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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAaP1CzkvJ5N
22Please respect copyright.PENANAOIBeYPspnW
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAMCRxrBzKoz
22Please respect copyright.PENANA01q93a2abe
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANA2cfdz4gsX4
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4M9Btn2lZc
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.22Please respect copyright.PENANA1WqJePwbMg
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8xkzQYDX23
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5oCUOsQ8Q
22Please respect copyright.PENANADkr5xR8EL3
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!22Please respect copyright.PENANA2eTY3YP4AY
22Please respect copyright.PENANAqe4xh34RYj
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAcWRl2Iei2R
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuF1b8UBZjp
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."22Please respect copyright.PENANAVQ1ABxD4E7
22Please respect copyright.PENANAPJMkLvRLxZ
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAMC544TFjqt
22Please respect copyright.PENANANKuMfvBDox
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."22Please respect copyright.PENANAW41pm2Y5fl
22Please respect copyright.PENANAGJd5VNs2hS
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAPWHP4vjFQG
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKmgp4ac7iR
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."22Please respect copyright.PENANASsK2cCXBA7
22Please respect copyright.PENANAaoM6U9OmTq
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.22Please respect copyright.PENANAAThQ4cwqBQ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAP4KnBu86r4
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAiyKkO2yN6m
22Please respect copyright.PENANAZuO5gmb1SL
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.22Please respect copyright.PENANAq72o7vg4He
22Please respect copyright.PENANAOfHIevkid0
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."22Please respect copyright.PENANAp15lhYF5YH
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWhImtJHAHl
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."22Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4e4rBUksk
22Please respect copyright.PENANAEjHMw3sd2w
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.22Please respect copyright.PENANAPLjdF9ubsF
22Please respect copyright.PENANAeVC7Bxjx0j
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."22Please respect copyright.PENANAnuu9dJJ9Jq
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQqmNdT8Dng
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANABmKj1yy5C3
22Please respect copyright.PENANArTiGvWAdXv
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."22Please respect copyright.PENANA24khG0h2EJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANATmsxqkb8W4
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.22Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ4j3yduMq
22Please respect copyright.PENANATpNHqsGX02
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANAoiSQywZmGb
22Please respect copyright.PENANAA8wzD3LMXP
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.22Please respect copyright.PENANAm0UfhBKDBE
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWY6aF3L9sl
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.22Please respect copyright.PENANAwHQzv13wjB
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4VQa180GUl
"What's the matter?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAC7RBLeX3td
22Please respect copyright.PENANAAIojeIyVW7
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."22Please respect copyright.PENANA6wBC42owEM
22Please respect copyright.PENANAh8vuyUCj42
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAmyX0cU4328
22Please respect copyright.PENANA5vm2jjJopp
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA2mfC58iytN
22Please respect copyright.PENANAD9epy4Grn7
"Of course."22Please respect copyright.PENANAk5MNrA9yKj
22Please respect copyright.PENANAv1Dg3tOzP0
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."22Please respect copyright.PENANA2tHS7DDAeJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAhT8b3ukgkX
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.22Please respect copyright.PENANAaHzAC5kkXh
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUa2EU4bAa0
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANARFi03MYj8d
22Please respect copyright.PENANA43KFJfhN7j
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"22Please respect copyright.PENANAbONIYWJaia
22Please respect copyright.PENANA6Qg8CMh06v
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."22Please respect copyright.PENANAacWoBOvxQI
22Please respect copyright.PENANAigAE6iOlFd
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.22Please respect copyright.PENANAXnELdpWpYh
22Please respect copyright.PENANA2j206cbIwy
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"22Please respect copyright.PENANALoqx506KtL
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWf7TpGF5v3
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANABzF9Hl4f6T
22Please respect copyright.PENANAPkA3cZMLgp
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."22Please respect copyright.PENANAeHourfPBTb
22Please respect copyright.PENANAm2SGqrowFq
"...Probably?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAcckfmdDIqr
22Please respect copyright.PENANAOlExWqyQBE
"Sorry, definitely."22Please respect copyright.PENANAw7JqUmbfxV
22Please respect copyright.PENANAPao80yBKD6
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.22Please respect copyright.PENANAEtXxOgND3S
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8b9JiKAXjD
"Food's ready!"22Please respect copyright.PENANAPrTXOukjn3
22Please respect copyright.PENANA12Ioqof3im
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAKqxl3Rr3XI
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWnyfXPWUSf
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAqht8iECfQt
22Please respect copyright.PENANAhDEEKjPZVO
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.22Please respect copyright.PENANA9iYZSnjmoa
22Please respect copyright.PENANAa1IkbRKUND
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAIP1TJ7a9dH
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuSRyWVnJde
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.22Please respect copyright.PENANAw28iffOmtx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAtPrWfMhVZI
"Are you asking me?"22Please respect copyright.PENANACMs9Q6SGOD
22Please respect copyright.PENANAxYvLEOKH4s
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."22Please respect copyright.PENANAbTt7v9eI1C
22Please respect copyright.PENANAqActLftU1S
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.22Please respect copyright.PENANAUgCOeyOeTp
22Please respect copyright.PENANAFDxNHG9u19
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.22Please respect copyright.PENANAJ00PyIRRkt
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8SkSbl4qYI
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANA3rB8eG2Wh4
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1HC4PMyzf4
It felt heavenly.
