Rubbing my temple, I muttered, "Okay, okay... think. Her trail was going south. That's a start."
[Outer South District | 3rd POV]
"We don't serve demons like you here!" a young man shouted, voice echoing through the second-floor window of a grimy tavern.
A small figure was hurled out into the street, landing hard on the stone path. Despite the fall, the figure twisted midair and landed on their feet, cloak flapping. They scrambled to wrap themselves tighter in their coat, trying to conceal their features.
But fate was cruel today-they'd landed right next to a table of three drunk locals.
"Beggars should just die!" one of them sneered, hurling a jug of cheap beer.
The ceramic smashed against the wall inches from the figure's head. Flinching, the small one ducked lower.
"Those marks... fuck off, you demon!" Another man growled, pointing at red markings faintly visible on the figure's arms.
"What's a damn demon doing here anyway?" A woman said, her face curled with disgust.
The little figure tugged the coat sleeves down tighter, lowering her head even more as the murmurs around her grew louder.
"The Church should just eradicate their kind."
"Don't say that out loud. What if Anabald's dogs hear you?"
"The Church would never allow them to do anything to us," someone else scoffed.
Heart pounding, the small figure took off running-blindly-legs pumping, hair flying behind her. She didn't care where she went. Just away.
THUD.
The girl collided with someone. Hard.
She staggered backward and looked up-right into the eyes of a tall dragonoid woman.
"Oh look," someone from the crowd chuckled, "the demon ran into another person."
"And a dragonoid nun, no less," a man added with a sneer.
"Shut up. Don't draw attention, or we'll get killed too," a woman hissed.
"Shit, this might be one hell of a show for us," one guy muttered, already settling into his seat.
"Yeah. I wonder if she'll torture the demon or just kill it."
"Who wants to bet on it?" a man shouted, holding up a coin bucket.
"Twenty silver on kill!"
"Fifty coppers on torture!"
"Cheapskate!"
"Shut up, Bob!"
While the crowd bickered and placed bets, neither of the two involved had moved.
The dragonoid was simply gazing at the small girl in a calm manner.
"Man, people really do talk too much these days, huh?" the woman spoke gently. "Don't they, little girl?"
The rabbit-eared demon said nothing. Her red eyes stared up, silent and tense.
"Kayda!? Kayda, where the fuck are you!?" A voice suddenly rang out from above-sharp, female, and annoyed.
Kayda's head snapped up. "Ah, shit. She found me."
"There you are, Kayda," I said, appearing beside her with a puff of displaced air.
[Kitsuna POV]
Kayda turned to me sheepishly. "Haha, I guess I'm it now-"
I flicked her forehead with a sharp thwack.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You interrupted me earlier."
"Well-"
"Just kill the damn demon already!" someone shouted from the side.
My eyes narrowed.
"Shut the fuck up!" I barked, releasing a sliver of killing intent. The air pressure dropped. The crowd around us dropped like rocks, gasping or fainting outright-everyone except one person.
One small figure stood frozen in front of us, looking up with crimson eyes that shimmered with faint fear-and something else.
'Analysis.'
Name: Nekro
Age: 13
Race: Rabbit Demon
Bloodline: Rabbit Devil
Level: 23
Class: Unknown
A rabbit demon?' I blinked. 'Never heard of that.'
I crouched down, intrigued. Reaching up, I gently pulled back her hood, revealing jet-black rabbit ears that gleamed with a strange shimmer-like they drank in the light.
'Cool... And she's so small-barely even a meter tall. Is this really what 13-year-olds look like here? But... shit. Devil bloodline. That's trouble.'
As I examined her, I let some of my killing intent linger, and she suddenly collapsed to her knees, breath caught in her throat.
"Oops. Sorry," I said, pulling it back instantly. "I was agitated."
I gave Kayda a pointed look.
"You're strong, right?" Nekro asked suddenly, her voice small but full of something fierce.
I smiled. "For my age, yeah. I'd say so."
"Will you train me?" she said, eyes locking with mine. "I don't care what I have to do-just please. Teach me how to control my power."
I blinked. Then smirked. "I was planning to take you in anyway."
"You were!?" Kayda and Nekro said at the same time.
"Yeah," I shrugged. "She's the perfect size to be used as a loli backpack. And she's cute."
"...Loli backpack?" Kayda asked.
"Oh, it's a thing from my past life. In stories, powerful warriors would always carry a sweet little girl on their back-either while traveling or fighting. Instant cool points."
"You... want her to be on your back while fighting?" Kayda asked.
