10

The two started to travel after returning the child to the pack. While travelling, Rod couldn't stop himself from asking about their next destination. He was checking the map they have but he couldn't find the route they're currently taking, thus he was having a hard time pinpointing their exact location.

"Portum," tipid na sagot ni Kurohana na hindi man lang nag-abalang lingunin siya. "Kahit anong titig mo diyan hindi mo 'to mahahanap. Wala ito sa kahit anong mapa."

Rod still didn't believe her and started to double check the map he's holding.

"As I told you before, almost no one knows this path, not even the cartographers."

Napabuntung-hininga na lang si Rod habang ibinabalik sa bag ang hawak na mapa. Noon niya napansin ang katabing sisidlan na may lamang mga prutas at walang paalam na kumuha ng mansanas. "Ilang araw bago tayo makarating?" tanong niya habang kinakagatan ang hawak na prutas.

"Soonest is five days," Kurohana answered. She suddenly snatched the apple Rod just bitten then took a bite herself.

Seeing how at ease she is with him, Rod could only sigh while thinking, "isn't this what they called indirect kiss?" Rod suddenly blushed because of the thought as he looked away from the woman sitting beside him.

On their third day of travel, Kurohana informed him that the water was already depleted. Rod then went inside the wagon to check if they were also missing other supplies. He was no longer surprised that their supplies are nearly consumed since the two of them are a big eater.

"These will only last us until supper," Rod said as he peeked where Kurohana's currently resting. The girl who was currently lying under the tree just nodded. She is holding the last apple they had.

Rod couldn't take the silence between them. He was so bored that he couldn't help but sigh and fidget.

"We're going to rest, right?" he inquired. "Can we also gather some supplies and take a bath?"

The woman took a deep breath while trying to calm herself. She really wants to take this chance to rest even just for a minute but the man she's traveling with keeps on disturbing her peace. She glared at the man who was now walking towards her and said,"you'll look for edible foods in this forest while I take my bath."

She stood up and walked towards the wagon and reached for something inside. When she took out her hand, she was already holding a towel. And without looking back, she entered the forest.

Matapos kuhain ni Rod ang mga lalagyan ay agad na din siyang pumasok ng gubat. Hindi siya masyadong nahirapan sa pagkalap ng supplies. Pagpasok niya pa lang ay tumambad na ang iba't ibang prutas at halaman na pwede nilang makain. Hindi rin niya pinalagpas ang mga nagkalat na mga mushroom sa paligid.

Matapos mapuno ang lalagyan ay muli siyang kumuha ng panibago para naman sa pag-hunting ng mga hayop. Naglagay lang siya ng ilang mga trap para sa maliliit na hayop at nanguha ng mga itlog ng mga ibon.

Matapos makapaglagay ng trap ay dumiretso na si Rod para manghuli ng isda at kumuha na rin ng tubig.

"She didn't even bother guiding me where to fetch the waters," Rod mumbled as he searched for the body of water. He just walked directionless until he heard the sound of water splashing.

Wala sa sariling napangiti si Rod kasabay ng biglang pamumula ng kanyang tenga. Hindi niya nanaman maiwasang maisip ang hubog ng katawan ng kasama habang nakalublob sa tubig. Ang mahaba at itim na itim nitong buhok na humaharang sa dibdib nito habang nagkukuskos ng leeg nito, pababa sa mapuputi nitong dibdib~

Natigilan si Rod ng biglang makarinig ng sigaw mula sa ilog kung kaya nagmamadali siyang tumakbo para silipin ang nangyayari. Pagdating sa ilog ay agad na natigilan siya sa nakita.

Kasalukuyang nakabitin ng patiwarik si Kurohana mula sa pagkakahawak sa kanyang paa ng isang malaking ogre. Pilit niyang inaabot at nagpupumiglas mula dito, ni hindi man lang niya binigyan ng pansin na kasalukuyan siyang nakahubad. Lalong namula ang mukha ni Rod lalo na sa nakahatag na kahubdan ng babae.

"Idiot! Of course she's naked, she was supposed to take her bath!" he whispered as he shook his head. He calms himself as he thinks of what to do to save the girl however, every time he thinks, the image of naked Kurohana creeps in his mind.

nang mapansin siya ng babae ay agad nitong pinukaw ang kanyang pansin.

