Chapter 26: Party of Strategists (3)

TANIA

"Master, look above the tree." Drio pointed at the snake above the tree close to the sleeping fox. So I traced the tree trunk that's full of scratches, and to where the tree branches are...

When I saw the snake, my body was petrified... Darn, that's huge! What can we even do against it?! But fortunately, it seemed like it still hadn't noticed us. I approached the injured fox, it must've been attacked by the snake.

"Master, over here!" Selek called in a low voice. I followed his voice, he's digging something by the feet of the fox.

Drio immediately helped him after realizing it was a human under the fox's paw, seriously injured.

Efren and Selek pulled out the guy, thankfully, he was still breathing. Drio tended to the guy's injuries and Selek wiped off the dirt on the guy's face full of blood. While I sneakily pulled a healing potion from my inventory.

*dingg!*

*dingg!*

♤Notice!♤

You have no permission to access this person's full information.

You only have the right to access its basic and common information.

♤Character Status♤

Name

Theodore Arabella

Age

25

Gender

Male

Title

Job

Class

B

Status

'Why can't I access his information? Is this a Lack of Authority again? I can't even see his stats but that's not important now, what matters is that word… Sacrificed. Did his party betray him? And what's up with divine blessing if he's bad luck enough to be in this kind of situation.'

When I saw the guy's face, I took out the picture the girl in a ponytail gave me and compared the face.

'It's fortunate that he's still alive… that's unexpected.'

"It's him." I said. To think I would find him here on the top floor… looks like he's good at observing.

"Do you know him, master?" Asked Selek. Though I don't know his name… I still nodded.

"Yes. A girl in a ponytail in the camp who was insisting on joining the raid wants to find her adventurer brother. But since she's a girl, she was kicked out. I promised to find him for her." I smiled when I remembered it, I fulfilled my promise.

The guy slightly opened his eyes, and muttered some words.

"Fox… *cough* led… save… snake… k-kill… eyes… *cough* …rt… are *cough* …k-keys." Then he uttered while coughing up blood, then he completely fell unconscious.

'Shit! …Did he just die?'

Efren, after seeing my surprised reaction, immediately feel the guy's pulse. I was relieved when he thumbs up and nodded. Weew… He's still alive.

"Take note of what he said Drio." I ordered, and I asked Efren and Selek to put him on the side. Then I took another potion and climbed up to the fox's belly and poured another potion on its mouth.

"Selek, shout when you inform us of the snake's movement, Efren help me remove the sticks sticking on the fox wound. Drio, you stop the bleeding." I commanded before I did what I should do, the guy already gave us hints, and by the look of the snake's eyes, it was like a jewel. The fox and the snake are fighting.

"Are you done?" Asked Efren and Drio. And they both nodded.

"MASTER! THE SNAKE IS ON THE MOVE!" Selek yelled like I ordered him to do when the snake crawled faster than I thought.

Alright... it's time!

-*-

"Selek go hide in the fox's neck and ready your sword, Efren give me the sticks!" The bloody stick was on me and scattered it on the fox's feet. "Drio, the cloth you use to stop the bleeding, throw it on the fox's body also the excess blood then hide somewhere. Efren ready your sword too, I'll be the decoy. Attack when I say."

I pulled a deep breath and tried to calm my heartbeat. I stand atop of the fox's belly, the snake is almost here. My heart is preparing to jump out of my chest! I'm too nervous.

The snake's head passed and it's eyes were locked on me. It's coming, it's fangs got close to me by 20 inches until-

"ATTACK NOW!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, and both Selek and Efren jumped ready to thrust the snake's head. My body automatically dodged the snake's incoming bite by sliding sideward. The slithering snake's head got thrust and bled, still refusing to fall down, seconds later and it eventually died. My heart was still racing… God! I was frightened to death! At the last moment I thought I was gonna die…

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"Drio, quick! kill the fox!" I tightly close my eyes and I inhale deeply to calm down

"But shouldn't we save the fox?" Drio worriedly asked and the others also have the same expression.

