The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 130 - Babysitting Duty

As the group stepped through the gates and entered the fortress, the true scale of what lay within hit Tave like a blow to the chest.

There weren’t just dozens. There were hundreds.

To the left, rows of demons were drilling in formation, weapons flashing under the darkened sky.

To the right, monstrous mounts. Some flying, some crawling, some unlike anything Tave had ever seen, were being prepared. Fed. Armored. Fitted with grotesque saddles.

Others were gathered around massive stone tablets, studying whatever it was. Commanders, clearly higher-ranked demons, barked orders and repositioned squads.

A few demons stood around shrines likely performing some ritual only demons could understand.

And everywhere... the sound of metal, growls, footsteps. Orders. Heat. Fire. Pressure.

This wasn’t a garrison.

It was a launchpad.

A fortress preparing for war.

The three demons hauling the prisoners finally came to a stop just inside the fortress courtyard, the chains clanking as the captives stumbled to a halt.

One of them stretched, rolling his shoulders with a loud crack. "That’s it. We’re done. We brought ’em in. Someone else can deal with the rest."

Another grunted. "You lazy shit, get them to their cages! You think dumping them here’s enough?"

A third demon sneered, folding his arms. "Not my job. I was on escort duty, not prison detail. Go bark at someone else."

"You idiot! You think we can just toss them anywhere? These aren’t livestock. We mess this up, we get shredded next!"

Then one of them turned, eyes narrowing at Tave, standing behind them.

"You! You’re not doing anything! You take them to the cages!"

Tave’s heart lurched.

Hell! How was he supposed to know where the cages even were?!

But he couldn’t hesitate.

He snapped back instantly. "You think you can dump this on me like I’m some grunt?! You three dragged them in. Now you want to kick back and watch me do it all?!"

He snarled louder, stepping forward with just enough menace to hold the act.

"One of you guide them. I’ll guard the rear. Unless you’d rather explain to the commander why you lost a fresh batch of captives?"

The demons growled, muttered curses. But two of them peeled away, stomping off in frustration.

"Damn it, fine! Whatever! Just get this over with."

Only one remained now. Grumbling, but moving.

Tave stayed close, heart pounding, mask intact. Still in the game.

They moved toward the side of the fortress, approaching a structure near the center. Nothing elaborate, just crude stone blocks piled into a half-collapsed building with jagged edges. A door stood open, leading into a narrow corridor lined with rough, uneven stone.

Inside, the hall was dimly lit by flickering crimson crystal lamps etched into the walls. Demons passed by them without pause, shouting curses or snarling orders at each other, their moods as violent as the place itself.

Eventually, they reached the chamber, lined with thick metal cages, rusted and scorched from past use.

And there. Fang! The shadow wolf turned immediately as Tave stepped into the room. But after that the wolf lay back down, surely knowing that Tave was in disguise. The cage locked Fang’s power too, so he couldn’t do anything unless the lock was opened and he was freed.

Tave would have to figure out how to do this later.

Two demons were stationed inside as guards. One of them glanced up.

"New prisoners? Put them in separate cages," he said flatly.

The other growled. "There’s only four cages left. Not enough space to spread them all out."

"Then shove the humans together," one muttered from the back. "They look weak. Split up the forest elves."

One of them tossed a set of keys to Tave without a second look. He caught them cleanly.

The two demon guards then turned and left.

The last of the original escort, uncoupled the chains and stood to the side, arms crossed.

"Your turn. You’ve been following at the back the whole time. Time to actually do something," he snapped.

Tave let out a low growl. "Tch... babysitting duty. Whatever," he muttered, just loud enough for the others to hear. "You couldn’t even keep the chains from tangling."

He walked to the first cage and shoved the key in roughly. The door creaked open. Without hesitation, he grabbed Velion first, dragging him forward.

"Watch it, bastard."

Next, Elowen. Then Panpan. He made sure not to jerk them too hard, keeping up the act without causing harm.

Finally, Finn and Lina. He pushed both into the last remaining cage together. Finn staggered slightly, still wounded, and Lina could barely keep herself upright.

Now, four keys remained in Tave’s palm.

Tave let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his shoulders.

"Finally. Done babysitting," he muttered, just loud enough to sound annoyed. "I’m not sticking around in this dump any longer."

He turned and strode out of the room, the keys still clutched tightly in his hand.

Just as he crossed the threshold, a hand clamped down on his shoulder. Tight, forceful.

He stopped.

Tave turned around. It was one of the demon guards from earlier. His eyes narrowed, voice sharp.

"You took the keys?" he growled. "Are you out of your mind?"

Tave’s expression twisted into a sneer.

"They’re my responsibility, aren’t they? So I keep the damn keys," he snapped back.

The second guard stepped in, and with a grunt, shoved Tave hard into the stone wall. "Whose brilliant idea was it to let you carry the keys? That’s our job!"

"Hand them over," said the other, eyes scanning Tave’s face. "Now. Or you’ll be monster feed before nightfall."

Tave bared his teeth, snarling low. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"If anything happens to those prisoners, I’m not cleaning up your mess."

With that, he let the keys drop from his hand, right at their feet.

Then, without hesitation, he shoved both demons back, hard enough to force them a step away.

He turned and stormed off, not even sparing a glance back, his voice low but seething with fury.

"Useless bastards... can’t even guard a cage without crying about it."

"All bark, no fangs. I should chain them up and toss them in with the prisoners."

"Next idiot that dumps their job on me gets a claw to the jaw, I swear it."

Tave continued walking, his steps loud and deliberately heavy. Every now and then, he bumped shoulders with passing demons. Some turned and snarled, one even spat in irritation.

Tave spat right back.

Well, he wasn’t doing too bad.

Acting like a demon was not hard when you understood them.

Brutal. Chaotic. Prone to violence at the slightest provocation. And fortunately, Tave knew their nature inside out. Their tone, their body language, even the way they barked nonsense just to assert dominance.

After all, he was the one who designed them this way.

Even high-ranking demons ran their mouths more than they used their brains. Only a few Named Demons actually thought before they acted. The rest? Overconfident, violent brutes who believed every problem could be solved by smashing it harder.

Their greatest weakness was clear as day: strategy.

They didn’t have it. They didn’t need it, until now.

Tave, walking in the lion’s den, knew one wrong move could get him ripped apart.

But for now, he was one of them.

And it was time to see what else this nest of demons was hiding.