Chapter 69: Ice Bear King, Shut Up!
Peiya’s body swayed slightly.
In this world, maybe they were both outsiders who didn’t fit in. But at least, they had found each other.
And even became partners.
“Mm… I believe you…”
Before she could finish speaking, a sudden vibration came from the ground beneath their feet.
Only then did Peiya realize her body hadn’t swayed because she was moved. The ground was actually shaking.
“What was that?”
Elise held her chin and thought for a moment. “I guess it’s the Ice Bear King’s roar. It sounds like it’s angry.”
“Damn, that guy has no sense of timing. Why do I suddenly feel like going down there and killing it right now? Of all things to learn, it learned how to shout like that?”
Peiya bit her lip. The mood from before had been completely ruined by the Ice Bear King’s roar.
She had really been listening carefully to Elise just now, hoping to hear more about her.
But after that roar, the feeling was gone. Now, all she wanted was to go down and kill that thing.
And that urge was strong.
Elise looked at Peiya, who looked ready to roll up her sleeves and fight the Ice Bear King, and coughed lightly.
“Don’t act on impulse. Let’s stop here for today. You’ve been tired all day, you should rest early. As for the Ice Bear King, I’ll think of a proper way to deal with it tomorrow.”
Peiya opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she stayed silent.
She followed Elise into the temporary tent.
The good thing was… they were sleeping separately tonight.
At least she didn’t need to worry about anything awkward happening.
Peiya walked into the tent and opened a small gap, looking out at the bright moonlight through the narrow opening.
Her mind replayed everything that had happened that afternoon, and she couldn’t calm down for a long time.
In the distance, she could hear the sound of fighting.
Peiya guessed that someone was trying to launch a surprise attack on the bear guards at night.
Why did she think that?
Because she had used the same method before. It was her instinct to think someone else was doing it now.
At this moment, just as Peiya guessed, Anna was holding a dagger, slowly moving toward the “Bear Guard” camp.
Beside her, Stella was dozing off casually, while Lisa looked serious.
“You two need to follow my commands from now on, understand?”
Lisa clenched her hands nervously. “Miss Anna… are you really going to use that plan from before?”
When it came to the plan, Lisa was actually the most uneasy.
Over the past few days, Anna had kept saying that the upcoming battle must not fail.
Once or twice was fine, but after hearing it so many times, Lisa also started to feel nervous.
She could no longer ignore it like before. The more it was repeated, the harder it was to brush off.
Anna looked at Lisa, who seemed tense, and frowned.
“What’s wrong with you? This isn’t like you.”
To be honest, Anna wasn’t even sure what Lisa used to be like.
But one thing was certain, she wouldn’t be hesitating and talking like this.
This wasn’t like her at all.
Lisa waved her hand.
“What could be wrong with me? It’s just… I’m wondering, have you really tested this plan before? We’re going into a real fight, right?”
“That’s right. So get yourself together. The adventure isn’t over yet.”
Seeing that she couldn’t convince Anna, Lisa spoke more directly.
“But have you thought about what happens if the mission fails?”
Anna, who had been trying to encourage herself, became suspicious when she heard that.
“What are you trying to say? Just say it.”
Lisa spread her hands.
“At least let’s practice it first before going. Why do we have to attack the Ice Bear King at this time?”
Anna’s expression stiffened. A figure suddenly appeared in her mind.
“We’ve done this kind of thing many times before, haven’t we? What’s strange about it? Back then, you were the one complaining about lack of sleep and saying you wanted to go back and rest.”
“But… do you remember who told us to do it like this?”
In an instant, Anna’s face began to twitch.
She remembered.
It was… Peiya.
That person who felt like a nightmare to her.
During this time, Anna had been having nightmares every night, dreaming that Peiya would come to find her, raise a dagger, and stab her.
Every time she woke up, her clothes were completely soaked with sweat.
Seeing that her sarcasm had worked, Lisa continued,
“So, Anna, face yourself. Right now, you’re just using what Peiya already used and left behind. I remember the old you, you hated eating leftovers.”
Lisa blinked and pushed even further. She wanted to provoke Anna into turning back.
Right now, her magic power was still unstable. If she really followed Anna to fight the Ice Bear King and something went wrong, who would take responsibility?
Rely on that “unbreakable bond” Anna always talked about?
In her opinion, no matter who came today, it wouldn’t help.
Anna glanced at Lisa. That arrogant tone… it felt familiar. This woman was getting carried away again.
“Anyone can say that to me, but not you. If you’ve got the ability, then you lead. I’ll follow your command. How about that, my great mage?”
“You—” Lisa was hit hard by that reply. “You misunderstood me. I’m just hoping you can stand on your own, instead of always living in someone's shadow.”
?
Anna suddenly felt those words sounded familiar. It was something Lisa used to say to Peiya.
How did it suddenly turn back on her?
Anna let out a dry laugh. “And you’re saying that to me? Think about it, who did you say that to before?”
That reminder hit Lisa like a wake-up call.
Back then, when Peiya stayed up late working hard, Lisa would often say things like, ‘I don’t want you to work this hard for me. I want you to grow, not stay trapped in your past.’
But Peiya was like a machine. She didn’t listen at all. She just quietly used every chance to learn more.
To her, the contract was what mattered most. As for the other teammates, she only helped them when they affected the exploration.
Because if she didn’t deal with things, Anna would most likely lose her temper, and then things would only get worse for her.
Thinking back to those memories, Lisa’s mouth twitched.
“Why bring that up now? Haven’t I always talked like this?”
“And yet you’re criticizing me. Let’s go. If we’re late, we won’t make it back to the base in time for dinner. Lisa, seriously, how did you fail to cook even a few mushrooms after spending the whole afternoon?”
Hearing that, Lisa got even angrier.
Oh, now you bring that up?
She hadn’t even complained yet, and Anna was already blaming her first. Typical Anna.
“Heh, you talk like that, but why don’t you think about what you gave me? One mushroom had a red cap and white stem, fine, but another one was weird green! If I actually cooked them, would you even dare eat them?!”
“......”
Anna opened her mouth, but she really didn’t know how to find proper food.
While the two were arguing, a faint snoring sound caught their attention.
Lisa frowned. “Anna, do you hear something?”
“No… wait, maybe I do?”
The two looked toward the dark forest. With the weak light from the glowing stone in their hands, they could vaguely see a figure.
“Damn!” Anna was startled and shouted, but Lisa quickly covered her mouth.
“Anna, shut up!” Lisa was also nervous, but she knew Anna wouldn’t be reliable right now.
“Have you seen Stella?”
“I don’t think so…”
Lisa sighed. She had completely given up relying on Anna.
Better to depend on herself.
Holding the glowing stone, Lisa slowly walked forward, her heart pounding. But as she got closer, she hesitated.
The figure was big, and it kept changing. Sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller.
Was it a person… or something else?
After hesitating for about a minute, Lisa finally gathered her courage and stepped forward. With the light, she barely saw the figure leaning against a tree.
The outline looked familiar. Lisa’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t anyone else…
It was Stella, who had fallen behind and fallen asleep.
“......”
A wave of anger filled Lisa’s chest.
She completely lost her temper, raised her fist, and hit Stella on the head, shouting,
“You… you idiot! Wake up already! Stop sleeping!”