VS Campo Flicker, Part 3

"Did your plan go well!?"

Seeing the party return to the lobby, Giraffe raised her cheerful voice.

"Somehow, it did…" In contrast, Kaban's response was gloomy.

Sensing something, Giraffe's expression became a bit cloudy.

"What's wrong…?"

"We were able to lock Flicker-san up in one of the accommodation rooms and from the looks of it, even she was able to calm down inside of it."

Sighing once, Gray Wolf continued.

"However… There was no point in trying to converse with the soothed Flicker-san."

Before going back to the lobby, Gray Wolf suggested to Kaban that they should check if it's possible to communicate with Campo Flicker in her current state. Promising that she'd retreat as soon as she sensed danger, Gray Wolf set foot in the "calming" room, where waiting for her was Campo Flicker with her eyes constantly glowing with Wild Release's light. Keeping her distance, Gray Wolf called out to Campo Flicker, who would grow restless after approaching by just a single step, but instead of replying with words, Campo Flicker shrieked back sharply.

"I… See." Muttered Giraffe, tracing her fingers on her wounds inflicted by Campo Flicker.

Beside her, African Wild Dog worriedly stared at Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey lying on the sofa. Serval looked over worried as well.

"How's Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey?"

"Not doing too great… What should I do…?"

Just like African Wild Dog said, Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey's face was bleak. Her breathing seemed more labored than earlier.

"A Friend's wounds seem to heal faster with Sandstar. Although I'm worried, if she gets to fully rest her body, she'll naturally absorb Sandstar and feel better."

African Wild Dog's expression seemed slightly more at ease hearing Gray Wolf's consoling.

"There're a whole lotta rooms in here, so it shouldn't be a problem to let her sleep in one―"

"Ri-Right, on it…"

Guided by Fennec into a nearby room, African Wild Dog carried the limp Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey. Seeing the two off, Kaban got the Lodge denizens up to speed about the details of Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey's wounds. Brown Bear, with whom they suddenly couldn't communicate just like with Campo Flicker, attacked them. When Kaban finished talking, Common Raccoon was curled up behind Serval and trembling. Gray Wolf raised her eyebrows and muttered to herself.

"This is the first time that something like that has happened…"

"That incident was unbefitting of Japari Park… But for the ace detective Reticulated Giraffe, this mystery is― Well, I'd love to be saying that, but I have no leads at all…"

At that moment, Fennec and African Wild Dog returned. Simultaneously, Boss, who had been left in the bus, entered the lodge. Moving in a bouncy way, Boss' eyes and ears were flashing with a red light, like that time they were going up the mountain.

"Ah, Boss! Just what were you doing? Was it that hard?"

[Emergency, emergency. I will guide you through the emergency exit.]

Ignoring the pouting Serval, Boss beelined towards Kaban.

"Lucky-san…?"

[Emergency, emergen―]

In Boss' eyes looking up to Kaban, the hat that she was wearing was reflected. The hat that had a red feather stuck to it by Common Raccoon. Thereupon, Boss stopped saying anything, and started making electronic sounds.

"Ah! This nanoda! I've found it noda! I know where to find treasure noda!"

"Unable to read the room as always, Arai-san―. But I guess that's fine―"

"Shut up noda―, Fennec!"

While Common Raccoon was curiously bending forward, other Friends also drew over to Boss. Boss' eyes lighted up green, and Mirai's figure had been projected on the wall.

Hello, this is PoGu. This translation can now also be found on AO3 for those who prefer it.

Anyway, since FF doesn't like any kind of link anywhere, I'll instead leave directions on how to find the original work.

First method is to search for "「けもの」の本能" and find the link that leads you to a Japanese site called "kakuyomu".

Alternatively, you can go to the kakuyomu site and add "/works/1177354054882921926" to the domain.