When death loomed close, Moya very calmly… chickened out.
“I’ll talk! I’ll say everything! I’ll do anything! Just spare this worthless little life!” She blurted fluent Common without accent, surprising Vera’s trio.
They had prepared a precious telepathy scroll for interrogation. Now it seemed unnecessary.
Moya widened her already watery eyes, making them look even more pitiful with fear and pleading. She stared straight at Vera, hoping to stir even a trace of pity in this human.
If the curved blade stayed on her neck any longer, she’d wet herself from fright.
“Careful—charm!” Feiyin rushed forward, scattering a handful of disruption dust straight into Moya’s eyes.
“I didn’t! I didn’t use charm! Ow!!! My eyes!” Moya ignored the blade on her neck. She clutched her burning stinging eyes and curled on the ground, rolling in pain.
“Feiyin, she really didn’t use charm ability,” Vera said.
“I’ve never seen real charm. The way she looked at you, I thought…” Feiyin sheepishly retreated, muttering.
After this, Moya dared not meet anyone’s gaze again.
Her red teary eyes fixed on the ground. Her body trembled slightly from pain and fear, afraid of causing further misunderstanding.
Interrogation went smoothly. Facing questions, she spilled everything.
Not only two human adventurer teams missing here—demon side had disappearances too. She and her goblin partner Stinky Fish were sent to scout.
Though not outstanding strength among demons, they excelled at stealth and reconnaissance. Yet this time, they capsized.
They did find clues, but Stinky Fish got exposed and captured.
“Cult…” This surprised Vera. They thought nearby enemies only demons—not third party. “Then why didn’t you immediately return for reinforcements?”
“They’re probably preparing next sacrifice soon. Reinforcements might not arrive in time…”
“So you originally planned to rescue alone?” Vera’s curved blade imperceptibly shifted back almost an inch.
Moya keenly caught the subtle change. Survival instinct made her follow the lead, tone more earnest. “Y-yes… But I’m too weak. Just worried, no idea what to do…”
Sure enough, Vera didn’t immediately press the blade back.
Though still close, the extreme pressure of death imminent—blade against skin—temporarily eased.
Feiling’s fingers never left the arrow nocked on her bowstring. She glanced sideways at Moya. “What, demons also value ‘loyalty’ among yourselves?”
Knife to the fish—her on the chopping board—Moya dared not retort. She forced a smile uglier than crying.
From Moya’s intel, the trio easily found the group’s traces.
An abandoned church serving as temporary base stood abruptly in a relatively flat clearing deep in the forest.
From afar, scattered black-robed figures moved in and out of broken doorways and walls—some human silhouettes, others demon horns or tails. Mixed races fitting the cult.
“Strange. Map doesn’t mark a church here.” Feiling unrolled her leather map scroll, finger tracing the area—no building marked.
Vera carried Moya in one hand, carefully observing distant structure outline. He spoke low. “Perhaps one of mist’s remnants.”
After mist cleared, terrain changes or sudden appearing/disappearing buildings weren’t rare.
Rough estimate: at least thirty cultists holed up in the church, strength varied—mostly bronze to silver tier.
This discovery eased the trio’s tension somewhat.
Feiling and Feiyin looked to Vera, awaiting decision.
Vera pondered briefly, gaze on the church. “Since next sacrifice not yet, Anton and others might still live. Returning for aid now—time probably insufficient. From current observation, cultist strength—we might handle. But remember, if enemy beyond us, withdraw immediately. Safety first.”
“What about her?” Feiling’s wrist turned. Arrow already in hand pressed against Moya’s neck. “Kill her.”
“I said everything! We agreed…” Moya’s sobs and pleas muffled as Feiling’s other hand clamped her mouth. Arrow pressed heavier half point.
Vera reached out, gently holding Feiling’s arrow hand wrist.
Facing Feiling’s puzzled gaze, he explained. “Timing needed for rescue. She’s still useful.”
He patted terrified red-faced Moya’s shoulder. “We can try rescuing your goblin partner—within possible range. But you help too.”
Moya nodded frantically.
Finally, she carried an explosive arrow from Feiling’s quiver, cautiously running deeper into woods.
“If she’s really with cult—just acting?” Feiling watched succubus fading back.
“Then she’ll definitely try signaling accomplices.” Vera drew a packet of tracking dust, returning to Feiyin. “I left trace dust on her. If she tries returning, Feiyin will detect.”
Feiyin took the packet, nodding firmly.
“As long as she successfully detonates explosive arrow, drawing some cultists’ attention—goal achieved. If arrow not detonated,” he withdrew gaze, looking at sisters, “proves everything she said unreliable. Withdraw immediately report.”
Though eager to save Anton, Vera prioritized Feiling and Feiyin’s safety.
If risk clearly exceeded, he’d choose safer aid-seeking.
As for possible instant remote communication item on Moya—Vera didn’t worry much.
Such expensive tightly locked magic gear—unlikely equipped to mid-low strength like her.
Meanwhile, Moya’s mind churned many thoughts.
Free from Vera trio’s control, she considered fleeing.
But then Stinky Fish truly unsavable.
Charging cult lair alone to rescue—she lacked courage.
But creating big disturbance from safe distance—she had that bravery.
Though unsure if Vera trio would truly fulfill, at least… added slim chance for Stinky Fish…
“I… did right by you!”
Finally, she did as Vera said. At suitable distance from abandoned church, activated and detonated explosive arrow.
Boom!
Dull explosion echoed through forest, startling flock of birds.
Soon, movement from abandoned church direction.
Nine cultists surged from broken doors, cautiously heading toward explosion sound.
After confirming they left far enough, Vera trio quietly approached church.
Farther out, forest periphery—a scout Puchi just mushroom-cannoned annoying slime clump, even stomping twice—completely crushing core before stopping. Ignoring minor corrosion.
[Vibration Sense LV10]
Though sound barely reached here, Puchi still sensed explosion via vibration.
No hesitation. Scout Puchi lightly leaped, vanishing into forest.
Fallen zone scout Puchis weren’t alone. Any incident—check never wrong.
(End of Chapter)
This chapter felt rushed, the use of third and first person feels weird.