A few days had passed since the prisoners had been released by Verc, and finally, after days of hardship—

"W-WE’RE OUT OF THE FOREST!"

They were able to step outside the forest.

The dense, suffocating canopy that had loomed over them for weeks finally broke apart, revealing the wide, open sky of the plains. The air here was thin, but it didn’t carry the oppressive, heavy mana that had plagued their every breath inside the Cursed Forest.

"F-Finally...!"

"We’re saved!"

"WE’RE FREE!!!"

The happiness on their faces was evident, they weren’t even trying to hide it. They collapsed onto the grass, some sobbing, others laughing hysterically, while a few simply stared up at the sun with glazed, teary eyes. The reality of their survival felt like a dream.

Well, after all, when they were released a few days back—they were immediately ambushed by a horde of monsters!

Verc might have let them go, but the forest itself was a ruthless, living trap. The moment they stepped away from the influence of the village and the master of the castle, the predatory monsters of the deep woods had descended upon them like hungry predators sensing weakened prey.

Fortunately, with Elianna, Kael, Stanford, Harper, Gibson, Kelton, and the knight commander; Aman Veluz—they were able to clear the horde and sustained no losses.

It had been a desperate fight. They were exhausted and demoralized, but the presence of the elite group had been the only thing keeping the army from being torn to shreds. They fought with an average weapons, utilizing every ounce of training they had left in their broken bodies.

And just like that, with them leading—they were able to get out of the [Cursed Forest] with no one dying!

While some were heavily injured and lost some of their limbs, they were still breathing, at least. The road back had been paved with blood, sweat, and constant vigilance, but against all odds, they had pushed through the nightmare!

"The whole thing just became a lot harder because we have to protect a lot of people."

Stanford grumbled, looking at Kael with a frown.

He wiped a smear of dried blood from his forehead, his breathing still ragged from the final skirmish against the forest monsters. He looked back at the cluster of young masters who were shivering behind the defensive line.

A lot of the prisoners with them were the spoiled young masters, and so—they weren’t able to help much with the fight.

They were dead weight, liabilities even.

"Haha, don’t say that; they might hear you."

Kael responded to him with a tired, but genuine smile. He can understand Stanford’s frustration.

Kael was just as exhausted as the rest of them. His armor was dented and scorched, and the sword he was using felt heavier than it ever had in his life. Yet, he kept his composure.

"And also, it’s not like we can just leave them to die. What will be our belief and church even be about if we do that?"

Kael added, patting Stanford’s back.

The weight of their duty was the only thing keeping them standing. If they started abandoning the weak the moment things got difficult, they would lose more than just the battle—they would lose their humanity and goal.

"..."

Stanford wasn’t able to do anything after that, he just let out a sigh and nodded his head.

He knew Kael was right. The frustration was just a symptom of his overwhelming fatigue.

"Kael is right. Just think that we’re finally out and safe."

Elianna then joined their conversation.

She stepped between them, her robes tattered and stained with the filth of the forest. Despite her appearance, her eyes held a calm, steady light. She looked at Stanford, sensing the lingering irritation in his posture.

"I apologize."

Stanford said, with a new resolute look on his face. He sheathed his weapon and straightened his back, forcing the fatigue deep into the back of his mind.

Kael smiled deeper after seeing that look on the face of his subordinate. Then he looked at the other three, they seemed tired and were about to collapse.

The others were swaying on their feet, their eyes fluttering as they fought against the overwhelming urge to just drop where they stood and sleep for a week.

"I think we should rest here for the rest of the day."

Kael suggested as he turned to Elianna.

It wasn’t a choice anymore; it was a physical necessity. Pushing forward in their current state would only lead to a disaster if they encountered another threat later on.

"I think so too; we’re all exhausted. I’ll talk about this with Sir Aman."

Elianna nodded her head, and after saying that—she left to talk with the knight commander sent by the king.

... ... ...

Aman Veluz stood a few paces away, his hands resting on the pommel of his sword as he scanned the plains. He was the highest authority present, and even he looked like he had been dragged through hell.

When Elianna approached him and suggested the stop, Aman didn’t even hesitate.

"Agreed."

Aman said, his voice raspy.

"We camp here. The plains are open. We can see anything approaching from a distance, and the forest line is behind us. It is the safest position we will have."

Aman agreed with Kael and Elianna’s plan to stay outside the forest to rest for the rest of the day.

