Ten minutes before Yana had his duel with Chillyd.

"kggh..."

He slowly opened his eyes.

His body felt so heavy and everything was blurry in his sight.

"....this is near Libhane's room..." Chanotte mumbled

He was chained on a chair near a bed.

He could hear a ruckus from the outside.

"it's from the front yard... could it be... Yana and the other?"

-craaak-

He tried to break the chain, but his power wasn't enough to do that.

"..... Marleus... his power is unnatural"

He remembered when he fought with Marleus in the North prison.

It was like fighting with a Half-beast or even stronger creature. Marleus's raw strength was really irrational.

"i thought i would be dead back there... seemed holy mother still gave me her mercy"

-fuuh-

He stared at the ceiling and reminisced what happened so far with him.

To think his sister was probably in danger right now and Libhane was planning all of that from the beginning.

"my mission to kill the Half-beast tribe... Tinne... i hope she's alright.."

Then he focused at one thing.

"black testament.."

-clack-

The door opened and woke his up from his thoughts.

"Chorin?"

He saw a familiar figure near the door.

"by holy mother's blessing.... I'm glad you're okay sir Chanotte.."

"it's a good thing to see your face again... really" He sighed

"to think the commander and those captains did this to you.."

Chorin approached him and grabbed the chain that tied him.

"excuse me.."

[EMPOWERED]

-craaak-

-kraang-

The chain scattered on the floor.

Chanotte stood up and stretched his body a bit.

"what's the ruckus? is that Yana?"

He wanted to approach the window to see the situation but Chorin stopped him.

"it is sir Yana, but we must hurry"

"hurry? where to?" He frowned

"to a safe place of course. I can't let you get executed here. You're the chief of king's guard"

"... I understand that part Chorin, but that's not what I've asked"

"i don't get it sir Chanotte" He shaked his head

"I assume you don't have a plan to save Yana and the other"

"..... I'm afraid so"

"then tell me one good reason why i should follow you"

"for your own safety of course. My men will escort us back to the capital.."

"stop right there Chorin. My own safety is the least thing that I want to consider right now"

Chorin stared at him with a confused looks.

"you really not meant that sir... you know what will happen if something happened to you in this place"

"..... and that's supposed to make me forget about what that man did to me? and let the threat toward my family?"

"sir, you know all of humanity is at stake here"

Chorin approached him and continued his words.

"your family or the symbol of humanity's hope..... i believe you know which one is the priority"

"sure, i do"

Chanotte instantly replied.

-zriing-

He pulled Chorin's sword from its sheath and walked toward the door.

"from now on.. I'm not qualified as the chief of..."

"STOP IT!"

Chorin shouted while still looking to the floor.

Chanotte stopped, yet his decision most likely wouldn't change.

"i understand... then let me tell you, how to stop commander's plan.."

Chanotte turned around and looked at him.

"Libhane's plan... what do you mean Chorin.."

"but! promise me ..... after that we will go straight to the capital"

"... -fuuh- fine, i promise"

Chorin showed his glad expression and led the way to the outside.

Chanotte followed him while asking him some questions.

"so, what do you mean by Libhane's plan?"

"….. that's supposed to be my guaranteed to let you escape from this fort sir"

"...explain it"

"the moment you left to that monster village with only hundred of new recruit soldiers, i asked the commander about that"

He continued his words.

"he kept insisting that everything will be alright and nothing would happen to you... i felt that he hid something.."

They walked down the stairs and headed to corridor that connected the main building with soldier's barrack.

"i did an investigation and... found that he was planning something that was really.... horrible"

They passed the corridor and could see what's happening in the front yard.

Chanotte surprised with what he saw in there.

"what's that monster..... wait... that fur and characteristic... he is the Half-beast that I saw in the front gate..."

Then Yana's voice could be heard.

"SHANTI!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!!"

He covered his ears because of that loud noise.

"-kggh- magic device? what's he doing right now.."

"this is supposed to be our chance to leave this place" Chorin sighed

"right, you said that Libhane is plotting something horrible. what's that?"

They continued to walk through the side yard.

"....."

Chorin felt hesitant for awhile before he opened his mouth.

"commander is trying to... resurrect.... Samhra"

Chanotte tried to find a right word to express his feeling when he heard that, but he couldn't.

He just stared his friend in front of him with his surprised looks.

-----( Chapter 162 "One familiar figure" )-----