Chapter 15: Change of heart

She thought that it was another case of her being sleep deprived when she first saw him flying towards Queen bee's base of operation. The fact everyone on the battlefield could hear the sound barrier breaking confirms it wasn't.

Curious, but mostly of such a human existing, she follows him to the giant beehive. To be honest, she has always questioned the practicality of the strange building, but to avoid offending the Queen of insects, she quietly kept it to herself.

Then she saw him letting a hornet girl drag him inside the beehive. Despite having the power to brute force his way through, he chooses the more peaceful approach. The powerful monster ponders the reasons behind this, from him waiting until the perfect time to strike, to there's something he needed from the Queen and killing wouldn't help him.

Spying on his conversation with the hornet girl, she was shocked to see the human somehow managing to convince the loyal monster to bring him to the Queen.

Does he have some sort of mind control abilities?

If so, then why didn't he just use it on everyone inside?

Her apprehension turns to panic when she saw him using the power of the Sylph, the Spirit of Wind. How come not one of her monsters had given her a report of this human? If that wasn't enough, what he said next ended up making a favorable impression on the Queen, both sharing an understanding look with each other.

So, not only is this human powerful, but he's also a master of speech capable of turning people on his side too. Narrowing her eyes, she decided to further observe the situation. In the end, if he is deemed too dangerous, she would have to put him down.

Personally of course, she would never risk the life of her cute subordinates to fight such a problematic Hero.

...

After a bit more talking between them, the purplette was given free rein to explore and speak to the people in Queen bee's territory. She could not comprehend how they would allow him to do so with only a hornet girl to keep eyes on him, but she continues with her surveying.

The Hero went around and talked to the surprise insect monsters around him, asking them about the war and how they feel about the situation. There are times when he turns to his warden to ask her some questions and she went from stiffly replying to actively talking back to him by the time they both flew to the battlefield.

That's not good, the silver-tongue Hero has already converted her to his side...

Not only that, but he did it so fast too. She must watch out when speaking to him later, maybe his convincing magic only works on those who hear his voice for a certain amount of time?

Out of sight, hiding in the shadow of the forest, her eyes focus on the two hovering above the battlefield. She wonders what they could be planning when the Hero started chanting, wind magic condensing around him as his wooden sword shines a brilliant white. As the spell grew from a small, to standard, and finally a great tier spell, she had a feeling something unbelievable was going to happen.

And that it did, as the Hero finished chanting, a giant magic circle appears above them, covering the entire battlefield and putting the fighting on hold. Then she started hearing soft melodies playing in the air. Looking around her, all the monsters previously fighting in heated combat soon grew sleepy and lethargic.

For a human to cast an original spell this powerful…

There's also the fact it's a very tricky spell. Her strong magic barrier seems to not matter as she found herself also getting drowsy. Realizing this, she covered her whole body in dark magic, her most familiar and powerful magic. Only then did the effect fade away.

Her theory regarding this is that since it is not an offensive spell by nature, her magic barrier doesn't consider it an attack. Therefore, if someone is not on the same level of strength as the Heavenly Knight, they could very easily fall victim to the spell thinking it was block when it can bypass a magic barrier with ease.

If one were to stop and consider how powerful the spell really is, they would find it to be stupidly so. With that in mind, she decided that it must never be recorded in any books or scripture.

There are simply too many ways a malicious individual can abuse it...

Though, she did finds it strange how the wounds on the unconscious monsters started healing and why there's not been any forces from Queen bee's side.

As the Hero landed a small distance from her, she was about to hide herself a bit further away when their conversation caught her attention. A distraught look on his face as he shakily spoke to her.

"Bii... I don't need to personally know them to feel sad when they're gone."

She blinked.

His voice wavered as he continues. "Life is precious... when a person's life ends it mean they will never be able to say hello to their loved ones again... never play with them again... never have an argument with them again... never made up with them again...and that's a tragedy."

Around them, she saw the air started picking up, responding to the Hero's sorrows much to her shock.

"When I saw them... I don't see strangers dying. I see someone I could have been friends with..."

"..."

The hornet girl pointed at herself.

"BII DIES, HUMAN...MOURN?"

His eyes soften as he reaches for the monster's hand.

"Of course I will..."

