The chaos following the raid subsided, anchored by Noah's party. The lack of casualties proved a significant stabilizing factor.
Over the next week, we reinforced the damaged structures and swept the surrounding area, clearing out the lingering hyenas.
With the organization stabilized, Noah and I immediately began planning our departure from Kardishan.
To be marked by the Demon King's Army was to forfeit one's life in the Demon King's Land.
Noah, Lily, and Nero began a rigorous vetting process for our escape party. Fearing another traitor like 'Jeolmi' might be lurking among the executives, we only admitted those verified by magic tools.
Once the trusted executives had gathered in the conference room, Noah wasted no time presenting the agenda.
Opinions varied wildly. Some suggested splitting into multiple parties to scatter in every direction, while others proposed fleeing to some remote corner where the Demon King's Army couldn't track us.
Armed with my knowledge of the original work, I could easily discern which seemingly plausible plans were actually death sentences.
"Scattering is suicide. The Demon King's Army is actively occupying neighboring nations; human-held territories will eventually fall. Our only hope is to reach the Empire—the seat of the greatest power—and escape."
In the original narrative, every nation but the Empire fell to the Demon King. The final Hero, Iris, had appeared like a comet only when the Empire itself stood on the brink of collapse.
Therefore, the Empire was our only viable destination.
"As long as we remain in the Demon King's Land, our capture is inevitable. Even if we hide in the most desolate reaches, they will find us."
The Demon King's Army commanded a vast array of esoteric powers, not just Black Magic. We would be discovered even in lands where demons themselves struggled to survive.
As I laid out my arguments without hesitation, backing them with cold logic, the meeting began to center around me.
"First, we must address the headcount. Being a member of the Nest does not grant everyone the right to flee the Demon King's Land."
Those born and raised in Kardishan, their values warped beyond repair, had no choice but to remain. Most of the personnel at the external headquarters fell into this category.
Even among the former slaves, many looked down on others, eager to exploit the Nest's power for their own ends.
There was no one to correct them, and frankly, many were born with rotten dispositions to begin with.
Including such people in our escape party would be like inviting our own capture.
We decided that the escape route would be determined by the three of us: myself, with my knowledge of the original work, and Nero and Noah, who possessed comprehensive intelligence.
The remaining executives were tasked with vetting the escapees.
€
They used magic tools to gauge the moral corruption of candidates, followed by secondary vetting based on rumors and behavioral observation.
We set the departure date for two weeks out.
The timeline was aggressive; we had to move quickly.
"...Rian, are you alright?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine."
Noah checked on me repeatedly, her concern evident amidst the work. Every time that sweet scent—which I hadn't consciously noticed before—brushed against my nose, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Juliana watched us both with a sly expression.
The days blurred into a flurry of steady preparation. A week before our departure, the final roster was set.
The number was smaller than expected: ninety-eight people, less than a tenth of the organization. Excluding the executives, the vast majority would remain in Kardishan.
"Since the Nest dominates Kardishan, everyone wants to stay."
"Most believe that even if the Demon King's Army or other factions target them, that's a problem for another day."
Metaphorically, the Nest was a massive corporation untouchable within Kardishan. Even if rivals targeted the Nest, or if the leadership changed, most members preferred to stay.
Many who harbored such thoughts possessed greedy, cruel streaks. Consequently, the executives didn't bother trying to convince them otherwise.
Noah offered a bitter smile upon hearing the report. It pained her to see that the scarred children who had once been slaves had grown into such greedy adults.
With the situation largely settled and the sun long set, I burrowed into my blankets, drifting toward sleep.
*Patter!*
Light footsteps sounded outside my door.
*Bang!*
The door swung open without a knock. I bolted upright, staring into the gloom. The room was windowless and swallowed by darkness, rendering me blind, yet I instinctively knew who stood there.
"Jess? What's the matter at this hour?"
"Rian-nim!"
Jess sprinted forward, launching herself at me.
"Ugh!"
I tumbled back onto the bed, the impact feeling like being tackled by a large dog. Rubbing the back of my aching head, I addressed her.
"Ugh... Jess, you can't just pounce like that—"
Before I could finish, Jess flopped onto me. My body stiffened.
