The next morning, under the light of the morning sun, a tired-looking Gus carried his big sword and dragged heavy steps back down the mountain and walked towards the thatched house of blacksmith Gaut by the river.
"!!"
"It's Gus?!"
"Where did you go last night?"
"We went to the cave early in the morning to bring you food, but we didn't see you!"
"Are you OK?"
Seeing the figure of Gus, the youngest warrior in the Eagle Regiment, Rickett, who had avoided sacrifice because he was separated from Gus and the others during the Moment of Eclipse, met Erica, the adopted daughter of the blacksmith Gott. The two ran to meet him from a distance, and then asked hurriedly while panting heavily.
He hadn't found Gus since dawn and thought something had happened to him. But now, after seeing Gus appear, he finally felt relieved.
"!?"
"G-Gus!"
"your hands……"
"what is that?"
Then, after getting close to Gus, Rickett saw at a glance the golden flame-shaped mark on the back of Gus's hand holding the sword. Then, feeling a little surprised and stunned, he immediately He asked with a trembling voice in surprise.
That mark, even though it was golden, reminded him of the very bad mark on the back of Guts' neck and the one on Casca's chest.
"Um……"
"It's the mark of the devil..."
After staring at Rickett for a while, Gus finally didn't hide much, but suddenly smiled wryly and said this like a self-mockery.
"ah!"
"E-Devil?!"
Hearing this, Rickett and the little girl Erica beside him were both startled. Erica was so frightened that her eyes widened and she covered her mouth. At the same time, she hid directly behind Rickett. behind.
"You're talking nonsense!"
(`^)
"I'm not a devil!"
()
At this time, before Gus could continue to slander, a troubled little girl jumped out from behind the other person and retorted loudly.
It turned out that Annie had been following the tall and straight Gus, and the weeds on the road and on both sides were very tall, so Rickett and Erica didn't notice Gus just now. There was a villain like her following not far away.
"?!"
"you!!"
After being startled again, Rickett discovered that behind Gus was actually such a blond girl who looked smart, cute, well-behaved and fair. She looked very much like a young lady from an aristocratic family. Even in the past, she was... A little girl who is far inferior to the already very cute Erica?
"Hello!"
"Gus?"
"Who is she?"
Then, of course, Rickett, who didn't know where Gus had kidnapped such a little girl, hurriedly exclaimed to Gus again and asked.
"..."
Erica also poked her head out from behind Rickett at the right time and stared at Annie curiously.
"she?"
"Ah!"
"A terrible demon."
He glanced at Annie lightly, then looked at Rickett and Erica who were looking at him with curious faces and questioning looks. After thinking for a while, Gus said this coldly. , and then dragged his tired body forward without saying a word.
"!!"
!(;o)o
"Not a devil!"
(`^)
"Don't talk nonsense!"
(へ╬)
After hearing the other party slandering her again, Anne of course angrily waved her fists again and retorted loudly.
"..."
Unfortunately, Gus didn't pay attention to her. He just kept silent and walked step by step towards the thatched house in the distance by the river with a large waterwheel.
"Hi~!"
(^o^)
"Hello, my name is Annie. Don't listen to his nonsense. She is not a devil!"
o(*^▽^*)o
There was nothing she could do. Seeing that the guy was in a bad mood and looking pitiful, Anne thought about it and stopped trying to embarrass him. Instead, she turned her head towards the two people on the side, Rickett and Ricketts, who were looking at her in confusion. Erica explained this way.
"you……"
"Really not a bad person?"
Before Rickett could speak, Erica, who was hiding behind him, stuck out her head and looked at Anne curiously with her big beautiful eyes, while asking in a low voice.
"of course not!"
(**)
"How does he look like a bad person?"
(﹏、)
"Tell you the truth!"
(~)
"actually……."
(ˇεˇ)
"He is a great traveler who travels all over the world. At the same time, he is also a most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most most Arcane Archmage!"
(゜▽＾*)
Under Kit and Erica's curious, anxious and uncertain gazes, Anne introduced them to them in such a serious manner, directly frightening them into a daze, and then Finally, he winked at the two of them playfully.
"you……"
It was a good thing that Anne didn't introduce her in that way. As soon as she said that, Rickett, who was still a little wary and wanted to ask some questions, was immediately made to forget his words.
"!!"
"H-hello..."
"I'm Rickett, Gus' sidekick."
"This is Erica!"
"my friend."
After a while, Rickett suddenly reacted and hurriedly introduced himself subconsciously. Then, he did not forget to introduce Erica, the adopted daughter of his blacksmith friend Gaut, to Anne.
"OK!"
()
"I'm glad to see you!"
