The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.187Please respect copyright.PENANAHGaXLv2nxq
187Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1uMODrmLl
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.187Please respect copyright.PENANAWyGdJJ0MoH
187Please respect copyright.PENANAArpmvK0YbY
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."187Please respect copyright.PENANA2999BpeTtf
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnazEhfTzUT
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.187Please respect copyright.PENANAhlX7DcpBrh
187Please respect copyright.PENANAtpQ9zbP1jP
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."187Please respect copyright.PENANAvEJ4Y3RrxN
187Please respect copyright.PENANA9asg08jLoG
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!187Please respect copyright.PENANA5vqYEr8ISI
187Please respect copyright.PENANANQCBsQRq3A
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.187Please respect copyright.PENANAPV9MeUHgIq
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmfI2LX249S
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."187Please respect copyright.PENANAC5JzRL0G9C
187Please respect copyright.PENANAVrEETCd89U
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.187Please respect copyright.PENANATANEfjuYLl
187Please respect copyright.PENANAm7nDGJNMxe
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."187Please respect copyright.PENANAbTV6tDo4Gf
187Please respect copyright.PENANAHWfRL6sTE1
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.187Please respect copyright.PENANAwSajY9beGa
187Please respect copyright.PENANAyRG7IvDXQC
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."187Please respect copyright.PENANAqPQEr3f7Z2
187Please respect copyright.PENANAxGLbo87Que
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.187Please respect copyright.PENANA9jyhkwuXoJ
187Please respect copyright.PENANA7MuJRfMvTw
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"187Please respect copyright.PENANA8szYzLlcZ9
187Please respect copyright.PENANArgLinfXHXx
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.187Please respect copyright.PENANA0hdFAhfZkE
187Please respect copyright.PENANA7FvBYxB6gr
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."187Please respect copyright.PENANAUutTYZ0fAM
187Please respect copyright.PENANALn0rf8iLdf
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."187Please respect copyright.PENANAIbjZmFLqBA
187Please respect copyright.PENANA072Y2WwoVl
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.187Please respect copyright.PENANAeQcOnZXCzT
187Please respect copyright.PENANAAM0Df0WPdy
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."187Please respect copyright.PENANAu02jrdyHjl
187Please respect copyright.PENANAE9Q1ClqAzp
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."187Please respect copyright.PENANAMthuz29Rzc
187Please respect copyright.PENANAK1ISIzze5a
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."187Please respect copyright.PENANAVadqMtRXiS
187Please respect copyright.PENANAsYPZ5eHob0
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.187Please respect copyright.PENANAteqsjuMBVt
187Please respect copyright.PENANAjML2sxCMzR
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."187Please respect copyright.PENANAYdzoxVlKIy
187Please respect copyright.PENANAko5jabwerD
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.187Please respect copyright.PENANAHavzf3oxeI
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnaxLRw0A1H
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.187Please respect copyright.PENANADtkVgFqigJ
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXq3KdqCtj9
"What's the matter?"187Please respect copyright.PENANA9vuCaHKrXz
187Please respect copyright.PENANATrDolgH9b0
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."187Please respect copyright.PENANAaYhUTy4ohp
187Please respect copyright.PENANAwKyZP3gRKK
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.187Please respect copyright.PENANAXulgsFTvOZ
187Please respect copyright.PENANA9dF7UyiWbg
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAnlkGHpK9Cq
187Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ehpm0Ahdm
"Of course."187Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ3d1vlqa8
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWBZIzKM8Qd
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."187Please respect copyright.PENANAAArxirxGzJ
187Please respect copyright.PENANACXGyyMoD5H
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.187Please respect copyright.PENANA9lUA262EVY
187Please respect copyright.PENANAgImvjrA5C4
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."187Please respect copyright.PENANAAA4cdJ4VhE
187Please respect copyright.PENANAODoPA8U017
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAisnJW57iFP
187Please respect copyright.PENANAAoJDPf6WJV
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."187Please respect copyright.PENANAsE7Hyasmm7
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUjxYs0MHU0
