"We've almost run out of drinking water." Deandra said, shaking a half empty water container next to her head
She let the container fall to the ground and tiredly fell on her behind to sit. The now dirty traveler's cloak she wore ruffled as she moved.
I glanced at the water container, crossed my hands leisurely and scratched my head.
"Well that might be a problem."
"You think?" The approaching voice filled with reproach belonged to Don as he appeared, dragging the dismbered corpse of a monster with him.
Behind him were Trise and Chelsea, both of them covered in blood and dirt, looking exhausted and drained.
"Oh. How did the subjugation go?" I rely side glanced at him and said.
Don scowled at briefly then tossed the corpse forward with a few bloodied crystal fragnts at .
"That's the fourth ambush we've complicated just today alone. If you're just going to sit around in the shade and do nothing, why not get off your ass and help us dress the corpses. It's the least you can do, you deadbeat!" He growled.
At Don's aggressive tendency, i solemnly clicked my tongue and shook my head.
Killing monsters for the points was good and all, but this was a Dungeon we were taking about. Most of the things we could find here would sell for a good price when we are back outside.
"We had a deal, kids. I'd show your sorry over pampered white asses how to deal with tearing open a corpse and dressing down a body, while you'd have to take care of all my side of the workload concerning that part for the rest of the exercise." I pointed a finger at him and shrugged.
Don seed peeved by what i said. His white face turned red.
"O-over pampered white a-a-....Y-you unrefined creature....!"
Killing monsters was one thing, but dressing down corpses was a whole other part.
As it turned out, unsurprisingly, none of the four of my teammates had any experience with tearing open a corpse and cutting out the right pieces, even princess Deandra.
I had to spend an entire day teaching them how to do it, under the condition that when it ca to dressing down any more corpses for the rest of the exercise, they would do my part for , and still offer my share of the monster core or fragnt and pieces.
I shook my head in sha and sighed.
"What exactly did i expect from a brat who can't even spell his own ass?"
"Wh-what did you just sayy?!"
"Th-that's ugly! Can you stop saying that shalessly!?" Trise interjected, whining from behind Don with a pink face.
I glanced at her dryly and tilted my head at Trise.
"You're face is stupid."
"That is just random and an!" Trise whined back.
I looked at the red faced Don.
"You look stupider."
"Huhh?!!"
These brats are annoying.
"Victor, stop teasing those two already. This isn't the ti nor place for that. Haaah." Deandra sighed tiredly and said solemnly as she leaned her head backwards against the jagged rock wall.
We've only been in the Blood Earth for about three days, the sharp blade like ferocity and determination in Deandra's eyes hadn't entirely vanished and still remained, but her usual stern intensity and pressure had drastically dwindled in passing.
It was evident from how exhausted she was.
Everyone was.
Even without actively doing anything, just by simply being under the blood sky and red sun of Terra Sanguis, we are continuously being drained of our ntal energy and physical stamina like it was a small evaporating lake.
It took a while to realise.
The reality of this world was truly despairing.
It was truly the Land of Drought indeed, in it where everything was barren.
I glanced at Deandra's tired, yet still vibrant face, and looked away while yielding.
"Yes, ma'am."
Then Deandra said.
"Don, Trise and Chelsea, you three have done well—"
"Just like I'm not even here." I casually said in passing.
"—yes, and you too, Victor. We've all done well in each our ways. But it's not enough yet." Deandra continued.
She rose up from her sitting position. At the mont, we succeeded in finding a small shade from the scorching red sun to rest for the mont.
"This dungeon is a harsh place, and it's not Just even because of the type of monsters crawling around. We're quickly running low on our provisions like water and I'm sure we all know how bad it'll be once we do."
"Well, uh... what do we do then, Clas rep?" Chelsea said.
Deandra glanced at her for a while then sighed with resignation.
She shook her head solemnly.
"I'm not sure." Deandra said, "Don , you're so far the only one with the best knowledge about this place, do you have any Ideas on what to do on the water front?" She turned to Don hopefully.
The black haired, silver eyed young man made a contemplating expression before shaking his head sideways.
"Unfortunately, no. I only read about the Blood Earth in passing, I'm not that deeply knowledgeable about it, regrettably." He clenched his fist and looked away disappointedly.
"Well that's of no use at all." I whistled and shrugged.
Deandra imdiately snapped back and glared at .
"Victor!"
"Vic, uh... could you try not to say things like that... please." Chelsea stepped forward and said pleadingly at .
"What?"
I ignored her and the sharp gazes Deandra and Trise were sending and scratched my head instead.
"I didn't say anything wrong. And quite honestly, i don't think this place would exactly have anything like a lake or a stream or whatever. Hello, Terra Sanguis, the literal 'Land of Drought'? Emphasis on the 'Drought' Co on guys, don't you see?" I glanced at each of their faces and said bluntly like it was obvious.
Are these guys idiots?
Trise glared daggers at and stepped up, clenching her fists.
She said.
"Oh, yeah? And how would you know? We won't know until we try—"
"Then try," i interrupted, learned back on my hands with them again the ground and shrugged, "Go ahead and try. Tell how that goes outside at the Academy."
"Number 1499, although you may have the right intentions in heart, i do not appreciate your attitude. There is a manner of correct approach and behaviour when it cos to cases like this. This will be your final warning as both as a mber of this group, and as a mber of the class. Do you understand?" Deandra fully turned around and said nacingly, standing over .
Her bright red eyes instantly regained their usual intensity, as her gaze threatened to bore a whole through .
"..."
"I decided not say anything about it before, but you're lackadaisical attitude towards the group right from day one is overbearing, even now. You talk and behave like none of what is happening concerns you, and everything else around you is only a small easily resolvable issue. Fine then, 1499. If you're so all knowing and certain, what do you suggest we do?"
Deandra matched right up to , fuming, and glared dared into my eyes. I could feel the temperature in the surrounding begin to rise subtly, and it wasn't because of the red sun outside.
'I think she finally snapped.'
The exercise, the burden as group leader, the responsibilities as the class representative, and the expectations placed on her every movent...
Everything that weighed down her mind and body continuously — the pressure, all of it finally began to show when put under the current conditions.
This was the first crack i was seeing in Deandra's strong, aloof and ever perfect mask.
And to think the final cause of it...
... would be .
'Ah, how intimidating.'
Staring dead into Deandra's red glare, i actually felt a bit overwheld. Like i was being paced by a predator.
What was up with the top Rankers of the First years and having insane pressure as kids?
In the end, just like aways...
"As a matter of fact, i do." I stared back at Deandra, still sitting from my position on the ground.
"What are you..." Deandra began to say in suprise, but stopped and blinked in confusion.
Whenever i found myself cornered...
"Isn't that obvious, our dear class rep?"
...i relayed a strained smile, no matter how dark and twisted it may have looked to others.
"If what we want is water..." I slowly stood up to my feet.
Then all we to do...
"Is get it."
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