*Crackle* *Crackle*
The area was filled with the reverberating crackling of a bonfire. The flames of the bonfire appeared to dim momentarily before flaring up again.
On top of the bonfire, a large chunk of meat was being roasted. The fat of the meat was dripping onto the bonfire, making a sizzling sound.
Three individuals were huddled around the bonfire. Two of them sat with their hands extended toward the flames, while the third reclined on his side, supporting his head with his hand.
Despite the flames, the far reaches remained somewhat dim. However, that is to be expected, as bonfires are typically lit to brighten the nearby vicinity rather than the distant surroundings.
The individual who was leaning on his side shifted his position and sat properly. Then, he reached out toward the bonfire, specifically aiming for the piece of meat on top of it.
"I suggest that you hold your patience."
And just like that, the silence was broken. One of the other two, still huddled by the fire, broke it with those words.
"The meat is still somewhat raw. You might catch some disease."
He was a fairly handsome individual with blue eyes that looked as calm as the Dead Sea. On the other hand, his disheveled white hair made him look like he had gone through a substantial amount of labor.
The untidy Duster Coat and leather pants he wore further proved that point.
"Heh, that's the least of my concerns. I'm a Werewolf after all."
"Hmm, I feel a sense of déjà vu. Like we've had this conversation before."
"..."
Upon hearing those words, he fell silent. Shortly afterward, he withdrew his arm.
By the way, what he said about his origin was nothing but truth. He was indeed a bona fide Werewolf.
His entire body was enveloped in a coat of silver fur. His face bore a striking resemblance to a hungry wolf, poised to pounce on its prey. Coupled with his imposing height, he resembled a creature straight out of a nightmare.
The blood-stained claymore at his side only added to the effect.
"Hey, Vincent."
The one who kept quiet up until now finally broke their silence. Like the Werewolf, this individual was quite peculiar as well.
She wore a tall, conical hat on her head. Coupled with the black dress she had on, one could immediately tell she was a witch.
Her pale skin might give the impression of an undead, but she's very much alive. However, her accent is... Well, a bit mundane.
By the way, the person she was addressing was the gentleman with white hair, who happens to be me.
I averted my eyes from the Werewolf and turned my attention to her.
"What is it?"
She inquired, gesturing towards my right arm,
"Are you certain you'll be all right?"
I looked down at my right arm. As you might have guessed, it was absent.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. I'll just regenerate it back when I transform."
"You might die of blood loss before that, you know."
"..."
She has a point. Maybe I should just transform right now.
"Don't bother, you won't die from that."
At that moment, the Werewolf intervened from the other side of the bonfire.
"You are strong enough to tough it out for a few days. Just regenerate it when we ambush that skinned bastard."
"Well... If you say so."
And so, our conversation came to an end. We went about to do our own things.
Luther began examining his claymore, perhaps contemplating the removal of those bloodstains. In case you're wondering who this Luther guy is, he happens to be none other than Mr.Werewolf.
Besides me, the pale witch, also known as Ilimi, was rummaging through her pouch.
Since I had already attended to my own matters, I found myself with nothing else to do except complete the roasting of that piece of meat.
So, I sat there and started to look around the place while turning that chunk of meat simultaneously.
If I were to guess, you might be considering the fact that we are under the night sky, engaged in a typical camping experience.
I mean, everything you heard of our surroundings is that it's well-lit near the bonfire and less illuminated in the distance. Anyone would assume that it's your run-of-the-mill camping trip from this description.
However, let me tell you, our situation is far, far different from something like that.
If one were to pay close attention to the distant surroundings, one can see a stone wall. This is the case for all four sides. There is also a ceiling above our heads.
Now you might be thinking that it's a cave. Caves also have stone walls and a ceiling right? However, let me correct that assumption of yours right away.
The walls in the distance were not rugged and uneven like those of a cave. Instead, they appeared smooth but slightly dirty, likely due to accumulated dust on their surface over time. There were a few minor cracks, but they were few and far between.
The walls were anything but ordinary—they were adorned with ancient inscriptions and symbols. The same can be said for the ceiling high above us.
To my left, in the far distance, stood a stone door devoid of any handle. We entered this area through that very door a few hours ago. However, it doesn't seem to budge anymore.
In other words, we're stuck inside this place.
However, we have encountered similar situations in the past, so we had no reason to be concerned. The right path will reveal itself in due time.
"Hey, Vincent. It's already done."
Ilimi said while she poked my right shoulder.
"Ouch! Oh... Right."
Snapping out of my reverie, I shifted my gaze towards the bonfire. It appears that I lost track and our meal ended up slightly overcooked.
Across the bonfire, I could see Luther fuming. It seems like he's done cleaning his claymore.
Lately, I've noticed that I've been zoning out a lot more often. Perhaps age is finally catching up with me.
"Hey, Luther, take my knife and slice it evenly."
"Hou, are you ordering me?"
"Please?"
"Che... fine."
