Chapter 356: Challenge
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Chapter 356: Challenge
Okay, third times the charm.
Stepping off the boat and into the crystal clear bay, I surface to find two dark, inhuman eyes peeking out from the water and watching my every move. Sir Inkys veiny, bulbous head bobs up and down as he lazily flaps his tentacles to keep afloat, unwilling to leave my side even though hes free to swim wherever he pleases. Look around little buddy. His eyes blink, but otherwise stay locked on me, attempting to decipher the meaning behind my words and gestures yet failing horribly. Its the bay. We picked you up around here, remember? He better remember, its only been three days and we kept him out of the bay for a day and a half at most. Im here to send you off. Again. Dont worry, nothing bad will happen. See?
Since hand gestures arent working I maneuver myself between Sir Inky and Ping-Ping so he can see her swimming about while playing with the quins. Ping-Ping wont try to eat you again. Promise. Not gonna lie, it was a real close call. The quins wont either. Theyre great at differentiating between friends and food, else Mama Bun and her babies wouldnt have survived this long. Or me for that matter. When I think back on all the stupid things I did around them, like snatching random pups to cuddle or scaring Pafu awake for laughs, its a miracle Zabus the only quin whos tried to kill me. Theres nothing stopping you from leaving. This time. Youre free. Its time to go home, Inky. Go. home.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
Tired of staying afloat, Sir Inky extends a tentacle and wraps himself around my wrist. Blowing a stream of bubbles, his eyes blink sleepily as he settles into place, apparently unused to waking so early. With a full body shudder, Sir Inkys colour ripples and shifts from a mottled brown to match the colour of my skin, making him look like a peachy white tumour on my forearm.
...You son of a bitch octopus, I told you to go home. Why dont you go home? The bay is your home. What are you too good for your home? Answer me!
After much pleading and cajoling, I give up on getting rid of Inky and swim back to the boat to speak with Taduk. This isnt working. Weve tried a dozen places in the afternoon, evening, and now morning, but Sir Inky clearly doesnt want to leave.
Hmm... Looking ridiculous with a bowl on his head, Taduk rests his chin on one hand and mumbles into his fingers. He refuses to leave and we cannot afford to scare him off, this is difficult, truly difficult...
With Taduk lost in thought, Guard Leader offers her unsolicited opinion. And why would he leave? The octopus knows you mean him no harm and is clever enough to take advantage. By your side, he is fed and sated, encountering neither trial nor tribulation. Sated. I bet she chose that word to needle me. What a bitch. A creature which once tread upon the Dao of Divinity has completely and utterly been ruined by your goodwill.
The last bit is spoken with scorn and contempt, as if collecting poor, defenceless baby floofs is a bad thing. Sure, my wildcat kittens probably wouldnt survive a day in the wild, and my bears even less, and yea, maybe Rocs too fat to fly now and the rest of the flock might soon follow, and maybe I abducted Mama Bun, her babies, and probably Blackjack by proxy too, but... Uh...
Wait... What was the point I was trying to make?
Oh right. This was an accident, I didnt want Sir Inks-a-lot as a pet. Hes slimy, gross, and tried to rape my face, all major no-nos. Id be over the moon if Sir Inky led us back to his home, where we would hopefully find Blobby and the answers to all of Taduks questions, then forever part ways with the immoral, degenerate octopus and forget he ever existed.
Ignoring Guard Leader, I tread water and wait for my teacher to finish his deliberations. Eventually, boredom takes over and I turn to watch Ping-Ping zip through the bay in sheer delight. Its easy to see how much she loves being out here, gliding through the waters without a care in the world while using her Chi to create currents which send quins tumbling in her wake. Theres something incredible about seeing a powerful, potentially dangerous apex predator playing around like a child, watching the results of her work with as close to a smile as her beaks allows. Guard Leader seems to think trials and tribulations are all there is to life, but even giant turtles and voracious roosequins deserve to blow off steam from time to time.
I wish I could forget all my troubles and be as happy as they are.
