No, no, I'm overthinking this… If they're really only firing when I'm near, then that's too much of a coincidence!
If I'm right, it might be because I'm a transmigrator… But how do they know— No, no, like I said, I'm overthinking this…
Hm, but what other reasons are there for them to not fire at Dean when he wasn't invisible? Is someone controlling them? Do they only move at a certain time? Or… heh, did they just run out of arrows?
I'd like to test out my first theory, but how do I do it without looking suspicious…? Do I just tell everyone I'm gonna head on first? If I do that, and arrows do rain down on me, it'll make me look suspicious…
One other thing, if they are truly firing only at me, then if I go with them, I'll be the cause of our suffering… How can I convince them to think of another way…?
No, no, I'm really overthinking this! They must've just run out of arrows, that must be it!
But… if I'm right… then It'd be better for me to not go with them. But how? Do I just tell everyone I'm staying behind? Hm, I can let myself get injured, and then I'll be sent back to Umbrellas…
Oh, wait, we have a Healer… I don't know what to do…
Hm, what reason can I come up with as to why the arrows didn't rain down on Dean…? I don't know…
…Should I… just pull out from this mission? No, I can't. This mission is a guaranteed advancement for me…
"Hey, what's on your mind?" Donovan heard a voice to his right, and saw Clara.
"You seemed to be thinking very hard there," she added. She was almost identical to Sylvia Swan and it made a shiver run down Donovan's spine.
"It's… nothing, I was just lost in my thoughts there. Do you have any ideas, Miss Clara?" asked Donovan.
Clara shook her head, and said, "No. This is quite the dilemma we got ourselves in."
"Mm," Donovan hummed with a nod.
In the end, it looks like I'll have to pull out from this mission… I simply don't want them to suffer because of me…
But before I quit this mission, I'll have to test if the arrows really only rain down on me…
I'll have to make myself not look suspicious…
Donovan cleared his throat, and said to the group, "Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment?"
***
Donovan and Dean walked side by side, walking towards the direction of the forest. The former somehow managed to convince everyone that he had to go with Dean so that the two of them could finish off the rest of those archers made of ice.
Donovan was quite relieved that he was successful in… "convincing" them. After all, everyone was willing to try anything to clear this mission.
After a minute, Dean stopped walking, and he put his right hand on Donovan's shoulder to get him to stop as well.
"I'm not sure if arrows won't appear or not, but it's better for me to start running right away. I'll have to carry you." Dean's tone of voice was no longer laced with arrogance. No longer condescending. He just wanted to finish this mission as soon as possible.
Uh, carry me? How would that work? Do I have to get on his back? Is he going to carry me on the shoulder? Will he princess-carry me?! No way, that's too embarrassing!
I didn't think this through at all…! I'll just have to suck it up and let him carry me…
"Alright," replied Donovan.
Dean took a few steps back. He crouched slightly, facing Donovan. Then, in the blink of an eye, he grabbed Donovan by wrapping his arms around Donovan's upper body, and ran straight.
Before Donovan could even realize what was happening, they were already halfway to the snowy forest.
Damn! He's… too fast!
To Dean, Donovan's body was quite light. It was as if he was just carrying a sack of potatoes.
Suddenly, arrows started to rain down on them. This surprised Dean momentarily, but he recovered and focused on running.
The arrows were quite accurate. If it weren't for Dean's superhuman speed, they'd be on the snow, their bodies riddled with icy arrows.
As for Donovan, he sighed inwardly. I knew it… Those archers… only target me…
Before Donovan could even keep thinking, Dean's voice interrupted him, "Hey, we're going to have to turn back! If we enter the forest with arrows still raining down on us, we'd be the first ones to die instead of those archers!"
"Okay!" Donovan did not hesitate. He also did not wish to continue his "plan" while being bombarded with arrows.
"...Argh!" Dean groaned, struggling to turn around at his current speed. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his cheek. An arrow had successfully grazed him. Ignoring the pain, which was almost non-existent, Dean made a successful U-turn.
Even at the speed of a bullet, an arrow was still successful in grazing him.
Do they have foresight or something?! Even a goddamn Ranger-type can't make a shot like that! Unless they're Typhoon Rank… F*cking hell… Dean focused on running.
Finally, as they escaped the range of the archers, Dean dropped Donovan on the snow, and fell on both his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Blood trickled down his jaw, and he wiped it with his hand.
"They didn't fire at me before…" said Dean. Standing up, he reached a hand out towards Donovan.
Donovan grabbed his hand and stood up.
No other choice, then… Goodbye, guaranteed advancement… What excuse should I make to pull out from this mission? Or should I just outright say that I want to pull out?
With a long sigh, Donovan said, "Let's go back."
***
"I'll call Tiero for help." The messenger, Johnny, took out a flip phone from his pocket.
Upon hearing Tiero's words, an idea came to Donovan's mind.
Hm… Hold on, it's better to be patient. I'll see what "help" Tiero can provide us, and if it can truly get us out of this whole situation, then I'll abandon my idea of pulling out from the mission…
If not, then I'll have to think up an excuse and pull out from the mission…
The messenger Johnny walked away, talking to Tiero on the phone.
The others went back to the "campfire," making sure to warm their bodies up properly. Just relying on the Warmth Barrier wasn't enough.
***
A bright flash of light, followed by another.
Two people appeared after the flash of light, both wearing expensive suits.
One looked to be in his mid-twenties, and he had red hair as well as a star tattoo on the right side of his neck. And the other was a younger man with his hair slicked back.
Johnny clapped his hands. "Attention, everyone. These two are the people Tiero sent us for help. Everyone, meet Michael Graves and Vi Leone."
Michael, the one with red hair, pressed his unoccupied hand to his chest, and bowed. Vi, on the other hand, nodded with a tip of his hat.
Donovan's eyes slightly widened. He's met the one with red hair before. He was the same man who cleaned up Donovan's mess after his very first mission upon transmigrating.
And since he also took care of the Reaper-type that Donovan fortunately did not encounter, Donovan came to the conclusion that he was most likely a powerhouse.
Michael and Donovan's eyes met. Michael smiled and nodded at him, and so did Donovan. Except the smile.
Johnny continued, "Michael is an Assassin, and Vi is his assistant. Michael will go with Dean, and eliminate those archers together. If they also encounter the mysterious man that made Dean leave the forest, Michael will be the one to take care of it."
"...And if they fail, Vi will give Juliana a device that will enhance her barrier, making it near indestructible. We will have to charge through while being showered by arrows."
"Also, Tiero and his men are trying to figure out what makes them fire their arrows. Apparently, Tiero told me that in the previous missions in Tosla, arrows have never rained down on anyone before."
This further solidifies my theory that they only fire at me, a transmigrator… But it's strange. If there have indeed been previous missions here in Tosla, then did they not encounter those archers in the forest before…?
"Dean, ready up," said Johnny.
Michael approached Dean, who was stretching his legs.
Suddenly, Clara spoke out, "Mr. Johnny, can I go with them?"
"...This can only be done with an Assassin's speed, Clara."
Clara sighed inwardly as she heard Johnny's words.
Vi tossed something towards Michael. "Use it when you're in a pinch," said Vi. His voice was rough but slightly refined.
Michael put it in his pocket before anyone could see what it was. Then, with a pat on Dean's back, he said, "You ready?"
"Mm," hummed Dean. He hated when there was someone clearly superior in front of him, but he made sure not to show it in his face.
And then, as though they were two athletes about to have a race, they took up a running stance and disappeared on the spot the next second. They were just that fast.