“…Was there a well here?”
“I just dug it.”
“Are you joking?”
“Does it look like a joke?”
Do you think I’d say that looking at my face?
“Still, there’s no way you could create a well in such a short time?!”
I scratched my chin at Laperinne’s rebuttal. Well, no one would believe it until I showed them. I started digging a bit away from the well. After digging down to my height, I crawled out of the pit and dusted off the dirt.
“Still not convinced?”
“Uh, you’re really fast.”
This blue-haired girl doesn’t trust people. It’s exhausting to explain every time. Should I raise my reputation so I don’t have to explain? Raising my reputation isn’t easy, though…
“Here’s the bucket. Hurry up and fill it. We might get attacked outside the camp.”
“Ah, okay…”
I’ll fill the water bottle myself. Should I take a quick break? I leaned against the well and stared blankly up at the sky.
It’s clear. Annoyingly clear.
The sky is bright and clean, yet the ground is hell; what a shitty world…
“Johann?”
“Did you fill all the water?”
“Yeah. Let’s head back up quickly.”
I stood up at Sif’s words. The sun was slowly scattering crimson light. Was this the time for dogs and wolves? An unnecessary thought popped into my head, and I chuckled as I turned around.
“Let’s discuss what’s next when we get back.”
“Sure!”
The only one who answered was the pretty-looking protagonist.
—————
“How is Viola doing?”
“She’s… running a high fever and sweating a lot…”
At Shuri’s words, I placed my palm on Viola’s forehead. As she said, it felt like a fireball. It was only natural since she nearly got infected by some unknown virus and lost her arm.
“Can… Viola hold on?”
A voice filled with gloom dug into my ears. Dwelling on gloomy thoughts is one of the taboos in a survival situation, but right now, there was no other option. I spoke to Shuri in as soft a voice as I could muster.
“She’ll be able to hold on.”
“Don’t worry too much. If it’s Viola, she’ll pull through.”
Lewis, wanting to assert himself as the protagonist, subtly added his words while placing his hand on Shuri’s shoulder. Seeing the happiness circuit burning, he certainly seemed like a protagonist. Of course, having a happiness circuit isn’t… entirely helpful, but someone needs to see things rationally, so I decided to shatter the mood a bit.
“Four days.”
“What?”
“If she doesn’t receive treatment in four days, there’s no guarantee she’ll survive. No, it’s hard to guarantee even three.”
The amount of blood loss is significant, and we can’t ignore the issue of pathogen infection in a wild situation. Besides, who knows if something like a virus, transmitted from a monstrous entity, has already spread inside her?
Perhaps it’s gone into an incubation period, but that was just a wishful thought.
“Four days is too tight…!”
A trembling voice. I scratched my chin, hearing Lewis’s excited tone. Did I scratch too much? Anyway, what I said was just a guess based on experience, so I could be wrong. But if left alone, Viola would want to stay here until she recovered. I didn’t want that situation.
At least I needed to return before the vacation ended to handle the incident conveniently.
“Is it possible to escape in four days…?”
At Shuri’s question, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.
“I don’t know.”
Maybe if we searched the entire cave, we could find our way back, but we couldn’t venture in blindly without knowing what’s inside. Even if time is tight, scouting is a must.
And for the escape, a solid commander is essential.
“Damn it…”
I heard Lewis’s curse. Glancing over at the campfire, I could see Laperinne’s face, pale and drained of color. Perhaps she was seized by the fear of not being able to go back.
“Is there no other way? A way to save Viola…”
“The only way is to clear the rift as quickly as possible.”
“I… I’m okay…”
Was she awake? I don’t know how much she heard, but Viola, barely opening her eyes, gazed blankly into space and moved her lips.
“I don’t want to be… a burden…”
“Viola! Don’t say that!”
“Yeah! Where’s that usual feisty attitude of yours?”
