174 Vol. 3 pt. 44 Patch 8.0: The Temple in the Fores (1/2)
Fenrir looks over at the corpse of the monster in the water. The gamer in him makes him think that collecting the hide and horns from the corpse would probably result in valuable items to either sell or craft with, but when he remembers that there was an artificial intelligence genuinely fighting for its life inside of that monster, he struggles with whether or not he could actually do that.
There's also the fact that he has nothing to skin the monster with, nor does he have any idea how to get the horns off of its head.
Cassiel walks up next to him and places her hands against the serpent's head, pouring what little magic she has regained into healing the serpent.
”Learn anything about that guy? I saw you two talking,” Fenrir asks.
”Just that he's an idiot and an asshole,” Cassiel answers with an annoyed sigh.
”You do seem to attract that type.”
”You're just a bastard, not an idiot. Or an asshole.”
”I don't know whether I should feel complimented or insulted.”
”Both.”
”You sound extra sassy today.”
”Because! I let you and Nell have alone time when I want some, and then I tried getting that sword over by that temple but got interrupted by that stupid oversized monkey, and then I had to deal with that asshole over there!”
”What was that first thing you said?” Fenrir asks, his tone teasing.
Cassiel realizes what she said and starts turning red. ”A-ah, I – I said… the first thing I said was that I tried ge-getting that sword,” she explains, one finger scratching the side of her face.
”No, before that.”
”I said you should feel both complemented and insulted!”
”After that.”
”I'm – I'm trying to heal your friend here. Stop distracting me.”
The serpent rolls her eyes.
”Fen, I think this oversized snake just rolled her eyes at me,” Cassiel says, looking down at Fenrir just in time to see him roll his eyes at her. ”I hate you.”
”Love you too, Cass Cass. So, aside from you being jealous of Nell and wanting me to do lewd things with you in private, tell me more about that temple place you guys found.”
”I – I never said I wanted that! Even if it's true, I never said that!” Cassiel shouts, looking down at him and seeing a smug smile almost on par with Serra's. ”I—”
”Love you too, Cass Cass.”
The serpent rolls her eyes again, but this time, both Fenrir and Cassiel are the cause of it.
A certain stranger whistles from behind Fenrir and Cassiel.
”Damn! I've never seen such a large monster this up close before,” the man says, looking the serpent over.
”Who even are you?” Fenrir asks him.
”Oh, I haven't said my name yet? I go by Rao here,” Rao says.
”That's a dumb name,” Cassiel says, arms crossed now that he's back in her presence.
”By the way, bro, can you teach me how to get a harem of beauties like you? I mean, bro, like, you've even got a giant serpent here!”
The serpent glares at him, sending shivers down his spine.
”Uhh, I – I don't really think there's anything to teach. Just… be yourself?” Fenrir suggests.
”That is the last piece of advice that this idiotic asshole needs to hear,” Cassiel says.
Fenrir looks past Rao and sees Oleander playing with Shogun and Rock. Shogun and Rock are mainly paying attention to each other, but they both look to be including Oleander as well.
The sight of those three all playing together is too cute. Fenrir is tempted to record it, but he can already imagine Oleander teasing him for taking video of him if he does that.
Fenrir still doesn't approve of how Rock and Shogun keep on looking at each other, though. Shogun is so much larger than Rock, and Rock is made out of literal rock, so how would that even work?
”Where'd you get Shogun?” Fenrir asks.
”Are you psychic? How'd you know his name is Shogun?” Rao asks. ”You need to teach me that! Then I'll be able to know what girls want!”
”I heard you say his name back on the boat.”
”Oh.”
”Yeah.”
”Can you still teach me how to seduce girls?”
”No,” Cassiel answers for Fenrir.
”It's alright. I'm patient! I'll prove to you that I have what it takes to follow in your footsteps!” Rao declares to Fenrir.
”You don't even know anything about me,” Fenrir replies.
”All I need to know is that you've got a bunch of thirsty girls wanting you.”
Fenrir cringes and doesn't even have to look at Cassiel to know how pissed off she's got to look after hearing that.
”I'm this close,” Cassiel says, holding up a couple of her fingers so closely together that they look like they're touching, ”to killing you.”