This wasn't even worth pondering.
"How do I return to where I originally came from?" I asked.
Assad's brow furrowed. " Hmm... So, you're refusing my proposal, is that it?"
"That seems to be the case," I replied.
"Why? Did you not understand me properly? Have you turned into a fool again?"
He was a real jerk. Not malicious, but certainly not someone I wanted to engage with for long.
"I understand," I said.
"And yet, you still want to return to that hell?"
I smiled faintly. "Whether it's hell or not remains to be seen."
" Hmm... " Assad stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You must have your reasons. Very well. If that's your decision, I have no right to interfere."
He then pointed behind me. "I've created an exit behind you. Just open the door and leave."
I turned and saw a door that hadn't been there before. "Before I leave, you won't tell me who came up with this insane plan, even if I ask, will you?"
"No," he replied simply. Then, as if struck by an amusing thought, he chuckled and added, "But I might be able to pass along a message for you."
"A message?" I echoed.
"Yes. Do you have something you'd like to say to that person?"
"You old bastard."
"What?" Assad tilted his head, confused. "Is that it?"
"Yes," I confirmed.
"I see," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But did I ever mention an age?"
"No, but I doubt a snotty-nosed kid like me could sway the family head."
"Precisely," Assad affirmed.
Of course, his affirmation could have been a ruse. Still, it seemed unlikely that Assad would engage in such convoluted psychological warfare.
I took his answer as a hint—a subtle admission disguised as ignorance. The mastermind was probably one of the old monsters lurking behind the veil of the Badniker family.
Assad waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. If I feel like it, I'll pass along your message. Now, go."
As I lowered my head and reached for the door handle, he called, "Luan Badniker."
"Yes?" I responded, pausing.
"I hope you survive." I glanced back, and Assad smiled. "I'm serious."
***
"Y-you're back!" someone exclaimed.
"Luan! Are you okay?" another voice called out.
"Did you meet Father? What did he say?" Hector asked.
"Wait a minute. I feel dizzy." I pretended to stumble, buying time to gather my thoughts.
Expectant faces surrounded me. Even Charon, lingering in the corner, glanced my way.
Should I tell them the truth or hide it?
If I revealed everything, the Badnikers' reputation would plummet, and the situation could spiral out of control. The other families weren't fools—they wouldn't stand idly by if their precious children died.
Of course, this wasn't my problem. What bothered me was Assad's attitude. That clever man surely understood the butterfly effect, yet he'd told me everything without hesitation.
He doesn't care what the other families think, I concluded.
If they slipped up, it wouldn't just sour relations—sanctions from the imperial family could follow. Honestly, watching the Badniker family burn in their own karma would be worth the chaos.
"I was teleported to a strange room, but no one was there," I lied.
It wasn't for the Badnikers' sake. I simply doubted these fledgling heroes could handle the truth.
Even my claim of receiving no help had left them looking as though the sky had fallen. How would they react if they learned they'd been used as bait to lure a priest? That was my personal concern, at least.
"Then what should we do now?"
"We should hold on," Charles suggested. "The Badnikers will figure it out eventually."
They were right. The Badnikers already knew everything.
As the hero disciples debated, I revealed my next move.
"I'm planning to head to the camp," I announced.
"The camp?" Evan echoed, confused.
"Yes," I explained. "The instructors haven't made any moves, and I'm concerned. I want to see what's going on."
"It'll be dangerous..." the timid dwarf Basil murmured hesitantly.
"No risk, no reward," I replied firmly.
"A-ah... well, I'll protect this place," Basil stammered. His demeanor made it clear he had no intention of joining.
"I didn't expect everyone to come," I said. "Moving as a group would be too risky. So, I'll only take volunteers. Who's in?"
Truthfully, I didn't mind going alone—except for one person.
"Charon, you're coming with me," I announced, turning to him.
"Why?"
"Why? Because I'm telling you to, you bastard." For some reason, my tone always became harsh around Charon.
Was it the way he looked? He had the air of a mercenary, and it reminded me of those days.
Charon fell silent.
It wasn't just that he was the most useful among them. I was also the only one who could control him. If he slipped out of my sight, there was no telling what chaos he'd cause. He was a madman who cared only about points, even with demons roaming about. He'd do anything.
"I intended to go even if you didn't tell me," Charon muttered, offering minimal resistance.
I'd been ready to force him if he refused, so this saved me the trouble.
"I'm going too," Hector said, stepping forward.
I nodded. I'd expected him to volunteer.
So far, our party consisted of three members.
I turned to the hero disciples, who still looked uncertain, and said firmly, "If you're not confident, stay here. It's better than causing harm to others."
The forest would be far more dangerous than yesterday. This wasn't the time to carry dead weight.
"I'll go too."
Unexpectedly, Evan volunteered. I wondered what was going through his mind, but when I looked closely, his gaze was fixed on Charon, not me.
Does he feel a sense of rivalry with Charon?
Perhaps he was still brooding over his crushing defeat in their last sparring match. While a competitive spirit could drive growth, I wasn't sure it was beneficial in our current predicament.
"Evan, if you drag your feet like you did yesterday, I'll send you back midway," I warned.
"That won't happen again. I swear."
Since he was that determined, I had no reason to argue.
"Then the scouting party is settled," I announced.
It would be me, Charon, Hector, and finally Evan. The four of us would head to the camp.
