“How come you asked to keep watch with me?” Somnu pressed, one eyebrow slightly raised and looking directly at the one sitting across from him.

  “Is that so surprising?” Benji dipped a cup of hot water over his summoned Dream Catcher, a combo of a sword and shield with a disk-like design embedded within, all the while answering the question with one of his own.

  It was the second night after Somnu had met his new party.

  What made Benji’s company so unusual was because…

  “Well, considering you were all worried about me keeping watch alone last night, I figured I’d only be teamed up with Mathros for my part.” Somnu explained, summoning his own weapons and turning them around in his hands.

  “... Can you blame us? We had to fight you on a daily basis for the past two weeks just to keep you out of the lake.” The blue-furred bunnyman retorted while wiping down his equipment. “I don’t know how Mathros managed more than three times as long, he really took care of us all. Without him, the lake and the curse of Lethe would have killed us right here.”

  Somnu knew Benji was right. They all owed the lizardman too much, and yet, beside the occasional reminder to get his way, Mathros didn’t seem to be looking for favors or payments in return for what he had done.

  Whatever the case, the scarecrow’s question still remained unanswered.

  “And what changed now in just a day that you’re okay with being alone with me?” He asked again, holding up one of his sickles and inspecting it with one eye closed.

  “After you woke up and came out of the cave, we expected to meet someone vicious and power hungry, someone who likes to hunt for the thrill of it.” Benji stopped moving his hands for a moment and looked up over the campfire.

  “...” Somnu returned his gaze and waited for him to continue.

  “That’s what we seemed to be fighting every day, but after spending the day with you and meeting you for who you really are, we understood we had been mistaken.” The party’s tank curled a corner of his mouth a bit, then went back to drying his shield. “Besides, now I know I can depend on you for something.”

  Ah-hah! So you needed a favor, you weasel! Somnu thought, then realized. Wait, he’s a bunny person, was that racist? Why does this keep happening?!

  “We barely know each other, and you want a favor now?” The scarecrow fixed his posture and cleared his throat. “I guess I do owe you for what you did too. What do you want? I make no promises, but I’ll do what I can.”

  Somnu knew better than to promise something upfront. Even in a situation like this, he needed to make sure he wasn’t being taken advantage of.

  What could he want? Terror Cores, Mementos? Could I even give him any of those things? Did he lose something in the lake and want me to get it for him…? No he would have asked the lizardman, or just resummoned it. Somnu's thoughts wandered again, trying to think of anything that the bunnyman would want from him.

  “?”

  While lost in thoughts, Somnu had missed the unusual silence coming from Benji. He had once again stopped cleaning his shield, and stared at the ground as if imagining something.

  “Benji?”

  “Oh… Sorry.” The tank muttered as he came back to his senses. A moment later, he reached back and scratched the blue fur on his neck. “I want you to… If anything happens to me during the fight with the Dreadbeast… Just make sure to save Lulu.”

  “...”

  Somnu stayed silent, unsure how to respond to that. It was just coming from someone he had barely known, but he was being entrusted with someone’s life, to protect it.

  “Why would you ask me that of all people?” The scarecrow tilted his head slightly.

  “Of all people… There aren’t many to ask. You’re the only real option, being strong enough to do it, and the one who would actually do it.” Benji slowly pointed at the one sitting in front of him, then closed his fist. “I can’t ask Mathros after everything, and I’m pretty sure he would try to find a way to save us both instead, even if the odds were against us. And as for Almon…”

  Seeing Somnu’s slight nod, Benji didn’t try to continue to finish his thought.

  Everyone knew it was difficult to trust someone who hid their face constantly, and barely made an effort to communicate. Especially not with something as precious as the life of someone dear.

  “I need you to promise me that. Can you do it?” After a moment of silence, Benji pressed the matter further.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “...” Somnu squinted his eyes, trying to consider the toll of the favor. He didn’t have a problem with trying to help save someone, but could he do it if it meant sacrificing someone else?

  Sacrificing the few for the many, the bad seeds for the good… was it? He thought, remembering Mr. Emberlyn’s words.

  “Please…” Benji pleaded, noticing the man’s inner turmoil.

  “Fine. If it means so much to you, I promise.” Somnu finally gave in. “Although I’d rather no one dies, or to avoid that kind of situation in the first place.”

