----------- Astrad's Point of View -----------
["Gahahaha, did you see their faces?"]
["Nice one, kid."]
["That mouth is a weapon in itself."]
It seems I've won the favor of the chimpanzees. Not that I want it.
["Gahahaha, he's my grandson after all."]
The orangutan grandpa seems particularly happy as he pats me on the head. His palm easily covers my entire head.
["The rat kid feels the orangutan's safety."]
This could be quite beneficial.
["Can you stop calling my grandfather an orangutan?"] ["Grandfather?"]
Did Carla just call the orangutan "grandfather"?
[[…]]
I exchange glances between the orangutan grandpa and Carla. Although graying, the reddish-orange hair still stands out on the orangutan grandpa's head and beard. It's slightly darker than Carla's, but, in fact, it makes sense. Even their eyes are similar.
["Unfaithful?"] – I ask the grandpa. With aching pain in my heart.
["A man has needs."]
Well, yeah… Besides…
["That explains so much…"] – I say as I look at Carla with understanding.
Even if their build is different, an orangutan can only raise an orangutan.
["AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Anyway, let go of my grandfather."]
Carla affirms my point and starts pushing me by the face, away from the grandpa. I cling on just to annoy her.
["Now, now, dear, you don't have to be jealous."]
["Who's jealous? You stupid, stubborn old man. I just want him to get away because that guy is a dangerous manipulator and you're an influenceable fool."]
["I see. I always wondered how she could resist the spell of someone as gallant and handsome as the rat kid. It turns out she has a grandfather complex."]
The rat kid understands now.
["THAT'S NOT IIIIIIIIIIIIIT."]
["Now that I think about it, that friend of yours has a daddy complex, right? Do the others have complexes too? The complex club? Now it all fits."]
[[[[WE DO NOT!]]]]
["GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"]
......….
["Alright, enough nonsense. Give me a status report."]
After the orangutan grandpa and the chimpanzees saved me from the clutches of the "complex club," we started a small strategy meeting.
["We're screwed, end of report. You guys?"] [[[[Screwed times two, end of report.]]]]
Son of a…
["Can you all take this seriously?"]
My aunt complains about our man-talk.
["This is why women can't be cops, they don't understand anything."]
[[[[Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.]]]]
["I'm going to hit you all."]
[[[[Guck.]]]]
Fear.
["More importantly, the rat kid thought you didn't have power, and that's why you were incommunicado. Why don't you contact anyone?"]
The rat kid flees with style.
["Don't even think you're getting away. And no, we don't have a phone line or internet."]
["How do you communicate with the army?"]
["We have one of those old radios…"]
["Why don't you have internet?"]
["Well, how are we supposed to know? Are you even listening to me?"]
As I talk to my aunt, I look for the sacred altar… Found it.
["Let's begin the ancient summoning ritual."]
["What nonsense are you doing now?"]
I ignore the complaints and approach the sacred altar. Then I unplug the connector. I wait ten seconds. I plug the connector back in.
Now, we waaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiit.
[[[[[…]]]]]
Nothing… Son of a bitch.
["Hey, we obviously tried that. Do you really think we're that stupid?"]
["Yes."]
[[[[….]]]]
["Well, does the rat kid know what to do?"]
["You have an idea?"]
I nod at my aunt's question. Then I pull out a knife I had hidden.
["Bring me a virgin. We have to make a sacrifice."]
"Pop."
As my head is struck by the gorilla, I fall to the ground. Good night…
------------- Carla's Point of View --------------
["Ahhh, ahhh…"]
[[[[…]]]]
The room falls silent as Yumi pants, red-faced, next to an unconscious Astrad.
["Deserved,"] – Jennifer muttered beside me, and I couldn't agree more.
["Ahhh, it's because of that explosive personality that he calls you a gorilla,"] – Flora commented as she rubbed her eyes.
["BUT HE'S SO DAMN ANNOYING SOMETIMES!"]
Yumi complains with a red face, and all of us can't help but agree.
