Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 37: Reese and Rabe 4 of 5 (Part 01)
The air temperature was noticeably decreasing in the middle of the white grain expanse that filled the mountain area. Snow floated down from the sky not busily, touching the surface of the skin of the black-haired youth standing among the soldiers. In the Border Mountains area within Rockfield territory, a camp for Mylta city soldiers began to be established as the weather worsened and it was very dangerous for them to continue their journey.
The clouds turned dark like night even though it was still afternoon. Clumps of clouds in the sky seemed to move in one direction, looks very unnatural and occasional lightning struck awkwardly. Amidst the hustle and bustle of people preparing tents, Odo Luke simply stared at the sky with blank eyes.
At a glance the cornea of his blue eyes turned greenish, a small-sized magic circle lit up for a moment and the young man immediately closed his eyes. Sighing deeply and exhaling it into white steam that disappeared in the air, the black-shirted youth turned around and gazed towards one of the tents that had been set up.
Like the tent he had seen and became the standard for the people of Felixia, the tent was quite large and could accommodate more than three to four people, it has a wooden frame and is made of fabric sewn with the skin of a furry animal to regulate temperature. From inside the tent came out Lisia, she was carrying smoked meat tied with rattan rope and fiber thread.
Immediately finding Odo who was among the soldiers who were passing by to make preparations for the night, the red-haired woman waved her left hand and cheerfully greeted, “Tuan Nigrum! Want to eat first?!” With a happy expression he smiled and his face seemed to emit a warm feeling, the woman who was an expert in fire magic midwives also walked towards Odo.
Not moody and burdened with guilt like on the way, Lisia's face was truly brighter than before. The reason he looked like that was not Odo clearly understood, only for the young man Lisia was indeed the type of woman whose heart condition quickly changed rapidly.
“You eat?” say back to the woman. While lifting the smoked meat wrapped in rattan, the woman with the characteristic red color smiled sweetly while offering it again.
Stare at the woman wearing the same brown blouse as when leaving and subordinate black tight trousers with short skirts, Odo had thought that the woman should not change her clothes for more than a week. Approaching a face, the young man sniffed up close.
Frantically Lisia stepped back, then said, “Ke-Why sniff like that?! What do I smell?!”
“Hmm, Miss hasn't changed clothes since she first left, huh?”
“Eeeh? Why do you know?” A slightly disgusted look was seen on the look on the woman's face. But in less than two seconds, it disappeared and the look of a curious face appeared on him. With a hesitant tone Lisia asked, “A-What is my scent until it can be smelled by you?”
“Not really, I kind of like the sour smell of hard work like that, loh.”
Those words left Lisia dumbfounded, staring low and stepping away again. Getting such a reaction Odo only smiled lightly, turned his gaze the other way and sighed.
It made Lisia feel astonished. Thinking of the meaning behind the young man's words, Lisia felt that if Odo did say something like that there must be something obvious. Putting on a astonished face, he asked, “You ... earlier when in the horse carriage muttered continuously what, anyway?”
The words that felt a little informal made Odo's eyebrows raise, turned and replied, “Thinking. Miss already knew from Fiola, didn't she?”
“Eng ..., that part is less clear. Why should you be afraid when you think? After all, is it true that your mind can move very quickly from most people? And also, I wonder what Mr. Nigrum talked about with Aunt Roro while in the village.”
Facing the woman, Odo stared flatly with his eyes slightly preoccupied. Not answering his question, Odo approached beside the woman and patted her on the shoulder. Closer to ear, he whispered, “You know, Miss Lisia. Ignorance is not a bad thing, you should just focus on the problem in front of you and do not need to think about such things.”
After saying that, the young man walked away from Lisia with a confused feeling. Turning around and looking at the young man's back, Lisia really felt astonished by him. The young man himself was indeed a bad person, he knew that clearly. However, in Lisia's mind could not say that Odo was a good person.
“Bibi once said I shouldn't be around him if I don't want to get hurt .... But Auntie understands my nature? If it is forbidden I must be ..”
Smiling faintly as if challenged, the woman walked up to Odo and once again offered the smoked meat she was carrying. “You're this?” said cheerful.
“Eng, I'm not hungry.”
“Come on, try eating taste first. Although it's a game in winter, it tastes good tofu. Klist tribe is good at processing meat with fumigation.”
“Thank you, I'm not hungry. Miss just eat it, goods times your body aroma changes.”
“Ung, This sir .... Though Mr. Nigrum himself never change clothes during this plan, right? Don't poke like that, dong.”
“Hahah.”
