Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 85: The Key Lies With Her

The wind roared in their ears as the group fell. The world opened beneath their feet. And the red lake awaited them.

They fell. One after another. Bodies cutting through the air, dragged toward that dark, viscous mass surrounding the castle.

Max clenched his teeth. He reached into his bag.

"...I’m going to try something I thought of when I saw this item. Trust me."

He pulled out a seal. One of the ones Sophie had given him. He held it between his fingers as he activated the magic in his feather fall boots.

He felt a slight pressure. A pulse.

Then, he touched the seal. The magic responded instantly. It wasn’t a simple activation.

A magical field expanded around the group.

The feather fall effect spread from him like an invisible wave, linking with every member of his party... and with every one of their summons.

The air changed. Speed shattered. The descent softened.

As if the air itself had suddenly begun holding them.

Moonlight opened her eyes, surprised. She slowly moved her wings.

"...I’m flying."

Her voice came out almost as a whisper.

Sophie looked at her, then at Max. Her eyes gleamed.

"...I would’ve never thought to use that seal like this. It’s usually used for healing."

Neros let out a short laugh. Even as he descended, he was already thinking.

"I can imagine several combat styles using this trick."

Dorian, on the other hand, wasn’t thinking about any of that. He clung tightly to the skeleton carrying him.

"That was my moment...!"

His voice cracked.

"My big moment with Lamia...!"

He wiped his tears with his arm.

"And you ruined it!"

The skeleton didn’t react. It kept descending, unfazed.

Varis glanced at him from the side.

"Look, I go crazy over women too..."

A pause.

"But this guy beats me."

The group continued descending, slowly.

Abby didn’t speak. Her eyes were fixed upward. On the castle. On the opening they had escaped through. Where her brother was still fighting.

Max looked at her.

"Abby, don’t worry. Your brother will be fine."

His voice was firm. Certain.

"He’s strong."

A confident smile.

"And he wanted this. He already planned to face him alone."

Abby pressed her lips together.

"...I figured."

Her hands trembled slightly.

"That’s why it’s worse."

She closed her eyes for a second.

"I have... mixed feelings."

The lake was getting closer. Its surface didn’t move like normal water. It was dense and heavy.

Like blood gathered over centuries.

Then their feet touched the lake. No impact. No violence. But the contact was unpleasant.

The liquid parted around them. Thick and cold. It clung to their clothes and skin, staining them.

As if the lake wanted to pull them in.

Max frowned.

"...ugh."

He looked at Abby.

"Where can we hide? Somewhere safe."

She looked around. The castle behind them. The lake stretching out. And beyond it, the darkness of the forest at this hour.

"There’s nothing outside the castle."

She pointed ahead.

"Just the forest."

Max nodded without hesitation.

"Then we head for the forest."

He turned and began walking.

The heavy liquid made every step harder, but he didn’t stop.

The skeletons followed him, carrying the women. The rest of the group moved as well, leaving the lake behind.

Leaving the castle behind.

And stepping into the darkness of the forest.

***

Tree branches intertwined above them, blocking almost all the moonlight. The air was cold, and every step crunched over dead leaves.

They walked for several minutes. Without speaking much. Just the sound of tired breathing.

Until they saw it.

A massive tree.

Its trunk was so wide it looked like a natural wall. And at its base, a huge hollow opened, as if the forest itself had shaped it to shelter something inside.

Max stopped.

"...let’s stop here."

Neros nodded.

"Sounds good. This tree works."

Varis was already stepping inside the hollow, inspecting.

"There’s nothing inside. We can use it."

The skeletons moved forward carefully. One by one, they placed the women inside the tree.

Max, Neros, and Varis didn’t waste time. They started gathering leaves, arranging them on the ground into makeshift beds.

Soon, each of the women—including Lamia—was lying down, protected beneath that massive tree.

Moonlight, meanwhile, was a few meters away. Kneeling. Gathering branches, stones, and small dry debris.

"...this should work."

She snapped her fingers, releasing a spark, and the campfire came to life. Warmth slowly spread.

Dorian dropped into a sitting position against another tree. His back hit the bark. Exhausted.

His eyes had deep dark circles. His skin was pale. He breathed slowly, as if each breath cost him.

Max walked over. Studied him for a few seconds.

"...you might be a creep."

He placed a hand on his shoulder.

"But you saved all of them."

Dorian smiled. Weak, but proud.

"...obviously."

He closed his eyes and said nothing more. He fell asleep instantly.

Varis sighed and dropped down near the fire.

"What a shame..."

He ran a hand through his hair.

"I left my roast pig in my bag."

He held his hands toward the fire.

"In the guest room."

Neros turned his head and stared at him.

"...a roast pig would really hit the spot right now."

Another pause.

"Or any kind of meat."

The dwarf frowned.

"Stop looking at me like I’m food."

Neros tilted his head slightly.

"...do roast pigs talk?"

Sophie let out a laugh.

"Don’t mind him."

She crossed her arms.

"My brother loves making those kinds of jokes."

Varis clicked his tongue.

"Knightly humor, I see..."

Moonlight raised her hand from the fire, looking a bit sad.

"...I want an owl-bone sandwich."

Max looked at her. And smiled faintly.

"I’ll promise you something."

Moonlight looked up.

"When we get back to the castle..."

Max smiled.

"I’ll take you—and Elanor—to get a proper sandwich. From your favorite stand."

Moonlight nodded, a little more cheerful.

Max lowered his gaze.

"...I miss her."

His voice softened.

"I wonder how she’s doing."

Abby looked at him.

And Sophie too.

Both silent. With a faint, gentle expression.

Varis broke the moment.

"Well..."

He stretched a bit.

"The important thing is, we already saved Abby."

He pointed toward the forest.

"Now we just need to cross this, get back to town, grab the carriage..."

A confident smile.

"And we head home."

Max shook his head.

"No."

Varis frowned.

"No?"

Max looked at him. Serious.

"We can’t do that."

He crossed his arms.

"We need to stop Dante."

His gaze hardened.

"And make sure Azael is okay."

Varis sighed.

"...and how do you plan to do that?"

Max didn’t hesitate. He turned his gaze, straight toward her.

"That’s why we saved Lamia."

He smiled with confidence.

"The key lies with her."