"Stop whining like a little kid who was pulled from his crush. Klein has already told you many times that he managed everything well. Anyways, did any of us predict that a sea storm would arrive and what better plan could we have followed then, jump into the sea." Crybaby lady defended Klein.
"How can you even freaking justify us going to those monster?" He said with a twitching smile and eyebrows.
"We- We are just going to cross through their island. They won't capture us just for that, right?"
Why does this lady look to be doubting her own words?
'Anyways, this conversation is getting scarier as the time passes.' I thought something too obvious.
"Right?! What can be fucking right when those bastards are infamous for kidnapping commanders of the Athenian empire and torturing them as experiments for their abilities? What can go wrong most if they found few powerful and mysterious beings like a vampire noble, two growing heroes and a-… lovesick! Along with an unknown kid found sleeping in the dragon's fall."
'Yup, something is definitely wrong with the island we are going to.' I thought.
"Stop making a fuss. The emperor already made a deal with the Kaladier family leader. Now, without making any peep do what I say, otherwise I won't mind polluting this land by burying a dead body or better just crucify that thing in sun. I just had an idea that would give us a way to go to the empire without reaching that dreaded island." Klein assured.
____________________________________
So, the thing I was assigned to do is to gather as many twigs, dry branches, and things that produce a lot of smoke on burning. I was surely in awe at the simplicity of his plan when he told us that it was meant just a mere smoke signal making.
But still, seriously, he is surely a true advocate of age equality to send a kid to do some work at such a dangerous place.
Mr. Klein said that the only reason we were not encountering any dangerous beasts was that the lovesick can sense their presence.
Did they forget that I am not overpowered like them?
"But still, I am confident enough to not die."
I noticed something, the thick crowns of the trees cast shadows strong enough that they should have stunted the growth of all lower plants but they all are growing healthily.
I bowed down at a random plant for further observation. Now, I think about it, the trees around here are a mix of all types of trees. If I identify them on the basis of their characteristics they should be deciduous trees, and that should be evergreen trees.
Besides that, near the top there were the usual mountainous trees.
"Just how?" I contemplated with a hand under my chin.
"They take mana supply from the mana rich soil." I heard a voice behind me.
"What the heck are you doing here?" I turned behind and saw Klein. He is supposed to collect those materials alongside us but at a different location.
"What if a random beast ate you on the way…but now I think I am not needed since someone is confident enough to die." He replied while smirking.
"You are my confidence." I lied through my teeth with the brightest smile possible.
"I am not falling for that look ever again." He said with a dead pan expression.
"What fucking look?" I asked in turn.
"Get back to your work." He shifted the topic, probably not wanting to argue with a kid.
"And what about your fucking lazy ass?"
"I just praised you once for your good behavior and what the hell did you turn into?"
He sighed and continued. "I can do it in a second. Think of this as an exercise for you. Your arms are too flimsy to bear any fruits for my future plan."
Then what, I rushed to finish the task and was proceeding quite smoothly. No, too smoothly. Now, it is almost the orange sun of the evening in the sky.
At the same time, he has been following me like a shadow ghost.
"I am sure I will not die if you stay just 2 meters away from me." I said with a blank look.
"I am pretty sure you would die or beg for help if I strayed 2 meters away from you." He returned the blank look.
"Wanna bet?!" I shouted with frustration.
"5 billion ducats. Whoever, can not pay will be in forever debt or to phrase it more directly an eternal slave." He said with empty eyes, sly smile and a devil's mind.
"Okay, now move away, will you?" Somehow, I go what I wanted so I won't give it much thought.
'What the heck is he even saying?' If only I gave more thoughts to the words I would have avoided the gore coming.
He moved back as he promised and rumbling began.
"Wtf?!" The ground uplifted like something was digging its way out and I almost fell from the shaking of the ground.
I staggered and moved back only to see a huge shadow cast upon me in the golden light of evening.
I couldn't make out its features due to shadow but its shape was enough to strike itself as a monster or as in this world called- a beast.
"Woah, wonderful, now don't just stare at it and run away." Klein clapped his hands with a curious expression and folded legs on ground.
I know he was being a bastard but his words were sure a wake up call.
I slithered to the side and elicited a reaction from the beast, it followed me with a jerk and high speed.
I picked up a random stone and ran sideways to dodge again as it leaped towards me.
I dodged narrowly and moved sideways while running forward to observe it eating dust due to its leap to the hard ground among the hardy woody forest.
Normally, this situation should have given me a victory sense but if there was anything on my face then it is helplessness.
After all, the monster woke up from the heavy impact like nothing happened and it was a daily routine. Moreover, there is a mini crater left behind where it banged its head so I would have definitely turned into a red paste if I didn't move. Even above that, its hundred of golden limbs dug deep into the with every steps and the two magnificent horn-like limbs protecting the hollow black mouth on its head were something else entirely.
Now I take a closer look, it looks exactly like a centipede. However, its features are quite scarily visible due to its size. Towards this creature I have only a few words.
"Disgustingly magnificent." I really miss my hammer from last world but I will have to do it with this stone.
The final fact is that it is surely coming at me with an intention to kill so;
"Is it poisonous?"
"Only the tips of limbs and head. The innards are slimy and unhygienic but not poisonous." Klein looked curious.
Why should I hesitate?
It moved towards me and so did I. The centipede looked quite startled for a second there as it didn't except a sudden retaliation after two runs or so did I imagine?
Anyways, I banged the stone right into its supposed tube-like mouth dodging the two horn limbs and was careful to not touch it or get near it too much otherwise it would be harmful if the poison affects me.
Thak! The exoskeleton is hard but it will do. I can crack it.
It fell backward but I continued.
I continued to bang shit out of him until it was dead.
Bang! Phak! Pichk!
Completely dead and unmoving. I have learned a lesson from my previous life.
Centipedes are a sign of power, resurrection and a representative of despair drowned.
In other words, those who have gone through ultimate despair and still have a will left, whether broken or newly created, are capable of rising again and again no matter how many times you sink them deeper in it, if you obliterate their will, it might be an end for them or it might just push them to rise again like a centipede in a glass jar.
So, it is better off to kill them until they are completely dead or it might be your end.
I stood up slowly drenched in white guts and red blood sprayed all over me and my hands.
What I might have done is quite uncomfortable to look at but still, it looks like a painting.
The worm's dead.
But, I have better debts to be repaid. "So, are you my eternal slave?"
I looked at Klein.