Mutagen

Day 239 - 5:41 PM - Barangay Salvacion, Municipality of Murcia, Province of Negros Occidental

The sun was already near the horizon. It was time to settle down for the day and prepare for the night.

Surprisingly, while the area near the coast of the Guimaras Strait, there was a wide patch of flatlands past it. The place was not entirely flat due to the fusion of dimensions causing huge geographical change. Nonetheless, it was still flatter compared to other areas nearby.

Taller grass and bushes covered the entire area, but barely any trees grew in this place. Well, until the foot of the two mountains in the east. Both natural towering structures were forested by both magical and non-magical trees.

Not to mention that the mountain south of the two was Mount Canlaon. It was one of the few so-called sacred mountains in the entire country. It was also said to be the home of Goddess Kanlaon in the myths. Well, although locally and commonly called a mountain, it was actually the largest active stratovolcano in the country and the highest peak in the Visayan Region.

Fortunately, it seemed that the fusion of dimensions did not cause Mount Canlaon to erupt or collapse, unlike the Taal Volcano.

Mount Canlaon stood still, as majestic as it could be.

The [Mini Cube] landed in the middle of the flatlands. While the area did not give much of a clear view of the surroundings, it was easier to clear than forests.

With Amihan's help, a wave of her hand cut off and blew the surrounding grass and bushes away. Although the method left the base stems and roots on the ground, it would be no problem for everyone. Still, Mark made sure to burn away the remaining plant debris in the central area where they would eat and build their tents.

Stepping out of the [Mini Cube], the new members of Mark's group stared at Mark and Amihan in awe. Back then, after fleeing the city, no, even now, they struggled to clear the area when camping. For Mark and the [Sylph] on his shoulder, it only took a few waves of their hands.

The new members became even more surprised when Mark and his wife took cooking utensils and camping equipment out of nowhere. All they saw were two black holes in front of Mark and Mei, where everything came out.

"Just who are you, people, really?"

Bella could help but mutter at the scene. It was a question she wanted to ask, but it was better not to pry in other people's secrets. However, her mutterings were heard by Spera, who was just coming out of the floating vessel.

"It is better for you to not ask."

Spera said in reply to Bella's mutterings.

"I-is it a bad question?"

Bella carefully asked.

"Not really. He will definitely answer if you asked," Spera answered. "But you're clearly just a regular person before the apocalypse. You won't be able to understand most of it, and the things you could understand might blow your mind in one way or another. For now, just observe and get used to things like these. Once you are ready to hear the truth of this world, only then you should come asking."

After saying these words, Spera began walking away to meet the others.

Bella fell silent. So as Donna and Ilma, who heard the short conversation. However, while Spera's words did not answer Bella's question, it gave them an important clue. Mark and his group were not just ordinary people and might have been tied to the side of the world that regular people were oblivious to. Similarly to how magical creatures that were thought to be nothing but fairy tales and legends actually existed.

In any case, Bella agreed to accept Spera's advice. Bella herself did not know if she was already ready to learn more about such things. It would likely be even worse for the younger Donna and Ilma. Not to mention the kids. These three brats would not be able to understand everything.

"Shouldn't we try to help?" Ilma spoke while Bella was in deep thought. "We can at least help set up the tent we will be sleeping in. Or maybe, cook?"

"No, maybe I shouldn't go cooking."

Ilma suddenly added. It was not like she was a bad cook. In fact, she enjoyed cooking and, of course, eating. She was quite skilled, although only with local cuisines. Unfortunately, in their group, she was forbidden to cook. It was all because of an unreasonable allegation.

"Come on, Ilma," Donna shrugged. "It doesn't seem like these people will treat you like those bastards. Let's go and ask if we can help with anything."

Donna then pulled Ilma towards Mark and the others while Bella and the kids followed behind the two. Bella stared at Ilma's back. Ilma could handle cooking tasks well. However, since she was on the heavier side, the members of their previous group were afraid that she would sneak out food if she cooked. It was nothing but an unreasonable prejudice because of nothing but her body shape.

"Um, can we help with something?" Donna asked Mark, who was still taking things out of the hole in the air in front of him. "We can at least set up tents or gather firewood."

Compared to Bella and Ilma, Donna seemed to be more relaxed in trying to converse with their new group members. She was not even afraid to ask Mark directly, although she could have asked Mei instead. Nonetheless, it was also a form of acknowledgment and respect since Mark was the leader.

"There's no need for firewood," Mark replied to Donna, pointing at the gas tank and stove already on the ground. "You women can help set up the tents... wait, I guess it's better if you can help cook instead. Can any of you cook? There's only me and Mei who can cook in this group."

