Oversseer System: I Shall Recreate This Civilization
Chapter 39: Expedition (7)

Chapter 39: Expedition (7)

As they ventured deeper, the surroundings grew darker.

Amidst the increasingly ominous thicket, they stumbled upon a throne.

It sat atop a three-meter-high staircase, adorned with gilded thorns.

Below the steps lay an assortment of ancient relics—yellowed scrolls, tattered books with torn covers, and gleaming, split gemstones.

The area was meticulously arranged, as no trees grew within a five-meter radius of the throne, making it seem as if the surrounding foliage existed solely to shield it.

’Shield it from what? And for whom?’

"We should keep moving."

The group could sense the danger lingering in the air.

Even Lazhra, usually playful and energetic, treaded past the throne with extreme caution.

After three long hours, they finally emerged from the forest.

Along the way, they had encountered colonies of strange creatures—a lion-headed turtle, blue beetles that spewed iron webs, and spiders with human-like body.

Despite the exhausting battles, they had managed to overcome every challenge.

Much of their success was thanks to the massive boar accompanying them.

Eventually, they reached the edge of a cliff overlooking a small town.

It was called Suker, a once-thriving trade hub in the westernmost region of Sarr.

But now, Suker was nothing more than a cluster of abandoned, dilapidated buildings, overrun by a swarm of giant ants.

"We’ll camp here for the night," Sahmira announced.

"Finally~! I swear my legs were about to give out if I walked another step," Lazhra groaned, collapsing onto the ground.

"Oh, don’t worry, dear sister-in-law. I still feel fresh enough to walk for two more nights," Lendra teased, having regained his stamina hours ago and taken over for a now-weary Dahr.

"Says the guy who slept through half the journey."

"Ugh..."

Lazhra chuckled. "Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. We won’t need another night out here. We have five complete samples now. At dawn, we’ll head straight for the shore and return. So, Lord Lendra, you can—"

"I’m staying."

Sahmira’s sudden statement cut Lazhra off.

She stepped forward, unfurling a tarp and beginning to set up camp. Dahr quietly assisted her.

"Wait, are you serious, Sis?"

Sahmira nodded. "There’s something I need to find."

Lazhra hesitated but then shrugged. It was clear she understood her sister’s intent.

"Well, alright then. I’m leaving my sister in your hands, Old Man Nord."

"Hey, no way! This is suspicious. If Sahmira stays, then I’m staying too."

Sahmira barely acknowledged Lendra’s protest. "Do as you please."

"Yeah. Now, Old Man, you’re under my watch. Whatever perverted schemes you had in mind won’t happen."

"Damn it!"

"W-wait, so you do have perverted thoughts?! Hey, answer me!"

Ignoring the bickering between Lendra and Nord, Dahr’s thoughts lingered on Sahmira’s words.

’Something to find...’

Once they distributed their supplies, the group heated their rations over a campfire.

Most of their food consisted of salmon brought from their ship and provisions they had packed beforehand.

They had no intention of eating the creatures they had encountered, especially since most of them looked utterly disgusting.

As night fell, they took turns keeping watch, with Sahmira taking the first shift.

Dahr had his own shift later, so he was supposed to be asleep.

But his eyes refused to close.

The battles against the Magical Creatures hadn’t just exhausted him—they had thrilled him. The exhilaration of combat fueled a restless energy within him, an addictive mix of caution and anticipation.

Even though his body urged him to stop and retreat, Dahr wasn’t sure he could ignore this strange longing once they returned.

Their next expedition wouldn’t be for at least a month.

To prevent uncontrolled distribution of illegal samples, returning explorers were marked with a magical seal that wouldn’t fade for at least 28 days.

’And until then... I’ll have to go back to my ordinary life again.:

"You should get some rest. The journey back to the Intayan is long, and this time, Lendra won’t be there."

Sahmira’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. She had noticed him leaving his tent and sitting by the fire.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Dahr asked.

Sahmira held his gaze for a moment before exhaling.

"Truth."

Dahr frowned.

"Haven’t you heard the story from your father? About the The Devil?"

Dahr stiffened. ’She knows about that too?’

"I thought my father and his friends were just seeing illusions—"

"So you’re saying my father was hallucinating before he died?"

Dahr ran a hand through his hair. ’Right. Talking to these twins is never easy. Especially this one.’

