Chapter 198 — Breaking the Cage
After the battle, the questions began.
Accusations.
Arguments.
Suspicion and clarification tangled together like threads no one could untie.
Selvara was brought before Selene and Margrave Alaric, tightly bound and heavily guarded.
“Ugn? If you’re going to tie me this tight,” she groaned playfully, “I would prefer little Ivaline to be the one doing it.”
No one laughed.
Around her, the adventurers continued arguing.
“She’s with the Beast Army!”
“But she helped shield Silver Ward!”
“She warned us about the secret passage and the poisoned water!”
“That could’ve been part of her plan!”
“She let us tie her without resistance!”
“And she was rescued the night before!”
“…..?”
“…..”
Selvara simply hummed to herself.
Ivaline sat beside her while she lay half on the ground like a lazy cat.
“So,” Ivaline asked calmly, “did you come up with all those plans?”
“Nope? I’m not that clever,” Selvara replied cheerfully. “General Silva plans everything.”
“Then why warn us about the poisoned water and the secret passage?”
Selvara shrugged.
“If you listened, I’d gain your trust and operate inside your fortress easier. If you didn’t, the Beast Army would win by poisoning your water and infiltrating elite units.”
Ivaline changed position and began rubbing under Selvara’s chin.
Selvara let out a soft, pleased sound.
“And warning us about the food poisoning last night?”
“To divert your attention so the infiltrators could sneak in and rescue me.”
“And you’d still keep your promise.”
“Of course? A promise must be kept. Otherwise you’re just a fraud.”
“Good girl.”
“Ehehe?”
Ivaline gently patted Selvara’s head again before continuing.
“And today’s assassination attempt?”
“You broke out of the encirclement and saved the Margrave,” Selvara said. “You also discovered our plan to sabotage your food supply. The General decided you were a threat to his strategy.”
“And he sent another assassin with you.”
Ivaline added quietly.
Selvara nodded.
“Well… I’ll warn you about something.”
Her amber eyes narrowed slightly.
“If the General makes a move, you should expect at least two layers beneath it. What you see might only be the surface plan for something much larger.”
“…..”
The surrounding adventurers stopped arguing.
They stared at the two girls in disbelief.
Because the captured assassin was far more cooperative than anyone expected.
She answered every question Ivaline asked.
And she did so happily.
Selene stepped forward.
“Do you know the exact number of the Beast Army and their rations?”
Selvara smiled.
“Why should I tell you?”
“Selvara.”
Ivaline’s voice was calm.
“Answer Selene’s question.”
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“Haiii?”
Selvara stretched slightly.
“As I told you earlier, roughly sixteen hundred soldiers. As for supplies, the Beast Army has a stable logistics line from the rear. Burning the supply camp only delays them. By this evening, new rations should arrive.”
Her smile widened.
“So your plan wasn’t entirely effective. You delayed them… but didn’t cause serious damage aside from killing some soldiers and officers.”
Her answer made several adventurers snap.
“Damn it!”
“You’re saying Sir Caelum’s sacrifice was meaningless!?”
“Not entirely.”
Selvara tilted her head.
“You captured some of their supplies, right? That should extend your fortress provisions by a day or two. If you stretch it carefully, maybe your Baron will bring reinforcements.”
“…Tch.”
Her logic cooled the anger before it could erupt further.
Margrave Alaric spoke next.
“Then what will Silva do now?”
Selvara’s tail flicked behind her.
“Two possibilities.”
She raised one finger.
“He retaliates with night raids.”
Then a second.
“Or he withdraws temporarily, reorganizes, and resumes the attack tomorrow morning.”
She smiled.
“In this situation—where both sides hurt each other—the second option is more likely.”
Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
“Of course? this might all be a lie. You don’t have to believe me?”
“I do.”
Selvara blinked.
“Kyaaa? Husband, you make me blush?”
“She’s not your husband!” Seraphine snapped.
“At least not yet,” Lyra added.
“…We first,” Vaelis muttered.
Selvara laughed.
“Oh? A big warm family already?”
The absurdity of the moment was quickly cut short.
Margrave Alaric and Selene revised their strategy immediately.
Supplies were redistributed across multiple storehouses to prevent sabotage.
Additional guards were assigned for the night watch.
The remaining adventurers and soldiers were ordered to rest.
Under Ivaline’s guarantee, Selvara was released.
Everything should have been settled.
Yet that evening—
Selvara vanished.
The night air was cool.
Selvara slipped over the fortress wall like a shadow.
No alarm rang.
No arrows followed.
Just as she expected.
She landed lightly on the grass and stretched.
Well… to be honest…
I think Husband and big sister Seraphine noticed.
Even from the wall she had felt their gaze.
Watching.
Following.
Yet neither stopped her.
Selvara’s tail swayed gently.
…They trusted me.
A small smile formed on her lips.
Then I shouldn’t betray that trust.