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.187Please respect copyright.PENANAHBnjuCxDXy
187Please respect copyright.PENANAdxpZPPr9Na
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"187Please respect copyright.PENANA78xUZVeNPx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAk2UaZo0H1N
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.187Please respect copyright.PENANA10n1BUt5Bu
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUJe6FCihwe
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."187Please respect copyright.PENANAIXfmGYufXh
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmIFkIa8p8G
"...Probably?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAGUbjMTP60d
187Please respect copyright.PENANAKHI2pgIyJV
"Sorry, definitely."187Please respect copyright.PENANAUTPIIYMwve
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUSIHIEDQKG
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.187Please respect copyright.PENANABOpIx1rQci
187Please respect copyright.PENANAI6lEIvrtD6
"Food's ready!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAMtbqu6BGlX
187Please respect copyright.PENANAP5rJZWlTgi
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.187Please respect copyright.PENANAT1QewEuber
187Please respect copyright.PENANA9bTng7sfmW
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.187Please respect copyright.PENANA7JJ1lhFBTB
187Please respect copyright.PENANAtIWI5xlXqJ
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.187Please respect copyright.PENANAsvK66YFBLr
187Please respect copyright.PENANA3kkKO6JVza
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAC1e6U1C1sW
187Please respect copyright.PENANANszju2CyIv
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.187Please respect copyright.PENANANieASTnE1B
187Please respect copyright.PENANALKzwwFlP5X
"Are you asking me?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAO6zinliugx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnB3tqGIPHl
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."187Please respect copyright.PENANARqMwTSKP60
187Please respect copyright.PENANA1VDKTnXUHC
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.187Please respect copyright.PENANAYabo8XRL51
187Please respect copyright.PENANA7AQHktGSuE
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.187Please respect copyright.PENANAxKMvBHH3ym
187Please respect copyright.PENANADzUjRNbxTX
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.187Please respect copyright.PENANAtRuOGrLtNd
187Please respect copyright.PENANAg2alhIvBxe
It felt heavenly.
187Please respect copyright.PENANARdMsNKfcCM
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.187Please respect copyright.PENANADUFo8MocXz
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJYyIstazTL
"What are you reading?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAbuUCF6hJ88
187Please respect copyright.PENANAIwz9cLSmPi
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."187Please respect copyright.PENANAeZJUQjzxBn
187Please respect copyright.PENANAKeiIM9l9DQ
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.187Please respect copyright.PENANALVMdQJYFwi
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUFZYzE26t9
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAtB9HnH3Y3Q
187Please respect copyright.PENANA838yhfuJFT
"...It's a book about magic."187Please respect copyright.PENANARHorTRWK2X
187Please respect copyright.PENANA6PjXLqNf5U
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.187Please respect copyright.PENANAIqeDHqzX6K
187Please respect copyright.PENANApqQ2H0ddi8
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAhsUdHPHSTv
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXnPDM03t4r
"Y-Yeah, of course."187Please respect copyright.PENANAaCbBiYJRF2
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJPQY1i4hPQ
She didn't sound very excited.187Please respect copyright.PENANAAcx2GSLqXL
187Please respect copyright.PENANArTQvwbhsAE
"Do you want to practice right now?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAscr86nFm0l
187Please respect copyright.PENANAwQl5oJGlBv
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."187Please respect copyright.PENANA0Jih0BzSu3
187Please respect copyright.PENANApTtao4dJAe
"If you say so."187Please respect copyright.PENANAz4YFfEcPGW
187Please respect copyright.PENANApH4T23hUyU
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.187Please respect copyright.PENANArMr9vKODWW
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXnNj7avPlE
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."187Please respect copyright.PENANACrGFjgVVyH
187Please respect copyright.PENANA03XOekbanC
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.187Please respect copyright.PENANAXJcsyqNv9R
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnZgRA42JHV
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."187Please respect copyright.PENANA6sWZ7vzIHT
187Please respect copyright.PENANA4djbw9t5NX
"...Did he decline?"187Please respect copyright.PENANASOWWp0NCGe
187Please respect copyright.PENANAODkYUewSSB
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.187Please respect copyright.PENANApVlLpn4oxM
