Of course, the Black Pigs weren't included in these mutated creatures. These guys, even if mutated, had the sa temperant as before the mutation—lazy. As long as you didn't bother them, they wouldn't care to interact.
However, according to the little hamster's indications, ahead was the territory where their tribe lived, and rodents were much more sensitive than the Black Pigs.
Kim Haru didn't have any other understanding of these things than others did, and he wouldn't contradict their opinions on such matters. The others began to take things down from the vehicle to set up camp, while Kim Haru took this opportunity to release the mutated apple tree from the system backpack to let it take a breath and let it et up with the little hamster.
Later, Kim Haru quietly said to the little hamster, "If we humans recklessly go in, your companions might misunderstand. Why don't you go first and explain the situation to them?"
With the little hamster taking the lead, Kim Haru wouldn't have to worry about the group having to fight first before entering their territory. This was beneficial for the progress of future cooperation.
The little hamster's tiny head also thought this was a great idea. With so effort, it made an "OK" gesture with its small paw. After saying goodbye to the mutated apple tree, it pitter-pattered off into the night.
Kim Haru returned to inform the others about the little hamster scouting ahead. No one had any objections.
"Mr. Kim, please rest for now. We'll take turns keeping watch," Do Seungjin said as he guided Kim Haru to his single tent. "There's a bell inside. If anything happens, just ring it, and the people outside will hear you."
Kim Haru didn't refuse. Spending ti declining the offer would only cut into everyone's rest. This ti, only eight people had co along, and they had brought just one vehicle. The tents they carried included a single one for Kim Haru and two others for three people each. Whoever was on watch duty stayed in the vehicle, while the rest slept soundly in the tents, waking up on their own when it was ti to switch shifts.
Everyone had been surviving in the post-apocalypse world for so long that no one had the luxury of oversleeping or failing to wake up on ti.
Of course, Kim Haru was an exception.
The tents they used for expeditions were custom-designed for ability users. Their material was nothing like what Kim Haru had known before he ca to this world. Instead, they were made from mutated plants, offering excellent protection against insects, wind, and cold. The tents were also highly effective at masking scents. Even if more people slept inside, there was no need to worry about attracting zombies.
At night, zombies tended to be more active. However, the spot Kim Haru and his group had chosen was near mutated creatures. Whether by so unspoken agreent or natural boundary, zombies, mutated plants, and mutated animals rarely interfered with one another. From the ti they set up camp until four in the morning, the temporary campsite remained peaceful.
But just before five o'clock, while Ryu Hyunwoo was on watch, his strong sense of earth elents as an Earth-type ability user keenly noticed sothing burrowing toward their camp underground—sothing in significant numbers.
Ryu Hyunwoo imdiately woke everyone up.
Kim Haru who is still half-asleep, was quickly bundled into the vehicle by Do Seungjin and the others as a precaution. There was no ti to pack up the tents. By the ti they finished, the rustling noises from underground grew louder and more intense.
At this hour, the sun had not yet risen, and the sky was murky and dark. From his spot in the car, Kim Haru couldn't see what the others were warily guarding against. However, he glanced around himself and noticed that the effect of [Farm's Blessing] had not been activated.
This didn't seem like an enemy attack.
Kim Haru speculated quietly.
Still, he didn't suggest that Do Seungjin and the others lower their guard. What if he was wrong? Or what if [Farm's Blessing] was still "asleep" and failed to summon mutated plants in ti?
Before long, even Kim Haru could hear the sounds clearly.
The noise ca from underground—sharp scraping, things colliding, and… squeaky rodent-like chirps?
The mont Kim Haru heard the sound, he instinctively turned around to look in the direction of the mutated apple tree.
Ever since the system had classified the mutated apple tree as part of the farm's crops, it had ceased to be entirely invisible to Kim Haru. Instead, he could now see its translucent silhouette. At this mont, the semi-transparent branches were quivering, and every leaf seed to radiate a sense of delight.
Kim Haru imdiately relaxed.
It was the little hamster returning.
Judging by the commotion, it might have brought its companions along as well.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
The little hamster's tiny head popped out of the ground with a plop and squeaked at the vigilant humans.
Except for Kim Haru, everyone else present was an ability user, their vision only minimally hindered by the darkness. They all recognized the small creature that had spent an entire day in Kim Haru's pocket. Once they realized it was the sa hamster, they collectively let out a sigh of relief. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire
The group had already heard from Kim Haru that this tiny creature had gone to find its companions. Now that it had reappeared, the other noises were likely caused by its newfound friends.
Sure enough, as soon as Do Seungjin and the others lowered their guard and stepped back, more heads began erging from various spots underground. So were big, so were small, but on average, they were about the sa size as the little hamster.
The newly surfaced rodents cautiously observed the humans, looking them over again and again. When they saw their leader—the little hamster—crawl entirely out of the ground and approach the humans without inciting an attack, they relaxed as well, erging one after another from the soil.
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