"I’m just saying this place is so insane it makes everything feel like an illusions. I mean, a lion-headed turtle? Giant ants? A golden throne?"

"Don’t say that out loud! That throne belongs to him."

Dahr’s eyes widened. "You’re kidding."

But Sahmira’s expression remained unchanged.

"How do you know that?"

"Your father told me. He told me exactly how and where my father was killed."

"So my father told you, but not me? His own son?"

"Your father believed you didn’t need to know. It should be not your concern."

"That’s nonsense."

Dahr clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"... Does Lazhra know?"

"We both do. But Lazhra chose to move on. She can, but I can’t. Knowing that the creature that took my father’s life is still out there makes my blood boil."

"And Nord?"

"The old man holds the same grudge. And he happens to know where the creature’s nest is."

Dahr fell silent.

Uncle Khaedros had been his idol, his inspiration.

’Why would my father say this isn’t my concern?’

Dahr had made up his mind. "I—"

"AAAHHHH!"

A scream shattered the night.

Dahr and Sahmira shot to their feet, turning toward the tent in shock.

Inside, Lendra was trembling in hysterics, while Lazhra cowered in the corner, her hands over her mouth, pointing in disbelief.

The spot where Nord should have been lying was now soaked in blood.

All that remained was a severed hand.

*#*

Dahr noticed Sahmira’s hands trembling. He understood her shock—and shared her guilt.

That’s why he quickly looked for something, anything, that could help fix the situation.

’The blood... it left a trail!’

It led toward the back of the tent.

Following the trail, he found it vanishing into the dense, shadowy mangroves.

Dahr swallowed hard.

’Chasing after it would be risky. I don’t even know what we’re dealing with.’

But before he could react, Sahmira rushed past him, carrying a torch and heading straight into the darkened woods.

Dahr groaned.

’Of course she would...’

After some thought, he briefly explained the situation to the shaken Lazhra and Lendra before chasing after Sahmira.

As expected, even the torchlight barely pierced the thick, suffocating darkness.

Leaves and branches brushed against him, and he was certain he heard occasional growls in the distance. His fingers remained in his pocket, gripping his dagger tightly.

The blood trail now was nowhere seen.

’But, where did she go?’

After a while, Dahr spotted a shadow standing near the swamp.

But it wasn’t Sahmira.

"Nord?"

The old man squinted as the torchlight reached him.

"Kid, could you dim that thing a bit? My aging eyes are still adjusting."

Dahr froze.

Nord looked completely fine.

Both his hands were intact.

"What are you doing here—wait, have you seen Sahmira?"

"Huh? Isn’t she keeping watch by the fire? Oh, are you sleepwalking or—"

"This is serious! She went looking for you! We went looking for you!"

"...Me?"

Dahr hastily explained the chaotic events back at the camp, and Nord’s face darkened.

"Kid... do you remember that little goblin that caused trouble on the ship?"

Dahr’s eyes widened. "But I thought you said we’d be safe as long as we avoided their target areas?"

"That was just a theory... and those wretched creatures are too unpredictable."

Dahr cursed under his breath.

Now he had a choice—return to warn the others or keep looking for Sahmira.

"I’m going after her. Nord, go back and wait with Lazhra and Lendra."

"You sure?"

Dahr nodded. "We’ll be back soon."

Then, he rushed deeper into the forest.

Dahr hurried deeper into the forest.

This time, he had no trail to follow, and the suffocating darkness only made him more disoriented.

He had no idea how long he had been running and walking.

Yet, the night only grew darker, and Sahmira was still nowhere in sight.

As he struggled to catch his breath and wiped the sweat from his face, he suddenly stumbled upon something—

He had returned to the golden throne.

Sahmira stood beside its gleaming platform.

"Are you kidding me?!" she suddenly screamed. "You... did all of this for that?! My father died just for that?"

She was speaking as if someone—or something—was sitting on the throne.

’But what? Who?’

Dahr tried to move closer, but an invisible force stopped him.

A powerful mana barrier surrounded the throne, preventing him from stepping inside.

On his third attempt, he was thrown back, landing hard on the ground—

And that was when he saw it.

Sahmira stood in an alarmingly dangerous stance.

A dagger made of ice had formed in her hand. Her tear-filled eyes stared blankly ahead—until, by chance, they met Dahr’s.

Her lips parted into a gentle smile.

"This... is such a waste."

Then, she raised the dagger and slit her own throat.