After some time, Shea explained her circumstances to us. I listened carefully since I don't recall or even know much about anything moving forward, only tidbits.
So start with, beastmen don't possess mana in their body so they are discriminated by other races, outcasts basically. The reason for this is because residents of this world see mana as blessings of the gods.
However, Shea got mana and can even directly manipulate it like monsters. She also got a special magic since birth and that is foresight. She explained that she can see the future but only possible futures, meaning it isn't set in stone and one can change it.
So in her vision, she saw a calamity to her tribe and according to her, the ones that can save her tribe is here – in the Reisen Gorge. Which is why she is here and I'm guessing these saviors is us. I can't deny it though, Liz before I helped her get stronger was already the strongest mage 300 years ago and she's even stronger now.
"So you have to help us! Please save my family! I beg you, I can do anything, just save them!" She groveled in a dogeza.
Contrary from her earlier sloppy and somewhat disappointing demeanor, she completely changed, I can feel her resolve and determination.
Although I can also feel her self entitlement when she said I have to help but at least she understands that she needs to give something in return.
"Stand up," I said. "I can help you but you said you will do anything...right?"
She stood up and looked at me, dead in the eye before speaking. "Yes!"
"Ho? Even perverted requests...?" I smiled mischievously while directing my gaze to her two towering mountains.
"Eh?" Shea appears momentarily stunned before her face flushed crimson but she didn't back away from my gaze. "I-If you can save them–"
"Mmuu~"
And yes, I can see your gaze digging into me, Liz.
"No, I'm just joking," I raised my arms feigning surrender. Well, I wasn't entirely joking though, about just 80 percent. I'm still a healthy young man, you know!
"Is that so?"
"Yeah but we do need a guide, do you know your way around here?"
"Yes! Leave it to me!" She proudly proclaimed but why do I vaguely see a certain water goddess's silhouette in her? It must be my imagination, hopefully.
"Rejoice, Usagi-chan! I've decided to help you!"
"Mmm~" Liz nodded with a smile.
The name's Cain Ambrose."
"Elizabeth" Liz replied softly.
"Then lead the way, Shea!"
"Yes!"
We rode my humvee with Shea in the passenger seat while Liz sat on my lap, she insisted on it. Since she's small, it wasn't a problem and I don't really have a problem with it, I mean I got to have a cute girl sitting on my lap.
....
While on our way, we were having a conversation.
"So you two can also directly manipulate mana?" Shea was surprised after hearing this information.
"Yeah, we three are similar in this aspect. We all have powers similar to monsters."
"I see..." Shea's eyes watered before tears bursts out, "So I'm not alone–"
"Cain, the rabbit is crying."
"I can see that, Liz." I replied dryly.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm just so happy to know I'm not alone..." Shea forced a smile but tears still rolled down her face making a contradicting expression.
Liz had gone silent and I looked down only to see her staring at Shea. Her eyes contained complex emotions as if her mind replays what she went through.
*Pomf*
I put my left hand on her head as she looked up at me and I just silently smiled. No words were needed and she understood what I was trying to say.
"Umm– Aren't you forgetting I'm here too? And by this circumstances, shouldn't I be the one being comforted?"
Look at this rabbit, she's being entitled again, looks like she needs to be educated.
"Ku-huhuhu~" I didn't reply to her and just gave her a smile before letting out a chuckle. I'm gonna thoroughly educate her since I can't have that attitude if she's gonna be our tour guide.
"Cain, your dark thoughts are leaking. Look, the rabbit is scared," Liz pointed at the shaking Shea.
"Hehehe~" I didn't reply and kept chuckling.
*Rumble* *Rumble*
"Ahhh– There's a horde of monsters ahead! And my family is there too! Please hurry!"
"Alright, buckle up!"
I pressed on the gas and increased our speed. This humvee isn't your typical, it was made with super durable ores and was enchanted with magic. I doubt even sports car can catch up to this at full speed.
