Chapter 11: A Horse Without Rest Grows Thin
"wodenbox has a hidden compartment too."
Luciel's fingers traced the bottom of the box. The faint hollow sound beneath his touch made his eyes glint with curiosity.
He drew his saber and slid the tip carefully under the plank. With a soft crack, the board lifted, revealing a small cloth pouch tucked within.
Inside the pouch—seeds.
Luciel blinked in surprise. "Vegetable seeds? No wonder they were hidden so carefully."
A smile of pure delight spread across his face. He tied the cloth bag tightly and slipped it into his backpack as though it were a treasure beyond gold.
In this wasteland world—where civilization had long since crumbled—green seeds like these were hope itself. They were the promise of soil reborn, of life growing again from dust and ruin. To find them here was like discovering light in the dark.
After finishing his search of the room, Luciel turned toward the tall wardrobe beside the bed. When he pulled the doors open, another small surprise awaited him.
Five rolls of fabric—different colors, neatly stacked.
He let out a low whistle. "Quite the collection. Guess I'll need a little help moving all this."
He lifted one roll to test the weight, then stroked his chin thoughtfully. Between the cloth, the weapons, and other supplies he'd found, carrying everything alone would be impossible.
There were many things here worth taking—tools, fabrics, small luxuries that couldn't be bought anymore even if you had the money. After all, Luciel had crossed into this desolate world with nothing but his clothes and will. If he wanted to survive, he'd have to make use of every chance that came his way.
He took a breath and murmured, "Little Cai, sneak in quietly."
A ripple of mental energy pulsed outward. In answer, a faint hiss echoed from outside. Moments later, a tricolor lizard—Luciel's summoned companion—crept through the shadows, slithering over the wall as silent as a whisper.
The rock tortoise couldn't be summoned indoors, but the nimble lizard could move freely.
"Good," Luciel said softly as it emerged from the window. "We'll take the cloth first."
He began packing: the five rolls of fabric, a bundle of swords, and a few unspoiled items scavenged from the shelves. Most of the leader's personal things—clothes, bedding—he ignored. He didn't care to sleep under another man's scent.
When he opened the last closet, though, his expression brightened again.
Inside hung a single, pristine wolf pelt—untreated at the corners, still fresh.
"So there was a wolf skin after all," Luciel murmured. "I was wondering where it went after seeing those wolf heads."
He rolled it carefully, setting it beside the rest. "That'll make a fine blanket," he added with a smirk.
Satisfied, he gazed up at the ceiling, where the tricolor lizard clung upside down, claws hooked into the wood. Its long tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air.
"Come down, help me move this," Luciel called softly.
"Hissss…"
The lizard's head tilted as if in question, but it obeyed, descending with agile ease.
Luciel eyed the creature—barely a meter long—and then looked at the stack of supplies. "You're a bit small for this, aren't you?"
He sighed. "Looks like you'll need another evolution."
He placed his hand on its scaled head and spoke in his mind. Evolve the tricolor lizard to Level 3.
A familiar chime sounded in his consciousness.
> Ding! Level 2 tricolor lizard evolving to Level 3. 100 evolution points deducted.
Ding! Evolution successful.
Ding! New talent unlocked: Mimic Stealth.
Ding! Trainer's body synchronized with Mimic Stealth ability.
A surge of warmth flooded Luciel's limbs. His muscles tingled; his senses sharpened.
"Stealth… does that mean invisibility in motion?" he muttered, intrigued.
To test it, he activated the ability. His skin shimmered, shifting colors to match the surroundings. When he moved, his body blended into the background like water flowing through glass.
"Amazing…"
He took a few more steps, watching the camouflage react. "Hmm. About a one-second delay between color changes. The faster I move, the more noticeable the lag."
He smiled faintly. "Still, it's good enough for infiltration."
After testing for a while, he dismissed the effect and turned back to his now-transformed companion.
The tricolor lizard had grown to nearly two meters long. Its once-patchy scales now gleamed like gemstones—green, red, and blue—each hue distinct, arranged in beautiful symmetry. Spikes lined its head, and its narrow brown pupils glinted with a cold intelligence.
Luciel chuckled and patted its head. "You're getting fierce, Xiao Cai. Give you wings, and you'd pass for a dragon."