Try as she might, the powerful monster could not find any lies in his words. She even tried to see into his soul with magic and found not a single trace of malice. It seems she had misinterpreted his nature.

Ideas flooded her mind. Even if he means well, it was still concerning for a Hero to be this strong. Would it be best to leave him unsupervised, or should she take it upon her to personally see if he could be trusted with his powers?

In the end, she decided to test him. To see how he would act in a critical moment.

===0===

When the time comes, she lets out enough pressure to make a lesser monster faint and slithers out of the forest to confront him.

"Tell me, Hero..."

His soft blue eyes widened in horror as he met her jaded gold.

"Why had you come here?"

Her threatening question reverberates across the field of flowers, causing the already tense atmosphere to be even more suffocating for the Hero and the last standing Canaan Sisters.

"..."

"..."

The Hero blinked, almost as if he's in a trance and his previous fearful look turns blank. A gentle gust of wind ruffled his hair and he blinked again; this time he went back to nervously staring at her.

She almost raised a brow at that, breaking her act.

'What the hell was that...? Did he just forget about me for a second and remember he was supposed to be afraid again?'

He then spoke to her, his voice unsure and stiff.

"...I'm here to end this war..."

Well color her surprised, this isn't what she expects from him. What happens to the charismatic silver-tongue Hero who managed to gain the insect monsters trust in under a day?

"End the war, you said. And why would a Hero like you care for monsters' conflict?"

A conflicted grimace appears on his face.

"To add to that, shouldn't someone like you be using this chance to annihilate both sides instead?"

"No!" He yells out, sounding extremely disturbed at her words. "I would never do that! You... that is..." Breathing out, he shook his head, and she got the most composed look he had ever given her so far.

"Were you the one whose been spying on me...?"

"How amusing, it seems I've been caught."

"...There were six powerful presences."

"Indeed, you have already met Queen bee, the priestess, and the Canaan Sisters. In the end, that only left me."

He narrowed his eyes worriedly. "Who are you...?"

The powerful monster internally sighs. 'Finally, I thought he'd never ask with how meek he's acting...'

"Before you, human, is none other than the current ruling Monster Lord, Alipheese Fateburn XVI."

The plant monster she paralyzed promptly went unconscious after hearing that, she guesses all that has happened so today, and her appearance is too much for her. Turning her gaze back to the Hero, he looks somewhere between concern and... relief?

"I see... then I'm not needed anymore..."

"In what way?"

The Hero then bow to her in a show of respect, causing the Monster Lord to do a double take.

"For meddling in your matter, I am sorry Your Majesty..."

Is he trying to convert her to his side like he did the others? Alice narrowed her eyes and harshly spoke.

"Explain yourself, Hero."

He flinched. "Back then, when I got here... I was in despair..." Slowly, he begins. "I see death and destruction, and it cause me to act... recklessly." Now his words became clearer, steadier. "If I had known the Monster Lord herself would come, I wouldn't have interfered so much... I should step back, now that the situation would be resolved."

...

"...How presumptuous."

"!?" He looked back at her in shock.

At this, she only scoffed.

"Do you think that me forcing them to stop the war would yield any long-term solution? Don't be naive. Not to mention, years of conflict cannot be resolved with in only a day."

"But that's-" He reached out, desperately. "Even then... shouldn't you still tried?"

"What my cute subordinates does is none of my concern as long as they do not directly go against my order."

Devastated by hearing that, he looks to the ground in defeat.

"...Then...I won't stop."

The aura she's been letting out doubled in size. From the way his hand clenched, she was sure he was feeling the pressure.

"Are you sure that is wise?"

"I can't... won't run away..." Miraculously, he manages to stare back into her eyes. A green hue is swirling around the soft blue.

"Never again..."

From the corner of her eyes, she could see a green spiral appearing from nowhere. It wasn't just that, the space around the Hero is bending unnaturally, like the air itself is making way for something else.

This is...

"Why go so far as to use a domain, for people you don't even know?"

"Lives are on the line...if I don't do this... if I run..." Quietly, almost unheard, he mutters to himself.

"Then nothing has changed..."

His words struck a chord with the Monster Lord. Before he could snap his fingers, trapping her in his own world, she stops the pressure and drops her act.

"Very well, you may proceed."

...

The Hero blinked, "Huh...?"