"How is that supposed to be training?" Nekro added.
I rolled my eyes. "Obviously I'm going to train her too."
"You think the Church will just let you train a demon?" A man sneered, stepping out from the crowd.
"Demon? Wait-how did you all-" I started.
"They saw the marks on my arm," Nekro said quietly, looking down.
"Oh," I said, lifting my sleeve. "So you've got tattoos too?"
The crowd gasped at my inked arms.
"Another damn demon!" the man growled.
"The Church is pathetic if they let two of you walk free," someone muttered.
"You dumbasses," I said, snorting. "These are curses. That doesn't automatically mean demon. Though yeah... In our case, it does."
"Curse or demon, we don't want your kind here!" the man shouted, waving a fist.
"Haha, no worries," I said, walking past him and picking Nekro up like a plush toy, cradling her in my arms. "Go ahead and report us to your little cult. Make my job easier later."
"Cult!? Blasphemy!" The man roared, but I was already walking away.
"Let's go, Kayda," I said, grinning.
Kayda followed close behind. I heard Nekro mumble, "Ma'am..." Are you sure it's wise to insult the Church like that?"
"Ma'am?" I laughed. "I'm the same age as you. Call me Kitsuna."
"...We're the same age?" she asked, stunned.
"And yes," I added, "pissing off the Church will help later."
"How...?"
"You'll see," I said with a wink.
Just then, a loud growl came from Nekro's stomach. Her cheeks flushed.
"Let's get you some food first," I chuckled.
[Later-At a Restaurant]
Nekro devoured her food like a starving squirrel while Kayda and I sat across from her. I rested my chin on my hand, watching with mild awe.
"So," Kayda said, leaning in slightly. "What is your reason for wanting to keep her?"
"She's interesting," I said plainly. "I want her in my squad."
"She's our age."
I nodded.
"You want a 13-year-old to join your team of lunatics?"
"Yeah. Apricot needs a partner."
"You want to pair her with a child?"
"Yup. For some reason, I think these two would click."
"Click how?" Kayda asked, narrowing her eyes. "Romantic or fighting partners?"
I stared at her. "I haven't even seen her fight. What do you think I mean?"
"...Are you sure she isn't interested in someone else?" Kayda said, Oddly aggressive.
I raised an eyebrow. "Positive."
"She's an ex-Federation soldier, Kitsuna. She might be playing you."
"She's suffered," I said, my voice firm now. "I've seen what she's been through. Hell, her past might be worse than mine."
Kayda stiffened.
"Don't hate her just because we're close," I added, staring her down. 'Jealous much?'
"Anyway," I continued, "her bloodline is intriguing. Never heard of a rabbit devil before."
Kayda blinked. "Devil?"
"Yep."
Kayda glanced at Nekro, eyes narrowing.
"If you're thinking of harming her," I said flatly, "I'll use every skill I have to disappear with her."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good. Because I've got things under control."
"Really?" Kayda said with a smirk. "Like that time you stabbed Brenda and had Sirone on you?"
"We agreed never to talk about that," I said through gritted teeth.
"Help! Help, Kayda! Sirone's trying to kill me!'" she mimicked in a high voice.
"Tsk. Her arrows hurt, okay?!"
Kayda laughed, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "You're running for your life from someone half your size... Priceless."
"If you two are done," Nekro said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I'm finished. We can go now."
I blinked at the sheer amount she'd eaten... and smiled.
Hahaha, I thought about making Kitsuna figure it out, but it's too early for that. They only know each other for a week, but now you guys know her thoughts about the soul mate process.
Also, hehe, a loli backpack. HAHAHAHA I bet when I completely describe Nekro in the next chapter, this combo might even be better than Zaraki and Yachiro.
What am I kidding? They are unbeatable. HAAAAAH
I was drunk when I thought about it. If it's not funny, you need to drink some to make it funny.
Oh, one more thing.
Yes, Nekro is also cursed, but hers is way cooler than Kitsunas curses. Not really Kitsuna is bae. But her powers are cool.
TheRealSkolliecreators' thoughts
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CHapter 66: Another F*cken Furry
"How did you eat so much?" I asked, my eyes drifting across the sea of empty dishes piled high on the table. Twenty plates. Twenty. These plates were not small; they were full entrees. My voice came out part disbelief, part awe, as I leaned slightly across the table, arms folded, tail swishing lazily behind me.
Across from me, Nekro sat with a self-satisfied smirk plastered on her face. Her petite frame looked even smaller surrounded by so many ceramic remains of defeated meals.
