Chapter 18 - Family

"Nanako, huh, what a nice name," Elias says after reading her name on the ground.

Elias never hears her name in his past life, at least as the front line fighter, but it's within his expectation. She probably dies soon after got transmigrated in his past life, either because of malnutrition or torture by those goblins. She only survives because he passes through this place and then kills those goblins who kept her. Nothing he can say, most people die at this stage because of this kind of situation.

However, his choice to go through this route ultimately change her fate.

Nevertheless, even though those goblins can't torture her anymore, it doesn't mean she already get out from hell — this world is still a Gehenna for the human race.

He couldn't leave her alone in this dangerous forest after helping her this far. Even though she'll probably become a burden later, but as long it doesn't endanger humanity chance, he won't half-assedly help her, it either helps her until she safe or doesn't help her at all.

He can't help everyone, but he won't hesitate to help someone as long it within reasonable limits.

'It seems I become more similar with my master,' he sighs.

"Listen Nanako, this world is hell compared to earth, these kinds of monsters always roaming in the wild, and most of them are stronger than those goblins. With your current power, a random monster can kill you easily, it's safer for you to follow me towards the south," Elias tries to explain her situation.

Elias sure that Nanako will reply his invitation with a nod, but when he observes her reaction, he notices signs of acceptance but soon changes into hesitation with a tinge of anxiety on her face after hearing his words.

'Is something troubling her mind?'

She looks towards Elias and then takes a deep breath to encourages herself, she grabs her sleeve with a visible little tear in the corner of her eyes.

"Do you have something to tell me?"

She silent for a while which followed by a small nod, she grabs the twig and writes some words on the ground while trembling.

Please help my family too.

Elias stunned after reading those words, but he still silent when notice she write more words on the ground. After he reads all of it, he understands that she wasn't the only goblins' slave, unluckily, two of her brothers also transmigrated near this place and then become goblins' slave too.

It's rare to a family to send together into the same area, but it sometimes can happen. Usually, this situation will save that family energy searching for each other, but that's the best case. If they got sent into a dangerous area, all of them will get killed or become playthings of stronger creatures.

Elias sometimes asks about her situation which Nanako answer with her writing. After he understands her situation and thought it carefully, he skeptical that her brothers still alive. After all, they're young boys and don't have long-term value to those goblins — neither as fighters or sex slaves — some of those monsters maybe swing that way but not those goblins. They always use women as their night amusements.

The only possibility left about what happened to her brothers is those goblins catch them as livestock for foods.

The livestock usually locked up for a few days until they become their feast. Nanako's brother who in this place for more than a week most likely already inside their stomach. Elias sigh, after thinking the best way to convey his assumption about how small her brother chance to survive.

"Nanako, I hate to say this, but both of them is probably already dead..." Elias starts to explain.

***

While hearing his explanation, Nanako's face become paler and her mouth is gaping as if want to say something while grabbing her sleeve tightly. She understands there no way the man in front of her will rush towards monsters' lairs only to save someone who probably dead.

Even if her brother still alive, there is no way the man in front of her gamble his life for random strangers — nobody is that kind in this world.

She doesn't know why she even tries to asks this hopeless requests, but she wants to believe that her brother is still alive and everything will be okay. Nonetheless, she always knows this world is cruel and uncaring.

Without she's realizing, her tear starts to flows on her cheeks.

***

Elias understands her feeling when he looks at her eyes — despair, weakness, and anguish.

She stares him with a helpless expression, her sorrowful eyes remind him of his reflection in the mirror, when no one would help at his worst time — a lonesome feeling after all his friends die. The only things he wants is hope, even if that is a false one.

He wants someone to sit next to him, even if he stays silent.

He wants someone tells him everything will be okay, even if it won't.

He's fortunate to have Emily who pulls him out from the despair and give him true hope even after all dream fade.

However, Nanako's now alone without anyone she can trust, while still oblivious whether her brothers still alive or not. If he were in her shoes, at least he'll rush to them even though it's nearly certain they already die — he wants to make sure whether they live or not before moving on with his life. After all, it'll leave bad tastes if someday he knows that he didn't save them even though he had a chance.

'Master, is it my turn to protrudes my hand towards other?'

Elias sigh, "Fine, at least we'll check whether they're dead or not. If they still alive we'll try to save them."

'She'll be eaten by guilt later if I force her to follow me right now,' Elias try to rationalize his action.

Nanako still doesn't comprehend what he says and stare at him blankly with open mouth.

"Nanako, everything would be okay," Elias smile and then shuffle her hair.

Soon after he saying those words, a familiar voice — T'lear — with angry tone enters his ears, "the heck, are you serious? You're talking about goblins' den. With your current ability, it'll be hard to go there unnoticed by their leader."

Elias facing T'lear with a little smirk, "Who says I'll go there. We already have a scouting device."

"What do you mean?" T'lear tilts his head after hearing Elias words.

After hearing T'lear's question, Elias smile becomes wider and then wink his left eyes.

"I have a very bad feeling about this."

…

"I still can't believe he uses me as a scouting device," T'lear grumbled while floating around inside the goblins' den.