A Journey Unwanted
Chapter 555 - 542: Monster for a friend
[Realm: Álfheimr]
[Location: Heart Kingdom]
[Outskirts]
It did not take Mikoto long to find what he had been searching for.
Though, the moment he stepped into the clearing, he almost wished he had not.
The forest opened into a broad patch of surprisingly healthy earth. The brittle trees surrounding it leant inward, their old branches mixing together overhead. Despite the world’s decay, the clearing possessed an unsettling calm atmosphere.
And at its centre slept Deseruit Beasts.
A dozen, perhaps more.
The creatures should have been tearing one another apart over territory or prowling the forest in search of prey, yet every last one of them rested peacefully. Massive wolf-like beasts covered in overlapping scales breathed heavy breaths. Birdlike creatures with metallic feathers tucked their beaks beneath armored wings. Jagged reptilian monsters sprawled across the grass with their tails lazily coiled around themselves. Lion-like abominations, horned creatures, and things far stranger lay scattered throughout the clearing in complete contentment.
It looked more like a sanctuary.
That alone was disturbing enough.
Mikoto’s red eyes swept over the bizarre gathering without lingering. He had absolutely no interest in trying to understand why they had all become so tame.
He already knew the answer.
His gaze eventually settled upon the person responsible.
Long waves of raven-black hair spilt over the woman’s shoulders, framing a face that possessed an almost dangerous beauty. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene as though she were enjoying an afternoon nap rather than sleeping amidst creatures capable of tearing men to shreds.
She wore an elegant dark dress with a high neckline and long sleeves, beadwork and layered fabrics decorating the shoulders and bodice. And a finely crafted belt rested around her waist.
She reclined comfortably against an enormous Deseruit Beast resembling some fusion of a bear, an insect, and a winged predator. Thick fur grew between segments of black exoskeleton while folded wings rested across its back like an enormous blanket.
The beast itself looked comfortable. As though serving as her pillow was the most natural thing in the world.
"..."
Mikoto’s rosy lips curled into a visible frown; his disgust was immediate.
He walked forward without hesitation, stepping between the sleeping monsters. None of them reacted beyond the occasional twitch of an ear or lazy flick of a tail. Whether they ignored him because they recognised him or because they trusted the woman besides them hardly mattered.
It was still unsettling.
Stopping only a few paces away, Mikoto looked down at her.
"Oi." His voice was flat. "Wake up already."
Receiving no immediate response, he lightly nudged her foot with the toe of his armored sabaton.
It was hardly a kick, more a prod.
Slowly, emerald eyes fluttered open.
They focused on him almost immediately; recognition came first and then amusement.
"My, what a delightful sight to wake up to," the woman said as a slow smile spread across her painted lips. She stretched languidly, arms lifting above her head with ease. "If I had known it would be your face waiting for me, perhaps I should have slept longer. Waking to something this pretty almost feels like a reward."
Behind her, the enormous beast shifted slightly beneath her weight, releasing a low rumbling breath before settling once more.
Mikoto’s expression remained thoroughly unimpressed.
"Get your ass up." He didn’t bother disguising the irritation in his voice. "We’re leaving."
"So soon?" There was genuine disappointment in her tone.
She rose gradually to her feet, smoothing out the folds of her dress before spreading her arms towards the sleeping monsters surrounding them.
"I’ve barely had any time with my children. Look at them..." she said softly, her smile growing almost affectionate. "They’re finally resting peacefully. Is it truly so unreasonable for a mother to wish to spend a little longer with her family? Must you be so merciless as to drag me away already?"
Mikoto looked from one monster to another before returning his stare to her.
His face somehow managed to become even flatter.
"Echidna." He spoke her name quietly and almost gently. Which made the words that followed feel colder. "I wasn’t asking."
His scarlet eyes met hers without wavering.
"You seem to keep forgetting how this arrangement works, so let me remind you." His voice did not raise. "You’re only standing here because I pulled you away from that execution. You’re only breathing because I decided you were worth keeping alive. And you’re only walking around in that body because I gave it to you."
