The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 515

Chapter 515: Chapter 515 Found Them
It had taken her some time to figure out the watch’s riddle, but she knew it was better to move quickly and check if she was on the right track—she could always double back if necessary.

Though her plan felt impulsive and reckless, Hera had no better option to find Rafael.

Right now, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

All she could do was hope—and pray—that while she was out there looking, Rafael and Minerva were still safe.

‘Hah…’

Hera exhaled sharply, her breath ragged as she pushed herself to run deeper into the forest.

Sweat poured down her face, stinging her eyes, and her muscles burned from the relentless exertion.

Thirty minutes of running had already taken their toll, and her lungs felt like they were about to collapse.

But despite the overwhelming fatigue, she gritted her teeth and kept going, her mind focused on one thought: ‘Just a little bit more.’

Soon enough, Hera reached a massive tree, its trunk at least one and a half meters thick, with branches sprawling wide and high above.

She came to a halt, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.

Her lungs burned with every gasping inhale, and her body trembled from the relentless sprint.

She bent back slightly, her hands on her knees, desperately trying to steady her breathing.

Steam rose from her mouth with each exhale, her face flushed with exhaustion. Her tired eyes inadvertently drifted upward, catching sight of a thick branch several meters off the ground.

“Ah!” Hera gasped as she sprang to her feet.

“Minerva?!” she called out, her voice barely containing her shock.

There, high up in the tree, Minerva’s head peeked out from a thick branch. Her long hair was a tangled mess, and her face was streaked with dirt, making her look like a beggar lost in the wild.

Minerva froze, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Hera. She wasn’t sure if she was seeing things due to hunger or if Hera was really there, standing before her, all alone. Her gaze flicked behind Hera, searching for any signs of others, but there was nothing.

“W-what are you doing here, in the forest?!” Minerva asked, her voice tinged with caution, though a flicker of relief also passed over her face at the sight of someone she recognized.

“I came to find Rafael,” Hera replied, her voice firm and direct.

“On your own?!” Minerva exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Hera scratched her head, looking away sheepishly. “Well, some people are coming later to rescue you. I just came ahead to look for him.” Her eyes darted around, suddenly remembering her mission. “Where’s Rafael?!”

At the mention of her brother, Minerva’s eyes welled up, and a soft sob escaped her. “He’s up here with me.” Her voice was barely a whisper, weak and trembling, so soft that Hera almost didn’t catch it.

Hera’s heart clenched with concern. ‘Is his condition that bad?’ She remembered what they’d said—both siblings were injured.

“Are you alright?” Hera asked urgently, her tone full of worry. Minerva blinked in confusion, taken aback by the question.

“Are you asking *me*?” she replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Who else? The tree?” Hera rolled her eyes as she looked around the tree to see where she could climb up.

“I’m alright. But my brother…” Minerva’s voice faltered, a mix of embarrassment and worry in her words.

She was embarrassed because, despite their differences and the history between them, Hera still cared enough to ask if she was okay.

In this vulnerable moment, with her brother in so much pain and unsure if he’d survive, Hera’s concern for her felt like an unexpected weight on her heart. Minerva bit her lip, trying to steady herself, but her emotions were threatening to spill over.

Hera didn’t wait for Minerva to collect her thoughts; instead, she immediately began climbing the tree, quickly checking their surroundings to make sure no one was following.

‘I must be turning into a monkey, climbing tree after tree,’ Hera muttered under her breath with a pout, but she didn’t stop.

Despite the tree’s immense size, it had plenty of sturdy branches, making it easier for Hera to climb. In no time, she was right beneath Minerva.

Seeing Hera approach, Minerva, startled but relieved, hurriedly extended her hand, eager to help Hera up once she was close enough.

“Ah! Stop, stop!” Hera yelped, her voice high with surprise. “Don’t pull on the back of my race suit—it’s tugging at my ass!” She snapped, wincing from the uncomfortable pull, though she kept the more embarrassing part to herself, feeling the uncomfortable tension between her legs as well.

“Oh! Sorry,” Minerva exclaimed, her face flushing as she realized what she’d been doing. Her hand instinctively released the fabric, but the damage was done. Minerva bit her lip, guilt flooding her as she realized her attempt to help had only made things worse.

Hera exhaled in frustration and quickly adjusted her race suit, realizing she hadn’t had time to change before rushing out.

It wasn’t ideal, but at least the suit kept her fully protected from any insects. She then glanced over at Minerva, noticing the red spots that dotted her pale skin, especially on her face. Without a word, Hera gathered some of the grass she had collected on her way over and handed it to Minerva.

Minerva stared at the grass, confused. She tilted her head to the side, brow furrowing as she looked at the bundle in Hera’s hands.

Hera sighed, realizing she needed to explain. “You’ve been bitten by mosquitoes all over your body—probably more than just a few since last night. This grass will help keep the insects away.”

Minerva stared at Hera, her emotions a tangled mess.

She took the bundle of grass, her fingers trembling slightly, and muttered a quiet, “Thank you.”

Her voice was barely audible, more like a whisper. A mix of embarrassment, gratitude, and guilt swirled within her.

After everything that had happened between them, Hera still showed concern for her—despite the way Minerva had treated her in the past.

Hera could have easily ignored her, especially since she had come for Rafael, but she didn’t. That realization made Minerva feel even smaller.

Her chest tightened with self-loathing, and she couldn’t help but wonder how she could have ever been so selfish.

Hera, despite all her kindness, was a far better person than Minerva could ever be.

They were supposed to be the same age, but at this moment, Minerva felt like nothing compared to her. She lowered her head, unable to meet Hera’s gaze.

After handing the bundle of grass to Minerva, Hera moved swiftly towards Rafael.

She found him lying against the tree’s thick branches, his face pale and his breathing labored.

His white shirt was stained with dark, dried blood, which made Hera’s stomach churn. She could only guess that he had been injured during the night, and with the blood already dried, he might be suffering from an infection.

Her heart tightened as she knelt beside him, unsure of how long he’d been in this state.

Hera put her hand on Rafael’s forehead, he was covered with sweat, and sure enough, although he was pale, he was currently burning up. Hera took a sharp breath.

‘His wound is infected.’ Hera murmured but Minerva heard it as well as those tuned in on Hera’s livestream.