Chapter 110 - Dire Need of Help
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"That came out of nowhere, Master..." Luna who didn't comprehend what I said spoke in a confused manner. Oops, I just voiced-out my thoughts. My bad. "Is there something you're seeing, Master?"
"Sai, you sure like to blurt out random words, huh?" Astra added, didn't understood what I mused as well. "Judging by your face, another troublesome problem for us, isn't it?"
In Astra's reply, I became conscious to what face I'm making. I'm...smiling—No, I'm grinning. Is this the face I unconsciously make when I'm troubled?
"Yes, Master. Actually, since you're always ahead of us, we oftentimes look at your face in order to grasp the gist of the situation."
"...but I haven't said anything yet?"
"Your face was particularly giving it away, unfortunately." Lily who busied herself checking the boots interjected.
Impossible! Was I really that easy to read? I boast myself of being able to control my emotions. I could even make a facade if needed. And Luna, what do you mean by you guys looking at my face to fathom the situation? Since when?!
Sigh! Anyhow, there's more things needed to be concerned about.
"...There's a group of three people not really far from us here." I can only see their highlighted figure in sight. Judging from their body position... "They're seemed to be in trouble."
"Oh? Straight to the point, are we?" Astra jest. "I had thought you'd argue your way about."
"I give-up. You guys will just read my face anyways. It'll be useless if I retort, no?"
"Hm, fair enough." Astra shrugged; the girls nodded back in agreement. Damn it! "So, what's your call?"
"My call, huh..." Ugh, what a dilemma. It's not like I don't want to save them, but I really don't want to babysit here now that were here. Sigh, well, even if I complain here... "We really have no choice but to save them, isn't it?"
I rose into the ground and took my Pickaxe. Those guys were not really far from us. We can just take things step by step but that'll be inefficient. So, with that in mind, I'm just going to mine my way towards them—straightforward but efficient way. They also seemed to be in dire of help so getting there quickly was necessary.
Alright, I hope it doesn't cost to many more problems...
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[??? POV]
What a grave predicament...
"Damn, they got me..." I groaned while I lay myself into the freezing floor covering my sides that's oozing with blood with my hands. Obviously, I was stabbed quite deeply.
We're currently located at one of the small caverns connected to the other networks of caves. As for the reason of our current situation,
"O-Old Man...! Don't give up yet!" Beside me was a guy in his teenage period called Mikael who was bawling like a child. This child was really as wimpy as ever... "If you die here, we'll..."
"Don't give up yet, Grandpa!" The girl opposite of my side, Lara, said so. Opposite of this spineless guy, Lara was quite the stalwart. Compared to the norm, their personality were quite the opposite. "We'll do something about it. That's why, don't die just yet, grandpa!"
We were attacked in an ambush by the enemies. We managed to kill them of ahead of time, but I was hit into my sides by their sharp piercing weapon. We've been trapped here for who knows how many days due to the sudden surge of unbelievably strong monsters whom we had a hard time fending off. To be honest, I was surprised that we even managed to survive being trapped here. But,
"I guess our luck has finally run out, huh..." I muttered as my vision starts to darken. But well, I was a fully-pledge adventurer so dying here might not be so bad...
"Old Man...? Old Man!!" Mikael cried. His face was covered in tears...and snot.
"Grandpa?! Kuh! Don't give up just yet, dammit!" Lara added.
My only regret was... Ah... What a miserable blunder. I should've just come here along with the kids. They're still at the start of their life...and I took it all away from them...
Ahh... I'm feeling tired... If only there would be someone...someone who will save us... no, I don't care about myself. At least, save the children's life... then, I wouldn't have any regrets...
"Old Man!"
"Grandpa!"
"I-I'm sorry, kids..." I spoke with the last of my breath. I'm sorry, it was the end for me—
Boom!!!
"—?!"
"What the—?!"
An explosion...? My mind was fading away, but I can still hear and feel the tremor. Heh, we really ran out of luck, huh—
My body was numb, and my vision is incomprehensively blurry. But I saw something thrown at me, and suddenly, my sense was back to how it was. Visible sight, clear hearing, and heightened perception. My senses came back to me. We shouldn't have any Healing Potions left. How can it be?
When I tried to rose into the floor, I saw a shattered glass at my stomach. My HP was regenerating as well. Don't tell me...
Someone was here other than us?
"—?! Old Man? Old Ma—"
"Shh! Quiet...!" I shut the wimpy man beside who came with me in relief. In front of us, was still a fog of smoke. Probably where the explosion came from earlier. "Be cautious you two. It seems like there's other people here besides us..."
"I saw something thrown at you, Grandpa. Are you okay?" Lara who already had her unique weapon—a horn, informed so.
"Yeah. However, I wasn't harmed, and instead, was healed."
"What?! Then..."
"Yeah. That's why, don't let your guard down." I quickly took my sword and brandished it in front of us. I don't know what you plan for us, but now that I've recovered, I—
"Hn—?!" Suddenly, cold shivered down my spine. I immediately went in front of the kids and tightened my body in response. Despite cold, sweat droop down my cheeks. After all, my guts were telling me,
These guys...are monsters.
Shortly, the smokes finally dissipated, then came a guy along with his groups, they're all woman. I knew it, they're many. No wonder I feel multiple pressure ahead of us.
"Old Man, what—"
"Don't make any moves." I cut in.
"Huh...? What do you mean, Grand—"
"Don't. Make. Any. Moves." I repeated. This time, it was stern. "If you make any moves, you will die."
The two paled in response to my remark. These guys are out of this world. We had no choice but to stay in defensive. That's why please, bear with me for a while, kids...!
