Hazie’s voice softened, the excitement in her earlier tone fading like a dying ember.

“Thanks to a lot of luck, my brilliance, and everyone’s cooperation. I managed to lead us deeper into these mountains. By carefully arranging combinations of the group’s Gifts, we could move forward while avoiding the worst of the dangers. Of course, the strategies we used were far from simple—so complicated, in fact, that explaining it all to you would take an entire day, and even then, I’d probably have to rush through it.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Still, somehow, against all odds, we managed to keep everyone alive. Not a single life lost. That’s not something many can claim in a place like this.”

She paused, her gaze drifting to the flames of their campfire. The light flickered across her face, making the shadows under her eyes look deeper.

“But… pleasant dreams don’t last forever,” she continued, her voice quieter now, tinged with regret. “Eventually, *it* caught up to us. That… *thing*—the one that had been stalking us all this time. And as fate would have it, our previous tricks can't fool it twice. We got stuck in a cave and nothing guaranteed success. Every option we had left was a gamble, and each one came with risks too great to ignore. Risks that could cost the lives of the people who trusted me to lead them.”

Hazie’s hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists. “I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t risk losing anyone. My principles as their leader wouldn’t allow it. I refused to forsake them. So, when all other options failed, I had to make a choice—a terrible, unavoidable choice. And the only option that ensured the survival of the group…” She took a deep breath. “Was to send someone to distract that monster. To serve as bait.”

Her voice broke slightly on the last word, and her lips pressed together into a thin line before she forced herself to continue. “And as you might’ve guessed, that someone was me. I mean, it made sense, didn’t it? I have multiple bodies, and out of all of Hazie’s personas, I’m the least useful. The weakest. The most expendable.”

She smiled, but it was a hollow expression, one that failed to mask the bitterness in her eyes. “The choice was obvious and no one had objections. So, after receiving every possible buff, enhancement, and reinforcement the others could give me, I ran. I ran and kept running. Alone.”

Hazie turned to him, the flickering firelight reflecting in her melancholic gaze. Her forced smile twisted painfully as she added, “I thought… I thought I’d saved everyone with that sacrifice. I thought it was over. And then, out of nowhere, you appeared.” She shook her head, her voice gaining a frustrated edge. “You *idiot.* Why didn’t you find the camp sooner? Why didn’t you stay with them where it was safer? Why...” Her voice died down as she struggled with her conflicted emotions.

Kaiser studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before replying nonchalantly. “I was busy, you know. Taking care of girls and pretending to be a false hero."

“This isn’t a laughing matter, Kai!” Hazie snapped, standing abruptly as her voice rose. “Don’t you get it? There’s a monster after me!”

The sharpness of her voice echoed in the stillness around them. But as she looked at him—at his pale, dirt-streaked face and weakened state on a makeshift bed—her anger faltered. Guilt replaced it almost instantly.

Her shoulders slumped, and she sank back down. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to shout… It’s just, I…” She trailed off, gripping her knees tightly before letting out a shaky sigh. “Kai, I need to tell you something. I wasn’t entirely honest with you before.”

Kaiser’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing, letting her continue.

“The camp’s pursuer… that monster… it didn’t vanish. It got transferred to me. The only reason this version of me existed is to lead it as far away from the group as possible.”

Her voice cracked, but she pushed forward. “This persona of mine has only one purpose: to run. To keep running until it catches me. And when it does… I’ll die. That’s my sole role, Kai. That’s what I’m here for. To buy time for everyone else.”

She lifted her head to look at him, her expression strained but resolute. “That’s why, chances are, you’ll die too if you stay with me. I don’t want that. So… if you want to survive, if you want to live…” She hesitated, her voice breaking into a whisper. “I can leave. I’ll run again. And I’ll die alone.”

The words hung heavily in the air, settling between them like an invisible wall. For a moment, neither spoke. The crackling fire filled the silence until it was finally broken by Kaiser’s voice, calm and utterly unworried.

“Nah. If you leave, then who’s going to take care of me?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

His words caught Hazie off guard. Her lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Honestly speaking, he can't care less knowing whatever abomination is pursuing them. Kai only ran once from a beast, and needless to say, the crawling snake that dared met a bitter end,—although, not by his own hands, but the Bandit's barrage— Nevertheless, what comes after that made him a predator that hunts, no longer running from his dreadful adversaries as he face them head on, be it wars in the wildfire or massive behemoth and a Player from ancient time.

In truth, Kaiser found himself admiring Hazie’s leadership skills far more than he was concerned about the looming monstrosity hunting them. He had faced creatures from this realm before, and he knew they were nothing like the prey of the mundane world of Beasts of Greenland. They were predators of nightmares, terrifyingly and ruthlessly. For someone to lead a group of untrained survivors to take down even an injured dweller here was nothing short of miraculous.

The feat alone spoke volumes about the kind of leader Hazie—her *complete* self—must have been. Ordinary humans could never have accomplished such a task, even with powers. What made the difference was the person at the helm, the one who could take a disorganized, terrified group and mold them into a cohesive unit. That person had been Hazie. Her original personality, though fragmented now, still shone through in the way her fractured selves handled various challenges with startling precision.

Under her guidance, not a single life had been lost—a testament to her ability to strategize, adapt, and lead under impossible conditions. Lesser leaders would have faltered, but Hazie’s brilliance ensured survival. Her existence as the group's anchor proved her reliability and the respect she commanded.