With nothing else to do but wait, I leave off my turtle/quin watching to parse through recent revelations. Its been a bit over two days since I discovered Baledagh and I are one and the same, and Im still sifting through the wreckage. Yesterday, after the Legates announcement regarding contests and challenges, everyone was too busy running around to register for different events, which left me plenty of alone time to think things through. Problem is, I was never great at sorting out my thoughts without getting sidetracked, since I tend to ramble when left alone. Its probably why (among other reasons) I created Baledagh, so Id have someone to confide in and keep me focused on the issue at hand. Plus, by sorting my problems out into two separate personalities, it kept me from getting overwhelmed by everything at once and even helped me see my issues objectively from a different viewpoint. When you get right down to it, creating an alter-ego was rather clever of me.
Says the self-deluding, bat-shit crazy schizophrenic.
After much pondering, more procrastinating, a long nap, and two good nights of sleep, Ive come to several conclusions. Baledagh, though a figment of my imagination, was real to me, so its okay to mourn him. It hurts knowing Ill never confide in my little brother again. It helped having someone to unload my problems on. Sure, in the end, it was me talking to me about my own problems, but theres something cathartic about having someone to trust and talk through my issues with. Baledagh was my little armchair psychiatrist, and while he rarely offered an opinion, I trusted his instincts and went with the flow, something I seem utterly incapable of doing on my own.
Because when it comes right down to it, Im a pessimistic cynic. I mean, I can barely bring myself to believe magic is real.
Its ridiculous. Ive seen people perform super human feats using Chi, felt the Energy of the Heavens moving through me, done things which seem to defy the laws of physics and common sense, and yet I still have trouble believing certain things are possible. Take, for example, Enlightenment, Insight, and Awakenings, three different terms for three similar processes. Am I really supposed to believe theres an all-powerful creator sitting around who uploads information directly into my brain? Why? For shits and giggles? Did the Mother fuck up with her magic system and couldnt offer a coherent explanation, so shes forced to manually hotfix every Martial Warrior who needs it? It sounds so far-fetched that even after experiencing it firsthand and seeing the effects in others, I still cant accept it for what it is.
I want to believe, but I cant. Theres always this tiny voice in my head telling me there must be some trick, that there is no all-powerful, omnipotent being watching us from above and magic is merely science which has yet to be explained. Problem is, Im not smart enough to figure things out, but Im arrogant enough to believe that if it cant be explained, then it must not be real.
Oh its no trouble. Laying in the grass with one hand behind his head, he rests one foot against his knee and resumes smoking. Found it strange is all. Legate crowns you number one talent in the Empire and youre acting like the worlds coming to an end.
Isnt it?
Guan Suo lifts his head ever so slightly to shoot me a quizzical look, and I shrug in response. I came here to defend the Empire from the Defiled, but so far, all weve done is hand out gifts and fight amongst ourselves. Any day now, an army could come marching in on the horizon, and weve done shit all to prepare, still fighting amongst ourselves. Ive almost died twice now, yet havent seen a single Defiled, but Im expected to fight alongside these people? Now, I find out theres two weeks of contests and challenges scheduled, an entire twenty days of games and nonsense, so forgive me for preemptively mourning the loss of Central.
Huh. Resting his head once more, Guan Suo says, Never pegged you for a quitter.
Im not, but everyone seems perfectly content to attend banquets and perform dances while the world burns to ashes around them, so why should I care about Centrals fate when no one else does?
Idiot. Guan Suos succinct statement is followed by a long draw on his pipe. You ever stop to think why the Legate arranged all this?
No, not really. Er... To raise morale?
Got it in one. Smarter than you look, boy.
I cant decide if thats a compliment or an insult. ...Still, as vital as morale is, there are more important things to focus on, like troop deployments, supply lines, c-
Wrong. A ring of smoke billows out of the grass and into the air. Guess youre not so smart after all. Youre too focused on the Defiled, when instead you should focus more on the Enemy.
What? Arent they the same thing.
The Defiled are not the Enemy, merely tools turned to the Enemys cause. The Demons are our Enemy, and their favoured weapons are fear and despair coupled with deceit and false hope. Theres no hatred or emotion in his words, uttered with the passion one would give a grocery list or instructional pamphlet. Ive been around long enough to know, every time the Enemy scores a major victory, the Empire sees large numbers of commoners turned Defiled. They lose faith in their stalwart defenders and give in to the Enemy, happens every time theres an incursion or raiding party. This time, we lost an entire province, hence the need for all this spectacle. Guarantee every city across the Empire is doing the same, sparing no expense to keep people happy and distracted with games and nonsense.
