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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“…Was there a well here?”
“I just dug it.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Does my face say “joke”?
“There’s no way you could make a well like this in such a short time!”
I scratched my chin at Perinne’s rebuttal.
Of course, no one would believe it until they saw it with their own eyes.
I started digging a short distance away from the well.
After digging a hole about the depth of my height, I climbed out, brushed off the dirt, and said,
“Still don’t believe me?”
“Uh, you’re really fast.”
This blue-haired girl didn’t trust people easily.
It was tiring to have to explain myself every time.
Should I just raise my reputation to the point where explanations weren’t necessary?
Raising my reputation wasn’t easy, but…
“Here’s the bucket. Hurry up and fill the canteens. We could be attacked out here, since we’re outside the camp.”
“Oh, okay…”
They could handle filling the canteens on their own.
Should I take a break?
I leaned against the well and gazed up at the sky.
Clear.
Annoyingly clear.
The sky was so bright and clear, while the ground was hell.
Damn this world…
“Johann?”
“Did you fill all the canteens?”
“Yeah, let’s go back.”
I got up at Sif’s words.
The sun was slowly starting to cast a crimson glow.
Was this what they called the twilight hour?
A chuckle escaped my lips as I thought about such trivial things.
“Let’s go back and discuss our next course of action.”
“Yes!”
The only one who answered enthusiastically was the pretty-boy protagonist.
“How’s Viola doing?”
“Sh, she has a high fever and is sweating a lot…”
At Shuri’s words, I placed my palm on Viola’s forehead.
As she said, her forehead was burning hot.
It was natural for her to be in terrible condition after almost being infected by an unknown virus and having her arm severed.
“Will Viola… be alright?”
A voice filled with despair reached my ears.
Negative thoughts were taboo in survival situations, but there was nothing we could do about it right now.
I comforted Shuri in the gentlest voice I could muster.
“She’ll be fine.”
“Don’t worry too much. Viola is strong, she’ll pull through.”
Lewis, perhaps wanting to assert his role as the protagonist, placed his hand on Shuri’s shoulder and chimed in.
His optimism was blazing, truly befitting a protagonist.
Of course, wishful thinking wouldn’t be of much help here… but we needed someone who could remain level-headed, so I decided to break the mood and lay out the reality of the situation.
“Four days.”
“Huh?”
“If she doesn’t receive treatment within four days, I can’t guarantee she’ll survive. No, even three days is pushing it.”
The amount of blood she lost was significant, and the risk of infection in this environment was high.
Besides, who knows if that virus-like substance she contracted from the grotesque creatures had already spread throughout her body?
Maybe it was in its incubation period, but that was just wishful thinking.
“Four days is too short…!”
A trembling voice rang out.
I scratched my chin as I listened to Lewis’s agitated voice.
Did I scratch too hard?
Anyway, what I said was just an educated guess based on experience, so I could be wrong.
However, if I left things as they were, they would want to stay here until Viola recovered.
I didn’t want that.
It would be easier to handle the situation if I returned before my vacation ended.
“Can we even escape within four days…?”
I shrugged at Shuri’s question and replied,
“I don’t know.”
We might be able to find a way out if we thoroughly explored the cave, but we couldn’t blindly enter without knowing what was inside.
Even if time was tight, reconnaissance was essential, and we needed a capable leader to guide us out of here.
“Damn it…”
Lewis cursed under his breath.
I glanced at the bonfire and saw Perinne, her face pale and devoid of color.
Was she gripped by the fear of being trapped here?
“Isn’t there any other way? To save Viola…”
“The only way is to clear the rift as quickly as possible.”
“I, I’m fine…”
Was she awake?
I didn’t know how much she had heard, but Viola, who had opened her eyes with great effort, stared blankly into the void and muttered,
“Lea… leave me… don’t… want to be a… burden…”
“Viola! Don’t say that!”
“That’s right! Where’s your usual feisty self?!”
