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- Bi… bi ?

The girl in front of him could only be her.

Her dark hair stopped a little higher than her buttocks. Her spiky hairstyle, a ponytail tied with metal bars.

Her violent, yet friendly red eyes. Her long, attractive eyelashes.

Her small size, barely over 5 feet tall.

Her blue clothes were a single suit that covered her entire body, including a cape tied around her waist, and a red scarf that fluttered calmly in the wind.

Her blue and white shoes were "BacF" shoes.

Her cute ears, her sweet face, her white skin, her recognizable smile, her sweet voice…

This girl was Bibi. It was not possible otherwise.

- …

The girl did not answer anything, looking at the man in front of him. Around the two of them were several Kemonos, like Nano or even Minilow, daughter of Maslow. However, no matter the small crowd on the northern walls, Na could only see Bibi in front of him.

- ... Yes.

She touched her chest with her right hand and smiled.

- Yes, my name is Bibi.

Even though Na already knew it, hearing her say such a thing froze him completely. His eyes stared at her and her alone…

- B-But…

That girl was Bibi…

But still, Na remembered well seeing her die by Bibha, at the Great Sanctuary.

He had no explanation for her presence here. He had seen his body, lifeless, breathless, heartless, there, killed in a fight to finish the trial. Even though Na didn't remember what happened next, it would seem that he had made it through that ordeal and had not been killed by Bibha... He had been back at the Federation…

But without Bibi.

- …

Nano passed his gaze from Na to Bibi without understanding what was going on. She didn't recognize this girl and her Aura didn't tell her anything about her... Who was she? From what she understood from Minilow, she had been the person who had warned Mrs. Maslow about the Longers' attack, but…

- Forgive me for interrupting, but…

Bibi turned to the blue-haired Kemono.

- Hmm...?

- You're the one who warned Mrs. Maslow about the Longers' attack, aren't you...?" asked Nano.

- Hm. That's me.

Even though Nano already knew it, she was surprised by her answer. She was young and couldn't have been more than eighteen... Even sixteen years old might be too much. However, maybe she was... special? Nano shook her head and took a step closer.

- How did you tell Mrs. Maslow...?" asked Nano.

Bibi didn't answer directly, watching the Kemono without a smile. Even though she didn't seem cold or angry, she didn't seem to be happy that someone was interrupting her "conversation" with Na. Bibi sighed and scratched the back of her neck.

- On my way to the Federation to meet Na, I felt something unpleasant. I noticed the horde of Longers heading your way and decided to join your Constable because I too was on the case of Inave. I quickly left since I was disappointed with the false information of a level 10 Longer, but I had noticed a very, very powerful Kemono with her daughter. Anyway, I quickly realized that she was Maslow, the Federation Constable," Bibi explained.

Nano squinted: her explanation was... strange. Even if it was plausible, there was a lot of coincidence in her story; moreover, even if it was the truth, why go to Inave's case? Going near the city was forbidden, after all... If Mrs. Maslow could have gone there…

- …

Nano didn't want to take her word for it, but confronting her wouldn't do any good, especially since the girl didn't seem to want to talk with Nano. Forcing a conversation would only annoy her more and give her no convincing answer, so Nano only bowed weakly.

- Thanks for the heads up.

- …

Bibi gave a small smile.

- I wouldn't want the Kemonos to disappear, since I have your blood in me.

- ... ?

Even though it intrigued Nano, Bibi turned back to an almost crying Na and left the little conversation she had with the Kemono behind. Minilow was still holding Na, smiling for no reason in particular.

- Na, I really want to be clear, both of us,” Bibi let go.

- …

- We don't know each other. In any case, I don't really know who you are.

- ?

Nano didn't understand what she meant, but only Na could understand it, even if his look said the opposite. He looked shocked... frightened, even. She didn't know why he was reacting like that to this girl's face, but she wanted to know, right now. Should she intervene? She had been the one to warn Mrs. Maslow saved them all from the gigantic horde, but that didn't make her someone who could be trusted without paying attention…

- … B-Bibi…

- Hmm ?