Huh. Makes sense. The preparations gives the commoners something to focus on besides their imminent doom, and showing off our greatest champions gives them something to believe in. Its a literal battle between hope and despair. If left to their own devices, how many commoners would turn Defiled? Even one percent of the population would match the Empires total Martial Warriors, which means keeping morale high isnt just vital, its virtually a requirement for victory. Theres no point laying down lines of defence if the Enemy takes root in the hearts of the people were supposed to defend.
Okay... maybe this world isnt as stupid as I once thought.
Besides, Guan Suo continues, probably to keep my spirits up, Just because you werent asked to lend a hand doesnt mean no ones working on defending the province proper. You seen the little scamp around lately, or her pup you call a Mentor? No, because theyre busy doing their part, so quit your moping before I give you something to cry about, got it?
Mother in Heaven... how did I not see this before? The similarities dont end at the red-panda ears and tail, no it goes so much deeper. So cold and hostile on the surface, yet possessing a soft, sweet, gooey centre, like (his presumably half-sister) Mila, grumpy old Guan Suo is a grade A, certified tsundere.
So adorable. I really wish I caught a red-panda now...
Maybe on the way home, after we defeat the Defiled and send the Enemy packing. For now, Ill have to settle with cuddling quin pups.
Now, wheres Zabu hiding his adorable babies? I demand a snuggling!
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 356: Challenge
Okay, third times the charm.
Stepping off the boat and into the crystal clear bay, I surface to find two dark, inhuman eyes peeking out from the water and watching my every move. Sir Inkys veiny, bulbous head bobs up and down as he lazily flaps his tentacles to keep afloat, unwilling to leave my side even though hes free to swim wherever he pleases. Look around little buddy. His eyes blink, but otherwise stay locked on me, attempting to decipher the meaning behind my words and gestures yet failing horribly. Its the bay. We picked you up around here, remember? He better remember, its only been three days and we kept him out of the bay for a day and a half at most. Im here to send you off. Again. Dont worry, nothing bad will happen. See?
Since hand gestures arent working I maneuver myself between Sir Inky and Ping-Ping so he can see her swimming about while playing with the quins. Ping-Ping wont try to eat you again. Promise. Not gonna lie, it was a real close call. The quins wont either. Theyre great at differentiating between friends and food, else Mama Bun and her babies wouldnt have survived this long. Or me for that matter. When I think back on all the stupid things I did around them, like snatching random pups to cuddle or scaring Pafu awake for laughs, its a miracle Zabus the only quin whos tried to kill me. Theres nothing stopping you from leaving. This time. Youre free. Its time to go home, Inky. Go. home.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
Tired of staying afloat, Sir Inky extends a tentacle and wraps himself around my wrist. Blowing a stream of bubbles, his eyes blink sleepily as he settles into place, apparently unused to waking so early. With a full body shudder, Sir Inkys colour ripples and shifts from a mottled brown to match the colour of my skin, making him look like a peachy white tumour on my forearm.
...You son of a bitch octopus, I told you to go home. Why dont you go home? The bay is your home. What are you too good for your home? Answer me!
After much pleading and cajoling, I give up on getting rid of Inky and swim back to the boat to speak with Taduk. This isnt working. Weve tried a dozen places in the afternoon, evening, and now morning, but Sir Inky clearly doesnt want to leave.
Hmm... Looking ridiculous with a bowl on his head, Taduk rests his chin on one hand and mumbles into his fingers. He refuses to leave and we cannot afford to scare him off, this is difficult, truly difficult...
With Taduk lost in thought, Guard Leader offers her unsolicited opinion. And why would he leave? The octopus knows you mean him no harm and is clever enough to take advantage. By your side, he is fed and sated, encountering neither trial nor tribulation. Sated. I bet she chose that word to needle me. What a bitch. A creature which once tread upon the Dao of Divinity has completely and utterly been ruined by your goodwill.
The last bit is spoken with scorn and contempt, as if collecting poor, defenceless baby floofs is a bad thing. Sure, my wildcat kittens probably wouldnt survive a day in the wild, and my bears even less, and yea, maybe Rocs too fat to fly now and the rest of the flock might soon follow, and maybe I abducted Mama Bun, her babies, and probably Blackjack by proxy too, but... Uh...
