Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 16: Finding a path

Chapter 16: Finding a path

The forest had finally gone quiet, but the silence carried no peace.

Kai stood among the broken trees and scattered branches, the white mist now reduced to pale wisps drifting lazily.

The Mistfang Tyrant was gone, yet the memory of its roar and the sight of Felix’s lifeless body lingered in his mind like a shadow that refused to fade. He glanced once more toward the direction where the others had fled, his thoughts turning to Darius, Mira, Rogan, Theo, and Lina. He hoped they had survived the chaos, that they had found each other or made it out of the forest alive.

The weight of uncertainty pressed on his chest, but there was nothing he could do about it now. They had scattered in the panic, and the forest was too vast to search without risking another encounter with the beast.

"Kai," Lucien’s voice pulled him back to the present. The half-elf stood a short distance away, his expression somber as he brushed dirt from his hands. "You alright?"

Kai nodded slowly. "Just thinking about the others. Darius, Mira, Rogan... the apprentices. I have no idea where they are or if they made it out."

Lucien’s face mirrored his concern. "I’ve been wondering the same. We got separated so quickly. I hope they found safety."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the day’s events hanging between them. They could only hope the others had survived and would find their way back to the city.

Rhydian knelt several meters away, examining a smear of black blood left behind by the Mistfang Tyrant. He had removed one of his gloves, and his fingers moved carefully over the dark substance. Kai approached him, curious about what the Beast Emperor might discover.

"What are you doing?" Kai asked.

"Investigating," Rhydian replied simply, his golden eyes focused on the blood.

Kai looked down at the smear. It was darker than ordinary monster blood, almost black, with a faint purple glow pulsing beneath the surface. "That’s not normal, is it?"

"No," Rhydian confirmed. He touched the substance with the tip of a small silver instrument. A faint crackling sound emerged immediately, and Rhydian’s expression sharpened.

Lucien moved closer at once. "Can I see that?"

Rhydian moved the instrument away slightly. "For what?"

Lucien frowned. "To observe"

"Do that but don’t touch it" Rhydian said dismissively and Lucien’s frown deepened.

"I didn’t even say i was going to touch it!"

"You were considering touching it," Rhydian said.

"There’s a fucking difference between touching and observing," Lucien insisted, narrowing his eyes.

"Not a significant one," Rhydian countered.

Kai stared at the two of them for a moment, then laughed quietly. Both men turned to look at him. Kai raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry. You two argue like you’ve known each other for years."

Lucien gave him an annoyed look, but there was no real heat in it. Rhydian simply returned his attention to the blood without comment. Kai couldn’t help smiling. It was strange how, after nearly dying and losing Felix, the atmosphere between them could still feel almost normal for a brief moment.

Rhydian finally stood, wiping the instrument clean. "This isn’t normal," he said again.

Lucien looked at him. "You said that earlier."

"I was correct earlier," Rhydian replied. "But what exactly isn’t normal is the beast itself."

Kai’s expression became serious. "We know it shouldn’t have been here."

"That’s not the only problem." Rhydian looked at the black blood. "I’ve been tracking the Mistfang Tyrant for three weeks. It appeared near the northern border, then moved south. It attacked a caravan. After that, it crossed into another territory."

Lucien frowned. "That’s impossible. Mistfang Tyrants are territorial. They don’t simply abandon their territory and travel hundreds of kilometers."

"Exactly," Rhydian said, his gaze returning to the direction the beast had fled. "It crossed three territories. It fought other magical beasts. It abandoned its hunting grounds. And eventually entered Emeraldwood."

Kai’s expression changed as the pieces fell into place. "So something drove it here."

Rhydian nodded. "That’s my conclusion."

Lucien’s face became serious. "Something powerful enough to force an A-Rank beast from its territory. Or something that changed its instincts."

Kai looked toward the deep forest. "What could do that?"

Rhydian’s answer came without hesitation. "I don’t know."

