Eina and the girls had arrived at the guild about ten minutes ago. They had already explained the situation and relayed Delia's request directly to the guild master, all while adventurers crowded around, listening intently.
Before their sudden arrival, the guild had been in a lively state—adventurers drinking, laughing, and sharing stories. Even the guild master, for once, had chosen to relax with his family.
But that peace was shattered when Eina and her group burst through the doors, breathing heavily.
Krane, one of the girls, stepped forward and shouted, "We have a problem!"
That was how the discussion began. As the guild master listened to the details of Delia's quest, his expression darkened. Rage boiled within him, manifesting as a golden, smoke-like aura that radiated from his clenched fists.
His grip was so tight that his knuckles turned white.
A heavy pressure settled over the entire guild hall.
Not enough to scare his children, but enough to make everyone take notice.
The guild master locked eyes with Eina and, in a commanding voice, said, "I see. Everyone, up!" His voice thundered through the hall.
"Prepare yourselves. Every single person, from E-rank to double-S rank, will participate in this. This is non-negotiable."
A resounding agreement spread through the guild. Adventurers grinned, nodding to one another. Ronin, one of the more vocal warriors, slammed his mug onto the table and declared, "Of course! We won't let those filthy slave traders run loose in our city! No one comes here and does as they please!"
A chorus of cheers erupted, and in unison, they raised their mugs, clanking them together before downing their ale in a single gulp. The hall became a frenzy of preparation as adventurers armed themselves for the battle ahead.
As the last of them departed, the guild master turned to Eina and asked, "According to what you said, Delia was breathing ice before shattering into tiny snowflakes?"
Eina nodded, puzzled by his inquiry, but didn't slow her preparations.
Of course, she and the girls would be going, too. They couldn't let Delia face this mission alone.
By now, Delia had calmed down—at least enough that the pounding headache had faded. Her fiery red eyes had returned to their usual, serene sky-blue.
She muttered to herself, "I think it's about time. My guild should be preparing by now."
Turning her attention to Scarlet, who was playing near the small lake, she called out, "Scarlet." Her voice was calm yet firm.
Hearing her name, Scarlet looked up.
Delia continued, "My guild should be on their way. If you don't mind, I have a simple question. Where exactly is this slave house? From what I gathered, you escaped from there, right?"
Scarlet hesitated, then nodded.
"Good," Delia said. "Lead me to it. I'll handle the rest. I'll cause enough of a commotion for my guild to slip in without issue."
Scarlet nodded again but suddenly looked thoughtful.
Noticing her expression, Delia smirked. "You have a question?"
Scarlet's cheeks tinged pink. She looked down as they walked, deep in thought, and ended up bumping into a wooden post. She rubbed her forehead, tiny tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Delia chuckled. "Why so distracted? Are you worried about your friends?" She softened her tone. "Don't be. My guild is strong—we're one of the top five in the world."
Scarlet's eyes widened in shock at that information. A flicker of relief crossed her face, but she hesitated again before speaking.
"Can I call you…?" She trailed off, suddenly unsure.
Delia turned her head slightly. "Hm? What is it?"
Scarlet's face flushed a deep red. She clenched her fists, gathering her courage, and in a voice so soft that even Delia's sharp hearing barely caught it, she whispered,
"Can I call you… Mom?"
Delia froze mid-step, eyes widening in sheer disbelief. What?
Comically, she turned to Scarlet, as if making sure she heard correctly. "What did you just say?"
Scarlet, now red as a tomato, stammered, "C-Could I… call you Mom?"
Silence.
Delia's mind completely shut down.
Her thoughts spiraled. 'Why would she ask that?! Do I look old? Maybe she thinks elves live for thousands of years, so she assumes I'm ancient?! Or… is it something else? Did she never have a mother figure? Is she emotionally attached to the concept? But wait—she's around my age, isn't she?!'
She stood frozen, face heating up in an unfamiliar embarrassment, before she finally snapped out of it and cleared her throat.
Regaining her composure, she placed her hands on her hips and asked, "Why would you ask me that?"
Scarlet panicked. Thinking Delia was angry, she stuttered, "I-I didn't mean to—! I just… I…"
Tears welled in her eyes.
Seeing her distress, Delia sighed. Without a second thought, she pulled Scarlet into a gentle embrace, letting the girl rest her face against her chest.
She stroked Scarlet's messy red hair, feeling its rough, unkempt texture—a clear sign that she hadn't been taken care of in a long time.
Delia gritted her teeth. Those damn slave traders. How many others had they stolen, mistreated, and broken?
Her resolve hardened. She would take them down.
For now, though, she needed Scarlet's help.
"Shh… calm down," she whispered. "Breathe in. Then out. Just like that."
Scarlet followed the instructions, taking deep breaths until her sobs quieted.
Delia smiled warmly. "Feeling better?"
Scarlet nodded, her head still pressed against Delia.
"I don't mind your request," Delia reassured her. "I just wanted to understand why it meant so much to you. But we can talk about that later. Right now, let's focus on saving your friends. You'll lead me to the slave house, and I'll take care of the rest. You won't need to go inside—I'll make a distraction for my guild to find the place."
Scarlet nodded firmly, determination replacing her uncertainty.
"Are you ready?" Delia asked.
Scarlet looked up, her eyes blazing with purpose. "Yes, Mom. Follow me!"
Delia's eyebrow twitched. Mom?
She sighed but didn't protest. Instead, she nodded and said, "Alright… lead the way, my daughter, Scarlet."
Scarlet's eyes widened in shock before lighting up with joy. Tears of happiness welled up as she wiped them away and ran ahead, shouting, "Yes, Mother!"
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[Notice]: New title acquired "Mother of the lost."]
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'Mother of the lost? What a title! Hmmph…," Delia chuckled. Strange… but not unpleasant.
The Slave House – Midnight
Inside the slave house, business continued as usual. Men patrolled, counted earnings, and engaged in unspeakable acts.
In one of the cells, a young brown-haired girl lay pinned to the ground, struggling against two men. One held her wrists while the other tried to force her legs apart.
She kicked desperately, her resistance weak against their strength. One of them slapped her, momentarily stunning her, while the other unbuckled his belt.
Grinning wickedly, he leaned down. "Time to make you a real woman—"
BOO-OO-M!!
A deafening explosion rocked the entire structure, shaking walls and sending debris flying.
The two men jumped back in alarm, synchronizing in their panic as they shouted, "What the hell is going on up there?!"
Their answer came swiftly.
The beginning of their end had arrived.