Beast's POV
"Let him go? Why would I do that?" I asked the girl who was brandishing one of my spare axes.
I had never seen creatures like this before, but given their appearance, they must be human.
I had often seen Suu take on human form, and I wondered how they had ended up in our base.
"Maybe we should keep them until Master Leylin returns," Huntress suggested.
Huntress's words seemed logical; it would be better to keep them alive to get answers.
"You said Leylin!"
It seemed that Leylin's name wasn't unknown to the boy I was currently holding. Did they have a connection?
"Yes, but I'd advise you to avoid using such a familiar tone when addressing him," I replied, unable to hide my displeasure at the familiar tone this creature used to speak of my master.
"Wait a minute! We came with Willow and we know Leylin personally," the girl quickly explained after observing my displeasure.
"I knew the boy's face looked familiar. Beast, release him before you make a mistake," Suu suddenly intervened, who had remained silent until then.
Given his slightly urgent tone, I'd better comply.
"If Suu intercedes for you, then you do indeed have ties to Master Leylin. Please excuse my previous behavior," I said, releasing the boy. Fortunately, I hadn't devoured or killed him.
"Sorry, I couldn't recognize you quickly," Suu said apologetically.
I really didn't like seeing the master's appearance make such expressions.
"You're not Leylin, are you?"
The girl in possession of an axe seemed to have understood that Suu was an impostor. I thought I was going to get along with her.
"No, I'm not Leylin Blight, but I'm his replacement at Hexside Academy," Suu explained with a gentle smile before taking his slime form and settling on Huntress's shoulder nearby.
"Now that the misunderstanding is over, maybe it's time to introduce ourselves," I suggested in a calm tone.
I wanted to change the tense atmosphere. We had had an energetic encounter and I thought these two would be around very often.
It was better if things didn't remain weird between us.
"I'm Beast, a creation of Master Leylin Blight."
After introducing myself, Huntress and Suu did the same.
"I'm Dipper Pines, I'm currently a preparatory knight under Leylin's teachings."
That explained his physical form. If it was Eldric I had captured with my roots, he would have screamed in pain from the force exerted on his body.
The kid just gritted his teeth and struggled.
"And I'm Wendy... I'm just a human for now."
She claimed to be a normal human, but that was just physically. She had a good mind for handling situations from my point of view.
"If you're here, I suppose the master has returned," Huntress said, but it seemed that these words had been slightly poorly chosen given the expressions of the other two.
....
Willow's POV
"There, you have my notes and my machine to find the Time pools," she said, standing up.
The Time pools, I had always thought it was a legend. It seemed that Leylin and the people in the high ranks of the Boiling Isles knew it was real, I now understood why Leylin had sent me here.
"Thank you very much."
I couldn't hide my gratitude, although I had fought and beaten this witch. She had had the decency to give me all the information without hiding anything, I now knew why the emperor hadn't been able to control the "Time pools".
This thing was completely elusive by ordinary means and given Lilith's notes, it was possible that Leylin could recreate this thing in a laboratory.
It was a shame that I couldn't recreate titan blood, I couldn't try to create a "Time pools" with my limited reserves.
"You're welcome, my child, and know that the emperor's coven will always be open to someone like you."
It seemed she had become kinder towards me to get into my good graces and try to recruit me later.
This further confirmed Leylin's words, strength was often more effective than diplomacy.
"Willow, you were incredible out there."
Once out of the emperor's castle, Mr. Alador had congratulated me.
"Thank you, but master is stronger."
My words had surprised Mr. Alador, it seemed he thought I was stronger than master.
It had to be said that Leylin was discreet about his strength and I thought he hadn't revealed everything to me about it.
"If you and Leylin are so strong, can you describe the level of strength of this demon that pushed my son into this state?"
Mrs. Odalia seemed frightened by Bill after my words and she was right, this creature had pushed Leylin to be cunning and plan extensively.
Despite all of master's intelligence, he had ended up in this state after his victory.
"I didn't directly see the demon Bill but the battlefield between him and Leylin was a forest and it has been severely damaged now."
My words seemed to make their faces pale, it had to be said that I had never seen a witch cause so much damage during a battle until now.
...
"It's excellent that we have a lead to send Leylin into the past , but Lilith's machine has an annoying problem."
Once back at the Blight residence, Mr. Alador had examined Lilith's machine and it seemed there was indeed a small problem. It was too energy-consuming.
I already knew that, Lilith had informed me shortly after the duel. I had just come back to retrieve Leylin to go in search of the "Time pools", I could just use the titan blood I had left to provide enough energy for this machine.
Anyway, Suu should still have some for Dipper and Wendy in his key.
"It's okay, I can provide it with the missing energy."
When I wanted to leave with Leylin, I was stopped by Alador.
"You were planning to leave without us?" he said, blocking my way.
"It's a mission that Leylin entrusted to me and it would be better if few people could come."
I wanted to avoid having to protect him,
My words had seemed to make Alador and Odalia think before they let me pass.
"Take care of our son." Those were the last words I would hear from them in this life.
I would understand this much later.
....
I thanked Mr. Alador for checking Lilith's notes and I took Leylin with me with some modified abominations from his laboratory near the Blight residence.
It took me a few hours to find the "Time pools" and it would have normally taken less time, but I was being followed it seemed.
They were surely the emperor's subordinates, it seemed he had assumed that I could solve the problem of Lilith's machine.
After escaping my pursuers by disorienting them, I was able to reach the location of the "Time pools" without problem.
"There's nothing...."
I was just in front of a deserted beach, I ordered the abominations in Leylin's knight outfit to search the area.
In a few minutes, one of them disappeared by falling into the ground that seemed ordinary.
"I did it!"
I couldn't hide my excitement, I carried Leylin's metal coffin on my shoulder and signaled the abominations to follow me.
(Image)