Chapter 144 - 144: Path To Freedom
"Messenger, I finally found you."
"!!!"
Van was currently right in the center of the Gap, surrounded by almost a hundred Prisoners, and yet a deep and husky voice was still able to pierce his ears.
The words entered Van's ears and almost instantly drowned all the other clamors and noises made by the other Prisoners, their steps which thundered like drums disappeared as Van quickly turned around to search for the voice.
But alas, he could only see the torrent of more than a dozen Prisoners pressing against each other in the tight Gap, their faces desperate, but still held an excited smile.
Was he just hearing things? Van thought. No, he was sure he heard it right. He was sure those words were directed to him. Except of course if there were other Prisoners here who actually went by the name of Messenger, but that was unlikely.
Or maybe they could have also worked as a messenger outside of the Pit? That was a possibility as well. But seeing as no one other than him stopped to take a look behind, the words could only be for him.
If so, there was someone here that knew what his System is… or maybe even aware of the existence of the Gods of Olympus that even Van himself had little to no knowledge about.
He once again tried to find the owner of the voice, but once again, all he could see were the onslaught of Prisoners trying to fit their way to their ever-long sought freedom.
"...Tch," Van could only click his tongue as he decided to continue to follow Latanya for now.
"..."
Gerald was also looking around, trying to see what it was that was so important that Van had to turn around even as the Prisoners frantically tried to reach the other side of the Wall. But nothing seemed to be there, just a bunch of criminals huddled up with each other.
...Although he was one of those criminals now. But still, he could not help but feel confused as to what was currently happening.
Is the Pit always this chaotic and rowdy? And Van has been here for a month?
In truth, it really was not a shock for him that Van was still alive. He was from the slums; the Relic Graveyard. He was a beggar, and they tend to be very resilient, typical to that of a cockroach.
And now, unfortunately, he had no choice but to follow that very same cockroach around as he was the only one he knew here. It was an ironic turn of events…
...But he had to survive at all costs. And something was also going on with Van the first time he saw him when he was thrown to the Pit…
...Could it be, he was trying to escape? If so, then he must become a part of it.
An hour later, the Prisoners continued to walk and explore the other side. And even though the scenery around them was no different from their usual sights back inside the Wall; smiles still remained on their faces.
It looked the same, but it felt quite different. Even the air that they were currently breathing in seemed sweet as they cherished each and every moment of their new-found freedom.
They knew that they weren't back outside and that they were still in the Pit, but still… For them, this is freedom.
Latanya, who had failed in preventing the other Prisoners from going through the Wall, now remained quiet. Knowing that her words reached no one, she decided to just watch and unfold whatever it is that was happening.
"...Why did you stop them earlier?" Van walked beside Latanya, looking her straight in the face. The chance that they have been waiting for weeks was finally in their grasp, but now it was completely gone. Who knows how long they would have to wait again for another Prisoner to be thrown in here.
Van has been asking and saying this to Latanya quite a few times now. Latanya, however, chose to remain quiet… until now.
"...I am sorry, boy."
"!!!"
With her words whispering into the air, Van could not help but slightly back away. Those who were close enough to hear her as well, had their eyes wide opened in shock.
The one that held the most bewildered and shocked expression out of all of them, was of course Reed. He had been staying by Boss' side for years now, and yet not even once did she hear her apologize. Even if she knew she was wrong, never did she apologize.
Ever since a gap on the Wall has opened, Boss' demeanor changed. There was also the fact that she was trying to stop the other Prisoners from going through the Wall. Was it because she would lose control of the Prisoners once they scatter here?
Was that just it? Some sort of need to remain in control?
No… She wouldn't be so petty as to want something like that… But what?
Reed was not the only one that was confused about Boss' sudden change, even Gil could not help but breathe out his concern.
"What's up with her?"
"No idea," Van just let out a sigh as they could only follow her from behind, not knowing what she was thinking.
"...And also, did you just drag my feet earlier? I almost hit my head, I think."
"...No, you got caught in between my hand."
"Pft. I suppose whatever is happening now is for the best," Gil then said as he let out a light sigh, "I am sure the three of us would have died if we went through the Portal."
"What makes you--"
"Aha!"
Van could not finish his word before a loud shout reverberated from behind him. He and Gil turned their heads back, only to see Gerald pointing at Van. But as soon as he noticed that they were looking at him, he quickly cleared his throat and crossed his arms.
It would seem that his guess was right, Gerald thought. Van really was trying to escape.
Gil only looked at this new and unfamiliar face weirdly before continuing to walk again. They continued to follow behind Latanya and the other Prisoners for a few more hours, not even stopping to rest even a single minute; for how could they? When the path to freedom is right beneath their feet, all they had to do was follow and explore it.
And finally, their long walk bore fruit. The Prisoners all stopped walking one by one as their whispers traveled all the way to the back of the group.
"T… The Locals!"
"It's the Locals' home!"
"Were… were they waiting for us!?"
The Prisoners all clamored as the Local Village stopped them in their tracks. They had palisades and spear walls covering their village…
...And it would seem that they were ready for them as there were a lot of them gathered in front, carrying all sorts of weapons and readying all sorts of Skills, all pointed towards them. Is this why there weren't any people on top of the Wall?
Were they all here, waiting for them to arrive?
A familiar-looking man also stood in front, leading the blockage to the path which led to their freedom-- Eugene.