Wait... What was the point I was trying to make?
Oh right. This was an accident, I didnt want Sir Inks-a-lot as a pet. Hes slimy, gross, and tried to rape my face, all major no-nos. Id be over the moon if Sir Inky led us back to his home, where we would hopefully find Blobby and the answers to all of Taduks questions, then forever part ways with the immoral, degenerate octopus and forget he ever existed.
Ignoring Guard Leader, I tread water and wait for my teacher to finish his deliberations. Eventually, boredom takes over and I turn to watch Ping-Ping zip through the bay in sheer delight. Its easy to see how much she loves being out here, gliding through the waters without a care in the world while using her Chi to create currents which send quins tumbling in her wake. Theres something incredible about seeing a powerful, potentially dangerous apex predator playing around like a child, watching the results of her work with as close to a smile as her beaks allows. Guard Leader seems to think trials and tribulations are all there is to life, but even giant turtles and voracious roosequins deserve to blow off steam from time to time.
I wish I could forget all my troubles and be as happy as they are.
With nothing else to do but wait, I leave off my turtle/quin watching to parse through recent revelations. Its been a bit over two days since I discovered Baledagh and I are one and the same, and Im still sifting through the wreckage. Yesterday, after the Legates announcement regarding contests and challenges, everyone was too busy running around to register for different events, which left me plenty of alone time to think things through. Problem is, I was never great at sorting out my thoughts without getting sidetracked, since I tend to ramble when left alone. Its probably why (among other reasons) I created Baledagh, so Id have someone to confide in and keep me focused on the issue at hand. Plus, by sorting my problems out into two separate personalities, it kept me from getting overwhelmed by everything at once and even helped me see my issues objectively from a different viewpoint. When you get right down to it, creating an alter-ego was rather clever of me.
Says the self-deluding, bat-shit crazy schizophrenic.
After much pondering, more procrastinating, a long nap, and two good nights of sleep, Ive come to several conclusions. Baledagh, though a figment of my imagination, was real to me, so its okay to mourn him. It hurts knowing Ill never confide in my little brother again. It helped having someone to unload my problems on. Sure, in the end, it was me talking to me about my own problems, but theres something cathartic about having someone to trust and talk through my issues with. Baledagh was my little armchair psychiatrist, and while he rarely offered an opinion, I trusted his instincts and went with the flow, something I seem utterly incapable of doing on my own.
Because when it comes right down to it, Im a pessimistic cynic. I mean, I can barely bring myself to believe magic is real.
Its ridiculous. Ive seen people perform super human feats using Chi, felt the Energy of the Heavens moving through me, done things which seem to defy the laws of physics and common sense, and yet I still have trouble believing certain things are possible. Take, for example, Enlightenment, Insight, and Awakenings, three different terms for three similar processes. Am I really supposed to believe theres an all-powerful creator sitting around who uploads information directly into my brain? Why? For shits and giggles? Did the Mother fuck up with her magic system and couldnt offer a coherent explanation, so shes forced to manually hotfix every Martial Warrior who needs it? It sounds so far-fetched that even after experiencing it firsthand and seeing the effects in others, I still cant accept it for what it is.
I want to believe, but I cant. Theres always this tiny voice in my head telling me there must be some trick, that there is no all-powerful, omnipotent being watching us from above and magic is merely science which has yet to be explained. Problem is, Im not smart enough to figure things out, but Im arrogant enough to believe that if it cant be explained, then it must not be real.
Oh its no trouble. Laying in the grass with one hand behind his head, he rests one foot against his knee and resumes smoking. Found it strange is all. Legate crowns you number one talent in the Empire and youre acting like the worlds coming to an end.
Isnt it?
Guan Suo lifts his head ever so slightly to shoot me a quizzical look, and I shrug in response. I came here to defend the Empire from the Defiled, but so far, all weve done is hand out gifts and fight amongst ourselves. Any day now, an army could come marching in on the horizon, and weve done shit all to prepare, still fighting amongst ourselves. Ive almost died twice now, yet havent seen a single Defiled, but Im expected to fight alongside these people? Now, I find out theres two weeks of contests and challenges scheduled, an entire twenty days of games and nonsense, so forgive me for preemptively mourning the loss of Central.
