13 Before The Red Dawn: Base

At Morning, 8.00 A.M.E

I feel something soft is touching my face, I think someone is hugging me very tightly and pressing her chest onto my face.

"Mpph!...mpph!" I can't breathe. I think the woman who is hugging me right now isn't Ayumi.

"Ahh…five more minerval…"

(This…this is Rania-san's voice! What the hell is she doing?!)

"Mpphhhh!!!! Mpppphhh!!!" She is hugging me more tightly now. Oh, I can't catch my breathe.

"Haru-san, the break— Weh?!" Oh, I could heard Ayumi's startled voice.

"Oh-hoo…Kaichou is cheating secretly, wait…HEY YOU STUPID SPIDER YOU ARE SQUEEZING HIM OUT HIS BREATH!" that was Luna's voice.

"Rania-san, Rania-san! You must let go off him!" said Ayumi while she is shaking Rania-san's body, trying to wake her up.

"Rania-san!" Luna smacked her head with her bag.

"Owowowow…!!! What the heck are you doing Madwoman?! I'm still sleeping!"

"You squeezed Kaichou—" But the three of them looked at a man with pale blue face.

"…!!!" (Shocked expression)

"Haru-san!!!!!!!!!"

I don't remember what happened next after I fainted. Robert said Ayumi gave me CPR and massaged my heart to wake me up. He said Rania-san chose to sleep again after she looked at me, much likely she doesn't care about me.

(Damn…that spider ignored her dying captain…) I said.

At Morning, 10.00 A.M.E

"Oh Leader, I see…so you have been revived by a Princess's Kiss, hadn't you?"

"Hah…I have two bad mornings already…please don't tease me Arnold…"

"How's it Leader, do you like the cave we have designed for you"

"I think all of you went too far…"

They have designed and rebuilt this cave into cozy place, very cozy to be exact. Most likely, they have rebuilt this on early morning, with magic of course. They separated the bath between man and woman, created magical toilets, a vent on top of fireplace (and when the hell they dug the cave's ceilings?), large kitchen, washing places (even though those aren't necessary because we have [Lifestyle Magic]). Watchtowers on outside, built waterway, fortifications on walls, built a gate, sealed few dangerous paths, created escape paths and they even have fortified the barriers along with made many traps plus defense mechanisms. I think our base has turned into dungeon instead a hideout.

"Heiki-heiki. We all love luxurious and complex hideout!" said Toval.

"The boys developed the base by their own and they also created the sketches. We girls only forced to tag along; well, we thought it must be fun to design this place. Moreover, we need to make the bath by ourselves. Otherwise, the boys will make many holes to peek us." said Luna.

"Even a serious man like Julio along with his men also interested to develop this place you know? I'm sure boys just like boys after all. They love to make many secret bases outside." She continued.

"So, did you also build many tents and rooms?"

"Our tents are already magical. It has many rooms inside, more like a castle. On the first place, we didn't need to build this facility that much. But because it will be boring, we chose to rebuild this place haha…" said Robert.

True, the latest magical tent named [Tentriutum] has unlimited space for bedroom and it also has many features like toilets, kitchens, pool, massage area, hot spring and many others, both for personal use or public use. It also imbued with [Light] Attribute Magic so any kind of Demon can't enter this place. This tent has sold in market for extremely expensive price. It only circulated and created in Holy Elf Kingdoms and Yggdrasil World, Floor 99th and 100th. It said this tent was a gift from The Maker to one of His Prophets when the Prophet almost died from hypothermia on snowy mountains.

The Maker allowed The Prophet to produce this tent for his people (followers) and now it became a special product that only comes from Holy Elf Kingdoms. Someone can also obtain this by doing a trial in Light Dragon Gods Temple or Cathedral that located in Center of Holy Elf Kingdoms. Well, at that time, Ayumi and I asked for this trial and we finished it by ourselves. It said this trial is similar as if the trials to obtain most overpower weapons and armors from The Maker.

