World's Best Protagonist [BL]

[3rd Person’s POV]

"How are they, captain?" Lexie asked as soon as she saw Claude descending from the top of the mountain where Allen and Jade were.

"They’re both fine."

"Then, why haven’t they—"

Lexie’s voice trailed off when Claude just continued walking past her. He didn’t even look back and just walked away. She turned to Terrius, who was doubling the ice barrier trapping the boss monster in the crevice.

He noticed her confused stare, so he remarked, "Don’t mind him."

"Okay..." Lexie replied, still, she couldn’t help but be worried.

Terrius did not see their captain’s face, so he wasn’t perturbed. But she did. And it didn’t look good. Lexie believed that Claude needed counseling, so she was about to climb up and pick up the two, when finally they were already descending.

She immediately went to Jade and told him her observation.

"I’ll go find him," Jade worriedly answered.

Terrius threw him a flashlight. "He probably just went back to the cave."

"I’ll counsel you later, vice-captain."

"I’m not that drained yet, don’t worry."

Jade left after that. Allen followed him with his gaze, worrying about the dark path. He was hesitating whether to follow or not, when a hand grabbed his shoulder suddenly.

Lexie, unaware of his thinking, pointed at the large boulders from afar.

"Do you think you can lift them and stack them here, just to be sure this thing won’t easily escape?"

"I can do it."

"Great." Lexie tapped Allen on the back and moved away.

He began lifting the rocks while Lexie guided him where to place them. After the crevice was securely blocked, they gathered and talked.

"What if it digs the ground instead?"

"I froze it."

"How long are we going to do this?"

"Until Etienne returns."

"It’s been hours since they left. Do you think Noir hadn’t found his mother yet?"

"Did he tell us how he will find her? Or how far are they going at least?"

Allen glanced at the path where Jade disappeared. "Only Jade knows about that."

Lexie sighed. The monster squirmed and screeched, and the mountain wall shook slightly, tiny rubbles falling from it. Terrius glanced up at the blockage they created.

"We should camp here and—"

"What the hell is your problem again? I’m trying to cleanse you!"

Jade’s angry voice reverberated off the walls. He clamped his mouth after realizing how loud the echo was and how it might bring unwanted attention from nearby monsters, if there were any still alive.

Claude, who first emerged from the dark carrying the suitcase, sat on the flat surface he saw and opened the case again. He replied as he pulled the chairs out one by one.

"I told you I don’t need it yet."

Jade came next. "I told you it’s better to—"

"I’ll come to you if I badly need it," Claude cut him off. Jade opened his mouth to retort, but Claude stared at him with warning. "Or do you want that to happen again?"

Jade flushed. Luckily, it was dark, so his teammates did not notice how red he was. "I don’t!"

"Then, just sit back and rest," Claude firmly ordered.

Lexie grinned. "What? What happened?"

Terrius ducked her head gently, like someone scolding her for being too nosy, and approached the captain. Lexie frowned, but she didn’t probe any more. Meanwhile, Allen was disturbed by that, so he couldn’t help but eye Jade; however, Jade was looking at the captain instead.

Allen averted his eyes immediately and just silently took one of the foldable chairs and sat on it.

Terrius built a bonfire again, while Claude pulled out a tent, much to the others’ surprise. Lexie even slapped her face at the ridiculousness of her captain. They never tried camping inside the vortex before. Maybe it was because they never really stayed inside longer than they needed.

After they were all settled, Jade approached Terrius.

"Counseling?"

Terrius nodded. Jade sighed. He thought he would refuse his help as well. He pulled his chair closer to Terrius and began cleansing him.

"Lexie, you should use the tent," Claude said after a while.

Lexie gaped at him. "Captain, did you build it for me? I used to live on the streets, so sleeping on a rock is fine. I bet Allen needs it more than I."

Allen scowled. "I don’t need it, captain. I can sleep anywhere." He turned to Lexie and strictly added, "You shouldn’t sleep in the street just because you can. You’re a woman. Some men are dangerous."

"Those men, I bet I can knock out with a single punch," Lexie replied proudly. She refused to take the tent all by herself, but she still stood and checked it. "The captain even brought a blanket."

"It’s cold in the mountains at night," Claude immediately explained. He pulled out a bar of chocolate from his pocket and leaned on his chair as he took a bite, his eyes briefly hovering over Jade and Terrius.

"How do you feel now?" Jade murmured.

"Light and my head seem clearer. Thank you," Terrius replied. He fished something out of his pocket and gave it to Jade.

It was the same bar of chocolate Claude was eating.

"I heard you like chocolates. You can have mine."

Jade accepted it. Terrius’s dark energy level wasn’t high, but it still made him feel uncomfortable and a bit warm. He practically inhaled the chocolate and drank two bottles of water. Then, excused himself after feeling the need to release.

Once he was back, Lexie was missing. He yawned and asked the group, and Allen pointed at the tent. Jade’s eyes lingered on the table where a few bottles of canned beer were.

"Did you buy them too?" He asked Claude, astounded.

"Am I not allowed to drink?" Claude sulkily replied.

"Do you drink, Jade?" Terrius asked, reaching for a can.

Jade shook his head. "I have a low alcohol tolerance." He yawned as he sat next to Terrius again. The other three continued talking, but their words no longer registered in Jade’s mind. His eyes were drooping, and his head was falling to the sides.

Witnessing this, Allen and Claude moved at the same time, but paused after noticing each other. They exchanged glances, yet no one was sitting back.

Terrius shook his head. He casually stood, scooped the already asleep Jade from the chair, and brought him inside the tent.

Lexie was still wide awake. She moved when Terrius entered carrying Jade. Then, as he lay Jade gently on the surface, Lexie mumbled, "I just realized the tent is for our dear Minder."

Terrius raised an eyebrow at that claim. Lexie pulled something underneath the blanket and showed it to him.

"Who the hell brings books inside a vortex?"

Terrius went silent. After he left Jade to Lexie, he went back to the other two, only to find them drowning themselves in canned beers like two men having a drinking battle. He went the other way to scout, shaking his head as he walked away.