NATASHA'S POV
I still couldn't believe Isabella's audacity.
When she said she would solve the problem and come up with a plan, she was actually serious. That's why Douglas didn't even question her or try to give his opinion. He knows she's capable of anything.
But I never expected Li-Xeng to... do that to her.
Thinking about it, I accidentally glanced at the boy as we walked away from that sea of blood while he, walking beside me, healed my wounds.
— W-What is it, Natasha?
Li-Xeng blushed and looked away from me. Automatically, I became embarrassed too, especially because I was remembering what Isabella had said.
— You're getting all red around her, huh? Has your relationship grown closer during this adventure? Looks like we've got a couple forming.
Isabella grabbed Li-Xeng from behind and hung onto his back, teasing him as he turned even redder.
— T-That has nothing to do with it. You really never change, do you?
Li-Xeng pushed Isabella away as she smiled mischievously.
— By the way, there's something I want to talk to you about, Natasha. Alone. Girl talk.
I was surprised and stopped walking as Isabella pulled me aside.
We stopped while Li-Xeng and Douglas continued ahead, though at a slower pace.
— What is it?
I was suspicious, but Isabella looked at me with her usual ironic and confident smile.
— Is there something you want to tell me?
— Something? What do you mean?
I really couldn't figure out what that woman was thinking, but judging by her aura, I think she suspects me.
— Well, you know, while I was in the care of those little devils, they seemed interested in you. Tebas in particular.
— Yeah, I know. They probably think I'm the traitor.
— And aren't you?
— W-What? How could I be? I almost died back there!
— Well, that was just an act, just like the one I put on with the demons back there.
— Listen, I really have no reason to be the traitor.
— But it is strange that they even knew your name, don't you think?
— Everything could have been planned to make you suspect that I'm the traitor. They must have thought of everything.
— But what if you really are?
The woman stepped closer to me, placing her hands on my shoulders with a sharp gaze.
I thought I had more than proven that I wasn't the traitor, but I understood her position. After all, those demons had specifically mentioned me. But if they did that, then just as I said, they were trying to frame me to protect the real traitor. Or perhaps someone had given them false information.
— I wanted to tell you that I can prove I'm not, but I guess if even my actions weren't enough...
I looked firmly at the woman, trying to show my sincerity, but she shrugged and stepped away, laughing.
— Haha, relax. You don't need to make such a serious face. I really don't think you're the traitor.
Isabella stopped and looked toward Douglas and Li-Xeng.
— They trust you too. Besides, when I pretended to be the traitor back there, they seemed to believe me. I don't think even they know who it is.
I felt somewhat relieved by that statement, but then the woman looked at me with murderous intent.
— But I don't trust ANYONE. If I find out you're the traitor, consider yourself dead, okay?
Isabella smiled sweetly before continuing to walk.
There really was no way to get myself off the main list of suspects.
But I had finally figured out one thing: I was almost certain Li-Xeng wasn't the traitor. Of all the heroes, there was no way it could be him.
We continued walking as night fell.
We stopped to make camp, and Douglas returned to the topic we had discussed earlier.
— Do you really believe those demons were our companions?
He asked Isabella, who was eating a roasted bird by the campfire.
— It was pretty obvious, wasn't it?
— If that's the case... we need to warn the others!
Li-Xeng said, trying to mentally sense whether any group was nearby.
— We wasted too much time, but we're still within the two-day deadline I mentioned. Fortunately, I don't sense that anyone in the group has died.
Indeed, the group had an incredible synergy. They could sense when one of them died or even when one of them was seriously injured.
— But how could the Central Command not know about something like this? They've been studying demons since the Purge!
I questioned an important point.
— Indeed. That's what makes me think they were just trying to deceive you, Isabella...
Li-Xeng glanced sideways at Isabella, afraid she would get angry at him for not completely believing her.
— Pff, I didn't really buy much of their story either, but I don't know... it seemed genuine to me. I know people very well.
Isabella wiped her mouth while Douglas seemed deep in thought.
— There's also the fact that one of the demons you killed disappeared, right?
He looked at me, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
— That's true. We searched everywhere, but one of them was missing. And I didn't exactly butcher him enough for him to have turned to dust.
— So one of them was still alive and escaped.
Douglas cracked his fingers as he stared at the dark, deserted horizon.