Huh. Resting his head once more, Guan Suo says, Never pegged you for a quitter.
Im not, but everyone seems perfectly content to attend banquets and perform dances while the world burns to ashes around them, so why should I care about Centrals fate when no one else does?
Idiot. Guan Suos succinct statement is followed by a long draw on his pipe. You ever stop to think why the Legate arranged all this?
No, not really. Er... To raise morale?
Got it in one. Smarter than you look, boy.
I cant decide if thats a compliment or an insult. ...Still, as vital as morale is, there are more important things to focus on, like troop deployments, supply lines, c-
Wrong. A ring of smoke billows out of the grass and into the air. Guess youre not so smart after all. Youre too focused on the Defiled, when instead you should focus more on the Enemy.
What? Arent they the same thing.
The Defiled are not the Enemy, merely tools turned to the Enemys cause. The Demons are our Enemy, and their favoured weapons are fear and despair coupled with deceit and false hope. Theres no hatred or emotion in his words, uttered with the passion one would give a grocery list or instructional pamphlet. Ive been around long enough to know, every time the Enemy scores a major victory, the Empire sees large numbers of commoners turned Defiled. They lose faith in their stalwart defenders and give in to the Enemy, happens every time theres an incursion or raiding party. This time, we lost an entire province, hence the need for all this spectacle. Guarantee every city across the Empire is doing the same, sparing no expense to keep people happy and distracted with games and nonsense.
Huh. Makes sense. The preparations gives the commoners something to focus on besides their imminent doom, and showing off our greatest champions gives them something to believe in. Its a literal battle between hope and despair. If left to their own devices, how many commoners would turn Defiled? Even one percent of the population would match the Empires total Martial Warriors, which means keeping morale high isnt just vital, its virtually a requirement for victory. Theres no point laying down lines of defence if the Enemy takes root in the hearts of the people were supposed to defend.
Okay... maybe this world isnt as stupid as I once thought.
Besides, Guan Suo continues, probably to keep my spirits up, Just because you werent asked to lend a hand doesnt mean no ones working on defending the province proper. You seen the little scamp around lately, or her pup you call a Mentor? No, because theyre busy doing their part, so quit your moping before I give you something to cry about, got it?
Mother in Heaven... how did I not see this before? The similarities dont end at the red-panda ears and tail, no it goes so much deeper. So cold and hostile on the surface, yet possessing a soft, sweet, gooey centre, like (his presumably half-sister) Mila, grumpy old Guan Suo is a grade A, certified tsundere.
So adorable. I really wish I caught a red-panda now...
Maybe on the way home, after we defeat the Defiled and send the Enemy packing. For now, Ill have to settle with cuddling quin pups.
Now, wheres Zabu hiding his adorable babies? I demand a snuggling!
Chapter Meme
Chapter 356: ChallengeOkay, third times the charm.Stepping off the boat and into the crystal clear bay, I surface to find two dark, inhuman eyes peeking out from the water and watching my every move. Sir Inkys veiny, bulbous head bobs up and down as he lazily flaps his tentacles to keep afloat, unwilling to leave my side even though hes free to swim wherever he pleases. Look around little buddy. His eyes blink, but otherwise stay locked on me, attempting to decipher the meaning behind my words and gestures yet failing horribly. Its the bay. We picked you up around here, remember? He better remember, its only been three days and we kept him out of the bay for a day and a half at most. Im here to send you off. Again. Dont worry, nothing bad will happen. See?Since hand gestures arent working I maneuver myself between Sir Inky and Ping-Ping so he can see her swimming about while playing with the quins. Ping-Ping wont try to eat you again. Promise. Not gonna lie, it was a real close call. The quins wont either. Theyre great at differentiating between friends and food, else Mama Bun and her babies wouldnt have survived this long. Or me for that matter. When I think back on all the stupid things I did around them, like snatching random pups to cuddle or scaring Pafu awake for laughs, its a miracle Zabus the only quin whos tried to kill me. Theres nothing stopping you from leaving. This time. Youre free. Its time to go home, Inky. Go. home.Read latest chapters at novelbin.com OnlyTired of staying afloat, Sir Inky extends a tentacle and wraps himself around my wrist. Blowing a stream of bubbles, his eyes blink sleepily as he settles into place, apparently unused to waking so early. With a full