Chapter 34

“Ha haha, anyway, why don’t we return to the topic? You came over with grim expressions, I fear the matter is not as simple as it seems.” Rain laughed dryly.

“Truth be told, we came over to ask Sarete to prepare the necessary potions and elixirs for a long expedition.”

“So the issue had truly gone beyond the tolerable limit, as we suspected?” Sarete asked with a grim expression.

“Yes, indeed. Their numbers had increased far beyond what we can manage normally. If this continues on, I fear it would become out of hand,”

“…??”

“As I thought, a Queen had settled in the Cave…once again?”

“A high chance of it happening, yes,”

“…ahm, excuse me—I hate to intrude, but I don’t have the slightest idea on what you all are talking about,” Rain smiled wryly as he called in between Zarda and Sarete’s conversation. “I don’t mind if you fill me in,”

Zarda giggled and the countless snakes on top of her head swayed as if they were dancing—I hope they are not taking me for a fool. “Tolants had appeared not so far from the Tribe. We have been keeping their numbers in check these past few days. However, it’s becoming a headache as they appeared one after another and without a change in number as well.”

“Tolants?”

[Tolants are, in a sense, the Killer Ants that Master had encountered before.]

Answered Sylphy in a timely manner.

“A monster Colony that is extremely greedy and will take everything and anything to give to their queen. They are extremely dangerous and if they are not stopped immediately they would increase in numbers and become extremely terrifying.” Zarda explained at Rain. “That’s what Tolants are. I believe you had encountered them before,”

“Hm, I think I did,” Rain nodded in understanding. He then turned towards Lafetti but before he could say anything he was cut off with a ‘No!’ “But I haven’t said anything yet!” Rain retorted.

“But I know what you’re going to say and my answer is NO!” Lafetti angrily replied. Her eyes narrowed and her voice firm. It was completely different from before, and her gentle expression had long disappeared. “Going with us is extremely dangerous, so NO!”

“When did you become a psychic?” Rain scowled. “In any case, Lafetti, I want to go.”

“You can’t, and that’s final!” she says with a mouthful of gold. Her words come out slow like somebody turned down the tempo on her voice. She expected no rebuttal on her decision, and even if there is, she would just ignore it, like the wind whispering.

However, Rain was somewhat dissatisfied. “That’s tyranny!” he cried out in annoyance. “Sarete, can you—” he tried to look for a pillar of support, but sadly he saw Sarate nods at Lafetti like this is an agreement they made already.

“I’m sorry, Rain,” she started before Rain could even finish what he was saying. “She’s got a point,”

“The betrayal strikes really hard…” Rain muttered in a monologue tone, eliciting wry smiles from Sarete and Zarda, though Lafetti just snorted, steeling her resolve in her decision. And finally, he went to his last resort, Zarda, eyeing her with his, somewhat practiced puppy eyes.

“You really intend to go?” Zarda had looked at her down her straight-edged nose, gentleness and utmost affection that can give one a rising Goosebumps writ large upon her sharp, but beautiful features.

“Chief!”

“Elder Sister!!”

Seemingly understanding what Zarda had planned, Lafetti and Sarete hurriedly called out in objection. However, seeing this, Rain hurriedly went towards Zarda and playfully hugged her waist, inducing shock yelp coming from Zarda due to the sudden bout of intimacy.

“Why ever wouldn’t I? Please, Elder Sister…I’ll surely contributes greatly on the expedition,” said Rain with a plea and beg, along with his puppy eyes that almost caught Zarda in a moment of enlightenment.

She shook her head, “And so be it, your wish I shall grant it.” remarked Zarda as she tosses her head back, and laugh seemingly happy. She then cups his cheek and gives him a brilliant smile that could make one weak in the knees. “Do prepare as we will embark when the others are gathered,”

“Chief, I object! You can’t possibly allow Rain in this dangerous expedition! This is insanity!” Lafetti shrieked as her long tail whipped, and coiled around Rain’s waist, pulling him to her. She looked like a mother hen protecting her chick from a hungry cat.

