They didn't really want to agree with Samuel's idea. However, everything that happened now made them seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
So, in the end, they agreed to split up into two groups. The risks are indeed becoming bigger but they can also cover a wider area of forest.
"We will meet here fifteen minutes from now," Samuel said. And then, he glanced at all of them as if he wanted to say something heavy. "If at that time we can't find Haru, we have to get out of this place."
Clyde wanted to ask about that short timeframe. But when he saw that no one questioned him, he concluded that the time Samuel said was indeed something that made sense in this condition and place.
So he swallowed back his question. Maybe it was because of the risk that the Lesser Cerberuses were getting closer, Haru's location that is still vague, and the forest conditions that were too dangerous.
Samuel didn't want to put their lives at risk by increasing their search time. And his party members agreed since they understood that too.
"Alright." Samuel raised his spear after seeing his comrades and Clyde content with that state. "Let's find Haru."
They spread in two different directions. Clyde jumped straight up into the trees and immediately moved quickly while glancing his eyes around. He really focused on the task at hand so they could quickly finish this rescue attempt.
However, he remembered the person who is currently his partner in the search group. He turned his head and found Kei still lagging behind.
So Clyde turned back towards Kei.
"Please, slow down," Kei said. "I know you're fast but I can't catch up with you. I'm just a healer."
Clyde took a deep breath. "Right. Sorry."
Maybe Samuel put them in the same group so Kei could support him when he got hurt because there were only two of them.
According to Clyde, it wasn't the best composition but at this rushed moment, Clyde couldn't blame Samuel completely.
ραпdα nᴏνa| сom A healer couldn't possibly move alone. And Clyde thought that Samuel thought he was strong enough to protect Kei. So he put them together.
Unfortunately, Kei can't move as fast as him and that's quite annoying for Clyde. Nevertheless, he couldn't blame her because, once again, she was only a healer.
The two of them moved together at Kei's speed. Clyde kept vigilant eyes around even the area behind Kei because he wasn't sure Kei was vigilant enough to notice any danger or anything around her.
The roar of the Lesser Cerberuses sounded again. This time Clyde was almost sure they were right in front of them so he stopped short.
Kei immediately held her breath as soon as she saw Clyde's signal to stop. She didn't say anything and let Clyde watch their front for a few moments.
And sure enough, a black shadow shot quickly in front of them.
'My feeling is right.'
Clyde realized that his instincts were still quite sharp. It was almost like precognition and Clyde was grateful for that so they didn't have to deal with that Lesser Cerberus.
Kei's eyes widened realizing Lesser Cerberus passed in front of them. If they went a bit further, they would definitely run into that Lesser Cerberus and after that, a disaster would really occur.
Kei stared at Clyde who was in front of her. If not for Clyde's amazing instincts, they would be in a dangerous situation.
After a few seconds passed, Clyde felt that the Lesser Cerberus was gone.
"It's gone," Clyde whispered then cock his head forward signaling Kei to continue moving.
Kei nodded and they moved again. After a few minutes of roaming through the dark forest with a feeling of anxiety that kept increasing, Kei finally saw something.
"Over there," Kei said in a whisper while pointing down.
Clyde turned his head in the direction she was pointing. There he saw a sprawling corpse of an Underspider with multiple stab wounds. Purple liquid oozed from the stab holes on its body and head.
Clyde and Kei landed near the corpse and examined it.
"You know a weapon that can cause wounds like this?" Clyde asked. What he saw were clearly wounds created from dozens of stabbed sharp objects. Possibly daggers.
"Yes. Haru must have done it," Kei replied.
"That means we're in the right direction." Clyde glanced around for another trail. Kei did the same.
Moments later they found traces of purple liquid on tree trunks and the sand. Without thinking they followed the trail.
They find Underspider's corpse again. But this time it had red liquid in its mouth, which was most likely human blood.
Kei gasped. The possibility that it is Haru's blood is quite high, even close to one hundred percent.
"Let's go." Clyde who saw the traces of human blood moved first. Kei followed him while biting her lips with fear.
Shortly after they followed the blood, they heard the noise of a fight. Clyde and Kei peeked out from behind a black bush.
Kei's eyes widened when she saw who was fighting in front of her.
"That's Haru!" she said with a suppressed scream.
"And a Lesser Cerberus," Clyde added gloomily.
They could only hear the growling sound of the Lesser Cerberus and not the roars. They knew that the Lesser Cerberus patrol was around.
"How long until the other dog comes here?" Clyde asked.
"Less than three minutes," Kei replied. "Haru has a poison that can eliminate her target's voice for that long. But we don't know how long she's been fighting and her enemy is Lesser Cerberus. So... the effect could be much reduced."
"Alright then," said Clyde as he channeled Mana into his feet. "Before the dog's voice comes back we have to save your friend. Or kill it.
I'll go. You take your friends with you as soon as you see a chance and don't do something stupid like leave me to be eaten by the dogs while you escape.
You know I'm more than capable of killing that monster and chasing you after that."
Kei saw the dangerous stare in Clyde's eyes when he said that. She realized that Clyde was making threats.
Without waiting for a reply from Kei, Clyde shot toward the Lesser Cerberus with his feet covered in bluish-white lightning.
Kei was stunned for a few moments. But she managed to regain her composure and focus.
'So he still holds grudges because of the betrayal he experienced before,' thought Kei.
Kei bit her lip. It was quite painful to be accused of being a traitor blatantly in front of her face.
But she then shook her head to shake off the thought and excuse Clyde's actions. She would also feel deep wounds and have difficulty trusting others after experiencing such a betrayal.
'What's important now is that I have to take Haru away as soon as I see the opportunity.'
Kei steadied her heart and watched what Clyde was doing.
She wasn't sure if Clyde could really kill the Lesser Cerberus and then chase them both if she really intended to betray him. The monsters are pretty strong monsters, after all.
However, Kei of course had no intention of betraying him.
The Lesser Cerberus apparently had strong instincts.
Clyde, who previously wanted to steal a sneak attack from behind it by using his speed, had to be disappointed when the three-headed dog turned around just in time and swung its claws.
Clyde blocked the claw swing with his sword which sent him flying a few meters to the side.
But the attack didn't make him fall, Clyde was able to plant his feet on the ground to keep his body standing.
The Lesser Cerberus' attention shifted from Haru to Clyde. Haru, who was confused by the presence of the unfamiliar figure, could only stare at Clyde in surprise.
'Who is he?' Haru doesn't remember seeing the man anywhere.
"Argh!" the pain in her hand which was torn by the Underspider just now stings her.
Haru fell to the ground, her vision blurred and her face was as pale as a corpse because of the blood that kept coming out.
'I could really die at this rate.'
A few moments later, Haru saw the Lesser Cerberus who wanted to eat her earlier, moving towards the mysterious man who had suddenly appeared. Then, she, who could no longer support her body, started to fall.
However, someone came and grabbed her from the side.
"It's alright. You are safe now."
Haru heard a familiar voice in her ear. When she turned, she found Kei's smiling face with teary eyes next to her.
Kei immediately did the healing. Haru almost screamed happily if she wasn't dying. The person she loves turns out to be coming back for her.
Meanwhile, Clyde, who had managed to attract the attention of the Lesser Cerberus, looked at Haru and saw that Kei had already treated her.
'All that's left now is to kill this damn dog.'
~~~
