Chapter 166 - You All Are Already Safe

They started loosening their chokers, and pain just reached their nerves and went straight to their brains. The shackles that they had become used to had become an unbearable pain that they couldn't endure.

They started shouting and just as Ellena was surprised, she panicked to calm one of the slaves.

All of the slaves were 36 in number. In a small room, they were fit just to wait to be sold to wealthy people.

"What happened to them?" Ellena asked.

Rosellete just had concerning eyes. Her eyes also can't look straight to the female slaves they just saved.

"They are experiencing a shock. It's from the choker.. And the effect of loosening it without proper process will bring them unbearable pain."

Rosellete's explanation worried Ellena. She didn't know what to do. Also, Thalia, at the back, was trembling in fear and sympathy.

"How long will they experience it?"

"..." Rosellete was silent. Both Ellena and Selena were anticipating her answer, but she appeared to be reluctant.

"How long, Rosellete?"

"... 3 minutes."

Ellena was shocked after hearing it. The worries she felt became stronger. Of course, it wasn't because of sympathy but of her justice persona. She still had it and saving them activated it again.

The thought of making a utopia did not disappear from her mind.

She gritted her teeth helplessly.

"So, can we help them?"

Rosellete shook her head.

Ellena, lacking in another thought, just sighed. "I hope they can endure it and not lose their minds," she mumbled as soon as she reached one of them.

However, one of the slaves wasn't screaming in pain. Instead, she was cluelessly looking at them and soon attracted the attention of the four ladies who saved the slaves.

"How come you aren't experiencing it?" Ellena wondered.

"I don't know." the slave answered.

And then she continued as an idea just reached her thoughts. "Maybe because of my rune and ability."

"What's your ability?"

"It's called Fortified Mind. I actually don't know what the use of it was, but it was a mid-rank ability. Yet... it's useless." the slave said in a dispirited tone.

"Don't call your ability useless. Just because you don't know the use, doesn't mean it's actually useless." Ellena said and approached her.

She looked at the dirty face of the slave and wiped some of it. She created a small droplet of water and fully wiped her face.

When the slave saw it, she was more shocked. How come that the hero lady just displayed three different magical elements? Does this mean she's too powerful to take out plenty of bandits who were guarding the outside?

"What's your name?" Ellena asked.

"I-I am... Rebecca."

Just as Ellena was finally finished cleaning Rebecca's face, she soon started cleaning the hair, revealing a red color.

"Oh. Selena, you had the same hair as Rebecca." Ellena remarked. Selena just nodded.

"Wait. I'll become wet." Rebecca said her worries.

Ellena just smiled and continued what she was doing.

"Don't worry. I'll dry you later immediately. You need to get cleaned."

Rebecca just nodded and somewhat let Ellena do the rest, even though it was very embarrassing for her to be treated this way.

***

Rebecca has a solid mind. She wasn't easily traumatized, unlike others who still had blank faces and scared expressions.

They were still slightly trembling in their bodies, and even though they left the cave alive, they were still afraid and traumatized by the torment in their memories.

When Ellena noticed it, she tapped one of the slaves' shoulders.

"It's okay. You are all already safe, so there's no need to be scared anymore. All of them died, and also you'll be going back to your lives."

The slaves were just silent, looking at them with slight doubt in their eyes. And when Rebecca noticed it, she stepped up and faced them all.

"They are all kind. Don't worry, I can assure you that." Rebecca said to raise their morales and it seems to be effective.

In the slaves, Rebecca was one of the closest to them all, as she was the only one who had hope till the end. And just like her hope, it gave them assurance that they could surpass the worries.

All of them smiled and continued walking. They saw piles of corpses with dissipated bodies and somewhat troubled wounds around their bodies.

Though it was dreadful, they couldn't feel pity towards them as they were the ones who made them suffer all the time.

They even spat on their bodies as they went out of the woods.

Selena snickered as she saw them looking at the bodies with disdainful eyes.

'They are strong enough to overcome their fear,' she thought as she observed them at the back.

When they finally walked out of the woods, they finally became complacent. They met the path, and just that, they all cried once again.

They all cried for only one reason: they can finally go back home.

Their tears reached Ellena's heart that deep inside, she promised to save slaves who had been enslaved in an unfair manner.

Being captured, tormented, and violated, she promised that she'll keep everyone safe in her own ways. Even she can't keep everyone safe, just what she can produce, she'll try to surpass it.

"Now that you are finally safe, what will you do?"

When Ellena asked them, they only had one answer.

"I want to learn how to protect myself."

The sufferings they experience. Every agony that scarred the deepest part of their heart and mind, they wanted to cover it and wanted to not let it happen again.

"Is that so? How will you do it? You still had to start at the bottom. If you want to, I can help you with the money but I can't manage you all."

However, Ellena's words seem to make a misunderstanding in them. The slaves listening to them were filled with admiration and determination.

"Please! Make us your servants!"

What Ellena said, especially 'manage' made them think that she's willing to take them under her wing.

[A/N]

Don't buy the next chapter. I was a glitch that uploaded double content. Please, don't pay for the next chapter it's just the same with this. I will fix it but it will be tomorrow since it's impossible to delete a premium chapter.