The group of eight people continued to look around with disbelief in their eyes. Honestly, I wished I had a skill to escape at that moment. This kind of situation always brings trouble, especially when you see someone capable of doing all of this.
Distrust was beginning to arise. Even though technically I didn't intend to do anything against them, still, they would be afraid of me, not for what I did, but for what I could do. If this distrust grew too much, it could end up causing even more problems.
"Hey, look, there are people here!"
While I was lost in thought, someone from the group's voice caught my attention. When I looked again, they were staring at us, and all with their weapons in hand. Although they weren't necessarily in a combat position, I could tell they were holding their weapons tightly.
"Did they do all of this? Just the three of them? How strong are they?"
As I mentioned minutes ago, fear breeds suspicion, and suspicion can escalate into conflict. Honestly, I don't feel good about killing people, but if they try something, I won't hold back.
"Excuse me"
Suddenly, a man appeared in front. He didn't seem to be American, or maybe he lived in a more tropical region. After all, it was rare to see people with tanned skin in my city.
"Do you need something?" I asked, positioning myself naturally in front of Ellen and Noelle.
I wanted to convey the idea that I was approaching for a more intimate conversation, but in reality, I was positioning myself in front to protect Ellen and Noelle. Of course, ideally, I hoped nothing would actually happen.
"No need to be so guarded. I promise we won't do anything. I just wanted to ask if it was you who did this" the man asked with an inviting and harmless smile on his face.
It seems he noticed I was on guard. Well, it's not like I was trying to hide it, but watching the others, it seems only he and a few others noticed.
"Well, what if it was?" I asked, keeping my gaze fixed on everyone around.
Upon hearing my words, the man's smile widened even more.
"Could you provide us with some guidance? There are eight of us, and if possible, I want to ensure that we all get out of here alive" he asked.
I raised an eyebrow at his words. Although the question was somewhat natural, somehow it seemed strange coming from him. I couldn't pinpoint the reason, but his words seemed to carry a hidden agenda.
Anyway, there was no reason to hide the truth. Moreover, I didn't want to create enmity without reason, especially considering Ellen and Noelle. On the other hand, I couldn't ignore how he was handling the situation. If I didn't speak up, others might interpret my attitude as stinginess, which could increase the risk of attacks in the future.
"You just need to immobilize them. If they can't run, they'll be easy prey. They don't have much defense, so practically any attack will defeat them" I explained as I observed the group.
As soon as I explained, the man seemed surprised for some reason. It was as if he didn't expect me to actually speak, which was quite strange considering he was the one who asked me to do so.
"I see... it's a much simpler method than I imagined. Anyway, thank you for the information. Unfortunately, we have nothing to offer in return at the moment. I'll owe you one this time" he said.
After that, he seemed to discuss something with his group, and seconds later, they began to withdraw. As I watched them leave, I wondered what the hell had just happened. Of course, I wasn't so innocent as to lower my guard just because they decided to leave.
"That was... strange" Ellen commented behind me, with a tone of perplexity.
I couldn't ignore Ellen's words; in fact, I'm almost sure she also noticed that this situation was strange. First, we were relatively far from the initial point where everyone started. Although not impossible, I find it hard to believe they simply stumbled upon us by pure coincidence. It's likely we were being followed.
I sincerely wanted to dismiss this possibility, especially considering that my [Ecopulsation] ability has been active all the time since we entered the forest, and yet I didn't pick up any sign of them. The reason I wish to refute this idea is that if they were really following us, that would imply that someone has a concealment ability high enough to render my ability useless.
"From now on, let's stay alert" I said in a calm tone.
Upon hearing my words, Ellen looked at me suspiciously for a moment, but quickly seemed to understand.
"Do you think they..." Ellen asked cautiously.
I just nodded, and upon seeing my confirmation, Ellen held Noelle's hand more tightly, who apparently hadn't realized the situation yet. Honestly, I wish it were just something in my head, but I can't dismiss this possibility.
***
From the other side, from the perspective of the group that had just met with Makoto, they advanced through the woods, but still left marks wherever they went.
"Are we really going to let them go like this? Wasn't it you who said that the number of monsters to hunt is limited? Shouldn't we reduce the number of people as soon as possible?" asked a man to the leader.
Upon hearing these words, the man who had just met with Noah simply sighed.
"Are you stupid? He's stronger than us, probably more than half of our group would die if we faced him head-on" said the man in a cautious tone.
"So are we just going to let him go like this? If he's as strong as you say, wouldn't it be worse for us? The more monsters he kills, the fewer will be left for our hunt," said the man, urgency marking his voice.
Upon hearing these words, the leader simply smiled.
"You don't need to worry" said the man, releasing a sinister laugh. "There's a clue in the side quest that others probably haven't noticed. If we play our cards right, we can get out of this place with ease. But only if we play well. That's why time is essential"
At the back of the group, a small-statured girl watched the situation unfold, with an expression of fear and concern clearly etched on her face.