Chapter 120: The Mireveil Plague...
The morning was cold.
A thick layer of fog blanketed much of Whitemist as the first rays of sunlight barely managed to pierce through the swamp’s towering trees.
Nox stepped out of the old church, stretching his arms.
"So sleepy..."
He let out a long yawn.
’Definitely sleeping with Yuri wasn’t the best decision I’d ever made.’
After everything they had done, the swamp woman had fallen into a deep sleep and snored even louder than Audrey.
Nox smiled at the memory.
"I really have terrible luck when it comes to choosing roommates."
He adjusted his coat before stepping fully outside.
Then... he froze.
"...What the hell?"
An utterly unexpected scene unfolded before the church.
Audrey was walking while pulling several ropes.
Behind her...
Eight enormous rodents were being dragged across the ground.
They looked like giant rats.
Each one was about a meter long.
Dark gray fur.
Yellow teeth.
Thick tails.
And their legs were tightly bound.
Surrounding them were dozens of Littles.
Each carried a small burning branch like an improvised torch.
They jumped.
They laughed.
They shouted.
They celebrated as though they had just won a war.
Nox stared at everything for several seconds.
"...What happened here?"
Audrey looked up.
When she saw him, she smiled.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
He immediately pointed at the giant rats.
"...What happened?"
The huntress let out a small sigh.
"Some of the Littles snuck out very early this morning."
Nox frowned.
"They tried to reclaim their old village."
The demon’s eyes widened.
"What?"
Audrey nodded.
"The chubby Little came to get me."
She pointed toward the round-bellied blue creature.
"He said he wanted to make sure they didn’t get into trouble."
The little fellow proudly puffed out his chest.
Audrey continued.
"We caught up with them halfway there."
She looked at the giant rats.
"And these things were already chasing them."
Nox looked back at the beasts.
’So these were the creatures that had driven the Littles out of their home.’
The huntress gave a small laugh.
"I didn’t really have a choice."
She lifted one of the ropes.
"I hunted them down before they could reach the little ones."
Nox nodded slowly.
"You did the right thing."
Then he turned toward the Littles.
Many of them had stopped celebrating.
Several had their heads lowered.
They looked ashamed, as if they knew they had done something dangerous.
Nox walked over to them.
Then crouched down.
Until he was almost at eye level with them.
The little creatures slowly raised their heads.
Expecting to be scolded.
Instead, Nox simply smiled.
"Audrey."
"Yes?"
"Tell them they don’t need to worry."
The huntress immediately translated using the sounds she had learned over the past few weeks.
The Littles listened carefully.
Nox continued.
"If you wanted to take back your village..."
He looked at each of them.
"...you could have asked me for help."
Audrey relayed the message.
The Littles began looking at one another.
"You never had to do it alone."
Nox gestured toward all of Whitemist.
"After all..."
He smiled.
"...you’re the ones who built this place."
The Littles froze.
Audrey finished translating.
A second later...
They all erupted into joyful cheers.
"Aude!"
"Aude!"
"Aude!"
They leaped onto Nox.
Climbed up his legs.
His arms.
His back.
As though they were all trying to hug him at once.
Nox burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright..."
He ruffled the chubby Little’s head.
"Next time, let me know first."
The little creature answered by gently bumping its tiny fist against Nox’s chest.
As if making a promise.
◇◆◇
Just then, the church door opened once more.
Yuri slowly stepped outside.
She was wearing the clothes Misty had lent her the previous day.
She still looked strangely elegant for someone who had spent her entire life covered in mud.
However...
She was walking oddly.
Her legs trembled slightly, and every step seemed painful.
Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"Is something wrong?"
Yuri quickly smiled.
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Completely."
Nox looked at her.
Subtly, he raised one hand and made a small gesture.
’Don’t say anything.’
Yuri understood immediately.
She cleared her throat.
"It’s just..."
She winced.
"...a cramp."
Audrey seemed to accept the explanation.
"Then you should get some rest."
"I will."
Nox had to look away to keep from laughing.
’A cramp. How convenient.’
◇◆◇
The swamp woman then looked at the giant rodents.
Her expression changed immediately.
"Those..."
She stepped closer.
"...are Ratatas."
Nox looked at her.
"Ratatas?"
"Yes."
Yuri nodded.
"A terrible plague from Mireveil."
She lightly kicked one of the corpses.
"They eat everything."
She pointed toward the forest.
"Animals."
Then toward the trees.
"Fruit."
Finally, she pointed at the Littles.
"And they attack villages too."
The demon crossed his arms.
"Then we’ve found our next problem."
He looked around.
Then pointed toward the little creatures.
"We’re going to take back their old village."
The Littles immediately began cheering.
"Aude!"
"Aude!"
"Aude!"
Nox smiled.
"And while we’re at it..."
He looked at the giant rats.
"...we’ll wipe out this plague."
Yuri stepped forward.
"I want to come."
Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"With us?"
"Yes."
The swamp woman crossed her arms.
"I hate those damned Ratatas."
Her smile became fierce.
"Let me help."
Audrey looked at Nox.
Then back at Yuri.
The huntress smiled.
"I think she’d be a big help."
Nox remained silent.
Audrey continued.
"Besides..."
She nudged him lightly with her elbow.
"...if she proves herself..."
She smiled.
"...maybe you’ll even give her a title."
Nox felt a small chill run down his spine.
’Don’t start...’
He immediately remembered the system window.
The one that had appeared during the battle against the Marauder King.
[Compatibility Detected.]
[Fallen Genesis conditions fulfilled.]
[Compatible Individual Detected.]
The system had already made its decision.
He hadn’t.
It still felt too soon, and he didn’t really know Yuri yet.
He knew she was strong, brave, and more than a little reckless.
But that wasn’t enough.
Not yet.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Maybe."
He finally answered.
Audrey smiled, satisfied.
Yuri tilted her head.
"What do you mean by ’a title’?"
Nox looked at her.
"It’s..."
He thought for a few seconds.
"...kind of complicated to explain."
"Will it make me stronger?"
"Yes."
Yuri’s eyes lit up.
"Then I want one!"
Nox let out an awkward laugh.