Chapter 78 The Other Players

Sheryl's POV

We had been traveling across this hellhole they called Nordlands for weeks now. We've formed groups, and we've been running and fending for our lives ever since.

As days passed, our numbers quickly dwindled — from a dozen, only seven were left. A few died, but most broke out from the group because they weren't happy with the leadership and wanted to go on their own.

I didn't care much about it. Something else attracted my concern — it had been a long time ever since I had last taken a proper bath. My hair hadn't received the grace of a brush either. It was also so oily and sticky that my scalp was already telling me to shave my head.

If I had known that this would happen, I would have taken all my toiletries with me.

Staying at an inn and taking a bath there was not an option. We didn't have enough gil for an inn. Heck, we didn't even have enough money for food. Things here were another level of expensive!

We could only make do with the resources available around us. Our foods were sourced from the forest, and we bathed ourselves in the rivers. There were plenty of water sources, but not all of them were clean.

The gil we got from the beasts wasn't enough for us to even barely live. Not only were the rewards meager, but we also had to share them among ourselves. Ever since we arrived here, all we ate were herbs and charcoal meat.

Our destination was Roselake Town, and the reason why we ended up traveling so long was that we took a longer alternate route to avoid the Shadow Forest. There was a rumor about an Old Hag living there, and we didn't want to risk it unless we wanted ourselves to be eaten for dinner.

Upon arriving at the borders, we found ourselves blocked by soldiers.

Apparently, Roselake Town was plagued by an unknown disease. And to make matters worse, there was a rumor about an apocalyptic event coming.

"W-what now?" asked Stan. He was a lanky man that looked like a stick and had a face full of freckles.

I could barely call him a man since he was a coward and easily frightened. He was dead weight.

"I say we push through. We must get to the nearest Player's Academy, and only Roselake Town has the transportation to get us there," said Brago.

He was a bulky bald guy and was the leader of the group. Despite his scary appearance, he was kind. In fact, he was too kind for his own good. Because of his leadership, we were stuck babysitting the dead weights.

If not for the fact that he could fight and defend the group, I have long gone out of my way myself, just like the others did.

"But . . . I think that they won't agree to let us in," said Megu.

Megu had violet hair that was always raised in a bun. She should be at least forty years old, but her face could grace any men's magazines. She had a languid pair of purple eyes, a dreamy face, plump red lips, and a very alluring mole just beside her mouth.

To make matters worse, her body was to die for. Big hips, shapely legs, and very big busts. Her appeal was so strong that all men liked her. Something might have happened to her if not for Brago's protection.

It was not like I was jealous of her or anything. My eyes shifted to my flat chest, and I grumbled under my breath.

Megu was raring that was why she had enormous breasts. I consoled myself.

That's right, besides her pretty face and voluptuous body, Megu was useless as a White Mage. She couldn't fight, so she had to be constantly protected. Her mana was also so minuscule that she could only heal two people a day.

Not to mention that her one-year-old daughter was a pain in the ass. Her cries and unwanted shouts attracted a lot of beasts at night.

"There's got to be another route." Brago attempted to push from the line of soldiers, but his muscles didn't do him any good as the soldiers easily pushed him to the side, causing him to stumble on the ground.

Ford was quick on his toes and helped Brago to his feet.

Ford had short dirty blond hair, and he was the sub-leader of the group. But he was just Brago's lackey from day one. He could fight with a sword, though.

"If you insist on going further, then we will have no choice but to kill you on the spot!" a soldier exclaimed. "Turn back, NOW!"

With his shout, the others flung their weapons, and we immediately retreated. This was a bad idea in the first place. We couldn't just agitate the inhabitants of this world. They could kill us with a snap of their hands.

"Wait." Emi stepped forward, her short and very straight black hair swaying behind her. "Is there a route to go around the town?"

I rolled my eyes upon hearing Emi talk with her know-it-all's voice. I also had something against her facial expression and her countenance that were screaming she was cut above the rest.

"All routes are closed right now," a soldier said.

"For your own good, turn back. Seek shelter while you still can. The Apocalyptic event is almost upon us," another said.

And every soldier grew restless with unease.

"What is this Apocalyptic Event you speak of?" Emi inquired further.

The soldier scratched his head, irritation thick in his voice. "Girl, if I knew about it, then I wouldn't be out here, risking my life by exposing myself to it."

"No one knows when the Apocalyptic Event would commence and what it does," answered another. "It could be an earthquake. A storm. Or a drastic change in temperature."

"Or it could be a plague," butt in another.

All eyes draw to the one who last spoke.

The soldier shrugged when all eyes were on him. "Just saying. The Town of Roselake was already infected by it. For all we know, the Apocalyptic Event had already started."

"When does it usually start?" Emi asked.

The soldiers exchanged glances. "No one could tell. However . . ."

We took another step back when their ominous eyes stared at us.

"It always comes whenever a new batch of players is transported into this world."