As I dragged the unconscious serpent member while going up the hill, I turned to look at Beatrice and Alice by my side.
They were silent. They'd been that way since the serpent fight.
I had thought that they had accepted it but it seems like they were brooding more than I had originally expected.
Haaa. What a drag. But can't say I blame them. I mean they just had their first kill.
And Beatrice may have already killed once but she didn't have time to process it. This time she does.
Still... looking down at the serpent i was dragging along, to think the serpents had made their way here.
I don't know if Beatrice and Alice have thought about that too. I had thought that the only thing we needed to worry about were the cultists.
And since I hadn't really spotted any cultists heading south I had assumed the south was to some extent safe from this.
At least for now. But I see now. That was a mistake. And I hope, I really do, that those children are safe because I know for sure Beatrice and Alice will likely never forgive themselves.
'And with how dire the situation is...' I thought as I stared at Alice, 'I hope her mother is still alive at least.'
"So um..." Beatrice's voice knocked me out of my thoughts. "Why are we bringing him along?" She asked, pointing at the unconscious serpent.
"Because... remember that monster they had with them right?" I asked.
"Yeah. A mimic right?" Beatrice asked to confirm.
"Right. So basically a mimic can imitate the voice of a person it hears, touches or eats right?" I asked.
"Yeah." This time it was the both of them who answered staring at me.
"Well, when the whole thing started back at the church, I tried searching for Sister Evelyn but I couldn't find her."
Beatrice's eyes lit up as if understanding something as she spoke, "Oooh. So given the mimic's ability, it means that at the very least the serpents came across Sister Evelyn huh."
"Yep." I answered. "And that's why..." I pointed at the serpent being dragged along, "I wanted him alive. I need answers from him. And I'm getting them."
"I see." Beatrice said nodding her head. "Then I'll help you." She said in her usual confident voice.
"I'll help as well." Alice echoed from my left. I turned and saw her give a small worried smile.
Turning to Beatrice, her own smile was normal. Genuine. Guess I didn't really have to worry about her mood huh.
Thinking about it now, they really switch moods real fast don't they?
Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about them being luggage now.
Oh and would you look at that we had reached the top.
But...
Something felt off.
Sending mana into my ear, I heard sounds.
MMMM!
Sounds of struggle.
"Hey stay still!" I heard another rough voice.
PAH!
The sound of a slap. And finally...
"Kyaaa! Help. Hel–mmmm!"
A scream for help. I wasn't the only one who heard that this time. Augmenting my legs with mana I leapt up the hill, so did Beatrice and Alice.
And the sight that awaited me. If I had known that sight awaited me, I would've just gone to save Alice's mother first.