Vol 2 Chapter 14 (1/2)
LEVEL 2: Everything is Precious, Nothing is Replaceable
Chapter 14: That Boy
“Looks like there’s so on over there,” Haruhiro said, pointing into the distance The others turned their heads
“Hmm…” Yume placed both hands, shaped into binoculars, in front of her eyes “I can’t see too well ’cause of the fences, but it looks somebody’s head is bobbin’ up and down over there…”
“You can also hear the her ears “They sound numerous”
“Maybe…” shi+horu said, her grip tightening on her staff, “it’s because of…”
Mogzo nodded “R-Ranta…?”
Haruhiro and the others were now on the agricultural fourth stratu a sink well to the fifth when Haruhiro noticed the unusual amount of activity
“You et back up here from the fifth stratum all alone?” Haruhiro wondered
Too rare to die, Haruhiro thought, and though he didn’t really consider it the greatest achievement in the world, it was still pretty impressive At the very least, Ranta’s ability to survive surpassed that of any normal person It was perseverance of an intensity that Haruhiro and the others just didn’t possess
They exchanged glances with one another Haruhiro said, “Let’s go!”
Everyone headed towards the uproar of kobolds They took care to advance cautiously, never rushi+ng; there was no point in doing any of this if they got caught and chased around too However, entering an area with so h impossible
Haruhiro made everyone fall back while he approached the end of a creature pen and poked his head slightly out for a look
“Whoa…”
The kobolds were ra around crazily; here, then there, then back again Sometimes they would even hop the fences into one of the pens then jus Haruhiro observed the kobolds for so in his direction
He finally withdrew and said to the others, “…there’s no e can even get close”
No other conclusion was possible If they went any further the kobolds would find them for sure Of course, one option was to let themselves be discovered, and then try to lure the kobolds away froive Ranta a chance to run or hide But there was no guarantee that they would be able to draw all of the kobolds to them Besides, it also occurred to Haruhiro that, coht have an unexpectedly easier tieneral
And even if the five of theuarantee they would all be able to get away safely In fact, maybe it was better to just assume the worst and rid himself of unwarranted optimism No, it was better to remain undetected, but on the other hand, Haruhiro couldn’t think of any other way to help Ranta
Priorities What was the order of priorities here? What’s theI have to do now? What co of the five of the the order of these two priorities reversed was not an option It was simply unacceptable
If it was Yuzo or even Mary in Ranta’s place, the order of priorities wouldn’t change Haruhiro couldn’t allow hi a leader meant
“Let’s get out of here,” Haruhiro said with a firm nod “No doubt Ranta’s nearby, but if the kobolds find us here too, they’re going to go even et worse Kobolds don’t sees be, ot their oork to do too I think eventually things will quiet down We’ll keep searching for Ranta then”
“But… what if Ranta…” shi+horu started hesitantly “What if, before we come back… they find him and—I’m sorry… I—”
“If that happens…” Yu “If that happens, we’ll be searchin’ for his body… or what’s left of it…”