Chapter 38：The Sleepy Guard awakens.

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

I hear restless steps coming in and out of the game.

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

My eyes are closed but considering the speed, frequency and weight of the steps, I am sure it's the same person.

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

I had lost the count on the number of the times these same steps came and go in the last 3 minutes.

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Really, it's absurd. What is this guy doing that he comes and goes all the time?

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

I thought that after Jack left, I would finally have peace and tranquility but no, this guy keeps wondering here nonstop making me unable to fall asleep. Damn! Why is my luck so bad?

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Maybe it would be best if I just opened my eyes and asked what was wrong, but considering his insistence it will surely a troublesome problem and I really didn't feel like wanting to involve myself in something troublesome.

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Steps, steps, steps...

Arg! Damn it! OK! OK! You win! I will do something!

I open my eyes and it takes a few seconds for them to adjust the focus even thought it's already evening.

Steps, steps, steps...

I see Silver passing by with a dead rabbit in hands, so he is the damn f***er who is messing with my sleep!

"Hey Silver! What is the problem? This is the gateway, not the ballroom for you to be dancing right and left with that dead rabbit!"

He looks at me distressed, let go of the rabbit, grabs my shoulders and says:

"Josh! I don't know what to do! Leticia and Bia were kidnapped! Jack ran to save them! He told me to not follow him, but just waiting is killing me!"

His words blow away all sleepiness from my body.

"What!? Leticia was kidnapped!? Who was it? Where did he take her?"

"It was the armored monster who killed Jack's father. He took her and Bia to his cave. It seems like he was seen by the kids but luckily he was not interested and told them off saying he had some adult business to finish with the ladies."

My eyes grew red and my muscles contracted repeatedly.

"The pervert said WHAT!? If he touches a single hair of Leticia, I will break him so bad he will be born broken on his next 10 reincarnations! Lead the way!"

"But Jack said..-"

Grabbing my Ax, I cut his speech before he finishes.

"I don't give a f*** what Jack said! LEAD! THE! WAY! Or I will start by breaking you!"

Silver nodded in a hurry and start running through the mountain trail with me following him right behind.

A few minutes later, Silver was looking like he was in his last breaths, unable to walk, much less run.

"Damn it! Come here!"

I bent down and offered my back to him.

He looked with a mix of embarrassment, disgust and fear.

"FAST!"

Reluctantly he climbed on my back and grabbed on my shoulders. As for me, I wasted not a second longer, grabbed his legs and run full speed.

.

..

...

We entered the cave and as we reached the large hall we met Jack who was investigating a wheelbarrow.

I looked at the armor pieces left there and the feeling of fury took over me.

Profane words started coming out one after another from my mouth.

I grabbed the armor and stumped on it with all my might, deforming it. Unsatisfied, I kept stomping again and again.

Jack look at us surprised and questioned Silver.

"Silver? What are you doing here!? Didn't I told you to wait for your dad!?"

"Jack, shut up! He came to lead the way. Now that we are here, he can go back."

"What!? I have to go back alone!? It's already night! I can't go back alone in the forest."

Checking the armor that is now just a deformed metal plate, I asked Silver.

"Then you want to hunt the armored monster instead?"

"Are you two crazy? That guy sent all our adult hunters to the ward! You have no chance against him!"

"Crazy? Me?! No! He is the crazy one for messing with my Leticia!"

Ignoring the coward, I turn to Jack and ask him.

"Now Jack, you are coming with me?"

"Yes, but let me lead the way, I am better at sneaking than you. Wait my sign before attacking, OK?"

I hate to admit but he was right.

"OK, but don't be too slow, who knows what kind of thing the monster is planning on doing to the girls. If we arrive too late, I will make you take responsibility as well!"

Jack nods his head and takes out his bow and arrow.

"Then let's go."

But just after a few steps, Jack looks to the sides and stops moving.

"What's the problem? Why aren't we moving yet?"

"No, it's just that I don't remember this hall having 2 passages, look over there."

I look at the passage to the left in the end of the hall.

"Hmm. Yes, when we played here as kids we never saw that passage before..."

"So, should we proceed right or left?"

"Hmm...Let's check this new one first! It should be smaller than the Dungeon so we can finish it fast."

So we proceeded through the left passage and arrived on some kind of sacrifice chamber.

Looking at the piles of bones, it was impossible to count exactly how many lives were killed here, but it surely surpassed the hundreds.

Jack, in front of me, start trembling.

"Jack, what's up? Did you find something?"

Jack answer me with a trembling voice and pale face.

"Th-there is traces of blood over there, it's small but recent!"

I couldn't help but grow more worried.

"Wh-what did you say!? Are you saying the girls..."

"We can't be sure yet but..."

As we were discussing, a big man appeared from the passage on the other side of the sacrifice chamber. He was wearing a full helmet, naked upper body, armored pants and boots, a mace in one hand and a sword dripping blood in another.

"Welcome gentlemen! May I ask what business both of you have in this one's humble house?"

My vision went red, my head went blank, I screamed as I charged toward him, pushing Jack who was in the way to the side.

"You!!!!!! Monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!"