Chapter – 21
“Isis, what’s the goal of this infiltration?”
“Most of the people in this survival camp have lived in this area for a long time. I want to hear from them about the situation around here.”
“What exactly do you want to hear about?”
“……The movement routes of the creatures.”
I had heard from Luca that the movement routes of creatures were still an unknown area. That no one could predict them.
Of course, thinking simply…
“Don’t they head towards places with lots of humans?”
“Superficially, yes, of course.”
Isis let out a short, hollow laugh. His bitter expression revealed a deep-seated obsession with the creatures.
“But looking at the big picture, there must be a pattern to the creatures’ movements.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because creatures keep appearing from somewhere.”
…Appearing from somewhere?
When I stared at Isis in surprise, he spoke in a low voice.
“So far, the number of creatures hasn’t decreased significantly. However, no evidence of them reproducing has been found.”
“Considering how many creatures have died so far, that must mean they are appearing from somewhere.”
“That’s right.”
“If we know their movement routes and trace them back, we might be able to infer where they are appearing from to some extent.”
“Yes.”
It was quite a reasonable inference.
Thinking about it now, it was highly likely that creature swarms were clusters of creatures born around the same time.
And the creature waves, though I hadn’t seen them.
“So this is the real ‘scouting the surroundings’?”
“……Yes, that’s correct.”
He admitted it plainly.
I mentally organized the points I had agreed upon with Isis. Then, I listed the things I needed to do during the infiltration.
First, perform well in the undercover couple act with Isis.
Second, Talk to people in the camp and find out about the ‘creatures’ movement routes’.
Broadly speaking, just two things. But if I add my personal goal…
Third, Increase Isis’s Affection.
I was already worried, laughing inwardly, when Isis reached out his hand to me. The preparation time was short, but it was time to enter the survival camp.
* * *
“……Hello.”
My greeting was awkward, but all I got back were cold stares.
Just as we had expected, the people in the survival camp weren’t very welcoming towards me and Isis.
It was natural.
Food was limited, and if the number of people increased, each person’s share would decrease.
“Where are you from?”
An old-looking grandfather came over and asked us bluntly.
“We came from the capital area.”
“Just the two of you? From the capital all the way here?”
“Yes.”
Isis gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I also leaned into him a bit more, letting my body rest against his. To anyone looking, we were a couple.
The grandfather looked at us, clicked his tongue, and said.
“Follow me.”
We obediently followed, and soon arrived at the space Isis and I had seen from the tree earlier. The sofa where the man named James had been sitting came into view.
As expected, we were being taken to report to the camp leader first.
“He seems to have stepped out, so wait.”
Hearing that, we stood quietly and waited, but before James, a woman named Anna appeared.
She saw the grandfather and us, her eyes widening, and approached. Upon seeing Anna, the grandfather bent his waist in a slight bow.
“Mr. Norman, are these new visitors?”
“Yes. They said they came from the capital a little while ago.”
“Is that so?”
Anna approached us, held out her hand, and smiled.
“Hello? I’m Anna Brown. Just call me Anna.”
“Yes, I will. I’m Larianna Bellotte. You can call me Lia.”
I took her hand and gave my name.
I felt Isis’s gaze on my cheek. He was probably hearing the nickname ‘Lia’ for the first time too.
This was a kind of ‘signal’ I had devised after thinking it over.
[Sansan: There’s a survivor camp in the Saber territory, right next to the Drain March. If you’re in danger, evacuate here!]
The survivor camp Sansan mentioned was probably here, and Sansan must be somewhere around here.
I deliberately revealed the nickname ‘Lia’, which I hadn’t used before, to let Sansan know that I am the same ‘Lia’ from the chat window.
‘The simplest way would be to just open the chat window and say I’m at the survivor camp and ask for help, but…’
There was a small problem. Isis hasn’t taken his eyes off me.
To open the chat window and type, I needed to move my hands in the air to type or speak aloud, but since I’ve been stuck to Isis this whole time, I haven’t had the chance.
I wasn’t certain, but since Sansan is also a possessor and a status window user, she probably has skills. If so, she’s likely in a high position within this survival camp…
‘This operation could go a bit more smoothly.’
I even thought that Anna might be Sansan. She seemed to be the second-in-command of this camp and a quite capable person.
And my thoughts were correct.
I saw Anna’s pupils waver, if only for a moment. It was truly just a fleeting moment, though.
She quickly composed her previously shaken expression and held her hand out to Isis as well.
“Isis Klentaine.”
As Anna bowed her head, Isis’s eyes changed completely. He was scrutinizing every part of her appearance. And as Anna raised her head again, he instantly swapped his expression and smiled.
“Could you help my lover and I stay here for a while?”
“Of course.”
‘His expression changed just like that…’
Watching it all from the side, Isis’s acting skills stood out even more.
Anna glanced at me again. She seemed to want to talk to me. I felt the same.
She was the first possessor I’d seen since coming here.
From the same place, with the same goals.
I had many questions and many things I wanted to say.
“Um, how long do you plan to stay?”
“……We’re thinking about three days.”
“Okay, I’ll let James know then.”
The grandfather, Norman, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, objected to Anna’s words.
“You can’t just decide that on your own.”
“I have that much authority. Norman, please go back and guard the camp entrance.”
“……Yes.”
Despite his displeasure, Norman returned to his post.
“You can stay here, but staying together in the same space might be a bit difficult.”
“What does that mean?”
Isis’s face hardened into a scary expression again.
“Just what I said. Our camp strictly separates male and female sleeping quarters.”
Anna approached me and put her arm around my shoulder. I was startled by the sudden skin-ship, but Isis removed Anna’s arm from me.
“Don’t touch my lover without permission.”
He pulled me and hugged me from behind. Then, he spoke almost growling.
“I have no intention of being separated from Lia. This is non-negotiable.”
“……!”
“We’re in the midst of a passionate love affair, so please understand.”
I froze for a moment at the use of the name ‘Lia’, then hurriedly came to my senses at Isis’s words that sounded more like a threat than a request for understanding, and tapped his arm.
We’re going to get kicked out at this rate!
“Can I ask how long you’ve been together?”
“Three months ago.”
“……I see.”
Anna, who had been pondering for a moment, nodded.
“Well, alright. Since you’re only staying for three days. I’ll make a special allowance. However, you’ll have to sleep in a separately prepared space, not the existing bedrooms. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”
When I spoke awkwardly, she nodded and asked a further question.
“Ah, but you still need to tell us your skills. You should at least earn your keep while you’re staying.”
Regarding skill disclosure, Isis and I had already discussed it beforehand.
Before the infiltration.
While discussing how to stay safely in this survival camp, we decided to honestly reveal one of my skills, ‘Healing’.
The opinion was that they would let us stay in the camp, coveting the Healing skill if nothing else.