Na had finally managed to speak, but he was about to cry. The tears weren't flowing yet, but just a breeze of wind and he would start to let it all out; his expression made it clear.

- Y-You…

- …

- You are... alive...?

Na had seen Bibi's corpse. He was sure that she was killed by Bibha and to see her here, healthy, smiling as if nothing had happened... It was too strange for Na. It made no sense at all and he couldn't understand what was going on. Shouldn't she be dead...? Then why...?

- ... Yeah…

Bibi started to look away without giving any explanation. The more the conversation between the two of them went on, the more the questions increased in Nano's head. She blinked and looked at Bibi this time. She was human, but she had said that there was Kemono blood in her... Yet, Nano felt nothing in particular coming from her. She didn't even seem powerful or anything... Just a normal girl who must have a Power that she mastered quite well, but nothing more. Was she wrong...?

- Bibiiiii, saaayy!

Minilow gently pushed Na away from the walls and approached the girl.

- Do you know the Federation human?" Minilow asked with a smile.

- ... No, not really.

- Eeeh, but he knows your name and you know his!!!

Minilow looked shocked, but her childish expression didn't make it very clear what she was thinking. Nano was also confused and it seemed like they knew each other, so why was Bibi refusing to let them come to think such a thing...? It was as if she wanted to manipulate Na or hide the truth from them all. However, if that was her goal, then she was completely missing the point; it was almost ridiculous. Na dried his eyes and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to speak, Minilow cut him off by jumping up and down.

- I think that Bibi, she's cute!” she said.

Bibi scratched her cheek, embarrassed. Na looked at her, wondering how it was possible that she was still alive. Could he be mistaken...? But then, why even pretend not to know him...? Why dids he lose to Bibha...? He had to know... Even though they had not known each other that long and he had seen her die before his eyes, he couldn't help it... He had to... He had…

- ... Bibi.

- Hmmm?

Na managed to speak, but the lump in his throat prevented him from saying everything he was thinking.

- How... are you still alive?

- …

Silence was the only answer the girl offered. Bibi did not want to give her answer, or perhaps she could not? Only she could know. Na waited and waited, but nothing came out of her mouth. Nano frowned and Minilow sighed.

- Do you or don't you know each other...?!

- We do!

- We don’t.

- !!!

Na gritted his teeth: was he supposed to be happy to see her again, sad or even upset? What was he supposed to feel, in this situation? He had been reassured to see all the Longers die under Maslow's Power, but now Bibi was coming back in front of him and telling him that they didn't know each other! Why would she do such a thing?! Was she trying to hurt him? But why?! She had kissed him on the lips before she died, so she must have liked him a lot, right? If that was the case, what was the point of her act?!

- Aaaaah!

Minilow clenched her fists and pointed at Bibi.

- You're annoying me!!! One of you is lying, not good to lie!!! Not gooooood!!!

She stomped her foot on the ground before crossing her arms and pouting. Everyone watched her with wide eyes, but the Constable's daughter didn't care: she was mad!!! Not happy! She loved Bibi very much, but she didn't want to tell the truth; or maybe it was the human who was lying, but she felt he was saying what was in his heart!!! Minilow turned her gaze as she closed her eyes, making it clear to them that she wouldn't say anything and didn't want to hear anything. Bibi sighed and looked at Na.

- …

It was him. His hair was brown, a little goatee that should be shaved and eyes, also brown. A man who had to be more than twenty years old and who had muscles, but who sometimes seemed to be still a child.

It was Na.

Yet…

- Yoooo, ahahah!!!

While she was in her thoughts, two Kemonos arrived from the air. One of them was a dragon and was flying holding another Kemono who had red hair. This one was the one who had screamed and threw her katana at them before teleporting to it and putting it in its scabbard. She shook her hair and looked around. Nivea landed beside her and cracked both shoulders.

- Oh, Minilow!" dropped Asus with a smile.

- The rascal!!! Hiiii!!!

- Graaaaw I'm going to eat you !!!!

Minilow stopped sulking and started to run, raising her hands as Asus chased her. Nivea paid no attention to them and looked at Nano. He was about to speak to her when he noticed a human girl next to the human named Na, the one who had been taken in by the Constable.

