The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin - Chapter 18.2: Lonely Old Potato

Liu Ji was at a loss. He had just prepared a whole table of dishes and was ready to eat when Yaine and the others started packing up.

They prepared a heap of water skins, cut off more than half of the frozen bear meat, and even chopped some firewood, which they all stuffed into Yaine’s magically conjured space.

The way Yaine reached her foot into the space to kick inside before finally sealing it indicated that the entire space was packed fully.

At first, Liu Ji thought they were moving house; he even wondered why they would move since they had just built the house. But seeing that they didn’t pack anything from outside, instead moving the stuff into the house, Liu Ji realized that this wasn’t moving but preparing for a long journey.

Still, Liu Ji was puzzled. He didn’t know what could have happened to make the three so anxious to leave that they would even skip the prepared meal.

Seeing that the three seemed almost done packing, Liu Ji hurried over to Yaine and cobbled together a question with his limited vocabulary.

Yaine took a moment to think and responded within the range of vocabulary Liu Ji could understand, using just a few words, “We, friend, danger, search, you, here, wait.”

The meaning was clear, and Liu Ji understood it. Just that…

He eyed the table full of dishes he had prepared.

The thought of sitting there alone, slowly picking at the food all by himself, filled Liu Ji with a sense of desolation. Such a pitiful, lonely old potato.

He was pensive for a moment, then made some gestures. “I, search, your, we…”

Since he didn’t know how to express “go together,” Liu Ji’s words came out rather incoherent.

Of course, Yaine could understand what he meant. However, she didn’t wish to let Liu Ji follow them. Liu Ji didn’t understand how treacherous the environment of that place was, and even with her magical space filled to the brim, Yaine still felt uncertain of entering that lifeless zone.

Sighing, Yaine pondered for a moment, then recited a short incantation. Raising her hand, she lightly flicked Liu Ji’s forehead.

In the next instant, Liu Ji’s vision was engulfed in a blood-red hue, and he saw again his own furry bear paw and the intestines slowly dripping off it.

It was an almost instantaneous physiological reaction. Liu Ji felt his stomach churn, and he hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.

He looked at Yaine with confusion, not understanding why she wanted him to recall that bloody and nauseating image again.

Yaine didn’t say anything. She simply smiled at Liu Ji, then tiptoed up and gently ruffled his hair. Then, she turned around and asked Osar and Mervent, “You guys ready? Then let’s go.”

With that, she led the way into the forest.

Mervant turned to look at Liu Ji, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he remained silent and followed after Yaine.

Osar smiled at Liu Ji, giving him a firm pat on his shoulder, then a thumbs up, before jogging off to catch up with the others.

Liu Ji stood motionless for a long time as he watched the three walk away. Finally letting the hand held to his mouth fall, he breathed deeply, finally managing to suppress the nausea.

Actually, the message Yaine wanted to convey wasn’t hard to understand. Liu Ji didn’t have to think very long to get it.

“Don’t follow them if I don’t want to see that kind of scene again, huh… That’s probably what she meant,” Liu Ji said with a self-deprecating chuckle. “Really, what in the world is going on…”

He had thought this was just a typical sword-and-magic other world, where birds chirped and flowers bloomed.

He had assumed it was just bad luck that he happened to be lost and trapped in the wilderness, and now that he had met others, his joyful adventure in this new world should have begun.

However…

This didn’t seem to be the case.

Deep down, Liu Ji really wanted to follow them, but his legs just wouldn’t move.

Perhaps it was fear, disgust, or an instinctive belief that he shouldn’t step into such a world—or maybe, it was simply the fear of becoming a burden.

Of course, it was likely to be a culmination of all of these. Just the thought of those bloody scenes reappearing, possibly several times, made his feet feel as though massive rocks were tied to them.

Liu Ji sighed deeply, reluctantly slinking back to the house and sitting at the table. However, despite seeing the table full of dishes, he wasn’t able to muster even a bit of appetite.

Liu Ji was confused. He didn’t know if he genuinely wanted to tag along and help, or if he just didn’t want to be left alone here. If it was the latter, wouldn’t it be too capricious to insist on following them?

Besides, they were so capable, they didn’t really need him. Perhaps having him stay here to keep watch on the house was the right choice…

But…

What if the situation from before happened again?

They might be capable, but they weren’t invincible. Just like the previous time, if Liu Ji hadn’t been there…

If Liu Ji hadn’t been there… Well, things might not necessarily have gone wrong.

He didn’t know if Yaine didn’t have any backup plans or if she had merely been drawing the enemy into a trap.

Moreover, he didn’t know if he could act as decisively as he did last time. He feared that if he recalled those images, he might freeze in place.

If his hesitation in a fight caused a disaster, wouldn’t that be even worse?

“Indeed, I should just stay here. This must be the best solution,” Liu Ji said to himself. “See, there are so many dishes, all freshly made by me, still warm and definitely delicious.”

Telling himself all that, he picked up a piece of bear meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

“Mm! It’s tasty indeed!” Liu Ji smiled as he chewed.

And chewed.

And chewed…

It’s tasteless…

“Ha…”

His sigh echoed in this silent camp.

Liu Ji didn’t notice that in the nearby woods, several pairs of eyes were watching him.

Vaguely, there was the sound of saliva being swallowed too.