Hundredth entered the bar with heavy steps, then tumbled forward. Tanuki rushed to her just in time to stop her fall, and as he did, his eyes met her back covered with cuts. Most were blocked by her armour, but a few found their way deep into her core. Though she bled not, Tanuki sensed her body had taken significant damage.

“Hundredth, are you alright?” he panicked, but the girl pressed against his shoulders to stand.

“I am, fret not. These are the scars of a warrior! I shall wear them proud,” her eyes smiled.

Tanuki did not calm down so easily. He looked to the Pretender’s large, decapitated head. If the creature had the same bodily proportions as humans and the plantfolk, it must have been more than two meters tall. Considering Hundredth’s petite body and short reach, her chances were low to defeat such a beast.

Yet she managed to take its head all by herself.

“How did you–– What happened?” he struggled to find the right words.

“You see it with your own eyes.”

“But how did you kill it all alone?”

“I’m strong, Hero. A princess should have the strength to defend her people. I’m more than fitting for my position.”

Despite her confident attitude, Tanuki knew she was in pain. Her hair was torn, the water lilies cut or covered in black tar. Bruises and wounds tainted her every inch, yet she was ready for adventure.

“So, which Pretender are we killing next?”

“We’re not killing any of them. You should rest, Hundredth! You’re in no condition to fight.”

“Do not underestimate me or my body. I was made of a sturdier material than others of my kind.”

“This is going nowhere,” he thought. Hundredth was beyond reckless. He had no more days to spare in this dungeon and his companion could not be refrained from her self-destructive tendencies. Tanuki could not explain her behaviour, but it endangered both herself and the success of this mission.

He knew of a way to control Hundredth, but it was one he hated, a deplorable act. But he was ready to sin for the well-being of his friend.

“Good job, Hundredth!” his attitude changed and a friendly smile adorned his face, “You’re truly a reliable friend. Thanks to you, we must face one less Pretender. You’ve greatly sped up our progress.”

“Really?” her mask did the equivalent of a blush.

“Of course! Say, I really don’t want to tire you any longer, but I have a special task for you. Only if you have the power, that is! If you need to rest, please say so.”

“No, I do not!” –– she puffed her chest –– “I, the Princess of the Yoshimura Village, shall be a humble servant to the Great Hero, the true liberator of us all!”

“Good, good,” he shooed her to sit down, as she nearly fell while monologuing.

His plan worked. After explaining the bartender’s quest, calling it a special operation, Hundredth’s eyes glowed with excitement and determination. All she had to do was collect wheat, but the way Tanuki phrased it sounded like it was a grand quest of even greater importance. True, he did need the rewards to quench his thirst, but he made it appear as though it was more important.

No matter how much he would have liked to rationalise it, regaling about the importance of white lies to appease his mind, this was manipulation. He used it to defend his friend, but that was no excuse. Perhaps he felt too ill about this act, but something deep within his heart hated even the thought of playing with the emotions of people like strings to a puppet.

Hundredth left to the fields with a smile of joy, jumping around and tumbling in her excitement. Tanuki followed her out of the door and watched on as she disappeared into the tall grass.

He held the Pretender’s head in his hands, unsure of what to do with it. That was when a flamboyant voice glimmered beside him.

“Would that be a Pretender’s head?”

Tanuki turned to see it was the village’s shopkeeper. He wore a long blue robe that covered his entire body, a smiling mask with two crescent eyes, and a large basket tied to his back, filled with miscellaneous items.

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Tanuki had never spoken to him before, mainly because he always stood outside of crowds (that mostly surrounded him, to his woe). Even now, he was unsure of what to say. The shopkeeper had an aura that Tanuki struggled to explain. It commanded both mystery and wonder.

“Hundredth killed him. Do you want it?” he held up the Pretender’s head. The shopkeeper reached to grab it, but Tanuki pulled away, “You’re the shopkeeper of the village, am I right? I’m willing to trade this head with you, but don’t expect it to be free.”

“You’ve already been paid. For every Pretender you’ve slain, I’ve put aside a token as gratitude.”

“Token… Yoshimura Token? The bartender gave me a quest that had it as one of the rewards. What does it do?”

“You can exchange for valuable items at my store. You could visit it at the far end of town. You should come by once I’ve finished my morning hunt.”

“What are you hunting?”

“Mushrooms, barks, anything that entices the eye.”

