chapter 18

Thank you for the clarification! I'll adjust the narrative to reflect Ataparag as a female and Aoi as a male, ensuring the pronouns and descriptions align accordingly. Below is the refined and immersive English version of Chapter 12, Part 1 from your novel, Rewrite: Let's Escape the Reality!, updated with these changes. I've enhanced it with vivid sensory details, emotional depth, and evocative language, preserving the original content, themes, and tone, while keeping the wording natural, engaging, and immersive.

Chapter 12: Part 1 - Nathaniel's Point of View

After Sei ordered my release, her guards shoved me toward the exit, leaving me no choice but to stumble along, pleading repeatedly. "Get out of here!" Nyabu barked, her voice slicing through the tense air.

"You're lucky Commander Sei spared you, or you'd be rotting in a cell!" she sneered, pushing me down the building's entrance stairs. The rough stone scraped my palms, igniting my frustration, but I couldn't afford to challenge this haughty woman surrounded by her soldier comrades.

"I've done nothing wrong—I just want to do what's right!" I protested.

They ignored me, shooing me off like a stray. "Thanks to our leader's mercy, you're still breathing, yet you'd risk her again?" Nyabu warned. She cautioned that further meddling would worsen Ataparag's punishment.

She was right—her intervention had stalled Zhui's execution, a crucial favor. Endangering her now would make me seem ungrateful. Nearby, Ataparag's voice trembled, "Please, I just finished military training last week—I'd die if they sent me back!" Her tearful plea, delivered with a delicate demeanor unbefitting a soldier, tugged at my sympathy, though her initial softness had already hinted at her unconventional nature.

But what could I do? Protesting further wouldn't free Zhui. Moments later, Aoi seized Ataparag's head, his grip a mock threat. "Good—you know your punishment, Ataparag," he taunted, his tone laced with menace.

Ataparag froze, speechless, as Aoi slung an arm around her, suggesting training camps with a gleeful smirk. His bullying seemed to amuse him, and no soldier dared intervene. Soon, his gaze shifted to me. "You're an intriguing one for an ordinary human," he said, his voice sharp. "But heed this—never meddle in what you can't handle, especially without strength to defend yourself."

His words carried a chilling warning about protecting Zhui. "Don't think this is personal—Eskapa and all of Endoryo want Soul Eaters dead," he added. I fell silent, his truth sinking in. Sei's capture was my saving grace, granting Zhui temporary life.

He elaborated on the tragedies Soul Eaters had wrought, justifying the merciless fate of their allies. "But I'm not evil—I just want you to know Suwi's different from the rest…" I interjected.

Aoi paused, a faint smile curling his lips as he studied me. "What's your real motive for defending that Soul Eater?" he pressed.

I winced, unable to reveal the truth, and repeated my lie. "She's my friend, so I must help her."

He saw through it. "Lying won't help now, especially with no home or food here," he said. Shocked he knew my plight—likely from a report—I was floored when he added, "No one knew about a spirit pet providing energy to a Soul Eater—Zhui herself was stunned you knew about Serphia."

His insight left me reeling, until I recalled his identity. "Right—he's Aoi, vice commander of the Fourth Blade, the finest tactician," I thought, remembering his prowess in the Crimson Game and the upcoming rampage, aided by his Crimson Eye, reading minds and communicating telepathically.

"Oh, so you know my Crimson Eye's power too?" he asked, catching me off guard.

"You've been reading my mind?" I stammered.

"Yes, and I told Queen Sei you're lying," he replied.

Speechless and embarrassed, I couldn't deny it. Yet, despite exposing my deceit, Aoi's demeanor softened, offering help. "Reports say you've got nothing to survive here—why not join Eskapa?" he suggested.

Stunned, even his comrades gaped as he mentioned ongoing recruitment events. Before I could respond, Nyabu objected. "He's weak—more a hindrance than help!" she snapped.

Her words stung, though I agreed, lacking interest in joining. Aoi ignored her, tousling Ataparag's hair. "Don't worry—Ataparag will train him," he said.

"But Vice Commander…" Nyabu protested.

"If Ataparag doesn't handle his application by tomorrow, I'll send her whole team to the Ertes frontier," Aoi grinned.

Terrified, Ataparag rushed to my side, trembling. "No need to send us to Ertes—I'll handle it today, I promise!" She grabbed my hand. "Uh… sir, I don't know your name, but you're now an Eskapa applicant!"

"But Leader…" Nyabu grumbled.

"Please, Nyabu, I can't go back to those mountains!" Ataparag pleaded.

Bewildered, I had no clue about Ertes, but their decision seemed final. As Aoi left, he advised, "Find a proper place and do what's best for yourself. The queen tasked me to help you, so I'm entrusting you to Ataparag. Don't waste this chance to live longer in Endoryo."

His warning tied back to my meddling with Zhui, urging self-preservation, but I couldn't accept letting her die. He departed, followed by soldiers, leaving four of us outside. Silence hung heavy, Nyabu's irritated glare burning into me.

Noticing, Ataparag stepped between us. "Please, Nyabu, you can't treat him like this—he's joining our team."

"He's just an applicant, not part of the team!" Nyabu retorted.

"Nyabu, please," Ataparag cooed gently.

Disgusted, Nyabu glared at her leader's leniency toward an ordinary human. "What, Leader? You'll let that weakling join us?" she snapped. She argued the team needed reliable members, not burdens, fearing Ataparag's kindness would prioritize saving me over missions.

"We don't even know where he's from—there's nothing to gain from him!" she raged, as if I weren't there. Her insults grated, but I held my tongue—until she added, "He looks clueless."

Unable to bear more, I snapped, "Maybe I lack your power, but I know this world better than you! I even know the future!"

Nyabu scoffed, "Now you claim to see the future? That desperate to lie?"

"Next, you'll say you're from another world," she mocked.

"Uh… how'd you know?" I blurted.

she lunged, grabbing my collar. "We're not joking—shape up!" she warned.

"Who said I'm joking?" I shot back.

Before nyabu could strike, Ataparag intervened, pleading her to stop. Though aggressive, she obeyed, releasing me with a growl. "I'm heading to the dorm. I won't accept himon the team!" she stormed off.