Liberation of The Slaves

Chapter 136 – The Secret Nights’ Battles

— Selena POV —

The sound of humming energy filled the air as I tried to knit the opposing forces together.

“Ugh… Another failure.”

The quiet forest at night was wrapped in a calm that felt almost sacred. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, scattering pale silver across the ground while the cool breeze gently brushed against my hair. In the middle of that tranquil scene, two types of mana swirled around my hands.

Dark mana and light mana.

I tried to guide them carefully, shaping their movements the way I had studied countless times before. The two forces twisted around each other like ribbons, dancing delicately in the air as I attempted to stabilize their balance.

For a moment, it seemed to work.

Then the structure collapsed.

The delicate balance shattered as the intertwined mana dispersed into nothingness, fading into the surrounding forest like mist.

I lowered my hands and sighed.

Learning the space element was proving far more difficult than I had anticipated.

Pom! Pii.

Within my body, the souls of Luna and Noir reacted immediately. Their voices echoed gently inside my mind, offering encouragement despite my repeated failures. Even without seeing them, I could almost picture Luna energetically pumping her fists while Noir shyly nodded in support.

Their presence always comforted me.

Even when I stood alone in the dark forest, I was never truly alone.

<“Let’s give it another try... Hmm?”>

Just as I prepared to begin again, my Mana Detection suddenly reacted. Three presences were approaching rapidly through the forest.

Pom? Pii?

Luna and Noir immediately suggested waking my darling.

I shook my head softly.

<“It’s alright. He must be exhausted from controlling the wind platform every day. He needs his rest.”>

It had already been a week since my darling obtained the Air Steps skill. Since then, we had been traveling through the forest using it. During the day, he maintained the wind platform that carried us above the ground while I slept. At night, the roles reversed. He rested while I stood watch and trained.

Even though he repeatedly told me to wake him if danger appeared, I still felt reluctant to disturb him.

<“These are only C-Rank monsters. I can handle them myself quickly.”>

I tightened my grip on my sword and stepped forward.

Moments later, the monsters burst from behind the trees.

Three Frenzy Boars charged toward me, their heavy hooves pounding against the forest floor as they rushed forward with reckless aggression.

I had encountered these creatures many times before. Their movements were simple and predictable.

I drew my sword in one smooth motion.

Pyrolume Swordcraft Second Form: Pyralux Arcfire.

A blazing arc of heavenfire mana burst from my blade. The brilliant flame curved through the air like a burning crescent moon, cutting across the charging boars before they could even react.

The arc sliced cleanly through their bodies.

The three monsters were split apart in perfect unison.

Their momentum carried them forward for a brief moment before their lifeless bodies collapsed onto the ground, blood spilling across the grass beneath them.

The forest returned to silence.

<“See?”>

I sheathed my sword calmly.

<“Simple as that.”>

Pom! Pii!

Luna and Noir erupted into cheerful praise inside my mind, clearly impressed by how easily the battle ended.

I smiled faintly.

After placing the boars' corpses into my magic bag, I quietly returned to our campsite where my darling continued sleeping peacefully inside the tent.

Before resuming my training, I spoke to Luna and Noir again.

<“Oh, let’s keep this encounter to ourselves, alright?”>

Pom? Pii…?

Luna sounded uncertain “Is that really okay?” while Noir seemed worried “Won’t he notice if you hide something…?”

“Ugh...”

I hesitated for a moment.

<“I-It should be fine as long as he doesn’t question me too deeply.”>

I nodded firmly.

—————

Morning eventually arrived, and warm sunlight began to illuminate the campsite.

The flap of the tent opened as my darling stepped outside, stretching his arms before beginning to prepare breakfast.

Meanwhile, I continued practicing my sword nearby. The rhythmic movement of my blade cutting through the air helped me maintain focus while waiting for the food to finish cooking.

Soon the pleasant aroma of breakfast drifted through the clearing.

“Morning, darling!”

“Morning, Len.”

He greeted me while stirring the pot, but then he suddenly paused. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped closer.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look quite like yourself today.”

He leaned forward, examining my face carefully.

“H-Huh? It’s nothing!” I quickly waved my hands. “I’m just a little tired from training. I’ll feel better after resting later.”

He continued staring at me.

“Are you sure?” His voice carried a quiet suspicion. “Did we have any nighttime visitors?”

Ugh… He guessed it perfectly!

“N-No!” I shook my head immediately. “No monsters came near us last night!”

He sighed softly. “If you say so.”

Although he returned to eating, I could still feel the faint doubt lingering in his gaze. While nibbling on my breakfast, I quietly spoke to Luna and Noir.

