Seventh: Volume 8 [Complete] by Yomu Mishima

Author:Yomu Mishima
Language: eng
Format: epub

When I woke from my short nap, I found the three girls silently on guard. It didn’t seem like any of them had taken a rest, nor was there any indication that they were doing lookout duty on shifts.

“Sorry. I’ll take over,” I spoke up as I rose and used the Arts to check for the enemy’s position.

Our foe was slowly closing the distance.

“They’re pretty close. I feel bad for the three of you, but we should get moving soon.”

They all nodded, but... Something seemed off about Miranda and Eva. Aria seemed mindful of them, yet at the same time she looked a little afraid.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Nope.”

Miranda replied with a smile, while Eva gave a grumpy reply. Aria tried to say something, only to shut her mouth before she’d mustered any words.

Something was odd. Clearly, something had happened while I was asleep.

“Seriously, what’s wrong? Huh? Are you mad at me?”

I thought, perhaps, they were frustrated with me, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“I’m not mad. Let’s just go already,” Eva said as she walked off. Miranda followed with a shrug.

Once the two of them had gone ahead, Aria turned to me.

“You looked so peaceful when you were asleep. Color me jealous.”

“S-Sorry?”

She’s mad at me for sleeping? No, I find that hard to believe...

Aria let out a weary sigh before pressing on. I followed behind her.

Clenching the Jewel in my hand, I whispered to my ancestors, “Did something happen while I was asleep?”

The third head, somewhat hesitantly, said, “Nothing... Nothing at all. More importantly, you’re being chased. Why don’t you focus on that?”

It was like he was trying to cover something up.

“R-Right.”

***

The monster had molted. The fact that Lyle’s party had stopped for some time had come as a stroke of good luck. The lamia could take its time shedding its skin, its form now even closer to that of a snake.

Its entire body was now covered by scales, the slight protuberance of its chest the only vestige of what was once a more humanoid appearance. Its long, slender arms still remained near its head, now six in number. Additionally, the number of its fingers on each hand had decreased to three, and its claws had become far sharper.

By snuffing the life of a powerful foe, the monster had undergone Growth.

Its forked tongue flitted rapidly in and out of its mouth, its large goggling eyes scanned its surroundings. A large frog passed nearby. The Lamia’s elongated tongue swiftly wrapped around it and dragged it into its mouth where it was promptly swallowed.

But this wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. The lamia had grown too large for that. It had used up its energy for the molt and was starving.

Eventually confirming that Lyle and his party members were on the move, its eyes narrowed into uncanny arcs. It was almost like it was sneering.

The enlarged lamia swiftly slithered along the ground, tailing its prey.

***

The party moved swiftly through the forest. And all the while, Aria chastised herself. This is pathetic. I’m just a burden.

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