“What do you mean you're not from Azzarath?” Lupa practically shouted as Karastak moved about, touching the space above the Bandits and watching them drop “Loot”. He was as giddy as a maiden going to her first Harvest Festival, as he rushed around whilst calling out to the girls to help him. Though, only Puella followed him with a giggle as Little Mother squeaked atop her head in joy.
The Wolfgirl, on the other hand, just stared at him whilst her hands bunched up against her front as she stomped her foot down. Within her mind, the thought of someone being from another world was an alien concept. If he was here, then what would happen to the both of them if he decided to go back? Which led to another thought of being abandoned, and her eyes began to tear up. It got to the point of her sniffing hard so as to not allow any snot to run down her muzzle, before he noted her expression and immediately bounded over so that he could take her into his arms.
“There, there,” he muttered softly as she broke down and cried from the random thought, which also set off both the Cat-kin and the little white bat. To which he sat down against the trunk of a tree and allowed the trio to cuddle up against his chest whilst they tried to calm down. “It's okay,” his voice was soft, calming, soothing, and nothing like the crazed side of him which echoed throughout the forest only a few minutes ago.
The children just hugged his chest and neck, nuzzling up against them as they wept. It took them several more minutes before they calmed down, leaning back as he smiled down upon them. “There, there,” he murmured softly, brushing their hair away from their eyes and face, “Now. Can you tell me what's the matter?”
Lupa sniffed, knuckling her eyes as she nodded and spoke up, “Y-you aren't-t go-going t-t-to le-leave us, r-right?” Her friend's eyes widened at this inquiry, and stared at the illusory Human's face.
“Why do you think I'll do that? You're both adorable children, and I've already taken the responsibility to bring you to my side so that we can journey onwards together.”
Puella released a curious sound, not at all understanding his speech mannerisms. To which he chuckled and spoke after rubbing her head slowly whilst Little Mother squeaked and wiggled into his scalp, “I'm not going anywhere, Puella. You're both my girls, after all.” Again, another sound from her throat was released still full of curiosity, but more with happiness.
“What about when you leave?” the Wolfgirl muttered, her eyes tearing up yet again, which was mirrored by the younger of the two.
Here, his eyes rolled in their sockets as his hands, once more, ruffled their heads. “You're both coming with me regardless of what happens. Now, up you two get,” he lifted the pair and set them upon their feet as he joined them in standing, “Now, we need to 'Loot' the rest of the Bandits, okay? When we get to the next town, we'll be sure to grab a bed from an inn which won't desire after our heads. Okay?”
“Kay!” Puella shouted as she raised her right hand, whilst the other nodded as she knuckled her left eye slowly.
*
Karastak frowned at the backs of the children as they ran about using the Loot Function on the bodies of the remaining Bandits. The frown wasn't towards what they were doing, but towards Lupa's comment of him leaving. However, he wasn't sure what she knew without asking, and would definitely inquire about it at a later date.
Now, however, he simply watched as they danced around the bodies whilst playing a game they had come up with. One that involved looting the corpses the fastest before they're all gone. Whereas he turned his head in order to call out, “Zabartik.” From the shadows of the trees, the Shade reemerged with the Greatsword in its hands. Of which then nodded towards himself in greeting, and was reciprocated in return.
“Zabartik,” he repeated slowly, “you have before you two options. Stay by my side, or return to whatever you call home.” The Shade made a move to speak, but was silenced with a single gesture, “If you leave, there will be no way of ever returning, unless I perfect this new class of mine. Though, if you choose to stay, you will be able to return at a much later date to your world, but there won't be anymore of your kind summoned by my person.
“In other words, Zabartik the Shade, if you stay on by my side, no one else will be summoned and you will become the strongest upon your return.”
No. Karastak didn't know anything about the Shade's origins, but he did see with his own crazed glance that the creature viewed strength above all others to be the right path. Therefore, it was only natural to play on a being's strengths.
“No one... else?” it hissed questioningly.
“No one else,” he confirmed with a shake of his head, “Only you if you decide to stay, and when you do finally return, no one else will be able to be as strong as you are. Though, you will have some clothing while you're here to protect you from the light.” The creature's head bobbed as it contemplated the words spoken to it, and would have revealed a frown if not for a ray of sunlight piercing through its facial features at that very moment.
As it thought of a response whilst weighing both the pros and cons of servitude, a high pitched, “MR. KAR! HELP,” had reached their ears. One that came from the children who had dashed around in play. The pair then nodded at one another and took off in the direction of the sound, with Karastak in the lead due to his Minimap function showing him everything within thirty metres.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
It was revealed that there was at least one more Bandit left, and had cornered the girls in a tree. This one appeared to be another male in dirtied leathers and matted dark hair, as he tried to throw several knives their way. To which they cried out with tears rolling down their faces as they held onto the tree's branches for dear life.
This led to Karastak to release a terrible growl full of malice and hatred as he fell to all fours. His illusory self shattered, as did the robe which hugged his shoulders, and revealed his three-tailed Foxman self to the world. Whereupon he scampered off towards the one who dared to threaten what was his, and pounced into the air just as Little Mother took flight from his head.
