[Enrica POV]

I was scared…

Our plan was in pieces.

Taft, Stonoir and Ruin were captured and now there are three Succubus Orchids.

I can’t move.

Ruin’s kick left me immobile.

A feeling of hopelessness clouded my heart until…

This human; Lan, patted my head as if saying

‘You’ve done enough’

…

“I’ll repay my debt now. Leave it to me” [Lan]

(ZZZZAPPPP CRACKLE CRACKLE)

!!!

L-L-L-Lan is glowing!!!

He was full clad in lightning then

(BOOM!)

Like a thunderclap, it was instantaneous

.

.

.

[Lantern POV]

I clad myself in lightning, lunged myself at the succubus orchids then I maneuvered through the air with arcana.

First, I unsheathed my blade then cut all the fruits from the Succubus Orchids.

Second, I cut all of the vines and roots clinging onto the captured dwarves.

Lastly, I gave each of the Succubus Orchids a slice from the ground up in a vertical cut.

This all happened under 5 seconds.

The monster plants couldn’t react to my speed…

I don’t remember being this fast before…

Ah…!

Right, the avatar seed helps the host grow…

But still, that was a overkill

“”” EH? “”””

“Umm… are you all alright?” [Lan]

“””””EH?!?!?!””””

Huh~

Like I guessed, they assumed I was helpless.

I’ve been living in this forest for about 2 months you know?

Not entirely sure but I assume it’s been that long…

Who wouldn’t adapt to that?

The three dwarves that I rescued were now flat on the ground, gasping for air-

“HUFF… I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE” [Taft]

“…this means we can go home, right?” [Stonoir]

“We… were so ahead of ourselves… i-if… Lan was not around… we wouldn’t be here” [Ruin]

As they were feeling relieved, Enrica had her arm around Shen and walking towards us.

When Ruin noticed, he quickly stood up then performed a dogeza-

“I’M SO SORRY! AS THE LEADER I HAVE F-“ [Ruin]

“Stand up, Ruin” [Enrica]

“B-bu” [Ruin]

“Up” [Enrica]

When Ruin stood up-

(SLAP!)

?!

“Don’t regret what you did, you did it for me, right?” [Enrica]

“… I still hit you with full force” [Ruin]

“And I just slapped you with all of my strength, we’re even” [Enrica]

“What? If you slapped me at full strength I would have-“ [Ruin]

“Well, I’m exhausted, okay!? You kicked me in the stomach after all… That was all the strength I had left in me” [Enrica]

Enrica put up her fist…

“… Fine, not like I can win with an argument with you” [Ruin]

That fist bump reminds me of home…

With apologetic smiles on their faces, they were content.

After that, Enrica approached me… with a red face?

“Are you okay?” [Lan]

“I-I’m fine but that doesn’t matter right now-“ [Enrica]

I placed my hand on her forehead, maybe she caught a fever with all the stress that’s piling up on her right now

“See, you’re burning up. Drink some wa-“ [Lan]

“Shut up for a second!” [Enrica]

“Eh? Um, okay?” [Lan]

She’s different from earlier… isn’t she?

“T-Tha… thank you! For saving my friends, for saving us all, for saving me… thank you!” [Enrica]

I felt my heart skip a beat for a second.

H-how cute!

A little girl being so honest…

All is right with the world.

I saw an angel but I can’t say a word of what’s on my mind-

“Like I said, I only repaid my debt. No thanks needed, okay?” [Lan]

“HA? You think your worthless-of- a-human-worm’s life is equal to ours?! Dream on! Saving you was like saving a dog from drowning!”

…

How am I supposed to react to this statement?

“Which is why you have to come with us!” [Enrica]

“How does that make sense?” [Lan]

“It’s annoying but it was you who completed our objective and not us. We may be short but we are not low enough to take someone else’s credit. We’ll take you to our village” [Enrica]

I could see the other dwarves nodding in unison

Guess it can’t be helped…?

“Hmmm… fine, I’ll go with you” [Lan]

Enrica’s face suddenly glowed…

She really does look like a child hehe I can’t leave them behind anyway.

In the state that they’re in, traveling may as well be suicide.

“Heard me, Ruin?” [Enrica]

“Loud and clear” [Ruin]

Unlike the elves, these dwarves are really nice beings huh