Kaiser couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to meet the real Hazie, the *whole* version. The glimpses he caught through her fractured personas painted the picture of a woman with no visible weaknesses, someone who could make harsh decisions with calculative resolve. And then there was *this* Hazie—the one with him now. The “dumb” version, as he put it.

He glanced at her and smirked slightly. If this Hazie was where all her flaws were dumped, then even her “weakest” self was remarkable. Despite calling herself a leftover, she carried herself with surprising strength. She wasn’t lacking in intelligence, physicality, or mental fortitude. If anything, she displayed an exceptional level of courage and wit, qualities that shone even in her moments of self-deprecation.

If not, this dumb Hazie wouldn't have survived a relentless pursuit and escaped a literal monster, all while knowing her end was inevitable. Most people would have crumbled under such pressure, but not her. She endured, adapted, and fought to stay alive—not for herself, but to protect the lives of those she cared about.

In many ways, she was more capable than the average person. Her determination and grit were undeniable. Even her social skills, which far outstripped his own, made her a more effective communicator than him, shamefully. Kaiser found himself begrudgingly impressed. If *this* was the lowest version of Hazie, what kind of brilliance did the complete Hazie possess?

His musings were interrupted by a sharp intake of breath. He glanced up to find Hazie staring at him, her mouth slightly open, her eyes twitching as though she couldn’t decide whether to be amused or annoyed.

Finally, she stood up, dusted herself off, and took a deep breath. When she turned back to him, her face was lit with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Kai, did you hit your head or accidentally eat something that fried your common sense?”

“Um, no?”

She let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable. No, scratch that—you’re insane…Wait...” Her voice trailed off as if something had clicked in her mind. She leaned forward suddenly, bracing her hands on her knees as her face hovered above his, a teasing grin curling her lips.

“Be honest,” she said, her tone laced with playful mischief. “Am I so gorgeous that you actually think I’m worth dying for?”

Whether she's dumb or smarter than Alfred, thus, give up instilling mundane common sense to an Immortal sooner than the hunter. He doesn't know.

Kai met her gaze with a blank stare, unfazed by her theatrics. There was no denying Hazie was beautiful—stunning, even—but he had a preference for a softer, more vulnerable beauty. Hazie, in all her chaotic glory, was far too dangerous for his tastes. The last time he met a lethal lady, Kai's first hug was taken along his life.

“In your dreams,” he said flatly, before adding with a slight smirk, “I have no plans of dying here, but I also don’t plan on letting you leave me behind. It’s more fun surviving together than alone. Don’t you agree?”

Her teasing grin faltered, replaced by a puzzled look as she studied him. “You *do* realize we’re going to die, right?” she asked, her voice steady but laced with disbelief, as if his indifference was the most baffling thing she had ever encountered.

Hazie chuckled softly. She straightened a little, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. “You’re impossible, Kai. Truly impossible,” she muttered, shaking her head as if he were some unsolvable riddle.

Then she paused, her hand drifting to her temple. A flicker of unease passed over her face, so fleeting that it might have gone unnoticed if Kai hadn’t been watching her so closely.

“Hazie?” he asked, his tone low but edged with concern.

She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Just… dizzy for a second.” Her words were light, but her voice carried a faint tremor.

Kai sat up slightly, as much as his body allowed. “You don’t look fine.”

Hazie ignored him, trying to straighten herself, but her legs wobbled beneath her. Her breath hitched, and her usually sharp eyes dimmed like a candle struggling against the wind.

“I just… need a moment,” she mumbled, her voice growing faint.

Before Kai could process what was happening, Hazie swayed dangerously, her body tipping forward as if the world had tilted beneath her feet.

“Hazie!” Kai shouted, alarm sparking through him.

Kai barely had time to react—not that it could move well in its weakened state—before her full weight fell onto him, her head landing squarely on his stomach. A sharp grunt escaped his lips as the impact jarred his still-recovering body.

“Oof—Hazie!” he gasped, instinctively trying to push himself up, but his weakened state made it nearly impossible. Instead, his hands hovered uncertainly above her back, unsure whether to shake her awake or simply let her rest.

Her breathing was shallow but steady, and up close, he could see the dark circles under her eyes and signs of food deprivation, the exhaustion she had been masking with her sharp tongue and bravado. She had been running herself ragged long before he came into the picture.

“Damn it, Hazie,” he muttered, his voice softening despite the frustration.

“Really? Now of all times?”

Her breathing was shallow, her face slack as if all the fight had been drained out of her. Up close, she looked smaller, more fragile than she ever had before—a stark contrast to the confident, unyielding presence she usually exuded.

Kai exhaled sharply, leaning back against the bed. “Guess even you have your limits, huh?” he muttered worriedly.

With a grunt of effort, he adjusted her slightly, letting her rest more comfortably against him. He placed a hand lightly on her back, feeling the faint rise and fall of her breath.

“You’re always trying to carry everything on your own,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Maybe it’s time someone carried you for a change.”

The room fell silent, save for the faint sound of their breathing, as Kai lay there, holding Hazie close and watching over her. For once, she seemed at peace, and for now, that was enough.

After a while more... He froze as reality struck him.

'Oh, sh*t... We're not even friends, plus I already have two stepdaug...'

"Ahem."

He then pushed her away, get up as if nothing happened and rubbed his face hard.

'What the f*ck did I just do? Taking advantage of an unconscious girl, really?!'