“I agree, Elder Sister. If something happened, Rain’s life would be in danger!” Sarete chimes in.

Zarda actually didn’t care about their reaction, “Lafetti, call me Elder Sister…and also, there’s no point in spoiling him, Lafetti. Men are always like that. When they decided to do something, they would see it to the end… that’s what a creature called a man is all about. Since you choose to love him, then you must learn to trust and believe in him as well—that’s where true love lies,”

“I agree,” Rain replied excitedly, but Lafetti shoots a sharp look at him filled with killing intent as if saying ‘Talk and I’ll beat you up!’ and his mouth immediately closed. There’s no point igniting the anger in Lafetti even further, as he knows what would happen if he does so.

“But Tolants are dangerous monsters!” Lafetti can’t still back down.

She didn’t want for Rain to head in such a dangerous battle, where life and death can be determined with a flip of a coin.

That is extremely dangerous even for her… she would become crazy if something happened to Rain!

“Then protect him…” but Zarda didn’t share the same thought as she replied with a faint smile. “If you don’t want to lose something, then protect it yourself. Wasn’t that the greatest purpose in life? To protect something you treasure, with your bare hands?”

“… …”

“Lafetti, always protecting them, putting them behind you—is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes, it would suffocate those who you try to protect. That’s what you call spoiling, not love. And just like spoiling does, it makes things rotten. If you really want to protect them, then, let them stand up on their own feet, while you watch them from behind, and protect them from the shadows. That’s what true ‘protecting’ truly means…”

“… …”

Thus, Rain managed to join the group.

Just before leaving to prepare, Rain gave Zarda a big thumbs up from a hidden position, the expression in his eyes showing his approval. It was clear that Zarda taking his side made him extremely happy.

Seeing his amusing action, Zarda’s lips curled into a faint smile and after turning around, she almost let out a laugh.

This boy is really interesting…

Zarda felt that the following days living in this hellhole wouldn’t be so boring after all.

… …

Rain gazed at the orange sky through the canopy of large trees overhead.

The clouds that could be seen hovering above the Tribe had just parted to reveal the rising sun. The brilliant giver of life was giving a new day once again. Then, he squatted and perched his lithe but quite muscular body on the narrow ledge extending over the lake. Scooping out a handful of water, he then washed his face for a while.

Suddenly, when he saw his reflection disturbed by small waves, Rain remembered well his carefree days in the modern world, peaceful and the total opposite of the life he has in this world. Then, he noticed he actually quite prefer this world, as despite it being dangerous, it was quite fulfilling nonetheless.

Here, he has friends, family, and a lover. It was a life he had once wished but never gotten due to his hard life. Rubbing his wet hands-on wolf skin skirt, worn over his shorts, Rain started striding back to the tribe.

Entering his and Lafetti’s hut, he grabbed the light armor made personally by Miyabila consisting of a Breastplate, gauntlets, and knee-guards hanging by the wall. Lafetti wanted him to wear more, a heavy armor, one that would cover every part of his body actually, but Rain prefers speed over toughness, so yeah, he politely refused.

Picking up the rapier leaned against the wall, Rain smiled excitedly.

It’s a one-handed Rapier, and its name was derived from his name; [Rapid Rain].

This was a present from Miyabila, and according to her was made from rare metals. It was light, like a feather on his hands. The blade’s length was reaching over 30 inches, with an inch on the blade’s width. It was made according to Rain’s preference—though Miyabila thought that having such a thin blade would not be enough, she still went with Rain’s instructions and made such a masterpiece.

Even Drova was wondering on what’s good in using such a thin sword, as it was truly the first time they had seen this kind of sword before. Not like they knew all. But she preferred large and heavy swords so, she was quite dissatisfied with a very thin, and seemingly fragile sword. But Rain insisted.

Now, Rain was going to use it for the first time.