"When did I say we were saving it?" I confusedly asked, didn't they understand it? Gosh, they just blindly follow my orders without knowing anything… loyal, they're foolishly loyal!

"That fox was cunning. It pretended to be hurt from those sticks? He's too large to be affected by that, the guy already said, 'Fox who pretends to save must be killed, and also the snake attacks and kills, their eyes and heart are keys.' " I answered.

"Since we arrived, the fox already noticed us and performed his usual modus operandi to set a trap, pretending to be attacked by the snake. When someone tries to save him by killing the snake, the injured pitiful person will be stabbed in the back by him. Didn't you notice the sticks on his belly? Obviously it wasn't done by a snake, the snake doesn't have arms to stick it there. He got it when he tried to get up the tree, but he always ended up falling. Take a look at his nails and the tree trunks, claw scratches are everywhere. Any questions?"

With all the information I pointed out, they let their jaws drop. Hmm? Was the situation really difficult to realize? If that's the case then this fox really is cunning. Just observe and you'll get it.

"But master, you fed him a healing potion and you made me tend his bleeding, what was it all about?" Drio asked

"And you made us remove the sticks stuck on him." Efren seconded.

Ah right… about that, I think they're about to arrive. We better hurry.

"I'll explain later, Drio, kill that fox and dig its eyes and heart out. Selek you dig the snake's eyes." I instructed them, then I turned to Efren, "You carry that guy over there."

I, on the other hand, will get some of their blood to cover the fox's fur and the snake's body with it. Even if it's disgusting. It is necessary for my second plan, I'll bear with it.

*rustle* *rustle*

Are they here already? It's faster than I thought!

"We're finished, master." Selek called out…

*dingg!*

♤Notice!♤

Defeat 'Kruma' 1/1

Defeat 'Sritra' 1/1

Retrieve the 'keys' 3/3

Open the 'door' 0/1

1st Floor Reward: [???]

Next Floor: 2nd floor

I ran faster away from there, being careful not to make loud sounds.

"Run as fast as you can, make it quiet, they're here" I motioned to them, who later understood what I was saying.

We all arrived safely and exhausted at running further away from the site. I heave loudly cause they won't hear me anymore.

"Ants are attacking the site after those yelling we made. Thank god, they didn't detect us." I gladly stated.

All of them sigh in relief and show me the jewels.

"It's our key out of here. But first let's be here for a while, I'm starving…" I complained and after that we heard someone's stomach growling, it was Selek's.

"Sorry, I haven't eaten enough breakfast." He scratched his head, and we all laughed.

"Master, was the cloth used to stop the bleeding and the bloody sticks for those ants?" Efren asked, he was the one who saw the ants attacking the carcasses while he ran

"Yes. Because I knew we would use our voices to shout during the trap, those ants would hear us… if you didn't know, those ants are carnivorous. I first saw them eating a dead human so I chose to avoid their path. Making them eat the corpse of those monsters, they'll be more preoccupied with eating than searching for food such as us, so we will have time to rest enough before advancing to the next floor." I explained. "And the potion I fed the fox was sleeping potion, I intended to use it originally for my brother if he tried to run away from me. Tch! That bastard not just ran away, but even pushed me away and turned away from me.".

Silence.

I looked at them to see their sulking face, what? Are they more dismayed than me? Haa…

"I bet it's almost time for lunch." I averted they're attention from worrying about such trivial things. I'm starving…

"We'll go and find some food." Drio stated but Efren stopped him

"You should never eat something from a dungeon, you know this place is unusual, everything is altered here." Efren said.

Ohh… It's fortunate, I have prepared ingredients and foods in case of emergency, it really did come in handy being part of Girl's Scout once…

"Don't worry about food, I am prepared." I stood up and untied my belt bag.

I took out a foldable table, pan, spatula, bowls, cups, knife, cutting board etc. and the ingredients. Hmm... What should I cook? Hmm… I'll try Country K's food Bibimbap.

