-------------- Point of View: Flora --------------
[Pass me the mayo, please.]
[Here.]
Something is wrong here…
[I want fries.]
[Eat your salad.]
[But I want fries!]
""GRII""
[And I want a millionaire husband. Just eat.]
At the crowded table with an absolute female predominance, where the atmosphere can only be described as harmonious or routine...
I can't help but feel a growing sense of incongruence between reality and this "reality."
[Gumunununu… fatty…]
""Grii…""
[I heard you.]
""Guck""
[Mom? Why aren't you eating? Are you okay?] — Amelia sits next to me with her own plate after finishing her chores, asking with that worried expression she inherited from her father.
[… Yes, honey, it's just… well…] — I try to find the words, but they simply don't reach my tongue.
What is this, again?
Everything was relatively normal until yesterday. Somehow, we managed to avoid a conflict with those elves and started settling in, temporarily postponing any explanations.
I reunited with my daughter, which is close to being one of the most reassuring moments of my life. And I ended up sleeping at the brat's house because Amelia refused to live anywhere else—for reasons I can only define as having bad taste in men.
… Come to think of it, nothing was normal yesterday. Especially with that brat causing a scene and behaving in a way that can only be described as sexual harassment. What do they see in him? Seriously. Bad taste.
[Aaahahaha… Well… it's not bad… right?] — Understanding my look, Amelia laughs awkwardly while trying to convince me… or convince herself?
Even so, I look at the environment around me.
[I guess… not…] — I finally conclude with a sigh, remembering the horrific reality at the police station.
The tension and the suffocating atmosphere that slowly sapped our strength and sanity.
In comparison, when we finally defeated the goblins and resettled in that hotel, it was like going from hell to heaven.
[But you guys are still too relaxed.] — Even so, I send an accusing look at Amelia.
Feeling comfortable and safe is one thing, but this is closer to completely ignoring your situation.
[Ahahaha…]
While we ate in this homely atmosphere that I couldn't help but appreciate despite my complaints, hurried footsteps are heard coming down the stairs. A sound I've learned to hate.
And as if to honor my experience:
[Astrad… He won't wake up.]
......….
[And?] — Rat-boy 9.
[Ahh, all parameters are stable; there's no visible physical danger.] — Rat-boy 2.
Through Margareth's laptop monitor, the female voice claiming to be a doctor reports back to us after reviewing the data from the exams we performed on Astrad using various machines and practical tests.
[Then why won't he wake up?] — Yumi asked immediately; she arrived as soon as I called her.
[It's hard to tell with this superficial data. But I guarantee there's no danger; even his neural patterns are stable. I'll prove it, 9.]
[Yeah. Carolain, can you step closer?] — Margareth gestures to Carolain at the woman's request.
[Eh? Ah, sure.] — Though confused, Carolain approaches the side of the bed.
Then, Margareth took Astrad's hand and placed his palm on Carolain's chest.
[Eh?...] — Carolain was confused at first, just like everyone else. — [KYA?!] — And the shock quickly turned to embarrassment when the brat's hand closed over her breast.
[As you can see, his reflexes are perfect.]
[[[[He's in perfect condition.]]]]
It was unanimous.
[DAMN BRAT, YOU'RE FAKING IT!] — Carolain is indignant; she lifts Astrad by his shirt and starts shaking him.
[SISTER, NO!]
""GRII""
The smaller ones immediately lunge at her, angry.
[Well, it's not the first time he's ended up like this, I guess.]
[That sounds worse for some reason…]
[I'm just saying he should be fine if he rests.]
[But the previous times he was battered, right? What happened this time?]
[Well…]
With the tension dissipated due to the lack of immediate danger, possibilities begin to surface in the form of a discussion.
[Kora, can you really not do anything?] — Yumi asked the little goblin directly, but she only shook her head with her ears drooping. — [So his body is fine?] — she continued asking, and the little one nodded.
Only then did Yumi sigh with some relief.
[Your lack of faith in my ability... hurts a little.]
[With all due respect, I don't know you.]
[Fair enough.]
The woman on the computer complains, but Yumi dismisses her immediately. Then she looks at Ruby.
[What about you?] — she asked, but Ruby, instead of affirming or denying, looked unsure.