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[Sai Crimsonheart POV]
"Cough! Cough! Damn it. I knew it was a bad idea." I told them about the possibility that they can betray and attack us from behind after we help them, and Astra immediately suggested a measure against those odds. That is, to assert dominance. And Astra's suggestion then, "Ugh, do we really need to bomb our way to domineer? Cough!"
"I'm telling you it'll work. Look," When I turned beyond us, the group of three, composed of a guy, a woman, and an old man, was looking at us in complete vigilant. Oh, Astra's right. They look terrified. "See? It sure is exactly as I intended."
"I can't with you..." With a heave of sigh, I approached the guys who was pointing their weapons at me. Aw, look at them getting scared at me. I shouldn't have followed that tomboy's shenanigans.
"Heya," I waved at the three in greetings as not to scare them further. Any more than pressure and they might try to attack us instead. That'll be bad. "Seems like we came right on time. I'm glad."
"......"
The three didn't respond and just stood there frozen in place, pointing their weapons towards me still. Oh man, what to do. Looking at them, they still look alarmed. Especially the old man who was sweating crazily. Seems like I can't expect any conversation with these guys...
...Is what I thought, but shortly,
"...Why did you save us?" Asked the Old Man.
"Um, I don't get your question," I pondered. I mean, what does he want me to say, though? "We found you guys using a Potion that let me see living entities near me. And it seems like you guys need some help, so we came here running..."
"Next question," The Old Man informed for another. Ow, I'm being interrogated. "What do you guys get from—Ugh!"
Ah...
"Old Man!"
"Grandpa!"
The Old Man suddenly fell down into his knees. He wasn't fully healed, and He was in a critical condition not too long ago so that's a given. It can't be helped...
"Hey bro," I called the guy while I took something out of my Magic Pouch. "Take it and let him drink it."
The guy became petrified when I approached him but composed himself and took the Potion out of my hand. Good. Nothing will happen if you let your fear overrun you like that.
We waited patiently while the guy put a drink into the Old Man's mouth. When I turned to the girl, I noticed that she still has her weapon towards us, ready at a moment's notice. Oh? What do we have here, that's an unusual weapon for you.
"Hey lady, you a Bard?" I asked the girl who became stiff at my sudden call.
"...What of it?" answered the surly woman. Oh~ grumpy~!
"Nothing really," I replied. "It's my first time seeing a Bard Class since I started adventuring, so it just left me quite fascinated."
But still, a Brass-type Bard Weapon, huh. It's also a weapon that can be crafted post-Chaos Mode. No wonder they managed to survive here. They're capable, aren't they?
"So, a Class like that exist huh. Color me surprise."
"Uwah—?!"
"Kyah?! W-What's wrong, Master? You surprised us."
Suddenly, Lily and Luna who came out of nowhere voiced out their curiosity. I didn't notice them behind me, so I sure was startled surprisedly. My heart...
"I'm the one who should be saying that, though?!" I retorted, then heave a sigh. "So, what is it you two?"
"Ah, were just asking about her Class, Master." Luna explained.
"You seemed to know about it so why not ask you about," Lily added. "Although knowing you, you probably...no, I'm sure you already know about it."
"Hm, how should I explain it..." I pondered. Shortly after, "The Bard Class was kind of unique on its own. Their main class is purely for support—providing themselves or their teammates with self-empowerment buffs. each type of weapons varies on what they give into but in her case—a Brass, it gives herself or her teammates offensive related empowerment. In conclusion, they're a support class. Ah, they can still deal damage, though. But they're main focus is supporting."
Having a Bard in our party would be pretty convenient. Although, I doubt we'll get to meet more...
"Amazing. So, there's still so much Class we still haven't encounter yet, huh." Luna remarked enthusiastically, her eyes were basically glittering in excitement. "Master, are there still more Class we haven't heard about?"
"There still are," I replied as I ponder, stroking my chin. "Let's see... The Class were mostly classified by their branches. An example is from the Magic Class. There were three branches of it including: the Tome, Staff, and Magic Guns. But if were talking about the Core Classes then, it'll be the Melee, Range, Magic, Summoner, Rogue, Bard, Healer, Mixed, and much more..."
""Ohhh~!"" Lily and Luna voiced-out their awe in tandem.
Hm, Oh! Now that I've mentioned it, there's still a Heroine who's a Mixed Class. She was both a Bard and also a Healer. A heavy-support focused, Isn't that amazing?
While we converse about classes, the Old Man finally returned his strength. He still looking feeble, though.
"You okay, sir?" I asked.
"Yeah. I think... Kuh!"
"Old Man, don't move too much. You're still hasn't recovered yet." The guy worriedly said so. He's right.
"Just wait for a little, sir." I informed. "My companions were still in the middle of finding it so rest for now until they locate it."
"What are you..."
"Sai!" Before the Old Man finished his word, someone called up to me. It was Lemuen along with Akari. If you look at them carefully, their eyes were glowing yellow—an influence of Potion. What impeccable timing. "We finally found it!"
"Good job, Lemuen, Akari." I replied and turned to the three and hand them my hands. "Come. We'll take you somewhere safe."
The three of them shared a look into each other. Seems like they still haven't trust us yet. Although sadly, they have no choice but to accept our offer as they're in a predicament themselves.
"...We'll take you up to your offer then." Then Old Man replied as she slowly rose from the ground. Called it. Though, I'm a bit relieved it didn't take long for them to accept it. Time is of essence. It'll be bothersome if they kept being indecisive here.
The three slowly followed us as we left out of the small cavern. We came here pretty late after all. Thinking the time since we came here, I'd say it was probably 11 o'clock currently. With that in mind, that place was best for us to take a rest into.