I Reincarnated as Drag king in Another World

Chapter 13: New Roads Ahead

The first rays of light peeked through the cracks in the ruined shelter, painting the walls in muted hues of gold and crimson. Asuka stirred beneath the thin blanket, groggy but unable to escape the nagging weight in her chest. It felt like the night had passed too quickly, leaving her with more questions than answers, yet a small part of her clung to the fragile thread of hope that had sparked in her heart.

The fire had burned down to a faint glow, casting flickering shadows across the room. Kaelith was already awake, her silhouette framed by the light streaming in through the gaps in the shelter. She stood near the entrance, scanning the horizon with a quiet intensity, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. Her posture was always so poised, so controlled, as if nothing could ever shake her resolve.

Asuka sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes, the tension from last night still lingering in the air. Kaelith glanced back at her, and despite the hard edge in her gaze, there was something different in it this morning—a small flicker of understanding, perhaps.

"You slept well?" Kaelith's voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something softer in it, something she usually kept buried.

Asuka hesitated, then nodded, though the sleep hadn't been truly restful. "As well as I could. What's the plan for today?"

Kaelith's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze distant, as though weighing something far beyond the immediate horizon. "We keep moving. We're too close to the raiders' territory. Staying here won't do us any favors."

Asuka's heart skipped at the mention of the raiders. The threat of human danger had become almost as real as the desolation surrounding them. She had no desire to cross paths with them again. "How far are we from the next settlement?"

Kaelith didn't answer immediately. She turned back toward their scattered supplies and began gathering what little they had. "It's a few days' travel," she said eventually. "We can make it if we stay focused. If we stop now, we risk getting caught."

"Right," Asuka muttered, forcing herself to push aside the rising panic. It seemed like there was no real safe place in this world—only moments of respite, fleeting and fragile. But they had to keep moving. That was the only rule left.

With a deep breath, Asuka rose to her feet, shaking off the exhaustion that had followed her like a shadow. The cold, dry air bit at her skin as she stepped outside, squinting against the first light of day. The barren wasteland stretched out in every direction, a landscape that had become all too familiar to her.

"We should find water first," Kaelith suggested, her voice firm, her steps already taking her in a direction Asuka wasn't familiar with. "The next settlement might have supplies, but we can't risk running out before then."

Asuka nodded silently, falling into step behind her. The awkward tension from the night before still lingered, but now it felt… different. More solid, like something they could build on, even if the foundation was shaky.

They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the crunch of their boots on the dry earth and the occasional call of distant birds—signs of life in a world that had mostly forgotten what it meant to thrive.

Asuka thought about the conversation they'd had the night before, about trust, about survival, and about how Kaelith had almost seemed… vulnerable. It was a strange thing to witness, and it made Asuka wonder if the woman she admired so much wasn't quite as unbreakable as she appeared.

She didn't want to ask. Kaelith wasn't someone who shared her burdens easily. But Asuka couldn't help herself. "Kaelith... last night, you said something about leaning on others when you can't keep going. Do you… do you ever feel like you can't do it anymore?"

Kaelith's pace didn't falter, though her shoulders stiffened slightly. She didn't look at Asuka. "Of course I do. Every day. But feeling like you can't keep going doesn't mean you stop. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You do it for the people who need you. Because if you stop, you lose everything."

Asuka absorbed her words, the weight of them pressing down on her. There was a harsh truth in what Kaelith said, but Asuka wasn't sure if that truth was enough to silence the doubts that still gnawed at her.

"Is that really all we're doing?" Asuka asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Just surviving?"

Kaelith didn't answer right away. Instead, she slowed her pace slightly, and for the first time, she looked directly at Asuka. Her silver eyes were unreadable, as always, but there was something there, something fleeting.

"Survival is the first step," Kaelith finally said, her voice low. "But there has to be something more. A reason. A purpose. Otherwise, we're just walking corpses."

Asuka stared at her, feeling a tight knot in her chest. She wasn't sure if she believed in that purpose yet. But she did believe that Kaelith wasn't just talking about surviving—she was talking about fighting for something bigger.

A sound interrupted their conversation. A low rustling came from nearby, and both women froze, their senses snapping to attention. Asuka's heart thudded in her chest as Kaelith crouched down, signaling for Asuka to do the same. Without a word, they moved off the main path, slipping into the shadows of the crumbling buildings that lined their way.

The noise grew louder, and Asuka's pulse quickened. There were footsteps approaching. Heavy, uneven.

Kaelith motioned for Asuka to stay low, her hand resting on her weapon. Asuka's mind raced—were they raiders? Scavengers? Whoever it was, it was too close for comfort.

The footsteps stopped, and the silence that followed felt like an eternity. Then, a voice rang out from just beyond their hiding spot.

"Hey! You two hiding out here? It's not safe, y'know!"

Kaelith and Asuka exchanged a glance, neither of them moving an inch. The voice came closer, the figure now visible just around the corner. The man was tall, with wild, unkempt hair and an air of desperation about him. His clothes were ragged, but he didn't look like he was part of any raider group.

Kaelith's hand hovered near her weapon, her body tensed.

Asuka's throat went dry. The encounter could go either way. But they had no choice but to face it.

"Stay calm," Kaelith whispered, her gaze never leaving the stranger.

The man stepped into view, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. "I don't mean trouble. I'm just looking for some water. Do you have any?"

Asuka's grip on her weapon loosened slightly, though the tension still remained. Kaelith remained silent, assessing the situation carefully. She wasn't ready to trust anyone, not yet.

But maybe, just maybe, this was the break they needed.

"Maybe we do," Kaelith finally said, her voice cautious but steady. "But we'll need something in return."

The man smiled, relief flickering in his eyes. "What do you need? I'm good with a blade, if that's what you're asking."

Asuka watched the exchange with a wary eye. This could be the start of something new, or it could be another risk they were taking.

The road ahead was uncertain, and even with new faces, nothing would be easy. But for the first time in a long while, Asuka felt like they might be able to take on whatever came next—together.

The man stepped closer, ready to strike a deal.

And as the sun climbed higher in the sky, so too did Asuka's determination.

She wouldn't just survive.

She'd find her way forward.