68: The Haul
“Oh?” Ember raised an eyebrow. “Look who’s grown a pair since we’ve last met.”
The wolfkin growled put their paws on the hilts of their swords.
Another fight already? Beatrice thought as she looked at the lionkin’s threatening grimace. Use [Daze] on one wolf, and have Olivia take care of the other one, she strategized and got ready to toggle on her [Sharp Claws]. Maybe it’s time to put some Skill Points into Combat Craft.
The hyena’s kept jittering back and forth between the wagon and the wolfkin, clearly unable to come to a decision whether their job is to continue protecting the wagon or join their boss against the new opponent.
Wouldn’t the boss expect them to be the first to act? But what if it’s a test of whether they’d keep to their original task or abandon their post? But it’s their job to hack and slash intruders! But it’s also their job to follow their boss’s orders without question!
The hyenas got nowhere in their closed logic loop and continued running a ten-foot little spring back and forth, having already trampled a narrow path for the two of them.
Samuel and his giraffekin partner didn’t even bother to stop to look at all the commotion and simply continued hauling the bags.
The lionkin suddenly started laughing in full force, his voice echoing against the massive walls behind them. Even his laughter was menacing though. A jaw filled with razor-sharp teeth, each longer and thicker than Beatrice’s index finger. It also flashed through Beatrice’s mind that there wasn’t a single person present whose entire head wouldn’t fit inside this brute’s gaping maw.
The lionkin smiled from ear to ear and screamed, “I’ve missed you, you little devil!”
He then ran up to Ember with a gleeful smile and with arms spread wide. But no matter how cheerful the lion may have seemed, the half-open jaw of a predator still made it look like the lionkin was running in for a quick snack. Beatrice dashed aside quickly and not a moment too soon as the giant, muscular lionkin would have probably swiped her away without even noticing.
“It’s been a while Bernard—UF!” all the air got squeezed out of Ember’s lungs in one, powerful hug. “Bh-Bernard? Hu—BERNARD!”
“Yes? Oh! My bad, my bad!” Bernard laughed and let Ember go. “I keep forgetting how fragile the frame of our most seasoned killer is.”
“Right,” Ember said and dusted herself off from all the hair that already stuck to her robe.
“When are you coming back?” Bernard asked. “I have contracts piling up, and we could use someone with your set of skills.”
“Not for some time it seems,” Ember answered. “I did warn you that this would be a big one.”
“I know, I know,” Bernard waved his gigantic paw. “It’s just that… Something’s been missing ever since you went to that group.”
“Uhuh. How’s tonight’s haul?”
“Erm,” Bernard looked at Olivia and Beatrice that stood just behind Ember. Out of the two, the lionkin studied Beatrice far longer. From top to bottom. “Th-the commoners aren’t really supposed to know about this place. Who is this stunning beauty, by the way?”
“It’s fine, they’re with me-eeh?” Bernard moved Ember aside mid-sentence and approached Beatrice.
“Where are my manners?” Bernard asked and took Beatrice’s hand with his giant paw. He then brought Beatrice’s hand to his jaw, but before Beatrice decided if she should slit his neck with her [Sharp Claws], he kissed her hand gently. “My name’s Bernard. A pleasure to meet you!”
“B-Beatrice,” Beatrice stuttered, surprised, trying to get a read on the eccentric beastkin. “L-likewise!”
“Oh, enough you old pervert!” Ember took Bernard’s paw off Beatrice’s tiny hand.
“My apologies,” Bernard said and winked to Beatrice with a light smile.
Beatrice’s heart might have just skipped a beat.
“Right! The haul!” Bernard reminded himself and looked back at the wagon. “Better than usual actually. We were already on our way here when we picked up four more to add to the pile. In surprisingly good condition too. The young foxkin lad looked particularly healthy, so my bet is that he’ll go on some royal’s plate.”
Huh? Beatrice wondered if she heard that right.
“Wh-what?” Olivia stuttered.
“Yeah, I didn’t believe it too at first,” Bernard concurred, though he might have missed what exactly was the ninja girl so surprised about. “Most of the beastkin meat is repulsive, but foxkin are an unusual exception, so it is rare to find a body so intact.”
“Oh,” was all that Beatrice could say as it all clicked together in her head. Oooh…