187Please respect copyright.PENANASLzeQTRoVF
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."187Please respect copyright.PENANAMOzp0V3wMu
187Please respect copyright.PENANA3M7afOv6nz
She paused and stared at the sheets.187Please respect copyright.PENANAJQwAshLxJX
187Please respect copyright.PENANASKbwJhAaIY
"Today was the first time I made a spell."187Please respect copyright.PENANA7ttV0hwiwZ
187Please respect copyright.PENANA2kwLnZrXwh
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"187Please respect copyright.PENANARY1EW7nM0m
187Please respect copyright.PENANABMCfSnZaMz
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."187Please respect copyright.PENANA1lIV1Cuu9U
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXqYdLlIOES
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?187Please respect copyright.PENANAYgU31iqpnC
187Please respect copyright.PENANASNiLsOghd4
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."187Please respect copyright.PENANArJHysl12Oz
187Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZJTvSZvc4
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."187Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ3gJ5JORc
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUyf6GI6vol
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."187Please respect copyright.PENANAxDCfx1ytIE
187Please respect copyright.PENANARPty4Juwmz
We sat in silence for a few minutes.187Please respect copyright.PENANAKIguLFRbYs
187Please respect copyright.PENANAtGKR713AdW
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."187Please respect copyright.PENANAKASvsVH5TA
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmcq0qO1VPZ
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"187Please respect copyright.PENANA7ly298F2dF
187Please respect copyright.PENANAgRXHHjWZCY
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."187Please respect copyright.PENANAWeFXE4QKGR
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJlze1aD5j1
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."187Please respect copyright.PENANADpHsOjOm3K
187Please respect copyright.PENANAiiODw2qvaD
She shook her head no.187Please respect copyright.PENANAHTScHQTpvB
187Please respect copyright.PENANASljkLzP3ou
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."187Please respect copyright.PENANAISIqSVfKVs
187Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fu6l8I6VK
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."187Please respect copyright.PENANAvXXvSf5sO2
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmfZCaiq1Uc
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."187Please respect copyright.PENANA0hW5g3eoXx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXhKJlMlxYR
I felt like I made a mistake just now.187Please respect copyright.PENANABsEAC2ElS1
187Please respect copyright.PENANAcoInDugJwL
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."187Please respect copyright.PENANA9ATnWDQyVs
187Please respect copyright.PENANAFokiCzvRtK
"What is it?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAnDFap3VwFX
187Please respect copyright.PENANAU4XjlSmXXG
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.187Please respect copyright.PENANAiy2VMmrkNa
187Please respect copyright.PENANAv8BG0V47JQ
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."187Please respect copyright.PENANAaeistuWAZb
187Please respect copyright.PENANA28SSoQpHB4
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.187Please respect copyright.PENANA0J1r4ZQkYs
187Please respect copyright.PENANA8nYYYvrhhq
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."187Please respect copyright.PENANAlZ7MsxkULL
187Please respect copyright.PENANAeWhrFjt9gn
"I know I can do that! But, well..."187Please respect copyright.PENANAyRJIWw0Ycr
187Please respect copyright.PENANAC99HB4UsYU
She had her fingertips conjoined.187Please respect copyright.PENANAXruXCfu6Rx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAH55A09lGYp
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."187Please respect copyright.PENANAPUm7nOGryf
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWUjZfRlZu3
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.187Please respect copyright.PENANAdLlzEoAwQ4
187Please respect copyright.PENANADofT9WXjLR
"Alright, I'll show you."187Please respect copyright.PENANAwDqrMOtNnZ
187Please respect copyright.PENANALUG6MYzJY0
"Yay!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAGg3EXcdOJ0
187Please respect copyright.PENANAi91ImLYZGc
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.187Please respect copyright.PENANAgNsCRgG4vi
187Please respect copyright.PENANA0g93XGWzRs
"I think it's best if we do this outside."187Please respect copyright.PENANALSrVWtgSvd
187Please respect copyright.PENANABZKwJTGYGs
"Okay, then let's go!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAkabY99hLEx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJWcMiUzbAy
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.187Please respect copyright.PENANAuIDCcDSlDy
187Please respect copyright.PENANAZRcp1owhHk
