My Abyss Survival Diary

Chapter 11 Campfire Conversation

"What would you like to talk about?"

The strange atmosphere made Simon subconsciously nervous. What did Klein know that made him stay for a private chat?

"I'm very grateful that you saved my companion, but I've just noticed something suspicious..."

Klein approached the carcass of the prey, bent down, and skillfully moved its head from side to side, revealing its neck hidden behind its large mouth.

On its neck, there was a faint white mark, almost invisible...

“Mr. Bell knows more about the creatures of the abyss, while I know more about hounds…” Klein spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone carrying a hint of unease and wariness. “I have been with hounds since I was a child, and I can tell at a glance whether the dog in front of me is a wild dog or a hound.”

"This predator is not a wild beast; it has been domesticated and is a hunting dog under human command."

If it were a hunting dog, there might be more to the story behind Simon being chased by it, and Klein's attitude towards him would inevitably change.

The campsite was very quiet, with the campfire crackling softly.

The two looked at each other, and Klein's hand reached towards his waist...

His hand didn't linger on the dagger at his waist, but instead reached down to his pocket, where he pulled out a dark rectangular object.

He generously broke off a large piece and handed it to Simon, keeping a small piece for himself to casually put into his mouth and chew.

"Thank you." Simon put the cookie in his mouth.

This is a type of military ration called omnivorous biscuit. It has a hard, rock-like texture and is said to be made from a mixture of various grains and "other ingredients." It tastes astringent and bitter, which is terrible, but it is extremely high in calories. Eating one piece can keep you from being hungry for the next two days.

Two days before entering the abyss, the soldiers escorting the criminals gave each of them a large piece of biscuit bread, and he still hasn't felt hungry.

"You're right, it is indeed a hunting dog," Simon said, swallowing the omnivorous biscuit with difficulty.

He hadn't told Klein and the others about the origins of the beasts before, mainly because he didn't want to explain the Order of the Mother of Abundance to them.

The Order of the Mother of Abundance, the powerful Bone Spur Killers, the girl with multiple pupils in her eyes, and many other things about the Twilight Empire are complicated to explain. Klein might not even believe that such a strange and bizarre group exists in the same jungle as them.

But since we've come this far, Simon might as well speak frankly...

"The beast was brought by an organization called the Order of the Mother of Abundance. I overheard their conversation, and their leader sent a beast to hunt me down. I was on the run when I happened to run into Mr. Bell, and I killed it with Mr. Bell's harpoon."

"I see……"

Simon hadn't expected that Klein would believe his story so easily.

"Are you familiar with the Mother of Abundance Order?"

"I've never seen them with my own eyes, but I heard the priest talk about them during the transaction. They usually stay in the second and third layers of the abyss and rarely set foot here."

Klein rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment before giving another example.

"To use a volcano as an example, the place we are in now is the crater of this volcano. Originally, the abyss was just a big pit, but due to some geological changes, it has become the monstrous thing it is now, with a small mountain rising up, and we are right here at the crater."

"In order to control the Abyss, the Empire established a stronghold on the summit of this mountain..."

"Why not just drill a big hole in the mountain? The Empire's technological capabilities could definitely do that," Simon interrupted.

"Because the Abyss has the ability to self-repair, the holes it drills will heal in a few minutes, and the holes it blasts will be repaired in just one hour." Klein narrowed his eyes, seemingly annoyed that he had been interrupted. "That's why the Empire chose to establish its base here."

Control the entire abyss from top to bottom.

Simon thought of a new problem:

"Since the Empire has established a base here, why would those heretics risk so much to come to this level?"

The assassin with bone spurs growing on his hands may seem powerful, but he is no match for the steam armor. If the two meet, the outcome will be decided in an instant. The heretic will be smashed to pieces with a single punch, and his fragmented corpse will be reduced to ashes by the terrifyingly high-temperature flames.

"That's what I wanted to ask too..."

Klein bit his thumbnail, his eyelashes fluttering, his eyes lowered—a seemingly habitual gesture when he was thinking.

"Hmph! Who can guess what those heretical lunatics are up to..." Clay snorted, giving up on thinking. "For us sinners, collecting the flesh of incriminating evidence is the most important thing. Let the Abyss Watchers handle dealing with those lunatics; they're better at it."

He nodded; Klein was right.

Without the flesh of incriminating evidence, there is no stronger weaponry. If one is even slightly careless, one may be attacked by that group of zombies, or more accurately, fungal zombies, and have one's body parasitized by the flesh of incriminating evidence.

