Chapter 18: Tia’s Self-Deceiving Fantasy (Please Read!)

I was imprisoned in the devil's cave for only two days, but it felt like two years. I fantasized about returning to the human world all the time.

After facing the terrifying humanoid goblins every day, Dia was finally able to meet her fellow humans. She felt uncontrollable excitement and anticipation surging in her body.

She ran towards the light, shouting loudly, her steps quick and powerful, every step seemed to be chasing the joy of the upcoming meeting, the ground beneath her feet seemed to be responding to her excitement, the sound of tapping surrounded the rock walls of the cave.

Countless longings, countless expectations, but what responded to her was a sharp arrow.

In the dim cave, cold light was seen in the light, followed by the sound of breaking air. The straight arrow with feathers flying behind it flew past Tia's ear and was almost hitting her head.

"Filho, it seems you missed the target. I didn't hear any screams."

"I drank too much last night, and my hands are a little shaky, but I will definitely hit the target with the next arrow."

"You bastard, my son and daughter are missing, and you're still drinking?"

"Yakaren, you know the rules of the Adventurer's Association. Only those who have been missing for more than three days will be notified. If you hadn't notified me today, I wouldn't have known that Mana and the others were missing."

"Rules are dead, but people are alive. It's just a matter of defeating goblins. Does it take more than a day?"

In the light of the torches, the sound of two people talking could be heard, and Tia recognized their figures and voices at once.

He is the father of Mana and Ibe, and the archery trainer in the town. They are both outstanding among the bronze adventurers and are just one step away from joining the silver team.

"Uncle Yakelon, Uncle Filho, I am Tia, not a monster goblin!"

Tia quickly called out their names and stated her identity again, reminding them not to continue the attack.

"It's Tia who's calling out, is she still alive?"

Filho is an archery trainer with excellent hearing. He heard the sound when he was still far away from Tia. At first he thought it was the movement of goblins, but when he got closer he realized it was Tia's voice.

Yakeren frowned, then drew the long sword from his waist and assumed a vigilant sword-holding posture.

"Be careful, it's a goblin trap."

"Akaren, you are too cautious. Goblins are stupid creatures. They are not smart enough to set traps."

"Underestimating the enemy is the biggest taboo for adventurers, and many have lost their lives as a result."

Akalon was a vigilant and serious person, but unfortunately his son Mana did not inherit this.

The two men moved forward cautiously, one in front and one behind, always maintaining a formation that could echo each other. It can be seen that they are very experienced in adventuring.

As they slowly approached, under the light of the torches, they finally saw clearly that it was Tia standing alone in the middle of the passage.

After seeing that Tia was the only one there, Filho relaxed his hand that was pulling the bowstring, and then he showed a very excited expression.

"Tia, you're still alive? That's great!"

"Where are Mana and Ibe? Since they have completed their mission, why don't they return to the town? Yakelen is so worried!"

"I told you, with a Silver Team member like you leading the team, how could anything go wrong in the Goblin's lair?"

Seeing that Tia was safe and sound, Filho subconsciously thought that the mission of defeating the goblins had been completed, and Mana and Ibe did not return to the town in time because they were too playful.

However, Yakeren on the side noticed something unusual and held the sword tightly in his hand without relaxing at all.

Even if Mana and Ibe were just playing around, they should have wandered around in the jungle instead of staying in this dark goblin cave.

And there aren’t many images of Tia. Why does she have no human ears but a pair of cat ears and a cat tail on her head?

Yakeren's observation was very careful, and he found the problem immediately, so he watched Tia's every move closely.

The reason why he did not open his mouth to question was that he planned to hear about the whereabouts of Mana and Ibe first.

Tia was very excited to finally see her fellow humans, but now was a dangerous situation and it was not the time to talk nonsense.

Facing Filho's question, she responded hastily: "There is something strange about this goblin nest. It is very dangerous. Mana and Ibe are dead. I was also captured by them. Now I finally escaped!"

"Let's go quickly. We must go back to the town and invite all the silver teams. The few of us alone are no match for those goblins!" Tia looked panicked and her words were full of fear of the goblins. Her behavior was very strange.

When Filho heard this, he also realized something was wrong.

They were just some goblins, how dangerous could they be? How could they kill Ibe and Mana at the hands of the Silver Team members?

And since he was captured, why did he manage to escape at such a coincidence?
Tia's words were full of questions. At the same time, after being excited, Filho also noticed the cat ears on Tia's head and the tail behind her under the light.

"Tia, have you surrendered to the monster?"

Filho took a few steps back and came behind Yakeren, while his fingers tightened the longbow again.

"Even if Mana and Ibe are trainee adventurers, they are also real swordsmen and archers. How could such a team, coupled with the members of the Silver Team, be killed by a small fry like the Goblin!"

"Look at the cat ears on her head, she has clearly become a monster!"

"This beast must have sold his soul to the devil and killed Mana and Ibe!"

Upon hearing the news that all his children had died, Akalen's eyes were bloodshot and he was sure that Tia had killed them.

He was bearing the great pain of losing his son, and swung the sword in his hand to chop at Tiya with such swift force that he showed no mercy at all.

Tia had never expected this to happen and dodged hastily, but as an [Apostle of the Devil], she was not good at physical strength and her agility was very low, just like the [Holy Priestess].

She is even worse than Akalen who is several levels lower than her.

Faced with the swift attack, Tia's dodge was still too slow, and she was cut on the back by the long sword. Blood oozed out from her clothes, and severe pain swept through her body.

Holding back the pain, Tia continued to explain: "Uncle Yakelen, I didn't surrender to the monsters, and I didn't kill Ibe and Mana!"

Faced with such a weak explanation, Felho shook his head in disappointment: "Tia, the animal ears on your head are the best proof."

"You have become a monster, and are no longer a saint among humans!"

"The monster must be destroyed, and Mana and Ibe must be avenged!"

Filho had already drawn the longbow in his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, a sharp arrow shot out, and at the same time, Acheron's long sword swung and followed.

Faced with the doubts of his former compatriots and the ruthless attacks, there was absolutely no room for explanation.

Tia stood there motionless, with no desire to resist at all. Instead, she gave a self-deprecating smile.

Yes, that's true.

Although I have been avoiding this fact.

But she has indeed become one of the monsters.

Thinking of enduring humiliation and washing away sin and humiliation is just a self-deceiving fantasy.

Even if I don't admit it, it's still a choice to live a miserable life when I have an excuse to live.

I really can't accept that I can't see Lelian again before I die.

The arrows and swords were so close, Tia knew there was no escape and closed her eyes in despair.

However, just before Filho and Yakeren were ready to attack, two ice blocks were launched in advance from behind Tia in the darkness at the back of the cave passage.

At this critical moment, the strange and extremely sharp ice block just happened to arrive in front of Tia and shot down the flying arrow and Akren's sword.

【Shameless human! 】

[You deserve to be put to death if you trespass into our territory! ]

　Thank you all for reading.

　　Thank you, I appreciate it!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)