“Gonna ditch the mask yet?” Ana’s soft voice broke the silence between us.
Everyone was already sleeping, so no one would care about my disguise. Plus, I was currently seated atop a sturdy tree branch with her beside me.
There was no risk of being seen.
Using <Recall>, I made the mask vanish from my face, turning to see Lara smiling gleefully at me.
“See? That’s much better, isn’t it?”
A broad grin formed on my face as I took in the peaceful silent night with only this woman keeping me company. I had a lot of emotions swirling within me—emotions I couldn’t fully decipher. However, one thing was certain when Lara’s lovely face absorbed all my attention.
“It sure is…”
************************.
After spending some time in silence and light conversation with the woman, Lara, I was already beginning to feel even more strange palpitations within my heart.
It was a pleasant feeling, but I also sensed it to be very dangerous. I was confused and focused at the same time. It was as though nothing else mattered other than the special moment we were having.
“Why did you give them the Demon Cores, though?” She suddenly asked.
Her tone was not jovial, and the expression on her face depicted no kindness. With stone-cold eyes, she looked beneath her and saw the tents of everyone laid about on the grassy plains.
“You offered them food and shelter and helped them to Level Up a great deal, and you gave them Demon Cores that they clearly didn’t deserve… why go through all that?”
She didn’t seem to have any problem with my act of kindness, and I also couldn’t sense animosity toward the Subjugation Squad. It appeared Lara was just curious about my rationale when deciding to do something so detrimental to myself.
“The Demon Cores are already mine. I just lent it to them.”
My short statement carried lots of implications. Since the ‘spoils’ I gave them were already marked as my property, I could recall them at any time.
“As for why I’m going through so much to preserve them, it’s because I truly want them to get stronger. Charles made me promise to return them safely, including Tasha. I intend to make good on my promise.”
My words may have seemed sentimental, but they were far from it. I simply had more to gain if I played along with things for now.
‘The farm they’re working on, and the borehole project… it’ll be useful. It’s best to let them do all the work and I reap the rewards.’
I noticed Lara was staring at me with eyes of suspicion. She obviously didn’t buy the fact that I was doing anything without considering my gain. As a mutual understanding, we both had very vague ideas of what went on in each other’s heads.
“It’s just been three days since the Subjugation began and things have already progressed this far. We’ll be arriving a little earlier than planned, but so much as happened…” I whispered, speaking to no one in particular.
Lara nodded slightly, turning to look deeply into my eyes.
“It’s all thanks to you that we’ve managed to make it out of this alive… thanks.” With a slight pinch to my elbow, she grinned sincerely.
‘Guh!’
A sharp sensation rang in my heart and I felt my face grow hot. The throbbing in the region she had just hit with her fist seemed to course through my whole body and my throat suddenly felt dry.
What was going on? I had never felt like this before!
“Y-yeah, you’re right.” I laughed, quickly turning my vision away from her before I lost my mind.
The brilliant stars in the sky sparkled like jewels and it made me nostalgic. If not for the fact that I knew of the Demons that existed and the ones to come, nothing around us could make anyone suspect that this was an apocalyptic world.
Enjoying the company of a woman I was fond of, while watching those I had saved enjoy a good night’s rest as the calm night breeze enveloped me… one would say that this was the perfect picture.
And, despite myself, I truly enjoyed it.
********************
I stayed up all night to watch the group sleep and also to practice my newly obtained Skills. Even though I would have placed Lara within [Subspace], she also needed rest, so I let her stay in her tent all alone… though, for some reason, she kept inviting me to stay with her.
Of course, I declined… even though a part of me was keen on continuing our conversation within the thin walls of the tent.
After she went to sleep, I tried out my new Skills and got a general bearing of them. After that, I relaxed and watched the sky while lying on my back. I didn’t especially feel tired thanks to my high Level.
‘I can probably last for several days without needing sleep. Only fatigue will build up…’
To maintain a healthy and optimal state, though, I wasn’t going to risk it. I needed to be at one hundred percent at all times.
And so, the night passed, and morning soon arrived.
********************
“Good morning, everyone.”
The Subjugation Team members had all gathered in front of me. Their faces didn’t show a hint of tiredness thanks to the high Level they had reached. Melissa seemed a bit groggy, but not by much.
As usual, Lara was beside me as I addressed everyone who sat on the plains and awaited my instructions. Even if no one said it, it was already very established that I was the one in charge.
“We’ll be returning to your Camp very soon. Even though we’ve defeated the Horde, it does not mean you should all let your guard down. Demons are lurking at every corner of this world, and we all need to be cautious.”
They nodded and paid rapt attention, at the very least, they appeared to be listening with every ounce of concentration they had.
If I, the one who brought them victory, could be so cautious, it must have sent a humbling message to everyone else.
“After breakfast, we’ll take our leave. Do not fear, though. Even if it costs me my life I will ensure none of you meet any harm!”
I wasn’t lying. I meant that with every ounce of my being. After going through all that trouble to reside these Gifteds, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them… not until the appointed time.
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