As the huge amount of magic in the air dies down, the two stare into the other. One in acceptance, and the other in confused happiness.

"Have you gone deaf? I said you have convinced me. So go on your way, I will only observe you for now..."

"..." He stood still, unsure of what's happening, but he's grateful. That is until he shook his head and bowed to her once more.

"T-Thank you, Your Majesty..."

"Hmph."

===0===

To say Queen bee is shocked would be an understatement. In fact, she was flabbergasted.

Not only did the human keep his word. But along the way he had also gain the attention of Alipheese Fateburn XVI, the current Monster Lord to help with their situation.

It was like she's in a dream...

Ouch! No, she already checks, this isn't one.

"QUEEN BEE! WE COMPLETE MISSION... BROUGHT MONSTER LORD."

"...Why did you mention me like an afterthought?"

"A-ah! I'm sure Bii didn't mean it like that..."

The purplette raises his hand placatingly while her daughter blankly stares at the powerful echidna. Either she's oblivious, or she is going out of her way to annoy the Monster Lord.

Both possibilities are equally bad, and the way the loyal monster is standing between them is not helping either.

Honestly, she could really use a vacation...

===0===

Luka almost cry when the hiding pacifies of the two races come to him and expresses their thanks. But being as shy as he is, he immediately ran away before they could see it.

Sylph congratulates him for keeping the conversation going for more than a few seconds and Undine suggests he try imagining the people he talks to ask vegetables so that he doesn't feel embarrassed.

It doesn't work. Especially when a Pumpkin Jack shyly walk up to him to gives him a present.

Bii saw this and angrily buzzed at the poor monster.

The Spirit of Water was about to suggest objects next but stops when she realizes there are monster girls base of everyday items too.

'Keep working on it...' She simply said.

===0===

The forest dweller saw the Monster Lord and Queen bee having a discussion and lowered his connection to the wind so as not to intrude. They were reaching night time and Luka is helping with detaining the violent monster who refuses to stop the war.

Some of them tried to fight back, driven by instinct and lacking awareness of the futility in doing so. After another spell, she fell soundly asleep. From the silly giggling she lets out, he reckons she's having a good dream.

It was kind of funny actually, they were so angry and hateful but as soon as he put them to sleep, they ended up looking so peaceful. Now, if only they could keep being calm when they woke up...

Oh well, that is up to them. He already helps as much as he can.

After a bit more work convincing the battle hungry monster to stand down, he got called by his friend for dinner.

'I wonder what they eat here...'

...

...

...

"Bii..." He gently calls out to her.

"BZZ!" The hornet girl buzzed back a warning.

"...Never mind." He sighed, hesitantly taking a bite of the honey sandwich she had apparently made for him.

Now, Luka was very grateful, of course.

But then he thought about where the honey came from...

His face went red. "Thank you... it's delicious..."

And it was. Too bad the loyal monster keeps blankly staring at him throughout the night.

"BZZ..."

"..."

===0===

"LUKA..."

"That's me..."

"LUKA!"

"I'm still here..."

"LU...KA..."

He laughs lightly, endeared by her antics.

After learning his name, the hornet girl has been saying it all day like some sort of exercise. He was a bit concern at first, but apparently this is how her race would practice remembering something important.

Hearing this from Queen bee, he feels a mix of pride that she considers his name important to her and embarrassed that she's doing this out loud in front of everyone.

"Luka? I'd have thought your name would be stranger considering your character." A new voice enters the room.

Turning to them, Luka saw it was Alipheese Fateburn XVI. Looks like she has something to discuss with him too.

"BZZ!"

"Your Majesty." He not so subtly tries to calm the hornet girl down. The forest dweller really doesn't understand why she's so angry.

"Well, if there's one thing, at least your polite..."

"LUKA, POLITE, TO BII, ALWAYS!"

Said the loyal monster, like she's trying to prove something. Even the Monster Lord seems confused by this.

"Right... anyways, Luka." She turns back to him, much to Bii's frustration.

"Hmm?"

"Do you mind answering a few questions from me? Now that the war is over, it should be a more appropriate time." She explains further.

"Ah." He remembers now, she did say something like that yesterday.

Crossing her arms, the Monster Lord begins. "First off, where did you come from?"

