[The time for the first mission's completion has ended!]
Both were startled and exchanged glances.
Before they could say anything, another notification popped up.
[Congratulations to those who successfully completed the first mission! Rewards have been distributed, and you can view them on your status panel!]
[By the way, I'll attach the data on the participants who successfully finished. Starting the count… Ding! The results are in! Out of a thousand people, eighty died from the monster attack in the previous hall, leaving nine hundred and twenty participants. In the first mission just now, one hundred and fifty died, leaving seven hundred and seventy participants!]
When Claire read the notification, her face turned pale.
"S-Seven hundred seventy left!?" she cried in fear. She turned to Raven and stammered, "R-Raven, is this real? Over two hundred thirty people have died! I'm not seeing things, am I?"
Raven, who was usually calm no matter what, looked grim. He shook his head and said, "You're not seeing things. It's real."
A sigh escaped his lips. "Those two hundred-plus people… are truly dead."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy. The food on their plates, which had smelled delicious just moments ago, now seemed tasteless in the face of such a cruel reality.
Raven glanced at her, then smiled and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry. Together, we'll overcome every challenge."
With the system by his side, Raven was confident he could survive and become one of the hundred people who would reach the world of Alvas.
Of course, Claire and the other heroines could join him later as well. After all, they were nothing more than tools to make him even stronger… hehehe…
Claire felt calm under his touch. She lowered her head and whispered, "Um… I believe in you."
Raven nodded in satisfaction at her response. He withdrew his hand, then continued eating.
At the same time, the mysterious panel changed again.
[Regarding the second mission, you don't need to worry. It will be announced within the next three days. You can use the remaining time to hunt and level up!]
After that, the panel vanished.
Raven finished his meal and began washing the dishes in the stream beside them.
Claire was still eating, but her mind drifted elsewhere as she wondered what she should do in the coming days.
Raven noticed her anxiety but said nothing.
Sometimes, humans get lost in their own thoughts and sink into despair.
"When you're done, give me your plate. I'll wash it."
Raven's calm voice snapped Claire out of her daze. She quickly finished the flesh between the fish's gills, tossed the head aside, and handed him the dirty plate.
Raven took it and began washing it.
"By the way, can you boil water with that kettle?"
Raven pointed at a 250-milliliter kettle.
Claire nodded. She picked it up, stood, and filled it with water from the stream.
Then she hung it on a wooden stick over the campfire.
The night was eerily quiet, broken only by the hooting of owls and the faint chirps of insects that sent a chill down her spine.
However, the sky was filled with countless stars, along with two beautiful moons.
Once the water boiled, Raven poured in the coffee beans, crushed them with a stone, then placed the grounds into the two cups he had prepared.
After that, he poured the hot water over them, added a little rock sugar, and handed one cup to Claire.
"Drink it. It'll clear your mind," Raven said.
Claire took the cup and stared at the coffee blankly.
"Do you often drink coffee when you're worried?" she asked, taking a cautious sip.
But the moment the liquid touched her tongue, she furrowed her brows. It was bitter, yet it left a faint sweetness behind. Worse, it was still too hot, and her tongue stung.
Raven chuckled softly and said, "Blow on it first. You'll burn your tongue."
He blew on his own cup and took a slow sip. The bitterness mixed with the slight sweetness, making him smile without realizing it.
He let out a small sigh and explained, "Actually, no. Coffee is high in caffeine. It's useful in dangerous situations like this. Normally, I'd smoke when I feel anxious. But unfortunately, I didn't bring any cigarettes when I was transferred here."
"You smoke?" Claire's eyebrows rose slightly. "Isn't that bad for your health?"
In her eyes, Raven was a very cautious person. It seemed impossible for him to do something that would harm his own body.
Who would've thought he smoked too?
Raven smiled. "Not every day. Only when I feel dizzy and stuck. But you're right—cigarettes are dangerous. They can ruin your lungs."
Claire frowned. "So peace of mind is more important than your own health?"
Raven didn't answer. Only those constantly battered by problems—especially financial ones—knew how difficult it was to deal with stress.
Cigarettes were only a short-term solution. At the very least, nicotine could dull the pressure in his chest.
Still, he couldn't deny the risks.
"By the way, would you mind telling me a little about yourself?"
Raven's sudden question caught Claire off guard. She looked embarrassed and lowered her head.
"Sorry. That might've made you uncomfortable," Raven added. "Forget it. Just pretend I never asked."
One of the fastest ways to win a woman over was to learn her background.
According to Malphas, the thousand people banished from Earth were evil, cruel, and hated by everyone.
However, during his time with Claire, Raven had found nothing unusual about her.
How should he put it… Claire was obedient, gentle, and a little stubborn. But that was all.
There was no sign of cruelty or malice. On the contrary, she seemed innocent and pure.
If he went by what Malphas said, then none of it made sense.
Therefore, Raven wanted to learn about Claire's past so he wouldn't take a fatal step in the future.
"I'll tell you."
Claire's voice startled Raven.
She lifted her head, and her face showed a determination he had never seen before.
"I'll tell you," she repeated. "So please… listen."