Chapter 10: Everybody's Plan.
Then, after a few hours, Jonathan wakes up on her lap. For a few moments he ponders in his mind whether to announce that he has woken up or to continue enjoying the moment without any interruption. But feeling a little movement in the soft pillow that Melanie calls her thighs, she seems to have noticed.
Jonathan "I keep forgetting how perceptive she is" Turning his head so that he's looking in her direction, the urge to say something comes over him, but he doesn't know what.
Melanie - Did you sleep well? - With a smile on her face, she asks while still petting the boy's head.
Jonathan - Heh, best nap ever - With sincerity, Jonathan is pleased to see the kobold's beaming smile after hearing it.
The two return to the comfortable silence. Melanie, with her heightened senses, can feel Jonathan's breathing, heartbeat and the slightest movements he makes on her lap, while Jonathan feels a cozy warmth coming from the contact with his companion's skin.
Until a question pops into Jonathan's mind, and he needs to speak now before he forgets.
Jonathan - Hmm, Melanie? And the rest of the food for the month - Remembering that the feast she made for him used up all the stock they had for the month, as she asks this question a shock seems to pass through the kobold's body, her smile becomes a little forced and a little pink comes over her cheeks.
Melanie - Hehe, I didn't think of that - Not looking at Jonathan's face out of embarrassment, she touches her fingertips. She thinks about apologizing for the lack of consideration she may have had, but Jonathan stops her.
Jonathan - Don't get worked up - Seeing that she's going to look bad by blaming herself, he already has a plan in place - I'm going to ask Captain James or Merse for some more resources tomorrow. -I'm going to have to come up with a pretty heavy argument to get them to accept."
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Merse - Okay - Replies the captain, after hearing Jonathan's request to simply increase his food allowance for the month.
Jonathan -Hum?! - In disbelief, he ends up imitating a Minecraft villager with the iconic sound he makes. He didn't expect it to be so easy, he spent more than an hour thinking of a good argument (excuse) to ask for a bit more money, only to think that it would just be a question of asking. -Hey, hey, just like that, in the can?! -
Merse - It's a very fortunate thing, I'd like to talk to you about your behavior lately, and I've noticed something interesting, you know? -
Jonathan: "Ugh, I wonder if she's realized that I have a mamono hidden in the city." Trying not to break out in a cold sweat, he continues to make eye contact with Merse.
Merse - Kid, have you noticed how quickly you recover? -
Jonathan - Huh? - Not expecting this question, he is left without an answer.
Merse - Have you ever noticed how quickly you get tired? How quickly you eat and get hungry again? -
Jonathan - Hmm - Not realizing where this conversation is going, he just exclaims that he understands.
Merse - What I'm trying to say is that your body is different. You probably haven't even thought about it, but in order to recover, your body needs nutrients, and the faster you recover, the higher the rate of nutrients you have to spend." - Jonathan
Jonathan - Huh? Wait, so this - Now that things are clicking in Jonathan's head, he
begins to see the full picture.
Merse - What I'm trying to say, kid, is that you consume a lot more energy than the average person. I believe that this demand for energy requires a lot of intake, so it's normal for you to want more food than normal - After this explanation, Merse notices that Jonathan is staring at her dumbfounded - What? -
Jonathan - I didn't think you were that smart - Always the one to speak without thinking, a second later he sees various levels of anger flash across his captain's face, before she decides on a punishment - Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! - She pinches his ear.
Merse - And what do you mean by that, you little brat - Out of the captain's clenched teeth, she takes him in front of the squadron member Jonathan most wanted to meet and most feared meeting. - I don't know what happened between you two yesterday, but as Mureau and the others told me, this is business between you, sort yourselves out soon and get back to training - Releasing his ear and giving it a little push, Jonathan staggers over to Elt.
Jonathan - ...... - As he straightens up and comes face to face with Elt, the young man is at a loss for words.
Elt - ..... - And to make matters worse, even Elt doesn't know how to face Jonathan after yesterday's argument.
The two of them spend a few seconds in this stalemate, when it seems that one of them is going to say something, only for him to stop a second later. Apparently they both understand the situation they're in.
Elt - Jonathan I - But before he could finish after finally gathering his courage.
Jonathan - No Elt, you're not going to apologize to me - Knowing what kind of person Elt is, Jonathan knows that he just wants to apologize and put this conflict behind them. But that's not something Jonathan wants to do. - It was me! It was me who lost control and got out of line, so I apologize for how I spoke to you - Looking directly into his eyes, the young man expresses his sincerity to his friend.
Elt - ... I accept your apology Jonathan - Seeing that he's determined to apologize, Elt understands that Jonathan won't let this matter go to sleep if they both keep trying to apologize to each other.
Jonathan - I said things I shouldn't have and I judged you, that was my mistake. I don't believe that the message I wanted to convey was wrong. But you must have your reasons for thinking the way you do and it wasn't nice the way I said it - This is harder than Jonathan thought, he's always been someone who finds it difficult to reveal his mistakes to others and it makes him uncomfortable, but he knows it's the right thing to do.