Mark glanced at Mei at his side. She was already taking out some canned meat, canned corn, canned peas, and a pack of rice. There were also some seasonings. Tonight's dinner seemed to be some rich rice gruel and a few light side dishes. It was a carefully chosen food. While the new group members did not look malnourished, all they ate during their stay in the Secret Realm were nothing but vegetables and fruits. Giving them pure meaty food might end up upsetting their stomachs.

Nonetheless, the canned goods and pack of rice were more than enough to make the eyes of the new group members stick to the food. Most importantly, Mark and the others did not really seem to mind letting Ilma help with cooking. This group was really far different from their previous group.

"We can help cook!"

Donna immediately bit Mark's suggestion.

"Good then," Mark shrugged. "We have more women here, but they can't really cook for one reason or another."

"Well, sorry since we can't cook!"

Spera shouted while she was setting up one of the tents. Feng Zhiruo also heard Mark's complaint, but she could only keep her silence with an embarrassed face. Ilia was still inside the [Mini Cube], so she was not present to hear Mark's complaint.

Mark only shrugged at Spera's response.

The new members could only smile awkwardly at the playful banter of this group. This, however, showed how good the relationships of the members of this group were. This made them feel a bit jealous.

It was when Donna realized that there were only two sets of tents.

"There are only two tents, huh."

Donna said.

"We joined them just earlier, so it would be more surprising if they have enough tents for all of us."

Ilma said to Donna, which made sense.

"No, I have extra tents," Mark chimed in. "These tents could get damaged, after all. We need extras if needed."

"Then..."

Donna turned to Mark, about to ask where they would sleep.

"You don't need the tents, though," Mark said, looking at Bella. "I already said that I plan to send you all to our base. You haven't told them?"

Bella scratched her head and replied.

"I haven't mentioned it since I don't really know whether you're telling the truth or not. You never said where your base was and how you are going to send us there. I don't want to promise them things I am unsure about."

"Well, I guess that's true."

Mark tapped his chin. Aside from showing the pictures, he never explained it in detail.

"I'll explain it then," Mark turned to the new members. "I'll send you to our base in General Nakar in Quezon Province."

Of course, this made the three women gawk. General Nakar in Quezon Province? That was hundreds of kilometers away from this place.

But before the three could ask any question, Mark continued.

"Don't worry. Remember how we exited at magical subspace? Spera can open portals to different places she had been to. We can send you to our base in an instant. You can sleep in soft beds and take a bath there if you want to. We have many kinds of shampoo and soaps there."

Beds and bath. Those words made the women shiver. Soft beds were one thing. They were used to sleeping in wooden and bamboo beds since they had poor families. But bath? How long had it been that they had a proper bath? There was a river in the secret realm. But there was no soap or anything. There was no proper place to take a bath either, without getting peeped on. Thus, they could only stealthily scrub their bodies with water and cloth inside one of the empty huts.

Without soap and shampoo, they could not really feel clean no matter how much they washed their bodies.

Aside from those, they were surprised that someone in this group had such a convenient magical ability to open portals to travel from place to place.

"We actually send you all there immediately. However, food in the base can feed everyone full but is still rationed. They probably finished their cooking duties already and were about to ration the food. I can just tell them to cook food for you all, but I'm not the person to disturb people after their work. So, I planned to let you all eat dinner here first before sending you all off to our base."

Bella, Donna, and Ilma could only look at each other. They were flabbergasted at Mark's words.

"Then, I'll leave you, women, to my wife," Mark said, not minding their reactions. "I have something to check on."

Mark then spoke to Mei before going somewhere. The little girls wanted to go with Mark, but he told them to stay in the camp. Without saying anything else, Mark walked through the tall grass. He vanished from everyone's sight.

"Where is he going?"

Spera approached Mei and asked.

"Gege said he is going to check the ruins."

Mei replied.

"Ah, the town." Spera nodded. "I guess it's why he chose this place to camp."

That was right. This place was not chosen by Mark to camp in for no reason. There were actually ruins nearby, and it was a rather large one. It seemed to be the ruins of a whole rural town. How the rural town managed to avoid getting completely destroyed sure was an interesting thing.

In any case, everyone left in the camp had things to do.

Mei and the three women started cooking. And it was sure easier with more hands to help.

But then... the curious Donna could not help but ask Mei.

"Isn't it hard to cook with that on?"

Donna pointed at the veil still covering half of Mei's face.

Hearing the question, Spera chimed in.

"I guess you can remove that. It's only us here, anyway."

"I wonder if it's really okay," Mei replied. "I already got used to wearing it."

"Um..." Bella also joined the conversation. "I'm also feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing you like that. But if there's a good reason why... Then please, just forget what we said."

Mei thought for a bit and nodded. It was actually a bit harder to cook with something covering her face.

And there, she removed it.

The three new women could not help but stare at the most beautiful young woman they had seen in their entire life.

And an immediate question entered the minds of the three...

Just how in the world did this beautiful young woman become the wife of that, not so good-looking, guy?

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