A faint sound disturbed the quiet of the forest.
At first, it was barely noticeable—soft, distant, almost blending into the natural rhythm of the wind. But gradually, it became clearer. Footsteps.
Leaves rustled under careful movement, and small branches snapped quietly beneath steady weight. The sound wasn't random or scattered.
It was organized.
There were many of them.
From between the thick trees, shadows began to shift. One by one, figures emerged, moving cautiously as they scanned their surroundings, clearly on guard against any danger.
They were demi-humans.
There were sixteen in total.
Some appeared older, their faces worn with fatigue and experience. Three children stayed close to the adults, clinging to them as they walked. The rest were a mix of young and middle-aged individuals, their movements slow but determined.
Among them, seven were cat demi-humans. Their ears stood upright, twitching slightly as they listened to every sound around them, alert and cautious.
A few members of the group stood out.
They wore similar outfits—fitted, practical clothing that resembled that of guards or escorts. Each of them carried a weapon: swords, short spears, and daggers. Two were women, and five were men, and from their posture alone, it was clear they were the protectors of the group.
The others looked far less prepared.
Their clothes were simple, worn like those of villagers. Some had visible injuries, bandages wrapped around arms or legs. A few leaned on others for support as they walked, exhaustion evident in every step.
Step by step, the group moved through the forest.
Then they saw her.
Beneath a tree, Miyuki lay asleep, her body still and peaceful, completely unaware of their presence. The group instinctively slowed, their eyes shifting as they took in the scene—until they noticed him.
Haruto stood nearby.
In that instant, the atmosphere changed, suspicion and tension quietly settling in the air.
From a distance, the scene looked clear to them—a human standing over a demi-human girl lying defenseless on the ground.
To them, there was only one conclusion.
He had captured her.
And now… he was about to turn her into a slave.
A young cat demi-human girl stepped forward slightly, her ears twitching sharply as her gaze fixed on Haruto. A weapon rested across her back, marking her as one of the guards.
Her voice was low, but firm.
"We should save her… before he slave her… or worse."
The others silently agreed, their grip tightening around their weapons.
Meanwhile, Haruto remained unaware of their thoughts.
From his perspective, they were simply a group passing through the forest—perhaps even heading in the same direction. A flicker of hope crossed his mind.
Maybe they could help.
Maybe they knew where other demi-humans lived… or where he and Miyuki could find safety.
He took a step forward, intending to speak.
But before he could say a word
An arrow shot toward him.
His eyes widened, and his body reacted instantly. He twisted to the side, barely dodging it as the arrow flew past his head and struck a tree behind him.
Another followed.
Haruto raised his arm instinctively, deflecting it just enough to avoid a direct hit.
"Wait—!" he tried to shout. "I'm not—!"
They didn't listen.
More arrows came, forcing him to retreat quickly behind a nearby tree. His breathing grew uneven as he pressed his back against the rough bark, his mind racing to understand what was happening.
Then it hit him—Miyuki. His eyes shifted toward where she lay. They weren't attacking her; they were only targeting him.
Which meant
"They think I captured her…" he muttered under his breath.
His grip tightened slightly.
"And if that's what they believe…"
He glanced back toward the approaching group, their weapons ready, their expressions filled with hostility.
"…then words were never going to save him."