33 Chapter 33: Diversion (1/2)

Being a third-year student, Bei Pan Zhe actually had a license. He was able to drive us there in a car. The five of us had ample space in his vehicle, and it didn't take us long before we reached the convoy of refugees. It would have been faster, had Bei Pan Zhe not needed to make a detour. With the pack of monsters being between us and the refugees, he had taken the long way around and swung about once he was sure we were out of sight and hearing of the monstrous horde, approaching the convoy from the opposite direction.

Most of them were on foot, having come from a relatively poor village where they couldn't afford cars and the like. I could see lines of terrified children being protectively shepherded by their worried parents, who were frequently glancing over their shoulders to ensure that the monsters hadn't caught up to them yet.

”They're close,” Daisy informed us after casting a reconnaissance spell. Having taken up position in the passenger seat at the front, she had entered her meditative state ever since we had left the relative safety of Jing Tian City. She was keeping her eyes closed as she radiated a trace amount of magical energy, extending her senses to cover several miles. ”The pack of monsters are about two kilometers south of us, and closing in. I don't think they have picked up the refugees' scent yet, but they will inevitably find them at this rate.”

While Bei Pan Zhe kept his eyes on the road, Dan Xiao Gui and Lavender exchanged glances. I wasn't sure what passed between them, but my intuition was insisting that something was amiss. I had to focus on the mission first, though.

”We'll be counting on you then, Student Richard.” Bei Pan Zhe braked and hauled his car to a stop. I nodded and pushed the door open, filing out with the rest.

”That way.” Daisy opened her eyes, and stepped out of the passenger seat to point me toward the right direction.

”Okay.” I sucked a deep breath into my lungs. Forcing a calm I didn't feel, I queried. ”How long do you need to evacuate the refugees?”

”…”

”…”

None of them answered me. None of them could meet my gaze.

”Thirty minutes? An hour?” I glanced in the direction of the city. The great walls and magical barrier were within sight, so it shouldn't take that long. That said, we had children and the elderly here, many of whom were moving on foot, so I should probably be generous with my estimate.

”Uh…”

”Who cares?!” Lavender snapped angrily. ”Quit wasting time and go already! Or do you want the monsters to find us?!”

”You do realize that you're asking me to risk my life for an extremely dangerous task by myself, right?” I countered, keeping my voice level. ”Why don't you be the diversion instead? I don't mind dropping out of the mission and forfeiting the rewards if that lets me do things my way.”

Furthermore, my glasses had a recording device that helped to log the mission. Everything would be recorded and submitted to the academy for evaluation later. I could later argue that my teammates were treating me unfairly.

”You…!”

”Now, now.” Bei Pan Zhe raised his hands. ”Junior Richard has a point.” He turned to me. ”Once the refugees are safely in the city, I'll let you know.”

”All right.” I made sure to get his number before I turned to leave. ”Take care of the refugees. Please leave the monsters to me.”

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I was trying not to let my anxiety show, but my voice trembled ever so slightly. If they had noticed it, they didn't say anything.

Two kilometers south. I jogged toward the south, the lenses in my glasses having an inbuilt compass that showed me the way. I was still feeling slightly apprehensive about the task, but the lives of so many refugees were dependent on me. I could count at least a couple hundred of non-combatants evacuating from Bi Nan Village.

Even so, to ask me to lure such a large number of monsters away all by myself…not to mention, I still didn't know the exact number and disposition of the monsters.

It'll be all right, I told myself.

I didn't need to slay all the monsters. I just needed to attract their attention and divert them away. The stronger seniors could get rid of the monsters later. My team, theoretically, should return and assist me in completing the mission after ensuring the safety of the refugees.

All I needed to do was keep running and stay in contact. I had my smartphone and I told Bei Pan Zhe to leave the GPS function on. They should be able to track me down once they were done with their task. And since I was on foot and they had a car, they should be able to catch up to wherever I was in short order.