Transformed into Kanna in Terra

About an hour after Kanna and her group had left, another convoy approached the same location.

Judging by their equipment and clothing, it seemed that those seeking to capture Rosmontis had hired more than just one team of mercenaries.

When they arrived at the entrance of the canyon, the leader sitting at the front suddenly raised his hand, signaling the team to stop.

After stepping out of the vehicle, he walked to the middle of the road and took a deep breath, sniffing the air. Then, he motioned for one of his subordinates to come over. "Go back and catch an Originium bug from the path we came through."

"Boss? What do you need that thing for?"

"Just do as I say! Tell everyone to take a break," the leader snapped before turning back to stare at the strange puddle of liquid ahead, his expression shifting uncertainly.

A short while later, his subordinate returned, holding a fist-sized Originium bug with a disgusted look on his face.

"You, throw the bug into that puddle," the leader ordered.

Although the subordinate was confused, he didn't dare disobey. The puddle was about twenty to thirty meters away, but tossing a bug that far wasn't difficult for him.

With a smooth arc, the Originium bug landed right in the middle of the liquid. The subordinate was just about to celebrate his perfect aim when he noticed that his boss's face had darkened considerably.

It was as if he had made a crucial decision. Without hesitation, he crushed the cigarette he had just lit, completely ignoring the embers burning his palm.

"Listen up, everyone. I've decided to abandon this mission. If you trust me, come back with me."

With that, he turned and walked straight toward his vehicle.

The rest of the team exchanged uncertain glances.

While some were tempted by the reward for the mission, they also trusted their leader.

Their squad wasn't among the strongest mercenary groups, but their commander's judgment was always accurate. Under his guidance, this relatively weak team had managed to survive and even thrive on the continent of Terra.

Since their leader didn't want to explain, no one pressed the issue. After all, he had always had his fair share of secrets.

Before leaving, the subordinate glanced back at the puddle. The Originium bug was gone—completely dissolved. The only thing left behind was a few shimmering fragments of Originium, faintly glowing within the liquid.

Much later, during a drunken conversation, the leader would recount a terrifying memory from the Kazdel war. The royal faction had once had a caster capable of turning anyone she fought into a puddle of liquid.

Meanwhile, after leaving the canyon, Kanna's group encountered no further obstacles. However, for safety reasons, Outcast did not head straight back to Rhodes Island. Instead, she led the convoy on a long detour around the borders of Columbia before finally returning.

By the time they arrived, Kal'tsit had already been informed of the situation by Outcast and had arranged a special entry route. Amiya, whose abilities specialized in calming emotions, was sent to greet them.

As soon as the convoy entered Rhodes Island, Kanna felt Rosmontis' emotional state fluctuate. The "medical treatment" she had previously endured had left behind a trauma response.

However, because Kanna had been holding her hand the entire time, Rosmontis only had minor mood swings rather than a full-blown breakdown like before.

Soon, the vehicle doors opened, and Amiya's donkey ears peeked in from outside.

When Amiya stepped into the vehicle, she immediately spotted Rosmontis, who was curled up like a frightened squirrel, nervously staring at the doorway.

With her Empathy ability, Amiya easily slipped into Rosmontis' fragile, tense mental state.

Using her Originium Arts, she quickly soothed Rosmontis. Then, together with Kanna, she gently took the girl's hands and led her out of the vehicle.

From a short distance away, Kal'tsit observed the situation and nodded. Since she had already assessed Rosmontis' condition, she had arranged for all medical personnel to remove any doctor-related items from their gear. No one wore white coats or medical symbols.

As a result, when Rosmontis stepped out of the vehicle, she didn't see any white-clad demons, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief.

Afterward, Rosmontis and the other rescued children were separated and placed in the Rhodes Island rest areas.

Touch stood in front of Kal'tsit, calmly reporting her observations of Rosmontis from the journey.

By the time she finished, both Kal'tsit and the medical specialists listening had serious expressions.

First, they hadn't expected Columbia to harbor such utterly deranged physicians.

Second, if Rosmontis' psychological trauma could not be resolved, treatment would be impossible. More importantly, even the doctors' lives would be at risk, considering the girl's ability to compress the surrounding ground by ten centimeters without even trying.

Shortly after, Amiya entered the room. Upon hearing the full story, she was visibly furious. However, she managed to keep her emotions in check.

After discussing with Kal'tsit, they estimated that Rosmontis would need at least two to three months of guided therapy. Amiya and the medical experts would work together to relieve her mental pressure and teach her how to control her Originium Arts. Only after she could regulate her emotions and avoid harming others could they proceed with medical treatment.

The rest of the medical team agreed with this plan.

After escorting Rosmontis to her room, Kanna and Amiya stayed with her until she fell asleep. She had been mentally and physically exhausted from the long journey.

Amiya was the first to leave. Once Kanna was sure Rosmontis wouldn't wake up, she quietly stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Turning the corner, she suddenly saw a red-eyed girl staring at her.

Feeling a little guilty, Kanna scratched her horn and walked over. "Popukar, you're here!"

"Waah! Liar!" At Kanna's words, Popukar immediately burst into tears.

A tall man in cowboy-like clothing stepped out of the shadows, watching as Kanna comforted the sobbing girl. He sighed.

"If you were going on a mission, you could've at least told us. Popukar went looking for you and realized you were gone—she went crazy, running around all over Rhodes Island. These past few days, she hasn't spoken to anyone. Spot's been so stressed about it he's practically losing his fur. If we hadn't heard that you came back, I think we all would've lost our minds."

Looking at the wailing Popukar, Kanna felt a deep pang of guilt.

That's right. If she had finally found a friend only for them to suddenly disappear without a word, she would have felt horrible too. Let alone someone like Popukar, who was still young and mentally fragile.

She gently stroked Popukar's forehead. After she had cried herself out, Kanna pulled out a clean white handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away the tears and snot from Popukar's face.

"I'm sorry! Next time—no, wait, there won't be a next time! If I go on a mission, I'll tell you first, okay?"

Hearing Kanna's promise, Popukar finally smiled through her tears. The tension she had been holding for days finally eased.

She took Kanna's hand, leaned against her shoulder, and with a peaceful sigh, fell fast asleep.