body shudder, Sir Inkys colour ripples and shifts from a mottled brown to match the colour of my skin, making him look like a peachy white tumour on my forearm....You son of a bitch octopus, I told you to go home. Why dont you go home? The bay is your home. What are you too good for your home? Answer me!After much pleading and cajoling, I give up on getting rid of Inky and swim back to the boat to speak with Taduk. This isnt working. Weve tried a dozen places in the afternoon, evening, and now morning, but Sir Inky clearly doesnt want to leave.Hmm... Looking ridiculous with a bowl on his head, Taduk rests his chin on one hand and mumbles into his fingers. He refuses to leave and we cannot afford to scare him off, this is difficult, truly difficult...With Taduk lost in thought, Guard Leader offers her unsolicited opinion. And why would he leave? The octopus knows you mean him no harm and is clever enough to take advantage. By your side, he is fed and sated, encountering neither trial nor tribulation. Sated. I bet she chose that word to needle me. What a bitch. A creature which once tread upon the Dao of Divinity has completely and utterly been ruined by your goodwill.The last bit is spoken with scorn and contempt, as if collecting poor, defenceless baby floofs is a bad thing. Sure, my wildcat kittens probably wouldnt survive a day in the wild, and my bears even less, and yea, maybe Rocs too fat to fly now and the rest of the flock might soon follow, and maybe I abducted Mama Bun, her babies, and probably Blackjack by proxy too, but... Uh...Wait... What was the point I was trying to make?Oh right. This was an accident, I didnt want Sir Inks-a-lot as a pet. Hes slimy, gross, and tried to rape my face, all major no-nos. Id be over the moon if Sir Inky led us back to his home, where we would hopefully find Blobby and the answers to all of Taduks questions, then forever part ways with the immoral, degenerate octopus and forget he ever existed.Ignoring Guard Leader, I tread water and wait for my teacher to finish his deliberations. Eventually, boredom takes over and I turn to watch Ping-Ping zip through the bay in sheer delight. Its easy to see how much she loves being out here, gliding through the waters without a care in the world while using her Chi to create currents which send quins tumbling in her wake. Theres something incredible about seeing a powerful, potentially dangerous apex predator playing around like a child, watching the results of her work with as close to a smile as her beaks allows. Guard Leader seems to think trials and tribulations are all there is to life, but even giant turtles and voracious roosequins deserve to blow off steam from time to time.I wish I could forget all my troubles and be as happy as they are.With nothing else to do but wait, I leave off my turtle/quin watching to parse through recent revelations. Its been a bit over two days since I discovered Baledagh and I are one and the same, and Im still sifting through the wreckage. Yesterday, after the Legates announcement regarding contests and challenges, everyone was too busy running around to register for different events, which left me plenty of alone time to think things through. Problem is, I was never great at sorting out my thoughts without getting sidetracked, since I tend to ramble when left alone. Its probably why among other reasons I created Baledagh, so Id have someone to confide in and keep me focused on the issue at hand. Plus, by sorting my problems out into two separate personalities, it kept me from getting overwhelmed by everything at once and even helped me see my issues objectively from a different viewpoint. When you get right down to it, creating an alter-ego was rather clever of me.Says the self-deluding, bat-shit crazy schizophrenic.After much pondering, more procrastinating, a long nap, and two good nights of sleep, Ive come to several conclusions. Baledagh, though a figment of my imagination, was real to me, so its okay to mourn him. It hurts knowing Ill never confide in my little brother again. It helped having someone to unload my problems on. Sure, in the end, it was me talking to me about my own problems, but theres something cathartic about having someone to trust and talk through my issues with. Baledagh was my little armchair psychiatrist, and while he rarely offered an opinion, I trusted his instincts and went with the flow, something I seem utterly incapable of doing on my own.Because when it comes right down to it, Im a pessimistic cynic. I mean, I can barely bring myself to believe magic is real.Its ridiculous. Ive seen people perform super human feats using Chi, felt the Energy of the Heavens moving through me, done things which seem to defy the laws of physics and common sense, and yet I still have trouble believing certain things are possible. Take, for example, Enlightenment, Insight, and Awakenings, three different terms for three similar