"A forest."

"...?" She waited for him to elaborate. He didn't.

Sighing, she continues. "How did you discover the Spirit of Wind?"

"I found her playing one day and we became friends..."

Her jaded gold narrowed. "You found her, one of the four original spirits, out of pure luck?"

"Yes..."

"..."

His fingers nervously fiddle with the handle of Iris.

"...Moving on then, why did you decide to come here?"

"Plansect Village isn't my destination...just a part of my travel around the world."

She didn't even have to say anything, he could tell by her looks.

"I go on this journey... to improve myself... and to make a friend proud."

"I take it there's a history behind that?"

"Yes."

The monster Lord threw her hand into the air with a groan of frustration.

"Never mind, it looks like I have to do this the hard way..."

Luka doesn't know what she meant by that, but she left before he could ask. When he turns back to Bii she looks very pleased with him, much to his confusion.

"Hmm?"

"BZZ..."

===0===

He was ready to get back on his journey when the next day arrived. The Queen is understanding, if not a bit saddens to see a good young man like him leave her village so soon. Everyone else is kept from knowing this as per his request and they all respected it.

The loyal monster is evidently not happy about this. She even threatened to sting him so that he would stay with her.

"LUKA, LEAVE BII...?"

"Don't say it like that..." He said softly, his hair swaying as wind sweeps through the field of flowers they're in. It's the same one where he chased down Raffia, now though, it doesn't have the sickening smell of blood in the air.

Luka got up, taking in everything. From the fresh air, to the resplendent flora and majestic fauna all around him and to the beautiful conclusion he manages to give these people.

He's grateful, he truly is.

"MEET, AGAIN...?"

The smile he gave her could make the sun blush.

"Of course we will!"

Also getting up, she quickly went for a hug. Luka would usually be too shy for this, but considering he's making her so sad by leaving, he figures he owes his simple friend this much.

Splat!

And now there's honey all over his chest.

"Oh boy..."

...

...

...

"LUKA..."

It surprises him a bit, but after several minutes of silence, she calls out to him.

"Hmm?"

"DON'T DIE...BII MOURN."

"..."

He gently pats her head.

"I won't, promise."

===0===

Blushing, Luka packed the jar of honey Bii had given him and continued on his way to the Yamatai Village. Doing his best not to think of the implications.

The forest dweller have read that the journey there would be a harsh one for humans, though considering he could fly, he didn't know if it also applies to him.

Something flickers behind him, similar to how Alma Elma would. Grabbing the handle of Iris, he turn to see the Monster Lord looking mildly impressed.

"And I was trying too. Not bad"

"Your Majesty?" The purplette said, confused.

She lift a hand at that, "I already have my cute subordinates calling me that all the times, you don't have to."

"I…never said you were…?"

"Nevertheless, if you wish so, you may call me 'Alice'. It's much more convenient in my opinion."

"Alice…" He said her name, for some reason he feels comfortable calling her that. Almost like it was natural.

"Is there something wrong with my name?" The Monster Lord questions him.

"I think…It suits you, Alice…"

He gave her a small, yet genuine smile.

She stares at him.

"Pervert. Are you trying to flirt with me?"

"Huh!?"

"Would you please stop staring at me?"

"But Alice…your also staring at me."

"I can't help it, your so strange."

"How am I the strange one…?"

Currently, the bizarre duo of the forest dweller and the Monster Lord is flying towards their destination; the Yamatai Village located northeast from where they are. When she suggests they take flight, he thought she would use some sort of gravity magic to keep herself afloat. What he didn't expect was for her to use her long serpentine lower body to launch herself to the sky like a spring and cast a wind magic to create airstreams she would follow through.

They were even small wing-like appendages on her sides that she's spreading out. Borrowing her airstream, the purplette kicked the air below him and jumped up to her with a powerful gust, surprising the Monster Lord.

"Can you even consider that flying? All you're doing is jumping a long distance and kicking the air to jump again."

"I don't have wings..."

"Fair enough."

As the day gets dark, Luka continues to marvel at her wind spell, the airstream seems to travel a very long distance at a very cheap cost of magic, making it so she can keep it going all the way to the snowy mountains ahead of them.

Well, she said it was cheap, but Alice is not a very good comparison point due to her unique nature as the descendant of the Fateburn bloodline. Who knows? maybe it's easy for her to do but not for others.

