Chapter 44: Extermination – Part 1
"So… I can see Aoi's 'Soul Info' with my [Sense Soul]," I say.
While everyone else looks impressed, Ciel's face just looks blank. "Wolfy, give
[Sense Soul]," she asks softly.
I obey and she spends a long ti staring at Aoi. So long, that even Aoi gets uncomfortable.
"What the fuck," she finally says. "I had so idea that this was happening, but still… The skill system is the blessing from the God of Creation, so how did this happen?"
"She converted…?" Roxanne asks tentatively.
"She isn't listed in my 'Followers,'" I say.
"Then she better start praying," Alissa says.
"I will, be good, Gods!" Aoi says.
"Okay, so, in the battle against the Monster King, wouldn't such a thing tip the balance in our favor?" I ask.
"Yes, that's great!" Ciel exclaims, "With a way of turning monsters in our favor we can control them the way the Monster King does! Imagine if we converted a Leader-type!"
"But if we break the balance, won't the God of Destruction co back to try and take control?"
We all go silent, the implication is too heavy.
Ciel starts to say what we don't want to hear, "If you are here, sent by a 'God,' and Aoi is part of your Thread of Fate, then… a war of the Gods could be coming."
"We all knew sothing would happen," Lina says.
"Yeah, but it was very vague, and now that things are getting more real, the fear is starting to rise," I say.
"Together!" Aoi exclaims.
"Gih."
Heh, fine.
"Alright, enough pep-talk. There's no more room for hesitation and complaints, we can only look forward and fight-on," I say.
"Gih, gah gih!" Gify puffs his chest and nods with determination.
Alissa grabs our hands, and claws, and pulls us all together, "United, day and night," she starts and looks around, urging us to continue.
"In pain and pleasure," Hana adds.
"Success or failure," Roxanne continues.
"Life or death," Ciel goes on with a wide smile.
"Wherever we may be," Lina shyly contributes.
"We will, never aban-don, each other!" Aoi chirps.
I chuckle. "All for one, one for all," I complete.
We squeeze each others' hands and return to normal.
"That was incredibly corny," Ciel says and we chuckle lightly.
"Those are our vows to each other," Alissa says.
"Right, whenever we have to act on our own, rember our vows," I say.
Lina, Hana, and Aoi nod with determination while the others smile softly.
The little golems watch us with curiosity.
"Vows are, rules?" Ted asks.
"Sowhat. They are personal rules that we follow, but not literally. We follow the 'spirit' of the vow, the essence of it," Ciel answers.
"What is a, 'spirit' of, a vow?" Suzy asks.
"If I ask you to make my life 'better' and I get sad one day when soone dies, do you think that you failed the task I gave you?" I ask.
"Sadness is, part of, life," Ted says.
"Exactly. You need to understand the nuances and assumptions that co from a phrase like 'I want to live a happy life,' instead of taking it literally."
"How do we, learn that?" Suzy asks.
"It is called 'common sense,' it's sothing children learn by observing their parents all their lives," Ciel says.
"And so don't even fully learn it," Lina says and sends a quick glance to Roxanne.
Roxanne blinks blankly for a few monts, then it dawns on her. "Oi-!" She starts.
"We will teach you whenever we can," I interrupt. "You can always ask us questions when you feel confused about sothing."
The two golems nod in sync.
Then we do a little "bonding" before going to sleep. The golems were watching so intently that we decided to store them in Ciel's [Item Box].
Today is the 10th.
Hana wakes
up and recruits Aoi's help. Hana is learning how to do it in a gentler way so that I don't feel like I'm in the jaws of a monster when I wake up. That and Aoi's stimulating kiss are as good as coffee to help
wake up quickly.
But I really do miss coffee.
My [Summoning Magic] increased by 4 (now 18 22) and my [Blessing Magic] by 1 (now 8 22).
We calmly eat our breakfast with tea. We only leave our tent when everyone else is finishing gathering their belongings.
"Morning!" Klein cos to us and gives us a chipper greeting.
I see that neither Anton nor Laertes are nearby.
"Morning," I say and take her hand, then I kiss it the elven way while pushing my soul slightly out of my lips.
Klein breathes in and smiles shyly, "How high is your 'Charisma,' Wolf?" She asks.
"Not particularly high, you must have a crush on
or sothing," and I give her a wide smile.
She eyes us all warily, "You are all wolves trying to eat
up, aren't-chyall?"
Ciel and Lina look a little embarrassed; Aoi doesn't think she's being referred to so she just ignores it; and the rest simply nod and smile.
"Gih."
Klein smiles at his complint.
"You are just really cute," Alissa says in a sultry tone.
"Predators," Klein laughs and walks away.
Nito hands us our horses and as we mount, Osaria cos to give us a greeting and talk to Roxanne. She stands a little closer than what Roxanne is comfortable with. The curvy milf wears an eye-catching white bikini and I catch Ciel staring at her ass with mixed feelings.
When we are all mounted and walking again, Hana approaches Roxanne, "When are you going to reject her?" Hana asks.
"Uh… well…" Roxanne's posture shrinks, she looks conflicted and guilty.