"Je, Je, Jess?"
"Sniff, sniff..."
Jess narrowed her eyes and buried her nose in my neck, inhaling deeply. I pulled back, grabbing her shoulders.
"Jess, explain—why are you doing this?"
Before I could finish, she began to writhe against me, rubbing her body against mine like a puppy marking a new object with its scent.
Her long, fragrant hair tickled my face as she rubbed her back against me. When she tried to turn and rub against me from the front—I grabbed her shoulders, stopping her cold.
"Whimper..."
Jess whined, sounding exactly like a puppy held by the scruff. The pathetic sound made me feel like I'd committed a grave sin. I shook my head firmly.
"Phew... Jess, you need to explain exactly what you're doing."
"Khehe... I'm getting rid of the marking left by the Four Heavenly Kings."
"Marking?"
"Noah said so! She said the Four Heavenly Kings left a marking on Rian-nim, and that's why we have to run away!"
"Ah..."
She had clearly misinterpreted "marked by the Four Heavenly Kings" as a literal physical mark. I recalled a piece of trivia from the original work.
'Among Beastkin, marking is akin to claiming territory.'
For another Beastkin to leave a mark on someone cherished by another was essentially an act of poaching.
No wonder Jess had come running in such a frenzy.
'...It's not weird, right?'
Jess's previous talk of "Marriage! Making a tribe!" flashed through my mind, but I quickly shoved the thought aside.
'It must be because we're like family.'
Was it because I'd known Jess since she was so young? My mind refused to wander in that direction.
No sooner had I thought that—
*Grab!*
"Uh?"
The wrist I'd been using to hold her shoulders was snatched away. Even with the Gag Filter in effect, no normal human could overpower a Beastkin.
The bed shook as she pinned my wrists down. My eyes, now adjusted to the dark, clearly saw Jess—her ears twitching, pupils dilated, licking her lips.
"Rian-nim, I'll get rid of all the Four Heavenly Kings' markings!"
*Swish, swish.* Her tail brushed against my instep. Her voice was cute, but her eyes were those of a predator eyeing its kill. My body froze.
'What? Does she mean she's going to eat them off?'
The image of being chewed and swallowed alive by Jess flashed before my eyes.
'Maybe it's a reward... No, absolutely not!'
In a world where being stepped on by a beautiful girl was considered a reward, such thoughts were inevitable. I shook off the absurdity and tried to soothe her.
"That... it doesn't have to be right now. Why don't we talk about this when the sun comes up? I'm exhausted!"
As her mouth inched toward my neck, my words spilled out in a frantic rush. I was convinced I was about to have my throat bitten out.
"Ugh!"
€p> Jess let out a strange groan and suddenly recoiled.
"...What are you doing?"
Iris's voice, cold as frost, cut through the air. I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and sat up.
Iris had grabbed Jess by the scruff; Jess was flailing, letting out, "Kyao, kyao!"
"I just came to get rid of the markings left on Rian-nim!"
"Marking? Noah already explained it's not like that."
"If they left a trace, that's a marking!"
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is!"
Fearing a fight, I waved my hand to get their attention. Fortunately, both of them—seemingly accustomed to the darkness—turned their gazes toward me.
"Jess, I haven't been marked. You don't have to do this. And even if I had been, you need permission to do that kind of thing."
"Whimper..."
Jess's ears drooped, her expression sullen.
"It's late. Go back and get some sleep."
"...Can't I sleep with you?"
"..No."
If it were the child-Jess, perhaps, but I couldn't sleep with her now that she was an adult.
'If I sleep with her, I won't get a wink of sleep.'
I pointed firmly at the door, ordering her to bed. Jess trudged toward the exit, glancing back every few steps, her ears and tail drooping.
'Thank goodness it's dark.'
If the room had been bright, I might have caved to that pitiful gaze. That was how cute a sullen Jess could be.
*Clack.*
Jess left the room, leaving Iris and me alone.
"Come to think of it, why did Iris come..."
*Creak.*
Before I could finish, Iris climbed onto the bed. She confidently placed her pillow next to mine, lay down, and looked up at me with a gentle expression.