Eric kept swinging his sword outside the house, asionally grunting in frustration. I know there is a conflict in his heart, and now he needs to be given another trigger.


    "Moving like that just drains your energy, you know? We''re short on food." Leva walked over to her new colonist friend. "Besides, it''s still very cold outside."


    "It''s okay." Eric paused to answer Leva, then continued his activity.


    Leva stared at the movement of Eric''s feet, which were like fast rhythmic dance steps. "You must be very happy when you meet your long separated family, right? I know how it feels.... Well, even though I was only separated from my little sister for a few months, I was very happy to see her again that time."


    Eric just nced at the woman, put his katana into its sheath, leaned it against the wooden wall, then started practicing kickbinations. Just like when doing the sword swing practice earlier, his leg movements are also swift.


    "And finally, I lost my little sister again, this time for good." Leva smiled bitterly. "Then, I heard the news that my mom and dad were dead."


    Eric stopped his activity again, then turned his head to Leva.


    Leva shrugged. "I just wanted to say.... Out of all of us, maybe you''re the only one with the highest life expectancy. Your old colony might take you back if you begged them."


    "I don''t think that''s possible....."


    "I saw that you were very close to them." Leva cut off the conversation. "I can tell by the way you interact with them."


    "But...." Eric choked out, putting his hands on his hips and facing the other way.


    "But at the same time you can''t leave your dad, can you? You love him too, and you haven''t seen him in a very long time." Leva stepped closer to the man, his tone getting louder. "You''ve lost your family too, haven''t you? I heard from Seb that you lost your mother and younger sister. Do you really want to lose your family again? Or do you think of your old colony more as your family?"


    "Shut up." Eric''s teeth clenched. His gaze sharpened on the red-haired girl. "You don''t know anything about me."


    "Maybe I don''t know about you, but I can guess what kind of man you really are." Leva red at the man''s face. "You are doubters, unable to carry out your choice wholeheartedly. So, if you don''t want your father to survive, it''s best if you go back to your former tribe. We''d be happy because that means less mouths to feed."


    I don''t know if Leva''s words came from her heart or not. I only ordered her because I think she has goodmunication skills after Seb, despite her temperament.


    "Or you can stay here." Leva smiled sarcastically. "We won''t kick you out. You are Seb''s son, after all."


    After saying that, Leva moved and started beating the training dummy.


    Even though you said that physical activity will only drain energy, Leva.


    Eric took a deep breath, then took his sword and went back into the house. He stopped in the main room and looked around. Perhaps not finding his father there, the man went to the kitchen.


    "Ah, Eric...." Seb, who was boiling three potatoes, smiled at his son. "I apologize for what I said earlier."


    "No problem, Dad."


    Silence for a few moments. I could feel the awkwardness between them, maybe because of what happened earlier.


    "Today''s meal was boiled potatoes and a pinch of salt. Well, I hope Rox will eat this." Finally, Seb spoke again, pointing to the pot where the water was bubbling.


    "I see...." Eric was stunned.


    Seb frowned at his seemingly unfocused son. "Why? You don''t like potatoes? Don''t worry. I guarantee they are soft and delicious. I grew them myself, so I can guarantee you."


    A faint smile appeared on Eric''s mouth. "So, in this world you also work as a farmer, Dad? I''ve heard your conversation with mom before. You''re actually already tired of working as a nt scientist, right?"


    "Well, you have to contribute to amunity, right?" Seb shrugged. "And apart from farming, I can still express my passion for cooking. It''s not like on earth. I don''t have time for hobbies because I''m busy with research. So it''s not too much of a problem for me."


    "So, why are you doing your job as a nt scientist?"


    Seb chuckled. "ssic problem. Parents'' request. You know I don''t like confrontation. So I can''t rebel against them."


    Eric leaned his back against the wall. "Ah, because of this conversation, I remembered something. The farmer in my former tribe was different from you, Dad. He really likes farming, so he was very sad when most of the nts he cared for got sick."


    "Ah, that must be really painful. Even for me who doesn''t really like farming, it still hurts when it happens to me. Taking care of nts isn''t easy, Eric." Seb smiled again. "And seeing your hard work go to waste, you must feel sad."


    Just like what happened to my colonists. They''ve been collecting food with great effort, but in the end, it was stolen.


    Eric closed his eyes. "Come to think of it, that was the start of a series of curses that befell our colony."


    Huh? What does it mean? Why do I feel ufortable?


    "Curse?" Seb rose to his feet, raising an eyebrow.


    It took some time before Eric could finally continue his speech. "Because of the nt disease outbreak, we''re running out of food. And strangely enough, at the same time animals for meat are nowhere to be seen."


    "So, that''s what made your former colonists move to where they are now?"


    Eric shook his head slowly. "Not really. We did decide to move, but the distance is actually still far from where we are now. It''s just that, every time we decide to stay somewhere, we always find obstacles ....." The man began to massage the point between his eyebrows. "I can''t go into details. In short, we''re always getting wild beast attacks in new ces. There''s bears, Bluebirds, unicorns and so on. We''re forced to keep moving around."


    "Unicorns?" Seb''s eyes opened slightly.


    "Yes, they''re nasty nasty creatures." The corners of Eric''s lips twitched. "They love to attack with their horns."


    Because of the pathetic condition of my colonists, my brain is full, so I don''t feel curious about that mystical beast. Now I''m thinking, maybe Eric''s former colony curse was H''s doing so that Eric could meet Seb.


    "I can''t imagine it." Seb grimaced. "Fortunately, you survived, son."


    "But not for most of us." Eric rubbed his face with trembling hands. "Initially there were thirty of us, and now only nine are left, including me.... After Hans'' death, and I left, there are only seven of them."


    Seb held his son''s shoulder, then said in a soft voice. "I''m sorry to hear that."


    "We are constantly fighting for survival." Eric looked into his father''s eyes. "Those are my closest friends who fought with me. I have a strong bond with them, but I prefer you, Dad. Say something to justify my actions... Please"


    Seb gasped, and I whispered something to him.


    "Nothing." Seb said as per my orders. His smile bloomed for the umpteenth time, but this time it seemed forced. "Even though we are rted by blood, you haven''t seen me in a long time. No one will force you to acknowledge me as your family."


    I''m sorry I asked you to say that, Seb.


    Eric froze with a stiff face.. Seb backed away with a confused expression, lifted the iron pot to boil the potatoes, and took it outside to drain.