"Whatever guys" *sigh* I sighed because I think my party members are too creative or just hyperactive.

"Tokorode, have you received any instruction or order from the Guild Master, Kaichou?" asked Yuna.

"No, I have not. I'm worried right now, I'm afraid if something has happened on them."

"Don't worry, that loud thief face can't be killed easily." said Arnold.

"We encountered a Great Demon yesterday and it was the one who summoned the Demonic Dragons that we have defeated couple days ago. Here you go Aniki." Robert came back with a warm mineral water and toasted breads.

"Oh, it's for intoxication isn't that right? I also thought drinking tea every day is very unhealthy…eh…" I got unpleasant gazes from Ayumi. Oh shit, I need to change this topic quickly.

"Alright, let's gather at tent." Then, I walked and entered the tent.

"Osh, Leader…morning'cha."

" Eh, Erick-san, Lichtiash Morning…It's rare to see you wake up early."

"Heh, we are now in wilderness and we still lost in contact with other parties. Our supplies can't last forever, I want to get money and back home."

"Please do not making explosive flasks inside meeting tent…"

"Heh, dont'cha worry, it won't explode because I'm fully awake right now…"

(RIGHT NOW?!) I said on my mind. Shortly after that the squads' leaders entered the meeting tent.

"Let me know the contour around this area, I guess all of you have drawn the map, haven't you? Oh before that, I must thank all of you because you had rebuilt this cave into dungeon…I'm loss of words…"

"Yer welcome boy, glad our fists can satisfy your taste!"

(I'm meant the opposite way Khazim-san…uh…) (I said that with "oh my god" expression)

"This is my map for the outside. I also have shared the diagrams to everyone via magic"

"…and Aniki, these are maps for the natural tunnels, created tunnels and exit ways."

"You all are too creative…"

"Daro? (I know right?)" said Yuna.

"Anyway, I have memorized and learned the entire inner tunnels map thanks to my racial abilities. Now Jack, please explain the outside area to us."

"Certainly, well there is a thick and dense forest on our surrounding. Our hideout located on this top of canyon, surrounded by rocky area and now we have sealed the way to here with barrier magic, [Earth] and [Light] Elemental magic barrier. We also have placed many traps and alarms around us, so we will get a signal if something is trying to disarm the alarms, traps or even break the barriers. Oh, I'd like to tell you the trees below and around us are perfect for the classes who used Rogue, Druid or Sage as their basic class. Next, our target of operation is on north of the mountain. According to my [Eagle's Eye] Ability, there is a lake, rivers, forest, hills, valley and grassland, but outside the grassland itself I can see the destroyed villages, along with one or two of "them" that roam or hide inside the houses. I recommend we go hunting on midday rather than evening."

"Are there any monsters around here?" asked Erick.

"On the forest below us, we have met many animal monsters, but they aren't corrupted. On north, maybe we will meet many corrupted and demonic monsters. But for lesser demonic creatures like Goblins or Gremlins, there are none of them around there. Normally, they will live in a cave around us, but fortunately, they aren't any. Rania have sent many of her underlings in this cave and forest below us. Not one of them encounter Goblin, Gremlin, Forest Giant or Troll. I find this quite strange…but I have no idea why…"

"Goblins love to live in dark, cold, places without sunlight and damp places like caves, ruins or dungeons. They really hate water, because they are created by soil and fire. Goblins will build a nest if the forest they used as hunting place is near human settlements, not 30 KMe far like this place. They also dislike grassland area because they can't hide when they are bringing the hostages from the villages. If the forest itself is abundant with mana, animals and fruits, they would never raid the villages, except if they need the girls for reproducing. But I must say again "if the forest itself is near with the settlement". They will never attack the villages with heavy security, except if they are desperate to get the women or livestock." Robert explained in detail.

"Well, their targets are only women and foods, no more no less." said Jack.

"True, they can ride the Direwolves we met back then, if the wolves don't eat them first."

"Heeh…serves them right." said Tim.