“Shu… shut up… don’t… say that… here… jinx…”
Listening to their youthful dialogue made me cringe.
I had been through this kind of melodrama with my imaginary girlfriend for ten years on that deserted island.
It was hard to describe the feeling, but it was unsettling.
It made me uncomfortable, even though I wasn’t usually such a twisted person.
But I knew when to keep my mouth shut, so I just watched them silently.
Sif, who seemed to have read my expression, looked at me with an incredulous expression, but so what?
I only cared about achieving my goals.
I pulled out a piece of jerky from my pocket and chewed on it.
The salty flavor forced open my heavy eyelids as the dark night wore on.
It was almost time to sleep, but not yet.
I needed to get a definitive answer before the day ended.
I clapped my hands, drawing the attention of Lewis and his party, who were lost in their own little world.
Ignoring their questioning gazes, I spoke,
“Four days isn’t a long time. So… we’ll reach the bottom of the cave within two days.”
“Two… days?”
Lewis asked incredulously.
I nodded and continued,
“But you have to follow my orders, whether you live or die. If you do, I’ll take you back to the Academy, safe and sound.”
“Is that even possible?”
“I’ll make it possible.”
“You mean the rift? But even so, clearing the rift in two days…”
“If you don’t believe me, stay here. We’re going down to the cave.”
“Me too?”
I was dumbfounded by Sif’s surprised voice and retorted curtly,
“Did you think I’d go alone?”
I laid down the law.
Anyone who didn’t follow my orders would be ruthlessly abandoned.
After all, if they didn’t listen to me, they would only be a hindrance.
It would be much easier to go down with Sif, clear the rift, and then bring them back.
“What will you do?”
“…Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“Of course.”
He was the protagonist after all.
I readily agreed to Lewis’ question, who had stepped forward as the representative of the group.
“We will follow your instructions.”
“Do you all agree?”
It seemed they followed their leader’s words.
Shuri and Perinne obediently nodded.
“We’re going to sleep now. Execute.”
No one objected to my announcement.
The morning arrived, with the sound of seagulls instead of larks.
I cut down a nearby tree and crafted a wooden A-frame carrier.
I built it based on vague memories from folktales, but it should function properly.
I contemplated who I should entrust this prototype of a “Filial Piety Back Breaker” to.
Someone strong enough to carry it, but not useful in combat.
There was only one person who fit that description.
“Sif, put this on.”
“What about my backpack?”
“Someone else can carry that.”
“Why are you making me wear this A-frame thing?”
“You’re going to carry Viola.”
“What? Me?”
“You’re the only one here who’s useless in combat.”
“Well, that’s true… fine, I get it. You are giving me extra pay for this, right?”
“I’ll give you an extra gold coin.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
“Okay.”
I watched Sif secure Viola onto the carrier with ropes, then turned my gaze towards Lewis and his party, who were looking at me with nervous expressions.
Being too nervous wasn’t good either.
“Lewis, you and Shuri will handle any approaching enemies.”
“Yes.”
“Shuri, keep the light magic active and focus on illuminating our surroundings. Conserve your mana, don’t use any attack magic.”
“Yes!”
“Perinne, conserve your mana as much as possible and focus on eliminating any approaching enemies.”
“Leave it to me.”
“Sif… just carry Viola safely.”
“Leave it to me!”
Then, it was time to depart.
I shouldered my shovel and looked up at the sky.
The rising sun pierced through my eyebrows and scratched my retinas.
It was a perfect morning for an adventure.
“We’ll head straight to the cave. Once we’re inside, we won’t be able to come out easily, so check again if you’ve forgotten anything.”
Whether we lived or died, leaving the cave wouldn’t be easy.
I watched the group check their belongings and then gazed at the cave in the distance.
What awaited us inside?
Grotesque creatures?
Or…
Something more?
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Their voices resonated in unison.
“Then let’s go.”
Our time limit was four days.
Our goal was to reach our destination within two.
The desperate time attack within this hopeless rift had begun.
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