(^▽^)
Annie gave the two of them a sweet smile, and instantly made the two of them who were still wary because of Gus' words relax.
"that……"
"Let's talk while we walk. We've prepared breakfast. If you don't mind, let's use some together!"
He nodded, and then motioned for Anne to follow him and the two of them walked towards Gott's house, Rickett did not forget to ask strangely:
"Annie, how did you meet Gus?"
"besides!"
"Why did he call you a devil?"
Rickett was still a little worried about what Gus said just now. After all, he knew that Gus was not very good at joking, especially now.
However, now the light of the morning sun is shining on the three of them and dragging their shadows very long. Coupled with Anne's cute and cute face, Rickett is reluctant to go. Believe that Annie will be the devil.
After all, there's no way a demon could be that cute, that's for sure!
Furthermore, if it was really a demon, according to Rickett's understanding of Gus, the other party would never bring her back and would turn a blind eye and not attack her.
"It's nothing!"
(`)
"Actually, it's because of the mark on the back of his hand, the one you just saw. Someone gave it to him, but he probably didn't like it, and then he said he was a devil!"
(o▽)o
Annie had no intention of hiding it, and directly and openly told her about giving the mark to Uncle Gus.
"ah?"
"So this is ah……"
"etc!"
Rickett nodded subconsciously at first, and then, after recalling the mark he saw on the back of Gus's hand and Annie's series of introductions that almost stunned him, he suddenly turned his head and looked in shock. Look towards Annie.
"You just said you were a great mage?"
Rickett had also heard people talk about magic or witchcraft, so when he recalled that Annie had just claimed to be a mage, he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Unfortunately, no matter how he looked, he only found that Annie seemed to be just an ordinary little girl. Apart from being very cute and well-behaved, there seemed to be nothing special about her. She didn't even have a magic wand or divination in her hand. Use a crystal ball or something.
"yes!"
(￣▽￣)~*
“And he’s a super awesome guy!”
(-)
Since the two people in front of her invited her to have breakfast, Anne naturally did not hesitate to show off her skills to them.
"..."
"..."
Rickett and Erica looked at each other awkwardly, and then they both subconsciously thought that Annie must be just a little mage who can do some tricks, because a truly powerful person must not be a magician. Like her, she introduces herself to everyone and shows off herself and makes faces at others.
"Well……"
"Annie, that mark you gave Gus, I mean the one on the back of his hand, what's the use of it?"
"You won't bring trouble to him or attract all kinds of undead demons, right?"
While continuing to walk forward slowly, Rickett thought for a moment and then continued to ask.
After all, he knew that with Gus's temperament, especially at the critical moment when the Eagle Group had just been destroyed, Casca was driven crazy, and she lost one hand and one eye, he would definitely not make a joke casually and throw a person away. There must be some reason why such a clever and cute little girl, who I feel pity for, is called a devil.
"No way!"
(ˉ▽￣~)Cut~~
"His mark will only give him strength and help him kill those demons!"
(ˇεˇ)
"correct!"
(▽)
"Last night, he used the power of that mark to kill and purify all the incoming undead!"
(▽｀)
"If you don't believe it, you can ask him yourself later!"
()
For fear that the two of them would not believe it, while explaining, Anne also did not forget to provide evidence and said that she could confront the weird man when the time came.
"Bringing strength?"
"real?"
"But why does he have that expression?"
"Shouldn't he be happy?"
At this time, Erica, who was beside Rickett, couldn't help it anymore, and she directly put her head over and asked Annie curiously.
If it were Erica, and someone gave her strength, she would be happy before it was too late!
"yes!"
"Then why?"
Rickett also recalled that contradiction, and then hurriedly followed up and asked.
"because……"
()
"Because he refused to accept it, and then they forcibly stamped it on the back of his hand!"
()hey-hey!
Anne still didn't hesitate or conceal anything, and said it directly and proudly, as if it was a very honorable thing.
"ah!?"
"Forcibly printed on it?"
Hearing that Annie actually did that, Rickett and Erica couldn't help but look at each other in surprise again, and then finally figured out why Gus had such an expression and called her a devil.
"Annie..."
"I'm really surprised that you are alive..."
"It stands to reason that if you did that to Gus, he would definitely slash you with his sword immediately!"
"That's right!"
"Gus is not in a good state of mind right now. He really hates brands!!"
As a result, Rickett and Erica both exclaimed and teased Anne with some lingering fear. For the first time, they looked at Anne with some concern, as if they wanted to see what was going on in Anne. Are there any scars from being struck by a big sword?
"He chopped it!"
(へ╬)
"But not cutting!"
(゜▽＾*)
"Then, before he could cut anymore, those undead monsters came, and then he went to fight with them for most of the night, and he didn't stop until almost dawn."