As he holds it, Rain felt some kind of familiarity despite not training in the way of the Rapier. It was as if it was part of his limbs. He then grabbed it and began a series of thrusts. His straight thrusts were even faster than before when he was using an estoc-like sword he made for practice. Perhaps, this was because of the quality of the sword, so light yet so durable.

Satisfied, he turned towards the dagger on the table. It was a simple dagger with a slightly curved blade, looking like a fantasy elven blade. With a hilt connected to the sharpened blade, and was only wrapped in smooth animal fur, it has the length roughly thirteen to fifteen inches.

With a black sheath, Rain placed the dagger on his back hip horizontally, with easy to pull distance and position.

“Are you ready?”

A voice called out behind him.

Rain turned around, finding Lafetti looking at him with still an unconvinced expression. It seems like that notion of Rain joining them on their dangerous expedition had yet to completely appeal to her.

Rain bemused, as he walked over; “Everything’s going to be fine, Lafetti. This is not the first time I would be wandering around the cave. Though this time you will be with me, the others will be with me, and I will surely be safe, protected even,”

“Yeah, this is not the first time indeed…and most of those had been done behind my back. You know my anguish felt when you tried doing something so dangerous without my knowing?!” Lafetti glared at him.

“I know,” said him. “But I don’t have any option. You won’t allow me,”

“Of course, I won’t!”

“That’s the reason,” Rain smiled wryly, “I want to be stronger as well, Lafetti. I know full well the feelings of the weak, the grievances of being unable to do, to protect the place you belong to—to protect the people you love.”

“… …”

“You’ve always been protecting me, and I’m extremely thankful for that. But that can’t continue any longer. I’m a man, and protecting you is my duty,”

“I don’t need any protecting,”

“You don’t… but I want to.” Rain leaned forward, holding her hand between both of his. “You’ve always treated me as if I was your treasure, and that I’m one of yours, not a human being who had done many wrongs to your kind. You accepted me, despite the fact that I’m a shady stranger. Believe me, it's not an easy thing, I know. Talk about someone without past credibility. And yet you still accepted me. You’re genuine, gentle, and good. And just like what you did for me, I wanted to watch over you as well, always, be with you forever. And most of all, I also want to be strong enough to protect you. If not, then being of use to you is a sufficient goal, I suppose. I hope you acknowledge that at least.”

Rain stroked her hand with his thumb then lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss into her palm. His eyelids closing, he slowly kissed the backs of her fingers. Lafetti held her breath at the rush of pleasure his lips created as they brushed softly over her skin.

The anger and annoyance she was feeling over immediately vanished in thin air, like an illusion as she stared at Rain seemingly worshipping her with every bit of his love.

Rain… I indeed love you, and you are the only one that could make my world so beautiful.

I would never let you leave me…ever…

Lafetti recalled Zarda’s words, which was hunting her even now.

She would do anything to make Rain by her side, no matter what it is!

A tiny sigh escaped her.

Rain took a deep breath, still clutching her hands between his; “I know that this is hard to accept, but Lafetti, I want you to watch over me, like always. Let me do things for you, and for the family you wished to protect. I will never die, or leave… you can be certain of that,”

Lafetti took in his eager, expectant look, which softened to one of heart-rending tenderness.

He bowed his head, and then squeezed her hands; “Please,”

Lafetti stared at Rain, her expression somewhat complex.

“Alright, if you want to become strong, then I’ll help you.”

Rain smiled, his eyes brightening. He bowed his head again, pressing his lips against her knuckles. This way of displaying his love, Lafetti found it quite adorable and that she wanted him to do it for her always…if possible. And she was certain that he will do it if she asks him.

That's what her Rain was all about.

“However, you cannot fight alone. And as much as possible, you need to fight in a place where I can see you,”

“I will,”

With her long tail, Lafetti was quite tall compared to Rain. Hence, when she wrapped him in a warm embrace of love, Rain couldn’t help but buried his face in her voluptuous chest. Her arms enfolded him. And Rain was certain that he could get used to this.

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