Chereads / Gods Death Game we Play, For freedom / Chapter 6 - Return to the base part 2

Chapter 6 - Return to the base part 2

After some time...

Tomoki was feeling the strain, exhausted from two days of relentless travel. "Hey, Kimiiirrrr! How much longer?" he groaned, his voice tinged with frustration as he called out to Kimir. The sun blazed overhead, its brightness contrasting sharply with the darkness that seemed to engulf their world—the river flowed beautifully, yet peace felt impossible to grasp.

"Hey, let's take a small break," Kimir suggested, as tired as Tomoki was after being practically forced to carry both their backpacks. In his mind, Kimir couldn't help but think.

This guy was so exhausted that I ended up carrying his backpack and even his supply kit, and he still wanted to rest.

But there was no arguing with hunger, so Kimir decided to set up a small camp and start a fire to give them a chance to rest. They momentarily forgot that they were still in enemy territory—sometimes it's better to enjoy the moment and wait for the right time, isn't it?

"So, Tomoki, do you know how to swim?" Kimir asked, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he cooked something over the fire.

"Yeah, I do, but why?" Tomoki replied, already sensing what Kimir was implying. He could tell by the look in Kimir's eyes that he was about to be sent on an impromptu fishing mission.

With a wave of his hand, Kimir gestured for Tomoki to follow him.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" Tomoki asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

"Just follow!" Kimir replied, the evil grin never leaving his face. They walked about 30 to 40 meters from where they had set up camp, heading toward the river.

"Ah, don't tell me..." Tomoki began, realizing exactly what was about to happen.

Before he could react, Kimir shoved him into the river with a playful push. "Get some fish, boy!" Kimir called out, laughing as Tomoki splashed into the water.

Tomoki surfaced with a gasp, the shock of the cold water jolting him fully awake. He splashed around for a moment, glaring up at Kimir, who was still laughing on the riverbank. "You could have just asked, you know!" Tomoki shouted, his voice dripping with mock indignation.

Kimir shrugged, a grin still plastered across his face. "Where's the fun in that?" he replied, leaning against a tree, arms crossed. "Besides, you needed to cool off."

Tomoki rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The truth was, the cool water was refreshing after the long, hot trek. He took a deep breath and began scanning the water for any signs of movement, focusing on the task at hand. The river was clear, and he could see fish darting around in the depths.

Kimir watched from the shore, his earlier playfulness giving way to a more serious demeanor. Despite the light-hearted moment, he couldn't shake the unease he felt. The sight from the last night still lingered in his mind, and he kept glancing around, alert for any sign of trouble.

"Got one!" Tomoki's shout broke through Kimir's thoughts. He looked up to see Tomoki holding up a sizable fish, a triumphant grin on his face. "This should be enough for a quick meal, right?"

Kimir nodded, pleased. "Nice catch. That'll do." He helped Tomoki climb out of the river, offering a hand to pull him up onto the bank. The fish wriggled in Tomoki's grasp, but he held it firmly, proud of his catch.

After Tomoki climbed out of the river, he quickly realized that all of his clothes were soaked. "Damn it, all my clothes are wet," he grumbled. Kimir burst into laughter. "Well, of course they are! What did you expect, for them to stay dry? You're so dumb!" He continued to giggle, clearly amused by the situation.

Tomoki shot him a glare, his eyes narrowing. "It's not funny. You're the one who pushed me," he retorted.

Kimir looked up, still chuckling. "Oh yeah, I did," he admitted with a grin. After a moment, he tossed a towel to Tomoki. "Dry up, kid."

Tomoki gladly took the towel and began drying his hair. "Do we have any spare clothes?" he asked, his voice a mix of hope and annoyance.

Kimir raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like a clothes seller? Just kidding, I've got a spare pair in the backpack." 

Tomoki's glare softened, his frustration melting away at the thought of dry clothes. "Thanks," he muttered, his mood quickly shifting from annoyance to relief.

They both sat by the fire, watching the fish Tomoki had caught as it cooked over the flames. It wasn't a special catch by any means, but ironically, it was still better than anything else they could have had. "It's so tasty..." Tomoki whispered, tears streaming down his face as he smiled, feeling an unexpected sense of peace.

"Is the food really that tasty, or were your emotions just too heavy to carry?" Kimir asked, a hint of teasing in his voice. Tomoki first looked at him, then wiped his tears, replying, "I just remembered my old friends... We were very close from childhood, and now..."

Kimir gently placed a hand on Tomoki's shoulder, stopping him. "I don't know if they're alive or not, but you need to believe they are. Stay strong and find them."

As they prepared to set off again, the forest around them seemed to grow quieter, the earlier sounds of nature fading into a tense stillness. The path ahead was uncertain, and both of them knew they had to stay alert.

Kimir slung his backpack over his shoulder and glanced at Tomoki, who was doing the same. "Ready?" he asked.

"Ready," Tomoki replied, his voice steady. They shared a brief nod, a silent understanding passing between them. Then, without another word, they began to move forward, leaving behind the safety of their temporary camp and stepping once again into the unknown.

But just after a walk of few minutes, something happens...

Suddenly, a sign appeared in front of Tomoki. "WARNING," it read. "What?" he whispered to himself, puzzled. "Entering another clan's territory."

Confused, Tomoki asked Kimir, "Where are we... and why is there a warning sign?" Kimir turned to Tomoki, equally perplexed, as this territory was supposed to be under the control of the Ghosts. Kimir's brow furrowed as he stared at the warning sign. This wasn't right. The map he had memorized, which had guided them so far, clearly indicated that they were still within the boundaries of Ghost territory. But now, a different clan's warning loomed before them, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their path.

"I don't understand," Kimir muttered, more to himself than to Tomoki. "This area should belong to the Ghosts. There shouldn't be any other clan here."

Tomoki, sensing the tension in Kimir's voice, felt a surge of anxiety. "So, what do we do now? Keep going, or turn back?"