The sky dimmed as the moon rose, spilling silver light over the exhausted group. They gathered around the campfire. Sparks lifted into the night, warmth fighting the cold that crept through their clothes.
Gideon—whose blessing granted him an Inventory Space—stepped forward and began handing out tents.
One after another appeared, pulled from a small tablet-like system hovering near his hand.
They began setting up the tents using materials that, somehow, just… kept appearing.
"Gideon?" someone muttered. "That's… strange."
"DUDE," Jasper said, squinting. "Where are you even getting all this from?"
Gideon froze, panic flickering across his face as he pulled out another tent.
"I—I don't know! It's my blessing!" he said defensively.
"There's just… a lot of camping stuff in here!"
Milo sighed. "Bro really has Dora's backpack."
"Okay," Milo added, looking around,
"Who actually knows how to set up a tent?"
"Nope."
"No idea."
"Didn't think so."
Half the group collapsed into their tents without a word, too drained to even complain
By the River
Later, when the camp grew quiet, two figures remained by the riverbank—Arjun and Felix.
The fire crackled softly behind them. Water flowed steadily before them. Neither spoke for a long moment.
"They've got the Ari System," Arjun said finally.
"Should we do something about it?"
Felix didn't look away from the river.
"Not yet. We have time."
Arjun scoffed.
"We have time? Oh—
right. Hana."
Felix's expression hardened.
"Even so, we can't rely on that. He is unpredictable."
"So we're really going to—"
"Yes," Felix cut in calmly.
Arjun crossed his arms. "Why are you always so serious now?"
Felix glanced at him. "This is who I am. Got a problem?"
Arjun sighed. "I just want the old Felix back. Speaking of which… where do you think he is?"
"I don't know," Felix admitted. "It wasn't in the book."
"Great," Arjun groaned. "I want my homie back."
Arjun's chest tightened. Life used to be better. Before all of this.
"How did all this even start?" Felix asked.
"Don't ask me," Arjun added quickly.
"I can barely use Gluttony."
"You're useless is what you're trying to say." Felix said flatly.
Arjun pissed,
"That's why you died before becoming king."
Felix didn't even look at him.
"You died to a rat."
"It was a big one!"
Arjun felt embarrassed.
"Still."
Arjun scowled. "Is this how princes used to act back your time!?"
Felix didn't answer.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
Instead, he thought:
What happens next?
And for the first time—he couldn't remember…
A tent flap rustled.
Lisha stepped out, her body finally recovered. She noticed one tent stood empty—but didn't bother checking.
Voices drifted faintly from the river. Felix and Arjun, probably.
Not important.
Not yet.
She sat by the dying campfire, watching embers flicker like falling stars.
Her mind wandered—then sharpened.
"The herb and slime field should be past the forest," she murmured. "I can tame one alone."
Her eyes caught white spider lilies glowing softly nearby.
"Lucky."
She plucked one and slipped into the trees.
Moonlight spilled over the clearing, turning the grass silver. Fireflies drifted through thin mist.
The field was small—quiet.
Lisha spotted her target.
Without hesitation, she pressed the flower into the slime's body.
Its surface rippled violently.
Her hand burned.
"Ouch!— what level are you even for such a burn?"
Lisha hissed.
System appears, showing its status
[System:
Slime's name: None.
Age : 6 yrs.
Level No. : lv15.
Power. : Acid.
Kills. : 80. ]
"Level fifteen?... Seems like it changed again." she realized.
"You were better when in lv20."
A message appeared:
[Haven't named your pet!]
"Right… a name," she muttered.
"Fish—no. That's stupid."
She sighed. "Zyli."
A faint star-shaped sigil formed beneath them.
The contract was sealed.
Zyli trembled—but stayed.
"You'll do," Lisha said softly.
She picked up a thick wooden branch.
Then—
A blade cut through the air.
She twisted instinctively.
—CLANG
The sword is buried halfway into the branch.
"Fast reflexes," a boy's voice said.
He pushed harder—
Lisha smacked him across the head.
"Ugh!" He staggered back.
Zyli reacted instantly, shifting color and wrapping around his leg, locking him in place.
The boy snarled and slashed downward.
The slime split in two—
—but didn't die.
Instead it duplicated.
It began melting the leather on his leg.
"Zyli!"
Lisha commanded Zyli to retreat.
The two slimes fused into one.
"What's your business in my territory?" the boy snapped.
His gaze dropped to the dried blood on her clothes.
"And why are you covered in blood?"
Golden hair. Purple eyes. Noble attire.
A prince, she realized.
"We're lost," she said calmly.
"We?, So there's more."
"Yes."
Lisha added, "And we won't bother you if you don't bother us."
"Liar!" He raised his sword. "The war has just ended!–
And you expect me to believe you're no assassin?"
"No! . We're not assassins!"
Her face blank.
"Your face is making me want to punch you."
The boy grunted.
"Yea, I do I'm ugly–"
"You're not ugly."
Lisha shocked with such kind words,
"That's nice, especially coming from him—"
"You sound ugly."
"I want a refund."
She whispers, angry rising slowly.
She lowered her gaze.
"Anyways, we were imprisoned for years.
We escaped yesterday. We need some place to stay."
The boy faltered, he thought
"…War refugees?"
"But…
Why is there blood all over you?"
He asked.
"I was fighting the merchants."
"How did the patrols not find such cases…"
The boy thought,
He lowered his blade.
"There's an abandoned house nearby. Follow the river."
She nodded.
"Is it yours?"
"No one's. But leave by morning—or you'll be taken to the king."
"Understood."
As he walked away, he muttered,
"I should tell Father…"
He turned back,
"Also, I will be visiting soon."
"Alright."
Lisha exhaled slowly.
"I can't believe he fell for my lies… Makes sense as the war just ended."
Lisha looked at Zyli
"Stay hidden," she whispered to it. "It will be odd if i brought you out there."
The slime shimmered once—then vanished
"Guess, I have to go back now."
Lisha leaves, content with what she had achieved.
"There are alot of things to do.
She muttered,
"I can ask him for the basic education of the world… But it will be hard to persuade him."
Reaching her tent, she leaves that thought for Tommorow.
Barely able to sleep.
---
Arjun and Felix talk about the future plans.
"I think she's met the crown prince by now," Felix said, stretching as he looked at the sky.
"Really!?" Arjun's eyes widened.
"Yeah," Felix replied with a faint smile.
"Okay." Arjun nodded, then glanced toward the dark trail.
"We're still going to that house tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. We are," Felix said.
"I'll be taking Milo and Varun."
"What—why?" Arjun asked.
"To complete at least twenty percent of the mission."
"But—they don't even know the basics of fighting!"
"They'll learn either way," Felix replied calmly.
"As for the rest, we can ask the Japanese players."
"But you know what happens to them after battles like that!"
Arjun snapped.
"They're going to suffer."
His voice shook.
"Damn it—why are you so heartless?!"
Felix stopped.
He turned.
"Heartless?"
His eyes hardened.
He stepped closer.
Closer.
And closer.
Arjun swallowed.
"My goodness… that stare—someone help," he thought, forcing himself not to back away.
Felix stood right in front of him.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
He smiled.
"Let's go and sleep."
Felix went back to his tent.
Arjun sighs thinking about the plan set.
"Will the plan?—"
"Sleep!"
"Yea, coming."