Book 7: Chapter 35


    I gently covered Luna with the nket and then picked Luna up from her waist. Luna curled up in my arms and snored quietly with a blissful smile on her face.


    <em>I dont know about the other nights, but Luna should be able to get a good night of sleep tonight. At least shell be able to have a nice dream. I cant give Luna anything. I can only promise to always remain at her side, regardless of where we go or what we do. Ill always let her stay next to me and look after me. This shouldve been a request I made of her, yet she saw it as me showing her affection.</em>


    <em>If this makes her my mistress, then I think this mistress of mine is too pitiful.</em>


    Is the moment of bliss over? Lorana opened the curtain. Igently ran my hand across Lunas face. I then straightened up to look at Lorana and replied, Uhm I guess so. Whats wrong? Is something up?


    Lorana shrugged and replied, I think that youre the only one who can act like nothings the matter in this situation, Your Majesty. When you and your maid were getting cosy, we three did our best for our lives. Look at your tent and the ones around. We did all of that.


    I pointed at Luna who was lying on the bed. Lorana hesitated for a moment thenughed dryly and scratched her head. She said, But the credit for saving Luna goes to you, Your Majesty Lets put all that aside for now, though. Your Majesty, pleasee over. Although the three of us have reached a consensus, the final decision lies with you.


    Is there a problem?


    Yes. Come with me.


    I left the tent. This rest station isnt spacious. It was lit up by the fire right now. Itste at night now, but the guardsing back and forth were moving in a verypact manner. We naturally have to increase our defences when its likely that well be attacked at night. Lorana and I went up to Taraks tent and then squeezed in.


    Greetings, Your Majesty.


    Tarak rose as soon as he saw me. He banged his head on the fixed tent and hissed due to the pain. Philes couldnt help but burst outughing, thereby revealing a really cute smile


    <em>I keep feeling that Philes is actually a little cuter than Shusia Stop! Stop!! What am I thinking?! Philes is a guy!</em>


    Hello everyone. I heard that something came up?


    I sat down on one side and looked at them. Philes nodded then took out a parchment and exined to me, Your Majesty, this is something we discovered among the items the group left behind. This is their map. It appears that the group has been here for a long time.


    I spread the map open. This map was rtively olderpared to ours. It appeared as though it had been exposed to intense sunlight. I used the fire as lighting to check out the pen marks on it and remarked, Theyve gone to a fair number of ces. Theyve made at least two-times more progress than we have. With this, we can save ourselves from going to a fair few ces.


    Tarak shook his head and corrected me, That is not it, Your Majesty. That is not what we wanted to say. Your Majesty, even if they have searched certain ces, we need to search it ourselves, too, in case they did not find it. The most informational piece of information on this map is not where they have searched, but where they are headed next. Your Majesty, take a look at this location they marked here.


    Tarak pointed to the mark. I frowned and looked as I looked at the marking, where they drew multiple circles around a location and asked, This is the ce they were going to search next? If that was the case, they wouldnt have marked it so many times. Are you saying that they thought this was the ce where it is most likely to be located?


    Lorana leaned over and bent over at the waist in front of me to look at the map and said, I would surmise so. We found a number of things on their bodies and many of them were symbolic items of those they killed. It looks like the group had killed a fair number of people. They could be considered the most experienced team here. They have searched for a long time already and guessed that this was the ce. While we have searched the ces they have searched, I think we should head to this ce next.


    <em>It looks like she doesnt realise she has a decent body. </em>


    Embarrassed, I lowered my head and fixated my eyes on the map.


    <em>If I looked up, Id be spinning at the sight of the top-half of her pretty white melons</em>


    In a hesitant tone, Tarak exined, I was thinking the same thing. It is just that I am a little concerned, since if we base it on the time that has passed, there should be a lot of others who have pinpointed that location as well. I think that if this ce is the most likely to be correct spot, then it will not be just one team that knows of it. I think there will be lots of people there.


    So youre saying we might be marching into a trap ourselves?


    Philes looked at me and in a serious tone suggested, There is another possibility. And that is that this team was bait. I say that because we found out that this group was very odd. Lots of them are evidently Socinas criminals. We found an amnesty on them. They had a letter on them. They were called three. That means that they are not the only team Socina sent. It is very probable that they are bait to lure us to the location here, to annihte us.


    I nodded and then looked at the area on the map. I looked up at Tarak and asked, Tarak, are you familiar with the ce?


    Tarak nodded and replied; Your Majesty, this ce is the ruins of where the original city was. The ce is as I described, ruins with just pirs and copsed buildings there.


    I nodded and responded, In that case, I do think its a good ce toy an ambush. Theres no other feasible ce to set up an ambush other than the ruins. However, is the cerge enough to set up enough people for an ambush? Also, well leave right away if theres an ambush. Its not easy to engage ambushes with horses in the desert. I dont think its an ambush.


    Lorana nodded and added, I dont think its an ambush, either, because the desert is so t that its impossible to use an ambush tactic. In my opinion, if theyre nning something, it should be a


    A skirmish.


    I ced the map down and looked at the three of them. I then sternly went on, This is a skirmish and a big fight at that. If they spread this news all throughout the desert, then it was to lure everyone to this location and then have everyone engage each other in arge scale battle. It would be the biggest battle royale. Then the people who spread this news would be able to sit back and reap the rewards.


    What are we going to do then?


    I mmed the map hard on the table with my hand. I then looked at the three of them with nervousness and excitement. I seriously said, Well go there, too. If theyre the mantis that stalks the cicada, then well be the oriole that lurks behind them!