- ... Who is she?" Nivea asked, squinting.

- ... Her name is Bibi," Nano admitted. However…

- …

Nano didn't know what to tell Nivea. What was the truth? What was the real nature of this dark-haired girl...? An ally or...?

- B-Bibi is my friend!

Nivea and Nano turned their gaze to the man with the unkempt hair. He had spoken hesitant at first, but he had said his words with sincerity. Na noticed the looks that were on him and lowered his head in embarrassment.

- ... Hm…

Na didn't say anything more and started to blush. Nivea turned her gaze to the girl with the name Bibi and quickly analyzed her before taking a few steps closer to her.

- You're the one who warned about the attack...?

She nodded with a neutral expression.

- That's me.

- ... I see, thank you then. You saved us all.

He bowed out of respect and Bibi shrugged with a small smile.

- It's normal! Although I didn't think there would be so many level 9s, I thought your Constable would be needed for the upcoming battle.

- And so it is. Without her, I think we would have had huge losses…

Nivea's dragon wings rested and he looked at Asus who continued to chase Minilow.

- Even though it was from a distance, I saw your fight. It was... impressive," Nano said.

Nivea turned to her and nodded.

- I had help from Asus and Salida. Without them, I wouldn't have done anything. It was mostly Asus who helped us, really. We were suicidal, going up against such a monster.

- But you won... And that with three of us…

- We're more prepared for the Longers' attacks than before, after all. Besides, he was so... slow. My strength helped by Asus' speed and Salida's coolness beat him, that's all. I don't think we would have won against the others, though.

- I see... That’s normal.

Nano began to look at Asus in turn. Seeing that she was being watched, the Kemono with the mare-like attributes grabbed Minilow and approached them.

- Woaaah the evil rascal got me!!! I'm going to die woaaah!!!” shouted Minilow as she hit her arm.

- You're dead, you can't talk anymore, corpse, mwahahha!!!” laughed Asus.

Minilow pretended to choke before closing her eyes and letting her head fall down. To add "realism" to her "death" she stuck out her tongue. Asus laughed even harder before calming down when she saw Nano. She smiled at her.

- Heyyy!

- ... Asus, you had no right—

- I know, I know. I should stay at the Federation, blah blah blah.

- You're not even in prison, but in the Federation, you should be happy.

- Yeah, but I miss my Faction members, you know! I hope I can go and see them more often~!” said Asus.

- ... It's up to Mrs. Maslow to decide such a thing.

Nano crossed his arms and squinted at her.

- Don't pull a stunt like that again.

- You can say what you want, if it wasn't for me, our dear Nivea and our lovable Salida would both be dead!!! And we wouldn't have won so quickly and easily against that gigantic Longer!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

- Oooooh, yeeeeay, did you kill the big monster?!” asked Minilow, waking up from her fake death.

Asus put her down on the Federation wall and looked proud, pointing to herself with her thumb.

- I, the great Asus, defeated this monster to protect my people, mwahah!!!” she said with a look of someone who was getting cocky.

Minilow jumped up and down and clapped.

- Ooooh, the rascal helped the Federation!!! Well done! Well done!!!

- Fufu!

Asus looked even prouder and Nano sighed.

- Yes, yes... Where is Salida, here...? Wasn't she with you?

- She stayed with Maslow to check the state of the battlefield. I saw some unconscious bodies, but I don't think we have many dead... I hope.

- …

Nano didn't say anything, but she thought about Kin. Even if he would stay alive, which was certain, it would take some time before he would recover. What would Mrs. Maslow think when she heard what had happened...? After all, Nano couldn't lie to her about his... stupid gesture. She thought about it while biting her thumb while Na listened to them without stopping to turn her eyes towards Bibi. She had her arms crossed and seemed to be... waiting. Waiting for what exactly was a question he didn't know the answer to. He wanted to ask her, but his brain was having trouble keeping up with the simple fact that she was still alive. He had so much to ask her, but…

- Oh, isn't that the human with the name Na! I've heard of you!

Asus approached Na and analyzed her with his minnow eyes, smiling. The man stepped back: she was too close to him! Asus rubbed her chin and nodded.

