Chapter Sixty-Four: An Unexpected Encounter

Familiars do not need to eat like humans, but they too require energy replenishment. According to the principle of equivalent exchange, since they choose to serve humans, it stands to reason that humans should provide them with some necessities. Unfortunately, the energy crystals required by familiars are exceedingly difficult for humans to obtain. After all, these aren’t foodstuffs that can simply be grown. At present, the best way to acquire energy crystals is still by hunting down mutants or other creatures transformed by the influence of the Network's energy, then gathering their energy to condense into crystals—or, more simply, by robbing others, as Faeren does.

From a human perspective, the demands of familiars are entirely reasonable, yet whether they are suitable is another question. This means giving up a peaceful and stable life to plunge into battles that skirt the edge of death. Moreover, the stark difference in values between familiars and humans makes cooperation difficult. There is no binding contract between a familiar and its human; it is, at best, a verbal agreement, not even formalized in writing. Under such circumstances, nothing is surprising—familiars are known for their eccentric temperaments, and desertion at the critical moment is not uncommon. Thus, cultivating trust between humans and familiars is an arduous task. This is why, even now, throughout the entire northern lands, only Faeren has a familiar subordinate like Derin. Even those far more powerful than he cannot form a single squad of familiars.

Of course, the inherently free-spirited and unruly nature of familiars is the chief culprit as well.

Once Eluca and the others learned that familiars needed energy crystals to survive, they decisively abandoned any notion of following their commander’s example and rearing a familiar of their own. They were just about capable of handling a few mutants, but anything more would be putting their lives at risk—a risk not at all balanced by the rewards of keeping a familiar.

Faeren, it seemed, had no intention of awakening this familiar here. After the three sisters gave up, he tucked the familiar’s egg away once again and turned his gaze toward the depths of the mine tunnel.

“All right, our task is complete; now only the final clean-up remains.”

“Clean-up?”

At these words, the group recalled that they hadn’t come here to loot, but at the behest of the old man from Xinghua Village. Still, why had these familiars attacked Xinghua Village in the first place?

“I think we’ll soon know the reason,” Faeren said, his lips curling into that trademark ambiguous smile as he looked into the darkness of the mine.

It wasn’t long before the pitch-black tunnel began to brighten under their watchful eyes. In the next moment, a crowd of pumpkin dolls, lanterns held high, burst from the cave, cheering and leaping about as if celebrating a festival. At first sight of these pumpkin dolls, the group tensed, but, fortunately, after the earlier skirmish, the dolls seemed to have no intention to restart hostilities. They simply held their lanterns aloft, laughing gleefully as they circled overhead. Soon, from among them, a gaunt figure emerged.

It was a human.

He looked to be in his early forties. His once-sturdy coat had been reduced to tatters, smeared with alarming streaks of blood. His gaunt, dark face and lifeless eyes made him look like a laborer long oppressed in a coal mine.

Now, the man floated supine in the air, eyes closed—clearly unconscious.

“Who is he...?” Eluca studied the man closely and, certain she’d never seen him before, turned to Faeren, who merely shrugged with a smile and answered.

“He’s an unfortunate soul these familiars found during their migration, according to our dear pumpkin-headed friend. He had collapsed by the roadside, unconscious. They thought it amusing, so they brought him back. But once here, he developed a persistent high fever and wouldn’t wake up—no fun at all—so the familiars had to take other measures to prevent things from getting worse.”

“And what has that to do with their attack on Xinghua Village?”

There were plenty of points in Faeren’s explanation to pick apart, but Eluca wisely decided to let them pass. Otherwise, she felt her entire worldview might have to be rebuilt. Faeren, on his part, answered lightly.

“In fact, not much. They simply believed that humans need food, so they went to find some for him.”

“So that’s why they attacked Xinghua Village?”

At this, Eluca’s eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at the familiars cavorting overhead like revelers at a bonfire, then at the barely-breathing, unconscious man below. No matter how she tried, she simply couldn’t connect the two events... What on earth goes on in the minds of these familiars?

Faeren, however, was clearly not as troubled. He merely reached out and patted Eluca’s shoulder, then turned to the black cat at his side.

“Whatever the case, a good deed a day is still worth doing... Right, let’s revive him, Derin.”

(As you wish, Master.)

At Faeren’s command, the black cat nodded, then sprang to the man’s side in a few quick bounds. Widening its eyes, it carefully examined him, then extended a paw and drew a gentle circle atop his head. At once, a series of green, glowing motes appeared above the man, swirling and spreading to cover his body. Soon, the man’s brow furrowed and he groaned softly, slowly opening his eyes.

“Where...where am I...?”

The man looked bewildered and lost—and small wonder. Waking to find oneself in a dark, unfamiliar cave, surrounded by strange pumpkin-headed creatures dancing in circles, would rattle anyone.

“All right, welcome back to reality, sir. Please don’t move... Hmm, let me see, your mind doesn’t seem quite clear. Now, tell me, how many fingers am I holding up?”

As he spoke, Faeren extended one finger before the man’s eyes. The man stared blankly for a moment, then replied in confusion.

“One...”

“Excellent. It appears there’s no major problem with your brain, your judgment is intact... Yes, your mind is clear. Next...” Faeren smiled as he spoke, his fingers absently caressing the gleaming scalpel at his waist, as if barely able to restrain himself. “You don’t mind if I perform a physical exam, do you? Inside and out... Don’t worry, it only hurts at the start...”

“Eek!”

Before the man could react, Eluca shrieked, her face ashen. She quickly retreated to a safe distance, watching Faeren with the wary gaze of someone facing a prehistoric monster.

Her scream seemed to jolt the man awake. As he focused on Faeren standing before him, his bewildered, helpless face suddenly lit with excitement. He reached out and grabbed Faeren’s wrist with all his strength.

“Doctor! Doctor! You’re the Doctor, aren’t you? I never expected to see you here again! This is wonderful, truly wonderful!”

“Who are you?” Faeren raised an eyebrow at the man’s emotional outburst.

“It’s me, Doctor! I’m the captain of the Scavenger Squad—Tek!”

PS: As I’ll be flying to HN for the winter, updates may be unstable in the coming days. Just a heads-up.