Connor and Julian stared at each other for a while until Julian finally broke the silence.
"So, what brings the great Connor Lennox to my stronghold?" Julian asked, his tone filled with skepticism.
"If this place is your stronghold, then why isn't it recognized by Uriel?" Connor replied, noting how he had not received any notification from Uriel.
Furina began to explain, "This side of the hospital does not fall under his jurisdiction because—"
"Because there's a dungeon here," Connor interrupted as he pieced things together. "That explains how you got yourself equipped with armor and weapons, and it also explains why there were fewer monsters on this side of the entrance."
His deduction was spot on as Furina found herself unable to counter his reasoning.
"Where is my mother?" Elena asked Furina again, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and dread. She felt her heart become heavy, a sinking weight in her chest as she awaited the truth.
All this while, she had pretended to be strong, burying all her fears deep within. The facade of bravery she maintained was now crumbling, revealing the vulnerability she had tried so hard to conceal.
It was Megan who responded to Elena's question, stepping forward with a calm and reassuring expression
"Miss Elizabeth is in a coma right now. The oxalis plant she was growing had somehow gotten attached to her when we saw her upon arriving at this hospital. We think it protected her from turning into a fallen or dying due to the mana integration process. Rest assured, she is alive, and her heartbeats are normal."
Elena's breath hitched as she absorbed Megan's words. Relief mingled with her overwhelming emotions.
Her mother was alive, spared from the worst fates she had feared. The burden she had been carrying seemed to lighten, and her legs felt steadier.
Elena slumped to the ground as tears began to flow freely. Alya quickly came to her side, gently patting her back while Elena continued to sob.
The relief of knowing her mother was safe, combined with the release of pent-up emotions, overwhelmed her.
Connor then shifted his focus from the duo as he asked about his sister, "Well, there is also another person I came to look for. She is my sister, Julia Lennox. Is she here as well?"
"No, we do not have her here. Maybe she has turned into a fallen and is wandering out there," Julian responded, his words ticking off Connor as he released his pressure.
"Be careful with your words, Julian, as you can never know which words might be your last, especially in times like these when death lurks in every corner,"
Connor warned with a chilling tone. His terrifying killing intent filled the room as everyone felt his pressure.
The two girls behind him fainted as they were normal people stuck at level 1, unable to withstand the terrifying pressure from Connor.
"Lisandra! Dana!" Julian screamed as he checked on both of them. "You fiend, what more do you want to take from me?" he glared back at Connor.
"I only came here for my sister. If she is not here, then staying here is of no use to me," Connor said as he turned towards Elena and asked,
"What do you want to do? Will you follow me back or stay with this asshole?"
"I want to bring everyone here to safety, but that is not possible, is it?"
Elena asked, acknowledging the harsh reality. She knew she couldn't be delusional anymore, thinking no one would die or that things would work out somehow.
This was the reality for her, not some Shonen plot story where a hero would save everyone.
"We can't bring everyone, but we can save those close to us," Connor said.
Julian asked with a worried and anxious look, "Elena, are you really going to abandon us all?"
"I am not going to abandon them since I hold no responsibility to them. I think you are their leader, Julian, so it is up to you to think of a way to save them all. I am also a leader and I know your burden, but I came here specifically for my mother."
"We took care of your mother. You owe us," Julian said, trying to guilt-trip Elena.
"What do you mean 'we'? It was I who was taking care of her while you were going on dungeon raids," Furina rebutted, knowing Julian was trying to manipulate Elena into taking them as well.
A look of understanding dawned on Elena as she made up her mind. Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, she said, "We will take my mother, Furina, and Professor Megan."
She then turned to Furina, seeking her approval as she asked, "Is there anyone you would like to bring along, Furina?"
Furina hesitated for a moment before replying, "I have four friends I made here. They also helped me take care of your mother, so I would like to bring them."
Before Furina could finish, Silvia interrupted, grabbing everyone's attention. "Wait, wait, wait, this isn't right," she said, her voice cutting through the room.
"No matter how I look at it, we are being unfair and picking favorites," Silvia declared, turning to Connor with a determined expression. "Are you really fine with leaving them to die here, Connor?"