Hana pouts and looks at Roxanne with a little disappointnt, "You are too indecisive; it was the sa thing with Wolfy," she says and turns away.
Roxanne doesn't answer but her horns go soft in dejection.
Lina approaches Roxanne and pats her head like a mother would to console her child. "There, there," she tries to appease Roxanne.
Roxanne's horns regain their stiffness and she warily eyes Lina. "I feel like you're mocking ," Roxanne says.
Lina gives her an impish smile and smacks the rump of her horse, then she quickly canters away from Roxanne. For a mont, Roxanne's tail threateningly points at Lina.
Ciel makes sure the carriage is out of earshot and asks, "Why don't you reject her?"
"Well… I really do find her hot, it's just that the idea of having sex with her makes
feel 'dirty,'" Roxanne answers.
"Then reject her."
"But I find her really hot," she smiles wryly.
Ciel rolls her eyes, "Slut."
"We all played with Klein, we are all beyond saving," she smirks at Ciel.
"You always speak like we are doing sothing bad," Alissa interjects, a little miffed. "It's like you secretly dislike what we are doing but don't really want to speak out."
Roxanne's mouth hangs open, speechless, and Ciel looks away, feeling awkward.
"I enjoy the verbal abuse, I thought that's what she was doing," Hana says, frowning in confusion.
"Maybe a little of both?" Alissa shrugs.
"Embrace degeneracy," I say.
"I thought we already did?" Lina questions shyly and Hana shrugs.
"Gih."
"Even you?" Ciel looks at Gify questioningly.
We laugh softly and the conversation dies down, then Aoi perks up her head and innocently asks, "Am I a, degenerate?"
"I don't think so," I say and rub the thick skin beneath her scales. "Did you enjoy when Alissa's finger entered you?"
I feel her shrug through the [Bind], "Yes."
"If Aoi has, sex with, other won, she could be, considered, hedonistic," Suzy says.
"That would just be a sexual preference," Roxanne says.
"Not for a, monster," Ted says.
"Right, I believe the monsters were created for a single purpose. It wouldn't make sense for them to be homosexual since they can't have children that way," I say and Ted nods.
When it's sothing technical they seem to do OK in understanding my knowledge.
"But Aoi is intelligent, she can choose to have sex just for pleasure," Hana says.
"Hm…" Aoi murmurs and I feel our connection "wiggle" as she thinks deeply.
"Is there a difference between what you feel about Wolf and any of us?" Ciel asks.
"I want Wolfy, inside , and I really like, the others," she answers.
"Well, we are almost there," Hana says and shrugs.
I lift an eyebrow at Hana. "Do you want to have sex with her?" I ask.
"Ei, 'Dragon Fucker' is an aweso title," and she gives
a fearso smile.
I chuckle and shake my head.
Now that the caravan is moving properly, I go towards the commoners and give them [Swift Foot] again. They show us lots of appreciation and even Rande seems pleased.
For us, I cast [Wind Armor], [Sharp Blades], [Swift Foot], [Rainbow Shield], [Rainbow Crystal], and [Warrior's Respite].
I use [Redirect Mana] to recharge my MP and notice that the mana coming from the High Forest feels very "odd." It is quite "pure," but it also has an uncomfortable aftertaste.
With a fast march, we quickly approach the gigantic trees of the High Forest. The road splits, and one way turns east, towards the forest, while the other continues north, towards Glorampina. The traffic suddenly drops to zero; nobody is entering or leaving the forest.
Klein and Laertes climb on top of the carriage; up there they unfold thick, wooden chest-high walls that they will use as protection. Then, they pull out so comfy mattresses and lay down, though they still look very alert.
Anton walks along beside the carriage with his poleaxe in hand and awkwardly glances towards Aoi. He's wearing a light blue dragon scale armor that looks very similar to Aoi's scales.
"You look like you want to say sothing," I guide my horse closer to Anton and speak.
"Is she… okay with my armor?" He asks with a deeper frown than normal.
"My armor is also made of dragon scales, she doesn't care," I say.
"Good, good. Well, I don't think I could stomach seeing soone wear wereape skin as armor."
"Monsters are too different from us, many simply wouldn't even care."
The lights slowly dim as we enter the forest; only faint streaks of light get past the thick canopy of trees. Everyone casts [Spirit Lights] and the road becos as clear as day due to the number of light sources. The air becos more damp, causing Lina to show a little displeasure. The tang of moss grows strong, and once in a while I sll a faint citrus or flowery scent.
The grass becos very thin, narrow, and delicate, almost hair-like. The earth turns soft and almost mushy, a few heavy steps on it are enough to dirty your feet with mud. A few elven children decide to drop down to the road and step out onto the grass. I notice that they don't get dirty, and so of them barely leave a mark on the grass thanks to the softness of their steps.
My Hollys spread out and we quickly find monsters lurking about. Walking dead animals and monsters reanimated by Corpse Stealers are the most common find. The small sli-like monster behaves more like a hive-mind: it's always either searching for more corpses, or attacking any nearby threats.
Not a very dangerous monster, except when they manage to gather into a large group, and there's one such group nearby.
"We have to deal with them," I say.
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