The woman let out a breath. "I don't know."
"When exactly was your younger sibling kidnapped?"
"10 years ago," Kaine said.
The woman burst into loud laughter when she heard Kaine's words.
Ten years ago was when the monster and beast invasion happened again, a massive war that lasted two years and destroyed everything.
"You're interrogating me about what we did 10 years ago? Are you crazy?"
Kaine narrowed his eyes, pressing his dagger against the fox woman's neck. "A lot of people want you. They could turn you into their toy, sell you for a high price. Obviously you'd experience things worse than you could ever imagine."
The fox woman fell silent for a moment, staring into Kaine's eyes that felt different compared to the other humans she had met.
Many of the humans she encountered had eyes filled with lust and greed. They died in disgrace.
But Kaine was different. The light shining in his eyes was not the gaze of a man who desired her body.
It… was the gaze of someone filled with vengeance and wounds from the past.
"Since you're asking that, I'll answer."
Kaine pulled his hand back, no longer threatening her. The fox woman's eyes remained fixed on him, watching him seriously.
"Those who were captured were taken to Valemorth Palace," she answered.
"What palace?"
"The Demon Empire's palace. You asked me what's inside the gates, right? I'll answer!"
"The world beyond the gates is the territory of the Zagaroth Demon Empire."
Kaine fell silent, not laughing, not shocked either. Ten years ago, he witnessed horrifying monsters kill his parents right before his eyes.
The monster was difficult to describe in form. When it happened, the kitsune race arrived and burned the city with their fire magic.
Kaine struggled to identify the monster that killed his parents. That was why he vented his anger on the kitsune.
He was convinced the kitsune and the monster that murdered his parents were allied.
"Were they… black-bodied, with sharp hands, and smelling like insects?"
"They are demonic insect soldiers. But yes, they can be categorized as part of the demon empire," she explained.
"I saw you there, destroying our city, burning the people inside it. You were also… part of the demon empire?" Kaine asked.
The woman shook her head, smiling as she looked at him. "We were at war, but we were being cornered."
"Those demons threatened to kill us if we didn't join the war."
The young man fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond. The fox woman's face did not appear to be lying. Her eyes never left Kaine's.
"But you could have stopped when you realized you were attacking innocent humans," Kaine said.
"We were forced. If we didn't do it, we would have died," the woman replied.
"That would've been better," Kaine shot back, looking at her again. "Instead of venting your cowardice by killing our race!"
The fox woman was stunned by Kaine's words, words she never expected to hear from a victim of the demon empire's invasion.
Kaine was only an ordinary human, but his words were more than enough to wound her heart, implying they had another choice besides killing innocent people.
"Naive," the fox woman said.
"What?"
"You're… naive. That's why you lost and suffered!" she shouted.
Kaine fell silent, then let out a breath. He sheathed his dagger and stood right beside the bed.
"I've gotten enough information. Tomorrow, I'll sell you to the slave market."
"Pray you don't end up with some fat, ugly man who smells like crap!"
The fox woman began to panic. "Wait!"
"Stop! I can help you!" she screamed.
The man stopped walking, turning back to look at her. "What?"
"If you help me return to the gate, then I can help you save your sister," the woman explained.
"Why should I listen to you? I can search for them myself."
"No, you can't!" the woman said, grinning.
The fox woman explained that the gate territory was a place full of poison, traps, and the worst environment for humans.
Kaine might be able to enter, but saving his sibling imprisoned in Valemorth Castle was impossible.
"Valemorth Castle is filled with traps, poison, and hundreds of thousands of insect troops and half-demons. You might be able to avoid the soldiers, but not the traps and poison."
"The Demon Emperor knows humans keep coming to the gates to save those being held hostage. The Demon Emperor is cunning. They're using this moment to slowly destroy humanity's spirit!"
"He wants humans to see the gates as doors of death for them. No one will explore the gates anymore, which means they'll lose their fighting spirit," the woman stressed.
Kaine stood still, closing the door that had been slightly open, then locking it again. His attention returned to the fox woman.
"And then?"
"Strike humans hard when they lose their confidence. Those who lose their spirit are the easiest people to kill."
The fox woman once again convinced Kaine that only she could help him. Without her guidance, Kaine would die quickly inside the gate.
"So?" the fox woman asked.
Kaine fell silent for a moment, still staring sharply at her. Slowly, he stepped closer.
"What are you doing?" the woman asked.
"What's your name?"
"Erin."
Kaine took his dagger, pierced the tip of his finger, and swung the blood blade forcefully.
SLASH!
The blood blade shattered the magic ropes, freeing the woman from Kaine's restraints.
Unexpectedly, the fox woman grinned and grabbed Kaine by the throat the moment she was free.
"Stupid human! You really are foolish and naive, easy to manipulate!"
"Help you save your sister? That was just nonsense. Maybe your sister is already dead!"
"You put your hope in the wrong person, human!"
Kaine's breath grew ragged, his hands clenched tightly as his eyes turned blue. His body tensed, his heart burned with unavoidable rage.
His trust had been betrayed by that woman. Betrayal was a grave crime, unforgivable!
Kaine's eyes slowly closed, not dying, but sensing something inside his body about to explode.
In his subconscious, Kaine opened his eyes and saw himself standing on sand. In front of him was a wooden house he once visited just to stay for one night.
There was a woman standing outside the house. Kaine and the woman exchanged a brief look, and then a smile formed on her face.
She stepped into the wooden house and informed her master, "Master, your grandson is here."
Kaine felt a surge of curiosity. He walked toward it and opened the door. Inside, an old grandfather was cooking something.
The woman was there as well, turning back to him with another smile.
The grandfather turned around and smiled warmly. "I knew… you would come again, Kaine."
"What's happening?" Kaine asked.
The old grandfather stepped closer to Kaine and gently patted the young man's shoulder. "It's time for you to awaken the power I gave you, Kaine."
"You must become my successor!"