Chapter 61 - Jungle Expedition Part 3
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I instantly fell asleep the moment I lay into a sofa that I made after spending hours renovating the place. It was a job well done for me since the place looks more livable than before.
The area—especially the pond where we'll be taking our water from now on has also been cleaned properly.
I'm sure there are also things need to be done but I'm too exhausted to move to think about it, so I decided to just do it tomorrow.
As for the following...
* * *
When I woke-up, loud voices of the girls can be heard throughout the cabin. It took a moment until my brain to process that I build a cabin before I fell asleep. The exhaustion was so severe that I momentarily forgot anything about it.
Judging by the tone of their voices, it looks like they liked it. I guess overworking myself was worth it then.
I started to open my eyes and slowly rise into the sofa. Since the sofa was placed at the rooftop of the cabin, I head downstairs to meet the girls who were full of energy in this time of day. Not that I know what time it is since we're in the underground.
"Ah!" Lily who was sitting on the dining room—chatting with the others shifted her attention to me. "Sai is awake, Sai!"
The others who also shifted their gaze at me cheerfully approached me after Lily.
"Enthusiastic this early, aren't we?" I jest.
Lily ignored my jokes and hysterically voiced out her astonishment. "Sai! Did you do all of this?! What happened when we we're asleep?! Hey Sai, how did you it?!"
Uwah...?! I didn't expect her reaction to be this intense... Luna and Seia are also standing behind Lily jaw dropped as their sweat drips down their cheeks—and also Akari, who is acting smug for some reason.
"C-calm down Lily," I spread out my palm to Lily—gesturing to stop. "I just woke-up."
"Oh, Sorry... I got to excited. Hehe~" Lily replied.
"I'm glad you all liked it." I added, changing the topic. "I just woke-up but shall we eat today? I'll be cooking but just in case if anyone who wants to help me?"
"Yes," Luna eagerly raised her hand. "Let me help you, Master."
"Alright, then it's decided." I acknowledged, then added to inform. "I'm sure you have many questions but let's talk about it while we eat."
Me and Luna then head to the rooftop—where the kitchen is located to prepare for the breakfast while the rest standby into the dining area.
There are variables of edible vegan food that can be found in this jungle—including vegetables and fruits. I decided to bring some meat since I knew there would be non that can be found in the underground... We'll there are but, I don't think I can eat a meat of a turtle...
While I diligently cook our breakfast, Luna who was helping beside me started a conversation. "You're really amazing, Master. You've been nonstop surprise us with everything you do."
"What's with that all of a sudden?" I asked in bewilderment.
"It's nothing Master. Fufu~" Luna cheerfully replied, then added something. "I just hope you accept the responsibility the consequences you unconsciously made through your actions."
"Haha, what do you mean by that?" I jokingly asked, smirking.
"I wonder, fufu~" Luna sarcastically replied.
I find her remarks so cute, so I intrusively pinched her cheeks in adoration. Luna who got pinched through her cheeks adorably laugh it off which made me conscious of my action.
"See? fufu~" Luna replied.
"Haha..." I timidly laugh in response, conceding. "I-I'll do my best..."
After cooking the breakfast while alternately talking with bold Luna—which ended that looks like we're flirting, we proceed to eat our breakfast while having a full conversation focused on the renovation of the cabin.
Unfortunately, everyone finds my story hard to believe. It was very depressing to see everyone looks at me in skeptical but I understand their disbelief. In the end, we agreed that everyone will watch me if ever I'm planning on building myself something again.
It was also decided that this place would our Base if we ever planned on coming here again but I assure them we'll come here again not far from the future.
There's more than meets the eyes that will start to sprout here in the future after all.
We finally got a good rest and had eaten our fill, so we decided it was finally time to venture into the 『Underground Jungle』 once again.
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[Rina Helianthus POV]
Many days had passed since my daughter together with the rest venture at the western part of the continent where the 『Jungle』 was located.
I who was left was tasked by Sai to carefully gather various information about the Capital's movement and the current state of the world depicted by them who was still in the state of gathering information.
Sai just like always, consistently surprise me without fail. How do should I put it... Sai had the behavior of a normal teen—often being immature. But he becomes totally different when he started to act maturely. As if, his thought process surpasses even the adults. Management, decision making, creativity, social communication, Sai has everything in all of it. That's why I was always left no choice but to listen even though we had a large margin through our age gap.
"Seriously that guy..." I mused, in state of reminiscing. "I'm going to do my best also."
Is what I wanted to say but it's been a few days since I started.
According to the information I've gathered, ever since that 『Chaos Mode』 or something started, the 『Four Elementals』 had been in state of corruption for an unknown reason.
By corrupted I mean—according to the witnesses, they exclaimed that the 『Four Elementals』 feels like it was not being itself and starts to attack the people for no particular reason.
So, in response to those irregularity, the head of the capital decided to send a group of Adventurers and Frontliners—and instructed them to brute force the situation—which got me thinking.