"What, never seen someone eat twenty plates before?" she asked, chin tilted proudly as she leaned back, arms draped casually over the chair.
"I have," I admitted, narrowing my eyes. "I've seen someone put away over a hundred before. But you-" I squinted at her, eyes roaming up and down her body like I was scanning her for hidden storage compartments. "You're so small. How?"
Then it hit me, and my expression dropped into quiet realization.
"...Wait. Did Mother think about me this way three years ago?
Kayda, seated beside me, snorted into her drink. "Probably. You were around Stacy's size back then, weren't you?"
I leaned back, eyes wide. "Huh... yeah. Guess you're right. Never mind then." My tail flicked thoughtfully. "Are you sure you're full, though? Money's not a problem," I added, giving Nekro a generous smile.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin before placing it neatly on her lap. "Yeah, I'm full. But first-how do you know my name?" Her cheerful tone shifted slightly, a hint of wariness seeping in. "And can you please introduce yourself, too?"
She straightened up, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. Her posture had stiffened ever so slightly, and her tail-thin, nearly serpentine-had curled closer to her body. Guarded.
"Nekro, isn't it a bit late to be guarded?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We just fed you enough to kill a normal man."
Ignoring her tightening expression, I added, "Whatever. I used my skill-analysis-on you. I also know your bloodline."
The moment those words left my mouth, her face drained of color.
Pale. So pale, it was almost amusing.
"Kitsuna," Kayda warned, her voice low. "I thought you wanted to keep her. Why are you scaring her like that?"
"I didn't mean to," I muttered with a shrug. "Anyway-my name is Kitsuna Draig. Adopted daughter of the Draig family. And this is Kayda." I gestured to the crimson-robed woman beside me, who nodded once, arms still crossed.
"You're not going to... experiment on me, are you?" Nekro asked hesitantly, shifting in her seat like she was ready to bolt.
"Hm." I tapped my chin with a grin. "I dunno. A devil bloodline is really rare..."
Before I could finish the joke, she moved.
"Come forth!"
The chant was sharp. Commanding. Instant.
The wooden floor beneath us cracked violently, splitting in spiderweb lines that radiated out from under her chair. Gasps echoed across the restaurant. Then, one after another, bony fingers punched through the gaps-followed by full skeletons clawing their way up like nightmare puppets.
Screams.
Chairs scraped. Plates shattered. Patrons scrambled back from their meals in horror.
Kayda and I remained seated, blinking in shared disbelief.
"... You really didn't like that joke, huh?" I said after a pause, slowly rising to my feet. "Well, I guess I didn't tickle your funny bone."
Dead silence.
Kayda's gaze was flat. "Really?" she asked, expression deadpan.
Even Nekro, still standing amidst her summoned army, looked at me like I was an idiot.
"What?" I shrugged. "They're skeletons. I had to."
Kayda sighed. "Just freeze them already. You're scaring everyone."
"Fiiine." I rolled my shoulders, then raised one hand casually.
A soft hum of mana filled the air, and within a second, every skeleton turned solid blue as frost overtook them. They shattered in unison with a soft crack-crack-crack, turning to dust and vanishing without a trace.
"I thought you said you wanted me to train you," I said, brushing my hands together. "And didn't you say you'd do anything for that?"
"How did you do that so fast?" Nekro asked, her voice trembling with awe and disbelief.
I glanced back with a shrug. "They were just bones. Nothing special."
"Actually..." Kayda interjected, her tone suddenly serious. "Necromancy is exceptional, Kitsuna."
My ears perked. "It is?"
Kayda nodded. "They're as rare as a god's eye."
I choked on my breath. "Wait-what?!"
Kayda smirked slightly. "Yup."
"Well, shit. Sorry, Nekro. Didn't mean to freak you out. Just didn't expect something that rare to jump out of the floor at me."
"I'm not going to lie," Nekro said with exasperation. "But what the actual fuck is going on? Are you planning to dissect me or not!?"
"No!" I threw my hands up. "That was a joke! I'm not actually going to experiment on you."
She turned to Kayda with wide eyes. "Is she always like this?"
Before Kayda could respond, a stern voice cut through the tension.
"Excuse me-but did you three cause this disturbance?"
We all turned as a group of armored knights began encircling the table. Their polished breastplates caught the flickering restaurant lantern light, creating an ominous shine.
"What the hell is going on?" I muttered, rising to my feet.
The lead knight stepped forward. "We received a report of someone raising the dead. As per royal law, any individual in possession of the necromancy skill must be brought before the king."
