexed her slightly sore wrists.
“That hurts…”
Then she turned and hurried over to Nuo Ai’er.
“Tina?”
Nuo Ai’er was confused.
“Shh…”
Tina pressed a finger to her lips.
“Oh, oh…”
Nuo Ai’er immediately fell silent.
Soon, with Tina’s help, the whip ropes around Nuo Ai’er’s shoulders, waist, and wrists were loosened one by one. Nuo Ai’er’s soft body swayed slightly, then she steadied herself.
“Hah… that was suffocating.”
Before she could recover, a pair of gentle little hands had already lightly touched her back. Cool water-type mana flowed slowly, tenderly enveloping the faint red marks on Nuo Ai’er’s body.
Tina was healing her.
After finishing, Tina looked up at the white-haired little girl in front of her and spoke softly:
“Hurry and go. While Big Sister is still resting… There’s a small window over there that isn’t locked. I’ll help you escape.”
“Oh… sorry, Tina. Sorry for the trouble.”
Nuo Ai’er replied.
Tina smiled lightly at Nuo Ai’er and said:
“Don’t worry. I told you I would repay your kindness.”
From the moment Nuo Ai’er stood in front of her without hesitation, Tina had already made up her mind to help Nuo Ai’er once.
After a pause, Tina added softly, as if to reassure Nuo Ai’er and convince herself:
“I’ve always hated this kind of controlled life. Big Sister Stella has a strong desire to control things. She always likes to push us around on a daily basis.”
“But… no matter what, I’ve been with her for so long that I know one thing very well.”
Nuo Ai’er: “What is it?”
Tina: “No matter how bad her personality is, she never really harms us guild members.”
Hearing that, Nuo Ai’er nodded.
Time was tight. Stella could return at any moment. They didn’t have much time left.
Tina didn’t say any more.
“Quick, I’ll help you climb out the window.”
She took Nuo Ai’er’s soft little hand and hurried over to the small window nearby.
Outside the window was a dense forest—a perfect escape route. But the window was a bit high. For a petite girl like Nuo Ai’er, climbing out alone would be a bit difficult.
Just then, Tina came over to Nuo Ai’er, crouched down, and let Nuo Ai’er gently step onto her shoulder. The two little girls’ small bodies stacked together like that, successfully lifting Nuo Ai’er to the height of the window.
“It’s okay. I can jump down.”
Nuo Ai’er was about to flip out the window.
But Tina suddenly raised her hand, pulled a small lightning pattern pendant from her pocket, and tossed it to Nuo Ai’er.
“Wait, take this.”
Tina instructed seriously:
“This is a self-defense tool Big Sister Stella gave me before. Its effect is lightning summoning. If you encounter danger, crush it, and it will instantly call down a lightning bolt to strike the enemy. It’s one-use only, but it’s better than nothing. Keep it for protection.”
She even gave her a self-defense item.
“Tina…”
Nuo Ai’er was a little moved.
“Ah, hurry up and go!”
Tina gently pushed her.
Nuo Ai’er hesitated no longer. She flipped over and jumped lightly, landing steadily on the grass outside the window.
But she hadn’t expected…
“Waaah—!!”
The moment her feet touched the ground, a howling wind hit her face, followed instantly by a torrential downpour.
“What’s going on here?!?”
Nuo Ai’er couldn’t help but look up slightly at the sudden heavy rain. Her small face was full of confusion.
Just a few minutes ago it had been sunny. Now it was a fierce storm.
This dungeon’s weather was terrible.
But now was not the time to complain. Hui Mei had been eliminated, and the whereabouts of her companions were unknown. Time was urgent. Nuo Ai’er had to escape quickly.
Her small figure stepped onto the muddy grass, braving the wind and rain as she ran with all her might toward the depths of the forest.
But just as Nuo Ai’er rushed into the heart of the dense woods, not far ahead—
A blinding white lightning bolt flashed.
The lightning illuminated a familiar, terrifying tall figure standing in the middle of the forest.
Red hair in twintails, a long black dress, a single eyepatch.
That figure was unmistakable—
Nuo Ai’er: “St-Stella?!How could…”
She had just escaped. Wasn’t Stella inside sleeping?!
Just as Nuo Ai’er froze, Stella in front spoke slowly:
“What a foolish little girl. Did you really think I went to sleep?”
“Pretending to rest and relax was nothing but a test.”
In fact, from the moment Tina had convinced her, Stella had already been thinking about this.
If Tina’s words were sincere, then as soon as Stella left, Tina would—ninety percent—try to help Nuo Ai’er escape.
And the result was obvious.
Tina really did it.
“Helping the enemy despite the bigger picture…”
Thinking this, the disappointment and anger that had been building in Stella’s heart erupted completely.
Only sheer hostility remained in her eyes.
“How wonderful. My little Tina actually chose to betray me for an outsider.”
Stella gritted out.
“That little traitor can stay locked in the wooden cabin and reflect.”
Having dealt with Tina’s matter, Stella’s gaze fell back on the dazed Nuo Ai’er.
“Since you’re stubborn and won’t say anything, there’s no need to keep you anymore.”
Stella slowly raised the black whip in her hand. She stepped across the wet forest grass, closing in on Nuo Ai’er one step at a time.
“Um… don’t you think we can settle this peacefully?”
Nuo Ai’er stammered.
Crack!
The answer was a whip strike.
“Waaah—!”
Nuo Ai’er dodged the whip and started running.
Nuo Ai’er: “Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck, bad luck!”