In a small camp hidden among dense trees, a campfire burned dimly. Thin smoke rose into the sky.
Eleven men sat around the fire, each holding a wooden cup filled with cheap beer.
While they were drinking, one of their companions came over and sat down.
"They are really annoying," he complained.
"I told you already. That cat girl is stubborn," one man said. His body was large, his stomach bulged out, and there were whip marks on his arms that he showed off as if they were marks of honor.
"Tomorrow we sell the rest. The pretty ones will get a high price," Carl added with a rough voice.
Their leader, Zack, stayed silent while pouring beer into his wooden cup. He drank one cup quickly, then gripped the cup tightly.
"If not for that person's request, I would never do this," Zack complained.
He had a thin body, but his eyes were sharp like a wolf's. He was a former rank B adventurer. He was the second strongest person there after Carl.
"If you feel annoyed, just take one of the slaves and enjoy their body. No one will complain anyway," Carl said, giving a suggestion.
Zack glanced at him. He poured beer again and drank another cup. Then he snorted. "No," he said firmly. "I will not do that. That is disgusting. It is like sleeping with an animal."
Carl laughed when he heard that. "But they have bodies like humans. They have everything human women have, including the fun parts. The only differences are the ears, tails, and fur."
Carl patted Zack's shoulder and winked at him, giving a sign to try it.
Behind them was a large tent. Inside it, 39 demi-human girls were locked up. Some hugged their own bodies, some cried without making a sound. Others just stared blankly, as if their souls had been forcibly pulled out of their bodies.
"Just try it once. You will like it," Carl persuaded again.
Zack still shook his head, but Carl stood up. He grabbed his leader's hand and dragged him toward the front of the large tent. He rubbed his chin repeatedly.
"I will choose one for you," Carl said.
In another corner of the tent, a demi-human girl around 15 years old collapsed on the ground. Her left cheek was swollen, her lips were split.
She was the demi-human girl that Zack had beaten earlier because she tried to escape. Carl walked toward the demi-human girl and pulled her hand forcefully.
The girl tried to resist, but her face was immediately kicked by Carl.
When he was close to Zack, he threw the girl's body in front of him. "We will have a party with this girl," he said.
Carl clapped his hands once. His other companions immediately turned their heads. They smiled while licking their lips. Lewd smiles appeared on their faces.
"We will tell this cat girl how the world works," Carl said. He took off his clothes. "They must realize that their position is lower than humans. They are just animals given a human form."
Discrimination against the demi-human race was very severe. Demi-humans had always been human slaves for the last hundred years.
In the eyes of humans, the demi-human race was no higher than animals. They were only treated as forced labor or sex slaves.
"Come on. Why are you just watching?" Carl urged.
He squatted down and grabbed the cat girl's body. The girl tried to fight back, scratching at Carl, but her face was immediately punched by Carl until it bruised.
Several of Carl's companions arrived and quickly held the cat girl's hands and legs. Carl had already taken off his pants. He was naked now.
"Ahh, this will be amazing," Carl said.
"Oh, really?" someone said from behind.
"Forcing someone to do something like this is not right, is it?" the person said again. "Is that right, Lyssia?"
Carl immediately turned around. He saw a young man he did not know standing behind him. Behind the young man was an elf woman with a large body and D cup breasts.
"Who are you?" Carl asked.
He immediately took his sword. At the same time, his companions surrounded the young man.
It was Takuya.
He stepped back slightly. "Can you defeat them?" he whispered to Lyssia.
"Of course. I can do it," Lyssia replied with a flat expression.
Takuya nodded. He was about to give an order, but a slash came toward him, aiming at his head. However, the slash was quickly deflected by Lyssia with her dagger.
Takuya's eyes became serious. "Kill them!" he ordered.
Lyssia nodded immediately. In just one second, she disappeared. Then she appeared in front of Carl. She stabbed once. Carl quickly blocked the thrust and was pushed backward.
"Aaarrgh!" A scream was heard.
Carl turned his head and saw one of his companions dead, blood flowing from his neck. Carl became serious and took a firm stance.
Zack, who had been silent all this time, now stood beside Carl. The two looked at each other and nodded. They would work together.
"Do not lower your guard," Carl said.
Zack nodded. "I know."
Suddenly, they felt someone appear behind them. They quickly turned around, and a slash came toward them.
Slash!
Their bodies were pushed back, but they managed to block the attack. Still, blood dripped from their cheeks where the edge of the slash had hit.
At the same time, their opponent had disappeared. Both of their eyes kept moving, searching for their enemy's position.
"An assassin," Zack said.
"Why is an assassin here?"
Zack did not know either. Assassins were a hired killer organization. They killed according to the jobs given to them. If they were targeted, it meant someone wanted them dead.
"Damn it. I did not expect to deal with them," Carl complained.
Carl and Zack stood close together, their backs almost touching. They were extremely alert. Their other companions did the same.
"I cannot see anything," Carl muttered.
"She is fast. Very fast," Zack added, his eyes narrowing as he tried to catch even the smallest movement.
In the next second, the sound of something falling was heard.
Thump.
Carl reflexively turned his head and saw one of his subordinates lying on the ground without a head. The head rolled slowly, the eyes still open.
"Damn…" Carl stepped back. The hand holding his sword began to tremble.
Lyssia appeared again, standing on a tree branch like a shadow from a nightmare. Her eyes showed no anger, no sympathy, and no interest. Only emptiness.
"My Master ordered me to kill you. Because of that, you will die here," Lyssia said.
She jumped and disappeared. Her movement was extremely fast.
**
While Lyssia was fighting, Takuya was already kneeling on the ground. In his arms, the cat girl grimaced in pain. Her breathing was short and uneven. Her body was covered in bruises.
Takuya slowly lowered the girl's body and leaned her against a barrel filled with beer.
"…you are safe now."
He stood inside the large tent that was used to imprison dozens of slaves.
From inside, fearful eyes stared at him through the torn fabric. There were quiet sobs, bodies hugging themselves, and some who only stared blankly.
Takuya swallowed hard. His chest felt heavy.
"The fantasy world is truly terrifying…" he murmured softly.