Elt - Hmm, I understand, I didn't understand your situation very well either and I spoke without thinking about your motives - Now Elt holds out her hand to Jonathan - I think we both need to get to know each other better - She continues with a smile.
Jonathan - He! - With a smile on his face, he squeezes Elt's hand firmly, and it seems that the camaraderie between them hasn't been shaken as much as Jonathan thought.
Tyler - Auuum, look at you, how nice of you two to make up, what a beautiful thing - Surprising them both, he hugs them both on the shoulder while speaking in a baby voice to make fun of them both.
Jonathan - You ruined it, it was a good moment and you ruined it. I hope you're proud of yourself - With a serious face he complains to Tyler, but both he and Elt watch his lips struggle not to form a smile. Jonathan can truly say that whether in this world or the next, friends always act like idiots.
Jonathan: "Um," that's when he realizes something: "And to think I'd end up bonding so quickly. It's funny how things happen without you realizing it." The young man thinks, and is glad that things turn out that way.
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In the glade of a thick forest, whose slope gives a good view of the town of Lescatie, a man appears, staggering and mumbling. His steps are those of a man who is drunk or in a trance. Despite this, he doesn't look much more than a grown man with a farmer's body, he doesn't even appear to be injured or dirty.
But his eyes tell a different story - no normal person would have such eyes. One moment they're blurry, his brain not in the driver's seat, and the next they're glazed over like a crack user's, bulging out of his eye socket and bulging with veins.
?????? - Typhon-sama, Typhon-sama..... I have to do this for Typhon-sama - The man continues walking, a light pulses in his pocket, checkered like a dice, with the mark of a lion with scorpion wings and tail.
With the first sign of logical reasoning, the man stuffs the cube into his mouth and continues towards the city gates, adopting the face of a sane and capable man, a stark contrast to his previous state. Even so, anyone who looks deeply into his eyes will see the madness hidden beneath.
The city of Lescatie prepares for the night, unaware of the arrival of a patient and savage evil.
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Food vendors shout to the passing public on their way home. Vegetables, fruit, material goods and other products are advertised to the townspeople. In a way, it's a cheerful image showing the economic diversity of the people of Lescatie.
Hunting through this scene, Jonathan listens carefully for the lowest prices.
Jonathan "Yup, as my mother used to say, you only buy expensive if you don't look" Waiting to get a better idea of the prices, he walks nonchalantly through the city center. Just because he's received some money now doesn't mean he's going to go out and buy whatever comes first. A cheapskate doesn't go soft just because he's made money.
Most of the prices are aimed at the city's middle class, at people who already live in the city center, but without the luxury goods that nobles usually go for. Which works well enough for Jonathan.
Seeing how the prices are, and finally deciding on a store, he gets up close and sees some products.
So preoccupied with his current task, his instincts fail to detect someone approaching him.
Jonathan " Hmm, it's been a while since I've had an apple, but I wonder if Melanie will like it too, I need to see something for .... Ouch!" Feeling a sharp pain in his arm, checking and seeing a bleeding cut on his elbow, he quickly turns around to see the culprit.
Unfortunately, no one behind Jonathan seems to be carrying a knife or weapon, they're kind of paying attention to him, as he gives a little grunt of pain, but there's no one he feels might have hurt him. Whoever it was has been gone for some time.
He's almost right, the person who hurt him managed to do everything quickly and quietly, without being detected and fleeing the scene without looking suspicious. The training of a silent assassin who is very skilled at his job. Hooded in a brown cloak, he enters an alley and disappears completely from the scene, carrying with him a small syringe appropriate for the technology of the time, filled with red liquid.
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In a tower in one of Lescatie's wealthy mansions, an older man begins to work on his documents organized on his desk. Feeling the cool night air entering his room and the light of the moon and its magical apparatus made to illuminate the interior of houses.
Regler Noscrim, or also known as Father Noscrim, looks out from his balcony which gives him a great view of the city. The incident a month or so ago caused panic and chaos in the city, but with the king's support and detailed planning everything was back on track.
Regler - Ah, how good it is when everything stays where it should - He looks out over the city, noting the rich houses of nobles who squander their wealth, the houses in the city center, with honest workers who serve their purpose, and even the dirty outskirts of the city which are where the undesirables are inevitably placed. Yes, in Father Noscrim's perfect vision, this is what the city of Lescatie should look like.
His thoughts are interrupted by a very specific knock on his door. With a simple command, a person enters and kneels at the priest's feet.
Servant - Father Noscrim, I got the sample you ordered - The servant submissively hands the priest a syringe filled with blood. The scarlet liquid reflects the artificial light in the room, and examining it carefully, giving it a few gentle shakes, the priest asks the servant to leave.
Promptly, he is left alone in his chambers and, looking at the object in his hands, he smiles.
Regler Noscrim - Kuku, it's so much easier when you try the more subtle method - Placing the object on his desk and looking at his papers he begins to ponder the possibilities - So, how can I fit you into the city, young stranger - He speaks to no one, a contemplative gaze is raised towards the city.
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