Chapter 94: A Change in the Situation (2/2)
In the end, from 9 we're now down to 6. After that encounter below, we might've gotten some benefits but we were faced with something we could never hope to prevail if something went wrong.
”I'm kind of rash, so Yumiko. Use your strength to stop me if I did it again.”
”No. You probably accounted that he won't do anything, and he didn't. He might even have a good impression of you.”
”I think so too but if you really go over the line, we're here with you.”
Jayna commented as well.
”I couldn't accept that he only picked the three of you as someone with the potential to become a Transcendent so I chose to stay. I might be weaker and not as opinionated but you can count on me.”
Jagu also voiced out his frustration.
That's right, among every one of us, he only focused on me, Yumiko and Jayna. The others were only mentioned as Rank 3. Maybe Rei and Ren were also feeling the same as him however, they're already used to not voicing it out.
Since it's almost half a day since we entered this dimension, Yumiko proposed to camp and pass the first day at this relatively safe area for now.
No one objected because they're also eager to use the stones we got to cultivate here, to increase their strength.
There's no need for a campfire. It's not cold anyway. By making a schedule to have 2 to be on watch while the other four will rest or cultivate, we started resting at the side of that suspended waterfall.
With Yumiko and I being the first watchers, we talked about the experience we just had from that mansion ruins.
”What should we do for tomorrow?”
I asked Yumiko. This experience was also new for her and as the leader, she probably felt like she was lacking.
”Shouldn't you be our leader now, Daisuke? You have a better grasp of our situation than me.”
See. She's trying to admonish herself.
Before I could answer her, she continued talking with helplessness in her voice.
”Earlier, I was like them. Scared out of my wits. Even with my current strength, there's no way I can beat him. I would be as shaken as them if you didn't reach for my hand.”
”But you stayed firm. With you in front of us, we felt safe.”
Even if I'm the one giving advice and the one who talked to that old man, she's the pillar everyone was relying on.
”Uhm. You know, during my time in the World of Spirits, I'm used to being relied upon. However, earlier, when facing that scary old man, a thought came upon my head. I too also want someone to rely on.”
Yumiko turned her face towards me and reached for my hand, clasping it in her small palm before continuing.
”And when I'm shaking in fear, you held my hand like this and shouldered what should have been my role. At that time, I thought, 'I already have someone I can rely on.'.”
”I'm your support, Yumiko, I did what I had to do but look at what happened. My judgement wasn't always right. I almost endangered everyone down there.”
Saying this again, I became something like a broken plate. I want to own up to that mistake.
”But nothing happened right? You judged that he couldn't do anything that's why you became that bold and you stopped at his first warning. You have a clearer head than me.”
Yumiko just shook her head at what I said. For her, she saw my recklessness differently.
”Even so, it might not always result in that. I'm not perfect, I'm mostly guessing all the time and if I guess wrong, it will really be fatal for everyone.”
”Then Daisuke, don't just stand behind me. Stand beside me. With you at my side, we'll be stronger together. Let's be equals, not just a Hero and her Support.”
With Yumiko still holding my hand in her palm, she said all of these confidently. She believed that it would happen. Just like Yuko…
”You sounded like Yuko just now. She kept saying that to me. That we're equal even if I had just started to tread this path of being the Heroes' only Support.”
With only that image she saw during the awakening of her Foresight, she started to believe in me.
”I see, it's not me who first saw this point. Yuko really is amazing. Among everyone in our class, she's the one I most admired. I couldn't really get it at first when I saw you two being that affectionate to each other. But now that I'm having this experience with you, I suppose that was just her being her true self.”
Yumiko wryly smiled upon knowing that Yuko already treated me like that even when I still don't have my current strength.
”Yes. She's amazing and so are you. I'm always in awe of your plans and the way you did things, you know?”
Even without my help, she can surely pull off a successful siege in that Fortress.
”Ugh. You really have your way with words... No wonder even that innocent girl got taken in by you.”
”Err… I didn't do anything.”
I turned my head away to escape her teasing gaze. And my reaction made her giggle as if she enjoyed it.
After a while, Yumiko once again asked me.
”So, Daisuke. Can you lead with me?”
”If that will put you at ease, then alright.”
With everything that she said if I still reject then that's just pathetic. Correcting each other's mistake in judgement, will that really make us stronger? We'll see.
”Thank you!”
After saying that, just like last night, Yumiko closed in the distance between us and placed her lips over mine. With her arms slipping itself around my neck, this kiss will not be just a quick one.
And with her being this proactive, I responded to her this time and held her in my arms.
Soon enough, we separated from each other with Yumiko as red as an apple. I waited for her to calm down before we discussed what would be our new goal after what we learned. We will not be able to complete this exploration so we changed it to just reach the last landmark to see if there are still any survivors from the previous expedition.