She raised an eyebrow when he slowed down and landed on the clearing bellow.

"What's wrong, did you get tired?" She calls out to him, unlike how he did it, she justlet herself fall to the ground without taking any damage.

He started unpacking his camping equipment, pulling 'The Four Animists' out and turning to her.

"It's getting dark... let's make a camp."

"Oh please. Are you scare or something?"

He simply shook his head.

"Flying isn't fun when you can't see anything..."

She blinked at his lighthearted answer. Crossing her arm, she concurs and waited for him to make them dinner.

Thinking it would be faster with some help, he calls for the pages to come out. The book flashes white for a moment before the three monsters greet their friend. Seeing the cups in their hands, he guesses they were having a tea party in the book world.

"Where are we now? It's cold..."

"Darling~! Do you need any help setting up the camp?"

"Luka, would you like some tea? It's quite go-PFFFFFF!"

"My face!"

As Cogita was about to have finished her tea, the librarian monster saw the Monster Lord standing behind him. This resulted in poor Page 257 to have tea spray all over her.

"Egad! M-my Lord! Please, I can explain the situation!"

With shaky hand, Cogita fixes her glasses in place and desperately tried her best at not getting fired by her boss. All the while, Page 17 dragged her fellow page monster to help Luka with the camp. He was a bit worried, but knowing Alice is a fairly reasonable person, he was sure everything would be fine.

...

By the time the librarian monster had finished telling her story, they had already prepared dinner for everyone.

Throughout the whole thing, Alice could only give them all a disbelieving stare.

"..."

"My Lord...?"

She sighed, slithering to her freshly made soup.

"It's too late for me to care, go do whatever you want..."

"Ah...thank you, Lady Alice."

===0===

"Alice..."

A puff of cloud appears as he calls for her. The sound of snow crunching under them stops as she turns to him, her previous look of wonder replaced by a mask of neutrality.

"What is it?"

Patting some snow off his cape, he asked her a question he had been mulling over yesterday.

"How long is your stay on my journey?"

The Monster Lord huffed, looking at something in the distance.

"If you feel uncomfortable having me with you, then you should be happy to know I only intent to follow you until we make it to Yamatai Village."

His eyes widened at her words. "Not like that... I only ask for clarity..." the forest dweller was about to continue when he realized his serpentine companion had disappeared.

"!?" Looking around him, he senses that she's hiding somewhere.

But why? Did he say something wrong?

Suddenly, the snow started getting unnaturally thicker. The air itself is colder as he's surrounded by a snowstorm that blocked his vision.

'This is... magic! I'm under attack!'

Summoning the power of wind, he forms a barrier around him that pushes back against the cold and snow. In front of him, he saw a silhouette of a woman appears.

"Come...human... I'll give you a warm embrace..."

Luka was very worried that the Yuki-Onna had trapped him in her domain, but after scanning the area, he was glad that wasn't the case. The Youkai's power is similar to a domain, but she isn't creating her own world, only using her magic to manipulate the surrounding weather to her liking.

Upon seeing his relieved expression, the cold monster had thought he was happy to see her. Getting in close, she tries to wrap her arms around him.

Without using his partner, the forest dweller focusses the wind on his palm, thrusting it forward.

[Gale thrust]

The cold monster was evidently not ready for a howling gust of wind to strike her chest, pushing the youkai out of her own snowstorm and for a green magic circle to appear below her right after.

"!?"

[Sylph's lullaby]

Music notes appear around her, sapping the youkai of her power and putting her to sleep even as she struggles and freezes some of them. Eventually, her movement grew slower, and she fell asleep peacefully in the snow.

"ZzZzZzzzz..."

Walking over after getting the snow off his clothes, Luka places grapefruits that he got as a gift in Plansect Village next to her.

"Have a good dream..."

Flickering behind him, Alice commented on the fight.

"How convenient... at least she's not harm."

"Of course not." He turns to her. "Self-defense, no reason to hurt her more..."

"Did you make create the spell on your own?"

He shook his head. "Sylph made it, help me sleep..."

Alice let out a chuckle. "Really? That's the origin of such a tricky spell~"

"Why would I lie?"