processes. Am I really supposed to believe theres an all-powerful creator sitting around who uploads information directly into my brain? Why? For shits and giggles? Did the Mother fuck up with her magic system and couldnt offer a coherent explanation, so shes forced to manually hotfix every Martial Warrior who needs it? It sounds so far-fetched that even after experiencing it firsthand and seeing the effects in others, I still cant accept it for what it is.I want to believe, but I cant. Theres always this tiny voice in my head telling me there must be some trick, that there is no all-powerful, omnipotent being watching us from above and magic is merely science which has yet to be explained. Problem is, Im not smart enough to figure things out, but Im arrogant enough to believe that if it cant be explained, then it must not be real.Oh its no trouble. Laying in the grass with one hand behind his head, he rests one foot against his knee and resumes smoking. Found it strange is all. Legate crowns you number one talent in the Empire and youre acting like the worlds coming to an end.Isnt it?Guan Suo lifts his head ever so slightly to shoot me a quizzical look, and I shrug in response. I came here to defend the Empire from the Defiled, but so far, all weve done is hand out gifts and fight amongst ourselves. Any day now, an army could come marching in on the horizon, and weve done shit all to prepare, still fighting amongst ourselves. Ive almost died twice now, yet havent seen a single Defiled, but Im expected to fight alongside these people? Now, I find out theres two weeks of contests and challenges scheduled, an entire twenty days of games and nonsense, so forgive me for preemptively mourning the loss of Central.Huh. Resting his head once more, Guan Suo says, Never pegged you for a quitter.Im not, but everyone seems perfectly content to attend banquets and perform dances while the world burns to ashes around them, so why should I care about Centrals fate when no one else does?Idiot. Guan Suos succinct statement is followed by a long draw on his pipe. You ever stop to think why the Legate arranged all this?No, not really. Er... To raise morale?Got it in one. Smarter than you look, boy.I cant decide if thats a compliment or an insult. ...Still, as vital as morale is, there are more important things to focus on, like troop deployments, supply lines, c-Wrong. A ring of smoke billows out of the grass and into the air. Guess youre not so smart after all. Youre too focused on the Defiled, when instead you should focus more on the Enemy.What? Arent they the same thing.The Defiled are not the Enemy, merely tools turned to the Enemys cause. The Demons are our Enemy, and their favoured weapons are fear and despair coupled with deceit and false hope. Theres no hatred or emotion in his words, uttered with the passion one would give a grocery list or instructional pamphlet. Ive been around long enough to know, every time the Enemy scores a major victory, the Empire sees large numbers of commoners turned Defiled. They lose faith in their stalwart defenders and give in to the Enemy, happens every time theres an incursion or raiding party. This time, we lost an entire province, hence the need for all this spectacle. Guarantee every city across the Empire is doing the same, sparing no expense to keep people happy and distracted with games and nonsense.Huh. Makes sense. The preparations gives the commoners something to focus on besides their imminent doom, and showing off our greatest champions gives them something to believe in. Its a literal battle between hope and despair. If left to their own devices, how many commoners would turn Defiled? Even one percent of the population would match the Empires total Martial Warriors, which means keeping morale high isnt just vital, its virtually a requirement for victory. Theres no point laying down lines of defence if the Enemy takes root in the hearts of the people were supposed to defend.Okay... maybe this world isnt as stupid as I once thought.Besides, Guan Suo continues, probably to keep my spirits up, Just because you werent asked to lend a hand doesnt mean no ones working on defending the province proper. You seen the little scamp around lately, or her pup you call a Mentor? No, because theyre busy doing their part, so quit your moping before I give you something to cry about, got it?Mother in Heaven... how did I not see this before? The similarities dont end at the red-panda ears and tail, no it goes so much deeper. So cold and hostile on the surface, yet possessing a soft, sweet, gooey centre, like his presumably half-sister Mila, grumpy old Guan Suo is a grade A, certified tsundere.So adorable. I really wish I caught a red-panda now...Maybe on the way home, after we defeat the Defiled and send the Enemy packing. For now, Ill have to settle with cuddling quin pups.Now, wheres Zabu hiding his adorable babies? I demand a snuggling!Chapter Meme