Now his supplies are almost exhausted. He has four skull-crushing nail guns but no bullets, and no food to replenish his strength.

The only good news is that he still has two pieces of flesh that he can exchange for indulgences.

Simon secretly planned to exchange the meat for equipment and supplies first thing tomorrow morning, enough for at least two days' worth of dry rations to make the hunt easier.

He chewed the hard, rock-like biscuit in his mouth, the astringent and bitter taste melting on his tongue, the warmth sliding down his throat into his stomach.

After a moment of silence, his gaze passed over the campfire and landed on Klein's face. He finally asked the most crucial question, the one that concerned him the most:

Is there any way to get out of here?

Klein was fiddling with the dagger in his hand when he heard this, and his fingers paused.

He raised his head, a thin layer of mockery appearing in his pale blue eyes.

"Leave here? Leave the abyss?" Klein repeated the word, as if he'd heard a joke. His lips twitched, but he didn't laugh aloud; the expression was more chilling than any smile. "Do you know how many people have tried? Do you know how horribly they died?"

"No one can leave! The Watchers of the Abyss won't let anyone leave. Either survive by collecting flesh as evidence of sin like us, or you'll be reduced to ashes!"

Simon was not angered by the sarcasm in his tone. He sat there calmly and waited for Klein to finish speaking before speaking again.

I'd like to try it too.

Klein frowned, his smile vanished, and he stared intently at the man before him.

"The Cave Thief," he said softly. "Have you heard of him?"

"I don't know." Simon shook his head. He had only heard the name "Cave Thieves" from the priest, but knew nothing about their existence.

"They're a bunch of reckless lunatics." Clay crossed his arms and leaned against the wooden post behind him. "They're not on the priests' list, nor are they under the Empire's jurisdiction. They collect the flesh of criminals as evidence and sell it to outsiders."

"Outside?"

"There is a mysterious organization within the empire that firmly believes that the flesh of the guilty can be used to make a 'panacea' that can cure all diseases. They hire cave raiders at exorbitant prices to enter the abyss and collect samples."

He paused, then tapped his fingers lightly twice on the crook of his arm.

"The tunnel raiders only operate on the second and third levels. They have their own methods: blasting tunnels, digging tunnels, and drilling into crevices that the empire has not noticed. Every so often, they will accumulate enough goods, use explosives to blast a hole in the rock wall, and send the goods out."

Simon's eyebrows twitched.

"The hole created by the blast will heal itself in the abyss, but there will be a very short period of time before it is fully repaired..."

"It's very short," Klein interrupted him, emphasizing again, "very short, a few minutes, maybe even less, and nobody knows what's outside the opening. It could be a cliff, another abyss, or the muzzle of an Imperial patrol's gun."

He stared at Simon, trying to read a hint of hesitation or fear on his face...

But Simon didn't; he just nodded, as if he were making a note of something.

Klein paused for a moment, then snorted coldly and turned to look at the fire. The firelight illuminated his profile, clearly outlining the lines of his jaw.

"I suggest you give up on that idea." His voice was cold and hard. "Isn't living better?"

"Thanks."

Simon silenced Klein's questions with a polite thank you.

The silence lasted for a while.

"If you're planning to stay on the first floor..." Klein suddenly spoke, his eyes not on Simon but fixed on the fire, "you can stay here with us."

"You're not stupid, and you're pretty good at fighting too." He said slowly, as if stating something unrelated to himself. "Bell agrees with you staying. You've seen Anthony; he treats everyone like a brother. Badal may not be talkative, but he doesn't dislike you."

"One more person means one more chance of survival." His words were sincere.

Klein's eyes were fixed on the fire, his pale blue eyes reflecting the flickering flames, and something seemed to be slowly flowing beneath the ice.

"I'm sorry," Simon replied quickly. "I won't stay on the first floor forever. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I'll try, even if it means death."

Upon hearing his answer, Klein did not respond, but simply pursed his lips silently.

A wind blew through the woods, carrying a damp, chilly mist that brushed against the edge of the campfire, causing the flames to flicker and dwindle.

Klein finally turned his head.

"Tch, whatever!" His tone returned to its coldness. "Anyway, it's your life. If you want to die, no one's stopping you!"

Simon ignored Klein's complaints.

He looked up at that small patch of dark sky, silently making plans in his mind...

If you want to leave the abyss, you can try your luck with the cave raiders on the second level.