"Grii, gr gri"
[… You can, but you shouldn't?]
[Hey, hey, you understand her?] — I immediately catch an incongruence.
[Um? Ah, right. Actually, that elf has something like translators.] — Yumi replied, pulling a necklace from her blouse. It's the rune the brat threw at the elf's head yesterday.
[Is that safe?]
[I hope so. For now, at least, it's proving useful. Ruby, what do you mean you shouldn't?] — Yumi summarized for me and turned back to Ruby. — [So you don't know…]
Apparently, Ruby is speaking from instinct.
[Ohh, you're talking about that red light, right? Sounds interesting. Kid, transmit just a little bit to Rat 1; I want to confirm something. 9, set up the monitor again.]
[Yes.]
The supposed doctor requests this as soon as she catches the essence of the conversation between Ruby and Yumi. And Margareth doesn't hesitate.
[Hold it.] — But Yumi doesn't seem convinced, and as soon as her hostility flares, the air becomes suffocating.
[Gue, Auntie is scary.] — Margareth laments, but her hands don't stop.
[Ahhh, Auntie, I might not know Rat 2, but she's someone Astrad trusts… you understand?] — Louise mediates with Yumi, who looked ready to break something.
[[[[…]]]]
The tension felt like it could be cut with a knife as they stared each other down.
[Ahh, Yumi, aren't you the one who always says we should trust your brat's instincts?] — I say, placing my hand on Yumi's shoulder.
[… Hmph. Since when are you my aunt?] — Although not entirely convinced, Yumi accepts, though making it clear she's not taking in new family members.
Then, following the woman's request, Ruby creates a bit of that red energy and passes it to Astrad.
Beep-beep-bebebebeep-BEEP-be-BEEPBEEPBEEP!
Almost immediately, the analysis equipment went haywire.
[… What does that mean?] — Louise asked.
[… Ahhh, this fantasy world stuff is a total pain in the ass…] — The doctor's voice sounded tired, but at least there was no worry.
[How should I explain it… Rat 1's body isn't in danger, but based on his patterns, it's as if he's… fatigued… he shows the readings of someone who has pushed their body to the limit and should be resting to heal. But even though his system is self-repairing correctly, the fatigue keeps consuming the repair in real-time. It doesn't reach the point of damaging him, but it keeps him in a state of inactivity…
That red energy seems to be a kind of vitality transmission. The girl transmits her own stamina to the receiver. Something like an adrenaline shot. Not necessarily a bad thing, but you definitely shouldn't do it outside of emergencies. It's possible the secondary consequence of using it is greater fatigue at the end. Good instincts, little one.]
The long explanation felt both logical and nonsensical, leaving more questions than answers.
[Doc, can you speak plain English?] — Louise.
[He's draining the battery faster than it can charge.] — Rat 2.
[Thanks. Now, how is that even possible when he's just lying there?] — Louise.
[That is the right question.] — Rat 2.
[And what is the right answer?] — Kiti.
[Magic, maybe?] — Rat 2.
[Seriously?] — Yumi.
[What? You have superhuman strength now, don't you, Auntie?] — Rat 2.
[Tsk.] — Yumi.
I guess this brings us back to the start.
[So? We just have to wait?] — Carolain.
[Well… I guess so…] — Kiti.
[Unless one of you knows something about magic.] — Carmelia.
Certainly a total pain, this fantasy stuff.
[Can't we… ask the elves?] — At the sudden opinion of the girl named Mika, we all instinctively turned to look at her.
[[[[[…]]]]]
Then, all the girls turned their gaze toward Louise, who seems to have a role as second-in-command in the brat's group.
[…. Ahhh, call her…]
Good girl.
...…..
Rat-boy Network-----
Rat-boy 9: Leader Rat… is dead…
Rat-boy 10: Again?
Rat-boy 4: This is already a meme.
Rat-boy 3: What the fuck happened now?
Rat-boy 8: Weren't they partying last night? How did he die? Snusnu? It's death by snusnu, isn't it? Dammit, why isn't it me?
Rat-boy 5: Tsk, I wish that were true.
Rat-boy 6: Miss?
Rat-boy 2: Lol
Rat-boy 3: Lol
Rat-boy 4: Lol
Rat-boy 9: Lol