Chapter – 22
Of course, regardless of that, allowing Anna to stay made things more convenient for us.
“My skill is buffing, and Ria’s skill is healing.”
“Healing?”
Anna’s eyes widened. Then, she turned to me excitedly.
“That’s an amazing skill you have!”
“Haha, thank you.”
“There are many injured people in our camp; they would be very grateful if you could help.”
We were naturally continuing the conversation when someone from inside the camp called Anna.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable for now. It’ll be lunchtime soon, so I’ll come back for you then.”
“Okay.”
After Anna left and only Isis and I remained, he whispered to me in a low voice.
“They allowed us to stay too easily. They might have ulterior motives, so be careful.”
“…Okay.”
Ah, so that’s why he was wary of Anna.
I knew that Anna wanted to talk to me, another possessor, but from Isis’s perspective, it must have seemed like unexplained favor.
Unexplained favor should always be met with caution.
That was also why we each hid one of our skills. Revealing everything we have to the other party would put us at a disadvantage.
We needed a hidden card, if only to counterattack appropriately if we were in danger.
“We must stick together as much as possible in this camp. If we separate, they will definitely try to exploit that gap.”
“Okay.”
Still, thanks to Isis’s warning, I became a bit more cautious too. Even if she is another possessor, I can’t just trust her unconditionally.
Thinking about it, this situation itself was a bit absurd.
In typical romance fantasy novels, when you meet another possessor, you start with suspicion and caution, but perhaps because this world is like this, it felt more like gaining a reliable ally.
‘Still, I should try to have a conversation with her when we have time.’
She might be able to share some tips for living in this world, or tips for raising the male lead’s favorability.
We might also get information about the creature movement routes that Isis is targeting.
“Isis, I’ll try to ask around subtly while I heal people. About the creatures.”
“Yes, I will also do my best to help and gather information.”
We stuck together and slowly looked around the survival camp.
Since this was the first survival camp I’d seen, it was hard to judge if it was large or small, but seeing about thirty to forty people living together, it seemed it wasn’t a small-scale operation.
It was quite organized.
Not that I could say the system was right, though.
To put it simply, it was a structure where a few people, presumed to have quite useful skills, were coercing the rest.
However, the degree was severe.
The dominated people followed orders without resistance, as if they couldn’t even imagine disobeying their superiors.
If they failed to carry out orders properly, they faced punishment and had to endure verbal abuse. The scene was worse, not better, than that of slaves.
“Isis, this is…”
“Yes, it’s more serious than I thought.”
After looking around the camp once, I fully understood why Marina didn’t want to return here.
James Shale.
It was highly likely that James Shale was the reason the camp had become like this.
“Before we leave the camp, it seems we need to… sort things out once.”
“…Yes, we should.”
I didn’t know exactly how we would ‘sort things out,’ but I believed that if Isis set his mind to it, he could definitely do it.
And if that moment came, I resolved to do my best to help him. Just as I was thinking that, Isis asked an unexpected question.
“Is Ria your nickname?”
It’s more of an ID than a nickname… but here, it’s correct to call it a nickname.
“Yes. It’s a nickname I thought up for myself.”
“Then I’ll call you Ria while we’re in the camp.”
I nodded readily.
“Try calling me. Ri-a.”
“Ria.”
When the handsome face in front of me called my nickname with a picture-perfect smile, my heart thumped. This is subtly ticklish.
Still, I tried to keep my voice as bright and clear as possible without letting it show.
“You did well! Hmm, since Isis is calling me Ria, should I also call you by an affectionate term?”
“No, there’s no need for—”
“What’s your nickname, Isis? Ah, your name is short, so maybe you don’t have a separate nickname?”
“Yes, I don’t have a separate nickname.”
Hearing Isis’s words, I thought for a moment and then grinned. A good idea had come to mind.
“Then……”
I carefully took Isis’s hand and raised it.
“Should I call you… ‘jagiya’ (darling/honey)?”
“…Don’t tease me.”
He’s scarily quick to catch on that I’m teasing him.
I burst out laughing, “Puhaha.” And Isis, watching me, started laughing too.
And then I heard the sound I wanted to hear.
[Isis Klentaine’s Favorability has increased by 3.]
[Current Favorability: 29/100]
It was half teasing, half calculated, but in the end, both were successful.
* * *
After finishing our tour of the camp, we heard that lunch was ready and headed with Isis to where people were gathering. The camp members were lined up to receive their rations.
‘A bowl of thin porridge.’
With many people and little food, it was an unavoidable menu.
I received my portion of food and sat on a nearby rock, about to put it in my mouth, when I saw Anna and James coming this way.
“Ah, they say even a dog shouldn’t be bothered while eating…”
I muttered quietly, and a soft, suppressed laugh came from beside me. I turned my head sharply and gave Isis a look that was meant to be disapproving but probably wasn’t very effective.
“Isis, do you think I’ve gotten a bit too comfortable with you?”
“You have gotten more comfortable, yes.”
Him saying that so honestly leaves me with no retort. Swallowing a sigh, I faced the two people who had now reached us.
“These are the people I mentioned who will be staying for a while.”
“Hmm…”
James rubbed his chin, looked over me and Isis as if scanning us, then turned his head fully towards me and asked.
“So it’s you. The one with the healing skill.”
“…Yes, that’s right?”
“You’re prettier than I thought?”
At his words, Isis’s eyebrows shot up, and he stepped in front of me.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down. I don’t have any intention of stealing another man’s woman.”
Good grief, who said they’d let you steal them anyway?
His utterly brazen statement left me speechless, and I could only let out a hollow laugh.
“Let’s introduce ourselves first. I’m James Shale. My skill is ‘Water’.”
James made a light gesture, and water droplets began floating around him.
“That means you don’t have to worry about water while you’re here.”
James, who had been grinning, pulled Anna, who was next to him, forward and said.
“Anna seems to like you guys, so I’ll specially allow you to stay. In return for food and lodging, you,” he pointed at me, “need to do some healing.”
I barely managed to stop myself from frowning at his unpleasant, commanding tone and put on my best social smile.
“Come find me later when I call you.”
“Yes.”
James swaggered off, and the remaining Anna quickly apologized.
“James’s tone is always like that. He has no manners whatsoever.”
The content of what she said was essentially the same as before, but he certainly had a talent for making it sound despicable.
“Please enjoy your meal. After eating, Ria, please follow me. Isis, you can follow that man over there.”
“I said I wouldn’t separate from Ria.”
“James said it earlier. We aren’t short on water.”
At Anna’s words, I quickly asked.
“Can we… wash up?”
“Yes, as much as you want.”
We can wash up! I hadn’t even hoped for it; it felt like receiving an unexpected gift.
“You’re not planning to wash together, are you?”
At Anna’s nonchalant words, Isis coughed, “Ahem,” and turned his head away.
No matter that we’re pretending to be lovers, washing together would be too much for both me and Isis.
