Chapter 159: Chapter 156: Strange Illness (3)
A hunting group of seven adults and three teenagers was assembled in front of Min. Apart from the adults, it was the first hunting day for the teenagers. They were naturally excited to take their first steps into adulthood.
"Alright then," Min said, resting his hands on his waist. "I know the first hunt is a big deal, but remember, nothing is more important than your lives. Only when you live can you correct your mistakes. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" the teenagers replied in unison.
"Good. Now only fight identified grade-2 mutants. If you encounter something worse, head back and alert the seniors. If they decide to fight it, you must fall back and observe. If they tell you to return, then that’s what you do. No questions asked."
The boys nodded their heads. Some of them even felt a bit annoyed, not because Min was still treating them like children, but because Zera was given special treatment during hunts.
While the rules regarding dangers remained the same, he had more freedom to move around. He was allowed to take on grade-3 mutants, that too by himself.
The boys wanted to prove they were better than Zera. Although they didn’t think they’d be able to do so on their first hunt.
"Check your weapons before setting out, and good luck!" Min said.
"Yes, sir!"
He watched as the young ones walked outside, his arms crossed.
"You’ll be a great dad someday," Neha said, hugging him from behind.
Min turned around and smiled before kissing her on the forehead.
"Planning for kids already?" he smirked, but then got serious. "Before all that, we have to make this world a better place. Bringing a child into this... hell, doesn’t seem right to me."
Neha nodded, burying her face in his chest. The world they lived in wasn’t hell. That would come later.
Right now, food and resources were the only things they had to worry about. Soon, super illnesses would rise.
That’s when the world would turn to hell. A world where even the common cold would be as deadly as cancer to some, but it wasn’t like she was going to tell him that.
Not to mention Blaze. As long as he was alive, nothing in the world was certain. Neha knew it was an anomaly, one that would change Earth for the worse.
There’s no point in worrying him now.
"Ahem."
As the two enjoyed each other’s embrace, someone cleared their throat loudly. The two separated quickly, only to see Hina staring at them.
"Should I start calling you sister-in-law now, or is it too soon?" she said, nudging Neha with her shoulder. "Or big bro will become big-bro in law—ow! Ow! Ow!"
Neha pulled her cheek before she could say any more embarrassing stuff.
"You’ve gotten cheeky, huh? Maybe I should turn into your monster-in-law instead?"
"Ok! Ok! I’m sorry!" Hina cried out in pain. "Big bro!"
"Alright, Neha, I guess she had learned her lesson," Min said, trying desperately not to laugh.
Hina rushed behind Min, only to show her tongue to Neha.
"This kid..."
"Ah! Help! Monster-in-law is chasing me!" Hina yelled, running away.
"Get back here!"
Neha charged right after her, leaving Min to laugh alone.
No one knew it was the last carefree laugh they’d ever share.
***
A few hours later...
"We got too engrossed in hunting," a kid mumbled.
"Well, that’s what happens when you’re having fun," a man with dreadlocks replied, ruffling the boy’s hair.
He continued, "Don’t worry, we have made multiple outposts in the city for this reason. We can stay the night there, then leave for the base in the morning."
Not hunting in the night was the first lesson the young ones were taught. After all, most predatory mutants hunted in the night. In addition, there was the danger the undead posed in the night.
That’s why they were worried once the sun disappeared.
Thankfully, they weren’t alone. With the elders leading them, nothing could go wrong. While Neha taught them the theory of hunting, it was up to these adults to teach practical knowledge to them.
It was Neha’s idea to create those outposts. Everyone was apprehensive about deploying manpower to places that would remain outside the base, but they agreed when Min pushed for it.
Sure enough, it was a great idea.
Not only were they resting places for late night hunting parties, they also acted as relay points for incoming danger. But perhaps the most important role was that of hope and normalcy.
"We’re here."
Soon, they reached one such outpost.
"You boys wait here," the man said, stationing two men with the boys while the rest headed towards the outpost.
Just because they built it, it didn’t mean they were always safe. Mutants or zombies could be hiding there, waiting to strike unsuspecting humans.
That’s why three guards were stationed at each outpost. These guards were changed every week.
Three men from the hunting group were to replace the current guards, who’d leave the outpost tomorrow morning. It was also a reason the elders weren’t worried after hunting for longer than planned.
As they approached the outpost, they noticed three figures huddled around a bonfire of sorts.
"Sorry for being late," the man said. "The young ones were having too much fun hunting rats."
"Haha, we guessed as much," the muscular man with a spear replied. "Cough-cough, this damn cold."
"Is everything alright?" the one with dreadlocks asked, noticing the three guards were shivering.
"Yeah, we’re good other than his darn cold."
The ones who had just arrived there raised an eyebrow. They didn’t feel cold at all. If anything, they were feeling uncomfortably hot around the fire.
"Everything was fine until last night," one of the guards explained. "It felt like a cloud burst open, but instead of water, it dumped its coldness on us."
"Don’t you have med packs? You should have used them."
"And risk paying the admins for it?" one guard scoffed. "We’ll recover in no time. Just a little rest is all it’d—achoo~"
"You guys sleep inside," another guard continued. "We haven’t touched the beds, so you’ll have to change the sheets, but everything else is clean."
"...if you say so."