SS1 8.1 - Kara's Circumstance

  As Ariel said, the tear gas gave us a few minutes of early start. However, we only managed to gain about 2 km before we had to hike to a hill side and made a full stop. Then, Ariel used her nose and ears in full rotation to check the area before turning her gaze to me.

  “Berg, their number is too high,” Ariel said. “Low-rank monster from other area come to join the pursuit and they fill the route ahead of us to the brim.”

  After taking a deep breath I asked, “Are you saying it’s too risky to continue the exfil?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It seems their ability to coordinate is also very good.”

  Ariel gave me a light nod. “Even without radio and only by relying on shout out relay, low-rank monster can coordinate very well in their hunting ground.”

  “I see.” After a short pause I asked Ariel another question, “Do you have suggestion in mind?”

  “Let’s find a place to hole up and re-plan our exfil.’

  “Let’s do that,” I swiftly replied.

  As soon as Ariel gave me suggestion to re-plan our exfil, I knew we were screwed. I also had a hunch that the increase of monster’s presence in the area had something to do with Kara, but I kept it to myself. For now, finding a good hideout was my priority.

  Ariel then took us to switch direction and went back to deeper part of Kubran Valley. A few minutes later, we arrived in a bank of huge river. It had calm current, so it must be had deep riverbed. Most of all, the other side of this river was a cliff and I didn’t think climbing a cliff wall after swimming across a huge river was a nice idea.

  I immediately turned my gaze to Ariel, “Do we have to swim across this river?”

  “No, this is Sachak River, and it is home for millions of piranha smelt,” Ariel explained. “Their size is indeed small, but when their number are a few millions even wyvern will get devour by them.”

  “I see,” I said as I got a chill in my spine. “So, what is your plan?”

  “We will use this boat to find hideout on the cliff alongside Sachak River,” Ariel said as she took out a small wooden boat from her inventory.

  “Okay.” I didn’t see other option right now. I could only agree with Ariel’s suggestion.

  After putting half of the wooden boat’s body to the water, we immediately boarded it and then used a pole to push it into water. Fortunately, I had tons of experience on using a boat to sail through a huge river. With ease I followed Ariel’s instruction to ensure the boat went to the direction we wanted.

  About an hour later, we found a prospective hiding hole. It was a cave located about 3 km down the river from our starting point, and 7 meters above the river surface. After checking it and confirmed we can use it, Ariel immediately set up climbing rope for me and Kara.

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  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Before we could using the cave as resting spot we had to clean it first, and then piled up purple moon stones on one of its corner. The cleaning didn’t take lot of time as the cave was pretty small. It was not even a half-size of Sierra Lodge.

  However, we managed to get into this cave without anyone tailing us. Having a hidden resting spot when thousands of low-rank monsters wanted to turn you into human chops was a priceless luxury. And so, I enjoyed our situation.

  After setting up an improvised bathroom in a corner, I said to Ariel and Kara, “Let’s have dinner before getting some sleep.”

  “Mhm.” Ariel lightly nodded while Kara said nothing.

  Wasting no time, I set up stools and table using beer crate layered by rubber mat. Then, I arranged cheese crackers, mixed nuts, raisin, mineral water, and stamina potion.

  We couldn’t eat something with strong smell so we didn’t have many options in our menu, but it was not too bad compared to when we had to eat in the open, and could only have plain crackers and raisin.

  After offering the gratitude for the food I said, “Let’s eat.”

  Ariel and Kara immediately took cracker and munched it heartily. I could tell they were starving. As for me, I took a handful of edamame. After putting two pieces of edamame in my mouth I turned my gaze to Kara. It’s time to dig the circumstance that brought her to us.

  “Kara,” I gently said. “Are you really from Silva Family?”

  “Yes,” Kara replied casually. “My full name is Kara de Silva, member of 5th branch, the smallest branch in Silva Family.”

  “How old are you?”

  “In three months I will be six.”

  ‘Five-year-old huh…’ I muttered before asking another question, “Can you tell us how Old Jack managed to snatch you?”

  “Old Jack didn’t snatch me,” Kara gave me another calm reply. “I let him to snatch me.”

  “Huh?” Big question mark popped up in my forehead as I looked at Kara straight in the eyes. “Why did you do that?”

  “It’s order from Matriarch Marta, the current leader of Silva Family.”

  “Wait a second.” I tilted my head to the side as the big question mark in my forehead thickened. “Are you saying your matriarch ordering you to become Old Jack’s meal?”

  “Sort of, in case I fail to kill him.”

  After taking another piece of cracker, Kara then calmly explained the detail of her mission. Basically, she would go to open plain around Karmen alone, and let Old Jack snatched her. After that, just before Old Jack gulped her down she would make a swing on his neck and decapitate him.

  Matriarch Marta issued this mission to remedy Edwark’s mistake, which had tarnished Silva Family’s name to some extent. Kara was being chosen to execute it because she came from the weakest branch in the family.

  “What if Old Jack killed you on the way to his resting spot?” I curiously asked.

  “Berg, that’s possibility is very low,” Ariel explained. “Wyvern has a habit to eat the child they manage to snatch alive.”

  “I see,” I weakly replied

  I couldn’t help but recalled the pair of sibling who got snatch by Old Jack right before my eyes. The terror they experienced must be unbearable, especially for the one who had to witness their sibling gotten eaten alive. After letting out a deep sigh I then turned my gaze back to Kara.

  “How high your chance to kill Old Jack?”

  “Very high,” Kara replied. “Wyvern tend to lower their guard when they are about to eat a living kid.”

  “After killing Old Jack, what is your plan to go back?”

  “On foot, at daylight, sneaking my way through low-rank monster patrols. I have lot of ration in my inventory, so food won’t be a problem.”

  “Are you saying no one will pick you up?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What about your parent? Will they do nothing and let you find your way back on your own?”

  “Kara doesn’t have them anymore.”

  I couldn’t help but letting out a sigh while looking at Kara’s childish face. “You have it rough.”

  “That’s the fate of children from weakest branch of patrician family,” Kara casually said and I swore she was too calm for a 5-year-old kid. “We have to be ready to be sacrificed for the sake of family glory.”

  “In case you succeed with your mission and manage to return alive, will you receive a good reward?” I asked out of curiosity.

  Kara gave me a firm nod. “Kara will become member of main branch.”

  “Is becoming member of main branch means a lot for you?”

  “It’s Kara’s everything.”

  “I see.”

  Honestly, I had a hard time accepting patrician family’s MO, but I said nothing and only lightly nodded my head a few times. Then, we continued our dinner in silence. After that we took a bath in turn before getting some sleep. Ariel and Kara would take the first watch, while I slept first.

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