Joe Walker patted Alice's shoulder as she checked the items and food stock in the vehicle.
Startled, Alice immediately stood up and turned around abruptly. Due to the limited space in the back of the vehicle, Alice accidentally tripped over a lantern there.
Feeling shocked by her actions, Alice stepped back, and her foot accidentally stumbled over the lantern again, almost causing her to fall onto the steering wheel at the front of the vehicle. Fortunately, Joe Walker quickly caught Alice before her head hit the hard part of the steering wheel.
"Th-thank you, Joe."
"No problem... Yawns," Joe Walker yawned, looking sleepy while helping to hold back Alice's body.
After that, Alice wanted to continue checking their supplies and belongings.
"you aren't sleep, Joe?"
"Yeah, sorry... There's an interesting place I explored all night. Oh, right! You and Maria should see it too!"
"What kind of place is that?"
"Hmm, an underground tunnel?"
"Huh?"
"Let's go there now!"
"No need to do that, why would we go to an underground tunnel? That's not our destination!"
"I'm not interested in the tunnel itself, but what's inside! There are some leftover snacks and plants there!"
"...," Alice fell silent and stared at Joe Walker seriously.
"Eh? What's wrong?"
"Are you serious, jos?"
"Yes, here's the proof!" Joe Walker said, handing Alice an apple he had in his military jacket pocket.
Alice paused for a moment, pondering something. After a few seconds, she hurriedly resumed organizing their supplies while saying, "Joe, wake up Maria now. Then show us the way to go to that place you mentioned!"
"Okay!" Joe Walker replied, heading to the house where Maria was still asleep.
Upon reaching Maria's sleeping place, Joe Walker immediately tried to shake her awake.
"Maria, wake up now! Hey! Are you listening? Doesn't seem like to hear me at all. Hey! Wake up, Maria, wake up!"
Maria slowly opened her eyes, but still not fully conscious, and she just smiled at Joe Walker.
Oh my god... That's so cute! Ahh, my heart... Argggh!
Maria suddenly grabbed Joe Walker's hand.
Joe Walker was confused by Maria's actions.
Suddenly, Maria nibbled on Joe Walker's finger with her mouth, mistaking him for food that could move.
Joe Walker could only stay silent and puzzled by the situation.
What should I do? Should I wake her up right now? But this is too cute, I still want to watch more.
Should I let it be for a while? But Alice will be angry with me!
What should I do?
Joe Walker looked at Maria's face again.
"Why is it so salty?" Maria mumbled.
Seeing that, Joe Walker knelt down. He let Maria's hand control his, smiling as he gently poked her soft cheek.
"Hehehehe, ahaha, ehehehehehe... Sorry, Alice... This is more fun than I thought. Ehehahahaha..," Joe Walker finally gave in to his desire.
After a few minutes of Joe Walker and Maria not coming out of the house, Alice started to get annoyed and approached them. She saw Joe Walker playing with the little girl's cheek. Seeing this made her even more irritated, so she immediately removed Joe Walker's headgear before hitting his head.
"Ouchh!...," Joe Walker unintentionally held his head with both hands.
The quick movement of Joe Walker's hands also woke up Maria, who was previously sleeping deeply and mumbling. She found Joe Walker in pain and her sister looking angry.
As time passed, they finally started heading towards the place Joe Walker had found.
"Hey, Joe... Are you sure this bookshelf is the Secret Path?" Alice asked, feeling unsure about the bookshelf in front of her.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"You seem too sleepy that you're hallucinating. Let's just go back, it's disappointing," Alice started walking back.
But Joe Walker immediately held Alice's hand and said, "Wait a minute, you want to get more food supplies, right? Then trust me!"
"That's true... But, a bookshelf?"
"Yes, now we just need to approach that bookshelf. Let me handle the rest."
Alice was initially hesitant, but she thought there was no harm in following Joe Walker's words.
"The... Secret... Path! The Secret Path! The Secret Path! The Secret Path! The Secret Path!" Maria began to sing with a new tone pattern as usual.
Joe Walker enjoyed the atmosphere. While Alice could only feel annoyed, she decided to let it go this time.
"Is everything ready?" Joe Walker asked.
"Yes," Alice replied, showing two wooden boxes in her hands.
"Let's goooo!" Maria shouted enthusiastically.
"Let's go go goooo!" Joe Walker responded in the same manner while taking the red book from the bookshelf.
The floor around the bookshelf began to vibrate and slowly move downward.
"Joe, is this safe? Are we not going to be trapped in the middle of this strange place right?" Alice asked, worried.
"Don't worry, I've tested it several times last night. It should be fine, trust me."
Alice suddenly felt uncomfortable. She held onto Joe Walker's shirt to feel safer.
Joe Walker, noticing someone tugging on his shirt, turned and found Alice looking scared. He remembered that Alice was afraid of heights and similar things. He smiled and began to hold Alice's hand tightly.
Joe Walker and Alice held hands.
Alice looked puzzled and stared at Joe Walker in confusion.
But suddenly, Joe smiled and said, "This way, you'll feel more safer, right? It's okay, if something happens, I'll prioritize you and maria's safety first."
"No, that's not good! First, save yourself before others!"
"Oh, is it supposed to be like that?"
"It's obvious, isn't it? Which human would save others before themselves?"
"Hmm," Joe Walker appeared to be deep in thought.
But suddenly, Alice smiled and said, "but... Thank you, Joe."
This made Joe Walker smile again with happiness and say, "You're welcome."
Maria suddenly shouted, "Wow! Many trees! Alice, Joe, look at this! Look at this!"
As Joe Walker and Alice looked ahead, they could see a view of many diverse trees planted there.
They continued descending, but the view was already visible through the transparent glass in front of them right now.