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

Chapter 323: The Forest of Regrets

Everyone could see it. Even though he spoke to them all, his true words were for her.

“You’ve all done more than enough,” he repeated, this time with a small nod, as if sealing a vow in his heart.

“And I’m truly, deeply grateful.”

A heavy, emotional silence settled over the group. None of them flinched. No one took a step back. Their hearts had already been set long before they even reached this forest.

They were in this together, for better or worse.

“I told you already,” Nnenna replied, her voice steady and clear, “I didn’t just come on this mission for you. I came to improve my own skills too.”

She met Abuchi’s eyes directly, knowing fully well that his earlier words had been meant for her most especially.

“So after doing ‘more than enough,’ I still want to do more, not just for you, but for myself as well. I can’t grow if I keep hiding inside the castle. I have to face real danger. I have to be out here.”

Abuchi gazed at her for a moment, a mix of pride and worry flashing in his eyes, before he gave a small nod.

“Okay,” he said simply. “I understand.”

He then turned his eyes to the rest of the crew, Ekene, John, Karen.

All of them stood firm, their faces set with determination. There was a trace of fear in their expressions, of course there was.

No one could blame them.

It was called the Forest of Regrets for a reason.

But none of them looked like they were about to back down.

Abuchi let out a deep breath he didn’t know he had been holding.

“Alright then,” he said with a small, tight smile. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, the crew, the team, began moving forward.

crossed the invisible line between safety and madness,

moment, they would

would willingly

was exactly what they were doing. Marching into the heart

Two Weeks Later

Forest of

Forest of Regrets was a monstrous sea of trees, a place where sunlight barely touched the

were ancient, thick with twisting roots and heavy branches covered in moss. Strange noises echoed through the air,

damp earth and rotting wood clung to them, and the deeper they went, the heavier the air felt, almost as if the forest itself wanted

jungle, the group trudged on,

Swish. Swish.

were torn, their faces smeared with dirt and sweat, and their backpacks lighter

here for two weeks and we still haven’t found

be close to the exit

to be negative, she was

one could blame

food supplies had long

they could find in the

knew how to identify what was safe and what wasn’t. Thanks to her knowledge, none of them

walking through an endless, suffocating forest day after day wasn’t exactly comforting, even if

on the mind and the body

was tense, their nerves stretched thin like fraying

Abuchi felt like sighing.

He was tired too.

he was confused and frustrated, but he had to stay calm. He was the leader after

of these trees,” he said, forcing a small smile. “Let me see if I can spot anything… maybe we’re closer than we

Everyone agreed quickly.

of hope in their tired eyes as they watched him walk over

grabbed the rough bark and began to climb, his muscles straining, his palms scraping against the

like forever, but finally, he reached a high branch

wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a

His heart sank.

he could see