"Hobgoblins and Goblin Shamans normally live with the normal Goblins in their nest as their leaders and commanders. I have met them when I received a mission to rescue captured village girls from the Guild back then. It was a quite nasty view when I arrived on the place." said Julio.

"Yes, I also received a quest to save captured girls when I'm on human territory. The one who captured them were bandits, but the Goblins ambushed them and took them into their hideout. At that time, the bandits no, the "Slave Collectors" had "tasted" them before the Goblins. But they spared the "great merchandises" for the pervert nobles, their efforts are wasted because the Goblins raided them. Well so, the "victims" tasted "two nightmares" in one night."

"I remembered one of the victims has become your wife right now, isn't that right Jack?" asked Yuna.

"Yes, she was the one of "great merchandises". When Goblins raided the bandits' caravans inside the forest, luckily she and other great merchandises able to hide thanks to the destroyed caravan and stealth spell." said Jack.

"Haaah…I'm so jealous…" said Toval,

"Well then, Jack-dono, did you spot any Gremlin, Forest Giant, or Troll?" asked Zikiya.

"Fortunately, no, Zikiya-san, on the first place, Gremlin isn't far different than Goblin. One thing that makes them different is their interest. Gremlins like shining things rather than women. Maybe they will go hunting for women if their mating season comes. For big demonic creatures like Troll or Forest Giant, I think Rania's underlings have spotted them in northern forest."

"Okay, then what about the tunnel that leads to the big river from here Robert?"

"That river is a dead end and the river itself is deep, with strong current. If we go across it, we will reach northern forest and that's the shortest way to the ruined villages. But I think that place isn't safe since there are many demonic beasts and creatures there."

"Alright, all of you please make small parties that consist of every class and explore the northern side, every party must go to different area and don't explore the villages. The rest of you may go to southern forest or just guard this place. If you encounter any danger that you think you couldn't defeat, please run without hesitation and go back here. Your life is more important than EXP, now do you understand that Robert, Tim and Erick?"

"Yes, yes…whatever." said Erick.

"Robert and Jack, both of you go to northern forest. Erick, Julio, Tim follow me. I'll also ask the others."

"Ehhh…Kaichou I don't wanna…" said Tim and Erick with cute tone.

"You know what happened last time I leave both of you "to guard" a hideout?"

[Flashback] a picture of a hideout and base are burning because of a big explosion. A young man with white hair, which is none other than the party leader of [White Falcon] is crying while staring the base and murmuring "my base…"

"Ehehehehe…." After hearing that, Tim is embarrassed and he rubbed his back head while Erick glanced away.

"Where will you go Kaichou?" asked Yuna.

"I'd like to spend this day to rest since my back is still hurt, ugh. I need to find Guild Master and other parties since they still haven't sent a message yet. Alright, meeting dismissed." We walked outside together and prepared everything we need. After that, other Squad Leaders briefed their members.

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*Rub*Rub*(Sound of putting something inside bag) "Haru-san, are you will go to west mountains?"

"Oh, Ayumi-san…Yes, I'll go there. I remembered [North Wind of Liberation] has chosen a place above waterfall as their hideout. Oh right, you will go with me."

"Eh? You invited me? Normally, you would tell me to house sitting in every adventure we did on the past."

"Toval will go with Rubert to Northern Forest. I need more warrior although I don't like to bring you into dangerous situation."

"Geez…I'm not a kid anymore though…you know I had graduated from Northlandia Academy, please don't treat me like a kid Haru-san!"

"I don't like my loved one injured because me, you know?" I grabbed her hand and kneeled in front of her.

"Heeehh…look, look! Kaichou is flirting with Ayumi in a middle of mission, how jealous…" said Yuna.

"How jealous, I want a boyfriend or fiancée like that mwwuuu…!" said Luna.

"Why the two of you aren't going out with me?" said Toval.

"NO." (Instant reply from both of them)

"Most likely, you will sneak attack and peek us when we are bathing, changing cloth or sleeping. I bet you will leave us when a danger comes." said Luna.

"Damn…"