The men pat each other''s shoulders lightly before departing down either one of the paths.


    "Go and die, you dogs."


    "We''ll be the ones to live, dumbass."


    The men swearing at each other was simply a coping method. They knew that if their farewells were heavy then their feet would be heavy as well.


    The man with the scar turned his head towards our group. The original leader went down the path opposite to ours, so I suppose he''s the new leader now.


    "We should get going as well."


    "Yeah."


    I was on the back of the new guy again.


    "..."


    Tense footsteps echo throughout the hallway. Not a single person said a word, the shadow of people wavering like puppets as we traversed.


    When the original leader suggested to divide into two groups, I honestly wanted to jump and run around in joy. Five men is much more manageable than ten men.


    How foolish.


    The original leader suggested to split up in order to raise his chances of survival as much as possible, however, he was mistaken from the premise. He completely believed the false words of mine.


    Are they being careless, or did I really appear to be that pitiful? If it''s the latter, then that''s a relief. It''s proof that my acting skills aren''t rusty yet.


    The price to pay for being careless shall be huge.


    The longer we walk, the farther the distance between the groups. My kidnappers have no means of communication whatsoever.


    Even if a massacre was to occur.


    ''Summon''


    I speak inside my head.


    [Would you like to summon?(Current amount of tickets: 10)]]


    [Summon 1x]


    [Summon 10x (+1 free)]


    For a slight moment.


    Probably for only an instant, but I hesitate.


    These men trust me, and by doing so, they have not only lowered their fighting prowess, but they are mentally unprepared as well.


    The perfect moment for a surprise attack.


    But the reason for why I''m hesitating, who knows.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    If I summon… whatever that’ll be summoned, I’ll be crossing the Rubicon River.


    For my kidnappers to die or for myself to die. Only one of the two futures existed. There''s no going back.


    ‘Summon ten.’


    The inside of my mouth feels dry as I whisper the words.


    [Summoning!]


    On the transparent screen, a scantily clad fairy dances up and down, shaking two maracas in her hands.


    [First time bonus applied! A C-class companion has been guaranteed~]


    With a burst of confetti, a list appears on the right side of my vision.


    [Farmer (F)]


    [Farmer (F)]


    [Villager (F)]


    [Miner (E)]


    [Farmer (F)]


    [Villager (F)]


    [Knight (C)]


    [Villager (F)]


    [Villager (F)]


    [Farmer (F)]


    [Villager (F)]


    The dancing fairy sticks her tongue out before fading away into nothingness, and at the same moment, the floor beneath us shines blindingly bright.


    "H-Huuh?"


    "What''s going on!?"


    My kidnappers panic.


    The light causes the entire hallway to be lit up entirely for a brief second. The moment they were distracted, I bared my teeth.


    Cruuunch


    The sound of cartilage being... well, crunched.


    With my teeth, I bite down on the ear of the new guy carrying me.


    The man cries out and flails his body. I, who was on his back, fall onto the floor. I had already braced myself, so the impact wasn''t too big.


    "J-Jack!? What happened! What''s wrong!?"


    "Guh, ah, ear! My ear!!"


    With a fearful voice, I point behind us.


    "Everyone! Behind you! Look behind you!"


    From the dust, eleven figures emerge.


    "Um... what...?"


    Instead of whatever I was expecting, there was a man with a straw hat scratching his cheek, a confused smile on his face. The rest of the people that seemed to have been summoned by me looked equally confused as well, bewildered expressions painting their faces.


    At least they’re human. I guess.


    One of the newly summoned people steps forward, a woman with ashen hair and thick goggles perched upon her head. In her right hand is a hammer, though it doesn''t exactly seem like a weapon.


    "Hey, where are we?"


    She points the hammer at the man with the scar.


    [You must give orders to your companions! ???? ˉ???ˉ?? )?]


    It would be a lot more helpful if this was mentioned earlier, but whatever. I open my mouth to give a command, but the sensation of something being off washes down my spine. In a split-second, I do a headcount of the ‘companions’ that were summoned. Wasn’t there eleven? Why are they''re only ten?


    Wait...


    I snap my head to the right.


    A blur of silver and gray rushes past me, a cape fluttering with the wind like a comet.


    Schwip


    In a clean arc, an armored figure decapitates one of my kidnappers.


    I’ll follow their lead, then.


    ''Kill them all.''


    Immediately, the confused summoned raise their weapons, mostly pitchforks, and charge at my kidnappers.


    "M-My God..."


    "Get ready!"


    Nevertheless, despite the confusion, the man with the scar gave orders to the kidnappers.


    I should probably join in too.


    "Mmmm...!?"


    I jump onto the back of the new guy again, covering his mouth. The man opens his eyes widely.


    His eyes looked like they were shouting, ''What are you doing!?''


    He had a dagger on his hip that I had been eyeing since the beginning. Pulling his dagger out, I brought it down on his throat. Once, twice, thrice, and finally for the fourth time. I didn''t give him a single chance to resist.


    "Euh, pbb... huppbb..."


    The newbie screams, but the sound is muffled by my hand making it only sound like a moan.


    Soon the groans became bright red blood and drenched my hand stickily.


    "Uuh...eub..."


    I silently stare down at the new guy''s eyes. After eight seconds, his body goes limp.


    But I don''t have time to get sentimental, the situation is still out of my control.