- You are sexy, though…

- ?!

- Ahah, nice to meet you, I'm Asus, the craziest mare ever!

She held out her hand and Na blinked a few times. Asus sighed, still smiling, and grabbed her hand by herself, before waving it in hers. After this introduction, she turned to the other human, but as she looked into her eyes, Asus had a reaction... abnormal.

She drew her katana and frowned.

- ?! Asus??!!!

Nano screamed and Nivea jumped in, squinting as she looked at the Kemono.

- Hey, what—

- Back off, Nivea.

He opened his eyes wide as he saw her expression: she was…

Scared?

At first, he thought she had gotten mad, but she seemed more scared than anything else. Even though she kept an angry expression, she didn't look the same as the other times. Nivea clenched her fists and shook her head.

- Tell me what's going on, then.

Asus gritted her teeth and looked around: all the Kemonos were obviously watching her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before standing up and putting her katana away with a metallic noise. She pushed Nivea and tapped her index finger on the girl's chest.

- ... You.

- ... Do we know each other...?" Bibi asked, surprised.

- Tsk.

Asus turned and looked at Na.

- You're the one who said you were friends, right?

- ... Y-Yes...?

Asus smiled, but she was still annoyed.

- Eeeh, so you can tell everyone here who this girl really is, huh?

- …

She waited for Na's answer, arms crossed. The Aura of Asus made Na quite uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do about it. She stood between him and Bibi and seemed to know her too... Yet Bibi, once again, didn't seem to know who this Kemono was. He turned his gaze to the right, then to the left, where Nano was staring at him with squinted eyes. What exactly should he answer...? He thought about it and decided to go with his heart — and tell what he knew, the truth.

- Bibi... is my friend.

- …

- She's a nice girl who helped me... and is very, very strong!!!

He nodded as he finished his sentence…

But this did not please Asus.

- Tsk, so you don't know who she is, I understand.

Asus shrugged and preferred not to bother with all that. She touched her ponytail and moved out of the way to Nivea's side. Bibi turned to the Kemono and squinted her eyes.

- What exactly did you mean by that...?" Bibi asked.

- Hey, you know yourself better than me, naaah?

- ... ?

No one understood Asus, but she was known to be strange, after all. Na swallowed loudly and took courage.

- S-Say, Bibi…

- Yes?

- You... are special?

- …

- Like—

- No, not really.

She nodded her head.

- I'm powerful, but that's all…

- — Liar.

Upon hearing the girl's words, Asus took a step forward and dropped that one word. She approached Bibi, but eventually turned and walked towards the Federation. Bibi squinted, but said nothing. Na took a big step forward and said:

- W-Why do you say that?!

Asus stopped, but she did not turn around.

- Do you... know Bibi?! asked Na.

- Naaah, not in the least.

Asus clenched her fists.

- But I know what she is.

- What she... is?

Asus gritted her teeth, but only Nano could see it, since she had her back to everyone else. Asus sighed for a long time and finally turned around, pointing at the girl and smiling.

- She's your friend, right? A nice girl who will help you anytime, right?

- …

Asus stuck out her tongue with a crazy expression.

- Then why didn't she tell you she's a Goddess, huh?

With that, Asus turned on her heels again and walked back into the Federation. All the Kemonos were now staring at Bibi and she gritted her teeth.

- How does she know?!” she asked herself.

This Kemono wasn’t something she knew, but was it possible that she had missed something...? Bibi was sure that her identity as a Goddess was perfectly well hidden, even if Maslow had guessed it; that was for sure. Maybe even Minilow, but she was impossible to read, given her childishness. However, that this Kemono knew... How? Bibi slowly turned back to Na and noticed that he was watching her with wide eyes.

- ... A... Goddess...?” he repeated, unsure if he had heard correctly.

Bibi didn't say anything, but she knew that everyone was watching her and asking the same question. She scratched her hair and finally cried out and sighed heavily.

- Aaah, fine, fine!

Bibi crossed her arms and sat down on the floor of the wall. She closed her eyes and sighed again.

- I tell everyone here, but I’m warning y’all: I'm here for Na, no one else.

