Chapter 42: Brick’s Jealousy
Brick understood the situation right away. 'So it is the typical scenario with those that are working hard for others while those that do nothing have done nothing but complain and cause problems. In addition to that, they are gathered around an entitled nobles kid that had the fantasy that he is still worth something in this situation.'
There were many kinds of characters that Brick had read about that faced the initial stages of the apocalypse and they had a lot in common with what he had heard.
They were the typical spoilt heir types that made trouble for others, feared the zombies, did not contribute to the group and expected things to be the way they believed they should be.
If they did not have a desire for control over the group, they were unable to adapt in time when the apocalypse came or they were envious and angry towards those that had stepped up during the chaos.
If they could not gain control over the group through manipulation using their promises of riches or assistance from their influential family then they would resort to other more reckless behaviours that would get them and others around them killed.
Each person eventually became a thorn in the side of the protagonists and usually died a terrible death.
The only lucky ones were those that had enough luck to be saved by the protagonist sparing them or them being picked up by their family before they could receive their deserved punishment.
Brick could see that one of the rooms was occupied by the person Buffy pointed out, he was surrounded by two other males his age and three females of a similar age. 'Hmm.. this is actually better. He is out of the way and cannot interfere too much if he is messing around in the room with others thinking he is some kind of king.'
Buffy sighed and said. "He has already drawn some of the newer members of the club to his side. If this keeps on happening then it will not be long before he gains a bigger following."
Brick shrugged. "If he wants to trade favours for supporters and whatever else then that is his business and who ever has agreed with it. If it is so easy to have them turn on you then is it really worth keeping them around? This is actually a good situation to judge these things and to learn from them."
If there were people who were quicker to jump sides or betray then it was better to spot it early and it was safer when there were no major dangers around or when their cooperation was needed to do something.
An act of betrayal when they could do the most harm was not what Brick wanted to see happen.
Those remaining members of the archery team under Tanya could be considered as allies that could support her in the future but the others that were quick to switch sides would not be allowed to stay around her again.
Buffy frowned. "I will tell the captain this later but what is your plan exactly? You said you do security and bodyguard work right? Are you sure you can handle this big of a task?"
Brick nodded. "Hurry and tell her then I can act before night comes. I plan to stay here for the night and then leave in the morning so I would feel safer if there are no unknown variables lingering around."
Buffy ran away towards the room that Tanya was locked inside and soon entered after a couple of knocks.
They came out a little later and faced Brick, Tanya held her bow readily along with Buffy. "We will support you if you plan on doing anything dangerous."
Tanya looked around towards those sitting in the hallway and the open rooms then spoke. "Everyone that is not prepared to fight, go back to your rooms for now and do not come out until we say it is safe."
The sounds of people moving around hurriedly and the doors slamming shut followed as many went inside the rooms.
Once there was a moment that the two of them were alone together, Brick turned to Tanya after searching through his bag then handed over a bottle. "I never thought to ask how the supplies were holding up but I did bring some things along. Take small sips and make it last a whole day but do not give it to others.
It is safe to drink but you may find it a little strange. Please do not ask anything about this for the time being. I would not do anything to harm you and this is a good thing."
He took out an almost empty water bottle and showed her as he drunk from it. "This is the same and see how nothing bad has happened? You can take a drink from this or I can test that drink first before you if you do not trust me?"
Tanya scowled at him. "I will not ask you anything and will just drink it as you have said. You are probably just trying to use an excuse to have an indirect kiss. Pervert."
Brick nearly spat out the water that he had just drank then swallowed it down and began coughing. "Hah.. that was so mean."
Tanya turned away from him. "Hmph. I know you are hiding something from me but I will not ask you right now. You better prepare to tell me everything in the future. The current supplies are running low so your request to search the other rooms was just in time."
While the preparations were being made, Brick and Tanya stood around taking small sips of the water then Tanya asked. "Hey? What is this stuff really? I feel full of energy and there some this weird tingly sensation."
Brick rolled his eyes and complained. "Didn't you just say that you would not ask? Fine then I will explain a little.. all you need to know for now is that this stuff is good for you, it is not ordinary water and you should spread out how much you drink throughout the day while burning off that energy and exercising. If you do not drink too much then there will be no side effects and you will soon see surprising results if you keep drinking it."
Her eyes lit up. "So you have more? Can you give some to the others?"
Brick shook his head. "If you want to form a team or group of survivors of your own that will be a permanent thing then I can consider it but there is no way I am handing out such things to just about anyone.
I may consider passing some to those closest to you but you cannot tell them anything. Just lie if they ask and tell them it is a special energy restoring drink or something. I am sure you can think of something."
The method of using the crystal nucleus could not be revealed so soon and there would be those that would later discover it on their own before it was finally announced.
Those that had the diluted crystal nucleus in the water bottles would just think of it as some kind of drink that gave them a little energy but the taste was not that much different to ordinary water.
It would not be until he told them the truth about it, when they awakened their powers or when it was announced to the public that they would find out the truth of what they had been given.
Tanya suddenly let out a scream that attracted his attention. "Ah.. go out. What is this? What is happening?"
Brick's gaze went towards her hand that had something floating a little above her palm that was very small in size. 'FML! All my efforts! All my efforts! And here it happens with a couple of sips.. is this what they call a difference in talent?'
Brick composed himself and then began to lie. "Do not panic. I have seen this type of thing before. Calm yourself first and keep still."
Tanya had tried to follow what he said but her concentration was lost and the tiny flame above her palm dispersed. "Oh what happened? Did I really do that?"
Brick said in a tired tone of voice. "Congratulations, you got yourself a fire superpower. Try not to use it in doors and try to gain some control over it before you go around using it in any kind of situation."
Tanya looked down towards the bottle that had almost been dropped onto the ground in her other hand and asked. "It was that tingly feeling right? It was this stuff that made me like this? What have you given to me?"
Brick had exercised, went of killing sprees of zombies, drank from the water bottles the moment it was possible to do so and he maintained his physical and mental health well enough but he had not experienced the rewards yet.
In front of him was someone that had taken a couple of sips and suddenly gained an awakening on the spot which made him feel like spitting up blood.
As useful of an ability that a fire power user would be, using it indoors where there were many flammable things was not a good idea and it was only enough to create a small flame but it still made Brick feel jealous of Tanya. 'Does she have a villainess buff or something or is her power easier to awaken than mine? Meh.. whatever. Time to vent on the dead.'
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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