<“Is it working?”>

Pom… Pii…

Noir answered first, “I don’t think so.” Then Luna thoughtfully added, “He probably suspects something, but he’s choosing not to press you about it.”

<“R-Really?”>

I glanced toward my darling again. He looked back at me with an innocent expression.

See?

He clearly didn’t know anything.

It seems I successfully hid it from him.

Relief washed over me as I smiled and continued eating.

—————

Night fell once again, slowly swallowing the forest in darkness. The gentle glow of the moon filtered through the treetops, casting faint silver patterns across the ground. Inside the tent behind me, my darling slept peacefully, his breathing steady and calm.

Meanwhile, I remained outside, continuing my training.

My sword moved again and again through the quiet night air, each swing producing a soft whispering sound that echoed faintly through the still forest. The rhythm of my practice helped maintain my focus, allowing my mind to settle even as I kept watch over our surroundings.

“Haa…”

A quiet sigh escaped my lips as my senses suddenly reacted. Mana Detection spread outward, brushing against several presences moving through the trees.

Pom?Pii?

Luna and Noir immediately responded from within me, their curious sounds asking about the strength of the approaching threat.

I gently shook my head.

<“They're just C-Rank monsters.”>

There was no need for concern.

I slowly unsheathed my sword just as the creatures emerged from between the trees.

Six red wolves stepped into the clearing, their bodies low and tense as their glowing eyes fixed on me. Their growls rumbled through the night air as they bared their fangs.

“You again?”

I muttered under my breath, a small frown forming on my face.

Just a week ago, we had killed their leaders during another encounter. The rest of the pack had fled in fear that night.

And now they were approaching me again?

Did they really think they could win this time?

““Grrrr…””

The wolves continued growling. I tightened my grip on my sword, preparing to strike. But before I could even move, something unexpected happened.

“Huh?”

The wolves were suddenly stunned as their gazes met mine. Then, as if some silent agreement had passed between them, all six wolves abruptly turned around. Without attacking, without even approaching any closer.

They simply ran.

In an instant, the pack disappeared back into the darkness of the forest, their figures vanishing between the trees as quickly as they had arrived.

I blinked in surprise.

Pom! Pii!

Inside my mind, Luna and Noir immediately burst into excited praise, clearly believing that I had frightened the wolves away. I lowered my sword slightly while staring at the empty forest.

<“I didn't do anything… They just ran away as soon as they saw me.”>

Pom!Pii!

Noir spoke first, her soft voice carrying a hint of admiration. “Maybe they’re scared of big sister Len!” Then Luna chimed in cheerfully, ”Or maybe they remembered who killed their leaders last time!”

I let out a small breath before sheathing my sword again.

<“Well, whatever the reason, I'm just glad they're gone.”>

With that, I returned to my training, once again filling the quiet night with the soft rhythmic sound of my blade cutting through the air.

—————

Night after night passed beneath the silent canopy of the forest, each one bringing its own quiet trials. Some nights passed peacefully, the darkness undisturbed as the forest slumbered alongside my darling inside the tent. On other nights, the faint presence of monsters crept through the trees, only to retreat as soon as they caught sight of me.

The red wolves returned several times, their glowing eyes appearing briefly in the distance before vanishing just as quickly. Perhaps they truly remembered what happened to their leaders. Perhaps they simply recognized a threat they could not overcome.

Occasionally, stronger monsters wandered into the area. B-Rank creatures would sometimes approach, drawn by curiosity or hunger. Yet none of them lasted long once they faced my blade.

Still, not every enemy was simply strong. Some were just irritating.

Right now, four such creatures were attempting to hunt me. Moonshadow Hunters, the black cat-like monsters that thrived in the darkness.

My sword cut cleanly through one of them as it lunged toward me from the shadows. Its body dissolved instantly.

“Tch. Clone again.”

Despite being classified as only C-Rank monsters, Moonshadow Hunters possessed an extremely troublesome ability. They could create illusionary duplicates of themselves, sending those clones to harass and confuse their prey.

Their naturally dark fur blended perfectly with the night, making them difficult to see. Worse still, they could suppress their mana signatures so well that even my Mana Detection struggled to locate their real bodies until they were already attacking. And under the cover of darkness, their agility increased significantly.

From my left, another presence suddenly rushed toward me.

Slash!

My blade struck again. Another clone vanished.

“Ugh! So annoying!”

The creatures clearly had no intention of fighting me head on. Instead, they were using their clones to wear down my patience while hiding their real bodies somewhere in the surrounding shadows.