“Shut up… don’t bring that up… even here… it’s annoying…”
Listening to their youth-filled words sent shivers down my spine. I’ve been going on like that with my air friend for ten years. I wondered if feeling this way was normal, but something felt off. I’m not entirely twisted, but it left an uncomfortable sensation in one corner of my heart.
Still, I had the sense to silently watch the scene. Sif looked at me incredulously, perhaps reading my expression, but what of it?
As long as I achieve my purpose, that’s all I care about.
I took out some jerky from my pouch and chewed it. The salty flavor forced my eyelids open, which had begun to droop like the dark night was fading. It was getting close to bed time, but not just yet. I had to get a definite answer before the day completely ended.
I clapped my hands to catch the attention of Lewis and company, who were lost in their own world.
At the sound of my clapping, their gazes turned toward me, and without caring for their confused looks, I spoke.
“Four days isn’t a long time. Therefore… I will enter the depths of the cave within two days.”
“Two… days?”
Lewis questioned me with a voice full of disbelief. I nodded at his words and continued.
“However, whether you live or die, follow my instructions. If you do, I will take you quickly and safely to the Academy.”
“Does that make sense?”
“I’ll make it make sense.”
“Talking about the rift? Clearing the rift in two days is…”
“If you don’t believe me, stay here. We will head into the cave.”
“I too?”
Upon Sif’s surprised voice, I shot back, exasperated.
“Were you thinking of sending me alone?”
I played my trump card.
Those who don’t listen to me will be discarded without mercy.
After all, if they’re not going to listen, they’ll only be a hindrance. It’d be much easier for Sif and me to go down and clear the way, then bring them back.
“What are you going to do?”
“…Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“Of course.”
Is this what being the protagonist entails? I readily replied to Lewis, who stepped up as the representative of the group.
“I will follow your words.”
“Do you all agree?”
Looks like they’re just agreeing with the leader. Shuri and Laperinne nodded obediently.
“We’ll start settling in for sleep now. Execute.”
No one protested my announcement.
——————
A morning where seagulls chirp instead of larks. I cut down a nearby tree to make a litter. I relied on faint memories to craft this storybook-like contraption, but it should function just fine. Now I pondered who to assign the finished prototype to.
Ideally, it should be someone strong but not much help in combat.
Thinking that, there was only one person suitable for the task.
“Sif. Carry this.”
“What about my bags?”
“Someone else can carry those.”
“Then why am I being told to carry this?”
“You’re the only one not helping in the fight here.”
“What? Me?”
“You’re the only one not contributing to the battle here.”
“That may be true… Ugh, fine. You’re giving me extra pay, right?”
“Sure, I’ll add one gold coin.”
“Make it three.”
“Two.”
“Okay.”
I watched as Sif placed Viola on the litter and tied her down with ropes. Then I turned my gaze to the tense faces of Lewis and the others who seemed ready.
Being too tense isn’t good either.
“Lewis. You handle the approaching enemies with Shuri and Laperinne.”
“Understood.”
“Shuri. Maintain your lighting magic and focus on illuminating your surroundings. Don’t cast attack magic; save your mana.”
“Sure!”
“Laperinne. Take out only the oncoming enemies while conserving your mana as much as possible.”
“Leave it to me.”
“Sif. You… just carry Viola well.”
“Just leave it to me!”
So, it’s time to set out. I slung the shovel over my shoulder and looked up at the sky. The newly rising sun pierced my eyebrows and scratched at my retinas. It’s truly a great morning for an adventure.
“I’ll head into the cave without delay. Once we enter, there’s no going back, so check that you haven’t forgotten anything.”
Whether we live or die, getting back out of the cave won’t be easy. I watched as the team checked their gear and then set my sights on the cave in the distance.
What exists in there?
Monstrous beings?
Or perhaps…
Something even beyond?
“Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Everyone’s voices melded together.
“Then I’ll set out.”
The time limit is four days. The goal is to reach within two.
An unhopeful time attack within the rift begins.
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