"Rod! Hand me my sword!" she shouted while still looking for a chance to free herself but the guy was still in shock at the scenery. Kurohana became infuriated by what the guy did thus she curses him, "The fuck, Rod, hand me my sword or anything!"

Maingat na ibinaba ni Rod ang hawak na lalagyan saka iginala ang paningin sa paligid para hanapin ang espada ng kasama. Nakita niya ito sa di kalayuang batuhan mula sa kanya kung kaya agad siyang lumusong papunta doon.

"Oh shit!" Kurohana shrieked out of surprise when the ogre touched her bosom. She wriggled as she shouted at the monster,"you perverted asshole, stop touching my butt!"

Dahil sa ingay niya ay hindi naiwasang mapasilip ni Rod na agad namang sinamaan ng tingin ng babae. Noon niya napansin na hindi pa rin nito nakukuha ang espada niya kung kaya pasigaw niya itong sinabihan, "wag mo lang akong tignan! Oh shit, nevermind!"

"Ferrum Umbra!"

As soon as Kurohana chanted, a horde of shadows shaped like a blade flew towards the ogre and slashed its hands.

Nabitiwan nito si Kurohana na mabilis na nakahakbang papalayo. Muli niyang iniangat ang kanyang palad saka nag-cast, "Ligaveris umbra!"

A rope like shadow tied the giant in the feet which she pulled to lose its balance. Kurohana took advantage of the ogre's fall to grab her sword and leap to its shoulders. She then stabbed her sword on one of its eyes.

Napasigaw sa sakit ang Ogre kasabay ng pagpupumiglas at pagwawala nito. Sinamantala naman ito ni Kurohana at muling sinaksak ang Ogre sa kanyang noo. Subalit, dahil sa tigas nito ay naputol ang kanyang hawak na espada.

Meanwhile, Rod's eyes are feasting at the woman's bouncing breasts to the point that he's already drooling. He is preoccupied by the scene thus forgetting that he needs to help her. He is not even aware that Kurohana is already glaring at him while cursing him in her mind.

Since her sword was already broken, she had no other choice but to continue fighting using her spells.

"Evocatio bestia!"

Matapos banggitin iyon, biglang kumulog ng malakas kasunod ng matalim na kidlat.

After she said those words, the cloud immediately turned dark. A powerful and bright lightning flashed followed by a loud thunder. Then, a large summoning circle appeared in between the Ogre and Kurohana. She immediately takes a few steps back to give way to something that is about to appear.

A powerful aura caught Rod's attention. He stares at the summoning circle as he gets ready in a defensive position.

First that came out from it is a pair of big wings. Followed by the huge and long tail.

Rod's eyes widened as he quickly rushed towards Kurohana to grab her. He even shielded her using his own body; however, he was stupefied when he saw the huge creature.

The body is similar to a serpent, covered with shiny and hard-looking scales all over its body. It also has big dark bat-like wings. It was standing proudly on its two hind legs.

The monster roamed its bloody-red eyes until it stopped where Rod and Kurohana currently was.

"It's been a while, Girl from Valdemort."

As soon as those words escaped the creature's mouth, Rod finally realized that the said monster was maybe a part of an extinct and knowledgeable creature as it can understand the human language.

"Yes, it's been a while, Sly," she answered, then glanced towards the Ogre. The Basilisk followed it then smirked as it also saw the broken sword.

"Oh, I see." It said prolonging the 's'.

With a blink of an eye, we saw the ogre's body bathing in its own blood.

Rod was still trying to comprehend what just happened when he felt something hitting his face. He saw Kurohana glaring at him with her hand still in the air, proof that she just slapped him.

"What was that for?" he asked in disbelief while caressing his aching and swollen cheek.

"You're enjoying my breasts too much," she said then gave him another slap on his other cheek. "And that's for not finding a weapon for me!" After she said it, she turned towards the basilisk and kindly ushered him, "let's go, Sly."

Bago tuluyang sumunod ang tinawag na Sly kay Kurohana ay pasimple pa muna itong tumingin kay Rod na may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi at kumikislap na mga mata. Para pa itong nang-aasar na medyo nilakasan ang pagtatanong kung sino siya.

Kahit na naiirita sa ginawang pagsampal sa kanya, alam niya na may kasalanan din siya kung bakit ginawa iyon sa kanya ni Kurohana. Napapabuntung-hininga na lang siya na kinuha ang lalagyan ng tubig saka binalikan ang mga trap na iniwanan sa gubat.