The heavy gauntlet resting at his side shifted slightly as his fingers flexed inside the alloy.
"So when I tell you we’re leaving..." A brief pause followed. "...we’re leaving." His expression did not change. "With me, it isn’t a request. You do what I tell you to do." His eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Otherwise I stop tolerating you."
For a brief second, silence settled between them.
Then Echidna sighed dramatically.
"My, how terrifying." Her shoulders slumped in theatrical defeat. "I do miss the version of you with black hair. She felt ever so slightly easier to tease."
"Shut it." The response came immediately.
Mikoto turned on his heel before she could continue, already walking towards the edge of the clearing as though the conversation had ended several sentences ago.
He fully expected her to follow.
After a brief glance towards the peacefully sleeping Deseruit Beasts, Echidna smiled to herself.
"Very well." She brushed an invisible speck of dust from her sleeve before leisurely falling into step behind him.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Only the sound of armored footsteps disturbed the quiet forest.
Echidna broke the silence.
"You seem considerably more irritable than usual." She tilted her head ever so slightly, studying the back of the small figure walking ahead of her. "Something happened while you were away, didn’t it?"
"Even if something did happen," Mikoto said flatly, not bothering to turn around as he continued walking through the lifeless forest, "what exactly makes you think I’d discuss it with you of all things?"
His voice carried little more than weary irritation. The question sounded genuine, but only because he truly could not understand her line of thinking.
Behind him, Echidna merely smiled.
"Because," she answered without offence, matching his pace with unhurried steps, "I have watched over countless children in one way or another. Whether they wished to admit it or not, many eventually found themselves burdened by matters they could not resolve alone. A mother’s perspective is not always unwelcome."
Mikoto gave a dry snort.
"Right." The single word dripped with disbelief. "I’m sure the Mother of Monsters has exactly the kind of comforting wisdom I’m looking for."
"I did not say my advice would be comforting." She tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "Only that it may prove useful."
Her emerald eyes wandered upward as she considered him.
"Though perhaps not." She tilted her head ever so slightly. "Beings such as yourself are different. From what little I have learned, Angels—particularly those of higher standing—tend to possess rather formidable pride. They carry themselves as though certainty were their birthright."
A small smile crossed her lips.
"Now you’ve made me curious." She looked directly at the back of his head. "What rank are you?"
Mikoto answered without missing a step.
"The rank that’s none of your damn business." His response came so quickly it almost sounded rehearsed.
Echidna sighed softly.
"My, you’re remarkably difficult." There was amusement in her voice rather than frustration. "You needn’t freeze the air every time I ask a question."
She paused, studying him for another moment before something seemed to occur to her.
"Ah." Understanding brightened her expression. "So that’s it." She nodded to herself. "You’re still irritated because of my rather forward proposal when we met."
There was no embarrassment in her voice despite what she was talking about.
"You needn’t concern yourself." Her smile softened into something almost reassuring. "I have no intention of pursuing that line of thought any longer."
That finally earned her a glance. Mikoto looked over his shoulder, one red eye narrowing.
"Oh?" His tone was openly sceptical. "You suddenly develop morals overnight?"
"I would not go quite that far." She answered honestly enough that it almost sounded refreshing. "My values have not changed." She looked at him carefully. "You simply strike me differently now." Her expression became oddly thoughtful.
"You’re far too delicate."
She gave a small nod, as though confirming her own conclusion.
"There is something unexpectedly innocent about you despite everything you’ve done. Some things lose their value the moment they’re stained." She smiled ever so slightly. "I think you’re one of those things."
Silence lingered for exactly one heartbeat, then Mikoto’s expression flattened.
"If you say anything even remotely like that again..." His voice remained calm. "...I’ll turn you into a snake."
There wasn’t the slightest hint that he considered it a joke.
Echidna regarded him for a long moment.
Then, with a slow exhale, she raised both hands in surrender.
"A wise warning."
The playful smile remained, but she wisely kept the rest of her thoughts to herself.
For several moments afterwards, only the sound of their footsteps accompanied them as they continued through the dead forest in silence.