  “Thank you…”

  Those words hung in the air for a while, leaving only the twisting of wood under the weight of the campfire to break the silence.

  Somnu wasn’t quite sure what he had just promised, but one thing was for certain. Benji was aspiring to be a [Lopinor Guard].

  In a way, the bunnyman wanted nothing more than to protect others, to protect the ones he cared about.

  Somnu could understand that feeling. They both had that in common.

  ***

  Benji looked up, sinking deeper into the whirlpool. The flaming monster writhing in pain from the heat consuming it continued to release makeshift bombs of slime and fire in all directions.

  Despite the shivering of his body, the tank’s eyes were focused. He calmly glanced over to the other person sinking beside him too.

  Then, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

  “Save her!!”

  “Shit! Hold on guys!” Mathros dodged another exploding slime ball in an attempt to rush in. However, he could do nothing but grit his teeth, none of his skills able to help them now.

  [Straw Strike!]

  “W-what…!”

  “?”

  Suddenly, ropes of straw whipped through the air and wrapped themselves around the two bunnies before they were completely devoured. Then, with all the strength his current high level and Grudgekeeper gave him, Somnu pulled on his ropes.

  The effort made both bunnies fly out of the whirlpools, only to be chased by the Nightmare Creature’s exploding ooze balls.

  “Aghh!!”

  “Hunghh!”

  THUD!

  As the two landed on Somnu’s sides, he noticed the smoke coming out of both of their bodies.

  Crow-Shit! They got hit badly!

  It looked like Lulu had blocked with her arms, as the previously white and pink fur around that part seemed completely black now. While Benji got the worst of it, almost his entire back was torched.

  And yet…

  “Lulu! Are you okay?!” The tank ignored his own wounds and hopped over to check on his kinsfolk instead.

  “I’m… fine…” Lulu mumbled, trying to get up.

  “Dammit!” Benji cried out, then got up and stood in front of Somnu’s face. “You promised!”

  “I saved you both, you’re welcome.” Somnu furrowed his brows and returned the glare. “We still need you both to get out of here.”

  “You!” Benji shouted, grabbing a handful of Grudgekeeper, only to get immediately nibbed by sharp teeth as if he had touched a dangerous beast. “Shit!”

  Somnu could understand the guard’s anger, but both Lopinorians were alive. For the scarecrow, he couldn’t ask for a better outcome. He had made the choice to break his promise, because he knew he could save them both.

  He did not want to sacrifice anyone for the sake of others. He wanted to protect the entire crop.

  What good would it do to save one, only for them to live in despair for losing the other?

  “!”

  As Benji stepped back, Somnu felt a new presence invade the space between them. Summoning his sickles, he spared no time in swinging them in front of him. The blades only stopped at a neck still forming.

  “It’s me.” Almon turned visible, his back to the scarecrow as he touched Benji on the shoulder. “First Aid!”

  “Are you all okay?!” Mathros called out, still hovering at the opposite side of the arena.

  With his wind powers, he kept the flames around the writing monster contained. The burning Nightmare Creature was still in the center of countless whirlpools. Seeing it getting smaller and smaller as if crawling into itself, everyone kept their distance from it.

  “We did it…” Lulu called out in joy as Almon offered his [First Aid] skill to her too.

  However…

  Something is wrong… The effects of the restrictions are still active, and getting stronger… Somnu thought, feeling the deterioration of his skin increase rapidly. His cells were aging and dying at an alarming rate, and he wouldn’t be able to resist them for much longer.

  Both he and Mathros were losing precious energy they desperately needed.

  “!”

  Then, suddenly, the whirlpools came alive, moving into the center and merging together under the flaming creature. Almost instantly, the newly formed whirlpool, much larger than any single one, swallowed the entire monster whole.

  “What is…?!”

  “It can do that?!”

  BLOOORRPP!!

  Before Benji or Lulu could get any answers, the huge blob of nightmarish mass of green slime re-emerged from the depths. And to everyone’s dismay, there wasn’t a single burn or amber left behind, only an instinctive urge to hunt the one responsible for its pain.

  The Dreadbeast aimed straight for its prey, the tank. The member who still had his [Taunt] skill active.

  Dammit! Even fire won’t work?! Somnu gritted his teeth, his brows knitted. What now?! What if Plan B or the other plans don’t work either?! At this rate… Very soon, I’ll die of old age!

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