Child of Destiny

...

As everyone where busy with their respective tasks, Shin and the other members of the group who were left within the underground settlement were currently waiting for the news from the other side.

"It looks like they are having some trouble. They haven't responded to our messages yet," muttered Cloe while sitting next to Shin.

Shin looked at her for a moment before nodding his head. "It shouldn't be that much of a problem. The vampires are a little annoying due to their powerful regeneration, but it shouldn't be a problem for them since they already know how to counter it."

Cloe looked at him for a moment before asking. "But are you not getting bored? Usually, you are the one who always wants to get in action."

Shin clicked his tongue when he heard that before saying. "Tsk! If not for my troublesome Elemental Companion, then I will most likely be fighting alongside them right now. After all, I really want to do some work instead of sitting around like this."

"I don't want to babysit such a troublesome and conceited Elemental Spirit," he added with a sigh.

Hearing those words, Cloe couldn't help but giggle a little before saying. "Says the one who always causes trouble wherever he goes."

Shin shook his head when he heard those words before replying. "Well, that is also one of the reasons why I don't want to babysit it. Taking care of myself is already troublesome enough."

After that, the two of them started laughing before an awkward silence befell between them.

No one wanted to talk at first but Shin decided to break the silence in the end. "Why are you not asking me anything?"

Cloe shook her head a little before replying. "It is not like I don't want to ask you about it. It just I am afraid of what I am going to know."

"Besides, you already reassured me that you are not going anywhere. That is more than enough for me," she added as she smiled.

Shin stared at her for a couple of moments before saying. "I know that you become afraid of losing someone since the time your parents separated from each other, but that doesn't mean that you will always lose something every time."

After that, he patted her head before saying. "Why are you always anxious about this matter. Just ease your heart and trust us."

Shin knew how hard it was for Cloe when her parents got separated. He even saw how hurt she was during that time. After all, she was still too young when that time happened.

Not long after, bad things happened one after another. There was even constant harassment from the rivals of his father's business. That was the reason why she was sent here to the Soaring Continent to study.

Because of that, she was constantly thinking that a bad thing was going to happen to her or the people around her. Or at least, the people that were getting close to her were leaving her for some unknown reason.

It took Shin quite some time to console Cloe.

And not long after that, Chaotic Luck suddenly arrived beside them before saying to Shin. "Big Brother, I take a look at what is happening outside through my skeletons, and it seems like the others already encountered the vampires."

He then paused for a brief moment before quickly adding. "But it looks like something strange is going on with those vampires that are attacking them."

Shin slightly raised his eyebrows as he suddenly got a bad feeling about what he just heard before asking. "What is it?"

Chaotic Luck thought for a moment before replying. "I am not really sure about this but it looks like the vampires that are attacking them this time is a little different from what he faced earlier. No, it seems like they are currently composed of two groups."

"Different? Two groups? How different are they?" asked Shin as his eyebrows further frowned together.

Chaotic Luck took another brief moment to think before answering. "I am not like Big Brother Alucard who is knowledgeable about vampires, but I can at least be sensitive when it comes to lifeforces."

"And from what I can see, it looks like there are undead monsters mixed in the group and disguising themselves as vampires," he added with slight uncertainty.

But not long after that, he quickly took back a part of what he just said and quickly said. "That is also wrong! From what I can feel, those monsters are corrupted beings who are taking advantage of their humanoid forms to disguise themselves."

"Corrupted Monsters?" muttered Shin to himself before clicking his tongue. "Tsk! I've got a bad feeling about this. It looks like we get involved with those Corrupted Cult bastards once again."

"Why are these guys always everywhere?" he said in frustration while scratching the back of his head a little.

After that, he turned to Chaotic Luck and quickly instructed. "You should get out for a moment too. Spread your skeleton warriors around the village while slowly setting up a defensive formation."

Hearing the order, Chaotic Luck hesitated for a moment before voicing out his concern. "B-but I am still not used to keeping that formation, big brother. It is a little too large for me to maintain it for a long time."

Shin clicked his tongue repeatedly when heard those words before saying. "Then you can take this opportunity to practice it."

Hearing that, the corner of Chaotic Luck's mouth suddenly twitched while looking at Shin with a gaze that looks like a glare. 'Do you think that I am like you? I am not someone who takes everything as a training session.'

In the meantime, Cloe who was quietly listening from the side suddenly chuckled at their conversation before saying. "It is fine Shin, just also send Akailu with him. He can at least handle the side that 'Chaos' can't handle."

Chaotic Luck repeatedly nodded his head when he heard those words while looking at Shin with pleading eyes. It was pretty clear that he was desperate to have such help. He already got tortured earlier when they were heading to this place, keeping a formation all the time while was a real pain in the ass for him.

Shin clicked his tongue once again when he heard her and nodded his head. "Then it can't be helped. Go inform Akailu about what you have discovered and tell him what I said."

Chaotic Luck almost jumped due to happiness and relief when he heard those words. He then quickly headed over to Akailu as soon as possible. He was clearly showing that he was afraid that Shin might change his mind midway.

On the other hand, Shin released a helpless sigh before standing up and turning to Cloe. "We should get moving too. It looks like Arthur and the others are going to be busy for the time being, so they will obviously have no time to look for a safe route for these villagers to escape."

After that, he extended his hand to Cloe to help her stand up before continuing. "We also need to guard them thoroughly since the success rate of the quest depends on the number of the villagers that are going to survive."

Cloe pursed her lips a little when she heard that before asking. "Then can we just guard them here until the other group was done with their job?"

"We are already aware of the cause of the plague. All we need right now is solid evidence that will prove our suspicion," she added as she stood up.

And when she was finally back on her feet, she somehow 'lost' her footing and stumble forward. "Ah!"

Seeing that she was about to fall, Shin quickly leaned over and swiftly caught her in his arms. "Hey! Careful!"

"Sorry, I feel a little dizzy when standing up," she said while hiding a smile by lowering her head.

That was the time when Charlotte suddenly arrived and saw the sight of Shin 'hugging' Cloe. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt an unpleasant feeling when she saw that scene.

Ahem!

She quickly cleared her throat with a slight cough to break the atmosphere that was building up between the two before saying. "The Village Chief is looking for us. It looks like he wants to say something."

"And it seems like quite urgent," she quickly added for some known reason.

Shin turned his head at her when he heard those words before slightly nodding his head. "Is that so? Then let's get going already. I also happen to have something to discuss with him."

But despite saying all of that, his hands refused to let go of Cloe as if he was worried that she would lose her footing once again the moment when he took off his hands from her shoulder.

"Are you fine? We are currently in the game, so how come you are getting sick?" said Shin with a scolding tone but also had a clear hint of worry.

"I am fine no. It really is just a slip earlier," said Cloe while slightly tapping Shin's hands.

"Are you sure?" asked Shin as he slowly let go of his hands from her. And after making sure that she was really fine, he quickly said. "Then I will go ahead. I really have a bad feeling about this quest."

Cloe slightly nodded her head. "Yeah. Go ahead. I will follow you a little later."

Shin took another look at her before heading towards the place where the Village Chief was waiting.

Cloe stared at his back for a couple of moments and watched him leave before giving Charlotte a smug look. She was clearly showing that she was 'superior'.

Charlotte squinted her eyes a little when she saw that before turning around and following after Shin. And when Cloe saw her 'defeated' look, she couldn't help but show triumph pose before hopping her way behind the former.

She was clearly in a good mood right now.

...