Oversseer System: I Shall Recreate This Civilization
Chapter 34: Expedition (2)

Chapter 34: Expedition (2)

"You have a sweet face. I’d be willing to share my lunch if you’d warm my deck for me."

"Don’t take the offer. This guy can’t even survive without taking from others. Once he’s done using you, he’ll toss you aside. Instead, why don’t you get off here, take care of yourself, and wait for my return—with my seed growing inside you?"

"This bastard. Hey, Sweetheart, you’re better off choosing me—"

Dahr watched as his giant cousin walked away without another word.

Truly, there were no exceptions when it came to family.

Every uncle was too busy providing for their own households to pay the family tax for their nephew.

Aside from being related, Dahr and Sahmira had barely interacted.

Helping her wasn’t an obligation.

Yet, seeing a member of his family being harassed like that was enough to annoy him.

"Hey—"

"Move, move."

A voice broke through the crowd. Another giant, one who looked almost identical to Sahmira.

But unlike her cold and expressionless demeanor, this one wore a mocking smirk.

Especially as one of the harassers stumbled back after being pushed by her.

"You act like you want to marry my sister, but this is all the strength you’ve got? I bet you’ll be the first to die, Old Man."

"What did you say, woman?"

"What? Not happy? Step right up. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can’t handle you, Tough Guy."

Just as the fight was about to break out for real, Lazhra was suddenly stopped by her sister.

"I told you, don’t waste your energy before we arrive."

"Huh? But Sis, the problem is—"

"How dare you look away while I’m talking, you bitch!"

The man lunged at Lazhra, and she barely had time to react—especially with acceleration magic enhancing his movement.

But his charge was halted.

His entire body froze mid-motion.

"Oh..."

"Is that...?"

A chain of water wrapped around not only his legs but his wrists, neck, and waist, restraining him completely.

"I thought with a body that big, she’d be a buff user, but she’s actually an elemental mage?"

"Hey, doesn’t that stance remind you of someone?"

"There’s no mistaking it... the daughters of that lunatic, Khaedros."

Immediately, the hungry gazes of the men shifted into fearful ones.

The crowd dispersed, stepping away from the sisters.

As for the man still bound by the water chains, Sahmira didn’t even bother releasing him.

"Next time, think carefully about what you say, ’bitch’!"

All he could do was groan in frustration under the weight of Sahmira’s killing intent.

Meanwhile, Lazhra had already walked off, approaching Dahr.

"Ah, I knew I wasn’t mistaken. So it really is you, Little Cousin."

’Little Cousin?’

Dahr wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

Sahmira joined their conversation.

"So Rashven’s situation really is beyond saving, huh?"

It was an undeniable fact. Yet, for some reason, hearing her say it like that felt wrong to Dahr.

"I volunteered. It has nothing to do with his condition."

Sahmira scoffed, unwilling to argue further.

"Anyway, do you already have a party?"

Lazhra asked with a smile.

’Party?’

Dahr recalled that upon arriving at the Union, explorers needed to bring samples from different Magical Creatures. Even if they were the same species, their individual value varied, especially among group-dwelling creatures.

For that reason, working in a team was the most efficient strategy.

"Not yet."

"Perfect! So, what’s your magic?"

"Huh? Why would I tell—"

"Shh!"

Lazhra placed a finger over Dahr’s lips.

"Rule number one of S’n’L party members: don’t ask too many questions."

’I haven’t even agreed to join, though. And what’s S’n’L?’

Still, Dahr had to admit that teaming up with them wasn’t necessarily a bad option.

Teaming up with strangers increased the risk of betrayal. If someone stole your sample, they could double their gains, meaning they wouldn’t have to explore for another month.

"Ah, do you think we need more trust first? Then I’ll show you my magic!"

"Hey, Lazh, that’s—"

Ignoring her sister’s warning, Lazhra touched Dahr’s left shoulder and closed her eyes.

A warm golden glow spread, and Dahr felt his shoulder loosen up.

"Healing magic?"

Lazhra grinned.

"More like stimulation magic. You know, every wound or injury heals over time. That’s called mana regeneration, I think. But often, the process gets blocked or slowed down. I just speed it up."

Dahr was taken aback.

This was the first time he had seen someone with healing-type magic.

"So, what’s yours, Little Cousin?"

Dahr clicked his tongue.

*#*

"Beast-taming?"

Sahmira massaged her forehead, making Dahr feel even less confident.

Of course, if he had a choice, he would have preferred something more powerful, like buff magic.

Even Rashven had proven his capabilities by enhancing his mace.

"This is a huge mistake. We should’ve recruited a frontline fighter. Now we have three ranged and only two melee combatants."

"Eh, it’s fine, right? More people make the expedition easier. We can surround the monsters and attack all at once."

"Yeah, easy to say, but coordinating more than five people is—"

"Wait, five?"

Dahr didn’t even need to count—there were only three of them.

"Ah... sorry, we forgot to mention."

Lazhra and Sahmira stopped in front of two men lounging on the other side of the deck.

One was a silver-haired man in shining armor.

The other was an older man with a graying beard, seemingly too frail for an expedition.

"Oh, Sah, Lazh, I was looking for you two. I thought I got scammed."

The silver-haired man was Lendra, the seventh son of Lord Baram.

Unlike his brothers, who bathed in the wealth of nobility, Lendra had chosen the path of a knight.

Though, from the looks of it, that job hadn’t satisfied him much.

"We just went for a stroll. Does your pampered nature demand we spoon-feed you attention?"

"Sis, I told you not to be too harsh on Lord Lendra. It’d be pointless if we make it back, only to get beheaded later."

"Oh, don’t worry about that—there won’t be any beheadings, I guarantee it. And could you stop being so formal? We’re comrades now. You can call me something more familiar, like... Brother-in-Law."

Dahr frowned.

’I ended up in a party full of weirdos.’

Suddenly, he felt a nudge on his shoulder.

The old man was looking at him with a knowing expression.

"How can they be so relaxed?"

"Well, isn’t it better than being tense? Some probably just see this as an exciting adventure."

Dahr felt slightly insulted.

"By the way, I’m Nord."

The old man extended his hand. Dahr shook it awkwardly.

"Dahr."

"Ah, Salmen’s son? You’ve grown. Time flies."

"You knew my father, Old Man?"

"More than just knew him."

As Dahr tried to figure out what that cryptic statement meant, something was discreetly placed in his palm the moment their handshake ended.

A pill.

"You’ll need this when we cross the Sacred Tree."