"Hmm~"

The journey continues, Alice decided to play with the snow after a while and the purplette joined her as they flies around the white landscape. They threw giant snowballs at each other using their magic, and she even though him how to use her airstream spell while they fly.

By the time it gets dark, the Monster Lord realizes that she forgot to ask him the list of questions she had. For some reason, she doesn't quite mind.

===0===

"Oh? Young man! Did you travel here through the mountains?" Ask an old man in front of the village's entrance.

Flinching a little, Luka prepares himself for his worst enemy.

Conversations with strangers...

"I did..."

The old man slaps his forehead in exasperations.

"Oh geez! Did you really? Goodness, we really need to put a bigger sign..."

Alice raises an eyebrow at this. "Explain, human."

"Ah! Forgive me, Oh Mighty Snake!" After handing her a thin fried tofu, the old man said that they didn't really need to go through the snowy mountains as they had recently created a much safer way into the village.

The problem is that the sign they put up to inform people of this is not very noticeable, so travelers ended up climbing the treacherous mountains anyway.

"...How incompetent."

"At least we had fun..."

The two's comment perfectly embodies their respective nature.

...

So far, Yamatai Village has been a very accommodating and beautiful place in Luka's opinion. The people are all friendly and respecting each other, he could see monsters walking around happily as everyone greets them.

The custom of referring to monsters as a higher being is a bit odd to him, but as Alice explains it, sometimes it's better to keep it to ourselves if we don't understand something.

He fully agrees with that.

Sitting down on the outskirts of the village, the forest dweller and Monster Lord were about to have a midday picnic together when another monster appeared. She's a Nekomata, a cat monster girl.

"Unyaaa~!"

Gretting them affectionately, the playful monster stared at Alice's salted fish hungrily.

"No." With a firm voice, the Monster Lord held the food away.

"Fsss!"

Before the echidna could hiss back at her, Luka offers the playful monster his dried bonito that he bought from the food stall nearby.

"Purrr..."

Happily eating the food, the Nekomata started rubbing her face on his hand.

His is conflicted. On one hand, she's acting like a typical cat, but on the other she's still a monster girl.

To pet, or not to pet...

'Is this what all those philosophers in the books that you read is like?'

'There's nothing wrong about expressing affection, Luka. As long as you and the other person is comfortable with what you're doing, it should be alright.'

Following the advice Undine gave him, the purplette ran his hand across the playful monster's white hair.

"So soft..."

"Nyaaa~"

Alice disappeared suddenly. He realizes it's the same as before and sure enough, a pair of Elf rush to his area. They seem to be warriors of some sorts, with one of them wielding a curved sword and the other holding a pair of blades on each hand.

"Outsider! Leave this place at once!"

He gently pries the Nekomata away before getting up.

"Alright then..."

"How stubborn... it looks like we have to-"

The two of them pause as his word registered.

"Wait what?"

Halfway into cleaning up the stuff for their picnic, Luka turns back to them and politely bows.

"I understand the two of you are doing your job, I'm sorry...I didn't know this place is prohibited..."

Now at a loss at what to do, the Samurai Elf raises her katana at him, "How shameless! You would rather bow to your enemy instead of fighting back!?"

"I don't have enemies..." The forest dweller simply said, tilting his head at them in confusion.

"A-ah..." The monster started sweating.

Now sounding a bit desperate, the Kunoichi Elf held her hand out to him. "I can see it! Your affinity with the wind, it's much stronger than even our masters! You must be dangerous!"

Luka frown at this, "That's not right... have you any proof I've harm any people nearby?"

"T-that is-!" Now she's also sweating like her partner.

'What is happening here...?'

Eventually, the Samurai Elf slumped in defeat. "To be honest, human..."

Her partner continues, "...We don't actually have any reasons to fight you..."

"We were just...having a difficult timeof constant training and..."

"The stress got to us...we haven't had sex in weeks!"

"So...this whole time we were baiting you to attack us..."

"...Because that would give us excuse to fuck you dry..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Watching all of this, the Nekomata could not understand what's going on.

"Nya...?"

===0===

Walking back to the village, Luka, Alice, and the playful monster that decides to follow them watch as the sun beautifully sets on the horizon. Basking the wonderful landscape of Yamatai Village in golden rays.