22Please respect copyright.PENANAqS846DRhEP
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.22Please respect copyright.PENANAuE733vJ8RV
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWTOuXT6mHl
"What are you reading?"22Please respect copyright.PENANANQx9zgA6zX
22Please respect copyright.PENANAwJIJW3FEKJ
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."22Please respect copyright.PENANANh9Th1acIP
22Please respect copyright.PENANADdyku9H6qc
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAp9aRc0lIZl
22Please respect copyright.PENANAXQY7fXax0m
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mf9vkvUZy
22Please respect copyright.PENANAA3i8h5xwXi
"...It's a book about magic."22Please respect copyright.PENANA7007u59xsh
22Please respect copyright.PENANAxb5Vdcm43S
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.22Please respect copyright.PENANAige75mIPHA
22Please respect copyright.PENANAezF3ZsLI9i
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAIKBOMOcVKA
22Please respect copyright.PENANACE9aXHjXq7
"Y-Yeah, of course."22Please respect copyright.PENANAMs7nNGMikz
22Please respect copyright.PENANAAE3BYYkruF
She didn't sound very excited.22Please respect copyright.PENANAJemcC8YMuw
22Please respect copyright.PENANAckzWVHWqQx
"Do you want to practice right now?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAdk6J0NYgR9
22Please respect copyright.PENANApkQorHJD0z
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."22Please respect copyright.PENANAxYriSBm710
22Please respect copyright.PENANAJfSjwOGvJM
"If you say so."22Please respect copyright.PENANAWyTJDUlHGj
22Please respect copyright.PENANAoY34pzXDe0
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANASePNd1c6PZ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQmx5scragX
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."22Please respect copyright.PENANAzey4GByoSq
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9ekNrkf3Si
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.22Please respect copyright.PENANAYlLTixFOPg
22Please respect copyright.PENANAemuxe6hZGZ
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANAOT131huZxr
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUIlxYAEWQG
"...Did he decline?"22Please respect copyright.PENANACk5U3xzvzO
22Please respect copyright.PENANAwKq61J8rnQ
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.22Please respect copyright.PENANA0t0OO0O0UU
22Please respect copyright.PENANAoGTXbkVcEk
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANAXb7MLUCjPA
22Please respect copyright.PENANA84i0fWaxL7
She paused and stared at the sheets.22Please respect copyright.PENANAlv0irNvD5f
22Please respect copyright.PENANATjmAcDqJl3
"Today was the first time I made a spell."22Please respect copyright.PENANANXb3PHFtJj
22Please respect copyright.PENANA53yvgBSeRN
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"22Please respect copyright.PENANALDfylUYPhd
22Please respect copyright.PENANAdVYFDfb4HI
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANAK8qB5ggG6X
22Please respect copyright.PENANAcosZfdF89O
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?22Please respect copyright.PENANAvJbBJsEC59
22Please respect copyright.PENANAZvVP97el8H
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."22Please respect copyright.PENANAsEpdJ1sXEd
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4P8eWKFAuD
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."22Please respect copyright.PENANAmGNqrseX7Y
22Please respect copyright.PENANASdQ33RZhwW
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."22Please respect copyright.PENANABxnn3o6Nha
22Please respect copyright.PENANAcvdzCDUNKg
We sat in silence for a few minutes.22Please respect copyright.PENANAHjCgtY8vg1
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQSh6JBgSPh
"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."22Please respect copyright.PENANA9yH9XGo34w
22Please respect copyright.PENANATdlWUjYQPD
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAUJo74jQhlK
22Please respect copyright.PENANAK92NnpbmKR
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."22Please respect copyright.PENANA7AnE6LkvmE
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1zJIFvR8Zm
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAnKefAC6YfD
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0rWLen1hhn
She shook her head no.22Please respect copyright.PENANAz5tQczJMkJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9qwZkId1Mr
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."22Please respect copyright.PENANA4ujYoWFeqj
22Please respect copyright.PENANATWAyo1b4vW
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAVs3pgZnMME
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbRVDiAidXf
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."22Please respect copyright.PENANAkbukZ7pjPs
22Please respect copyright.PENANA5BwCjx8GrI
I felt like I made a mistake just now.22Please respect copyright.PENANAdcswfOilNv
22Please respect copyright.PENANAugxxQyF4Mh
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."22Please respect copyright.PENANAeoiduTxVN2
22Please respect copyright.PENANAEXDhofpBuF
"What is it?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA92AaF0AQho
22Please respect copyright.PENANAxZKvVEKYeO
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.22Please respect copyright.PENANAVro0qQUxXn
22Please respect copyright.PENANAPTr54NXS88
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."22Please respect copyright.PENANAEfIG0Uh0Po
22Please respect copyright.PENANAVPebN0v9L6
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANA9DjCsw3lGP
22Please respect copyright.PENANACHmeI8Oali
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."22Please respect copyright.PENANAbcLM7oUPea
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbDLVjqF0uK