From the sound of it, the plantfolk stores lacked the variety he would have liked. Still, it was kind of the shopkeeper to show his gratitude by putting aside free tokens. Tanuki gave him the Pretender’s head.

“Do you have anything that could help the Princess? She’s been badly wounded in her fight. I think a healing potion might help. Do you have anything of that sort?”

“Brewing is no good skill of mine, but I know of mushrooms that might help. Meet me at my shop when the sun reaches zenith. I shall see how I may help.”

“Thank you. I truly mean it.”

“This is the least any of us can do to repay the Great Liberator.”

At last, he was alone. He made sure no one else wished to disturb him, and when he was done, he rushed to the nearest bush for his reserved morning bathroom break.

Plantfolks frequented the bar at sunset, but today, even before noon, they managed to break the record for most souls in the bar. Tanuki ordered all guards on and off duty to come to him immediately. To his surprise, it was not just them who entered the bar.

Plantfolks of all ages came to him with old military attire and improvised weapons. He feared at first that they came to lynch him for some wrongdoing he had yet to understand, but it soon became apparent to be nothing more than just a nightmare born from his low self-esteem. Indeed, the ordinary villagers of Yosh riled up against the common threat of the Pretenders, inspired by the heroic deeds of the guards, the Princess, and the Great Hero himself.

It was an angry mob, one that came to him for guidance. Though terrifying to look down into souls darkened by wrath, he understood the source of that pain came from a history of maltreatment.

“This will make things easier in some ways and harder in others,” he noted while readying for his speech.

He forged a plan to ensure Hundredth’s safety and his quick arrival at home. The remaining two Pretenders could be slain in quick succession if he was to continue their march after the first. Should he be fast enough, Hundredth would have no time to catch up to them, and he could return for her after the deed is done.

A part of him hoped he would have the chance to take her home or keep the gate between the dungeon and his realm open. Though this realm deeply frightened him, and though the plantfolks were a unique kind, he found they had grown on him. He could relate to their struggles and wished to help them in the future.

But now, it was time for logistics.

All guards were required a full set of armour, weapons, and shields. Those hindered by lost limbs were also invited and forced to carry the sword with their shields tied to their backs. Besides them, Tanuki ordered all grown and physically adept villagers to accompany the soldiers with pitchforks and whatever weapons they could muster. Armour and weapons of the dead were given to them. Some were dressed in full attire, while others could only be given helmets and boots. The feminine presenting folks were also ordered to accompany them, should any have a healthy body to carry weapons. Everyone who could not fulfil the requirements, like the disabled and children, was forced to hide at home. The only exceptions to this rule were Hundredth, as she was out on her mission, and the shopkeeper, who gathered materials for a healing salve. Even the bartender was forced to wear a helmet and shield and put to the side as a defence on the flank.

The people whispered amongst themselves while Tanuki climbed onto the counter. He stomped his pink slippers against the wood to grab their attention, then spoke clearly and loudly.

“People of Yosh! I am declaring total war. All souls capable of fight shall follow me as we invade the last of the remaining Pretenders, first erasing the one on the side, then ending with the one on the bottom of the cube. This does not mean any of you must die! Follow my orders, stand your ground, and you will return home as war heroes!”

He raised his fist. The crowd followed, chanting for war.

“I’ve asked for intel of our enemy. I’ve heard tales of the obscene warrior that hides in the shadow of the world. He shall be found and killed for the atrocities committed against your peaceful kind!”

The plantfolk chanted murder.

“This was the first I’ve heard of the cowardly Echidna! We’ve left the most pathetic Pretender to be last in our march to Hell. The beast is elusive, hiding in the dirt of the night! I heard it likes to dig under houses and take people while they sleep! Well, let’s see how he likes it when we take things to his home!”

The plantfolk grew louder and more bloodthirsty. Tanuki felt uncomfortable, but he had to rile them up somehow. If he needed to play a competent leader, then he would act his part as well as he could.

Watching as they readied their weapons, a guard previously stationed at the window approached him. He waved to get his attention and whispered when Tanuki leaned down.

The boy’s eyes grew wide.

“Are you sure?” he turned to the guard.

“Yes. Only it is capable of moving the earth.”

“And are you sure you saw it well?”

“It was taller than you’d think. It waved that thing like a corpse, should we take this as it taunting us? Is it meant to mock us? Should I alert the guards?”

“No, thank you,” Tanuki shooed him away, then turned towards the door, “This does complicate things.”

Echidna, the beast of the night, sat outside the bar, waving the white flag of surrender.