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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAPqbhzFiq9W
227Please respect copyright.PENANAdzykv516ch
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAmCHSwBtR0Q
227Please respect copyright.PENANAK9V221e6RY
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAMe9XF1Mbad
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUbIjf7H2w2
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.227Please respect copyright.PENANAXkKTeLO9fm
227Please respect copyright.PENANAMIUObe83lZ
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAO2DZcluANj
227Please respect copyright.PENANAdrGy3948mZ
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!227Please respect copyright.PENANAGMvfDKyuOb
227Please respect copyright.PENANAdK7xzO8jlI
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAOemD7hG8J0
227Please respect copyright.PENANADTkBD50Ozs
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."227Please respect copyright.PENANAuq5AroiXAZ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAg77SFYzf0Y
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANA5GCdD50jQO
227Please respect copyright.PENANA6IZ9Zs3Doj
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."227Please respect copyright.PENANA41IVcivmZZ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqjLjvEi4kH
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAqsbyarPJVq
227Please respect copyright.PENANAHgJkEnZhTW
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."227Please respect copyright.PENANAMQlrVnqG99
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmpgTCBk4gZ
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.227Please respect copyright.PENANAeeRLPjU47U
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqOLFEG7P4b
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAyGhmKvIIm8
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfOSl9GwPqq
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.227Please respect copyright.PENANApH5bfIMH0a
227Please respect copyright.PENANALoeEhomlj9
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."227Please respect copyright.PENANAxyctHcBDXt
227Please respect copyright.PENANAY5H6jxSOca
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."227Please respect copyright.PENANAo0JLB1YLCu
227Please respect copyright.PENANAv40J4d3KS0
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.227Please respect copyright.PENANANKm31QCGbi
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqEFGLvUrBS
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."227Please respect copyright.PENANAxO5vPsp0vc
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUT1qgEFKHB
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANA8erhuqP0qJ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAiAZICbs2s
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."227Please respect copyright.PENANApjJbwLAwP4
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEVBwnz9Bkx
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.227Please respect copyright.PENANAUUOUYPikak
227Please respect copyright.PENANAcDLvrt0OG8
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANA1DakDTE5r3
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0BgsgTeLfd
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.227Please respect copyright.PENANArfCQL4JM5f
227Please respect copyright.PENANADuUHp4D8m0
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.227Please respect copyright.PENANAmt2lK5yj8A
227Please respect copyright.PENANAh0goKk4ewo
"What's the matter?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAxtXp5aXsBO
227Please respect copyright.PENANATsMtXNcQif
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."227Please respect copyright.PENANAQkXHZ7wZ1s
227Please respect copyright.PENANAkUBVlWAtNu
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANASDSQmcu9lM
227Please respect copyright.PENANAOH7n5BWKDK
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"227Please respect copyright.PENANA9so0qWwFqw
227Please respect copyright.PENANATNfB5hSUZQ
"Of course."227Please respect copyright.PENANALGFuioL0ws
227Please respect copyright.PENANA5SbNXELy1s
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."227Please respect copyright.PENANA8Cm6exfXNT
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsFu1f6CZtc
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.227Please respect copyright.PENANA8AmRfwV8sB
227Please respect copyright.PENANADmUDsaFJ3E
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAR1GKInY1xU
227Please respect copyright.PENANAkIm2gkIwoi
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"227Please respect copyright.PENANAKoTBgZx2vJ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEpa7viYacF
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."227Please respect copyright.PENANAUEQNYOs8Rn
227Please respect copyright.PENANAlrSEbehDU1
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.227Please respect copyright.PENANAJZfHrU3RbV
227Please respect copyright.PENANA937kbg1uHh
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"227Please respect copyright.PENANAOobf40DX6a
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfl9yz9iS13
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAMLHkL1qSEt
227Please respect copyright.PENANAx64UHED5Yy
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."227Please respect copyright.PENANAA9QSkRPNpu
227Please respect copyright.PENANA1jtkFUjG3w
"...Probably?"227Please respect copyright.PENANANeGs22LYgu
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJIBXv7DPb0
"Sorry, definitely."227Please respect copyright.PENANAEKFVdufJAO
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJmy3rYvJKa
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.227Please respect copyright.PENANA3dg9ztY9wG
227Please respect copyright.PENANAMJu56pF8pL
"Food's ready!"227Please respect copyright.PENANAV2IjJMlriz
227Please respect copyright.PENANASXToCiaRqb
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAmHLEeD9YSf
