Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 68: Underground Reality

Chapter 68: Underground Reality

"What are you doing here?" Serina asked, her brows furrowing. "We were waiting for you."

Before I could answer, her gaze landed on the green coloured demi-human woman standing next to me.

"And who’s that woman with you?" she asked, curiosity laced in her tone.

Hina followed her line of sight, blinking at the green-skinned girl, then back at me. Her eyes narrowed slightly, lips curling into a smirk.

"By any chance... are you trying your luck with her?" she teased, crossing her arms.

I gave her a flat look. "No, I’m not."

Hina pursed her lips as if pretending to think, then leaned in slightly toward the girl. "Hmm... she is cute, though, and sexy as well." she mused playfully.

The woman looked at Hina awkwardly as she was analyzing her looks and body closely.

Serina exhaled, shaking her head, but then her expression shifted as she scanned the alley more closely. Her gaze flickered downward, and she stilled bodies on the ground.

"There are people on the ground as well," she noted, her voice even but questioning.

Hina’s attention followed, and when she saw the two unconscious men sprawled on the ground, her teasing demeanor vanished.

Her eyes widened slightly. "Wait... what the hell happened here?"

I sighed deeply, rubbing the back of my neck as I prepared myself for the incoming interrogation.

----

The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as the four of us sat together in the café, the low hum of chatter around us blending with the occasional clink of ceramic cups. The neon lights outside cast a faint glow through the window, illuminating our table in a dim, cozy hue.

The green-skinned woman sat stiffly in front of me, her fingers curled around the cup, as if clinging to the warmth. Her posture remained tense, her shoulders slightly hunched, and her vivid bright eyes flickered with unease.

I took a sip of my coffee, then leaned back in my chair. "So, that’s what happened," I said, finishing my recount of the back-alley incident.

Serina whistled softly. "Damn... Esther really has good intuition, huh?" She smirked, swirling her coffee with a spoon.

"Obviously, he is a gua—" Hina started but abruptly stopped mid-sentence. She blinked, then quickly changed the subject. "Ahem. Nothing... This coffee is really tasty!" She exaggeratedly took a long sip, her eyes darting away.

Serina shot her a glance but didn’t push further, only shaking her head with an amused smile.

Meanwhile, Billie, the green-skinned woman, was still sipping her coffee in small, hesitant gulps. The warmth seemed to ease some of her tension, but there was still a ghost of fear in her posture.

Serina, leaned slightly forward in a comforting embrace. "So... what’s your name?" she asked gently.

Billie hesitated. Her eyes flickered toward me for a second before she placed the cup down, her delicate fingers wrapping around it protectively.

"Billie..." she finally spoke, her voice quiet but clear. "My name is Billie."

For a moment, there was silence at the table as the name settled in the air. Then, Hina tilted her head and smiled. "Billie, huh? Well, welcome to our weird little group, I guess."

"My name is Hina and she is Serina." She said, touching her head and then pulling me by collar "And this thing is Esther. Nice to meet you."

"Thing? I am not a thing." I said, flat.

Billie hesitation lowered down a little, looking at our mischief, her fingers tightening around the ceramic cup, its warmth doing little to ease the tension in her body.

The way her golden eyes darted around, as if checking for unseen threats, made it clear—she wasn’t just afraid. She was terrified.

Hina, sensing this, reached out and gently placed her hand over Billie’s. "Okhay, Billie... where were they taking you?" Her voice was soft, reassuring. "You don’t have to be scared. We’ll help you. Just let us know, alright? There are knights in the city. They can—"

The moment the word *knights* left her lips, Billie’s body stiffened. Her eyes widened in sheer panic as she quickly shook her head. "No. Not knights..." she whispered, her voice barely audible but laced with desperation.

I exhaled quietly, resting my cheek on my palm, watching the scene unfold with mild interest. The steam from my coffee curled into the air, mixing with the café’s warm atmosphere.

Serina, who had been watching intently, quickly jumped in, her tone soothing. "Okay, okay, we won’t say anything to the knights. Just between us, promise." She held up her pinky as if sealing a sacred vow.

Billie looked at her, hesitating for a moment, then slowly nodded. Her breathing evened out just a little, and her grip on the cup loosened.

A long silence stretched between us before she finally spoke.

"Basement..." The word left her lips shakily. "They take me to a basement. There’s... an auction... for slaves."

The atmosphere at the table shifted instantly.

Serina’s eyes widened, her fingers instinctively curling into fists. Hina leaned forward, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger.

"Wait—slave trade?" Hina’s voice was barely above a whisper, but the shock was evident.

I lazily reached for a biscuit, breaking it in half with a light snap. "Woah," I muttered, chewing. "Slave trade still happens, I didn’t expect that. That’s a surprise."

"A surprise?!" Serina shot me an incredulous look. "No! It’s illegal! You can’t just—"

"Yeah," Hina chimed in, her voice more urgent. "It’s a grave* crime! Anyone involved will be killed."

I waved a hand dismissively. "Well, sure, technically. But laws don’t mean much underground." I took another bite of the biscuit, speaking between chews. "You say it’s illegal, but it still happens. You just don’t see it."

Hina let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples. "That doesn’t make it okay, Esther!"

"Did I say it was okay?" I raised a brow. "I’m just saying it’s real."

Billie watched the exchange in silence, her fingers trembling as she clutched her cup again. It was clear this wasn’t just some distant horror story to her. It was her reality.

Serina sighed, shaking her head. "This is serious. We need to do something."

Hina nodded. "Yeah, but first... Billie, do you remember anything about the place? The entrance? The people?"

Billie hesitated, biting her lip. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Yes..."

I glanced at her, intrigued now. "Hoh? Now that’s interesting."