The 『Four Elementals』 are one of the existences that protects the equilibrium which keeps this world free from the evil. Hunting them without any particular reason is just suicide—both the humanity and the entirety of this world.
It really baffles me why they recklessly planned such stupid thing without knowing the consequences.
So I decided to sneak my way through the main "Houses of Parliament" where the higher nobles conduct their decision, judgement, and many things on a politics does.
This "Houses of parliament" is a palace like structure sitting at the innermost center of the Imperial Capital.
I was tasked on gathering information, so I expected to end up doing it, but I didn't think it would come this soon. It was extremely reckless to be doing this, but it is also important on its own.
* * *
I successfully managed to infiltrate the whole palace and finally get inside thanks to the potion that Sai gave me called 『Potion of Invisibility』 and 『Potion of Featherweight』.
I'm currently sitting on top of the palace trying to assess the place to make a firm decision. The palace was so large that it's taking me time trying to craft a plan little by little.
Just like you expect from the place full of important people, this place sure is packing with security. I would guaranteed be caught if not only for the potion Sai gave me. What a lifesaver.
"Now then...." I mused.
The Houses of Parliament were created that is shaped like a window—meaning, it is divided by a four-section area. I already managed to assess the building structure of the three and is currently on the way to the last one.
I was on my way to reach the last section of the place when I saw something that took my attention.
At the last section of the palace where my next destination stands a group people wearing a black hood—and is doing some ritual at the center of the place as if they owned the place to begin with.
I have a certain degree of experience and knowledge about the nobility since I was also a former one—so this situation immediately is telling me that something is going on right now.
"I got the information I needed, now I just need to—"
Just when I was about to finish my sentence, and someone shot me two arrows which I was able to barely dodge in the process.
The arrows... No, it was roughly called an arrow at all... It feels like I was shot by an energy bolt shaped like an arrow.
My instinct is telling me it's dangerous, so I quickly retreated and run as fast as I can.
Myriads of bolts of arrow started to shower me as I ran as fast as I can to get out of this place.
"How...!" I agitatedly mused. "They shouldn't be able to see me since the potion buff were still in effect."
Anyhow, I'm currently being overwhelmed. Not to mention I can barely dodge the bolts of energy as it was faster than Lily's Arrow combined with her 『Uriel's Quiver』. It's taking all my strength just to dodge it.
"Kuh!! Come on...!" I mumbled.
I managed to get away at the palace and is on the way at the gates of the parliament. Many bolts of arrows managed to hit me, so I was literally on edge.
I felt a sense of relief the moment I was nearing the gate, but it was shattered when someone shot me to the front—hitting me through my shoulder. The knockback on that bolt of arrow was so strong that I staggered in the process.
Numerous people wearing a hood starts to approach me—carrying a bow I've never seen before.
"An insect huh." The man wearing a hood said. "I praise you for managing to get this far."
"Kuhh!!" I groaned, losing hope. "This is it for me huh...!"
They've already anticipated my movement huh... Just who in the world is this people. This people already carry a strong weapon and is a step ahead even with Sai.
"You saw something that should not be seen by any normal means." The man in hood said, pointing her bow aimed at my head. "Insects like you must be disposed of."
I instinctively closed my eyes tightly in concede. Pondering all the things I should have done instead.
(I'm Sorry Lily... This is it for me...)
My heart and mind were already in a state of hopelessness when suddenly—
Multiple set of explosion starts to rain down into the people wearing hoodies. The sound of explosion forced me to open my eyes in surprise which immediately turned into a state of bewilderment.
Screams of people can be heard as they get brutally showered by a flame of hell that came from who knows where.
"W-what is this...?" I asked in a state of nonplussed.
"Come here!!" Someone shouted which shifted my attention to it. "Quickly!!"
I immediately dash to that voice which ended me seeing the third party that is surely the person who caused the explosion.
The sea of flame irradiates some faint light which I managed to see a glimpse of my saviors face.
A Blonde woman—that is very beautiful that you might mistake her for a teen if not only for her physical proportion that emanates a body of a woman in her 30s.
She is wearing a white robe and is carrying an unknown large staff that is probably the cause of that explosion earlier.
"It only for a brief moment until they finally grasp the situation." The blonde woman told. "You should get out of here while you still can."
"Wait! But what about—"
Just when I was about to ask an important question, a voice of a girl interrupted my sentence. "Mother! They're coming!"
The voice can be heard at the top of the palace. I can faintly see it but judging by the appearance of a girl, she was probably almost the same age of my daughter—or even younger.
The girl was also carrying a staff that I've never seen before. It was her daughter judging by the colors of their hair and how the girl at the top calls this woman her mother.
"Who are you people..." I asked again, bewildered.
"No need to know. We'll take it here so get out of here." The blonde woman insisted.
The people wearing a black hoodie started to bombard us with bolts of energy—meaning they've already grasped the situation. Taking any longer here is unnecessary.
"Thank You." I told the blonde woman and dash outside the place, leaving the two behind.
(I don't know who you are but thank you for saving me).
I run with all my might and managed to escape the place successfully.