At least as they neared the swamplands the number of undead decreased correspondingly which allowed them to take a break.
The dead trees started clearing up which gave them better visibility, if Sam's calculations weren't wrong then it would take only an hour to leave this cursed place.
They decided to take a break here before getting into the swamp because it could easily lead to them being attacked when they were exhausted.
'This place between the two zones was the best place to rest up. Of course none of these losers would know to thank me for my wisdom. Tch.'
Sam's anger burned hot once again, these ungrateful bastards will get a beating later on.
They were sitting on some rocks and sharing the last of their water, when something caught Sam's eye. Tara was drinking from the water skin and some of the water slid down her delicious lips and rolled down her chin and into her robe to a place that made his imagination run wild.
To be honest Sam always felt that Robert was not worthy of a woman like Tara, who was beautiful, fierce and elegant. Which was why he decided to make her his woman after killing the annoying pest Esdras.
? After all, it was something that Robert couldn't do, and what if he, the great Sam, succeeded where Robert failed? That would definitely move her heart to him!
Yes, the situation was perfect, he was going to show her his cool side and while Robert was away or dead whose to say he didn't have a chance?
No, he had more than a chance, Sam could feel it for the past few days, the way that Tara looked at him changed slowly. It was because he was showing his true abilities after being in Robert's shadow this whole time.
People didn't pay him enough attention but now everyone was starting to notice. Everyone back home though his sister was the talented one but the truth was different, he was the one chosen by destiny to become a Great mage one day.
"Oooh, Sam! Come here! Take a look at what I caught."
Sam was suddenly shaken off his thoughts by one of his underlings, it was the guy charged with keeping a lookout using the spyglass.
They chose a high spot so they can have a good view of everything around them and have enough time to prepare in case of a sudden attack. This vintage point allowed them to see the swamp zone without being seen.
Sam yanked the spyglass from the underlings grasp and looked at what he was pointing out. And smirked, not believing how good his luck was.
"If it isn't that rotten bastard!" Sam couldn't help but cheer. Not only did their target come to them voluntarily, he could even see that Esdras was carrying four or five ration bags!
Just what they needed.
And those bags looked really full too, it's only been one day so he couldn't have consumed that much rations.
"Lets gut that animal and get us some real food!"
"Hell yeah!"
Some of the underlings started cheering and gathered their weapons at once.
"Hold it!"
Sam shouted at them while looking infuriated.
"What is it?… boss?"
"We can't just rush him, we need a plan. We must get our hands on those ration bags."
"Why go through all that trouble, boss? You can't possibly believe those rumors about him being a level 4 apprentice right? This Esdras we're talking about, for god's sake."
"I know! But this is our last chance, although I don't believe he became a level 4 apprentice, we must act like he is." Sam replied firmly, "that guy keeps somehow surviving, we can't deny that. And look at those extra ration bags, where do you reckon he got them?"
Finally, the implication of his words started to sink in to the thick heads of these idiots. Sam was not about to let this chance slip by like this.
Consuming their rations on the first day was too reckless and taught Sam that this was serious, he couldn't make a single mistake again if he wanted to prove himself.
As for Esdras's extra bags, he didn't know for sure but it was better to assume the worst.
"So, what should we do. He might get away if we hesitate anymore…"
That was true, if they wasted too much time their prey might get away, the problem was what the actual plan was going to be…
"I know."
Suddenly, Tara spoke up making everyone look at her. "I have a plan, didn't O spend so much time to earn his trust for this moment? It's time I put my plan to action. Leave the rest to me."
"Oooh, yes. As expected of Tara, after all you had to hang out with that loser. I wonder what his expression will look like when he gets betrayed!"
Sam laughed, to be honest Tara's closeness with Esdras was getting on his nerves in the past two weeks but he didn't say anything because he knew just how ruthless and cunning Tara was.
And now she indeed proved that she was not beyond using all that time to act like they were actually close only to stab him in the back in the end. It was moments like these that made Sam want Tara so much.
"So, what are you going to do?" Sam asked in anticipation.
"You guys will set up a trap here and hide in various places while I will pretend to bump into him by accident and lure him here. When he's in the right spot all of you will attack him at once while I retreat to your side. What do you think?"
Sam nodded, "I can't believe you came up with such a plan on the spot, you're so smart, Tara."
Tara blushed and looked away in embarrassment, she was so cute some times!
Sam wanted nothing more than to kiss her right now, but first thing first. It was time to take that pest down!
Tara didn't waste any time and went down. Fortunately during that time the idiot Esdras didn't leave instead he climbed up in their direction.
Sam knew today was his lucky day and kept watching as the rest of the underlings cleaned the place up and made sure there were no traces that could raise suspicions.
They just settled down here and didn't make any camp so the clean up was simple. Meanwhile Sam using the spyglass saw the moment when Tara and Esdras met by 'coincidence'.
The two quickly began to catch-up and Sam saw Tara pointing up in their direction. Esdras, the fool started following Tara without a thought of course.
He was a dimwit after all.
Sam quickly joined the others in hiding and took out his short dagger, his plan for this encounter to be long an painful. He wanted to vent his frustrations on this bastard, he was jealous of the way Tara acted around him even though he knew it was an act but it was still frustrating to see his goddess like that.
His blood boiled with rage at the thought alone, and his hand tightened around the hilt of his dagger.
Finally, after what seems like forever, he heard the sound of that two pairs of footsteps, approaching the place of the trap.
"It's here, huh?"
Sam heard the unmistakable voice of Esdras, only he could sound so bored and arrogant at the same time.
"Y-yes. It's a nice place. I hop you like it."
That was Tara her voice was much softer than usual. I did clearly conveyed subservience. However, Sam did not think too much about it. This was the right moment. Now.
"Now!"
He yelled as he lunged from behind a tree and charged at Esdras who had no clue what was happening.
The trap was really simple. It was just a collective attack from multiple directions all at once. Even if Esdras was really a level 4 apprentice he wouldn't be able to deal with all five of them at once.
However, an unexpected accident happened at the most crucial moment. One of his underlings, who was charging at the same direction, tripped, and slammed into Sam instead.
Sam quickly recovered and turned to look at Esdras who still had a blank look. Unexpectedly the others all suffered similar accidents.
Sam glared at the underling who crashed into him and wasted the ambush they planned so carefully.
"What's the matter with you?! Fuck, do I have to suffer subordinates like you guys!"
Sam's anger was explosive, he could not believe that not only did the ambush fail, but he had embarrassed himself in front of Tara because of these fools.
The other three quickly collected themselves, and stood beside him, Tara as well quickly ran behind him and tearfully clung to his back.
"Sam, pleas save me…"
Sam's heart started throbbing violently, this is it! This is his moment!
He turned and condescendingly look down on Esdras after his ego was restored by Tara, he cleared his throat and brandished his dagger.
"Hey, asshole! Hand over the ration bags and you can go in peace."
Of course, that was not going to happen, but his first priority was to make sure the bags and rations within them or not damaged in the upcoming struggle.
"Hmm, let's see, how about no?" Esdras answered playfully.
Some thing about his tone triggered Sam terribly!
"Fucker, don't you want to live? Do you think you can get away with it this time? I don't care how powerful you think you are. There's six of us and one of you. I'll be merciful and let you go as long as you had over the bags obediently."
Esdras rolled his eyes, " are you just going to yap or are you actually going to do something about it?"
Sam knew that his little ploy filed so he decided to get it over with, they could endure the loss if things got damaged.
"Attack! Tear this—"
However, he could not continue the rest of his words as he felt a dagger, stabbing him in the back. Slowly his head turned and saw an unexpected sight.
"H-how?… why?"
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