S1.5. A 400 Kiloters Escape Journey 1
Decline was included in the aning of devastation.
Where debris of collapsed buildings and miscellaneous items that seed to indicate soones traces remained, monsters strutted on top of the earth that had buried this old civilization. And looking down from far above were the stars, hidden by a sandstorm.
It was an era where things that had once been brilliant were dying one by one. Though clinging onto what little remained with both hands and holding them tight to prevent it from being taken away, in the end, everything slipped through the fingers, fading to ashes and dust.
In an era where the sweetness of cherished hopes had long faded, leaving a bitter taste, and despair lood close, too pressing to even lant A young boy was crossing the desolate land.
The boys na was Espero, yet everyone called him Pero.
In this age, soone moving ant one of three things. They either had to run away because of monsters in the vicinity, shifted unintentionally due to lingering inertia, or Very rarely, moved because they harbored hope.
The boy had a hope.
He had acquired a compass from an elderly black market dealer by chance. She claid that this compass pointed to Paradise a place where one didnt have to worry about hunger and could lead a peaceful life for oneself, their next generation, and even the generation after that.
It might have been a cruel joke by an old woman facing her last days. Perhaps soone else had already claid this Paradise. Nonetheless, the boy believed and held tightly to hope.
After all, one simply could not continue to live on without hope.
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The boy walked across the vast plains.
Sotis he was aided by others. In other tis, he was chased by looters. Co now and then, he hid in sand pits to avoid monsters. It was a life filled with hardships, but it was not in vain. After all, the distance shown on the compass was steadily decreasing.
However, it seed his journey had reached its end.
GrrrrrrrrGrrr.
.
A Variant Wolf. A large wolf, walking poorly on two legs, was drooling.
The nasty thing about Variant Wolves was their exceptional tracking ability and speed. The boys chance of escape was virtually non-existent. It was as good as a death sentence.
He was a small boy, with no combat skills or artifacts, so he was more than lucky to have survived thus far. The boy himself knew this as well.
He also knew that luck did not last forever. If he was this lucky until now, there would be a ti when he would be unlucky as well. After all, fortune and misfortune ca in turns, like two sides of a coin.
As such, he did not feel regret nor did he feel wronged.
Looks like my luck has run out. Dad. Mom.
The boy grumbled once, before making preparations for the next lucky person.
He removed the compass, which he had twisted into a necklace. If he continued to wear it like this, it would end up with him in the stomach of the Variant Wolf. It would be hard for soone to find and it might even get damaged.
So, he decided to take it off in advance and throw it as far as he could.
Hoping that so lucky survivor would find the compass and reach Paradise. Praying that soone else lived happily on behalf of all the lives lost.
With such a wish, he threw it.
The compass flew in a short parabola.
And then , it was caught by a scarred hand.
Uh?
Do you need help, Small Gentleman?
A gentle voice was heard.
A beautiful woman with faded blond hair. She was characterized by the shawl around her neck and a deeply cut red dress, accentuating her cleavage. No part of her attire seed fit for battle but
The fact that she was alive in such an outfit was proof of her strength.
The boy stared blankly for a mont then nodded frantically.
Please save !
Hoohoo, its not a difficult task at all.
KEUAAAAAAAAGH-!!
The Variant Wolf opened its mouth wide enough to easily swallow a child, its ferocious teeth closing like a guillotine. The woman in the dress stepped forward, avoiding the wolfs attack, before
Thump-!
Lightly slapping the wolfs chin with the back of her hand. The wolf staggered and fell. Then, a pulsating purple heart its weakness was revealed on its chest.
They all have a core sowhere in their body, right? And it seems to be exposed when theyre montarily disabled.
The woman plunged her hand into the wolfs chest, gripping its heart. Pop! With an effortless burst of mana residue, the wolf died simply.
She looked down at the crouched boy and spoke.
My na is Elaine. Whats yours, Small Gentleman?
Espero Please call Pero!
Alright, Pero. I dont know much about this place. I ca from sowhere far away, you see I need information and you, as a gentleman, wouldnt ignore a ladys plight, would you?
Wink.
Pero nodded as if enchanted.
Perhaps the boys luck was going to last just a little longer
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Behind the shadow of a rock, the two sat by a campfire.
The boy, Pero, was thrilled at the scarlet warmth. After all, lighting a fire attracted Variants, making it difficult for a lone traveler. Thus, for him, this was the first sight of fire in months.