"I know I can do that! But, well..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAZqXEl2wHA7
22Please respect copyright.PENANAwT9ocup5NQ
She had her fingertips conjoined.22Please respect copyright.PENANAAOiEtG9THn
22Please respect copyright.PENANAeSJ05MxOYm
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."22Please respect copyright.PENANA1KRmkhX8su
22Please respect copyright.PENANAsegV4Obt2T
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAQxtxMOslEe
22Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ4cb7Xth3
"Alright, I'll show you."22Please respect copyright.PENANAV0t5A9YLi4
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1g2OdhGZIg
"Yay!"22Please respect copyright.PENANANU960jwX5M
22Please respect copyright.PENANAkYCqBc6vPp
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.22Please respect copyright.PENANA1XhmHVPn7N
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUqblQTpCtk
"I think it's best if we do this outside."22Please respect copyright.PENANA4coGef2XGe
22Please respect copyright.PENANAHhSYHigLGk
"Okay, then let's go!"22Please respect copyright.PENANArmlBCaLt5Q
22Please respect copyright.PENANAEhyifbGfWn
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAFC0shqmSnF
22Please respect copyright.PENANARrat8mewhd
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."22Please respect copyright.PENANA6JGnPHHe5t
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKJWH3rTggr
"Earth?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAj8S1gsiHJO
22Please respect copyright.PENANAXxrijdBOVI
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."22Please respect copyright.PENANA162wsYhWf5
22Please respect copyright.PENANAFVhUqDVBSi
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAZNhtO2rdzt
22Please respect copyright.PENANAIv6CjxgaDg
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.22Please respect copyright.PENANAVjSLf53IH4
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0jAXakh4aM
"It's really not that impressive."22Please respect copyright.PENANAuRsZPxYfbH
22Please respect copyright.PENANAFnRC4kYpzQ
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."22Please respect copyright.PENANA9BpDMEVcW1
22Please respect copyright.PENANATo0Z2DKHk6
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAZs8zcOB4kU
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfguUlxf8Qv
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.22Please respect copyright.PENANA4gzLfe4xDa
22Please respect copyright.PENANAvmEUQmUGzs
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."22Please respect copyright.PENANAdY8DOKUA4y
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQmVsp4H3F8
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."22Please respect copyright.PENANAQFXNAPoPes
22Please respect copyright.PENANAjuNVu0E9mw
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAMLyoNs275X
22Please respect copyright.PENANABI3SIyXf3t
"How'd you do that!?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAUjvQRFYpZG
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKhjSLb0jGr
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."22Please respect copyright.PENANAmj4JGpWz0N
22Please respect copyright.PENANArR6yLZvUFM
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.22Please respect copyright.PENANAFxyEgQjBok
22Please respect copyright.PENANAmthjlSznCp
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAux1ioYJtM3
22Please respect copyright.PENANASaCbPBQU9y
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."22Please respect copyright.PENANALC7r1YOxLN
22Please respect copyright.PENANAg64h9RHmt7
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANA0FF2Sd26Uh
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbEWbcskpGy
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.22Please respect copyright.PENANAgtrsnezEbx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAnLpWQMJ6sB
"What's wrong, Flinty?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAAJUHMwpFvg
22Please respect copyright.PENANA7ieTgoCKsG
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.22Please respect copyright.PENANAqsAtNeItSU
22Please respect copyright.PENANA7xJumBZBOg
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAfsciIRUkxn
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUr2ljBBFCf
...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.22Please respect copyright.PENANALNT1nshEKu
22Please respect copyright.PENANAnUZtq9w5MW
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"22Please respect copyright.PENANADrAMnwhHYV
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0eIhV8Gt9C
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"22Please respect copyright.PENANAWIlsnpBkYf
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfSrOc6q29s
Oh.22Please respect copyright.PENANAojOELPQlPj
22Please respect copyright.PENANAguBNx37pum
Oh.22Please respect copyright.PENANAPabyxNPctw
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4o9VWRrkZc
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAXXHQlL4VKA
22Please respect copyright.PENANAau4EfwFzqB
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAPVxzc7oJm9
22Please respect copyright.PENANAmyZnaMk7ye
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.22Please respect copyright.PENANArzUSiQ61wo
22Please respect copyright.PENANAFaf4GNYiE0
As for me?22Please respect copyright.PENANAJev0hUakNV
22Please respect copyright.PENANAoX7f3bE7MI
Well...22Please respect copyright.PENANAgCPC2Wndnz
22Please respect copyright.PENANAXZhAQCmvJ9
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAY4n7imlbdP
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8OyOCk0l2T
**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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAHhfTwnQ7f3
22Please respect copyright.PENANAlUcsEmvLtD
