30 Game of Tag 2 (1/2)

Kiro glanced at the woods. Then he saw a messy figure of Alina. Her disheveled clothing that filled with mud and dust, her glittering chestnut hair right at the moment entangled with dry leaves.

”... Alina?” Kiro called out. ”Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to leave this place?”

”You idiot!” Alina screamed while both of her eyes moistened. ”Do you think that I could abandon my companion just like that?” She said—gripping the hem of her clothing tightly.

With a moment of hesitation, Alina dashed forward as she pounced at Kiro madly.

”You idiot... Idiot, idiot!” Alina beat Kiro's chest, using her delicate hands as she sobbed like a child.

Kiro who was staring in confusion, finally realized what he had done. He could not help to release a soft sigh. ”I'm wrong, I'm sorry for making you worry,” Kiro said, but right at this moment, he did not know how to console the sobbing Alina.

”Master! At times like this, you have to embrace her, you know!” Fixie stated before she added. ”Hee~ don't tell me you'll chicken out? How can you conquer Rosie if Master can't even handle a simple thing like this?” Fixie said in mockery.

Kiro was about to blurt out his rejection. However, when he heard Fixie taunt him like that, he could not help to be snapped.

'I'll just have to hug her right?' Kiro grunted inside while his right hand embraced the delicate waist of Alina.

Alina who was throwing a tantrum awakened from Kiro's sudden behavior. ”... What are you doing?” She said, but Alina did not reject Kiro's advance.

This time Kiro did not know how to respond to her question, suddenly he heard Fixie's voice once more. ”Sheesh~ Such a dense Master, what would you do without Fixie?” She said. ”Don't let her go, Master! Tease her so that she would loosen her guard more!”

Kiro was speechless from Fixie's advice, but Kiro did as he was told. Embracing Alina tightly as he said. ”Hee~ I thought our crybaby Alina needed someone to embrace, I would gladly give my service anytime.” Kiro shamelessly said those words, but deep inside, he regretted doing so.

Alina who heard Kiro's teasing call struggled out of Kiro's embrace. However, when she found out that she could not escape. ”Ple—please... Let go of me,” Alina said weakly, after realizing how bold she moved a while ago. Her cheeks flushed red like a tomato.

Seeing her cute reaction, Kiro could not help but to tease her more. ”Hehe, what did you say just now? Who is the idiot one? You can only blame yourself for jumping into the wolve's den.” Kiro said wickedly. However, before he could take advantage of her, Alina threw a hard punch to his face.

”... Urgh!” Kiro groaned in pain. ”That's hurt, why you! How could you punch your precious Kiro like this.”

”Who is precious to who! You damn pervert!” Alina yelled at him in embarrassment.

After getting free from Kiro's grasp, Alina stepped backward cautiously.

Seeing her reaction, Kiro coughed lightly to mend the awkwardness from the two. ”Ahem... Anyway, let's leave this forest.” This time Kiro's expression became serious, staring at the northeast side of the plainlan forest. Kiro felt cold goosebumps all over his body.

Noticing Kiro's odd behavior, Alina asked. ”Just did you see inside this forest?”

Kiro directly looked at her eyes as he said. ”... I met a high ranking Goblin, a Goblin Mage, and two Goblin's Commander.” Kiro said solemnly.

After hearing his voice, Alina could not hide her astonishment. ”What! You idiot, you should've said that sooner!” She said as Alina grab a hold of Kiro's hand; however before she could drag him out of the place, Kiro voiced out.

”You don't need to worry, I already slew the Goblin Mage and one of their Commander.” Kiro said, ”But fighting two high ranking monsters simultaneously is quite taxing even for him.” Even though he tried to act tough, He could not hide his ghastly face.

When he said those words, only then Alina noticed Kiro's tired appearance. ”Then, what should we do now?”

”It would be for the best if I could rest for a while, then once I recovered enough mana to sustain another fight in the worst-case scenario, only then we could move out,” Kiro explained while glancing at Alina with a worried look. With his current self, he wasn't even sure if he could defend himself.

”Anyway, I'll be relying on your observing skill, Alina.” Truth to be told, with Kiro's current capability his eyesight was ten times greater than before. However, with his meager mana left that was torturing his mind, Kiro could not stay focused on his surroundings.

”Mm, I will definitely lead you out of this forest safely,” Alina said with determination.

***

Deep inside the forest.

A three and a half meter tall Goblin was sitting on the throne made of bones, Its both eyes were glittering with Golden light. However, the unusual thing about this Goblin was its domineering aura that when you glanced at this majestic figure, a low-grade monster would subconsciously bow their heads.