Upon returning from the Baron's residence, the innkeeper immediately ordered me to leave. Apparently, he truly hated slave traders. He had even thrown my belongings out of the inn, but luckily no one dared take them.

  Strangely, he didn't dare touch or forcibly evict my slaves. Perhaps the incident earlier that day horrified him.

  I was forced to leave that inn and find new shelter on this dark, silent night.

  Do you think I hadn't considered fleeing right then? Actually, I'd thought about it since my first step out of the Baron's gate. But the problem was, Yardorh's Line didn't appear. That meant there was no safe escape route at that moment. Why was I so confident in my thinking? Of course, because this was the power of an Absolute Vow, which couldn't be wrong.

  The night was so cold it pierced the bones. Would we have to spend it sleeping on the streets?

  We kept walking without direction. The good news—or perhaps bad news—was that we finally found an inn willing to accept us. The problem was, that inn was located near the city square. In other words, we were actually getting closer to the lion's den, Baron Gier's residence.

  DAY ONE

  That morning, I woke with a heavy head. I still hadn't found a way out. Dizziness, nausea, and confusion all mixed together. But I didn't want to give up here. I had to find an opening.

  All day, we searched for information here and there without results. Although the people greatly hated Baron Gier, they were too obedient out of fear. This was bad news for me. If people who hated him so much didn't dare rebel, let alone other nobles in this city? No allies. This was truly a dead end.

  If so, the only way was to fight.

  But could I fight an entire city with only 27 people? I admit my slaves were strong, especially the Half-Elves and the tiger Beastwoman. I was also sure those young Warlords possessed terrifying hidden power. But against thousands of city soldiers? That was suicide.

  My head felt like it was boiling. Too exhausted from thinking without solutions, I decided to rest a moment in the inn room.

  On that soft mattress, I still tried to rack my brain, but mental exhaustion made me fall into a deep sleep.

  When I woke up, I nearly jumped out of bed from shock. That female slave with one large horn was standing still in my room, staring at me.

  "Why are you here?" I asked spontaneously, forgetting that they weren't supposed to be able to answer.

  "Because I..."

  That voice made me gape.

  "Wait... wait... You can talk?!" I asked in panic. That slave seemed confused by my reaction. "I mean... look at my other slaves, they're mute!"

  "Oh... So that's the issue. Actually, I'm a slave with a Level 2 Contract, while your other slaves are bound by Level 3 Contracts—the highest level."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Hah... What's the difference?"

  "Quite different, of course, Master. Slaves with Level 3 Contracts means they become mere tools without emotions and even without self-awareness. While I, a slave with a Level 2 Contract, am only physically restrained from harming my master and obeying absolute commands. But most of my brain functions, like emotions and awareness, remain intact."

  "Then why were your eyes empty like theirs when we met at the market?"

  "That was actually acting to deceive you. I actually intended to escape when you were summoned by the city lord last night, but I failed to find my contract paper."

  I fell silent. So she had been fully aware all this time.

  "Then why have you changed your mind now? Why didn't you run?"

  "Because I saw your attitude toward your slaves."

  "What exactly about my attitude seemed special to you?"

  "You... You still thought about not selling us, even though your own life was at stake."

  I smiled wryly inwardly. I think she misunderstood. She thought I was some kind-hearted hero. The truth was, I wasn't selling them only because I needed guards to survive. But let her think that way.

  "Alright, thank you. But can you step out first?"

  "Yes, Master," she replied with polite respect, then stepped out.

  Hah... That new slave was making my head spin more. Instead of calming me, she added to my mental burden, and I could no longer take the option of selling them.

  DAY TWO

  I spent the second day searching for sewer routes or rat paths, but nothing. This city was built like a prison fortress.

  Not only that, when I disguised myself and tried to investigate, I discovered a horrifying fact. Everyone who had ever tried to oppose Baron Gier in this city had been killed, and their heads hung to rot in the square as a warning.

  But that wasn't the worst.

  The most terrifying fact was that Baron Gier had once threatened the Palace by closing the river's headwaters and damming them. And it wasn't an empty bluff—he had actually done it. Palace warnings came repeatedly, but he didn't care.

  He was truly a crazy maniac holding the kingdom's throat. No wonder Grandmaster Tristan didn't attack him recklessly.

  This day ended in emptiness again.

  DAY THREE (Deadline)

  My heart pounded erratically from fear and nervousness. Today was the last day of the Baron's ultimatum. Time passed very quickly, and the sun began to set.

  Night had arrived. This was the final limit. What would happen to me? Would the Baron's forces break down the door?

  However, as night grew deeper, nothing happened.

  Suddenly, in the midst of my despair, that Yardorh Line appeared.

  That Line shone brightly near the window.

  I immediately jumped up and ordered all my slaves to prepare to leave. That very instant.

  We left all luxuries behind. This Line passed through narrow streets and rat alleys, meaning the expensive carriage and most heavy supplies couldn't be taken. We simply left the inn—luckily we had paid upfront, so no one was suspicious.

  I led the group through the city's smelly, pungent alleys. That line of light guided us to a remote corner of the city wall, hidden behind shabby buildings that seemed deliberately constructed to isolate that area.

  Behind the gap between those buildings, we found a large old well. Yardorh's Line plunged sharply, pointing into that well.

  I didn't hesitate. "Jump!" I ordered.

  One by one we jumped down. Beneath, there turned out to be an underground river. The current was quite strong.

  I saw a faint light in the distance—a river exit very close. Logically, I should go there.

  But Yardorh's Line said otherwise. That Line didn't point toward the exit light, but rather in the opposite direction, against the current, toward deeper darkness.

  I trusted Yardorh. We all traversed that river, sometimes against the current, sometimes carried along to deeper paths.

  Midway, my stamina ran out. My weak noble body couldn't withstand the cold current and slippery terrain.

  My breath was nearly gone.

  Fortunately, that one-horned slave helped me to the side. Although the bank was just a large slippery rock, at least it could support my weight.

  Only I was gasping like a fish out of water. My slaves? Their breathing didn't even change, flat as machines.

  "Why am I the only one exhausted while you all aren't?" I grumbled irritably at them all.

  Only one voice answered me—the horned slave. "Calm down, Master, soon we'll all be safe."

  I was too weak to answer. That place was very dark and damp.

  "Master, I have an idea," she said again. "How about Master is carried by your other slaves?"

  My pride rebelled, but my legs were already numb.

  "Yes," I replied shortly, breath still irregular.

  One of the large-bodied slaves carried me on his back.

  After a long journey through seemingly endless darkness, Yardorh's Line still consistently pointed forward.

  Until finally, we heard a roaring sound. We reached the end of this dark tunnel. Ahead, the tunnel floor disappeared.

  It was an underground waterfall.

  We all fell together with millions of liters of water pouring down.

  SPLASH!

  "Glub... Glub... Glub..."

  Water entered my nose and mouth. My vision darkened, my body tossed about. But finally, my head emerged to the surface. Fresh air. Moonlight.

  We were all safe. We had made it out.