227Please respect copyright.PENANAQMfbznOIYZ
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAQ253zQkVb0
227Please respect copyright.PENANArMqd5lc6uj
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.227Please respect copyright.PENANA9evVrXO9NZ
227Please respect copyright.PENANA23RvKH3HEa
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"227Please respect copyright.PENANA41dt3mev4b
227Please respect copyright.PENANAx89Pc2i9Du
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.227Please respect copyright.PENANAw7cqNK8dCz
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAv79S7KE5i
"Are you asking me?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAglSjOIi5wo
227Please respect copyright.PENANApt03rdjl9d
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."227Please respect copyright.PENANAz8cQR35kC9
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAvPoAjrnAJ
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.227Please respect copyright.PENANAEnz6P8LEWs
227Please respect copyright.PENANAj6G6r6R43t
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.227Please respect copyright.PENANA3YuVsci05A
227Please respect copyright.PENANAWHlPToSush
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAn60huNIZbm
227Please respect copyright.PENANAk05RQt4ovM
It felt heavenly.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUjpMGF3Y1a
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.227Please respect copyright.PENANAWipsVV3jnB
227Please respect copyright.PENANADFNNoRDS0D
"What are you reading?"227Please respect copyright.PENANARX1zagR6FH
227Please respect copyright.PENANAMmbjivhJwt
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."227Please respect copyright.PENANAu1jhtOZhLp
227Please respect copyright.PENANA1VJldGPa5l
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANA403ulgRaid
227Please respect copyright.PENANAnjxhoGv6vK
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAJlsYxAZDHE
227Please respect copyright.PENANAF716OM34Cm
"...It's a book about magic."227Please respect copyright.PENANAMi1RbeYPrk
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7OLii5MyCy
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.227Please respect copyright.PENANA4bZ0hPkgJv
227Please respect copyright.PENANAXTMwehHHqP
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAOhqs0UGMDI
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhHiz46nuLp
"Y-Yeah, of course."227Please respect copyright.PENANA5mFf2PZIdJ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAO6JvlF5uso
She didn't sound very excited.227Please respect copyright.PENANAqdLR4bSjPV
227Please respect copyright.PENANABlmVPrF77P
"Do you want to practice right now?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAU5ORloLX3n
227Please respect copyright.PENANARrrHGHfZbj
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."227Please respect copyright.PENANAViwdNCOpjk
227Please respect copyright.PENANA3mCYE9MxRM
"If you say so."227Please respect copyright.PENANA3VVR38rN2K
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhqLzVWbOhi
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAFeO8QUKogn
227Please respect copyright.PENANAk6XeZYZTwT
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."227Please respect copyright.PENANAvvN9pVsxEi
227Please respect copyright.PENANAwyt68zECy8
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.227Please respect copyright.PENANAzwjTBkmwN0
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVkU5n0YyG7
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANA8QuC43cMUg
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0TQFOdDAUe
"...Did he decline?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAqR3FzypK0v
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAxEviz9iJ5
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.227Please respect copyright.PENANAqPwz4caKqj
227Please respect copyright.PENANA6uJp0ZOaUN
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAEglEuhqdzt
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhzAJgNmajb
She paused and stared at the sheets.227Please respect copyright.PENANAWZdAxtc6JJ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAOnPVpC6iu6
"Today was the first time I made a spell."227Please respect copyright.PENANAZv1JNGbRwp
227Please respect copyright.PENANAegrDJvUSSz
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAzPEyjfPanB
227Please respect copyright.PENANAxhCMCPiVYy
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAWsJmveqpwQ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAkdStb2EX9u
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?227Please respect copyright.PENANAEvjAv2qNoI
227Please respect copyright.PENANA3VZBA3XTDY
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."227Please respect copyright.PENANAaIfRS7OKtp
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJMnpDtQuu5
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."227Please respect copyright.PENANAp8oUmMBfxI
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsR5Uua9Zho
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."227Please respect copyright.PENANAfyndceQ02N
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVWvLdYWwBQ
We sat in silence for a few minutes.227Please respect copyright.PENANANILj0mOD67
227Please respect copyright.PENANArmkhrXWzkQ
"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."227Please respect copyright.PENANAhKOA0mX9jT
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYNos1hB08z
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAT38hKIPWU4
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmvF6UWp5cY
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."227Please respect copyright.PENANAHouS6C1HgH
227Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ0R6HbbpS
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."227Please respect copyright.PENANAmF4MbigZRJ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfp4ekZLNZ3
She shook her head no.227Please respect copyright.PENANA3i7JBaUO54
