It has been a few hours before we started our search but we still don't have a single lead. night has struck and I haven't found any monsters that resemble what Nick has said.
"this is a bit more troubling than what I have expected..."
Nick whispered to himself just barely hearing him
"what's troubling? is there something wrong?"
"no... if we can't find them then the myths from them really is true... you see, these monsters have the half of a human body and with the lower half stuck like stone, I said that earlier but they hide them pretty well that no one will even see them... and what's even more troubling is that they prey on the pregnant and children... if so then we can't just spot them as easily as any other monsters here..."
if that's so then how do we even find them?
"we could ask someone you know here? no... that's unlikely... considering that you're a foreigner... we'll just simply keep looking until we subjugate at least a few of them"
"wait, just a few of them!? can't we kill all of them!?"
"that's extremely impossible... the problem with that is there's multiple types in every region, and each type is different to another one"
"then if so then there should be a way to fight them off right? since it is a myth then there should be a way to defeat them, like weaknesses or something"
"right... I completely forgot about that but there's also one theory I'd like to use so it's best if we capture one too but I think that might be too much for you"
"capture one!? what do-"
a scream was heard in the distance, both Kirin and Nick immediately dashed through the crowd to see what was happening and there's already a circle of people around it
[translated for your sakes]
「what's happening!?」
「someone was assaulted by a flying monster and these adventurers immediately came but the monster was already done with her」
"I see... Ron! we're chasing after it!"
"hm! I don't know what's happening but let's go! do you know where it is though?"
"My magic is mana trail, I can see a trail that monsters excrete so I know where. let's go!"
Nick and Ron immediately caught up with the flying monster and Nick confirmed what it is
"not the monster we were aiming for but this is good information"
"what is it?"
"it's a Wakwak, unlike our target, it doesn't separate from its body but it's still dangerous"
both Nick and Ron hid from the flying monster that seems to be landing, but immediately noticed them and flew away
"wait, why does it sound so close!"
"shh! be quiet for a minute"
I can't see the damn thing, where is it!?
"wait... it's getting quieter... let's chase it immediately!"
without a second thought, Ron stood up revealing himself and ran
"wait! duck!"
"huh?"
looking at his side, Ron only saw a moment of death, it's sharp talons were close to him and ready to stab his abdomen.
"Guh!"
Ron was struck, it was a hollow cut but it was bleeding badly, Nick immediately ran and covered for him
"tch, be glad it wasn't fatal or your heart could've been taken"
the flapping of the flying monster was growing louder and louder as if it was nearby
"wha- what's happening?"
"it's its ability, a way to confuse its prey, the sound of its flapping grows louder farther but silent when nearby, I was going to warn you but you immediately ran out from cover"
the sound grew silent again, an eerie silence that could've been seen as death. the monster struck but Nick managed to dodge the attack and the sound grew louder once again
"it's bad enough that we're in a bad part of a city... a forest even... c'mon Ron, I can't kill this without you"
"Sorry but I can't stand... ghk"
"tch, so it also has poison... that's something else... just watch out, it could target you too at any time"
silence started once again, not a sound that they could even hear their own breathing.
suddenly, the talons were already aiming at the back of Nick and were suddenly struck
with a sound of bones cracking, Nick grunted in pain and fell on his front unable to move
"Nick! damn it!"
Ron stood up rather sloppily and began to create a large devil dust at the size of a building
"haahhh... haahhh... we're safe... for now... Nick! are you alright!?"
"yeah... I'm fine... but I didn't think it would be this ferocious, I might need a rest..."
dark patterns enveloped Nick like sharp hands originating from the backside where he was struck
"don't worry... I'm safe watch out though, I don't know much about it and I don't know if it can go through this devil dust"
without another word, the devil dust turned into a small tornado and Ron carried Nick and retreated.
"what was that thing?!"
"I already told you and I'm not telling you again... haahhh... I think we're safe"
they couldn't hear the sound any sound and even though fighting it means that silence is their death, they knew they weren't spotted
Panting and sitting on the side of the tree, Ron was thinking of how to fight the monster
"so Nick... I thought your magic is magic trail, what's that black tattoos for?"
the markings disappeared as soon as he said that, after a while, Nick stood up
"it's my primary... borrowed ability, I have nothing to explain about what it is and I don't expect you to ask that, just take note of that"
without another second, Nick walked back to the closest civilization where they came from
"w-wait! what about, 'that' thing!?"
"I doubt it's still there, considering that we took a rest and you creating a diversion, I think it'll give up from hunting us"
. . .
. .
.
both of them came back empty-handed, Nick returned home and Ron met up with Aishah and slept the night off.
"what took you so long?"
"sorry... but I'm tired... what about those aliens?"
"aliens? Liliya and Rin? they're still in the hotel"
"I see... I'll kill them tomorrow"
"dude, what the fuck"
ignoring him, Ron booked himself and Aishah.
