Chapter 592: Shipwright Pocky (1/2)
”H-hello? Is anybody here?” Zero asked in his most innocent voice as they reached the cave entrance.
Bob returned to his human hybrid form quickly and adjusted to the dimness in the cave. Truen readied some spells to thwart any surprise attacks. The cave was very much destroyed at the entrance, and people of their size wouldn't fit through the rubble. Without a way further in, they waited patiently for a response.
”He's coming,” Bob whispered when he felt some slight tremor in the ground that neither Zero nor Truen could detect. If it wasn't for Jermine's influence and jumpscare tendencies, Bob wouldn't have paid so much attention to ground movements.
They waited for shipwright Pocky to make his appearance. When the sea otter beastman finally showed up, Zero had trouble identifying his age.
”State your business!” the adorable sea otter beastman squeaked as threateningly as he could from his fortified barrier of rocks. A tiny spear stuck out between the gaps, aimed at them, and Zero raised his hand up out of reflex to show that they were non-threatening.
”We're looking for the owner of the message in a bottle we found!” Zero explained, and Truen held the message up for verification. With this, the shipwright would be convinced. Werebeasts aren't the smartest folks, after all.
”Bring it here!” Pocky demanded, and Truen inched over carefully so that the sea otter wouldn't be startled. Bob's eyes didn't leave the tiny beastfolk and the gaze made Pocky slightly uncomfortable.
After verifying his scribble from years ago, Pocky looked at the three saviours. How many years had it been since he prayed for someone to come along and get him out of this horrible place? It has been way too long that he forgot about it.
”How did you escape that monster?” Pocky asked in a quiet voice.
He almost couldn't believe that there would be such strong adventurers coming to this part of the world. All those years ago, he'd been misled by a map and thought he would have to spend the rest of his life toughing it out here. A year passed and another until Pocky no longer counted the days. He gave up hope of getting rescued, but after nearly twenty years, hope has arrived in the form of the most mismatched party he'd ever seen.
Zero looked at Truen, who simply explained that they were hiding it out until the dark tree ent left voluntarily.
”We saw you using projectiles,” Zero gushed. ”Do you live here?”
When Pocky heard that, his heart sank. If these people were hiding from the dark tree ent, it would mean they've stumbled across his hideout by pure luck.
”You should go back,” the shipwright sighed. ”The dark tree ent has retired for a while. You can make an escape by following the mountain range. It should take you right back to the land of giants.”
Zero tilted his head in confusion. Pocky kept the note that Truen passed and started to walk away.
”Aren't you coming with us?” the doctor asked.
The sea otter beastman paused then laughed in hopelessness. ”I can't. I'm trapped inside here. These boulders are blocking the entrance, and I have no way to fly or climb out the top. Thankfully, I made friends with some of the birds to be able to gain resources needed for survival and defending against the dark tree ent.”