Chapter 53: A Sinful One

Kat immediately ducked into another tree, and I paused the gameplay.

I think it's useless to rely on Kat's arrows alone. The girl was too nervous, and there was minimal lighting, so it was very likely that the girl wouldn't hit the mark.

Luckily, Jia hasn't done anything to Manu yet. For example, using my colonist as a hostage. Or maybe he's just too stupid?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

It seems Jia's hands were almost unusable because one had been bitten by Rox while the other had been pierced by an arrow in the shoulder. Maybe Kat's arrow hit the nerve that made the man's hand partially paralyzed. So, he can't do anything to Manu with his hands.

Well, I guess he was stupid, or maybe he was too panicked to think straight. Why hadn't he stepped on Manu or kicked my colonist to lure Kat out?

You panic because it turns out that a woman like Kat can make you helpless, huh?

And maybe because he was too panicked, he wanted to focus on finding Kat and the dog. He was afraid that if he strayed a bit by taking care of Manu, he would be hit by an arrow.

Well, there are many possibilities. And whatever it was, Kat was now at an advantage.

However, that doesn't mean Kat can just appear and shoot Jia at close range. Jia's legs still work. He can still kick, run and hit the girl with his shoulder, and so on.

After thinking for a while, I whispered a strategy into Kat's ear. Then, with a deep sigh, I pressed the play button.

Once she got to another tree, Kat didn't attack immediately. She waited until Jia arrived at the right position.

"Where are you bitch!" Jia shouts again. His breathing began to get heavy, and the blood from his forearm kept pouring out more and more.

Kat gestured to Rox, then took aim again. Taking a breath, she pulled on her bowstring.

Zap!

The arrow hit the tree again, but this time Kat did it on purpose.

Reflexively Jia stared at the arrow.

"Rox, attack!" Kat shouted.

"Woof! Woof!!!" The dog advanced fast.

Jia flinched and was about to back away, but he just realized that the bonfire was behind him.

And Rox bit the man's calf.

"Aaaacckkkkk!!!" Jia screamed in pain for the umpteenth time. Rox pulled the man's leg, forcing him to fall backward. "Hot! Hot! Heeeelp!!!"

Jia squirmed as his body started to burn with flames from the bonfire.

"Rox, let it go!" Kat ran while giving orders. The dog let go of the bite and returned to her.

While continuing to scream, get up and move wildly with his body more engulfed in flames. Kat shot him with the arrows scattered on the ground.

More and more, Jia kept away from the girl along with the arrows that kept hitting his body. Perhaps because he couldn't see, in the end, he disappeared among the trees.

However, Kat couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. The flames from Jia's body hit the trees and had started to grow. And of course, there is still Manu who needs help.

As per my orders, Kat came to Manu, who was unconscious and his head covered in blood. The girl checked her partner's heartbeat, then started to treat him. Even though her clothes were still torn at the chest, she don't care. The girl bandaged Manu's head as fast as she could.

Having done so, Kat turned to look at one of the trees. That plant began to crackle with the fire spreading. She rushed to throw the less essential things out of the sacks, slinging one of them in the front of her body, tying the other one to Rox's body, then carrying Manu on her back.

The girl let out a loud moan as she got up on her two feet. He carried an enormous weight on his body. I knew this would all be easier if the girl just left it all behind. However, I don't want them both to go home empty-handed. They should still be able to barter their goods with at least the knowledge of making fireplaces.

This is not only a matter of their survival in the short term but also in the long term.

Kat began to walk step by step, leaving that place. No time to rest. An expert had to deal with Manu immediately. Maybe in the Redtooth tribe, there are people like that.

***

I did use the fast forward feature, but I stopped it many times to check on Kat's condition. And every time I do it, I get more worried.

It was already late afternoon, but the signs of settlement from the Redtooth tribe had yet to be seen. Kat was drenched in sweat, and her legs were wobbling even more.

Am I wrong not to let her rest? However, I don't think we can delay this trip anymore. Manu really needs urgent help.

Am I wrong for not bringing water and food, so now her body is dehydrated and lacks energy? Am I wrong to prefer to carry assets that can later be used for transactions?

It seems that, in the end, everything will be useless if your colonists can't survive.

I beg you, Kat. Endure this just for a moment.

Kat's eyes were half-closed. She paused for a moment but forced herself to keep going.

Just three steps, she fell.

"Woof! Woof!!!" Rox barked at its master.

I knelt next to Kat and tried to shake the girl. A pointless act. My hands just go through her body.

Since Kat didn't respond at all, Rox chose to crouch beside its master. The pet's mouth made a sound like a low moan, and its eyes showed sadness, like when it was scolded by its master for doing something that it shouldn't.

I sat up and covered my face, unable to hold back my tears anymore. Even though they were virtual tears, I could still feel them, warm and running down my face. I'm not ready to lose them now. However, I don't know what to do.

Isn't there anything I can ask for help with?

After a few moments of wailing, I lifted my face. There is. I can ask someone for help.

"H!" I called out the name of the being who claimed to be a god. "I know you can hear me, H! Come out! I beg you!"