Odo was just nonchalant, the young man preferred to look around and observe the people who were building the sign, then help if anything could be done. As long as Odo helped the hunters and soldiers build tents, Lisia continued to follow the young man everywhere.
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The day was already completely dark, clouds covered the sky and blocked the starry scene as well as getting rid of the aurora. Tents had been erected just above the rocky field of the mountainous area, lighting two bonfires for the winter repellents and people began to wear thick blankets sitting nearby.
Although it was cloudy from afternoon, the snowstorm that was not expected to come and make the people of Mylta amazed near the bonfire. The soldiers wondered to the Hunters who were skilled in mountain and forest weather, while the witches talked to each other looking for the cause and made it a discussion like an educated person.
Around the campsite was completely pitch-black, an evergreen tree directly adjacent to the place of the monsters. Although the snow stopped falling from the overcast sky, the cold felt very awkward and made the feathers of those sitting near the bonfire shiver.
Outside of their circle of chatters near the two campfires, Fiola walked anxiously looking for the young man he should have been watching. Since he had been asked to check around with the soldiers and make sure there were no monsters in the campsite, Fiola did not have time to keep an eye on Odo. Looking to the right and left, among the warriors, witches, and hunters, he still could not find Odo Luke.
The tanned black-haired lady walked over to the Head Warrior who was sitting on a wooden log near the campfire. Patting her shoulders from behind and making her turn her head, Fiola asked, “Did you see Mr Nigrum?”
“Ah, it turns out Miss Shieal, anyway. I guess who.” The blonde guy was a little surprised.
“Did you see Nigrum?” ask Fiola back.
“Eng, looks like the young man went to the forest with Young Miss. Oh, yes .... You better not disturb them.”
“Why?”
“Then ask why .... You know, they're fiancees, you know. Give them time together. Even if you like Mr. Nigrum, please do not be selfish and compete healthily. Dominating is not good, loh.”
Hearing the words of the man who did not know the real identity of the young man named Nigrum, at first glance it made Fiola upset. Sighing lightly, he focused on thinking about the reason why Odo went with Lisia. Stop holding onto the shoulders of the Head Warrior, he said, “In which direction did they go? Into the forest?”
“Yes .... They were to the southeast earlier, into the forest ..”
Without hearing any more explanation from the Warrior Chief, Fiola immediately walked in the direction he was told. In a hurry, move both of his legs without thinking about anything else.
But before entering into the darkness that was not illuminated by lanterns or campfire light, Odo and Lisia returned. They walked side by side, talking to each other familiarly. Despite not hearing clearly what they were saying, Fiola knew that the two people must have spoken a lot. He knew when he saw Lisia's cheerful expression.
Approaching them, the girl in the brown kimono asked, “Where are you guys from?”
“Ah ..” Lisia was a little surprised when the woman who put on the upset face. He turned his eyes away, he did not answer.
“Having played in the bushes?” answer Odo with ease.
“Eh?”
Lisia and Fiola were surprised to hear such an absurd answer, it really invited a misunderstanding. The Huli Jing stared flatly at Lisia, she felt that if they really did that it must be the redhead woman's fault.
“Nona Lisia ..., you know the consequences, don't you?” fiola asked with a dark look. His eyes did not reflect the light, like a hunter looking at his prey coldly.
“Tu-Master! Please speak clearly! Miss Fiola misunderstood, tuh.” Lisia panicked, held Odo's shoulder and shook him.
“Hahah.” Odo just laughed dryly at their reaction. After a bit of satisfaction, the young man with black hair sighed and explained, “So I was just talking about the cost of this plan. Miss Fiola knows it's almost over, right? That's why I need a review with Miss Lisia.”
“What ... need to go to dark place?” fiola asked with a sharp look and felt extremely cold.
Odo just calmly got it, stared back and smiled a little. Closing face to Fiola, the young man said, “Is Miss Fiola jealous, huh?”
“Hah?” Fiola's eyebrows shot up. Mutually shocked, both fox ears that were hidden with transformation magic appeared and twitched furiously.
“Yeah, from yesterday-yesterday Miss was always close to me and did not allow me to accept Miss Lisia. Miss knows, I am her fiance.”
Odo wrapped his right arm around Lisia's shoulder, making the woman's face of red hair startled and her face blushed. Amazed by Odo's actions that seemed to emphasize such a lie, Fiola looked back. He realized that some soldiers and hunters were looking at them.
As Fiola looked back at Odo, the young man's flat eyes stared at him. It made Fiola calm down again and immediately hid his two fox ears with transformation magic, then lowered his head and said, “Sorry, I didn't think that you two were distracted.”