"Hisss?" The lizard cocked its head, confused at the unfamiliar word.
"Never mind," Luciel said, amused. "Help me with these."
He tied the cloth rolls, wolf skin, and weapon bundle onto its back. The lizard squirmed in protest.
"Bear with it. Take these back to Mino. She'll untie them for you—then come back for me."
He gave a playful wave as the creature climbed to the window. Its claws dug effortlessly into the frame, leaving deep grooves as it disappeared into the night.
Luciel watched until its shadow vanished, then murmured, "Better hurry. Once they discover the leader's dead, all hell will break loose."
He slipped silently from the room to continue his search.
The house was eerily quiet now. The maids moved like ghosts through the halls, obediently stationed in their corners, waiting for a call that would never come.
Luciel's next goal was clear: food.
In a wasteland, survival was built on calories and clean water. Weapons and plans meant nothing if you couldn't eat.
As the old saying went—A horse that doesn't graze by night will never grow fat. You couldn't thrive by resting when others starved.
He prowled through the dim corridors, eyes alert for a kitchen or storeroom. Just as he turned a corner, movement caught his attention.
Someone was sneaking through the shadows ahead.
Luciel narrowed his eyes. "That face… Agu?"
It was indeed the same man who had stood trembling before the leader earlier that evening. Now he moved like a thief, glancing about nervously before ducking into a side room.
Curiosity pricked at Luciel. What was Agu doing here, creeping around after his boss's death?
Silently, Luciel approached and peered through the crack in the half-closed door.
Inside was a small storeroom—and shelves upon shelves of food. Dried meats, salted fish, hard bread, grain bags. More wealth here than gold.
But Agu wasn't alone. A maid stood beside him, wringing her hands anxiously.
Luciel's brows lifted. So that's it? Lovers? Or partners in theft?
He listened.
"Agu, are you insane?" the maid hissed under her breath. "You're taking too much! If the leader finds out, he'll kill you!"
Usually, Agu only slipped a little meat now and then, and she would help cover for him. But tonight, he was shoving entire slabs into a cloth sack—too much to hide.
"The leader won't find out," Agu said grimly. His voice trembled between anger and despair. "He's gone mad. He's planning to work with Bloodbeard—to slaughter the ones who won't bow to him."
The maid's eyes widened. "Bloodbeard? That butcher?"
Agu nodded sharply. "I tried to stop him. I was supposed to meet Bloodbeard's men today, but I never went. I thought if I delayed the meeting, I could ruin his plan. I didn't know he'd already contacted them behind my back."
Luciel's mind replayed the scene in the hall—the leader questioning Agu earlier. So that's what that was about…
The man had lied to his boss, testing his reaction. And now, realizing the truth, he knew he was doomed.
"If he finds out I betrayed him," Agu continued bitterly, "there'll be no mercy. Once Bloodbeard's men arrive, I'm dead. That's why I'm leaving tonight."
The maid's face went pale. "Leave? Where will we go? Outside the camp, there's only wasteland and beasts."
"Better beasts than the leader," Agu snapped. Then his tone softened. "Go. Pack your things. We leave before dawn."
She hesitated, trembling. "A-all right."
Luciel stepped back quietly as the maid hurried past him, unaware of his presence. He watched Agu continue filling his bag with jerky, every motion frantic and fearful.
So the camp is about to implode…
Plans shifted in Luciel's mind like sand in wind. Originally, he had intended to loot what he could and disappear quietly. But now, hearing this, he realized the situation might soon change drastically.
If Bloodbeard's men were coming—and if the camp leader had truly plotted to purge his own people—then chaos was inevitable.
And in chaos… opportunity bloomed.
Luciel smiled faintly. "Well, looks like I'll have to rewrite my plans."
He turned away from the storeroom, his steps soundless, already thinking several moves ahead.
Outside, the night wind whistled through the cracks of the ruined settlement, carrying the faint echo of hoofbeats in the distance—perhaps the first sign of the storm to come.
Somewhere in the darkness, the tricolor lizard waited for his call, and in Luciel's pack, the seeds of a new beginning rested quietly, full of promise.
Whether they would ever see fertile soil again… depended entirely on what Luciel did next.