[Another relationship destroyed. Am I wrong to even try? Where else could we go? The world is getting smaller and smaller. Maybe there isn't room for us anymore.]
Lost in thought, I hardly notice Nick's arrival. I remain facing the opposite direction as I can't bear to make eye contact. He stands there silently as he works out what to say.
"Is Shinobu in any immediate danger?" His voice sounds strained, as if he's about to cry.
"...No." I think of the unpredictable beast. I've placated it for now, but it can always change its mind.
"Are the other members of my party in any immediate danger?"
"...No." I don't think the guardian would consider attacking the town, so they're only in danger when they're in the forest. Their situation hasn't changed at all; only their understanding of it has.
"Are the fairies in any immediate danger?" I feel a crack form in my heart. Even after everything that's happened today, he is still concerned about us. He could just be putting on a show, but that's not very likely. People have a tendency to be more honest when they're upset.
"I don't know," I answer quickly. I don't know where this conversation is going, but I have some hope. Nick pauses for almost a minute. He's clearly working up the courage to say something.
"If anything happens to Woohee…" I feel my eye twitch. It's all I can do to stop myself from spinning around to face him. The whole tone of the situation has changed. "I'll kill you."
'Pfft'
I'm so happy I almost burst out in laughter. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to retain my composure.
"That's what you're worried about?" I overcompensate by holding an even lower tone than I had before. "What about your friends? What happens if they're killed? Will you still try to kill me if your little friends die?"
"That goes without saying." His voice cuts through the air like a knife.
"I don't know if I should laugh or cry." I finally turn around to face him. "I don't know if today's events have affected how much you trust me, but I just want you to know that I've gained a whole new level of respect for you. You had the opportunity to sell me out multiple times but weaved your way around it. On top of that, when you realized the strength of the threat, you tried to protect one of my fairies. I wish we had met a few hundred years earlier; maybe things would have turned out differently." He stands rooted to the ground. It seems he doesn't know how to respond.
[He must have been digging for information. I hope he found what he's looking for.]
"I have to go now. I'll continue to look out for you and your companions." I reiterate my conviction before returning to my village.
[Maybe...]
Three days later, we have our next conversation.
"Is anyone here?" He calls out while looking at Woohee's hiding spot. It seems she's still worked up about my crackdown because she's acting shy, which is unusual. Nick pretends as if he hasn't noticed her as he arrives at the center of the fort. "I really wanted to talk to Woohee about what color clothes she might want, but I guess I'll just have to leave."
[Goddammit.]
Woohee's wings start trembling. I'm sure she's nervous about receiving any more clothes after what I said.
"How will I know what kind of cookie to bring her? Oh well, I'll just have to get cookies another time."
"Guh!" Woohee struggles to contain herself. I didn't give her any instructions on how to behave, which was probably a mistake.
"What was that noise?" Nick continues his game and walks further away from her.
"Hmmm!"
"Is that rock making noises? That's weird. I'll have to check that out later. I should head back to town for now."
"Wait!" Woohee lunges over the top of the boulder before catching sight of me and ducking back down again.
"Huh? Is that Woohee?" She peeks over the top of the boulder to check my reaction. I nod to give my approval. Nick seems to misunderstand the situation as he starts laughing.
"Why are you hiding over there?" She calms down as he rubs her head.
"P-pumpernickel!"
"Huh? I can't hear you." I loosely watch their act play out. Overall, the situation is progressing much better than I thought it would.
"But, aren't you mad?"
"What do you mean?" The conversation takes a sudden turn. I brace myself for the worst.
"We took your big lizard…."
"Why did you take it?" Nick's brow furrows. I can almost see the gears in his head spinning. I wait for an opportunity to enter the conversation as Nick finishes his diatribe.
"...It sounds like this is an issue for all the residents in the forest, isn't that right, Inari?"
"This is my responsibility. I don't want to get you involved," I explain as he turns around to face me.
"That's bullshit. It already involves me because it involves you. Plus, we're always going to kill more monsters than we can take with us, so now we don't have to worry about being wasteful." He's surprisingly calm. I think he can tell how tense I am and is attempting to make me more comfortable. His smile looks somewhat strained but is otherwise genuine.
"I don't need to be comforted by a human."
"Really? Well, I'm sorry for being presumptuous. You just don't look as confident today." Feeling exposed, I turn around.
We work out the details of our continued relationship rather quickly. It's comforting that he still has some trust in us. I feel the need to return the favor.
"We'll watch over the child while you head to town. But before you go, you might not want to get a pure magic stone of your own." I hint at the plan I've been formulating.
"Why not?"
"It's just a hunch."
"Okay. I'll keep that in mind."
"Oh, by the way, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
"Sure, what's up?" He agrees quickly, and I fly in close before asking.