"The rest of you, stay here and secure food if you get the chance. If we're forced to abandon the cabin, leave some traces behind," I instructed.
"Understood. But why food...?" Basil asked.
"Assume the worst," I replied. "If miasma invades this land, it will corrupt and wither everything—forests, springs, all of it. Gather as much as you can before that happens."
"I see..." Charles muttered.
Finally, I turned to Mir. Her dazed expression suggested she hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation.
"Mir," I called gently.
"Y-yes? What is it?" she asked, snapping to attention.
"Please take care of them while I'm gone," I said.
Mir looked at me blankly. "Take care of them?"
"Yes," I said, meeting her eyes. "You'll protect them, won't you?"
"Me?" she echoed, pointing at herself in disbelief.
"Protecting the weak is what heroes do, right?" I remarked lightheartedly to ease the tension.
"Who are you calling weak?" Charles grumbled.
I was half-serious, half-joking. Mir's potential rivaled Charon's and Hector's. If she could overcome her fear, the low-grade demons around her would be no match.
"I understand!" she said, nodding vigorously. "I'll protect them. Don't worry, and stay safe!"
Her simple nature made her easy to encourage. Mir clenched her fists, and I gave her shoulder a few reassuring pats.
"So, we're heading to the camp first?" Evan asked.
"That's the final destination," I replied. "But if we encounter any hero disciples along the way, we'll assist them."
There was something I hadn't yet shared with the group. There was one hero disciple I needed to meet—Seren Goodspring. She had acted as though she knew about the church's plans in advance.
How had she, who wasn't even a Badniker, gained such knowledge? That was a mystery I needed to unravel.
***
The map of the forest that the instructors had provided us was far from precise, though the approximate location was clearly marked.
"The camp isn't too far," Hector remarked. "If not for this situation, we could reach it in two or three hours."
"And now?" I asked.
"It's hard to say. It might take two days—or three or four at most." Hector pointed to a spot on the map. "Rather than heading straight to the camp, let's use the stream as our primary destination. We can replenish our drinking water along the way."
The creek was where our group had first encountered the spider monster. With water supplies running low, we agreed to the plan.
Charon, who had gone to scout ahead, returned silently. His voice was curt as he reported, "I checked the area. Demons are swarming, moving in groups of two or three."
"As expected," I said. "It seems they've been summoned in large numbers."
If they were traveling in pairs or small groups, ambushing them would be too risky. It was better to avoid any encounter at all, even if that meant taking a longer route.
Charon proved to be an exceptional guide, navigating the demon-infested forest as effortlessly as if it were his own backyard. His ability to conceal his presence was flawless.
Meanwhile, Hector was deeply familiar with the forest's geography and characteristics. Whether through prior visits or gathered intel, his knowledge was invaluable—at least until the forest became saturated with Dark Qi.
This group is better than my original, I thought.
Hector and Charon were among the elite of the hero disciples, after all. Together, we moved forward slowly but steadily.
Our progress was smoother than expected. With so many variables at play, certainty was impossible, but if we maintained this pace, we would likely reach the camp by tomorrow.
Or so I thought.
" Hmm... " I pulled out the hourglass and checked it. We had been walking for some time. Even if we hadn't reached the clearing, we should have encountered the stream by now.
At that moment, Charon spoke up. "Something's off."
"What is it?" I asked.
"I don't feel like we're making progress," he replied.
"What does that—"
"Wait," Hector interrupted. "Isn't this the same place we passed earlier?"
At his words, Charon paused. "You're saying we've already passed this place?"
"Yes," Hector confirmed.
"What's the evidence?" Charon pressed.
"That tree. It looks exactly like the one we saw earlier," Hector said, pointing toward it.
Charon studied the tree but didn't seem convinced.
However, I agreed. "Brother Hector, I think you are right."
Evan tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Really? I can't tell them apart."
Then, Hector and I exchanged a knowing glance.
"Brother Hector."
"Yes."
It was a realization only Hector and I could make—a fact only a Badniker would understand. One of the Butterfly Forest's peculiar traits was that anyone except a Badniker would inevitably get lost within it.
"Has the forest's barrier been broken?" I asked.
"It's in the process of breaking," Hector replied. "If it had completely collapsed, the family would have reacted immediately."
He was familiar with the Badnikers, but he likely hadn't anticipated that someone would attempt to use the hero disciples as sacrifices to summon a demon king. He would learn the truth someday—but not yet.
I fell silent.
Just then, a scream echoed from somewhere in the distance.
"Did you hear that?" Evan asked.
"Yes. It came from the west," Charon confirmed.
"It is the opposite direction of the camp," Hector pointed out.
"We still have to go," Evan said, his tone polite but firm. He was still awkward around Hector. "Didn't Luan say before we departed that if we encounter hero disciples, we should save them?"
"That's true. But what if it isn't a hero disciple?" Hector asked.
"What do you mean?" Evan asked, frowning.
"It could be a Banshee, a low-grade demon that mimics human screams," Hector explained. "They're more troublesome than Beasts."
"You think it might've been summoned as well?"
"It's possible."
All eyes turned to me, and I felt a bit awkward. I expected it from Evan, a member of my original group, but why were the others treating me like the decision-maker?
"We have to go and save them," I said firmly.
If we hadn't heard the scream, that would be one thing. But now that we had, we couldn't ignore it. Despite our youth and inexperience, we were still aspiring heroes.