18 Chapter 16: Faeabelgean

Shiro was not used to murdering; even in his previous life, killing people was not something he had done.

Shiro's perspective on the world has shifted since he first arrived in it. Here, survival of the fittest meant that the weak would be eaten by the strong.

Shiro learned the hard way. Being transported directly inside the labyrinth, he fought for survival; he killed a monster because he wanted to live. There were times when he thought he should just give up and die, but he didn't. Shiro feared death like no other, and after experiencing it once, he didn't want to feel it again.

When he thought about it, he realized how ridiculous it was because he was a shinigami, a deity of death, the harbinger of death, and yet he was terrified of death itself. He finds it hilarious and wants to laugh about it.

" Got something on your mind?" Shiro's train of thinking was interrupted when he heard Scàthach's voice near him.

Shiro merely glanced outside the truck, saying, "No, there's nothing in particular."

"Don't lie, I know you have something on your mind," Scàthach said, looking at the purple head for a moment. "Is it about the fact that you killed a human for the first time?" 

Shiro stiffened but said nothing. His silence, though, addressed Scàthach's inquiry.

"If you feel guilty for killing those soldiers, then you better abandon those feelings. It will just hinder you in your goal, and besides, that's their retribution for their wrongdoings," Scàthach went on to say.

The air was filled with silence, with just the sound of a gentle automobile engine and the sensation of rocks hitting the car's tire.

"It's not that."

Scàthach's ear perked up, and she took a look at the purple head.

"I'm not feeling guilty for what I did," Shiro said, shaking his head and staring at his two hands. "I know those soldiers deserved it, but...it just didn't sit right inside my head...I killed a human and yet, I felt nothing...I felt nothing at all, as if I just did something as simple as breathing."

Scàthach noticed the purple head as he clenched his hand, many emotions visible in his eyes.

" Whether your actions were right or wrong, it doesn't really matter; the fact that you just saved many Demi-humans from their pre-determined fate is true, and if it hadn't been for your decision to pursue the soldiers who took those Demi-humans, they would've been in a lot worse condition." Scàthach knows that if they hadn't pursued those Demi-humans, they would've been sold into people and used as tools.

" Furthermore, I understand what you're feeling; you killed and felt nothing, as if it were as natural as breathing; it's difficult to accept inside your heart, but you must understand that what you did was necessary; if you hadn't killed them, they would have killed you and put the Demi-humans into a much more worse situation."

Shiro closed his eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling as he pondered Scàthach's remarks. The sensation is still present, although it has diminished somewhat.

Shiro said, "Thank you, and I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, You are but a mere warrior who has not seen the true atrocities of human kind, Take this as a lesson for you to grow." Scàthach continued on saying.

Shiro smiled as he nodded and looked at her. "I still have a lot to learn huh?"

" Indeed.." Scàthach smiled slightly.

/// Line Break ///

A few minutes before Shiro and Scáthach drove away to rescue the abducted Haulia Rabbit-man people.

Hajime, Yue and Shia together with Kam and the rest of the remaining Haulia Rabbit-man travelled their way back to the Forrest of trees.

" Um.. Yue-san can you tell me something about you two?" Shia suddenly asked.

Hajime did not turn back while Yue just took a glance at her.

"You know, About your Adventures, reason why did you travel, and the about what you two have done until now and of course that includes Shiro-san and Scáthach-san."

"Why do you want to know about us?" Yue questioned.

Shia said, "Because I want to know more about you guys!"

Yue hesitated for a while, even though she had a horrible feeling about the Rabbit girl, seeing her ask her a question genuinely she couldn't refuse.

Yue reluctantly recounted their exploits thus far, the cause for their journey and the things they had done up to this point, while avoiding some delicate areas.

Yue noticed Shia crying after they shared their story; her face is full of tears, and her nose has obvious snot.

" Huhuhu, Painful! I consider myself blessed in comparison to your situation!" she sobbed under Yue's deadpan gaze.

Shia wiped her tears and snot with Hajime's coat, much to his disgust. Shia peered at them with determination and seriousness.

"I've decided! I Shia Haulia will accompany you on your travels!" she stated, clenching her fist. "We three- No We five are the same kind! We are partners! Let us overcome our suffering together!"

Yue looked at the dumb Rabbit who had made her own decision. " Just what this pathetic rabbit has been talking about right now. " She sighed and questioned." And? Are you planning on leaving your clan after you've guaranteed their safety?"

Shia tensed up. "Yes, but I, really-"

"I don't care about your reasons," Yue interjected, her face solemn and solemn. "Don't expect anything strange, Our goal is to conquer the Seven Great labyrinth and it's you, you're going to be killed immediately, It's impossible for you."

•^•

A gloomy forest full of trees with a terrible aura could be observed in the distance.

"After this, we are going to enter the deepest part of the forest....and arrive at the base of the largest right?" Hajime inquired.

"Yes, that should be the entrance to the labyrinth," Yue responded, peering out at the dense woodland.

"And here I thought the forest Is the labyrinth itself."

"No, Just like inside of Oscars Labyrinth, there should be monsters inside and if there's monster inside the Demi-humans can't live there so it's not, and moreover I've heard that inside deepest part of the forest lies a giant tree named" UA ALT," which means "great tree." " Yue surveyed the landscape for a minute. " Because it's Holy ground, nobody goes near it."

"Then the great labyrinth should be there," concluded Hajime.

" Um! I apologize for interrupting your chat, but could you perhaps remove your presence beyond this?"Our people are prey here, it'll be a problem if people from Faeabelgaen come," Kam said suddenly.

Hajime nodded, "understood."

Both Hajime and Yue closed their eyes and concentrated, using a skill [Hide existence] to conceal their presence as Kam instructed.

"This is!" Kam and the rest of Haulia were taken aback by how well Hajime and Yue managed to conceal their presence.

"So Hajime-dono and Yue-dono could use Hide their presence to such an extent; our people are proud of our Spying skill, but we will lose out to you two," Kam stated, his tone clearly shocked.

"There's no need to be surprised, this degree of presence Hiding is just basic, and compared to our other friend, this is nothing." Yue agreed, knowing that their presence hiding was inferior to Shiro's.

That individual can disguise his existence for 24 hours straight and even eliminate the [existence Detection] talent, preventing him from being discovered. It reminded Hajime of a classmate who has the same skill.

"My goodness, you're saying there's someone better than you?" Kam was taken aback by the statement.

" Hm!" Hajime detected many presences in the forest, and based on their actions, they appear to be running towards...them.

"What happened, Hajime-dono?" Kam inquired, but was interrupted by other voices. "No way! Have we been discovered?!" he cried out.

"...No, Appearantly, it's just bad luck that we have been found out." Hajime stated." Not to mention this presence..."

"....No way! Why are they here?" Kam exclaimed.

A large footsteet was heard seconds afterwards. A humanoid creature that resembled a Tiger towered over them, standing two meters tall.

"DONT MOVE!"

Two Demi-human Tigers came out from the forest and glared angrily at Hajime and the rest of the Rabbit-people.

"WHY IS THERE A HUMAN HERE?!!!"

_•_•_•_•_

Sorry for the late update, been really busy with studies and stuff.