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."187Please respect copyright.PENANAp5HkLIBYpk
187Please respect copyright.PENANAgqyJXO6QV2
"Earth?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAVt8FfWh8ua
187Please respect copyright.PENANArhgegHsdvY
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."187Please respect copyright.PENANABjWXE8I0gO
187Please respect copyright.PENANA1hv3wvrHSa
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.187Please respect copyright.PENANAsB8v2DoVDx
187Please respect copyright.PENANAkoGr6wm9jw
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.187Please respect copyright.PENANAUtF8C2ruXM
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJdEIpcC9Tl
"It's really not that impressive."187Please respect copyright.PENANAhMdSXBEj9Z
187Please respect copyright.PENANAOTWI7OVZ8I
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."187Please respect copyright.PENANA5UcJqsBmlH
187Please respect copyright.PENANAuXZsKmJNxy
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.187Please respect copyright.PENANALUfBCME0gh
187Please respect copyright.PENANAeqlVhfYjE2
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.187Please respect copyright.PENANAdZ6Pz8kMi8
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmcZTTA1XqI
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."187Please respect copyright.PENANAmes2QapYlT
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGYqljHX40w
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."187Please respect copyright.PENANAGck2cwh3iz
187Please respect copyright.PENANAjljYz5JC0a
I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.187Please respect copyright.PENANAVxiz8vMHkK
187Please respect copyright.PENANAiitdVpFrAa
"How'd you do that!?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAO1L0rmQ6f0
187Please respect copyright.PENANAaeZL3NEcpa
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."187Please respect copyright.PENANAdK4Z8TZBRz
187Please respect copyright.PENANAKzq1oTfDaF
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.187Please respect copyright.PENANAevgulcmtXd
187Please respect copyright.PENANAhrWxhSm0ol
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAfRWjtMlACl
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWKpEGmr4qt
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."187Please respect copyright.PENANAFZ2RuXUc5K
187Please respect copyright.PENANAyNmDC4qnTy
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.187Please respect copyright.PENANAdwRJY5D6VI
187Please respect copyright.PENANASh78gikUSZ
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.187Please respect copyright.PENANAOec7fB7RLS
187Please respect copyright.PENANAm71yTE3xKk
"What's wrong, Flinty?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAPcvpBhzmmR
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWxRt378U2A
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.187Please respect copyright.PENANAYtkdwv6nQK
187Please respect copyright.PENANAMe48D6ui29
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.187Please respect copyright.PENANAxusrIoNiU1
187Please respect copyright.PENANAiPlt2hPJhM
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.187Please respect copyright.PENANA7UVTmK81Ob
187Please respect copyright.PENANArdLzFw59fP
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAx7KFnr9nSp
187Please respect copyright.PENANAOTWi71eLRB
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAJJeMwN6iAO
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWvkqBv0N68
Oh.187Please respect copyright.PENANAAwETEDrSR4
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmy63sr7I7N
Oh.187Please respect copyright.PENANAUuyosJJZnq
187Please respect copyright.PENANAbBpp1lchhs
The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.187Please respect copyright.PENANAuyXFvx8q09
187Please respect copyright.PENANAyWVkZkm0tz
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.187Please respect copyright.PENANA5hUsXvs1e2
187Please respect copyright.PENANAEEXQqcRCZ0
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.187Please respect copyright.PENANAEhvtL3ujsL
187Please respect copyright.PENANASXZANmkuiK
As for me?187Please respect copyright.PENANAIlVuzgZWfS
187Please respect copyright.PENANA83Wm5CSHDI
Well...187Please respect copyright.PENANAkNmniLeVd3
187Please respect copyright.PENANAetj7u5bFr4
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"187Please respect copyright.PENANA8ymlYfJWKi
187Please respect copyright.PENANARBgIX4T43K
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.187Please respect copyright.PENANAxPi56Ut7Nw
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGxnjMrtuml
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.187Please respect copyright.PENANAio7cr1NxB9
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAYQGtmhexjB
187Please respect copyright.PENANApO8EzkJGNw
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.187Please respect copyright.PENANAdSHGoYlQTZ
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJdXK02Fb1L
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAlrxtyRvDjV
187Please respect copyright.PENANAkQqKsKInIA