The sizzling wolf at was truly exciting, causing his heart to pound. After surviving on beetles under rocks, properly cooked at was an irresistible temptation for Pero.
Hoohoo.
.
Elaine laughed in amusent while watching Pero swallow saliva. Pero, feeling her gaze, beca inexplicably shy. He didnt know why, but
He fumbled around, before offering Elaine a skewer of wolf at. While doing so, he avoided his gaze by lowering it, then Pero hastily turned away after seeing her deep cleavage, then turned back, thinking it polite to look while talking, then
Eventually, he ended up offering the skewer with his eyes tightly closed.
Ahahahaha..!
Elaine burst out laughing. Pero beca even shyer, drooping his head. It was a cycle of endless embarrassnt. A tear ford in the corner of Peros eye.
Elaine continued with a soft voice.
Im sorry, Pero. I caught a disease where I cant help but laugh when I see a handso gentleman
Pero looked around for another handso gentleman. Naturally, there was no one else around; only their shadows flickered in the light of the campfire.
Is there soone else besides m Are you talking about ?
Yes, Small and Handso Gentleman.
I-Im not, though.
You are, though?
Just like the proverb, Still waters run deep., Peros face, too, reddened as his head drooped even lower. Elaine looked quite satisfied at the sight of this.
And at the sa ti, she wished the Second or Third Prince also had this much cuteness. If only they did.
Instead of indulging in her dark desire to make the boy cry, Elaine shifted to a more productive topic. After all, there was much to learn.
After wandering for a day, Elaine realized this world was in ruins. All she saw were monsters and the few human remnants she saw were re debris.
However, whether this danger was local or global was a mystery. The monsters she had encountered were easy to deal with, but there might be others that were not.
A more minor concern was whether the aning of words and gestures were different here. Elaine pondered how best to extract information from this small boy, before deciding to bring out her trump card.
Pero, can you just think that I have lost my mory?
Y-You lost your m-mory.?!
Amnesia cosplay.
It was a tactic often used by agents of the Imperial Defense Bureau when they needed to conceal their identity from civilians. As expected of a tried and true thod, it seed to work on the boy as well.
Yes. I rember my na, but Almost nothing else cos to mind.
Ill help you! So, um., where should I start
Pero began to explain with a stamr. His words were unquestionably disorganized, but his eagerness to help no matter what was vividly noticeable.
Elaine ntally sorted the information, one by one.
1) Humanity is declining due to monsters called Variants.
2) Nations have long since collapsed; the largest groups are purely tribal in nature.
3) The few surviving humans mostly hide in forests or caves.
After hearing the brief summary, Elaine focused her attention on the boy, Pero.
Youre the first person Ive t after wandering for a day. Pero, is it always this deserted here?
Ah, yes. Its a landscape frequented by Variants, after all. Hunters looking for food might venture here, but otherwise, vast plains like these are avoided.
Then what were you doing here, Pero? You dont look like a hunter..
Im searching for Paradise.
Paradise?
Yes. Its said to be a safe place with plenty of food. I was told I could find it if I just followed where the compass pointed!
Elaine examined the compass he had been fiddling with. A red arrow pointed in a direction, with the remaining distance nurically displayed underneath.
It seed like a well-crafted artifact. As it was far too sophisticated to be just a trick, the story of Paradise seed fairly credible.
In a world where humanitys survival and source of food were hard to maintain, a safe place with abundant food was a truly sweet tale. If that was the case, she had a question for him.
If that really is true It is undoubtedly a precious item. But then, why did you try to throw it at that last mont?
Because if I got eaten by a Variant, it would be hard for others to find the compass.
What is the point of caring for others after their deaths? Even if you are that considerate. No one will know your kindness.
In the end, if you dont survive, it is all aningless.
Despite this doubt, Pero answered with a smile.
So lucky person will obtain happiness! Im sure hell be more than joyful enough on behalf of as well!
Then, may I barge into Peros happiness?
Of course! You saved , after all. Besides, in Paradise, theres enough food to last until the generation after the next, so even if two people live there, there will be plenty left!
It might not be enough, depending on the situation, you know?
?
Elaine looked at the watch tattoo on her wrist and set a temporary goal. Whether this world was an illusion or reality, reaching Paradise to ensure safety seed like a good option. It might also turn out to be a pleasant journey as well.
Besides, in case of any danger along the way..
Having soone who could play the role of bait was necessary.
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Distance remaining to Paradise.
About 400 /genesisforsaken
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