Free Web NovelChapter 127: Chapter 105: Returning to the Forbidden Land
Time is like water in a toilet. Press the button, and WHOOSH, it’s gone. You can’t stop it. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
「The Wasteland.」
"Ah, I’m so hungry..."
Perched on a nearly withered tree, Mengmeng gazed up at the scorching sun. She was sprawled across a branch, rubbing her rumbling stomach. Completely listless, even her ears drooped.
The day before yesterday, after finding no sign of the Undead or any other danger, the outraged Catmen had forced their Clan Leader to lead them back to the Tribe.
As the main culprit of this "farce," Mengmeng was naturally given a harsh scolding.
Although no one knew where she’d gotten the meat, the people of the Dora Catman Tribe clearly didn’t believe her story about seeing the Undead, much less that the Undead had given her food. In the end, Mengmeng was "gloriously" awarded the title of liar. The meat was confiscated by the Clan Leader and distributed among the tribe members who had been "driven from their homes" by her "lies."
"I didn’t lie! I really did see the Undead."
"Ugh, the Clan Leader is a bad person. The Undead are better than him. The Undead gave me meat to eat... huh?"
Dazed with hunger, Mengmeng, who had started muttering to herself, suddenly froze. She blinked, as if struck by inspiration.
’What if... and I’m just saying, what if... I go back to the forbidden land to find the Undead? Would they give me meat again?’
This sudden idea startled even Mengmeng herself. ’This is too dangerous! Why did I even think of that? Was it because of that Human who controls the Undead? He seemed so kind.’
’No, no, no. Last time was a fluke. I traded information to save my own skin. I don’t have any information for him this time. What if he just throws me to the Undead? I’d be dead for sure.’
Mengmeng shook her head hard, trying to fling the dangerous thought from her mind. But then another thought followed. ’If I had some information, though... I could give it a try. That roasted meat smelled so good.’
Thinking of the roasted meat from that day, she couldn’t stop herself from drooling. ’Waaah, my meat... they stole it...’
’Ah, now I’m even hungrier. I have to stop thinking about it.’
Her body, which had straightened up slightly, went limp again. Mengmeng unconsciously turned her head, and her listless eyes suddenly shot wide open. She saw dark shapes moving in the distance.
’That’s...’
She scrambled to her feet and, in a few quick movements, climbed to the top of the tree. She widened her eyes even more, straining to get a clear look at the dark shapes in the distance.
Short, green-skinned goblins and members of the Headhunter Race. Recalling the rumors spreading across the Wasteland, Mengmeng instantly realized what this was: the Alliance Army, on its way to attack the Undead!
’Wait, that’s not an Alliance Army! That’s meat! Delicious, roasted meat!’
’If I just give that Human the intel about the Alliance Army’s arrival, he’ll definitely give me more roasted meat. He has to.’
Mengmeng grew excited. Caught between the danger of the Undead and her growling stomach, she followed her heart—or rather, her stomach—and decided to take a gamble.
She hugged the tree trunk, slid down from the top, and took off running without a moment’s delay.
"Mengmeng, where are you going?" Meng Ni called out in surprise as her sister zipped past the edge of the Tribe like a gust of wind.
"Sister, wait for me! I’m going to get you some meat!" Her voice drifted back from afar. Dropping to all fours, Mengmeng was already long gone.
"Meat? Where are you going to get meat... Wait, you—get back here!" At first, Meng Ni was just confused, but then she thought of the Undead. Her face paled. By the time she shouted again, her sister had already vanished from sight.
The other Catmen didn’t believe Mengmeng, but Meng Ni did. Mengmeng had never lied to her. If Mengmeng said she saw the Undead, then the Undead were real.
Mengmeng said she was going to get meat. For a Little Catman like her, where else could she possibly get meat besides from the Undead?
A cold sweat broke out on Meng Ni’s back. She dropped what she was doing and hurried off to find the Clan Leader.
"What?! You’re saying Mengmeng went to the forbidden land again?!" The Clan Leader looked utterly horrified at Meng Ni’s words, but then he burst into laughter. "Meng Ni, don’t you start acting foolish like your sister. There are no Undead. She made it all up. Mengmeng just went out to play and will be back soon. You don’t need to worry. Just go back to whatever you were doing."
"Clan Leader, Mengmeng doesn’t lie! Please believe me, she really went to find the Undead!" Meng Ni pleaded, so frantic she was on the verge of tears.
"Meng Ni!" The Clan Leader’s expression changed in an instant. He roared, his voice harsh and severe, "That’s enough! The tribe members have only just returned. What are you trying to do?"
"But my sister..." Meng Ni tried to say more, but the Clan Leader cut her off.
"Even if Mengmeng really did go to the forbidden land, what can we do?" the Clan Leader said, his tone heavy and earnest. "Do you want me to organize the tribe members to rescue her? Those are the Undead! We are just a small Tribe. Do you want everyone to die?"
Meng Ni was stunned. What the Clan Leader said was indeed something she hadn’t considered.
’What could they do?’
They could do nothing. The Dora Catman Tribe had only a handful of Warriors. They often returned from hunts empty-handed, so it was impossible for them to confront the Undead head-on.
She understood now. It wasn’t that the Clan Leader didn’t believe it, but that he didn’t dare to believe it—that he *couldn’t* believe it. He was the leader of the Tribe. A single decision could mean life or death for his people.
Should he risk the entire Tribe to save a parentless Little Catman who had contributed nothing? Or should he act as if nothing had happened and let nature take its course? The choice was obvious.
It was cruel, but it was the truth.
Meng Ni lowered her head, fighting back tears. In a low voice, she said, "I understand, Clan Leader. I will go find my sister myself. It has nothing to do with the Tribe, and I won’t blame you. Thank you for taking care of us all this time."