- - - - -
10:00 night time, Ron's resting so I shouldn't really bother him, meanwhile, Liliya and the others are preparing for another person here, Jeez I'm excited! who could it be!?
"oh? Aishah, mind if I bother you for a sec?"
Rin was calling out to me. I wonder what she wants
"something wrong? it's rare for you two to ask something"
"well... yeah, a friend of mine was asking for test samples so Liliya and I are going to a forest, we know where to look so you don't need to go out this night but mind keeping in check with Little Osiria for a while? she's a shy kid but she can understand you if you just show her some things"
"a-alright, where is she?"
「Rin, do you really trust him? I'm... anxious of letting some stranger to take care of my child...」
「don't worry, I can vouch for him. c'mon Little Lily it's time to let go of mommy's hand for now」
「mmm... but...」
「don't worry, we'll be back soon, c'mon Liliya, leave her here for now」
「muu... fine, listen here kid, if something happens to her you're dead to me」
「Liliya... you know he doesn't understand right?- ehh?」
"uhh... miss Rin... you're companion's scaring me a bit..."
"a-ahh... sorry, she's just overprotective of her child. 「c'mon Liliya, let's go」
both of them left me their child... this... is a bit awkward. she looks at me as if sizing me up then she just returned to her room... huh... what a weird child...
"huh... I wonder what your parents are doing right now... now that I question it, who's the other friend they were talking about?"
the child who I believe from Rin said is Osiria, walked around and is searching for something...
"uhh... mind if I help?"
I know she doesn't understand me but instead, I simply talk to her using sign language, I doubt she'll understand the complex stuff so I'm just asking if I can help or not. she nods and used a notebook to talk to me... she draws quite good...
"you're looking for... a sketch pad and... a pencil? well I can just give you one but if it's something important then I might as well right? now... where- did- you- last... uhh no, last- saw it?"
she pointed at a desk... seems like we're conversing just fine... well if it's not in the desk then...
"hmm... probably over here... gotcha. is this what you were asking?"
uhh... "hey, uhh... Osiria? is this it?"
she looks at me and immediately took the notepad she was looking for.
"hmm... I guess we can talk with them... well converse, not really talk... I can't understand your language but it seems like we can still converse normally... well, converse with pictures..."
she starts to draw a somewhat detailed sketch... it seems to be a person talking a lot... wait, is that supposed to be me?
"hahaha... that's a bit insulting... but... yeah you're right, you don't even understand me so why am I even talking to you... Haaahh..."
I really don't have much to do here... let alone look at some things... maybe watch her for a bit? look around the area... hmm...
I'll tell Osiria that I'll look around, probably bad to snoop at things without any consent...
- - -
- - -
well, she tells me it's fine so I guess I'll take a look around...
hmm... their bag seems a bit too much... I-
oh? Osiria's giving me a nod... then it's okay?
she rummages through the bag taking a small pencil and tells me it's fine with pictures
well, don't mind if I do then
. . .
. .
something square... a pendant? this looks cool, it has a scythe with it in the end, there's an earring in the shape of a Diamond... and another sketch pad... this looks somewhat new, is it okay to look through?
I flip the pages one by one and the artist that drew this seems to be skilled... was this child the one who drew this?
"hmm huh? miss Osiria, you telling me something?"
with an emotionless face... I don't know what sh-
suddenly, a sword was aimed at the back of my head... I can barely feel it
"a-ahhh... I come in peace?"
「Osiria, who is this man?」
「brother, he's fine, he helped me looked for this book」
「I see then...」
they were talking for a minute there... so they know each other?
"I-I'm clean, please... your sword's scaring me"
with it, I felt like a slow passing wind passes through my backside... a cold sweat was in my forehead...
"so... are you her sibling or something? bodyguard?"
「Osiria, what is he talking about?」
「I... don't know... but... he doesn't mean harm to me...」
「your mother's not here I see... then he's probably just here to watch over you」
they're talking with each other again... I feel like I'm a bit left out here...
huh? is... is he telling me that he trust me? or... is it something else? wait, I forgot that I haven't introduce myself, I think since it's names they'll understand that.
"a-uhh... I'm Aishah" I bow my head and signal a handshake
「hmm? Osiria, wh- oh... like Rin said... well then, I'm Ingrid」
「Osiria...」
"so my theory is right... well, names aren't part of a language so I guess that's understandable...*yawn*"
「brother... he seems tired...」
「is he? well I'll take over for now, why don't you draw something like that?」
"hmm? are you two telling me something? oh? I'm free to leave? well... if you two say so"
「that idiot mother of yours... well, I guess he's trustworthy, anything happened to you little Lily?」
「no... like I said...」
「ahh... right. well, your father's arriving later so I'll leave once he arrives」
「brother... why do you have a mask like sister?」
「hmm... let's just say that we will die if we don't」
「hmm」
well... it's night and I guess Ron is asleep too... then I'll hit the hay tonight too...