["Gahaha, well, calm down a bit. Anyway, I guess the meeting with him is postponed again."]
I narrow my eyes at my grandfather's comment. Isn't he protecting him a lot all of a sudden?
["Ahhh, I'll take him to the bed again. I'll be right back."]
Yumi lets out a resigned sigh as she picks up Astrad. Last time he was unconscious for half an hour.
["Honey, you mentioned a monster file before we were interrupted by the idiot, right? Show it to your grandfather."]
["…Humph. Why don't you ask your new grandson for it?"]
["D-darling, you don't have to be like that. You'll always be my favorite."]
["Humph."]
Stupid grandfather. I'm not worrying about you anymore.
..........
["Chief, the situation doesn't seem to be improving."]
["The generator has also started to fail. It will definitely stop today, and the emergency battery will only last a couple of hours."]
["We must act now."]
["But my grandson is unconscious."]
["Ahhh, damn it. Someone go throw water on him. It's almost been an hour, he should be fine."]
["What's with the sudden hurry?"]
["A fucking giant octopus appeared in the sea, what do you want?"]
["Well, there is that."]
From the side of the office, the girls and I watch the adults argue. We finally managed to get up to speed. Although at the beginning the whole discussion revolved around the goblins, after Astrad was knocked out a second time, we focused on sharing information.
["Here,"] – Flora approaches with several containers of simple breakfast for us.
[[[Thanks.]]]
""Grii.""
We nod gratefully, but Flora shakes her head calmly.
["These are provisions you brought yourselves. Who should be thanking whom?"]
We can't help but blush at her bluntness. But her gaze still turns sharp when she looks at the goblins.
Yes, we know perfectly well. You can't just accept that the monsters that have been tormenting you for days are now pretending to be your companions. In fact, even assuming they're a trap isn't far-fetched.
That's why, even though I hate that mayor, I can't help but understand his point. Still, the mere fact that Astrad agrees to keep them around is enough not to make a hasty decision.
No one dares to touch them without discussing it with Astrad first… unfortunately, the moron was knocked out… again.
["Anyway, I'm surprised at the weight Astrad carries,"] – Ana commented, breaking the tension.
Understanding the intention, Flora sat with us and began to explain.
["Although they won't say it out loud, that kid is popular around here. Even Yumi, though she always complains and seems to go attend to his problems reluctantly, every word is loaded with hidden pride. But you all should know that too, right?"]
We nod with bitter smiles. After all, we came here relatively frequently, especially me. Even without that, the experiences at school are enough.
["'Trouble Hunter,' that's his nickname here. In every incident involving him, the 'victim' is immediately dragged here for interrogation and investigation. Nine out of ten end up in jail for various crimes. Some were real criminals with heavy sentences."]
I'm a little surprised by Flora's words. After all, my grandfather usually only tells the part about the beating. But the astonishment is short-lived; after all, it sounds like Astrad.
["Besides, we get to eat the thank-you gifts that are addressed to him, because he only accepts the letters."]
[[[[[…Hahahaha.]]]]]
""¿Griii?""
I don't know if he's the luckiest or unluckiest idiot.
["By the way, that cat, is it okay?"]
Flora asks about the cat still sleeping on my chest. But I can only sigh with regret.
["We're not sure. Astrad says it's just sleeping, but it's been several days…"]
["Let me check…"]
As I was talking with Flora, a man burst in with an urgent voice.
["This is bad. That damn mayor incited the refugees and the sick. They're coming here to demand…"]
The man averted his gaze towards us; no, he looked at the goblins.
["Tsk, I knew that vermin was up to something,"] – Flora clicked her tongue and spat out venomous words.
["Yumi, bring the boy."]
["Yes."]
At my grandfather's request, Yumi goes to get Astrad.
""¿Griii?""
The goblins seem to understand that something is wrong and cling to us as they grip their weapons, half-confused, half-ready to fight.
["Everything will be fine."]
I try to reassure them, but the anxiety only grows.
["Wiston, you must give these good people an explanation."]
With the mayor's arrival, I can only have a bad feeling.