The Gremlin

"Kukuku~ did this esteemed one perhaps put you into a daze with his introduction?"

What the—

"What the fuck is a Puca?!"

"Fufufu, the Puca is the most handsome race in existence, the humans sing songs of our glorious and unyielding heroic spirit."

My faces scrunches in disgust not only from his otherworldly ugly appearance but also his irredeemable character, "Handsome my ass!"

The little gremlin looking fucker crawled out from the tree, slowly approaching towards me.

I still had my guard on as I had no idea what the fuck this thing was.

He unveiled his sharp teeth before continuing his boasting,

"This esteemed one sees you are still wary, but worry not, this esteemed one is so powerful I would blow you away like a gust of wind if I was to attacked."

"Now, as I saying—!!!!"

I decide to activate my Zenith Tempest and use Burst Step to appear right in-front of him, I slam my fist into his stomach while using the same principles as Burst Step on my fist, causing him to launch outwards from my sudden attack.

"EEEEEEP!!!!"

The little fucker started screeching after my attack, I went closer to inspect further and was surprised at what I saw, he took no damage.

Not even a smudge.

I walked closer readying to taking out my hidden Excalibur as well this time, when he suddenly saw me approach.

His face pales in fright before he instantly got on his knees on the ground, begging.

"Noble one, this esteemed little one has made a mistake! Surely with your heroic temperament, you can forgive this transgression?!"

This dude, he's a coward!!

"This...ugh it's fine."

His temperament instantly changes after learning I would not harm him and he begins to hold his head high once again as if he wasn't groveling on the ground a moment ago.

"Hehe, seems my handsome appearance had swayed you."

I resist the urge to slice him in half before asking,

"Gremlin fucker, what are you?"

"I told you, this esteemed one is a Puca."

"What's a Puca?"

"We esteemed beings are woodland noble shapeshifters who wander the world."

...interesting.

"Why haven't I ever heard of you before?"

His lets out a sigh before continuing, "Alas, we have gone into hiding after people hunted us out of envy from our handsome demeanor."

I raise a brow, "The real reason?"

"Those fellas from Rome came to eradicate us after deeming us unholy." He remarks with sadness in his eyes and.....guilt?

"Ah, so they think you're Devils?"

"Sure." He says, I raise a brow from the vague reply while he ignores it and continues to crunch on my pork skewers he shamelessly took while I wasn't paying attention.

"Fortunately, this esteemed one is different from his lowly brothers and sisters."

"..How so?"

"Fufufu, by my much more handsome and wise demeanor of course." He says with a cheeky grin but I can tell he's withholding some information.

"How old are you?"

"This esteemed one is as old as he is handsome, very."

If I was in a Chinese novel I would have already died from puking blood at this fellow's shamelessness.

But I have to admit, he is entertaining.

We stay in a bit of silence for a while before I decided to speak what was on my mind,

"Why didn't my attack hurt you?"

That attack at the very least should have broken some bones, but he just walked it off.

"..."

He decided not to comment and took another mouthful from the pork skewer,

"This esteemed one has such a noble temperament that he is being pursed by a fearsome foe, in my lifetime he has pursued me across continents and seas."

Hmm, this fellow has some backstory, why would he be pursued with such vigor especially by someone at least as old as himself, must be a rather powerful fellow chasing him to live that long....

"Why?"

He had some sadness in his eyes before he responded with, ".....Envy, from my handsome appearance of course."

I scoff from the obvious lie before finishing up my own skewer,

"So what are you doing here?"

"I have just awakened from my last slumber due to the scent of these delectable pigs you have cooked, this esteemed one would even offer you the noble position of my personal chef."

This guy.....

I decided fuck it, this gremlin looking fucker seems harmless so I decide to just turn in for the night as I have things to do the next day.

I give one last glance only to see him finish the last skewer by the fire with a somber expression.

This fellow is truly mysterious....