I, Valon, am frantically searching for my mother.

Wow, there are even spellcasters like mages involved?

Wayne immediately realized that things were probably not that simple.

Sofia continued speaking.

"Many...children like me...were killed and sent to that strange guy's room..."

"Someone said...they saw...a lot of blood...and...some strange things inside..."

It sounded like some kind of sorcerer, but Wayne wasn't quite sure what the other person's exact strength was.

However, Wayne wasn't afraid much; on the contrary... his interest grew even stronger.

Young dragons are quite strong, but they can easily die if they face a large group of ordinary spellcasters or a specialized hunting team.

But Wayne is different. Having mastered the three divine powers of the Holy Lord, he can confidently escape even from an adult dragon, let alone an ordinary human spellcaster.

He subtly inquired about Sophia's strength and the defenses of her stronghold.

After confirming that he posed no threat, Wayne decisively chose to set off.

no way.

They kidnapped and coerced children, and used them for evil experiments...

This was so extraordinary that even a dragon like Wayne wanted to take it down.

"Don't worry, Sophia."

Wayne carried her on his back and continued walking forward, his voice calm, yet carrying an unwavering certainty that compelled people to believe him.

"Young Master, I'm a very capable person."

"If they were just ordinary people or ordinary mages, they would definitely not be a match for me, young master."

Sofia lay on his back, listening quietly.

She could feel the young master's steady steps, his calm breathing, and the undeniable confidence in his words.

For some reason, she just believed it.

I believe in this mysterious, powerful, and gentle young master.

"Okay...okay, I believe you, young master."

She responded softly, her voice still nasal from crying, but much more stable.

"I will show you the way, young master..."

She stretched out a thin, blood-stained hand and pointed to a deeper, darker fork in the alleyway that seemed to swallow up all light.

"Go straight in from there... until you see a door with a tattered black cloth hanging on it... that's it..."

Wayne nodded, his pace quickening even further.

To avoid alerting the enemy, he reactivated the snake charm's invisibility ability.

The two figures, along with Sofia's voice giving directions, disappeared silently into the shadows of the dim alleyway.

Wayne was also somewhat curious about this kind and somewhat strong girl.

So, while traveling invisibly, he asked curiously:

"Sophia..."

"Were you born here?"

The girl on his back shook her head, her dry, yellow hair brushing against Wayne's ear.

"have no idea……"

"Sophia was already being forced to do bad things by these people as far back as she can remember..."

"So I don't even know if I was born... here..."

If I was captured as early as when I have memories...

Wayne did a quick mental calculation.

Sofia looks to be in her early teens. Human children generally begin to have clearer memories around the age of five or six...

At the very least, she has been tormented and controlled by these scumbags for five or six years.

Five or six years... in this hellish place...

Wayne couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the little guy's plight.

Then he asked:

"Does Sophia know how she was captured?"

The conversation fell silent at this point.

The girl on his back visibly stiffened for a moment.

Wayne felt warm liquid dripping onto the back of his neck.

Sofia's voice became choked with sobs.

"Mother……"

"Mom...is dead..."

"Because...bad people...are all very cruel..."

"Sophia's mother... was trying to protect Sophia... so... she was... killed by them... with a knife..."

"They...threw Sophia's mother off a very, very high place, and then...locked Sophia up and did some very, very bad things..."

"Waaah...waaah...Mommy...Mommy...she's bleeding so much...she told Sophia...to run...but...Sophia can't run away...waaah—"

At this point, Sofia could no longer continue.

Damn it, they don't even spare other people's mothers.

If Wayne catches these bastards later, their mothers will die with them!

However, Wayne soon realized another problem.

He paused, then turned his head and asked softly:

"So... Sophia doesn't have a mother right now, right?"

The girl on his back trembled slightly.

"Um."

After a long while, Sofia responded softly in a barely audible, heavily nasal voice.

"Do you know, Sofia?"

"Young Master Wayne..."

"Actually, I've always been... on the road to finding my mother."

Sofia, who was on his back, suddenly jolted!

Would a child like the young master also want to find his mother?

"Young Master Wayne..."

Her voice trembled as she asked cautiously, tentatively, and with concern:

"Were you...abandoned by your mother?"

"Or perhaps... Young Master Wayne's mother... was like Sophia's mother... forced to leave Young Master Wayne to protect him..."

"How could that be?"

Wayne shook his head, and said with a hint of smugness:

"Do you think my mother is your mother?"

"My mom isn't like your mom, who's like a firecracker that just pops up and disappears."

"My mom can fly!"

"Besides, I'm much stronger than a kid like you. I can protect my mother. I even helped her beat up a really despicable old lady before!"

"Speaking of which, since Sophia no longer has a mother, how about trying to be my mother? I, Young Master Wayne, will do everything in my power to ensure you outlive your mother."

"Wow!"

Sofia burst into tears, looking very sad.

Wayne first felt the small body on his back trembling violently, crying and gasping for breath. At the same time, he quickly and quietly examined his own condition.

Seeing that he still had three stacks of passive ability, Vayne couldn't help but sigh.

Wayne just confirmed something very important again: other species cannot become mothers.

This had already been proven once before with Miss Griffin.

But Wayne considered that he was human in his previous life, so what if he could exploit a bug?

Now it seems I was just overthinking it.

And now there is another problem:

He made Sofia cry.