Connor, feeling the weight of her words, refuted, "What do you expect me to do, then? Take more risks for people I barely know?"
Silvia, undeterred, challenged him further, "What if your sister were among strangers in some other group, suffering in the same situation? Wouldn't you hope that someone is protecting her?"
Connor's face tightened with anger as he realized she was trying to manipulate him into doing something dangerous. "What are you trying to say? Just what do you want me to do, Silvia?" he demanded, his voice rising.
Elena, sensing the tension, stepped in to support Connor. "Senior, I think you shouldn't push Connor to do something he doesn't want to," she said, trying to diffuse the situation.
Silvia, however, stood her ground. "You think I'm saying this because he can't do it? Don't you see his monstrous strength and cunning mentality? He brought us here without breaking a sweat, Elena. If he really takes it seriously, I know he can do it," she argued passionately.
Elena turned towards Connor, about to ask if he could do it, when Julian spoke up first. "Why am I not surprised? Oh, wait, I already knew his nature. He might act like he's impartial, saying he only cares about the people close to him, but deep down he only cares for himself," Julian said, his voice dripping with resentment and frustration.
He hated that Connor had beaten him again in their confrontation. No, he wasn't even his match since just Connor's pressure was enough to throw him off balance.
Connor felt cornered by everyone, but his resolve remained firm. He had promised himself to become better in both combat prowess and his thinking. "We are going to leave soon. Elena and Furina, bring out the people you want to bring," he commanded, taking control of the situation.
Turning to Furina, he asked, "Can you fight?"
"I can use a bow," she replied confidently.
Connor nodded and said, "You will be on the right side of the formation circle while Alya takes the left. Your friends will take care of Miss Elizabeth."
"Okay," Furina agreed, understanding the gravity of the situation. She felt no pity for those who had forced her sister to serve their leader.
Just as they were about to move, Silvia declared, "I am staying here."
Alya, shocked by her decision, asked with disbelief etched in her face, "Silvie, why?"
"I am sorry, Furina, I also cannot leave these people and Julian behind," Megan voiced her decision to stay as well.
Furina, feeling betrayed, snapped at her sister, "Sister, why are you so adamant? I just can't believe you. You have no reason to be with him now!" Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she spoke.
Megan, unable to bear seeing her sister's tears, tried to explain,
"Please understand me. I have already dedicated myself to serve Julian, and I also have my own pride. Please, Furina, let me make decisions that I would be proud of. I don't want to live in regret."
Julian, who had been baffled by the entire exchange, finally smiled and muttered, "You are just like her."
Connor, hearing Julian's remark with his heightened senses, felt anger coursing through him. 'How can he replace Helen with any other woman?' he thought to himself, seething.
Watching Silvie and Alya argue, then glancing at the Michelle sisters, Connor finally fixed his gaze on Elena, who was looking at him expectantly.
Her gaze seemed to urge him to take action. Deciding to take control, he spoke up, "Professor Megan, gather everyone in a large hall.
I want to see whether they are worth risking my life for or not."
Megan and Silvia, delighted by Connor's decision, hurried to follow his instructions. After they left with Julian and the others, Elena approached Connor with concern.
"Are you fine with this? I know they kind of forced you into this, but—"
Connor interrupted her, "You don't have to worry. My decisions might be influenced by those two, but I would never do something that would bring me to death," he assured her, then added, "Mostly."
Elena, not wanting to sit back and just be led by a man, said, "Then if you are going to help everyone, is there anything I can do?"
She was prideful and honest, but she also felt very grateful to Connor for bringing her here to her mother. Deciding in her heart to help him if he ever found himself in a pinch, she looked at him with determination.
"Don't worry, Elena. If I ever need you, I will ask for your help without hesitation," Connor said with a captivating smile, his eyes locking onto hers. His words and look made Elena feel embarrassed, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"I will go check on my mother," she said quickly, turning away to hide her flustered state. She left with Furina and Alya, the two girls exchanging concerned glances but following her lead.
Connor chuckled softly, shaking his head. His expression soon morphed into a serious one as he turned to the window, his gaze traveled across the numerous fallen humans surrounding the hospital's south side.