Chapter 18 Vol.2
Chapter 37:The Plan
We ate dinner in silence due to the tense mood between me and Calli. Afterward, we began exchanging information.
"It was the King that contaminated the food and waters" [Noel]
Nobody seems to be surprised... To change the mood Botan turned to Calli and spoke
"Okay next is your turn Calli" [Botan]
"OI! Don't tell me everyone else already know it besides Edge!?" [Noel]
I looked at Calli and Calli just shrugged it off
"Does it matter? All that matters to me is Princess Himemori Luna" [Calli]
"Well I sure am surprised but I gotta agree with Calli." [Botan]
Noel just sighed
"And I mustered so much courage to say it." [Noel]
"It's okay Noel, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you in the beginning." [Edge]
"It's fine, it was just as Moona said, it would complicate my situation." [Noel]
With a slight hesitation, she askes
"But how do you think she knew and did nothing about it."[Noel]
"I... don't know.., I wasn't even sure of her words in the beginning. Maybe they had a non-interference policy like someone here." [Edge]
I looked at Calli to see her response and she wasn't perturbed by my statement.
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"So where is the Elven Kingdom?" [Botan]
Botan took a bite off the beef jerky on her hand while locking her eyes at Calli.
"It's at the East of the forest." [Calli]
Calli pointed out the part of the forest with a laid-out map
"What about the princess?" [Botan]
"She's near the heart of the town and lightly guarded. They don't expect them to be found." [Calli]
"Are there any barriers of some kind surrounding the area?" [Botan]
"One that alerts the enemy and the other seals mana from getting in, which mean Outer Ki wouldn't work in there." [Calli]
Calli looked at me while speaking her last words clearly.
"Once you're in. there's only one way in by a bridge and walking along the bridge, you'll reach the town." [Calli]
"So how do we get in?" [Edge]
"What's the barrier refresh rate?" [Botan]
"The first one is 13 seconds every 24 hours and the second one is every 3 hours for 5 seconds. both barriers will converge once every day." [Calli]
"With a 5-second window huh, I'll see what I can do with that." [Botan]
Calli suddenly had suggested something out of her character.
"I could help you all infiltrate the gates." [Calli]
"That would be helpful, well now that that's settled, we will reach the East of the forest in 2 days." [Botan]
"I'll just go take a breather outside" [Calli]
Calli just walked out of the dimensional pocket through the door.
"What's wrong with the both of you" [Noel]
"She was going to do everything on her own without me." [Edge]
"By the way, where's Botan-san" [Noel]
Botan is nowhere to be found in the room, but she was just with us earlier.
"I don't know..."[Edge]
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Calli walks out of the Botan's ability and into the wood alone. Her hair flutters in the wind under the moonlight that leaks from the leaves. Suddenly she spoke
"Come out" [Calli]
Leaves rustled and a silvery silhouette raised from the shadow of the bushes.
"Ah, you caught me. As expected of the reaper" [Botan]
"So what else do you need?" [Calli]
"Just curious, you could have finished your job but you came running over here for the boy. You've changed because of him." [Botan]
"I have a responsibility in taking care of him. Other than that I don't think I've changed much." [Calli]
"No, you considered his feelings, that's why you're taking the rest of us with you. Aren't I right?" [Botan]
"There's always room for free labor forces." [Calli]
"HAHAHAHA do you remember our 3rd duel? I told you one day you'll get why I did that." [Botan]
"Is that why you have 4 lines on your clothes? Let me make it 5 or 10 then" [Calli]
Calli seems to be visibly annoyed.
"No way, I like the current design okay, and my weak pride can't be crushed any further." [Botan]
"So anyways how about we talk about the boy and how to solve it." [Botan]
"How?" [Calli]
CAlli seems to be interested to know what to do.
"Say that you're sorry." [Botan]
"Not happening, he violated my orders and he exposed my identity even though i told him I'm going incognito." [Calli]
"I had to say, the boy is awfully similar to you." [Botan]
"How so?" [Calli]
"Honest people who can't be honest with themselves."[Botan]
"Not... Really?" [Calli]
Calli fell into insecurity just with a small nudge
"The boy is probably just worried about you which is why he came. You can see that couldn't you?" [Botan]
"But I'm the fucking strongest being to roam these lands, why would he even need to worry me in the first place. He just didn't have enough faith in me."
"I see that's how you see it huh."[Botan]
"Maybe you just aren't used to it, when we see someone every day and suddenly they just disappear one day can hurt us in unimaginable ways, even much more for a boy who's barely just an adult."[Botan]
"So I'm in the wrong?" [Calli]
"Kinda? But you both are in the wrong for having an argument in this middle of the mission that's what it is." [Botan]
"But I just wanted to keep him safe okay, that's why I went alone."[Calli]
"Then maybe you need to start having faith in his abilities as well, He defeated Noel in just 4 moves at his age, I would kill to have this kid in the SSRB."[Botan]
"Maybe I'm not fit as his guardian after all."[Calli]
Botan senses her getting depressed as calli curled up into a ball while sitting down near a tree.
"The boy loves you, you can see how happy he was when he hugged you earlier couldn't you?" [Botan]
"Yeah kinda, even though I don't really like getting hugged" [Calli]
"..."[Botan]
Botan feels tired trying to please this Tsundereaper, but she thought if she started it, she should end this.
"You're strong Calli, that's why you fear hurting those around you. So take pride in your strength, because both you and I know there's no one who could protect and care for him better than you do." [Botan]