Chapter 110
“These ruins are scattered throughout the providences. Their value can’t be measured. Kingdoms have risen from finding ruins like this. To think, there was one sitting so close to Stormberg.” She glanced at me, biting her lip. “These places are exceptionally dangerous. We should go back and report this.”
I raised an eyebrow. “To who?”
She winced. “My Lou family may not be rich, but this could change our status. We might even become a major family by the time it’s over. If you come back with me and swear fealty to the Lou family, I’m sure they’ll properly reward you.”
Although she tried to put confidence in her voice, I could hear a bit of concern. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She bit her lip, looking down. “It would be best if you didn’t see this place at all. Once we tell the Lou family, if you don’t plan to join us, they may try to silence you. Ah! I’m not saying they’ll necessarily kill you, but they might imprison you until after the rewards are claimed.”
“I’m surprised you’re telling me this,” I admitted, wondering if I had made the mistake of bringing her when I could have just gone back later on my own.
She winced. “You’re my vassal. I have to look out for you. However, I also recognize the greed in people’s hearts. E-even my own family.”
“Do you not feel greed for yourself?” I asked honestly.
“Of course.” She responded, glancing up at me guiltily. “However, I know my limits. I’m only a low-level evolved. If I entered the ruins, there could be lingering traps or defenders. Death is almost certain. However, I’m also not willing to keep my mouth shut. The Lou family has been suffering underneath the other families. We lack any resources. Father has said in a few generations we might not even be a major family anymore if nothing changes. Military achievement can only carry us so far, especially since the last war was nearly twenty years ago. I won’t give up this chance… a-and maybe if I save the Lou family, father will start respecting my autonomy too!”
By the end of her speech, her eyes were watery and she was breathing hard. I did not doubt that these were her true feelings. I was just a bit surprised she was sharing them with a stranger. Compared to Erika, this girl was far too trusting. She didn’t even seem to consider for a second that I might betray her instead. Rather, she was trying to explain to me why she had to do it.
“So, we’re heading back then?” I asked, my voice coming off slightly cold.
She looked away, her face flashing with guilt. “Please, come with me. I can’t hide your presence. Shui and his people will admit everything. If I lie and say you didn’t see the ruins, they’ll still be suspicious and might do something anyway. Your best chance is to join my family. Even though you’re mortal, if I beg father enough, he will make an exception.”
“Okay,” I responded.
“If you join, I’m willing to split my allowance, and I’ll even help you reach evolve… huh?” She had been so afraid I’d refuse that she had prepared more arguments.
“In the meantime, let’s sleep.” I stretched.
“Eh? Sleep?” She blinked.
“Well, it’s night, right? Even if we escape, your friend Shui said that it’d be suicide trying to cross the valley at night. It seems like there are no wolves this deep. Perhaps they even feel some fear for this place, so it’s probably fine to stay here.”
“R-right…” She nodded, I guess we should then.
Like that, we started to set up camp for the night. I found enough dried roots and dead matter to start a fire, and then I brought out food to cook. The food didn’t come from the previous team’s backpack. All of that food had been taken by the wolves. Instead, this was food I had stored in my luminal space. I had packed it on our journey just in case we were forced to abandon the cart, and most of it hadn’t been used in that strange immortal realm.
Destiny has been sitting lost in thought while I got everything set up, acting truly like a lady with her vassal, but I didn’t mind. She seemed to have a lot on her mind, and she didn’t seem to notice that there was no food in the bag previously, so I was glad she didn’t ask any questions about its sudden appearance now. Of course, I didn’t need to eat, but cooking and eating would help pass the time besides, Destiny’s stomach had growled once or twice, and while she hadn’t explicitly stated she was hungry, her face turned slightly pink as she held her stomach. She had gone all day without food, so I’d be more shocked if she didn’t need food.
As the smell of the food began to permeate the cavern. She sniffed a few times, and her eyes finally landed on the pot of stew I was making. I wouldn’t say I was an accomplished chef, but being the elder with an abusive stepdad and an overworked mother, I did end up learning my way around a kitchen. I had done this sort of thing to feed my starving sister countless times, at least in the period before I left the house.
She looked almost like she was drooling by the time I was finished. I poured out a bowl for her and myself. I felt like I could use some salt and pepper, but such things that were easy to access in my old world were delicacies in this world. I wondered if I could chemically create some on my own. It shouldn’t be too difficult to extract the sodium and chloride molecules needed to make table salt. I had to get familiar with both of them to create my nervous system. Both elements had a key role to play in sending electrical signals through the body. This was why doctors were concerned about salt levels when talking about your heart. What receives more electrical signals than the heart, which is to continually beat to keep someone alive?
“Mmm… It’s good!” She spoke after taking a delicate bite, only to then increase the speed, her hunger overwhelming her sense of decorum.
She quickly devoured what I had poured and even took two more bowls. As she was licking it up, she looked at the empty pot slightly unhappily. However, she was too embarrassed to ask for more and I wasn’t planning to make more anyway as the fire was starting to go out. The dried matter I discovered was only enough to last so long.
Before the heat was completely gone, I heated a few stones and then began to set up the bedding. I took the heated blocks and placed them under the bedding to warm it. By the time I was finished, the last vestiges of fire snuffed out.
“Wh-where is my bedding?” Destiny asked as she watched me finish the preparations.
I raised an eyebrow. “There is only one.”
I had only found one backpack. That meant I only had one set of bedding. It was pretty obvious, but Destiny didn’t seem to realize that until this moment. Her face turned red.
“Ah, that… then…”
“You take it,” I told her, taking a step back. “Get some sleep.”
She started with a shocked look. “B-but it’s yours?”
“Technically, it was another team’s…”
“Still, you found it.” She looked at me worriedly.
“If you wait too long, all the warmth will be gone,” I told her. “It’s fine, one of us needs to keep watch anyway. We don’t want to be attacked by wolves in the middle of the night, right?”
“Ah! That!” She looked like she hadn’t realized that was a possibility until this moment. “B-but… I’m an evolved and you’re an immortal.”
“I thought I was your vassal. Isn’t this the least of the expectations, my lady?”
She winced slightly. “Don’t do that. I know you’re just making fun of me.”
I grew a bit more serious. “I’m sorry.”
She bit her lip, but she still lay in the bedding. “I should be the one apologizing. If I didn’t follow you, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She shook her head. “I tried to force you to join my house. I know my actions seem childish sometimes. It’s just… the way I was raised. I… I didn’t want to be alone anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“N-nevermind.” She turned so I couldn’t see her face. “You’ll watch over me?”
I smiled. “All night.”
“That’s not necessary… I’ll take the shift in four hours. You should get sleep too. You’re mortal, after all.”
“Then, I’ll see you in four hours.”
“Mm…”
Like that, Destiny was giving out slow controlled breaths of someone asleep within ten minutes. I waited another hour and then headed to the entrance of the immortal building. She was far too trusting.
Good chapter as always but there’s a typo on the bit when Shui is about to sleep