"Well, now is not the time to complain," Naraku sighed softly as he emerged from the shadowed corner. Compared to the other two, he appeared more helpless, weighed down by the situation.
He had already considered every possible scenario, yet he never anticipated encountering a half-demon acting as a human patrol. Facing this half-demon, ordinary people like them were naturally powerless; they could only catch glimpses of hope and hope that their plans would hold long enough.
As he observed the two despondent companions, Naraku paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "Finding a way out is our top priority now. If we wait until three months from now, not only will our plans be rendered useless, but if the trash we gathered can't contain their greed and they storm the city, one leak, one betrayal, could mean the end for all of us. We might not only fail to escape but could also die here."
Hearing Naraku's words, the other two nodded in agreement. But the question remained: how could they escape?
"It's not easy to break out of such a tightly secured cell," Rasetsu muttered grimly.
"Yes, Onigumo's right. How do we get out of here?" Onigumo added, his voice tense.
"When I was brought in, I checked, this cell is built specifically to imprison monsters," Rasetsu whispered, eyes narrowing.
Despite their tense relationship, the shared desperation drew them closer as they listened intently to Naraku. Both Rasetsu and Onigumo leaned in, lowering their voices in secrecy, their minds racing with possibilities.
Naraku scanned their surroundings. They weren't in an ordinary prison; this was a high-level containment facility, designed to hold powerful creatures.
"I have a plan, but it involves taking some risks," Naraku murmured, his eyes narrowing further, voice barely above a whisper, like the hiss of a demon.
"Any solution?" Rasetsu prompted eagerly.
"The human kingdom seems to have grown much stronger than before," Sesshomaru observed, standing atop a massive beast as he gazed across a brightly lit city nestled in a distant river valley, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
Years had passed since he last visited the human realm. Caught in the chaos of war, he had never had the chance to explore it fully. To Sesshomaru, the human kingdom had always been a place of poverty and disorder.
Even among monsters, the human realm was often mocked, an easy target for infiltration and destruction. They believed humans were too weak to resist, easily crushed beneath the might of monsters like him.
As a noble purebred monster, Sesshomaru looked down on humans with disdain, considering them scum easily annihilated. Yet, he remembered the last time he visited the human land, at night, it was pitch dark, with no lights in sight. So, seeing this city still brightly illuminated after dark was startling.
"Is that G.D.I. over there?" he asked, opening a map in his hand. He circled the landmark where the G.D.I. was said to be located. With his current speed, he could reach it before dawn.
Meanwhile, Sebastian finished his meal and struck up a casual conversation with the others before heading back to his room.
As he stepped inside, he immediately noticed the spotless floor, polished to mirror-like perfection, and nodded with satisfaction. His gaze shifted to the chair beside the desk, where Ayame had fallen asleep, clutching a rag in her hand. Despite the modesty of Sebastian's household, it was large, with several study and reference rooms, and thorough cleaning was nearly impossible in a single day.
"Don't bother me! Careful, or I'll bite you to death! Ah, Sir Sebastian, you're back! I've cleaned the room," Ayame mumbled sleepily, her voice trembling. She was so exhausted that she barely registered the push on her shoulder. After a few seconds, she blinked sluggishly, realizing she was in Sebastian's room. Her eyes widened as she saw him standing before her.
"Actually, I'm really sorry, Sir Sebastian," she said nervously, voice trembling. Noticing the saliva on the chair from her sleep, she quickly wiped it away.
"No problem," Sebastian replied calmly, studying her environment. "Good job."
Rubbing her eyes, Ayame managed a bright smile, returning to her spirited self: "I can definitely satisfy you, my Lord!"
"Alright, go back and rest. Tomorrow, we head to the coast to deal with the demons," Sebastian said, waving dismissively. He could tell she was trying to appear energetic, but her tired eyes betrayed her.
He saw through her façade easily. Ayame was exhausted and busy with chores, with little time to rest.
"Then I'm leaving. And Ayame is always on call!" she announced, relief flooding her voice. Her body felt hollow, her stomach audibly growling after a day without food.
After saluting respectfully, she slowly exited the room.
"By the way, I arranged some food for you in the kitchen, a special meal I asked Ram to prepare. It's designed to restore your strength and help you rest after eating. Someone will bring it to you soon," Sebastian added with a gentle smile, watching her stubborn figure walk away.
"Thank you, my Lord!" Ayame paused, momentarily stunned by his kindness.
As she reached the door, she cast a glance back at Sebastian's faint smile. Her heart, filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear, eased slightly. She had always obeyed Sebastian's commands, working tirelessly every day, afraid of provoking his wrath and risking her life.
From a young age, Ayame had known that monsters had their own ways; humans and monsters could never truly coexist. Sebastian, an extraordinarily powerful exorcist, had a rare kindness that often surprised her. She understood that any act of kindness from him was a gift, something to be treasured and feared.