They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 322: Too Close to Danger

She did her best to carry as much as she could, pushing aside the nagging guilt she felt for not allowing one of the boys to accompany Abuchi instead.

She had wanted time alone with him. It was selfish, she knew, but there it is what it is. She wouldn’t have done it differently if given another chance.

Abuchi, however, didn’t say a word of complaint. He carried his share of the load, most of the load, without hesitation, moving with purpose.

As they walked back to the group, Karen occasionally turned around, glancing to make sure Abuchi was still with her. She didn’t want to get lost in the crowd. It was considerate of him to keep pace, ensuring she didn’t wander off.

Her heart fluttered slightly every time she caught sight of him checking on her. He was thoughtful, careful… so much more than she had initially realized.

With each passing moment, her affection for him deepened. She found herself falling for him even more than she already had.

The simple gestures, the way he moved through the world with quiet confidence, made her heart ache with a longing she couldn’t quite understand.

Once the rest of the group spotted them, they quickly rushed over and helped lift the heavy loads from their hands.

The boys carried the supplies back to their room, where they organized everything carefully, sorting, arranging, and packaging them neatly into each person’s backpack. By the time they finished, everything was ready.

A new day awaited them.

Very early the next morning, the group boarded the vehicle they had hired.

Excitement and nerves buzzed in the air as the car rumbled along the rocky roads, heading toward the Black Forest, their next great trial.

driver did his best to get them as close as possible, but once the towering, dark silhouette of the forest came into

vehicle dared go further. The place was infamous. A place where people often

heavy heart, the driver

as I go,” he said, giving them a wary

understanding without needing to say

the driver, gathered their things,

and drove away, a strange silence wrapped around them, broken only by the

for a moment, feeling the weight of what

vast and shadowy, like the

No turning back now.

breath, then stepped forward to address the group. His voice was steady, but the

each of them in turn. “This forest will test everything

listened closely, feeling the gravity of the

month,” he continued, “but we must be prepared for the possibility that it could take longer. No matter what happens, we must stick

raised a hand, emphasizing the next

listen carefully, no one should eat or touch anything without informing Karen first. She’ll check if it’s poisonous or edible. This forest is

her

past towns we passed through. Here, the dangers aren’t guards or ruffians. It’s wild animals, feral creatures, and if the rumors

group exchanged

won’t hesitate. They won’t care whether we’re alive or

breeze stirred the edges of the forest, making the tall trees groan as if warning them