I walked for a while; they were behind me.
I could feel them following me, which was annoying.
I kept ignoring them, hoping they might go away.
But they kept following.
I turned and asked Valex:
"How long are you going to keep following me?"
"Relax, kid. My morals just won't let me leave a child traveling alone."
"You're just scared another monster might appear, and you won't know how to deal with it."
"Anyway, where exactly are you headed?"
Should I tell them about the oasis?
No, I barely know them.
I told him I was just wandering in this world.
He started rambling about how he and Flet do the same thing—
They dare, wander, and travel in this world.
Then he said something intriguing.
"Then after that, we saw a massive tree and approached it, but it turned out to be the nest of that huge bird, and it started chasing—"
I interrupted him, saying:
"Did you say a massive tree?!"
"Huh? Yeah, why?"
"Nothing."
Could it really be the same tree on the map?
I need to make them tell me the way without realizing it.
So I can head there.
Suddenly, Flet cut through my thoughts, saying:
"I'm hungry."
Valex responded quickly:
"Don't worry, I'll get you some food now.
You, kid, go to that tree and start a fire with its wood,
and I'll go hunt those little creatures."
"I'm not traveling with you guys, don't order—"
Before I could finish, he had already gone rushing off.
Well, I'm a bit hungry too.
I headed toward the tree, and Flet followed me.
We broke some wood from the tree, started a fire, and began waiting for Valex.
He was trying to hold the creatures in his hand.
He jumped toward the Valiz foolishly.
Flet encouraged him:
"Come on, Valex-sama! You can do it!"
I glanced at her and asked:
"What's your relation to this man?"
"Valex-sama? He told me he's my uncle."
"He told you?"
"Yes, he told me that in the past he went to visit my father for the occasion of my birth,
and that's when the Black Catastrophe happened. My parents died, and he took care of me
ever since."
Her story resembled mine.
Wait a minute—if she was born before the Catastrophe, that means…
She's older than me?!
Anyway, I noticed Valex was still struggling to hold the Valiz.
I took a fishing net from my bag and went to help him.
We started throwing the nets and caught a few of them.
Then we headed to the fire. I took out a knife and began cutting the Valiz to eat.
Valex looked at me in surprise and said:
"Kid, where did you get these things?"
"My grandfather told me he used to be a fisherman in the past,
and on the day the Catastrophe happened, he, my parents, and I were fishing,
and he had these things, and he kept them."
"Where's your family now?"
"I don't know anything about my parents; they probably died, and my grandfather passed away some time ago."
"Sorry to hear that. Your grandfather must have been a strong man."
"No, he was talkative. All he did every day was teach me about things,
tell me about the old world, and sleep in the tent."
"Kid, don't talk about your grandfather lik—… Wait, did you say tent?"
Damn, I slipped.
I looked at his face and saw he was serious, as if he were another person.
I started sweating from tension.
He sensed I was hiding something.
I quickly answered to change the topic.
"We camped from time to time."
"I feel like you're lying, kid. Are you hiding something?"
I tried to steady my breathing and remain calm.
I must not show fear, or he'll suspect me.
Before I could respond, I noticed Flet was gone.
Then I heard her voice, loud:
"Valex-sama! I got his bag!
There's a map in his notebook!"
Damn, I didn't feel her approach.
I tried to grab her, but Valex pinned me down with his hand and took the map from her.
"If you're lying, is this a map of this world? And what's this symbol—is it
for a tree?… Wait, is it the tree I asked you about…
If you want to go there, fine.
Let's head to the tree."
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Next chapter: The Trio Toward the Oasi.