*Vroom!*
In just second, we've already arrive at the scene where monsters were chasing after the rabbit men. Without a word, I've already used transmutation and impaled the monsters, all dead. Am I really becoming Vlad the Impaler of this world?
We stopped the humvee and got out.
"Everyone! I've brought help!" She excitedly screamed.
"Ohhh, it's Shea!"
Soon, a middle aged rabbit man approached us. He had squinted eyes, short-cut dark blue hair and a goatee with a fairly skinny build.
"You have our deepest gratitude. I am Shea's father and the chief of the Haulia tribe, Cam Haulia." He bowed.
"No worries, it was because you're daughter made a deal with me that she would become our guide here and the sea of trees later."
"I see. Then we shall help you as well."
I nodded and looked around. I've already detected several monsters approaching from the distance.
"Let's get out of here, monsters are approaching."
"Understood," Cam nodded.
I then created a simple trailer and attached it to the humvee where the Haulia tribe members were loaded. Luckily, they only had a few members.
Along the way, I introduced myself to Cam along with Liz. He also explained why they were in the Reisen Gorge and why they only had this few members. Apparently, their tribe was captured as slaves by people from the 'Empire' don't know the full name and don't care.
I don't know why but I can feel something seething in me, anger maybe? But they're just strangers to me so why? I don't know and frankly I don't even care to find.
....
We've finally reached the edge of the Reisen Gorge where there is a large slope as the exit.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Hmm? I turned at Shea, confused.
"You know, you'll be fighting fellow humans for beastmen..." She looked down and somewhat nervous.
I guess that's to be expected with how deep the discrimination against their race was but I'm not from this world.
"Don't worry," I shrugged. Yeah, I won't even bat an eye killing them. Woah, that sounded so edgy but I swear that wasn't my intention.
As we went up the slope and approach the imperial soldiers, one of them exclaimed.
"Damn, those rabbits are still alive?"
"Oi, buddy, are you a slave trader–? Anyway, we're going to get them back, alri–"
He didn't even manage to finish his words as his head vanished. No sound, just straight up vanished. Yeah, I just transmuted his head out of existence.
The other soldiers and the Haulia tribe were stunned. It must've been quite the sight to see, one moment he has a head then bam, he has no head anymore.
I didn't give the other soldiers any time to recover as I transmuted their whole body into mana along with that first soldier. And just like that, the scene was bloodless but more horrific to see. A bloodless massacre, truly a bizarre scene.
"Let's go," I snapped my finger and used mana to amplify the sound to wake up the Haulia tribe members from their daze.
As I turned around, I saw the horrified expressions of them. Nothing surprising there since they're a peaceful tribe and probably hasn't seen such massacre.
A surprising thing happened though, just as I saw Liz about to speak, Shea got out of her daze and turned to her tribe mates.
"P-Please don't look at him like that. He did it to save us." Although her body and voice was shaking, she forced herself to say these words.
I smiled a little and also saw Liz nodding in approval. I guess she also has that trait.
"My apologies, Cain-sama. Even though you were just helping us, to react like that, I'm ashamed." Cam lowered his head and his voice was full of sincerity.
"No worries," I waved it off.
And so we continued our journey to find the Reisen Grand Labyrinth. During the journey asked about our story and we humored her by telling her. I told her that I just found myself in the labyrinth with no memories of how I got there which was technically true since it was Hajime that fell and I just found myself in his body.
We also told her how we had to weaved through dangerous floors and how we almost died several times. After hearing our story, Shea bawled out in tears.
"Waaah! Hic–! Compared to you two, I've been blessed."
Liz just stared at her with her deadpan expression.
"I've decided! I will accompany you on your journey till the end!"
"Are you sure? You're not just gonna be our tour guide but a comrade?" I asked her.
"Yeah!
I let out a chuckle.
"You should rethink your decision, our goal is conquering the seven great labyrinths. Any one of them is dangerous so you'd die if you came with us."
"Then train me!"
And there is that entitled tone again, I really need to educate her.
"Alright, I will 'train' you and the whole Haulia Tribe. Kuhuhuhu~"
"Hieekkkk~!"