"So you really didn't know about it?"
Pulling out bits of the wood from her makeshift robe, Leila turned to me.
"To be honest, this seemed to be just an infant cavalier, the real thing is even stronger."
Black clouds formed in her eyes as she spoke about it. It was obvious that she had some kind of unpleasant memories connected to not only this place but this kind of monsters aw well.
"There are some theories about how did they appear. Most prominent one states that those horses are a failed experiment of some alchemist from the higher sects. If we go with the line of this theory, they settled at the area surrounding the spirit attainment level areas, forcing every group that wished to go there to pay the tribute. That's also what I meant by the sacrifice."
So that's why she acted like we were going to bring her up the stairs of Aztec temple only to carve her out heart alive as some kind of offering… It's no wonder she was soo terrified as to piss her own pants…
"Am I right in thinking that those sacrifices end up as those zombie mounts?"
To be honest, I can't really think about other reason for such powerfull humanoid horses to collect living beings. But that also means they have some sort of way to create zombies in the first place!
"I can't say that for sure, but when I came here with my master for the first time, the slave that he offered… When we were going back home, I'm certain I saw one of those demons riding on its corpse!"
"Blop!"
"Shadow technique has expired!"
As we were speaking, some kind of timer finished ticking, and all the things that I acquired from the Bonger from such a hefty price disappeared. While I had some lingering thoughts about going deeper into this place with the help of such powerful tools, now that they were gone, I didn't want to risk it anymore. I couldn't take care of a low-class enemy from their kind by my currently owned abilities, so I do not wish to gamble so many points only for the sake of gambling my way through the shadow techniques! After all, I have no idea what would be unlocked next!
"Let's go back then. With how hard this enemy was, I don't want to stake myself against its stronger counterparts!"
With that decision, we could finally start moving back to the sect. While one could say we were in a hurry, I still made sure to take a route that would make us skim through the outskirts of the Pengu lair. I didn't even get to check its state after the fight, rushing to check my system!
What a failure of a friend I am!
If not for its brother, I would very well sustain heavy injuries while fighting the last expert. Maybe seeing his brethren in the perfect state made me think that everything was all right with him?
With all three of us being at the spirit attainment level, even while slowing our running speed to Leila's level, we still managed to go back to my destroyed hut in a bit less than a single hour.
But nothing could prepare me for the sight that I met there.
As I walked towards Pengu, I could only watch as it tried it's best to put my hut back together! Without hands, trying to place the broken poles where they should was a harder task for him that doing the entire thing for me! Despite that, despite that it wasn't even able to walk properly, it still continued to put one element after the other, relentlessly aiming to fix my creation.
Crack.
With sadness and pity overwhelming me while I was watching his utmost efforts being translated into very slow progress, I unintentionally stepped on one of the branches, alerting Pengu's attention.
As it turned its beak towards me with an angry expression on it, it instantly turned into one of fear, sadness and regret. Without making even a single sound, it fell to the ground, with its fins placed under his forebeak.
Why is it kowtowing in front of me? It didn't do anything wrong!
Reaching for a small Pengu's body, I raised it with my hands and hugged tightly to my breast. Feeling it's soft fur caressing the exposed parts of my body I felt even better than when having time with the girl from before!
"I don't know what kind of nonsense you came up with, but I can only be thankful for all the help that you offered me. I need to go back now, but if you want, I can come here in a few days time and build such home for you as well."
Placing the trembling Pengu back on the ground, I couldn't help but have my spirits lifted as it wiggled it's entire body, like if it tried to negate my words. He pointed his fin in the air, brought it all the way down to point at the remenants of my hut, then pointed it at himself, coiled both of its fins around its cute, round belly and started trembling.
Does it want to say that it was too scared to help?
I can't blame him for something like this! We were just guests in his territory, making use of his hospitality to spend the night. I never expected him to put his life on the line for my sake!
"You don't need to worry about it. I can't fault you for being scared of those experts. I'm not sure what kind of strength do you possess now, but they were definitely strong ones. Thankfully, by working together, we managed to overwhelm them, so you don't need to worry about it. Anyway, I came here to bid farewell, as we are going back to our real home now. I hope you will stay in good health!"
Shaking Pengu's fin marked the end of our time together during this outing. While I have a lingering hope that we will meet again, only fate will be able to decide that.
After we travelled back for about an hour, Leila covertly tried to ask Eve.
"Is there something wrong with Master's head to talk to the demonic beasts? Or… don't tell me… Is he a beastmaster!?"
No matter how hard she would try to prevent me from hearing this, it was all futile. But how was everyone coming to such a stupid conclusion? Didn't they realise that it was all because of how nice and handsome I am?