Return of the Lost One

Plan

“So what should we do now?” Sael Anselmo stopped laughing as he asked Dugo Zugath with a smile.

“What else is there to do? Let's go back to the Purple Mist Forest now.” Dugo Zugath who also held back his laughter replied casually as if there was no problem in his words.

“Haha, you're surely jest.” Sael Anselmo said as he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

“I'm not joking. We really should go there as soon as possible.” Dugo Zugath replied seriously.

“You mean, just the two of us?” Sael Anselmo forced a smile and asked. It couldn't be that they were really going in there with just the two of them, right?

“Yes, why?” Dugo Zugath answered as he tilted his head wondering why the other party acting so hesitant now.

“That...” Sael Anselmo who was still forcing a smile suddenly began to sweat. This guy was really planning to go to that dangerous place with just the two of them? At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder if Dugo was really in his right mind.

“Look, we can't go there with just the two of us,” Sael Anselmo tried to explain. But now that he thought about it, could it be that this guy went to the Purple Mist Forest before just by himself? Seeing the possibility of his thought being true was high, he couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. Just where did he get the courage to go there alone?

“Huh? Why not?” Dugo Zugath frowned as a response.

“Huh? Of course, we can't. It's too dangerous! We should at least form a group with other people for safety's sake.” Sael Anselmo explained as he forced a smile again trying to be patient.

“Form a group with others?” Dugo Zugath's frown had deepened. That idea seemed to not be his taste. He loved to work alone or be with one or two people other than being with the groups that could possibly bring more harm than good. Opposing the idea, Dugo Zugath continued, “That's not a good idea. Since we are just kids, no one will allow us to be in their group. They will only think that we are some kind of baggage. And also, having more people can only be more troublesome. Once we find the Portia, it is highly likely that the end result is we will only fight against each other.”

“But what if we encounter that demon again? How can we survive then?” Recalling the scene when they encountered the demon, Sael Anselmo couldn't help but feel a chill as he seemed to have gained a trauma. That was what he was worried about. It was already lucky for them that that demon let them go. But what if the next time they met again, that demon wouldn't be so kind? They couldn't be careless this time.

“What are you talking about?” Dugo Zugath had a serious expression as he said, “Your group had also encountered that demon before but did your group survive?”

In Dugo's mind, it didn't matter whether they were in a group or not. As long as they met that demon, the chance of survival was extremely slim. So instead of being in a group of other people, they should just try their best to avoid that demon at all cost.

That being said, having fewer people was much better since they were talking about hiding here. If many people were accompanying them, chances were they would easily be found.

So why bother being with a group? It would only be troublesome dealing with them.

“That's because...” Sael Anselmo wanted to say something but no words came out from his lips. The other party was right. The group he had joined in before was also annihilated when they encountered the demon. It could prove that in front of absolute strength, numbers were nothing.

“Alright, it's decided then. We'll go with just the two of us.” So as unwilling as he was, Sael Anselmo could only agree in the end. He was just hoping that they would not encounter the demon again. Having thought about it, he stared at Dugo intently as he asked, “By the way, how much did you know about the Purple Mist Forest?”

“Nothing. Just the rumors.” Dugo Zugath replied casually.

“That...” Sael Anselmo was speechless. How could this guy think about going into the Purple Mist Forest knowing only that much? No matter how he thought about it, he only thought that the other party wanted to take suicide.

So taking a deep breath, Sael Anselmo proceeded to tell everything he knew about the forest. He told Dugo things they should avoid and the nature of the purple mist lingering in the area. He also told about the other treasures they could possibly find and the different beasts living in there. The poisonous plants, the medicinal herbs, everything he knew, he told them to Dugo.

Dugo Zugath on the other hand listened attentively. He learned many things that he didn't know before. Only then did he realize that entering the forest just by himself and with the little knowledge he had was clearly a suicide. He really was glad that he only had entered the edge of the forest otherwise, he might be trapped in there forever.

Of course, what Sael Anselmo knew about the Purple Mist Forest was limited. There were also many mysteries in there that he told Dugo. And Dugo Zugath understood it well. He naturally knew that Sael wouldn't know everything.

“Alright, that's all I know.” Sael Anselmo took his time explaining everything he knew as, after some time, he finally finished doing so. He then smiled at Dugo thinking what was his plan would be now that he knew more about the forest.

“We'll stick to the plan. We'll go there with just the two of us.” Dugo Zugath said calmly after thinking some time. Now that he knew more about the forest, he became more confident with just the two of them.

Sael Anselmo was surprised to hear such an answer from Dugo as he smiled shortly after. This guy was surely confident. Even after knowing many things, he still chose to not form a group with others.

“Alright, we'll do it then.” Sael Anselmo agreed in the end. But then, if not for the other party having that mysterious black energy, he wouldn't even dare to agree with him.

“But before that, we need to earn some money to buy miscellaneous things.” Dugo suddenly said as he thought about how to earn some money.

“Don't worry about it Dugo, I have everything prepared.” Sael Anselmo said as he raised his right hand and showed the ring on his forefinger.

“That is?” Dugo Zugath was bewildered though.

“Hehe, this is a space ring. I've got it from the leader of the group that I've joined before. Inside this are the possessions they left behind. Since they were dead anyway, it would be a waste if I let their things be rotten in there.”

“You mean, these are the possessions of your companions?” Dugo Zugath was taken aback as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. There were twenty or so people that were harmed by the demon last time. At first, he was planning to take their things but he dismissed the idea in the end out of respect. To think that Sael would take them all without hesitation. Not only that, but he also appeared to be so lucky that there was also a space ring from someone in there. It seemed like their leader appeared to be quite wealthy.

“Haha, they aren't really my companions. We didn't even know each other. We only formed a group for safety measures. Everything went well in the beginning but after a few days of adventure, when we are about to go back to the village, who would have thought that we would encounter a demon along the way. Naturally, the end result was a demise for all of us.” Recalling again how did that demon annihilated their group single-handedly, Sael Anselmo felt a chill running down his spine. He still couldn't understand why would a demon appear in that place.