"Make a fire, please." I ordered. They'll do the dirty work for me like cleaning, making fire, etc. not killing or abducting.

I washed my hands and wore an apron. Amazing, right? Forest picnic. Haa… cooking at times like this is really wonderful (sarcastic).

First I cooked bibimbap, in this world eating rice is rare. They are mostly into three ordered meals, appetizer (soup or salad), main course (vegetables and meat), and dessert (sweets) every lunch and dinner. I miss my mom's cooking.

"Master, what's that called?" Efren asked, sniffing the aroma. And I proudly answered.

"This is Bibimbap." From K Country on Earth

I gave them bowls with bibimbap, they're staring at it weirdly. And waiting for me to eat mine, but I didn't, I remembered there's a patient I need to feed.

He's still unconscious but all of his wounds have healed. I peeked at the three who were now digging in their foods, I thought they wouldn't like it. I'm glad Bibimbap can capture even another world's taste. It's a simple dish but not everyone has the same palate.

"Hey… wake up." I shook him awake. "Hey… mister."

His eyes slowly opened and when he saw me, he immediately pushed me and sat up straight looking around.

"Is that the right way to treat your savior?" I asked. Dusting my butt that got dirty… Asdfghjkl! Dirt! Germs!

"Where-"

"Oh shut up, I had enough of that cliche line." I irritably huffed, "You're still in the 1st top floor, if you're asking me who you are, then I don't know. No one gave us your name."

'The little girl did not mention his name, except she only called him brother, and I cannot tell him I have a system.'

He looked at his body. No wounds. No scars. It's only been an hour but he's healed completely, that healing potion really is effective. He was just about to die. I see, I'll already determine its quality… I could hear the money coming my way. My eyes wandered on his clothing, well, except for his tattered shirt and pants everything was fine. I don't have interest in his body so I went to fetch him food.

"Here, eat this. You may be healed but magic items can't heal your hunger." I handed him the bowl.

"Thank you for saving me. Sorry for pushing you, I was just surprised." He looked down, not meeting my gaze. "Umm… What is this dish?"

I subconsciously rolled my eyes. Why not just eat, bruh? I won't poison you for God's sake.

"My world's blessing." I handed him a cup of water. And took it, he did not ask anymore and eat.

I went back and ate my own portion, but when I was about to have my second, I found the pan emptied. Those gorillas! I threw them a glare only to find them laying on the ground, with full stomach.

*sigh*

They must be tired from those battles. We still have an unknown number of floors to finish before going back. That Prince of North Star must be laughing in tears assuming I died already, too bad I'm still alive.

I hid all of the dishes and remaining ingredients, and pulled out a thick long blanket and tucked it to those asleep gorillas. I get back to the guy, already finished eating.

"You know… Your sister's been worried about you." I informed in a serious but slightly annoyed tone, "She's been sneaking in the planning area but was repeatedly thrown outside. Even so, she's persistent and plans to go and search for you."

Theodore looked pained, a bitter smile curved his lips and his eyes watered before lowering his face. He's crying. I strongly believe that people who can cry in front of someone… be it a stranger or someone they already knew, are the toughest and brave people.

They could express their own emotion in front of others… Before I was Tania, the CEO Venice Randall is the most expressionless person I ever knew. She has a shitty personality when provoked, and an awkward person when trying to fool around, but usually she only puts on a poker face if not a bored face - maybe because I became Tania that I could express my emotions a bit better now.

'This guy is one of those people I admire.'

"She was against me going here, but this is the only place where I can get money to pay the debt our parents left us. If I get several pieces of gold, it'll be enough for us to be free, and get to live without worrying about debts." He clenched his fist, "but now that I experienced death's door, fear has wrapped my body… What if I die in this place, my sister will be left alone harassed by those debt collectors almost everyday. What will my sister do for a living? What will happen if she falls sick? I can't die here. I won't leave my sister alone facing all the problems."

Haa… I'm quite jealous to the point I want to beat up Keaton in annoyance. But… Why did this guy start to tell his story? I'm not even asking.