They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 327: Doubts

Chapter 327: Doubts

Her heart pounded in her chest, from excitement, from nerves, from the high stakes that hung over them like an invisible sword.

If she was wrong…

If she made even one mistake…

No. She wouldn’t allow herself to fail.

Nnenna stood up, brushing dirt from her knees.

There was a fierce determination in her eyes now, a blazing fire that hadn’t been there before.

She had a plan.

She had hope.

And she wasn’t going to let anyone down.

Once Nnenna confirmed everything, she raced back to the group, her heart pounding with excitement.

“Guys! I have it!” she cried out breathlessly.

“I found a way! I know how we can reach Purlit!”

Everyone turned toward her, hope flashing in their tired eyes.

She quickly explained what she remembered, how to truly find north without a compass, how the forest’s layout had confused them, and how if they moved carefully, following the real direction, they could finally reach the edge and get to Purlit.

They had their manual compass devices, but since they weren’t working and gave them inaccurate direction, why not follow the leading of the sun. It made sense!

“Will this really work?” Karen asked weakly, her voice trembling with exhaustion and fear.

“I can’t endure another two weeks of walking in circles…”

“It will work,” Nnenna said with a firm nod.

“We are close. A few weeks, maybe less if we push hard enough.”

But Karen frowned, clearly troubled.

“We’re running out of food and water. How are we supposed to survive the next few weeks with nothing?”

Nnenna hesitated, opening her mouth, but Karen quickly cut in.

“Why don’t we turn back for now?” Karen suggested urgently.

“Just a few days’ journey and we’ll be back at Lumna. We can buy supplies, then come back and continue the journey through the forest toward Purlit.”

The group looked at each other, some visibly tempted by the idea of real food, real rest, safety…

But Ekene stepped forward, shaking his head firmly.

“We can’t,” he said, his voice low and serious.

“If we go back to Lumna now, the city will be swarming with palace guards. They’ll be everywhere, looking for us. Going back is asking to be caught.”

“But we can be careful!” Karen argued, desperation rising.

“Just in and out, fast! We don’t have to draw attention—”

“It’s not that easy,” Ekene snapped.

“They’ll have checkpoints, patrols. They’re not stupid. They know we might return for supplies. It’s too dangerous. We’ll find something in the forest.”

“Nothing to eat, no water to drink, and you believe we’ll just find something along the way?!” Karen’s voice was rising, frustration spilling over. She glared at Ekene, as if the very suggestion was a betrayal.

“I’ve been helping us find things to eat so far, but you don’t understand! It’s different! It’s not always guaranteed! We could go days without anything, and I’m already exhausted!” Her eyes flitted to the rest of the group, then back to Ekene. “We can’t just keep going on like this! I don’t even know how we’re still standing!”

Ekene stood firm, his expression unyielding. “We can’t go back to the city, Karen. It’s not an option. You want to quit this journey? Fine. But don’t quit for the rest of us. We’re moving on,” he said, his voice as cold as steel.

John stood beside him, arms crossed. The look in his eyes was a mixture of sympathy and something sharper. Disappointment, maybe. Was this really the girl he had fallen for? He had seen her as strong, determined. But now, he was seeing a side of her he hadn’t expected.

“We can’t go back,” John echoed Ekene, the finality in his voice striking hard against Karen’s protest.

Karen stood frozen, every word from the two men sinking deep into her chest. Her breath quickened, frustration bubbling in her veins.

She turned to Nnenna, her eyes wild. “Fine,” Karen spat, clenching her fists. “Let’s just get out of this damn forest. I just hope you don’t get us all killed in the process,” she muttered, her voice biting, as if blaming Nnenna for their suffering.

Nnenna’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t speak.

Karen’s behavior made Abuchi and Ekene uneasy, both men visibly uncomfortable with how she had spoken to Nnenna. Abuchi, especially, couldn’t hide his concern for his sister.

He had tried to protect her from the dangers of the forest, but now, he felt like he needed to protect her from Karen’s harshness too.

His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he walked ahead, trying to push the tension aside. He’d never expected Karen to continue treating Nnenna this way, not after everything they had been through.

Ekene, too, was disturbed, though for different reasons. His feelings for Nnenna had grown over the course of their journey.

He had watched her step up, saving them countless times, but now, seeing Karen speak so dismissively toward her, made a fire stir in his chest. He didn’t like it, not one bit.

He had always prided himself on keeping his emotions in check, but Karen’s words struck a nerve. His feelings for Nnenna were growing stronger with each passing day, and watching her get hurt by someone they had trusted felt unbearable.

John, on the other hand, stood apart, confusion clouding his mind. He couldn’t understand why Karen was so adamant about going back. He had known her to be strong, confident, and determined, but now she was acting like a completely different person.

Why was she so resistant to moving forward? And why was she treating Nnenna with such disdain? He had never seen her like this before, and it bothered him more than he cared to admit. The doubts gnawed at him, making him question not just the situation, but Karen herself. Could it really be the pressure of the journey, or was something else going on with her?

The group continued in tense silence, their footsteps heavy against the quiet backdrop of the forest.