227Please respect copyright.PENANAH5r7I2pUmW
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."227Please respect copyright.PENANABri7bGB97N
227Please respect copyright.PENANAvUS90AUITP
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."227Please respect copyright.PENANAaa1UtYPiMa
227Please respect copyright.PENANAwucPRL4K4F
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."227Please respect copyright.PENANAc8WWN0wq6j
227Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ6FeJUaEd
I felt like I made a mistake just now.227Please respect copyright.PENANArugaKAwOCm
227Please respect copyright.PENANAoqfsKP6UDc
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."227Please respect copyright.PENANAYVKTlZG7Pq
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKqB7Y4Ovzj
"What is it?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAc9Oe3OJSww
227Please respect copyright.PENANAh8lBpn1wOI
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.227Please respect copyright.PENANAy8PZQ6SMKS
227Please respect copyright.PENANAjfqh3hUpSZ
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."227Please respect copyright.PENANA5duzdR250Q
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsUgZxHFRKT
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAogbdGfuHYW
227Please respect copyright.PENANAgS6KcOX0mj
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."227Please respect copyright.PENANA8bbzQfskOV
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsLnVfQSoz1
"I know I can do that! But, well..."227Please respect copyright.PENANAoMkpBO5a7u
227Please respect copyright.PENANAs3Pg0VMsaj
She had her fingertips conjoined.227Please respect copyright.PENANAzA2n9LXMnR
227Please respect copyright.PENANAD78ienu7zq
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."227Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ8gtrqOc7
227Please respect copyright.PENANA82Z9RaJjkt
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAZuQH3zlhGw
227Please respect copyright.PENANAic1YMYcWjb
"Alright, I'll show you."227Please respect copyright.PENANAWLw4oNcdfR
227Please respect copyright.PENANAo6p8OqO1ym
"Yay!"227Please respect copyright.PENANAdGQfuTkIdN
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0U16wqyull
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.227Please respect copyright.PENANA117s26eHDh
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhBqygnMZNW
"I think it's best if we do this outside."227Please respect copyright.PENANARcYLArOtuP
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2YyqTJLYfT
"Okay, then let's go!"227Please respect copyright.PENANAKnerFivJEn
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAWzfyF78Mg
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAvORlLfQa8u
227Please respect copyright.PENANAgkBuYmheGE
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."227Please respect copyright.PENANADSs9VRlxNn
227Please respect copyright.PENANA5ALqpwWBpE
"Earth?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAgdpYEHxfSW
227Please respect copyright.PENANA1odnv2Kmr5
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."227Please respect copyright.PENANAk4VvhZH84P
227Please respect copyright.PENANA8MOCv138wh
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAjdylJig2j6
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEQ3BfZRpf3
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.227Please respect copyright.PENANAsEUvXQuZfY
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAQKDvnhXXF
"It's really not that impressive."227Please respect copyright.PENANAfUOJnj4ZUz
227Please respect copyright.PENANAS07bmKYwm8
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."227Please respect copyright.PENANA2RX3xOVY0T
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYRfDy4IwVF
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANABqNaPtZwOk
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0bRMae9drr
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.227Please respect copyright.PENANAJe364oCHBK
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEs0Rn94e5C
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."227Please respect copyright.PENANAae82L4d6vf
227Please respect copyright.PENANAvHp6i4Lq5O
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."227Please respect copyright.PENANAUUFXkeGgjX
227Please respect copyright.PENANAeogjByasoI
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANATTol6zMLO6
227Please respect copyright.PENANASOd9uxQwTj
"How'd you do that!?"227Please respect copyright.PENANASTGnB5W4nX
227Please respect copyright.PENANA51CVDJ1m5N
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."227Please respect copyright.PENANAYRRSgMeuTL
227Please respect copyright.PENANA02Y6kot4gI
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.227Please respect copyright.PENANAQZyI2yHK4N
227Please respect copyright.PENANAlyKH61e2L8
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAHdJvgcMC9i
227Please respect copyright.PENANAPHBXrAxS23
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."227Please respect copyright.PENANAsyrhlm9xdw
227Please respect copyright.PENANA22b1ahthat
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAKPRd6MCBs3
227Please respect copyright.PENANAGMfawqfqi8
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.227Please respect copyright.PENANA2s42VkdVlG
227Please respect copyright.PENANAxhcN7PttZx
"What's wrong, Flinty?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAUVYgdsQco3
227Please respect copyright.PENANAue96PrKmTE
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.227Please respect copyright.PENANAtqdRnSLyTB
227Please respect copyright.PENANA09OVNi07Il
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7dtVz8Dv3
227Please respect copyright.PENANAHLQXo9kNOy
...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.227Please respect copyright.PENANARQbOj0nkyU
227Please respect copyright.PENANASLHTc0c8gn
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAMxMe2aQ50D