“No problem, I also do not mind Miss Fiola, kok.”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
It made them surprised, they knew the meaning of the word. Raising an arm from Lisia's shoulder, the young man smiled lightly and walked away leaving them. Raising his right hand and waving without turning his head, he went to one of the tents that had been installed lighting the oil lantern.
Fiola immediately turned his head towards Lisia as the young man left. Staring sharply, he asked, “What did Miss talk about with Mr Od— Nigrum earlier?”
“I'm really just talking about the cost and continuation of this plan. As Mr. Nigrum once said, the goal of this plan should have been achieved by the time we got to the transit points. I do not know the reason, but the Master offered to go back immediately and assume this plan is complete.”
Hearing that Fiola really felt astonished. As long as the plan goes on it can be said that almost everything is going smoothly and more than dozens of bandit headquarters scattered in the territory of the city of Mylta have been exterminated. However, this should not be concluded if the plan has been fully successful.
As long as the main headquarters of the bandits had not been destroyed, the bandits could re-establish strength and plunder trade routes. Fiola really did not know why could the young man suggest back even though such a thing should clearly know him.
“So, did Miss accept it?” ask Fiola.
“Of course not. I understand that Mr. Nigrum is only testing me, he wants to know if I am a competent leader or not. Hence he asked like iu.”
Fiola felt a different way to what Lisia thought of such an offer. Odo is not that simple to ask questions to test one's personality, in fact the young man can immediately know one's attitude and mindset just by meeting and talking to him.
“What ... right he just meant it like that?” fiola said while looking at Odo who entered the tent.
But less than ten seconds in, Odo came out again with an ember-patterned sword in his right hand. It was the sword that the young man had made before leaving and was often used during the extermination plan. Lighted up in the darkness, the weapon was especially striking in a dark place.
“Don't say he ...”
Fiola immediately approached Odo, then intercepted him before the young man walked towards the forest behind the tent and disappeared. Gazing sharply before him, Fiola said, “Wait! What do you want to go with a gun like that?!” the panicked voice sounded out loud and made everyone look towards the two of them.
Lisia was greatly astonished by that aggressive attitude, the soldiers and hunters were only smiling and thought it was some kind of lover's quarrel, whereas the Miquator witches observed without commenting or showing any interested expressions.
Odo noticed their expressions, but felt no need to explain and began to ignore them. Sighing and staring at the woman before him, he said, “Nona can read my mind, right? Just read ..., Miss will know.”
Fiola stared palely, gritted his teeth in annoyance and stared hatefully as he read what was inside the young man's head. Both of his fox ears came out, all nine of his tails popped out and the magic aura emanated so intense that the snow on the ground melted and golden-coloured electricity spread around him. Staring sharply full of hate, he asked, “What ... is it true? They might be at our destination?”
The hatred was completely real, everyone who felt it was goosebumps and quivers except for Odo. What Fiola read in Odo's mind was about the possibility of the Heresy Sect that Huli Jing hated was in the final destination of the troupe trip. Thinking his nemesis could be crushed with his own hands, Fiola grinned darkly like a beast.
“Haha, this time I will definitely make them pay for it ...!”
“Nona, auramu .... Please don't expose your aura like that.”
“Ah ..”.
Fiola regained his senses, the hatred coming out of him was eliminated very quickly. Taking a deep breath, the overwhelming magic power emanated from the Huli Jing instantly re-entered his body. Wearing transformation magic and eliminating her nine fox tails and ears, Fiola slightly coughed a little and said, “Sorry to make a splash.” He turned towards those who were shocked, then bowed to show guilt.
Taking into account Fiola's anger and tempestuous strength earlier, Odo slightly understood the reason why the Huli Jing had become the highest-ranking Shieal. The power he had was indeed very extraordinary, it was very natural because there were only a few more stages of the Huli Jing to the level of a God.
“So, Mr Nigrum want what with that sword?” fiola asked as he turned back to face the young man.
“Ah, I think want to go alone night-night. Miss knows, Lisia didn't want to bring this group back?” say Odo with a slow volume.
“Do not lie ...” Fiola stared flatly.
“Yes, I lied. I just want to see Miss Fiola's reaction and include it in the calculation.”
“Your nature is indeed very bad.”
“Nona already knows my nature clearly, right?” Odo gave a small grin. He turned around from Fiola and entered into the tent to store the sword into a magic bracelet unknown to people.
As the Huli Jing recalled that she had the opportunity to avenge what the Perverted Sect had done to Mavis, the woman again grinned with a dark expression
“I didn't think this kind of opportunity would come .... They ..., those Korwa will definitely become extinct this time in my hands.”