Mark looked around the dark forest, suddenly feeling as if they were being watched.
The silence of the forest was oppressive, as if everything was holding its breath.
’What the hell is in this forest?’
Mark stood in the middle of the corpses, scanning the dark woods with a mix of caution and uncertainty.
The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind through the leaves.
Mark turned to Yuki, who was still examining one of the bodies with her usual neutral expression.
"Yuki," Mark said firmly. "Check that there’s nothing dangerous nearby. People, monsters, anything. Sweep the entire area thoroughly."
"Understood, Master." Yuki nodded without hesitation.
And in an instant, she disappeared into the shadows of the forest, becoming completely invisible.
Mark was left alone among the corpses, with only the sound of his own breathing as company.
’Alright. Now... what should I do?’
Mark looked at the bodies around him, carefully considering his options.
’I could keep walking and look for another place to camp farther ahead. Or I could stay here...’
Mark examined the corpses more closely.
They looked like they had been there for at least a day, maybe more. However, there were no signs that any wild animals had co to feed on them.
’If no animals ca to eat the bodies, that ans these dried-up corpses aren’t appealing to predators.’
Mark looked around the area, noticing how the bodies were scattered almost carelessly.
’If whatever attacked these adventurers left them here without taking them, then it has no real reason to return to the sa spot where it already knows what it can get.’
Basic logic.
Predators don’t return to the sa place where they’ve already hunted, especially if there’s nothing left to gain.
Mark smiled faintly at the irony.
’Camping in the middle of a massacre scene. Definitely not sothing I thought I’d ever have to do.’
After several minutes, Yuki reappeared at his side, materializing out of nowhere as usual.
Mark no longer jumped as much when she did that.
"Master," Yuki reported in her monotone voice. "There are no animals or anything dangerous in the area. It’s clear."
"Good. We’ll camp here." Mark nodded, satisfied.
Yuki blinked, clearly surprised by the decision.
"Here, Master?" she asked, looking at the corpses around them. "Are you sure?"
Mark raised a hand before she could continue arguing.
"Listen," he explained calmly. "If no animals ca to eat these corpses, it ans they don’t attract predators. And if whatever killed them left them here without taking them, then it has no reason to co back. So, ironically, this is probably one of the safest places to camp."
Yuki stayed silent for a mont, processing Mark’s logic.
Then she nodded slowly.
"I understand your point, Master," she said finally. "It makes sense."
"I’m glad you agree." Mark smiled.
He then pointed at the scattered corpses.
"Gather the bodies and stack them sowhere nearby," he ordered. "I don’t want to trip over them in the dark."
"Understood, Master." Yuki nodded.
Without another word, she began moving between the corpses, lifting them with surprising ease despite her slender build.
Mark watched her work for a mont before pulling his sleeping bag from his inventory.
He spread it out on the ground in a relatively clean area, away from where Yuki was stacking the bodies.
It wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep, but after a full day of walking, anything would do.
Yuki returned after a few minutes, having finished piling the eleven corpses into a neat stack near a large tree.
"Are you going to sleep now, Master?" she asked, watching him settle into his sleeping bag.
"Yes. I’d better get so rest so we can leave as soon as the sun cos up." Mark nodded, yawning.
He paused, looking at her seriously.
"Make sure nothing bothers while I sleep," he ordered. "If you see anything suspicious, wake up imdiately."
"Yes, Master. I will."
Mark settled deeper into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.
The ground was hard and uncomfortable, and the night air was cold, but the exhaustion from the day quickly overtook him.
’Just one more day of travel. Tomorrow we should reach the Demon Lord’s dungeon.’
With that thought, he let sleep take him.
...
...
...
Sowhere not too far from where Mark slept, a figure moved through the dark forest with light, almost elegant steps.
The woman with the pointed hat and purple outfit walked between the trees with unnatural grace, her red eyes glowing in the darkness.
Her short black hair swayed gently in the night breeze, and a playful smile rested on her lips.
"Ah, what a sha I forgot to collect the belongings of those adventurers I left back there," she murmured to herself, her lodic voice echoing faintly in the forest’s silence.
She stopped, looking ahead as if she could see through the darkness.
"But well... they shouldn’t be too far," she continued, her smile widening slightly.
She licked her lips, still savoring the mory of fresh blood.
"And if I’m lucky," she murmured, almost hopefully, "maybe I’ll find so lost traveler along the way."
Her fangs glead under the moonlight as she smiled.
"A little appetizer never hurts."
And with that, she kept walking through the forest, heading straight toward the place where she had left the bodies.
After several minutes, she began to recognize the area.
"Yes... it’s definitely around here."
But then sothing caught her attention.
In the distance, between the trees, she could see a figure lying on the ground.
The woman stopped abruptly, narrowing her eyes and focusing her supernatural vision.
It was a young man with dark hair, wearing a black tunic.
He was lying in a sleeping bag, apparently asleep, right in the sa spot where she had left the corpses.
"What...?"
The woman tilted her head, both confused and curious at the sa ti.
"Who in their right mind would camp in a place like this?" she said, surprised.
"Is he stupid... or just brave?" Her smile slowly widened, revealing her sharp fangs. "Or maybe...?"
"Maybe he’s simply my dinner tonight."
Her red eyes glead with anticipation as she watched the sleeping figure from afar.
"How convenient... after all, I didn’t have to look very far."
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