227Please respect copyright.PENANAyZLgPof4lV
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"227Please respect copyright.PENANAKwv0wokFAB
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqPgWONsyeE
Oh.227Please respect copyright.PENANAHuBzJoBRru
227Please respect copyright.PENANAip5e99Er8p
Oh.227Please respect copyright.PENANAWr3Y0VTIGl
227Please respect copyright.PENANAbynfFW3HVp
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAQK1pAbWcBi
227Please respect copyright.PENANApWje2HYifM
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANA2vy4MLPbdL
227Please respect copyright.PENANA4rf1SlBVYb
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.227Please respect copyright.PENANA9e6GxXLmTk
227Please respect copyright.PENANAgdATAjaVz1
As for me?227Please respect copyright.PENANASUVEPJAeXF
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUL6ClYEBfd
Well...227Please respect copyright.PENANAWwBPFkDIwZ
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmhTY7758J2
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAOdEgVg4lS1
227Please respect copyright.PENANApcjY3IS3xg
**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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAmgeB8P7ZF3
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.227Please respect copyright.PENANAeTIwmtOL2H
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"227Please respect copyright.PENANA41irCelxD8
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.227Please respect copyright.PENANAvcJhDSlQJW
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"227Please respect copyright.PENANABmV1x1AonT
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.227Please respect copyright.PENANABHpMcbqwqK
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAsplEFH7rhH
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANA4zdDkA8VPu
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"227Please respect copyright.PENANALNP3Bp2N5T
227Please respect copyright.PENANAq6X8GuKsGM
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.227Please respect copyright.PENANA9qFGEJBu9I
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."227Please respect copyright.PENANABE4RjOoBR9
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAjHtUiNIqfV
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAyJiPxWyzhA
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6kiiQV4E7
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"227Please respect copyright.PENANAbebOyMClel
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ8z3xtJ6I
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."227Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4vCPPfVoG
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANANzH7zs1ZG3
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."227Please respect copyright.PENANA8BCv46wu6m
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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–"227Please respect copyright.PENANA5xwlcS3bP4
227Please respect copyright.PENANA8FsJxEcgq6
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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAIl8mrqAPsx
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.227Please respect copyright.PENANAFvgRwhKKPY
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"Of course. What is it?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAEz3uSVo14Y
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAKPnCBlfU80
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."227Please respect copyright.PENANAN0HCviyZ9g
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."227Please respect copyright.PENANA7GQjGTrZ5P
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAOoymmmbjWD
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAxVv8liiDI8
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."227Please respect copyright.PENANAX6ADTUda96
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We all looked at her.227Please respect copyright.PENANAihc2MXoCwl
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAiRbBU8IpFX
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"Kenny."227Please respect copyright.PENANAXBDlcj3Nxk
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"Yes?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAx2ZavgnBcw
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."227Please respect copyright.PENANAcByGp3mHjL
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?227Please respect copyright.PENANAPF19EDD1j1
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."227Please respect copyright.PENANAUdEEcId854
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"Okay. Kenny?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAvIm9130kHM
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"Yes?"227Please respect copyright.PENANA6QX2Jn1dpc
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."227Please respect copyright.PENANAK9HfYjZAvu
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"Huh?"227Please respect copyright.PENANAwawYKHzHcl
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANASzUNpdWpgg
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"Why do you want to go?"227Please respect copyright.PENANADaWDjjQ6eI
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"I... think I need to."227Please respect copyright.PENANAWFmiEcujIG
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAlKkva6qDGB
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."227Please respect copyright.PENANAQBYPqBxN7q
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"227Please respect copyright.PENANArYnwD8s2qX
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."227Please respect copyright.PENANAE61tZhne4E
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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.227Please respect copyright.PENANAmJzPgSeAoz
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My heart sank.227Please respect copyright.PENANAeFS5SyEf3c
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.