After all, they already camped there before they entered the forest. The area was generally safe—no monsters from the forest came out to attack. The boundary of the Cursed Forest acted like an invisible wall for the most aggressive beasts. And their only problem was weak wild monsters that sometimes appear.

But that wouldn’t really be a problem to them either.

In fact—they would appreciate them appearing, because they’re quite low on food now.

The meat of the monsters they hunted on their way out of the forest was almost gone. Their rations were depleted, and the hunger had started to gnaw at their stomachs, making the physical exertion even more painful.

Anyway, just like that they settled there and set up their camp as soon as they decided to rest there for the rest of the day.

Verc let them keep their camping equipment too, so that’s good.

The tents were erected, and a small, controlled fire was started. The failed expedition group rested as soon as the camp was done, they had a small feast as celebration for coming back out of the forest alive...

It wasn’t a grand feast—just the last of their dried meat and some roots they had scavenged—but it tasted like the finest meal in the world. The relief of being under the open sky, away from the watchful eyes of the monster lord, allowed them to finally let their guard down.

And just like that—the day finished with all of them sleeping like a baby after feeling relieved of being out of the cursed place.

... ... ...

... ... ...

... ... ...

*****

The next day arrived, and the failed expedition team all continued their journey back to the capital.

The sun rose over the horizon, casting long shadows over the plains. There was no joy in the departure, only a grim, quiet determination to reach civilization. They packed their meager belongings and began the long march.

For now—their next destination was the City of Sionnan to refill their resources.

They were going to retrace their way back from where they all passed through. The route was long and tedious, and the psychological weight of their failure hung over the group like a heavy cloak.

Every step felt like a burden.

The people moved in silence, their minds constantly drifting back to the encounter in the village. The image of the man who had declared himself the 14th Demon King was burned into their memories. They wondered what would happen when they returned to the capital and delivered the message.

Would the King and Emeperor believe them?

Would the Church demand another expedition?

Or would they be branded as cowards and executed for their retreat?

The uncertainty was just as dangerous as the monsters they had fought.

... ... ...

... ... ...

... ... ...

*****

Time passed... And it’s been a couple of weeks already!

And finally—Elianna, Kael, Aman, and the whole expedition group—

TAP!

They finally stepped back onto the capital of the Kingdom of Halveron; The City of Saligao!

The massive stone gates of the capital towered over them, a stark contrast to the wild, untamed trees of the Cursed Forest. The guards at the gate stared at the approaching group with wide, confused eyes, not recognizing the tattered, battle-worn soldiers as the elite squad that had departed with such fanfare only a few months ago.

"Halt! Identify yourselves!"

The gate guard shouted, his spear leveled at Aman Veluz.

Aman didn’t even flinch. He reached into his tunic and pulled out the royal insignia, holding it up with a trembling, calloused hand.

"We are the survivors of the Royal Expedition."

Aman stated, his voice hollow.

The gate guard looked at the crest, then at the skeletal, hollow-eyed figures standing behind the commander, and his expression turned from suspicion to pure shock.

"?!"

"OPEN THE GATES!"

The guard bellowed to his comrades, his voice cracking.

CREEEEAAAAAKK--!!!

The massive iron-reinforced doors groaned as they swung open. The expedition group walked through, the sound of their heavy boots hitting the paved cobblestones of the capital city.

The bustling life of Saligao continued around them. Merchants shouted their prices, children ran through the streets, and the smell of fresh bread and sewage filled the air. It was a normal day in the capital, entirely unaware of the terror that had been unleashed in the distant forest.

Elianna walked at the center of the group, her head held low.

She could feel the eyes of the citizens on them. They looked like ghosts, men and women who had seen something that had stripped them of their vitality.

Kael walked beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of his empty scabbard.

He looked up at the spires of the royal castle in the distance, where the King resided.

’We have returned.’

Kael thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Tap-

Aman Veluz stopped in the middle of the main street, looking toward the royal palace.

"We must report to the King immediately."

Aman said to the group, his tone devoid of emotion.

Elianna nodded slowly.

She looked toward the sky, remembering the red eyes of the man who had let them live. She knew that by releasing them, he had done something far more dangerous than killing them. He had planted a seed in the heart of the kingdom.

"Let’s move."

Kael muttered, his voice barely audible.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Tap- Tap- Tap-

The group continued to march through the streets of Saligao, a procession of survivors who had looked into the eyes of a monster and lived to tell the tale.

The expedition was over.

And it was a failure.