"It doesn't look like we have the ti to be picky," Anna sighed.
Since the beasts attacked, the group of roughly sixty people had been constantly moving. They only stopped for brief rests, at which point they began discussing what to look for on a base.
As usual, everyone's opinions varied. Yuna wanted to look for a place that could provide them with protection from monster attacks. Preferably a place with elevation where they could see what was going on around them.
Yeji suggested a place with water, food, and other building materials so they could build a proper base. Lysandra thought about a place where they could farm, solving their hunger problems.
The list went on and on. However, because of their group size, the options they had were limited.
YuWon had almost made up his mind to kick everyone out and continue ahead in a small group. But Anna stopped him. Although she didn't explicitly say it, he understood why she wanted them to stay.
Primarily, she had two reasons. First was manual labor. The more people they have, the easier it would be to collect materials and build their base. The second reason was a selfish, but logical one.
We can use them as at shields.
YuWon could almost hear her thoughts. If the monster attacked them, they wouldn't care about feeding on specific people. As long as they got any food, they'd back down without taking unnecessary risks, just like what happened before.
Slowly, he understood why he and Anna got along in other tilines. Their thinking process was identical, but more importantly, one wasn't afraid of the other.
"What do you suggest we do?" YuWon asked Anna, ignoring everyone else.
Since Anna was a regressor, she had more experience than anyone else there. Therefore, her opinion was more important than the rest.
Lysandra didn't care about her and continued getting acquainted with the forest. Gina looked like she had swallowed a lemon, but kept quiet. anwhile, Yuna and Yeji found it surprising that YuWon was seeking the opinion of soone who had tried to kill him.
YuWon ignored their gaze. His eyes remained fixed on Anna.
"Securing food and water should be our main priority," she said. "Everything else cos second."
That wasn't the answer YuWon expected. He was hoping Anna would rember a secret location or so shit like a protagonist from a regression novel.
However, it didn't seem like that was the case, or Anna would have already told him about it. With that thought, YuWon stood up, dusting off his clothes as he looked around at the group.
Everyone was exhausted. Most were on the ground, massaging their legs after running for so long, trying to catch their breath. Unfortunately, they couldn't afford to stay still for too long.
"Alright, let's get moving," YuWon said, bringing Yuna and Hojin in front.
A few people groaned in protest. No one looked thrilled about moving again, but they didn't complain either. If they stayed in one place for too long, they were bound to attract attention, which was the last thing they wanted.
"Go wherever you feel like," YuWon whispered in Hojin's ear, as people surrounded them. "Don't think too much about it."
"Hm..." Hojin nodded and grabbed onto Yuna's hand, walking ahead.
Although YuWon asked him politely, Hojin wasn't a fool to not know his intentions. He knew YuWon must have known about his luck and was hoping he would accidentally stumble upon a great location.
Despite knowing all that, Hojin didn't feel any animosity towards YuWon. In fact, he was happy to be of YuWon's use. At least he wasn't being forced to do sothing he didn't want.
How could Honjin not want to find a base? Especially since he, too, was tired now.
"I'll find sothing good for you," Hojin said and walked ahead.
YuWon smiled and nodded. The brat was trying his best, so a little acknowledgnt was in order.
Just then Anna walked next to YuWon and whispered, "Don't expect to be of much help before the next trial."
"And why is that?" YuWon replied, without even looking at her.
"I do not know how we ended up in a forest, that's why. The last ti I was in a desert, so—"
"Randomized locations? Well, that's not a big deal," YuWon replied, looking at Hojin's back. "We got a walking treasure before us."
Anna remained silent.
***
Roughly an hour later...
YuWon's trust in Hojin wasn't unfounded. After an hour, he finally found them a location good enough for their base. The light from the two moons illuminated the clearing.
"This could work," YuWon mumbled, noticing the small stream flowing close by.
The clearing was big enough for the people to rest comfortably and still have so place left to notice any monsters before they ca knocking on their door.
However, everyone's gaze was fixed on the stream. They have had no water since they got thrown into the changed earth. Now in front of the stream, they couldn't resist any longer.
People rushed towards the stream, desperate to quench their thirst. But before anyone could dip their hands into the water, Anna told everyone to stop.
"Why not?" soone said, glancing at the water. "It looks clean to !"
YuWon crossed his arms before shaking his head.
"The earth has changed. What makes you think the water stayed the sa?" He quizzed. "Besides, it's the first rule of survival to never drink straight from the source. You always boil it first."
People looked at each other, nodding in agreent as they slowly backed away from the river. But how were they supposed to boil it?
Anna sighed. After living for years in the apocalypse, unlike them, she had expected the people to have so awareness. But then she rembered she had returned to a ti when everything was new to them.
"Have you ever seen a survival show?" YuWon said, pointing at the trees. "Friction makes heat, heat makes fire, survival 102. Those who can move start chopping the trees. Those who can't start gathering branches for firewood."
"But… what are we supposed to chop the trees with?" soone mumbled, looking helpless.
"You got your weapons, don't you? You will not use it against the monsters. Might as well use it here."
Once everyone got busy, Anna approached YuWon, "You're not planning to use Hellfire for this... are you?"
"Do I look like an idiot to you?" YuWon replied, acting like that wasn't exactly what he planned to do.
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