Fire in the Village
[Ceobe POV]
I have seen a lot of disaster in my previous life. Whether if it is typhoons, earthquake, famine or war. All of which had one thing in common, death.
However, the one I am currently seeing right now is only the tip of the iceberg and it's much worse if this continues any further.
"[This is horrible]" I muttered quietly.
How could this happen? Why did this happen?
Did I cause this disaster? Was freeing Rudeus from his captivity a mistake?
No, it is impossible. Rudeus won't do such a thing.
It is perhaps a wild coincidence of events. The human bandits were probably seeking revenge for their fallen comrades in the prison dungeon.
*Background screaming*
I need to stop this. But how? I am just a defenseless beast girl.
There must something I can do.
"[Help! Help! Please help me!]"
All of a sudden, my dog ears heard someone begging for help on the distant. It is mister Geese, and it sounds like he is in trouble.
Without a second thought, I run towards the prison area.
"[Ceobe, where are you going?!]" mother shouted.
"[I going to save someone. Please hide and wait for me]"
After telling mother my intention, I continued running in order to save mister Geese.
While sprinting on all fours, I evaded any falling debris and jump over the gaps on the walkway.
I kept my momentum until I encounter someone midway to my destination. It is the beast woman that guards the prison cage. She is currently hiding under the gap of a destroyed treehouse.
"[Hey, are you okay?]" I asked and she was startled to my voice.
"[It's you! What are you doing here? Run away before they see us]"
"[I know. But I need the keys, miss]"
She widens her eyes when I asked her my request. She was reluctant to give me the key.
"[Huh? Why?]"
"[No time to explain. Just give it to me]"
"[Erm... O-okay, here]"
Complying to my request, she gave me the keys and I continued running to my destination.
'Hang in there, mister Geese'
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Once I made it to the prison area, I was shock to see the cage caught in fire. The ropes that hold the cage is in the verge of breaking.
*Incoherent gibberish*
Then there I see the monkey face demon trying his best to put out the fire in his enclosure.
"[Mister Geese!!]"
"!!"
When I shout his name, mister Geese immediately looks at my direction and was glad to see me.
"[Little missy! Please save me!]"
"[I know! Just hang on!]"
I sprinted towards the prison area and tried to lower the draw bridge. Unfortunately, the mechanism is not working. most likely because it was longer there anymore.
"[Crap, the draw bridge won't come down!]"
"[Hurry up, missy! I think the cage is falling apart!]"
With time is running, I have no other choice but to take a risk.
"[Hey! Where are you going?!]"
I run away from the ledge of the platform in order to make enough room to leap towards the cage. Mister Geese saw this and was anxious on what I am going to do.
"[Wait, missy! I don't think you're going to make that jump!]"
"[Of course, I can!]"
After I prepared myself, I begin sprinting through the platform in order to gain enough momentum. Then when I reached the edge, I strongly jump across the huge gap and barely miss the cage.
"[Good lord, you're a crazy little rascal. I thought you're not going to make it]"
"[Hehe, but I did. Now, let's get you out of here]"
I used the keys I got from the beast woman and unlock the cage.
"[There, you're free now]"
"[Great! Now hang on, little missy]"
"[Huh?]"
Mister Geese then grabs and carries me on his shoulder. He steps back from the doorway of the cage and copies the same stunt I did over the gap.
"[Wah!!]"
Fortunately, we escape just in time before the cage collapse and it falls to the ground below.
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"[Phew, that was a close one]"
"[Who's the crazy one now, you damn monkey!]"
"[What are you angry about, missy? Geez]"
Mister Geese then puts me down and we both stare at the destruction on the distant. The chaos rages on and more people were getting killed and kidnapped as time goes by.
"[This is terrible]" mister Geese mutters.
"[I know. that is why I need your help, mister Geese]"
When I ask him a request, Mister Geese looks at me in hesitation.
'[Huh? But I am not a fighter. I don't know how to deal with those bandits]"
"[Please, mister Geese. I beg you, help me save my people]"
I looked at him with puppy eyes, he tried to avert his gaze but he's struggle not to.
"[Dammit, it can't be help. Alright, I give in. Let's save your people]"
"[Thank you very much]"
Now that I have mister Geese assistance, I climb on his back and we both jump into action.
Mister Geese tackles a random bandit and he took his sword. On the other hand, I search the bandit's pockets and stole his knives.
[Bunch of knives Acquired]
Alright, now that I have a way to defend myself, I can now proceed to save the village.
However, with this foul smell of smoke, it is quite disorienting to fight. So, in order to solve this, I tear a piece of my skirt and use it as a temporary handkerchief mask.
Mister Geese saw this and copied my example. He tore some fabric from his vest and create his own mask to match mine.
"[Let's do this, mister Geese]"
"[Roger that, little missy]"
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[Rudeus POV, earlier]
Thanks to Gyes's help, I finally made it to Zanto Port where my companions and the beast children were waiting for me. Also, there's the elderly beast man from before, along with few more beast men with him.
I explained the whole situation to them and they fully understand the situation now. They take the beast children with them and went back to the village.
However, something was wrong. Because on the distant, we saw a huge dark smoke rising in the air. The direction of its origin is coming from the beast village.
'Oh no, Ceobe'