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.187Please respect copyright.PENANAs1UIhimdAb
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"187Please respect copyright.PENANANKIvGe8fDB
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUYzdhwfhxh
I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.187Please respect copyright.PENANA712IVWhxa8
187Please respect copyright.PENANAIr5rtNA4uC
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"187Please respect copyright.PENANAaalf4nMZA1
187Please respect copyright.PENANAdxBODLzWRO
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.187Please respect copyright.PENANAK3JqBinTY5
187Please respect copyright.PENANANkjJ03GikM
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."187Please respect copyright.PENANAx37qhJx0jO
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2X79v6KOF
I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.187Please respect copyright.PENANAx5DEVWxohe
187Please respect copyright.PENANAKYNWQBFXUG
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAYx2TbZOXxN
187Please respect copyright.PENANAv7JDELOPbZ
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"187Please respect copyright.PENANAqoKWlLB4k1
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAmGT01H1ezK
187Please respect copyright.PENANArS8nSabvXq
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."187Please respect copyright.PENANAdIFQ3qwklz
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She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.187Please respect copyright.PENANAzvC3AmA6N8
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."187Please respect copyright.PENANAEQBdtkEupf
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"187Please respect copyright.PENANAm32hJsHCrW
187Please respect copyright.PENANAAfRtUBDpv8
I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.187Please respect copyright.PENANAaVAWFkWqKa
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.187Please respect copyright.PENANAAk9B1xSHKp
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"Of course. What is it?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAF34HRPYxOk
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"187Please respect copyright.PENANACwChJWlkXc
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."187Please respect copyright.PENANAaLxgBSmyr3
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."187Please respect copyright.PENANA6m7k9YPGEl
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.187Please respect copyright.PENANA0TUANzrFg7
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAdpLcFtt5ZY
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."187Please respect copyright.PENANApEx2PQlwXv
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We all looked at her.187Please respect copyright.PENANAqtSaurfydr
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.187Please respect copyright.PENANAUcbI0GlBG8
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"Kenny."187Please respect copyright.PENANA7N2rb386WG
187Please respect copyright.PENANASsKXo9QJki
"Yes?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAvjlTzZ7KEk
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."187Please respect copyright.PENANAWG2P0wuy3H
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?187Please respect copyright.PENANABbHwGN2YaD
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."187Please respect copyright.PENANAN4hNaoFvt6
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"Okay. Kenny?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAe6QIwTmr5S
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"Yes?"187Please respect copyright.PENANA0CHlZn0RWW
187Please respect copyright.PENANAlYf7PNCP7c
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."187Please respect copyright.PENANAk803ngDdcp
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"Huh?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAk2AKHETCN9
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I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.187Please respect copyright.PENANAfatjbqvYzJ
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"Why do you want to go?"187Please respect copyright.PENANADzYWiYrvhy
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"I... think I need to."187Please respect copyright.PENANAcMFi8cfydp
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I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.187Please respect copyright.PENANAOoUpIWHmAc
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."187Please respect copyright.PENANAkkiAX4wO7G
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"187Please respect copyright.PENANAANBayRMcPN
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."187Please respect copyright.PENANAwLVoa4EBV5
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I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.187Please respect copyright.PENANAZoTOQ6CB1N
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My heart sank.187Please respect copyright.PENANAWyT6wDj6v3
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.