The words made Kai uncomfortable. Rhydian was an SSS-Rank Beast Tamer, known as the Beast Emperor. If even he didn’t know what was happening, then whatever force was at work was far more serious than Kai had initially thought. Rhydian looked at the black blood again. "I’ve seen similar signs before. Different places. Different monsters. But the same violet energy."

Kai looked between them. "So this isn’t the first beast."

"No," Rhydian confirmed.

There was scilence for a while.

"Have you ever formed a contract with a magical beast?" Rhydian’s sudden question pulled Kai from his thoughts.

Kai looked at him. "Me?"

"Yes."

Kai glanced at Argent, the enormous Thunder Griffin standing several meters away. The creature was calm now, watching its surroundings with sharp golden eyes. "Does it look like I have?"

Rhydian studied him. "No."

"Then why ask?"

"Curiosity, i just find Argent’s proximity with you as a wonder"

Kai blinked. Rhydian had just openly admitted to being curious about something and that something was him.

Kai looked at Argent again. "Are you asking if I want one?"

"Yes. A contract with a magical beast."

Kai thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

Rhydian’s expression remained neutral. "Why?"

Kai shrugged. "Because I don’t know anything about beast taming."

"You don’t need to."

"Even so." Kai glanced at Argent. "I’d rather not."

Rhydian was silent. Kai noticed his expression. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You look like you’re thinking."

"I am."

"About?"

Rhydian looked at him directly. "Your answer."

Kai frowned. "What about it?"

"Most people would want the opportunity."

"Well the Most people aren’t me so there’s that"

For some reason, that answer made Rhydian pause. Kai didn’t understand why. If someone had offered him a contract with an SSS-Rank magical beast before his transmigration, he probably would have accepted immediately. But now? He wasn’t interested in collecting powerful things simply because they were powerful. Argent belonged with Rhydian. Their relationship was obvious. They weren’t master and weapon. They were partners.

Kai found it sweet but nopr, he didn’t want a Beast.

"I don’t want a beast just because it’s strong," Kai explained. "I want something that’s mine. Something I chose for myself."

Rhydian’s gaze remained on him for another moment. Then he looked away. "I see."

Kai didn’t know if he actually did. But he didn’t press the matter.

They began preparing to leave the area. Kai looked back toward the forest one more time. The others were still somewhere out there. Darius had ordered everyone to run. They had all scattered.

"Kai."

Lucien was standing nearby. Kai looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Come on."

Kai nodded. He followed.

As they began walking, the System’s voice appeared in his mind.

[Hidden World Event Detected.]

[Phenomenon: Abnormal Beast Migration.]

[Cause: Unknown.]

Kai’s steps slowed. He hadn’t expected that. You don’t know?

[Insufficient information.]

Kai frowned. *Can you investigate it?*

[Additional information is required.]

Kai glanced toward Rhydian. The Beast Emperor was walking ahead with Argent. Then toward Lucien. The alchemist was quietly examining the surrounding vegetation. Kai looked back at the forest. Then I guess I’ll have to find out myself.

The System didn’t answer. Kai smiled faintly. That was fine. For once, he wanted to find out. Not because a quest demanded it. Not because the System offered him a reward. Because he was curious. And Kai was beginning to realize that curiosity might be one of the most dangerous things he possessed.

They finally reached the edge of the forest several hours later. The moment Kai saw the road beyond the trees, he stopped. Civilization. People. Carriages. Smoke rising from distant chimneys.

It felt strangely unreal. They had only been gone for a short time. Yet Kai felt as though he had been trapped in that forest for weeks. He looked behind him. The forest was silent. Somewhere in there, the others were still missing. Kai’s heart tightened.

Please be alive. He thought about Darius. The man’s last order before he bolted towards the beast. Run.

Kai wondered if he had survived. He wondered if the others had found each other. Perhaps they had already left the forest. Perhaps they were even now returning to the city. Kai hoped so. He really did.

