The Ocean's Call (Continued)

Turning her head to look at the radiant Lappland in front of her, Maria had no intention of discouraging her. She simply reached out and gently rubbed the back of Lappland's ear before slowly speaking.

"Then let's go."

"Good!"

As her ears were being rubbed, Lappland's eyes lit up.

But she still forced herself to speak, despite her shyness.

"That..."

"Um?"

"Ms. Maria... if I have truly performed to your satisfaction... could you perhaps give me a small reward?"

Lappland lowered her head, her words tinged with shyness.

"A reward?" Maria was stunned for a moment.

This was the first time the girl had ever made a request of her...

This feeling is very subtle.

But...

"Sure..."

"Yes!"

With Maria's approval, Lappland's momentum grew even stronger.

Texas, knowing that she had been spending every night alone with Ms. Maria, surprisingly refrained from competing with her this time.

But Maria still noticed the girl's disappointment.

Following the principle of sharing kindness equally, she also ruffled the other person's hair.

And FrostNova beside her...

She stared in astonishment at the mountain of watermelons behind Maria.

"The Yeti Squad has several hundred members... and quite a few Shieldguards and Guerrilla Troops as well. These watermelons might not be enough; I'll buy more later."

"... I will give you the money."

Although she knew that Maria meant well and didn't need anything in return, the stubborn FrostNova still gritted her teeth.

She doesn't receive favors from others for no reason!

"Um."

Maria, who already knew a little about the girl's stubbornness, didn't say much. She nodded and got up.

Ready to leave.

The girls present exchanged glances and then nodded seriously.

This time, we must win!

"Where do you think the leader and the captain are going?"

Yharnam, at the Yeti camp.

The members of the Yeti Squad sat together and started gossiping.

After arriving in Yharnam, their lives began to stabilize at a visible pace.

The stability that comes with it is that people start to get bored and enjoy gossiping.

For example, my older sister isn't young anymore, and she's pretty. Although she seems cold on the outside, everyone knows she's a good person... Why doesn't anyone pursue someone like that?

"Have no idea."

Another member of the Yeti Squad, stirring the fire and listening to the crackling sounds beside his ear, also tilted his head.

A moment later, he raised an eyebrow.

"Do you guys think... the captain and the big sister might end up together?"

"Ah?!"

Everyone was stunned by these words, but the more the young man thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

He pulled everyone aside and began to discuss it in detail.

"Look at them, the boss has a cold exterior, and so does the captain."

"The eldest sister has a very good personality... The captain also let us stay here and provided us with a stable supply of food. He's very kind."

"The boss is a great fighter... but the captain is even better!"

"Aren't these two a match made in heaven?!"

The young man excitedly announced his discovery.

Meanwhile, his teammates on the side had subtle expressions.

"While it is a bit... but... aren't the boss and the captain both women?"

"So what if she's a girl?!" the young man retorted. "Ultimately, liking someone is the foundation; gender isn't an issue!"

"Vera ..."

"Let me finish speaking first." The young man didn't notice the subtle look in his companion's eyes, and instead became even more immersed in his own ideas.

"Thinking about it carefully, it's actually not bad for the boss and the captain to be together... The boss has been through a lot of hardship in the past, and the captain is a good person. If the two of them were together, they could complement each other... Wouldn't that be great?"

"Vera ..."

"Hmm... but it seems like the boss doesn't have that idea, and I don't know what the captain's attitude is either... how about we find an opportunity to test their thinking?"

"Vera!"

His teammates finally couldn't hold back any longer. They promptly stopped the young man's wild ideas, looking awkwardly at what was behind him.

At this moment, the young man named Vera seemed to realize that something was amiss.

He tilted his head slightly, stiffly looking behind him.

Under the bright moon over Yharnam, a woman as beautiful as a lily stood quietly.

Their gazes watched silently.

"Team... Captain?"

"Um."

Maria tilted her head, looking at the other person's trembling figure, and didn't say anything more.

This made the young man breathe a long sigh of relief.

It seems the captain didn't hear...

Only...

"I probably won't find a woman as a partner..."

Maria answered Vera's question seriously and calmly.

This made Vera's entire face turn red.

Half a day later, he finally spoke, albeit timidly.

"... I... I understand."

"Um."

Maria simply gave a reply, without intending to make things difficult for these people. After waving her hand, the Swarm of people, nodding and peering, brought over the mountain of watermelons.

The bright green fruit peel left the Yeti Squad members completely stunned...

"Captain... what's this?"

"FrostNova prepared fruit for you..."

Maria didn't explain much, she simply instructed a few members of the Yeti Squad to distribute the items.

"More supplies will arrive later: clothing, shelter, fuel... and all sorts of other things..."

Maria's voice was calm, as if none of this concerned her.

Anyone could tell that this couldn't possibly have been bought by their own older sister.

Because the boss has no money!

Don't our own people know each other well?

This must have been prepared for them by the captain at the request of the eldest sister.

This... this is really...

In an instant, every member of the Yeti Squad who got to hold a watermelon had tears in their eyes.

They are capable of enduring hardship; they can march for a day without food or hunger, and they can wear the same clothes for years... but that doesn't mean they are willing to endure hardship.

In fact, no one in this world comes into this world specifically to suffer... Everyone has the right to pursue a better life...

However, having been Infected, they lacked the courage and the environment to pursue this right.

And now...

Looking at the crisp, fresh watermelon in their hands, and at its emerald green rind that they had never seen before, everyone was speechless.

For ordinary people, this might just be eating fruit, without much ceremony, and they might even throw it away halfway through because they don't like it.

But for them...

They were able to meet such a great leader and captain even after becoming Infected...

This...

This is really...

"Please wait a moment... Captain!"

One of the Yeti Squad's men caught up, gritted his teeth, and bowed deeply to Maria.

"Thank you..."

"... I didn't do anything for you..."

Maria calmly looked at the deeply moved Yeti Squad members before her, her eyes slightly lowered, revealing no emotion.

She didn't think she had done anything wrong.

Only...

"Now that you are Hunter of Yharnam, I will take care of you, at least in terms of your daily life... that's all."

Maria knew exactly what she ate and what kind of life she lived in the endless cycle of reincarnation in Yharnam...

Even though she has accepted all of this now, she will not allow her successors to suffer the same torment.

She could distinguish between training and mere suffering.

But looking at the Yeti Squad members with tears in their eyes, she hesitated for a moment before answering.

"If you must express your gratitude, thank Yelena; she has always thought of you all."

"Yes!"

The members of the Yeti Squad wiped away their embarrassing tears and raised their heads.

"Then... what about the boss now...?"

"She's here now?" Maria for a moment, then replied, "She went to participate in the competition."

"Ah?"

"Is this the competition venue? It's quite lively."

Walking through the streets filled with applause and cheers, FrostNova looked around curiously.

They were surrounded by a noisy crowd.