Yukinoshita Yukino nodded, finally acknowledging Kushida Kikyo's words. "Stone Weapons that are sturdy enough are indeed far superior to our bare hands."
Kushida Kikyo almost couldn't maintain her smile, cursing the contrarian Yukinoshita Yukino a hundred times in her mind:
Bitch! Bitch, bitch, bitch!
Xia You watched Yukinoshita Yukino act as a natural counter to Kushida Kikyo and offered a silent prayer for the latter.
In this life, you really can't escape high-cold girls with long black hair.
Ema Sakuraba said in a low voice, "Should we protect Xia You next so he can Unlock abilities and explore the surroundings?"
"Although I'm not hungry yet, the feeling of an empty stomach is very unpleasant. We should find Food and a Water source as soon as possible."
Speaking of Food, Ema Sakuraba seemed to think of something; she swallowed hard, letting out a faint "gulp" sound.
Kiana flexed her arm to show off her strength and shouted energetically, "Just leave the tasks to This Young Lady!"
Xia You looked around.
After his integration efforts, besides Ema Sakuraba and Kiana who had already stated their stance:
Yukinoshita Yukino and Kushida Kikyo, two Problematic Girls in every sense of the word, also turned their beautiful large eyes toward Xia You, waiting for him to issue orders.
Xia You had won their trust through his performance and had become the default core figure of the team, making these Problematic Girls with distinct personalities willing to follow his lead.
It wasn't in vain that I spent so much effort uniting you all!
Relieved, Xia You looked at the four girls and spoke after a moment of thought:
"We don't know the level of danger around us, so prudence is our priority."
"For now, Kiana and Yukino are the most suitable for scouting. I'll have to trouble you two to explore the locations slightly further away."
"If you encounter any living creatures—no matter the species or how harmless they look—do not make contact. The same goes for plants. I don't want any of you to get hurt."
Xia You remembered that on his Status Screen, behind the Charm attribute, it said Hostile to all living creatures.
He had great confidence in his Charm.
When he was a child walking down the street, he could attract older sisters to feed him.
When he entered a coffee shop as an adult, if there were many female customers, the sound of conversation would cease, and the place would go silent for a few seconds because of his arrival.
The best average Charm attribute for an adult is 1.0, while Xia You's was as high as 1.3. He believed Kushida Kikyo and the others' Charm attributes were also in this range, likely not differing by more than 0.1.
If Xia You was Hostile to all living creatures, their Mini-map would also be covered in hostile Red dots, without even a single neutral Yellow dot. They had to be careful of every living being.
As for being careful of plants...
Xia You glanced at the Gothic Girl's Corpse hanging from the Radiant Gate. Without needing further words, he continued to issue instructions:
"Ema, Kikyo, you two explore the immediate vicinity."
"If you find anything suspected to be Food, mark the location. Also, gather information on the terrain, especially Water sources. We need to find drinking water."
"As for me, by the time you finish exploring, I should be able to craft a batch of Equipment for everyone."
"Once we have the Equipment, we'll go together to gather Food and Water, reducing the risk to the minimum."
This was the most secure plan.
Xia You's coordination won the approval of the girls.
Kiana held up a high peace sign, her exceptionally rounded snow peaks puffing out. "Leave it to Ben-xiaojie! I'll find water and food!"
Ema Sakuraba also showed an initiative contrary to her delicate aura. "I'll explore the left. Xia You, you have to do your best too."
Kushida Kikyo habitually pressed her hands together in front of her chest with a cute smile. "Since it's Xia You's request, I'll work hard to do it. Since Ema is taking the left, I'll explore the right."
Kiana put one hand on her hip and raised the other high, shouting with full energy:
"Alright! Let's go, I'm going to the right too. Yukino, the further places on the left are up to you."
"Everyone, move out! Move... out...!"
Xia You watched the three girls set off with great motivation, heading to different areas to execute their scouting missions. He then looked at Yukinoshita Yukino, who was still standing there, looking up at the sky.
"Do you have something you want to say to me privately?"
"Don't flatter yourself. I have nothing to say to you, and no shameful secrets either."
"Then what's the problem?"
Yukinoshita Yukino grabbed her arm with her left hand and wore a perfect smile. "Your plan is very good. At most, I could only do as well as you have."
Xia You looked askance at the shameless Hiranon. "What on earth are you trying to say?"
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed. "Haven't you noticed the flaw in your plan yet? This is the Wilderness. You only calculated strength and safety issues, but you ignored the most fatal point."
"The movements of modern people are limited to a few specific places. Going to a strange location requires the assistance of navigation or asking for directions."
"There is no map here, no one to ask for directions, and no landmarks in the surroundings. What if someone gets lost?"
Xia You nodded in agreement. "You're right."
Yukinoshita Yukino revealed a smile. "Then, let me move with someone else. I can protect one of them."
"I refuse."
The smile froze on Yukinoshita Yukino's face, replaced by a look of bewilderment. "Why?"
Xia You said, "Kikyo and Ema are only exploring the immediate vicinity. The area is very open with excellent visibility; it's impossible for them to get lost."
"Kiana was able to travel the world alone when she was very young. Her sense of direction must be very strong; even if she goes far, she won't get lost."
"The only one to worry about is you—Yukino, could it be that you're worried about getting lost yourself, which is why you're talking in such a roundabout way?"
Xia You realized, showing a speechless expression before finding it amusing:
"You can be more straightforward. It was my oversight not to consider your 'lost child' attribute."
"Walk with me in a bit. I only need to gather resources. You can explore the surroundings with me as the center. As long as you don't leave my sight, you won't get lost."
Meeting Xia You's gaze, which was like one looking at a problematic child, Yukinoshita Yukino clenched her fists, maintained her smile, and said composedly:
"I am not a 'lost child.' How could I possibly get lost?"
"Then I won't accompany you."
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't keep smiling. She brushed her hair, her eyes drifting as she forced herself to save face:
"...But since you have the heart to offer, considering safety, leaving you here alone might not be safe. Moving together is the most correct course of action."
"Ha."
A person really does laugh when they are speechless.
Xia You rolled his eyes and spoke with the patience used for coaxing a little girl, "Yes, yes, yes."
Yukinoshita Yukino covertly gritted her teeth. "Don't laugh."
Tsundere and cute.
Xia You looked at Yukinoshita Yukino.
Her black hair was as smooth as a waterfall, her delicate skin was crystalline and translucent, her bright large eyes were clouded with a hint of bashful anger, and she pressed her thin cherry-colored lips tight. That exquisite face was almost illegally cute.
Moreover, her limbs were long and well-proportioned, and her well-placed slender waist combined with other parts to form a perfect body curve, all of which highlighted the fact that Yukinoshita Yukino was a beautiful girl.
The only regrettable part was that the airport of the plains was too "wealthy," not even comparing to a single one of Kikyo's or Kiana's.
But she was still very cute.
Xia You said with a smile, "I just felt it was hard on you to go in such a big circle. Next time, just state the problem directly. We are comrades, we are friends; it's only right that we complement each other. I'll be counting on your care in a bit."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the politely bowing Xia You. She pursed her lips imperceptibly, the grip of her left hand on her arm tightening. Maintaining an elegant and confident smile, she also bowed slightly:
"Please look after me."
Yukinoshita Yukino straightened her back. "Let's set off."
Xia You raised his palm. "No, please wait a moment."
Yukinoshita Yukino was confused. "Do you still have something to do?"
"I'm going to perform an autopsy."
The mysterious Gothic Girl's Corpse was still hanging in front of the Flower Vines-entwined Portal, forming a cruel yet beautiful, tragic scene.
Waiting for Xia You to explore.