Chapter 727 - Visiting the Four Men, Meeting the Rest of the Group for a Briefing (1/2)

Day 154 - 10:11 AM - Madrijelos National High School, Barangay Madrijelos, Municipality of Algeria, Province of Cebu

”Everyone is so busy...”

Private Monteroso murmured as she peeked out the window. She could not help but glance at Mark, who was the reason for all of this. At the same time, she seemed to have something to say but was hesitating.

Of course, it did not escape Mark's [Empathic Detection].

”Want to ask something?”

Mark turned to the female soldier while he was arranging some items into his bag.

”Uhm...”

The female soldier hesitated.

”You're a soldier. What are you hesitating for?”

Mark raised an eyebrow.

Private Monteroso could only complain inside. She would not hesitate if not for the fact that it was Mark's group that she was facing. Especially earlier. The way that Mark said that they would kill anything blocking their path was rather frightening, even for a soldier like her. It was not fear on a physical level but a mental level.

Taking a deep breath, the female soldier finally spoke.

”I want to be excused from this post. Everyone is already preparing to leave. I need to help my younger sister prepare too. She's just a child.”

Mark then shrugged. This soldier was unable to leave her post because Officer Emilio put grave importance on their group.

”Just go. As you can see, we don't need any babysitting. If anyone asked why you're not here, just tell them that I chased you away.”

”I-is that okay?”

Private Monteroso was surprised. If she did say that to people, it would not be surprising if they saw Mark as a bad person.

”Just go already. Or do you want to stay here all day?”

Mark glared at the soldier, making her flinch. And as if she was really chased out, Private Monteroso came out of the room half running.

”Finally, she's out.”

Mark smirked as she watched the soldier run away. He then closed the door of the room, only leaving the higher windows of the classroom to light up the room.

”Master, you're only finding a way to chase her away, right?” Amihan flew and landed on Mark's head. ”It's good that she's gone. She kept on staring at me. It's uncomfortable...”

”Don't worry. She doesn't have any ill intention.” Mark tapped Amihan's head. ”She's just someone similar to Mei and me, in one aspect.”

”Similar?”

Amihan asked as she looked at Mei, who was helping the girls wipe their bodies. There was no way for them to take a bath at this time, after all.

On the other hand, Mei understood what Mark said and nodded at Amihan's glance.

”She's also a person without childhood.”

Mei stated, on which Mark nodded in agreement.

It was very likely that Private Monteroso was also the eldest child in their family, causing her childhood to be cut short because of expectations put on her shoulders.

And if Private Monteroso came from a family of soldiers, it would have been worse. Fathers who were either soldiers or policemen were known for their unreasonable strictness to their children. Of course, it was not every one of them. However, this circ.u.mstance was quite common.

It was very obvious to the soldier's childish fascination with Amihan and her magic. She even had some knowledge about Tamawos since she asked that question earlier. It was likely that she was a lover of fairy tales but was reprimanded because of it in her childhood.

”Anyway, there's no eyes watching us now. I'll go check on those four.” Mark said as he stood up, making Amihan fly away from his head. ”I already wrote the plans on this paper. Everyone should read it later.”

Mark then placed the paper beside Mei.

”Take care.”

Mei said to Mark, as she snuck a kiss on his cheek as he bent down.

Mark froze a bit at it was unexpected. He could not help but glance at Mei.

Mei's face was a bit red as she turned away in embarrassment. It seemed that she did it without thinking since Mark's face was close to hers.

Mark shook his head as he patted her head.

”I'll be quick. I just need to tell them what we are going to do tonight.”

”Papa, bye-bye!”

Miracle said while being wiped by her Mama. Abbygale and Iola then followed suit before Emika snuck a request.

”Uncle, bring some souvenirs back!”

”Geez... I'm just going to a nearby forest. What do you expect me to bring back? Alright, I'm going.”

Mark complained before he turned into a surge of black mist the flew through the window behind the room. Then, he went out through the backside of the school.

***

Leaving the school, Mark appeared not too far from the walls. The distance of his [Shadow Mist Movement] was limited, after all. He needed to appear and disappear at fixed intervals.

Soon, he reached an abandoned house southwest of the school. It was where Berrak, the two soldiers, and Pefile were left to hide.

What Mark saw when he arrived, however, was a tree by the side of the road, waving its branches unnaturally.

And then...

BAM!

The thickest branch suddenly shot towards Mark at fast speeds. It was as if a spear was thrown towards him at full force. Furthermore, the target was his face.

Mark tilted his head to his left, and the branch passed an inch away from his ear. But then, the branch whipped towards his face after it failed its first attack.

It would be hard to avoid it as the movements of the branch were too fast. The only thing Mark could do was kick the ground and to a cartwheel to his left, making the branch miss due to its speed.

”I know I'm ugly, but do you really have to target my face?”

Mark complained to the tree in front of him.

To Mark's complaint, however, the tree replied.

”The head is a smaller target and is better for practice.”

The voice was no other than Pefile.

The branch that attacked Mark then started to wilt as Pefile showed himself, coming out of the tree. At the same time, many branches of the tree began to wither, leaving the original appearance of the tree behind.

”If you want to practice, find other things.” Mark frowned at Pefile. ”How does it feel becoming a Mutator?”

”Strange,” Pefile replied frankly. ”It's as if I had more hands now that felt awkward to control, yet it felt natural.”

”Where did you got this anyway?”

Pefile added, wondering where the ability within the crystal he received came from.