"Stupid bandit,” Taiga muttered under her breath, only loud enough for Yuzuru to hear. “Filthy Liar.”

Yuzuru chuckled and glanced back. Not more than ten steps behind them, the kids were skipping around Gweyn, tugging at her cape and giggling at whatever story she was telling them this time.

Turned out, she was pretty good with kids.

“Dumb rogue.”

“So that plan of yours,” Yuzuru said, trying to distract Taiga. “How were you going to get the money to afford a place to live in the city? Unless you planned on saving me from a wealthy cave-dwelling mini-boss.”

Taiga turned her attention back to the road. “I was going to stick up the next village,” she said.

“Stick up?” Yuzuru said. "Like, rob?"

“Yea," said Taiga. "What, how do you say it?”

Yuzuru shook his head. “Nevermind.”

At noon, they stopped for a brief meal, made briefer when Gweyn suggested they take a shortcut. Taiga immediately accused her of trying to lead them into a trap, which lead to the two bickering, stopping only when Yuzuru threatened to leave them both behind.

They reached a tiny village by afternoon, a few hours later than if they took Gweyn’s shortcut, according to her.

“I’m just glad we have somewhere to stay tonight,” Yuzuru said. He stepped up to the path of dirt acting as the village entrance and took it all in.

A singular road stretched between two rows of wooden cottages, splitting around a small clearing in the middle of the village. There weren’t many people about. Those who were seemed like they hadn’t slept in days. All along the road, workers carrying heavy loads dragged themselves on sluggish legs, their backs stooped like old men.

Taiga pointed to one of the nearby houses with one of its walls missing. “Seems we weren’t the only ones hit hard by this year’s Blight Moon.”

Gweyn whistled. “This is why you should stay away from civilization," she said. "Those Beasts sniff out people like they were made for- ouch! Hey!” She spun around, revealing Likar clutching onto something crescent-shaped bulging from beneath her cape. “Stop that!”

The leopard-boy giggled. “You have wings.”

Gweyn plucked the boy off and set him on his feet. “And you, mister, have to learn about boundaries," she said.

Likar hung his head and said sorry.

Gweyn smiled and pinched his cheek, then said suddenly, “Race you guys to the statue!” and took off running.

Yuzuru watched as the children raced after Gweyn, giggling and falling over each other. He was surprised, to say the least. Gweyn didn’t look very old, yet had the air of someone mature and put-together. She reminded him of Honoka.

“They shouldn’t have let the Blight Beasts wreck so much havoc,” Taiga said.

“Who?” Yuzuru asked.

Taiga tried to flag down a passerby, but the man barely registered her presence and carried on walking. Frowning, she tried again, but the villagers simply looked too dazed to understand her.

A shadow fell across Yuzuru’s face. He looked up to see a huge log descending on him. Leaping out the way, he shouted to the man carrying the log, “What’s your deal?”

The man dropped his arms, letting the log slip onto the floor. Swaying on the spot, he whispered, “So tired,” and fell to the ground.

No one stopped to help the man. They just went about their business like it was a normal occurrence.

The man didn't move.

“What is going on?” Yuzuru asked.

“He must be overworked,” Taiga answered, feeling the man's neck for a pulse. “I have no idea why. It’s been half a week since the Blight Moon and it looks like they’ve barely even started on the repairs.”

Yuzuru crouched by the villager's head and took a closer look. The man seemed alarmingly normal. He was well-groomed and clean. Even his nails were cut.

“It’s like he had just come from a date,” Yuzuru said.

“Maybe he was up all night,” Taiga said.

“All of them?” asked Gweyn as she appeared between Yuzuru and Taiga.

“Do you have to always be so quiet?” Taiga huffed. “It makes you very suspicious.”

“I’ll try to be louder,” Gweyn said. She didn’t need to be, because her flock was back with her.

“The statue is so weird,” said Leona.

“Yea,” said Likar. “She’s totally naked.”

Taiga whirled around. “What?”

Gweyn held up both hands. “Not my fault. I didn’t know they worshiped a succubus.”

"Succubus?" Yuzuru zeroed in on the people passing by. He noted their fancy dress code and the bags under their eyes and began to connect the dots.

Leona pulled on the bottom of Taiga’s shirt. “I don’t want to be here.”

Taiga smiled apologetically. “Me neither, kiddo. But we’re out of supplies, and the sun is going down.”

Leona pouted.

The worker on the ground suddenly giggled. His eyes opened and he got up. “Goddess,” he said, looking at his logs scattered all over the ground. “I fell asleep again?”

“No, you were working very hard,” said Taiga, rolling her eyes.

The worker dragged a hand down his splotchy face. He looked embarrassed. “Well, we don’t get much sleep around here.”

“Figures,” said Gweyn.

The man’s expression turned grim as his sunken eyes took in the party, landing finally on Yuzuru. “It is good to see fresh faces,” he said. “But heed my warning, lad, do not stay the night. If you must, leave first thing in the morning.”

Before Yuzuru could ask anything, the man had already gathered the materials he dropped and was on his way. “Remember not to sleep here,” he called back.

Once the worker was gone, Yuzuru announced to his party in a bright voice, “Looks like we have a quest.”

Everyone looked at each other.

“No we don’t,” said Taiga. “Did you not hear that thinly-veiled warning?”

“But this village clearly needs help,” said Yuzuru.

“That’s not our problem.”

“God, Taiga. You’re starting to sound like my sister.”

“I actually agree with Kitty Cat for once,” Gweyn cut in. She had children hanging on her arms but didn’t seem at all hindered by them. “The longer we take getting to Bronzehaven, the more dangerous it is for these little darlings.” She swung her arms, eliciting bouts of giggling. “I also understand the Traveler’s urge to stick his nose into businesses that are not his. It’s one thing they all share. My mother says it is an important part of their existence, though I see it as a sickness.”

“That’s funny,” said Yuzuru. “On my planet, we call it Doing the Right Thing.”

“Unwarranted altruism begets personal sacrifice,” said Gweyn, her sharp red eyes cutting into Yuzuru. He felt like she could see right through him, into who he really was. But then she smiled and the tension was gone. “I’ll camp outside the village with the kids. I’ve lived outdoors long enough to know how to do it safely.”

“If you for one second think I’ll let you take them - ” Taiga’s words were cut off when Gweyn placed a finger on her lips.

“Then join us. I’m sure Yuzuru wouldn’t mind solving this case by himself.”

Taiga looked to him for confirmation. Yuzuru nodded, though he was starting to second-guess himself. He couldn’t let Taiga know this though, because that would be the same as asking her to choose between him or her kids.

“I’ll be fine,” he said. “What’s the worst that can happen, right?”