And so, Luther began slicing the large chunk of meat, which was a bit amusing to watch. The kitchen knife, designed for human use, looked tiny in his hands due to his immense size.
Nonetheless, he was a master of his craft. With just two precise cuts, he evenly sliced through that chunk of meat. Remarkably, he gripped the knife using only his large thumb and index finger.
Following that, he rummaged through the large bag by his side and pulled out three sturdy skewers. These skewers were more substantial than the usual ones.
He then threaded those evenly sliced meat onto the skewers and served us our portions.
Upon receiving it, I promptly started eating. The same was true for those two. If anything, these past few years of experience have taught me one thing. That is to be prepared for any situation.
However, it becomes significantly more challenging to do so when a person is in a vulnerable state. And when do you think an individual is at their peak of vulnerability?
That's right, it's during their meals and sleep.
In a short while, we completed our meal. Luther took our skewers and placed them back in the bag. He then resumed his previous position, reclining on his side with his head resting on his hand.
On the other hand, I started pacing in circles around the bonfire. Everyone might not know this, but it greatly aids with digestion after a meal. Additionally, I can also think about various matters while I'm at it.
"Hey, sit down! It's annoying!"
"Just endure it for a while."
"You bi—"
And so, Luther started whining, as he does every day when I take a walk after my meal. Not that it bothers me.
While he continued to whine, I kept going in circles. Eventually, he just gave up and turned his back on me.
After ten or so minutes later, I returned to my position.
*Crackle* *Crackle*
It looked like the bonfire was starting to diminish, so I tossed in a few sticks to rekindle the flames.
*Crackle* *Pop*
"Hey, Vincent."
Upon hearing Ilimi's voice, I shifted my attention to her.
"What now."
"Something is bothering you, isn't it?"
She said, gazing straight into my eyes.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing serious. Don't worry about it."
"Sometimes, it's just better to speak out."
"..."
Now that I think about it, there is something that has been bugging me for a while. Like... Like there are some missing pieces.
"Well, you see... The atmosphere kind of feels kinda empty nowadays."
"..."
"Like... We came to this dungeon with quite the number... But it's just the three of us now."
"..."
"I mean... I get that everyone insisted on joining us knowing the dangers. Bu—"
"Are you perhaps... afraid?"
"..."
"..."
"Hey... Do you think we can pull this off?"
"To be honest... I can't tell. I would like to say that we still have a chance... Well, I don't know anymore."
"..."
"Hey, catch it."
Out of nowhere, Luther tossed an object in my direction. My reflexes kicked in, and I managed to catch it. To my surprise, it was a bottle of wine.
"Why?"
"Because you need it."
He said, fiddling with his sharp nail.
"You know, it's not a matter of if we can pull this off or not. It's a matter of what we should do to pull this off."
"..."
I paid close attention to his words while also opening the bottle of wine.
"I get that what we are trying to do is nothing short of suicide. But it's in times like these that we should keep ourselves calm and composed."
"..."
*Chug* *Chug*
I then proceeded to take a sip from the wine bottle. Nevertheless, I continued to listen carefully to his words.
"When you're climbing a mountain, don't just stare at the peak—keep an eye on the ground beneath you. Not only does it make things simpler, but it also helps you prevent the loss of confidence."
*Tok*
"Haa..."
With a muffled knocking sound, I placed down the wine bottle and simultaneously let out a contented sigh.
"Heh, You're being weirdly—hic!... philosophical today, aren't you?"
"What! Are you mocking me!?"
Luther uttered firmly, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
"No—hic!... I'm just stating the fact."
"You!—Che... Forget it."
Huh, that's weird. We've been navigating through this place together for quite a few years now, and this is likely the first time he's backed down from an argument.
What's even more absurd is that I just perceived him flashing a smile in my direction. Could it be... Am I just hallucinating?
Creepy.
"It looks like you've eased up a bit."
Ilimi said from my right as she traced a ritual circle on the scroll in her hand.
"Oh... Yeah."
"As I said earlier, you should try talking to us from time to time. I know it's a bit odd coming from me, but..."
With an impressive speed, she finished drawing the ritual circle and seamlessly moved on to the next one.
"Having tried it myself, I know it works. It helps ease the burden of your mind, just like it did for you now."
"Yeah, you're right."
I've noticed a change in Ilimi's demeanor over the years. She seems much more approachable now, which is quite different from how cold she used to be.
Her accent might still be a bit mundane. However, her way of speaking has become a lot softer now.
"If you ever feel low, feel free to open up and talk to us. It could be about your past, your dreams, or your future plans—we're here to listen."
"..."
My past, huh.
Not the prettiest thing if I were to say. It's a blend of good and not-so-good. The beginning had its bright spots, sprinkled with moments of joy. But as time passed, things got tougher.
Nonetheless, I still believe a bright future lies ahead of me. There are people out there who are eagerly waiting for me, especially my children.
At least for their sake, I must get out of this place alive.
I raised my head, directly gazing into her eyes. A smile formed on my face naturally.
"All right."
This is likely the first time I've smiled in a while.