- Only for Na?" asked Nano.

Bibi nodded.

- I came to the Federation to follow him. But my reasons are my own.

No matter how strange it was, it would be impossible to tell her anything: she was quite clear that she would not talk about this. Nano kept quiet and listened carefully, with her back to the wall behind her. Bibi began to speak.

- Yes, I am a Goddess and I am from Aquasergis. However, I have almost no connections there. I only know a few Gods, because... Aaah, my private life is nobody's business, really.

- Does Aquasergis really exist...?

Nivea was aware that gods had existed, but that Aquasergis was a real group surprised him. This was a very important revelation and it was a girl he had just met who was admitting such a thing. Although one might be suspicious of her words, her reaction after Asus said such a thing made her more believable than one might think.

- Although I look young, I am over a hundred years old. I wasn't here three hundred years ago, no.

- A hundred years?!” shouted Na.

He thought she was very young, though!

- Sorry, I had to lie there. Besides, I didn't want to admit I was a Goddess. Not yet.

She sighed.

- If... I am still alive, it is because I am immortal. I don't know if I will ever die of age, but I can never be killed. However, immortal at some point.

Not all Gods were immortal: some died of age, but after thousands of years some could be killed by the hands of others. Most Gods could not die at the hands of beings less than themselves — like humans, Kemonos, or even the Longers — but special weapons could present a real danger to them.

- Na, I'm serious when I say we don't know each other; or rather, I don't know you.

- ?!

Na blinked, not understanding what exactly she meant.

Nevertheless, Bibi's next sentence would explain the reality of her words:

- Actually, I don't remember anything from the last 20 years.

This revelation stunned everyone around, even Minilow. Bibi kept his eyes closed, not wanting to bother observing their emotions, and preferred to finish his explanation quickly so that he could finally be at peace.

- When you saw me die, Na, my body came back to my bed in Aquasergis with my memory erased from the last 20 years, she explained.

- W-Wait—

- When I die, I lose my memory; that's the price you pay.

- !!!

- However, I have a friend who helps me.

- Who helps you...?” asked Nivea.

- Basically, every day that goes by, I write down everything that has happened to me in a notebook that belongs to my friend. She can send it to me and get it back as she wants and she reads it and writes simplified notes in case something horrible happens to me; like dying.

Bibi finally opened one eye.

- When I died and came back to life a few minutes later, my friend told me everything I needed to know for hours; it took more than a whole day. Poor thing, ahah.

She let out a small laugh before opening both eyes. She looked at Na and saw how much incomprehension was in his face, but she wasn't going to bother explaining otherwise: the direct truth was better.

- If I took a long time to reach you, it was because I had to learn everything again.

Bibi scratched her hair and looked away.

- I'm sorry I never told the truth, but... Imagine telling someone you just met that you are a Goddess. Eh, impossible.

- …

- However, if I can tell you all this…

Bibi had a light in her eyes that no one could see, but her heart began to beat harder in her chest. She looked at Na with an incomprehensible smile.

- Na... Do you know the hymn of the Heart?

The man blinked as Bibi looked at him with an expression he couldn't understand. Even though he had listened to everything and understood what she was saying, his brain had not yet absorbed it all. She had really been killed, but had come back to life...? She was a Goddess who came from "Aquasergis"? She had notes...? She had forgotten it...?

What was that all about?!

Na opened his mouth—

- ... I don't know... I don't know…

— and as he said this, Bibi stopped smiling. She showed disappointment and looked down with a sigh.

- I should have known... but I guess…

The end of her sentence was inaudible and she stood up quickly. She dusted herself off and stared at Na.

- Na, I don't really know you, but you know me; or rather, you know who I was.

She held out her hand and smiled.

- Let's get to know each other again, shall we?

He looked at her hand and finally gritted his teeth.

But he ran to her and hugged her, his eyes teary.

Even if he didn't understand everything, the girl in front of him was still Bibi. Maybe not exactly the same one he had known, but it was her. The same voice, the same physique, the same kindness in her tone. Maybe she was a Goddess—

— but he was just happy to see Bibi alive again.