The next day arrived.
As soon as they woke up,
Kai and Grey began preparing the lots.
The white-haired girl was still keeping watch outside, while Ren, the blue-haired girl, along with the noble boy, began discussing their next move.
After separating their group, seven students were left.
They had formed a group of four and a group of three.
The three-person group would search for other survivors here.
The four-person group would try to reach the endpoint of the ceremony, to see whether it’s a domain-type ceremony or something else.
After explaining, the noble boy looked towards Ren and the blue-haired girl.
“What about you?”
The blue-haired girl replied.
“Our side will also divide into two groups.
One will hoard supplies, and the other will search for the Vestige Holder who caused this ceremony.”
“We will meet at the mall on the front street every weekend to distribute supplies.”
“Keep one thing in mind.
Don’t wander deep into Alren.”
“Okay…”
“Since it’s decided, we shall depart then.”
With that, he stood up and signaled the group to follow him.
And began walking out of the cafe.
The students waved at Elvan one last time, before following the noble boy out.
Elvan waved back at them.
“Lots are ready,” Kai said as he placed the box on a table.
“The people with the same colour will be in the same group.”
Once everyone gathered, everyone began taking a random paper out from the box.
White-haired, grey-haired, and blue-haired got blue. Get faster updates on g.com.
Ren, Kai, and Elvan got red.
The problem they feared had happened.
But instead of redrawing,
Kai simply accepted it and began walking towards the exit.
“Okay.
We will hoard supplies,” Kai said as he opened the door, intending to leave.
Elvan and Ren were about to follow suit.
As it was better than wasting time on this.
One of the reasons why Kai had agreed to this was to show his trust in this team.
Since information was tight, he wanted them to know that they could trust his group too.
But now it was getting out of hand.
Yesterday was wasted in forming an alliance.
He didn’t want to waste today too.
Behind the group, the grey-haired boy stole a peek at the white-haired girl and then at the blue-haired girl.
Their expressions were neutral.
He took a deep breath.
As if—
Then he ran and held Kai’s wrist.
“Let’s swap,” he suggested.
“Why?”
The boy remained silent.
After a brief silence, he replied.
“I am not good at investigating.”
“Neither am I,” Kai replied with utmost seriousness.
Grey froze.
Kai looked him in the eye.
“If not, why do you think I volunteered to hoard supplies?”
Kai paused.
“Wait.
Actually, we can.”
“But…
you should ask someone else to swap.”
With that, he turned his gaze towards Elvan.
Elvan stared back with a deadpan expression.
No words were needed.
Just that glance had said more than words could.
“I am a merchant…
not an investigator.”
“I can do little negotiations…
not this.”
Kai nodded.
“Makes sense.”
Then he reluctantly turned towards Ren.
Ren nodded before walking towards the other group, and then they left.
Kai looked at the grey-haired boy, who had a relieved expression on his face, as if he had just survived a disaster.
He couldn’t help but reach his hand out.
Smack.
“Coward~”
With that, they too left, while Grey followed, rubbing the back of his head.
A smack was better than being in between those two cold-faced girls.
He thought.
As they walked, Kai reminded him,
“We will only search the outer areas.”
“No matter what, don’t go deeper into Alren.”