— But I would've sensed it. Even though I wasn't in the best condition, if one of them had moved away, I would've sensed it immediately.
Li-Xeng stood up, wiping his hands as he subtly avoided Douglas's gaze.
— I know. You wouldn't make a mistake like that. So that means there are two possibilities: either that demon is alive and hiding, somehow capable of concealing his presence, or they can use the portals freely.
The fact that those demons had reached that floor without anyone knowing was still puzzling.
Creating portals was something only the stronger demons could do, along with the Central Command and the very few sorcerers capable of such a feat.
There was only one other hero we knew of who possessed the same teleportation ability as Isabella, but no demon had demonstrated that power so far.
As if she had read my mind, Isabella began to speak.
— I wouldn't be surprised if one of them had some kind of teleportation ability too. Considering that they were humans before becoming demons, one of them could have come from the same universe as me. And there's nothing stopping them from having some kind of similar device. We haven't heard of anything like that so far, but we have to consider the possibility. There were several Exiles in that world, and I know some of them didn't die.
— But you never saw anyone with a device like yours?
I asked.
— No. I was blessed, darling. Maybe it was because of my beauty (?) Who knows. But there was one of them with an even more annoying ability. He was a nerdy kid, kind of like Li-Xeng. He had boots that could make him jump several meters at a time. It was almost like manual teleportation.
— And how has a Returned like that not been "discovered" yet?
— Do you really think the Central Command cares about any hero group besides ours?
Isabella's words sounded arrogant, but they were the reality.
The Central Command's focus was on supporting the twelve strongest heroes.
There were several other hero groups throughout the tower, but they were barely mentioned in reports. Some had unknown whereabouts, while others were simply ignored.
The only group we knew of besides the twelve was my brother's, assuming three people could even be called a group... But since there were only three of them and they were more or less out of contact with the Central Command, the focus remained on the twelve—the group most capable of completing the tower.
In the last report, while I was still with the scouts, I learned that there was a group of ten people on the 30th floor. If we weren't so short on time, we could have waited for them to arrive and join the twelve, but the Central Command had never issued any orders regarding them.
— Let's not lose focus. We know demons can be human beings. That's something that could completely change the course of things. If the Central Command doesn't know about this, we need to report it. After all, if one of the heroes dies, it's better to reduce their body to dust than let them become demons.
Douglas said it with such coldness that it sent another shiver down my spine.
His ability to say harsh things with such conviction was what made me think he was a true leader.
— We agreed to meet in the northern region. Li-Xeng, when you sense any group nearby, try to establish communication. Once we get close to the crystal, I'll teleport there and contact the Central Command.
Isabella said as she stood up, ready to enter her tent.
— Then you keep watch for one hour, Li-Xeng. After that, I'll take over until dawn. We can't afford to wait too long. I think three hours of sleep should be enough for us to recover.
Douglas said, also standing up, while Li-Xeng used his staff to strengthen the fire and created a barrier around the two tents.
I would be sleeping with Isabella, even though I was still a little uneasy around her after that murderous look she'd given me a few hours ago.
That mission had ended well, even though I had almost died twice. Were battles with the group of twelve always like this?
What have I gotten myself into...?
No. I couldn't hesitate now.
The only way to reach my brother was through them.
And perhaps... to recover the memories I had lost.
Meanwhile, Li-Xeng, the only one still awake and keeping watch, took an artifact from his pocket that looked like a digital wristwatch.
Red numbers displayed on it:
"89 DAYS REMAINING."
Li-Xeng pressed his lips together and closed his eyes in distress before putting the artifact away again.
OMAR'S GROUP
Omar's group, consisting of Omar, Sally, Vick, and Vicente, was responsible for finding out what the portal that had opened on that floor was.
After walking for almost an entire day, they came across a scout camp.
While observing them from behind a rock using his Eagle Eyes ability, Omar turned toward the others.
— There are fifteen of them, and they're all scouts.
— Then let's go talk to th—
Vick began to stand up, but Omar grabbed her arm aggressively.
— You still don't understand. Look carefully near the campfire on the right.
Vick tried to focus her vision through the darkness. Her eyes widened when she noticed something.
— I want to see too! Lend me your ability!
Sally also tried to see what was happening and was horrified when she spotted two naked women tied up, blindfolded, and kneeling while four men, also naked, were engaging in sexual abuse against them.
— What the... What the hell is this?