Chapter 41: Are All Generals Like This?!

The girls and I rushed into Iwa Town once we heard Mari shouting. As we entered the town, nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first.

"Hana! C'mon! Save me already!"

We ran toward the shout, which seemed to come from the center of town. When we got there, we saw a strange sight. Mari seemed to be tangled up in some sort of… vines?

"Hana! You're finally here! I've never been so happy in my life!" Mari cried, tears streaming down her face.

"What happened to you, Mari? What are these vines?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

"Get me down first, before she wakes up! Please hurry!"

"Who are you talking about? Nobody is here," I asked, pulling on the strangely slippery vines.

"Ahaha! That tickles! Stop it!" a shrill voice laughed from nowhere.

The girls and I jumped back in alarm. The vines started moving around until we saw the source of them. Apparently, these strange vines weren't vines at all! They were tentacles belonging to a squid woman.

"Are you trying to steal my precious little wife? I won't let you!" the squid exclaimed, hugging Mari protectively.

"Wife? What is she talking about, Mari?"

"W-when we were on the m-mountain, this crazy octopus k-kidnapped me! Then, s-she declared that I… that I was her… w-wife," Mari choked between uncharacteristic sobs.

"So that's what happened. Oh well! Let's go, guys! Let's leave the newlyweds alone to get to know each other," Yuri said, walking away.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING, BUBBLEHEAD?!" Mari shouted, back to her old self. "Not that I care or anything."

"There's the old Mari we know and love! I was beginning to think we got that crying girl mixed up with someone else."

"L-love?" the squid asked, momentarily confused. "DIE! SHE'S MINE!"

The squid suddenly lashed its tentacles out at us in an attempt to squish us. Yuri must have really made her mad.

"What is your problem?! Why did you suddenly attack us?" I asked, somewhat angrily as I dodged the tentacles.

"You want to take my wife away! I won't let you! She's mine!"

I guess it was no use trying to reason with her. I should have known. All of these generals are fruit cakes. Maybe I could use Kojomaru's power… Wait, how do I do that again?

"Can you stop leading her on, Mari? Just tell her you love someone else already!" Yuri shouted.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! SHE ONLY LOVES ME! RIGHT?" the squid asked, turning to Mari, who was bright red.

"N-no… You kidnapped me! How could I love you?! I don't even know your name!" Mari shouted.

"W-what? Y-you don't love me? Y-you led me on? After everything we did together?" the squid asked as she started to cry.

"What are you talking about?! I never said anything about loving you! What do you mean, 'after everything we did together'? Nothing happened! You're delusional!"

The general started to tremble. Suddenly, she looked up and gave Mari a furious glare.

"So this is how it's going to be. Alright. I hope you're ready."

"W-what are you talking about?"

Now it was Mari's turn to tremble. If looks could kill, Mari would have been vaporized.

"DIE, ***** (female dog)!"

The squid started squeezing Mari with all her might. If we don't do something fast, Mari will be a goner.