The Butcher of Sargon (Patreon)

Chapter 51: It's Raining

A sleepless night is just that—sleepless.

Garde had once gone three months without sleeping, only closing his eyes twice during that period. 

He shouldn't have expected any reaction from Saria. 

Most likely, she didn't even see him as a member of the opposite sex!

Garde stood up as the sky began to lighten. He dusted off his pants.

"You are awake?" Saria's voice came from beside him. "You can sleep a bit longer if you want."

"I've slept... enough. We'll set off at dawn and try to reach the path the Nightmare Army took within three days. There will be fewer enemies there," Garde said earnestly. 

He couldn't exactly admit he'd spent the whole night sneaking glances at her, not sleeping at all.

The Crocodile Man shook his head, feeling something was off with himself. He already had Laurentia and Gavial; how could he be sneaking peeks at Saria?

'Garde, you and Saria are at most just colleagues. This diamond-hearted woman doesn't even see you as a member of the opposite sex!'

Under Saria's wide robe was a black sleeveless vest. Since she made it herself, it was well-fitted—neither too tight nor too loose. 

Even though not an inch of skin was exposed, just looking at her determined profile made Garde feel a different kind of beauty.

Garde quickly put some distance between them. 

This was a normal reaction for a man; if a beautiful woman sits next to you and you don't feel a thing, you might need to reconsider your sexual orientation.

Life is full of temptations and mistakes, but Garde was firm in his beliefs!

The sky was just starting to brighten, around four or five in the morning. The operator on guard duty breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Garde awake.

Six sand vehicles were parked in a circle, with the group resting inside. 

From eight in the evening to six in the morning, sixteen combat-skilled operators took turns keeping watch. Three non-combat staff were not included in this rotation.

Garde and Saria took turns being responsible for day and night shifts, ready to take command immediately in case of combat.

Waking up the still-sleeping companions, the camp had no lighting. 

Even the convoy refrained from using any illumination during guard duty, as it would be dangerous. 

Creatures in the Hotland were attracted to light and were not afraid of fire; seeing it would only make them happy and excited.

However, nighttime was not particularly frightening for most Terrans. 

Most could see well in the dark and could make out their surroundings by moonlight. 

Garde, for instance, could easily spot small animals a hundred meters away, even at night.

As Rhine Lab's operators packed their things, Garde opened his journal and wrote, "July 4th, 1091, Terra Calendar: A female Vouivre tried to tempt me, but I withstood the test, avoiding the common error of every male Adakrys. My soul has been elevated..."

“Hey, Garde, what are you writing?” Carnelian's casual voice startled Garde, causing his hand to shake and almost drop the pen.

Luckily, he remembered that Carnelian was shorter than him and couldn't see what he was writing.

"Are you writing in your diary?" Carnelian, spotting something interesting, reached out to snatch the diary from Garde's hands. "Let me see!"

"In your dreams!" Garde rolled his eyes. 

There was no way he would let anyone read his diary. 

It contained all his cringeworthy, juvenile thoughts and embarrassing moments, it’s not for others' eyes.

Though he did write his diary in a language not from this world, so most people wouldn't understand it anyway.

"Fine, whatever." Carnelian pouted, acting as if she didn't care much. 

Garde had developed the habit of writing in it during his previous trips to the Hotlands, fearing he might die there. 

At least, if that happened, his diary would prove he once existed. 

Whether others could read it or not was another matter.

Drip! Just as he’s about to put his diary away, a water droplet fell onto the diary, leaving a small dark spot.

Garde looked up at the sky. 

The previously gray sky was now shrouded in a layer of black mist, with occasional flashes of light.

"Huh, it's raining?" Carnelian said, just as Garde bolted out like a heavy tank, dragging his seemingly cumbersome body to the top of a sand vehicle.

A Rhine Lab operator, startled by Garde's sudden move, called out, “Mr. Garde?”

Garde ignored him and shouted loudly in the camp, “Everyone, get back in the vehicles now! We need to move!”

In an instant, everyone, even those still drowsy, snapped to attention. 

They hadn't forgotten where they were. 

Though they hadn't encountered any significant enemies or battles yesterday, when Garde gave an order, even with lingering doubts, their bodies moved in an orderly fashion.

“Garde, what’s happening?” Saria ran over upon hearing Garde's voice.

“It’s going to rain!” Garde's face was grim. 

He hadn't expected his group to be so unlucky. 

They had encountered little trouble upon entering the Hotlands, but now, just when retreat wasn't an option, it started raining.

It felt like some unseen force was trying to bury them all here.

“How is that possible? It shouldn’t be raining now.” According to decades of statistical data, the Hotlands' rainy season usually started in late July or even August. 

If the rain had started then, the convoy would have already reached the road the Nightzmora Army had widened and found what they were looking for. 

But now, it was only early July!

“Don’t overthink it. Since the rainy season has come early, we need to be prepared in advance.” Garde wasn't thinking about retreating; it was simply impossible now.

In the direction they came from, with the acid rain beginning to fall, disaster beasts that usually hid under the desert were now emerging, hungrily eyeing the sky. 

The Hotlands received rain only once a year, and these beasts needed to store enough water to survive until the next rainy season. 

The early arrival of the rainy season would revive some near-death disaster beasts, driving them to attack any creature that crossed their path in their desperate thirst for survival.

Garde could fight his way out, but the Rhine Lab operators couldn’t.

Garde looked at the Rhine Lab operators in the camp and shouted, “We will proceed to our predetermined location at full speed. All vehicles, do not fall behind!”

“Yes!” All the Rhine Lab operators responded firmly.