Chef in the Apocalypse

Chapter 65: Returning to the Shelter

As they journeyed back to the shelter, the once-familiar path now seemed less daunting. The party’s spirits remained high, and the forest appeared to have quieted down from the tumultuous battles they had fought on their way in. Five days passed without any major sightings of strong monsters, a stark contrast to their initial journey.

Arriving at the shelter brought a sense of relief and accomplishment. The same walls that had welcomed them before stood unchanged, a testament to their efforts in defending it. The people inside greeted them with joy and relief, their faces lighting up as the adventurers returned. Hugs, cheers, and smiles were exchanged, rekindling the feeling of belonging that the shelter had provided.

To celebrate their safe return, Jayce organized a grand feast, a culmination of their efforts and a moment of shared triumph. The tables were laden with food, and laughter echoed through the shelter as the group recounted their adventures to the eager audience.

Greg, the guardian he had left in charge, provided a rundown of the shelter’s situation. Aside from a few minor injuries caused by momentary carelessness, the shelter had managed to hold its own. The news brought a collective sigh of relief from the party, knowing that their efforts were not in vain.

The feast was a time of camaraderie and catching up, a night filled with stories, laughter, and a renewed sense of unity. But as the night waned and the stars danced in the sky, Jayce’s thoughts turned toward the future.

The following morning marked the beginning of a new journey. With preparations made and necessities gathered, the larger party set out once more, their footsteps resonating with determination. Jayce, mindful of the larger group, managed the load distribution carefully, ensuring everyone’s well-being.

Their path to the forest was calculated, each step guided by lessons learned from their previous encounters. The archers took on the responsibility of scouting ahead, ensuring that no unpleasant surprises awaited them. The trek through the forest, which had once seemed treacherous and unforgiving, was now navigated with caution and cooperation.

Four days passed as they ventured deeper into the woods. Jayce used this opportunity to integrate the lower-level members into the party’s activities, providing them with practical experience and a chance to grow. As they walked, the forest began to unveil its secrets, the monsters and challenges within becoming opportunities for growth and progress.

Thankfully, only lower level monsters were left in this part of the forest, likely due to the reign of the Bloodfang wolves. This meant that besides barking out some orders and fixing formations, Jayce did not have a lot to do. He hadn’t even had a chance to test out his new dagger, which was fine all things considered.

Having some spare time, he delved into his messages from all the supporters, instantly getting a headache. Due to the last time they had met, everyone had all sorts of questions, with the main ones asking what his unique skill was and how the hell did he complete the quest so fast.

Despite everyone’s identity being shrouded at that time, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the one who had completed the quest was him. After all, the supporters received a message every time he killed a boss, so the words “Alpha Bloodfang Wolf” should have been an indicator that he completed it.

However, he did not respond to anyone’s messages, choosing to leave them on read. Except for one person who he had not yet received a message from. Stone Hammer, the #6 supporter…

This man was a legend in his previous life, the paladin who was a figure for humanity, providing shelter for all, one of the founders of the great city Bastion. Jayce steeled himself, looking at the name in his list of available contacts. Whether or not he could lead his party into Bastion was likely riding on this conversation.

Let Me Cook #1: Hey, are you busy?

Stone Hammer #6: Nah, what’s up?

Let Me Cook #1: I’m heading East through the forest right now. Are you by the coast?

Stone Hammer #6: … How do you know where I am?

“Damn it.” Jayce cursed, wishing he had taken a slower approach. The last thing he wanted to do was spook the wary Paladin. He obviously knew where Stone Hammer had originated, due to the proximity to Bastion.

Jayce sighed for a moment, however he eventually decided to just throw his whole hand in, hoping that being a little mysterious may pay off.

Let Me Cook #1: Don’t worry about it. Me and my faction are heading over, do you mind taking us in? We can help with rebuilding.

Stone Hammer #6: …

He anxiously watched the moving dots, waiting for the man to reply. He was usually a patient person, however there were a lot of things riding on this answer, resulting in him sweating profusely.

Stone Hammer #6: How far are you away?

Let Me Cook #1: 2 days max, provided we don’t run into any abominations

Stone Hammer #6: I’ll meet you at the gates in 2 days time.

Jayce let out a sigh of relief, it seemed that his stance had paid off. Although he couldn’t completely trust how sincere the wary Paladin was. After all, they didn’t know each other.

Actually, the only thing that they had in common was that they were both supporters and knew of the psychotic Rubick. He wouldn’t be surprised if Stone Hammer took some additional measures to ensure that he and his faction were friendly.

Jayce’s mind whirred with possibilities, thinking about the best way to avoid a conflict. He called out to Zane who had become the undisputed leader of his scouting party and gave him some instructions. As they got closer to Bastion, they would have to keep an eye out for any advanced scouting parties, or worse.

The worst case scenario would be if they were to start a skirmish, therefore he gave strict instructions to not engage, strictly observing and reporting to him.

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