(^▽^)
Anne openly admitted that it was true that she had been attacked by that strange uncle, and also explained why he had not come back until now.
Of course, she would never say that she deliberately trapped the undead to prevent them from leaving and asked Uncle Gus to fight them to the death. Naturally, the purpose was to force that guy to use the gift she had given him. Give the opponent the power in the holy light flame brand.
The result is naturally self-evident. The opponent used the power of that mark many times intentionally or unintentionally during the long battle. Although the feedback received was still very weak, it was enough to make the opponent remember it deeply. .
It was precisely because of that that the other party had a bad look on her face and declared that she was slandering Queen Anne as a devil.
"!!"
"It's true, I'll tell you!"
"It's a miracle you didn't die!"
"Um!"
"Gus is very powerful, Annie, you'd better not provoke him in the future, he's been in a really bad mood recently."
Hearing what Anne said, Rickett looked at Erica clearly again, shook his head and warned, not knowing what to say to Anne.
"Luckily you're a mage!"
"otherwise……"
Otherwise, Rickett did not continue.
However, he is finally willing to believe that Annie is a mage. After all, if it were an ordinary little girl, such as Erica, she would definitely not be able to last a round under Gus's hateful attack. will be cut in half.
Of course, there may be several cuts, and this is not the first time he has seen that kind of situation on the battlefield.
"Anyway, Annie, Gus is not in a good mood right now. Our Eagle Group has just experienced something..."
"So, if he did anything disrespectful, I'm here to apologize to you, please don't mind?"
"May I?"
Although he still had little idea of what happened between the two of them, after thinking about it, Rickett stopped and turned around to solemnly and sincerely apologize to Anne on Gus' behalf.
"oops!"
(*^▽^*)
"It doesn't matter!"
(^▽^)
"I'm sure they won't mind!"
(｀)
Waving her hands, Anne said that she didn't take that kind of thing to heart.
After all, if she cared about it, she would have just asked Tibbers to crush the opponent with one foot. Why would she give the opponent the Holy Light Brand and deliberately trap the incoming undead so that the opponent can practice and adapt? The existence of holy light?
"!!"
!? ('')
"What are you doing?"
(ˇˇ)
However, as the three of them gradually became familiar with each other, Erica soon became less acquainted and actually approached Anne on her own initiative, and then wanted to reach out to take out the crotch that was hung on the knot of Anne's skirt. Tibbers the bear scared Annie to dodge and asked.
"ah!"
"I do not……"
"Just want to see, Annie, this toy on your waist?"
"Is it a little bear?"
"Can you show it to me?"
Seeing Annie's reaction, Erica of course waved her hands quickly and asked with a flattering smile and hope.
"no!"
o(^｀)o
"Tibbers is very fierce, be careful he can eat you in one bite!"
(ˇεˇ)
Of course, Annie would not let a stranger she just met touch her little bear, especially the young lady in front of her who she just met. If the other person messed around, Tibbs might really swallow him up. of.
(…)
(●￣￣●)
(If he could, Tibbers would definitely protest loudly and say: A bear like this little female human with thin skin and tender flesh would chew it slowly and taste it, and would never swallow it in one bite!)
"ah?"
"laugh!"
"Annie, you are talking nonsense!"
"Dolls don't eat people!"
Obviously, Erica didn't believe it, and then she naturally wanted to reach out again.
"Go away!"
!!!∑(Дノ)ノ
"I really can't let you play around!"
⊙﹏⊙‖∣°
"Tibbers is really fierce!"
()
"Really can not!"
(~)
"Anyway, I won't give it to you!"
-
==()
Of course Annie wouldn't give it, and while dodging and playing with the other party, she ran forward quickly, preparing to catch up with the strange uncle who had already walked away.
"What's the big deal?"
"Hello!"
"Just for a moment?"
"stop!"
"Cheapskate! Stop now!!"
After finally meeting someone of the same age, Erica's playful little girl's temper suddenly got better, and then, she started to chase Annie regardless.
"Ai..."
"All right!"
Rickett originally wanted to stop the two of them, but after seeing the smile on Erica's face, he hesitated for a moment, and in the end he didn't say anything, but followed the two of them unhurriedly towards He walked toward the tall thatched house in the distance and smiled at the pretty figures of the two little girls playing around.
Speaking of which...
These days, the two of them are really tired of taking care of Gus and Cascade, and now, it's rare that Erica has a new playmate who is smiling so happily, so naturally he can't bear to disturb her. .
"Gus..."
But soon, after laughing, he had to turn his worried eyes to the figure further away who was walking silently at the front carrying a big sword.
——————————
(ー`ー) Where is the monthly pass?
