Chapter 102: 101 "No time to explain, hurry...

Chapter 102: 101 “No time to explain, hurry... The night deepened gradually. In the period when everyone planned to take turns keeping watch and taking turns to sleep, a shadow flitted out of a tent at the heart of the encampment like a bat in the night, silent and unseen. It landed on a small path some distance away, revealing itself under the night glow. This person was naturally Shane. “So stubborn,” Shane muttered as he wiped his sweat, seemingly quite exhausted. Yet, Shane’s face was clear and refreshed, giving a pleasant and exhilarating impression. “To think you endured for a full three hours, worthy of a Level 77 Demon Clan expert.” ... But with this, Shane had finally managed to suppress his opponent thoroughly. “Maybe I unexpectedly enjoy this kind of secret operation.” No, it seemed it wasn’t unexpected at all. Because Shane was never the type to seek the spotlight. He preferred to live an unnoticed, ordinary life. Even when there were things that must be done, he wanted to complete them without anyone else becoming aware, keeping his talents and reputation hidden. Thus, compared to overt and high-profile actions, Shane favored these secret maneuvers, which made him feel exuberant and alive. “If it were ancient times, with my personality, I would probably have become an assassin, or a secret member of an underground organization, right?” That someone like Shane had become a hero in the Otherworld was almost laughable. “Let’s see how things unfold from here.” Shane stretched, murmuring to himself. “Anyway, what needed to be done is done, just waiting for the final harvest.” Leaving those words behind, Shane turned around and headed towards the location of his own tent. However, halfway there, the sound of hurried breathing and disordered footsteps reached him. “Hm?” Shane felt a familiar Magic Power approaching, causing him to pause and look up towards the path ahead. The next moment, a figure came into view on the path leading to the encampment. “Merica?” Shane was somewhat taken aback. The person appearing before him was Merica. And yet, for some reason, Merica was running towards him as if fleeing, looking dreadfully eager to avoid something, her beautiful face filled with urgency. “What’s going on here?” Shane couldn’t help but wonder. But immediately afterward, Shane sensed another wave of Magic Power, prompting a raise of his eyebrows. “I see, so that’s what’s happening.” He quickly grasped the situation. Meanwhile, Merica up ahead also noticed Shane. “Shane... Mr. Shane?” Merica immediately stopped in her tracks, her urgent expression turning to astonishment. She looked as if she had just escaped the tiger’s mouth only to encounter a pack of wolves, full of helplessness and pathos. Shane really wanted to ask what exactly was going on to make her wear such an expression. What on earth did Merica think he was? Shane couldn’t help but roll his eyes. However, he didn’t slow his actions. “Come here.” Shane quickly grabbed her hand while Merica was still not reacting. “Eh? Eh?” Merica said, sounding scared, “Mr. Shane, what are you doing?” It seemed Merica had misunderstood something. Shane had no desire to explain. “No time to explain, get in the car... no, I mean, hide quickly!” With those words, Shane didn’t give Merica a chance to resist and directly stuffed the delicate Elf girl into a nearby bush, ensuring the young woman was well hidden. While hiding, Shane still let his imagination run wild. “If this were some scene in an anime, it would definitely end with a boy and girl hiding together, intimately holding each other in a cramped corner, surrounded by a rosy atmosphere full of ambiguity, right?” However, such plots are always a bit brainless, and the result is utterly unnecessary. Like now, there was no reason for Shane to hide at all; he just needed to make sure Merica was well concealed. Soon, another figure appeared on the path ahead, running toward him. “Uh? Why is it you?” A mix of surprise and disappointment echoed from the mouth of the rich young master. Who else could it be but Magre? “Yo, young master, the night is pretty good tonight.” Shane greeted the other warmly as if nothing had happened, “Are you out for a stroll too?” “I’m not that bored.” Magre replied with disdain, “Such things are irrelevant. I’m asking you, have you seen Merica?” The tone was not so much asking as it was commanding. Shane squinted his eyes in response. “Merica? I haven’t seen her,” Shane said meaningfully, “Why? Are you looking for Merica, young master?” “Who else would I be looking for, you?” Magre responded irritably, “I’m here to practice chanting the spell for ‘Magic Tools’ with Merica. As long as she hears my proper and sonorous chanting, Merica, being a Mage, will have to look at me with new respect.” Look at you with new respect? If Merica knew the true meaning behind that so-called spell, and heard your proper and sonorous chanting, she might just die laughing, becoming the first Elf in history to die from laughter. Of course, this was a secret, one that shouldn’t be carelessly revealed. But... “I don’t know if Merica will look at you with new respect, but I certainly do,” Shane said with a smirk, “Despite being taught a lesson once, you still dare to bother Merica. I must say, young master, you’ve got some nerve.” “Wu...” Magre suddenly wavered but still retorted, “I... I just came to invite Merica, I wouldn’t do anything to her, even Tielle can’t just punish me without reason, right?” “Is that so?” Shane said casually, pointing, “Then why did it look like the young master was chasing after something just now?” “That... that’s because Merica ran away without saying a word as soon as she saw me! Of course, I had to chase after her!” Magre exclaimed angrily, “With Tielle gone on patrol, Captain Vivian busy discussing something with Alis, and Lu Muya asleep, only Merica was left outside the tent on watch. How could I miss such an opportunity?” Hey, young master, those words of yours sound like a Rapist with dishonorable intentions, don’t they? Shane began to consider whether to bury this guy right here and now. However, Shane also knew that in this camp, Magre wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Merica; he would certainly meet an ugly end if he did. But that appearance of a wastrel intending to pester an innocent girl truly made it hard for someone to let him go. Should he follow the novel’s routine and give him a good slap in the face right here? But that seemed a bit too cliché. In that case... “Ah, there’s Merica.” Shane suddenly pointed ahead, exclaiming in surprise. “Merica? Where, where?!” Magre’s eyes lit up as he quickly turned his head in the direction Shane was pointing. It was in this instant that Shane made his move. “Bang!” With a muffled hit, Shane’s hand chopped down hard on the back of Magre’s neck. “Gah!” Magre let out an odd cry and then fell to the ground, twitching his legs a few times before going still. Shane, maintaining the pose of his hand chop, looked down at Magre and suddenly realized. “This is a pretty common trope too, isn’t it?” Well, as long as it gets the job done. “Anyway, let’s get to burying him.” Shane grabbed Magre by the feet and dragged him toward the nearby forest. “Wait... hold on! Don’t be rash!” Having witnessed the whole scene, Merica could no longer stay hidden and rushed out.