Pom!Pii.

Inside my mind, Luna and Noir spoke up. “The sun will rise soon.” and “It might be easier to deal with them after daylight.”

I shook my head firmly.

<“No. I must kill them before darling wakes up.”>

Until now, I had deliberately avoided using my stronger skills. Many of them released bright flashes of light that could easily illuminate the entire campsite. If that happened, my darling might wake up.

But I could not move away from my current position either. I stood directly in front of our tent, guarding it. If I chased the monsters too far, they might slip past me and approach the tent while I was distracted.

That was absolutely unacceptable.

Slash!

Another clone disappeared.

The Moonshadow Hunters continued circling me, their hidden bodies moving silently through the darkness while their illusions attacked from every direction.

My patience finally snapped.

“Ugh! Enough of this!”

Eclipsis Gloweave!

A radiant aura burst from my body, expanding outward like a rising sun. Brilliant light spread across the clearing, washing away the shadows that had concealed my enemies.

The darkness receded instantly.

“I found you…”

With the shadows gone, the real bodies of the four black cats were finally revealed. They had been hiding among the surrounding trees, watching me while their clones continued the harassment.

“You should all die before this brightness wakes him up.”

Solar Blazeblade First Form: Heliosurge Barrage.

My sword erupted into motion. Blinding arcs of blazing mana exploded from my blade as I unleashed a relentless storm of strikes. Each Moonshadow Hunter was struck a few dozen times in rapid succession.

The barrage lasted only a few seconds, yet within that brief moment the entire clearing was filled with the sound of tearing flesh and scorching mana. Even A-Rank monsters would struggle to endure such an overwhelming assault.

When the light faded, silence returned.

“It seems I've overdone it…”

I looked down at the battlefield.

The Moonshadow Hunters were small creatures, their bodies roughly the size of ordinary cats. But after enduring my attack, their forms had been completely shredded apart. Not even their fur remained intact. Their bodies had been torn into countless fragments scattered across the ground. Despite spending hours dealing with them, there was nothing left to collect.

Inside my mind, Luna and Noir reacted very differently.

Pom! (Wow! That was incredible!)

But Noir’s voice came softly, almost like a whisper.

Pii… (Poor cats…)

Her reaction made my chest tighten slightly.

Noir once belonged to the black cat race. Seeing creatures that resembled her former kin die so brutally must have been uncomfortable for her.

<“I'm sorry, Noir.”>

Pii. (I'm fine, big sis Len.)

Her voice was gentle and reassuring.

Pii. (Big sis Aza told us something before. This is the law of this world. The strong survive and the weak perish. We experienced it ourselves too.)

What the hell does Aza teach innocent girls like them!?

Even though… It was true.

And because Luna and Noir had experienced that cruel truth firsthand, I could not deny it.

Still, I could not simply accept such a world either.

<“That's why we must change it.”>

I tightened my grip on my sword slightly.

<“Our goal is to create a nation where even the weak can live happily without being crushed by the strong.”>

Pii!

Noir’s mood brightened immediately. Her cheerful sound echoed warmly inside my mind.

I smiled faintly.

At that moment, the sky began to brighten as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon. Inside the tent behind me, I sensed movement.

“Clean.”

I immediately dispelled Eclipsis Gloweave and tidied the area as quickly as possible. Every remaining fragment of the monsters was gathered and stored inside my magic bag, leaving no trace of the battle behind.

Just as I finished, the tent flap opened.

“Umm... Len? Good morning... Yawn…”

My darling stepped out while rubbing his sleepy eyes.

“Good morning, darling!”

I greeted him with a bright smile. He stretched slightly before looking around the campsite.

“I noticed a bright light earlier,” he said curiously. “What were you doing? You weren’t swinging your sword like usual.”

“A-Ah, well... Did I wake you up?” I asked nervously.

I quickly searched for a reasonable explanation.

“I… um… I was practicing the space element. I thought I had finally understood how to balance light and dark mana properly, so I got carried away experimenting.”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“The light you saw was probably from that... A-Ahaha...”

“Really?” His eyes narrowed slightly, clearly skeptical.

“Y-Yes! Why would I lie to you?” I replied while forcing my most innocent smile.

He sighed softly. “Alright. Just don’t push yourself too hard. Let’s eat breakfast. I’m starving.”

“Yes! I’m hungry too.”

Victory!

Once again, I had successfully hidden the truth from him.

And once again, my darling’s peaceful sleep remained undisturbed.

Thus, night after night, I continued fighting alone beneath the moonlit forest, protecting him from the monsters that lurked in the darkness without ever waking him.