She began walking.
Not sneaking.
Not hiding.
Simply walking toward the distant glow of torches.
The Beast Army encampment.
Soon the outer patrol spotted her.
A wolf-beast soldier blinked.
Then his ears perked up.
“Oi! Selvara!”
Another soldier turned.
“Eh? You’re back already?”
Selvara waved casually.
“Good evening?”
The patrol immediately relaxed.
One scratched his chin.
“Thought the humans caught you.”
“Caught me?” Selvara tilted her head. “Maybe.”
“…Huh?”
“Guess?”
The patrol stared.
Then one burst out laughing.
“So they did catch you but you slipped out!?”
“Of course?”
Another soldier snorted.
“You’re gonna give the General a headache.”
Selvara skipped past them.
“He won’t. He’ll just use another piece?”
Laughter followed her down the road.
The deeper she walked into the camp, the more familiar faces appeared.
Tigerkin roasting meat around fires.
Lizard-kin sharpening blades.
Beast warriors hauling damaged supply crates.
Everywhere she passed—
Heads turned.
But not in alarm.
In recognition.
“Selvara.”
“Yo.”
“Back from the mission?”
“Did you kill someone important?”
Selvara hummed happily.
“Maybe?”
A large boar-beast lifted a mug.
“You owe me a drink if the humans are still alive.”
“Then prepare two mugs?”
“Ha! Confident tonight.”
Despite the damage earlier that day, the camp atmosphere remained relaxed.
Soldiers chatted.
Armor clinked.
Fires crackled.
Selvara walked through it all like she belonged there.
Because she did.
Among the Beast Army, Selvara was not merely an assassin.
She was one of the General’s trusted blades.
Eventually the largest tent came into view.
The command tent.
Two elite guards stood outside.
Selvara’s smile faded.
Both guards straightened immediately.
“Selvara.”
“I’m back.”
One frowned.
“You were supposed to be behind enemy lines.”
“I was.”
“And?”
Selvara smiled faintly.
“Mission update.”
The guards exchanged glances.
Then lifted the tent flap.
Inside, the command tent was quiet.
Maps covered the central table.
Lantern light flickered against canvas walls.
And standing over the map—
The towering figure of the Beast General.
Silva.
His golden eyes lifted slowly.
And settled on her.
Selvara placed her hands behind her back.
“Good evening, General.”
Her tail moved slightly.
“I have something that must be reported to you directly.”
The air inside the tent grew tense.
Silva and Selvara exchanged no words at first.
None were necessary.
Silva was far wiser than her.
His golden gaze pierced through her amber eyes like he could see straight through people.
Finally he sighed and looked up at the tent ceiling.
“You came back to assassinate me?”
“No, General,” Selvara said softly. “I’m too grateful to you for that.”
“Do not speak like that when her scent is all over you.”
“…Oh.”
Selvara smiled awkwardly.
Her sense of smell was good.
But compared to a wolf like Silva—
He could detect far more.
“Did you betray me because of her?”
“Partly.”
“You killed the backup assassin I sent?”
“She did.”
“…Ordering her assassination was correct,” Silva muttered. “Sending you was my mistake.”
“Not really, General. She’s stronger than me.”
Silva frowned slightly.
“In the reports, Silver Ward was only Iron Rank.”
According to the information he had gathered from Venom.
A young girl who had not even come of age.
Yet she fought evenly with Silver-rank adventurers.
If she could defeat Selvara—
Her true strength must already approach Gold Rank.
Were the humans hiding her intentionally?
Was she someone important?
Silva exhaled slowly.
“…Forget it.”
He lacked information.
Overthinking would lead nowhere.
“So,” Silva said calmly. “Why did you betray me?”
Selvara met his eyes.
“Because she offered me something better.”
“A wider cage?”
“…Freedom.”
That word made Silva finally look down at her.
“Freedom?”
“She taught me how to open my cage and step outside it.”
Silva raised an eyebrow.
“You were born in that cage. Do you even know how to survive without it?”
Selvara smiled gently.
“I trust my husband will take care of that.”
“…Isn’t Silver Ward female?”
“She’s male enough for me.”
“I see.”
Silva slowly brought his clawed hand forward from behind his back.
The claws gleamed.
“Then state your purpose.”
His voice was cold.
“An assassin who failed her duty… declares she has left my cage… yet still crawls back here.”
Selvara didn’t reach for her chakram.
Instead she glanced at the wound across Silva’s torso.
Then she lowered her gaze.
“I came… to properly sever my ties with the Beast Army.”
She inhaled slowly.
“I came to ask permission from you, General Silva… to leave.”
Silence filled the tent.
Silva said nothing.
His golden eyes stared into her soul.
Selvara returned the gaze with a weak smile.
Sorry, Husband…
I want to stand beside you without shame.
So I need to sever this bond cleanly.
But…
Her tail trembled slightly.
I might not make it back alive.