"I'm surprise you even left them with anything." Said the Monster Lord regarding his earlier fight.

After knocking the two Elf who had rudely interrupted their picnic, the forest dweller left a bowl of thin fried tofu next to them.

"Me too..." He quietly replies.

"Nya!"

"Hmm?" Luka turns to the Nekomata. She's pointing ahead.

In front of them, a group of villagers have gathered, and they seem to be in a heated argument. The village's chief is holding his head in disappointment as he said something back at them, prompting them to fiercely deny it.

"Did something bad happens?" The forest dweller worriedly asked.

"How should I know? Pettyhuman arguments are of no concern to me..."

She may have said that, but from the way her sharp ears twitch towards the conversations he could tell she's also interested in what's going on.

Shyly, he walks over to one of the monsters listening on the side.

"Excuse me..."

"Woah! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

The two-tail Fox girl huffed at him angrily before appraising his foreign outfit.

"Oh! I get it, you must be a traveler!"

"Ah...that's right. I'm not very familiar with the custom here..." He tried his best to explain.

"Honestly," Alice slither into the conversation, "out of everyone, you just had to ask a fox, don't you?" swiping her hand faster than the fox girl could perceived, she stole a thin fried tofu from her.

"Gah! Scary!" The silver fox girl hides behind him as the Monster Lord's gaze bored into the poor Kitsune.

Luka look at her imploringly. "Please don't bully her, Alice..."

"Hmph."

After a bit of reassuring (and him promising to buy her another thin fried tofu later), the fox girl told them that the humans are discussing who gets to be the sacrifice this year.

"Hmm?"

"You know, the one who must stay with the Yamato no Orochi for an entire year? So that she doesn't destroy the town?"

He did a double take. "An entire—so she doesn't what!?"

"Yeah, I know right? She's so mean! If she wanted a man, all she has to do was asked nicely. She didn't have to throw a tantrum like that!"

"..." Thinking to himself, Luka tries to find a way to help the situation.

Right next to him, Alice narrowed her eyes at this.

"Say... is there any way to stop the Yamato no Orochi?" He turns to the Monster Lord.

"Even if there is, why does it matter to you?" Coldly, she deflects with another question.

"Alice..."

"Now now, Alice. Don't be like that~" A lighthearted voice enters the fray.

Turning to them, Luka saw another Fox girl in similar height to the one he's been talking to. The difference would be that instead of silver, she has a majestic golden fur, and on her back was nine long fluffy tails instead of two.

When the forest dweller saw her regal outfit, he was pretty worried.

Understandable, considering he has been dealing with enough royalties lately. Another one on his plate would be unfortunate.

"You..." Alice only glared at the newcomer. He can't feel any genuine hostility from her, so he assumes this is just the Monster Lord being her usual self.

"Is that any way to greet the woman who raised you, dear Monster Lord?" She hid it behind her fan, but everyone could tell she was giving Alice a smug smile.

When she turns her bright green eyes to him, he couldn't help but be reminded of Lilly.

"Oh~ And what do we have here?" A mischievous glint appears in her eyes as she continues. "Did our Monster Lord finally get herself an actual friend? Good for you, Alice!"

"Alright that's it! I was willing to keep quiet in my respect to you, but not after that you damn fox!" They went off from there, throwing jabs and low hanging fruits at each other.

"Is it always this chaotic here...?"

"Really? Today has been pretty calm so far."

"Oh..."

Just then, the forest dweller remembers something.

The Nekomata that follows them back then, "Where did she go...?"

"You mean Tama? She's getting spoiled by those people over there!"

Sure enough, a group of villagers surrounds the playful monster and offers her their food like she's a deity.

"Oh Mighty Cat, please accept this offering!"

"Nya!"

And so, the purplette and the two-tail kitsune watch as an angry Alice chased after a chuckling Tomamo in circles. In the background, the perverted males continue to argue with each other. All the while, a cat girl is being worshiped by the villagers.

Yamatai Village is a beautiful place... but he doesn't think he'll ever be able to live here.

END OF CHAPTER


Author's note: There you go... another chapter done. This time there's not a lot of action other than with Alice in the beginning.

Next chapter should be more focus on combat as Luka had to overcome the mountain that is Orochi without Gnome.

I always forgot that Alice is an echidna...