"Thanks for saving my partner..." Boxcutter said dryly, crouching down to the ragdoll.
The ragdoll was me.
"I'm sorry I was late..." She licked her lips as she said that, running her fingers along my neck.
'Ouch.'
An involuntary sound escaped my mouth as she pulled out a stinger from my skin. Blood dripped down, coating her fingers.
"N-Nah, thanks to you instead. You saved us both. You're quite skilled..." The girl remarked, slightly awkward as the situation was. She quickly got up from my body and backed off. "My name is Blaze, and you..."
Blaze. So that's what I must call her when I thank her properly next time. A fitting name. Do all players get Skills that match their names? Or was it just a coincidence?
That's not important right now.
'Ouch.' Another stinger was pulled out. Is she really trying to help me, or does she just want me to suffer more for betraying her? I mean, she was a psycho stalker. It would be unnatural for her not to be pissed off when I was so close to another woman in her absence.
"Boxcutter. And he's my partner, Bandage. I'll take care of him from here. You should get going now..." Boxcutter's voice was already dry, but now it had a sharpness to it.
I was glad she was letting Blaze go without any fuss. I was sure she understood that Blaze was just trying to save me—nothing else. As long as she didn't say anything stupid, she should be alright.
"Partner, like your boyfriend?"
Idiot.
Boxcutter's lips curled into a forced smile, her eyebrow twitching.
"Yes. Is it that obvious? Sorry, but he's taken. By me."
Liar. Don't make me puke.
"Ah, is that so." Blaze, unfortunately, didn't sound disappointed. "I was wondering if we could team up. Those two kids and us three would make five. I'm worried about their safety, so it'd be nice if they could be..."
"Nah. We'll pass..." Boxcutter cut her off.
"Um. I understand you don't want a burden, but those kids can't survive on their own. It's just the tutorial, and—"
To think she was so worried about kids she had just met. My impression of Blaze was getting stronger by the moment.
'Ouch.'
"Don't misunderstand. I'd rather have some brats on my team than someone like you. Strong, savior type. A woman. I can't have my Bandage cheating on me, can I?"
"Huh? No, that wouldn't be a problem, as I—"
"That's enough..." Boxcutter lifted me onto her back with a sudden jolt, my limp body helpless to resist. I would have loved to be in the same team as Blaze. The kids would be a burden, but I couldn't leave them alone in such a dangerous game either. Not that it seemed like my choice to make.
"Move."
Boxcutter glared at Blaze, confronting her eye to eye for the first time. Two strong women facing off while I was... well, let's not bother.
They locked eyes for a moment. However, Boxcutter didn't seem like she ever needed to blink in her life. It was Blaze who looked away first, rolling her eyes and stepping aside.
"Whatever..." She was obviously pissed off at Boxcutter's domineering attitude. She turned and ran toward the clearing, maybe looking for the kids.
"Now then, partner. We'll have a proper talk about this when you can speak again," Boxcutter warned as she carried me toward the clearing.
After reaching it, she put me down under one of the trees, facing the open space. The players were still there, though fewer than before—around twelve to fourteen. They were already in groups, discussing something.
"Are you sure this can be eaten?" A short girl with large, round glasses examined the carcass of a dead monster being cut up by her teammate.
"It should be. My Chef class helps me identify what's edible and what's not," said a tall guy, notably shirtless.
"Haha, I killed this one with my skill. I should get the best portions." Another teammate, a muscular guy carrying an large wooden log in his hand chimed in. Damn he looks strong.
'Huh? Eating a monster?'
Is that what we'd have to do as well? Can't we buy food with our points or something?
Why was there even a need to eat? Wasn't this just a game?
'Ouch.'
This bitch.
"Are you feeling hungry?" Boxcutter asked, still pulling out my stingers. My healing class was already working passively. The pain was dulling. Once the stingers were out, the wounds would eventually heal. My paralysis was also improving—I could already move my neck a little.
I shook my head. No way I'm eating some monster. The tutorial is only three days long—I can go without food. But I do need to find water.
"Here, drink this..." Something hard and wet pressed against my lips, pouring sour water into my mouth. "I got this from a creek."
Did she sense my thoughts? And where did she get this bottle from?
Oh, right. She probably kept it to store chloroform or some other sedative to drug me at any chance.
This bitch.
The water, though sour, did its job. I tried not to think about what might be mixed in with it—germs, monster corpses...
"It seems safe to drink," she concluded, noticing I hadn't dropped dead immediately, and began chugging some herself.
Don't use me as a poison tester, damn it. Thanks for the water, though.
I sighed, tilting my head back and closing my eyes. It would take some time before I could move again. I should take a nap. Maybe it'll help recover my MP.
But first, let's check my menu.
---
#Current Zone: Y (Tutorial)
#Tutorial Points: (22/100)
#Squad: @Boxcutter
#Time Left: 68h 49m
#Name: Bandage
#Class: Healer
#Level: 1 (0/10 XP)
#HP: 2/10
#MP: 1/5
#Skills:
Healing (Level 1): Heals oneself or others.
So. I had gained only 1 MP in what seemed like 1.5 hours. Taking a guess, I think its 1MP/hr. Meaning I could get another one after 30 minutes.
As for my 2 HP points. Well that was understandable.
And maybe since its a tutorial, We wouldn't get any XP or level up here.
"Hah.." Man Only 22 points after what seemed like a million stings.
Those fucking game masters.