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Smooth. It was too smooth. So easy that it was worrying. Far easier than she had anticipated, which was clearly abnormal. Yaeger cautiously approached the seventeenth cell, her mind razor-focused and constantly vigilant for potential threats. Faint sobbing noises could be heard outside the entrance.

‘It’s Layna’s voice. They actually didn’t move her?’ Yaeger’s mind tensed up instantly. She unsheathed the thin blade from her waist, eyeing the cell door. This door, forged from black metal, was notably tough and difficult to destroy.

After a few seconds of waiting, the anticipated danger did not materialize, leaving her confused.

‘Am I being too paranoid? Or maybe they think I can’t take her away just because they’ve blocked the main entrance? That’s why they are so relaxed?’ Yaeger’s doubts deepened as she half-squinted her eyes.

Under normal circumstances, once the exit of an underground prison like this was blocked, escape would be impossible. Yaeger was undoubtedly trapped, with seemingly no way out.

‘No, no way. They shouldn’t be this clueless, right?’ She tilted her head, puzzled.

“Forget it.” Her aura seeped through the door, and upon realizing no one was near, her expression darkened. The blade in her hand flashed, and the next moment, the thick metal door started to show glowing cracks before collapsing with a snap.

“Ahhh!” The person inside, startled by the sudden change, let out a cute scream.

“Layna, let’s go home.” A familiar voice reached her, making her feel as though her mind had been struck, causing a ringing sensation. Layna’s pupils shrank as she saw the dazzling figure standing there.

“I… I’m not dreaming, am I?” Until that moment, Layna had been silently crying for help. Now, it was as if the gods had answered her prayers, sending Yaeger to her rescue. ‘No, not a god, but Princess…’ In her eyes, Yaeger was her entire world, her only deity.

“I’m sorry I got you involved,” Yaeger expressed, her voice a mixture of apology and anger upon seeing Layna’s tear-stained face and her torn prison uniform. She felt apologetic towards Layna and furious towards their enemies. Fortunately, Layna’s life essence remained pure and unchanged, which slightly tempered Yaeger’s rage.

Layna shook her head, tears flowing uncontrollably. She didn’t feel wronged in the slightest.

“Princess!” The only thing Layna felt at that moment was indescribable excitement and emotion. ‘She broke into this inescapable prison all by herself, just to save me…’ With a leap, Layna threw herself into Yaeger’s embrace, sobbing.

Meanwhile, the system notifications chimed in.

The announcements continued until their relationship status reached intimate.

“It’s fine now,” Yaeger assured her, holding Layna with one hand and gently stroking her head.

“Waahhhh!” In that moment, Layna felt as though she had awakened from a nightmare, enveloped in safety, and began to cry like a child. Her fears—of the prison, of that woman, of being left unsaved—were all dispelled by Yaeger’s comforting presence and actions.

‘So warm, so comfortable.’ It was a feeling that replaced her fear with peace of mind.

“Enough, stop crying. Let’s get out of here first,” Yaeger suggested, her hand gliding through Layna’s smooth hair, offering comfort with gentle pats on her back.

“Sob… Yes!” Layna immediately ceased her tears and nodded vigorously in agreement.

As Yaeger was about to retrieve the Spatial Crystal from her storage ring, the sound of countless doors opening halted her actions. This was quickly followed by the sound of rushing footsteps. “I see,” Yaeger murmured, an idea sparking in her mind as she pieced together the situation.

Outside, a multitude of black-armored soldiers emerged from various cells, converging on their location. “You all are actually so patient. If I hadn’t come, would you have been content to stay in these dirty and stinky cells all day?” Yaeger quipped with a smirk.

Layna instantly grasped the situation, her recently dissipated fear creeping back. “Don’t worry, I’m here,” Yaeger reassured, wrapping an arm around Layna’s shoulders, “Let’s go, I’ll take you out.”

“Yep!” Layna’s unease vanished with those words, replaced by a surge of sweet relief.

Stepping out of the cell, they found the corridor teeming with soldiers. ‘I don’t sense any strong auras. Looks like the warden isn’t here yet,’ Yaeger noted internally, dismissing the soldiers as insignificant. ‘Oh, there are two stronger auras.’

Yaeger hadn’t used the Spatial Crystal to escape with Layna for two reasons. Firstly, activating the crystal took time and could be interrupted, leaving her vulnerable. Secondly, and most importantly, she sought retribution for Layna’s mistreatment. Simply fleeing would have been unsatisfying.

“You didn’t expect this, did you?” a voice boomed from the crowd. The black-armored soldiers parted, allowing a tall man adorned in black armor with gold rims to approach. Despite his average looks, his eyes were piercing. Noticing his level 70 status, Yaeger acknowledged his strength as a formidable opponent under normal circumstances.

“I am Farat, Lord Blei’s lieutenant in the Direct army,” the man introduced himself, stopping before Yaeger. “I’m here to arrest you!” As he declared his intent, the overwhelming aura of a level 70 powerhouse enveloped the space, exploding with intimidating force.

Feeling this daunting presence, Layna tensed, but Yaeger’s unfazed demeanor brought her comfort. ‘With Princess here, we’ll find a way through this,’ she thought confidently.

“I advise you to surrender obediently. Otherwise…” Farat began, a malicious grin spreading across his face. He relished the opportunity to witness their despair, a sight he found intoxicating no matter how many times he experienced it. However, he was frustrated to find neither Yaeger nor Layna displaying the desperation he anticipated, especially Yaeger, who seemed oblivious to the peril she was in.

Just as Farat was about to continue, a charming voice interjected from his left, “Ohohoho. What perfect timing.”