A group of adventurers suddenly appeared on the road. They stopped when they saw them. "Kai!" "Lucien!" "They’re alive!" The search party rushed toward them. Questions erupted immediately.

"Where is the rest of the expedition?"

"What happened?"

"Was there any causualty?"

Kai’s expression fell. The questions stopped him cold. Felix. For a moment, he saw the young man’s face again. Then the fog. The beast. The blood. Kai looked away.

"Felix, he didn’t make it."

Silence. The news spread through the group. One person lowered their head. Another cursed under their breath.

Someone else asked about the others. Kai could only shake his head. "We got separated." That was the truth. He didn’t know where the others were. He didn’t know if they had survived. But he refused to say anything else. .

Rhydian approached Kai. Kai looked up. "You’re leaving?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"North."

"Tracking the beast?"

Rhydian nodded. Kai glanced at the forest. "Be careful."

Rhydian’s eyes rested on him. "I could say the same."

Kai smiled. Rhydian reached into his coat and pulled out a silver feather. Kai immediately recognized it. " Isn’t Argents?"

"Yes."

Kai accepted it. The feather was warm. A faint electrical current passed through his fingers. The System appeared.

[Item registered: Argent’s Feather.]

[Function: Communication medium.]

[Additional function: Unknown.]

Kai looked at Rhydian. "What’s this for?"

"If you find yourself in danger..." Rhydian’s gaze shifted briefly toward Argent. "Show it to a Beast Tamer’s Guild branch. They’ll contact me."

Kai looked at the feather. Then at Rhydian. "You’re giving me a way to call you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I need eyes and ears everywhere" he said.

Kai looked down at the feather. "Then I guess I’ll keep it."

Rhydian nodded. The System appeared once more.

[A new contact has been registered.]

Kai glanced at the notification.

[Rhydian Valeheart.]

Rhydian mounted Argent. Kai watched as the Thunder Griffin spread its wings. Wind swept across the road. Kai raised an arm to shield his eyes, so did everyone. Before Argent took off, Rhydian looked down.

"What’s your name?"

"What?" Kai asked instantly remembering that they had not exchanged pleasantries.

"I said what’s your name?" Rhydian yelled over the sound of Argent’s ernomous wings flapping.

"It’s kai!" Kai yelled back

"I will be seeing you soon Kai"

Kai’s expression changed. Rhydian didn’t wait for a response. Argent launched into the air. Kai watched them disappear into the distance. The silver feather remained in his hand.

Lucien walked up beside him. "You made quite an impression."

Kai looked at him. "Did I?"

"Apparently."

Kai looked toward the sky. Then down at the feather. The System appeared.

[Primary Objective: Academy Entrance Examination.]

[Time Remaining: 25 Days.]

Kai stared at the notification. The Academy. He had almost forgotten about it. Almost. Kai looked toward the road. Then at Lucien. Then back at the forest.

The Mistfang Tyrant. The strange corruption. The unknown world beyond the city. His thoughts began wandering. What else was out there? How many places had he never seen? How many creatures existed beyond the game’s storyline? How many mysteries had the original game never explained? Kai’s curiosity grew.

"System."

[Yes?]

"What happens if I don’t go to the Academy?"

There was a brief pause.

[You may choose another path.]

Kai blinked. "Just like that?"

[The choice is yours.]

Kai thought about the invitation. He had spent days thinking about the Academy.

Preparing for it. Planning for it. Believing it was the next step. But now, for the first time, he wondered if he actually wanted it. Maybe he didn’t need to follow the path the game had laid out. Maybe he could choose his own. Kai smiled. "Then I’ll think about it."

[Understood.]

The notification disappeared. There was an entire world he had never seen. Kai tightened his grip around Argent’s feather.

"Let’s go."

Lucien looked at him. "Where?"

Kai smiled. "Back to civilization."