My Harem of Dangerous and Crazy Women as a Reincarnated Necromancer-Chapter 83: Wasted Opportunity

When Mark and Rose arrived at the semi-human camp, or rather, what was left of it, the first thing they saw was a pile of semi-human bodies scattered around.

But without a doubt what caught Mark’s attention was Alpha and company, who at that moment were finishing off the few survivors.

An ant was dragging itself across the ground with half its legs destroyed, leaving a trail of blue blood behind it.

But Alpha caught up to it and finished it off with a single strike.

Mark and Rose, for their part, headed toward the center of the camp, where Yuki and Alice were finishing stacking the semi-human bodies into a pile.

"Good work," Mark said upon arriving, looking at the pile of bodies and then at the two of them. "That was faster than I expected, well done, both of you."

Hearing her Master’s words, Yuki nodded in response and that was all.

Alice, on the other hand, reacted in a completely different way.

"T-thank you for your kind words, my lord," Alice said, lowering her head slightly as she dropped a body she had been holding.

After saying that Alice raised her gaze again, and to her misfortune the first thing she saw was Rose.

The vampire wore a grin from ear to ear, with a faint gleam in her eyes as if she were watching something tremendously entertaining.

Seeing this, Alice felt the heat beginning to rise to her face, but quickly suppressed her emotions so she could speak to Mark.

"My lord, could we—?" Alice said, taking a step forward, only to be cut off.

"Yuki," Mark said, turning toward the Red-haired woman. "Before we get moving again, I want to talk to you about the route... Is there any way to shorten the path? Maybe a shortcut or an alternative route that would save us some time."

Alice’s mouth hung open.

Again.

Her words died halfway between her brain and her mouth, run over by Mark’s voice as he turned toward Yuki without noticing Alice was about to say something.

Mark, who apparently did notice he had interrupted something, turned his head back toward Alice.

"Oh, sorry Alice," Mark said with an apologetic expression. "Were you going to say something?"

"...It was nothing, my lord."

Hearing her answer, Mark looked at her for a second as if wanting to make sure it really was nothing, then nodded.

"Alright," Mark said. "If something comes up you know you can tell me, right?"

"Yes, my lord..."

Mark turned back toward Yuki and both began walking away from the center of the camp toward where Alice’s five companions were.

Their voices grew fainter as they moved away, discussing routes, landmarks, and the possibility of finding a more direct path to the dungeon.

Alice stayed where she was, fists clenched at her sides and eyes fixed on the ground.

"That was pathetic."

Then Rose’s voice came from her right.

"You had a pretty good opportunity," Rose continued, walking slowly until she was standing in front of Alice. "He asked you directly what you wanted to say, basically handed you the opening on a silver platter, and you let it go."

"...It’s none of your business," Alice murmured.

"You’re right, it isn’t," Rose said with a shrug. "But it’s entertaining to watch."

Alice raised her eyes and saw Rose looking at her with that smile Alice had unfortunately come to know all too well.

"Do you know what your problem is?"

"I don’t have a problem," Alice replied in a tone that tried to be firm but came out more defensive than intended.

"Your problem," Rose continued, completely ignoring Alice’s answer, "is that you think too much. You want to ask for something simple, but you turn it into a military operation inside your head... and when the moment finally comes, you freeze."

Alice didn’t respond.

Because Rose was right, and deep down that irritated her more than any mockery.

"If you want something, ask for it directly," Rose said in a tone that, for the first time all day, didn’t sound entirely mocking. "Don’t wait for the perfect moment because it doesn’t exist."

Alice stared at her.

"And you’d better do it soon..." Rose added, and there was the smile again. "Because if you keep wasting opportunities like this, someone else might take what you want."

The moment Rose said that, the air between the two of them tensed.

Alice knew exactly what Rose was referring to, and it didn’t need to be said out loud.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about..." Alice said in a voice that tried to sound indifferent.

"Sure, sure," Rose replied in a tone dripping with sarcasm. "Whatever you say."

After saying that, Rose turned around and began walking toward where Mark and Yuki were talking with Alpha and company.

Alice was left alone in the center of the destroyed camp, her fists so tightly clenched that her nails were digging into her palms.

She wasn’t angry with Rose.

Well, she was angry with her, but that wasn’t what was making her blood boil.

She was angry with herself.

"Coward," Alice whispered. "You’re a goddamn coward."

Meanwhile, about thirty meters away, Mark was standing beside Yuki watching Rose and Alice talk in the center of the camp.

While he couldn’t hear what those two were saying from that distance, he could roughly make out their gestures, and from his perspective, the fact that they weren’t shouting at each other was already progress.

Then Rose turned around and began walking toward them, leaving Alice alone for a moment before she too started walking.

"I’m glad to see those two aren’t arguing as much anymore," Mark said out loud.

Beside him, Yuki turned her head toward Mark, and while her expression remained as always, there was now something in her eyes that could only be described as confusion.

Because the assassin could see the hostility floating between those two like static electricity before a storm.

That wasn’t getting along, it was quite the opposite, but she preferred to stay quiet.

"..."