The bandit then let out a shriek of pain and fear as he was collided by a furred monster. Whereas the little bat squeaked around the girls' heads, trying her best to calm their frightened minds down. Down below, blood and torn flesh flew throughout the air, followed up by the man's screams for help and pleas to let him live when nothing would rush to his aid. This soon became a gurgling sound until nothing remained beyond the sounds of torn flesh and the splattering of blood, but even that became silent as it was understood that the bandit was quite dead on the ground.
Frowning at his form, the Foxman moved behind another tree where he shook himself free of most of the blood from his fur. Though there were a few stain-streaks here and there, he was, for the most part, clean. He would just need a bath to remove the rest of them from his body, which won't be possible until they found a stream, river, or an inn which provides them such a utility.
Upon his return, his body shimmered into that of an old Human once more, as another faded blue robe hugged his shoulders. Whereas on the ground, Little Mother was staring up at himself with pleading eyes. At his nod and a wave of his hand, the bat squeaked happily in thanks as she began to eat the remains of the corpse.
The girls, on the other hand, were slowly pealing themselves away from the branches with the help of Zabartik. Of which did not stray too far from the Greatsword as though its life was tethered to it. 'Strange,' his mind commented as he walked over.
Here, Puella immediately detached herself from the trio, and latched onto his leg with a small whimper. His hands then snaked downwards so as to lift her up to his chest where he moved them to make her feel more comfortable. She then hugged his neck, apologising over and over as though it were her own fault.
“There, there,” he pat her back with a murmur of comfort, “You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, he's dead, so he can't come back to hurt you.”
“You're not mad?” her eyes were wide as she leaned away from him, searching his eyes for a lie.
“Why would I be? You both were in trouble, and I came to your rescue. After all, didn't I already say it? You're both my girls when I took you in. Therefore, my responsibility.” Upon so saying, he squatted back down in order to lift Lupa into the air as well. Of whom yipped and yiped from the sudden shift in movement as she clung to his chest and shoulder. “Right?” he asked the pair as the Wolfgirl opened her eyes, then nodded at the question.
“Yep,” she smiled in a timid fashion.
“YAY!” crowed Puella, who then proceeded to hug both Karastak and her best friend.
*
The loot from the bandits were being piled up with the help of Zabartik and the girls, whereas he sat with a frown against the base of an oak tree. Here, his Status Menu was laid out before him, but his concentration was more focused on the empty Subclass.
“Azazel said she created my Enchanter Class,” he muttered to himself, “which means it wasn't in her System in the beginning. So how did she...” A finger tapped and held onto the N/A portion within the brackets. He didn't know why it was relevant, but a part of him wanted to tap it and so he did. What became of such a tap would forever change his viewing of the Status Menu, the Classes, and its structure.
For the section of the Menu revealed to him that he could change it all to fit his needs, and as he scrolled through the whole list of Classes, he came to the bottom which made him only chuckle with evil gaiety. Upon the bottom was a little box that said, “Custom Class”, and he just couldn't help himself. Of which caused the girls to drop what they were doing in order to scamper over to his side whilst demanding, “What's so funny?”
“Well, my dears,” he began after maneuvering them a little closer, “it appears I can customise any and all classes. This, as well as change them out whenever I so choose to.”
Puella released another of her adorable sounds of confusion and wonderment, whereas Lupa stared at him incredulously. “What?” he asked with a warm glance.
“Only Archbishops are able to do that, and only in their temples. How are you able to do what they can do?” she frowned at him, which was only mirrored in Karastak's face.
“I've been meaning to ask, Lupa, how is it that you know so much?”
Before she could think up a response, Puella burst out, “Because she's a Re-Rein-carn-teted Person.”
The Wolfgirl groaned out from this reveal, covering her eyes and snout from his upraised expression. 'Curious,' he thought, but spoke out, “So? What's wrong with being reincarnated?”
“You don't understand,” Lupa groaned out, her voice, though adorable for a child, was also full of wisdom, “If word got out that I was reincarnated, then they'll start assuming I can do things that I really can't. Like be a Hero to stop the Demon Lord.”
“Is that what people are in this world?” at her slow nod, he shrugged, “What would you rather do, Lupa? You're with me, and I won't let them take you away so that you can be their 'Hero', but what would you rather do? Serve a Demon Lord?”
She snorted then shook her head as her friend came around and hugged herself, “I'd rather not, if it's all the same.”
Here, he smiled softly and ruffled both their hair before standing tall once more with, “I think I'll create a Summoner Class. One where you could summon up Demons, Shades, and even fluffy creatures for you to enjoy.”
Again, Puella released another one of her throaty sounds as she scampered off to his side in order to tug on his robe, “Can I be a Sum'ner too? I want a fluffy bunny.”
To which he released a throaty laugh and bent down to ruffle her hair, “I don't see why not, but first, the loot. Afterwards, we'll go over the Classes, and continue onwards with our journey. Sound good?”