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.22Please respect copyright.PENANAkwURf2n84k
22Please respect copyright.PENANAhKUUtYvt23
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAuU5SGFtziF
22Please respect copyright.PENANAauQKDUG6Y9
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.22Please respect copyright.PENANAJuJSNc9vpW
22Please respect copyright.PENANAyE337JUyqp
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"22Please respect copyright.PENANAIF4fwEK1Ww
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKtsdEwFks5
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.22Please respect copyright.PENANA23P6F1QY7D
22Please respect copyright.PENANA3P4zNv8lPr
–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA5ehPIvrNvy
22Please respect copyright.PENANAS2nez3nawV
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAHO6uDq18DS
22Please respect copyright.PENANAZZ7aLrxfBY
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"22Please respect copyright.PENANACcmyaBqejv
22Please respect copyright.PENANAZVMf1A6VRY
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.22Please respect copyright.PENANABNRnotDhlJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANACEyNwMQjC8
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."22Please respect copyright.PENANAOSTdrHJucc
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4pqWwvvJWD
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANA3MviaJLZ2x
22Please respect copyright.PENANAnUbOCyVVvZ
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAFBcd75Mk4Q
22Please respect copyright.PENANACiRlNKb2U3
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"22Please respect copyright.PENANA8SUOEZZc9j
22Please respect copyright.PENANADOdA95uGhs
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAd70qth7U39
22Please respect copyright.PENANAE4jqHYV5hT
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."22Please respect copyright.PENANAJQRii37A0a
22Please respect copyright.PENANAAEKDvaRfUb
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAWkxNLehDhq
22Please respect copyright.PENANAMGsYML2ztS
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."22Please respect copyright.PENANA49hHJCkhu0
22Please respect copyright.PENANAPcEUVA728t
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"22Please respect copyright.PENANAUhJPs0ojTA
22Please respect copyright.PENANAaP64WbFCFQ
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAkInUqQWAK8
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.22Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2l5zkgdGx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAATOOMksmb7
"Of course. What is it?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAjYfCZfkN3y
22Please respect copyright.PENANAHT95Sz7QYR
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA4mmuU7yvq8
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfbe1K8s12d
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."22Please respect copyright.PENANAYFPDJc76qa
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."22Please respect copyright.PENANAgw6x0mp7y7
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9MjWLAyMo2
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAcQhcbXrqIP
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAppxQuYQVHu
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."22Please respect copyright.PENANApGFjUFBc35
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We all looked at her.22Please respect copyright.PENANAhkV7ezhhSl
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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.22Please respect copyright.PENANADtYEnAjqEb
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"Kenny."22Please respect copyright.PENANACHPQFBlPZh
22Please respect copyright.PENANAtulqJIh2zX
"Yes?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAOVTYX5pt5m
22Please respect copyright.PENANAv7xVRlvHZj
"I'm sorry I freaked out."22Please respect copyright.PENANAr77IdUy0sg
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?22Please respect copyright.PENANAn4QHf7Nj0P
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."22Please respect copyright.PENANA36OtX075Sx
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"Okay. Kenny?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAThaFCfMqGA
22Please respect copyright.PENANAMofcSvMnzw
"Yes?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAlpd4583c0L
22Please respect copyright.PENANAdPsWWru5zx
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."22Please respect copyright.PENANAZHVzvVqBEA
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"Huh?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAxriI94bPkb
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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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAdQoY8BJIXL
22Please respect copyright.PENANAYh6dblXblM
"Why do you want to go?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAC0KRrZzEIz
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"I... think I need to."22Please respect copyright.PENANA7MZi7eWG66
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0roIo0iqA
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANAKhVhzOc2UC
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."22Please respect copyright.PENANAvWzGyQz7ob
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAyYcyy4Fsdu
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."22Please respect copyright.PENANAzw88J6wGeC
22Please respect copyright.PENANApq8sxsbxXB
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.22Please respect copyright.PENANANbcuRZA0wT
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My heart sank.22Please respect copyright.PENANAh6yw4qGNCQ
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.