46 Hana and Maxene (2/2)
The same small power plant used to power each city was in there as well, indicating that this pocket dimension was considered a <Territory> by the <System>.
”This is quite the place you have here, Maxene-dono.”
”Mn! I spent quite a bit of my VIS for this place. Good thing being the only reliable Beast tamer in the nation pays well!” She gave Hana a thumbs up with a wide grin on her face.
This made sense. Including the fact that Maxene was constantly out and about, taming more and more Mutant Beasts, she was farming zombies with her tamed beasts even more. This gave her a lot more individual currency than most. Her and Luna's goal was simple. They would eventually pair up soldiers with their own Mutant Beast to workand level with.
It was a win-win situation. It was the most efficient way to level all the tamed beasts, while helping minimize casualties even more. Of course, should the soldier decide to betray the <Sovereign Nation>, the beasts would end their life on the spot. They were, after all, still bound to Maxene and could relay crucial information to her via soul communication.
This trip was quite relaxing. Emergency Food, World Destroyer and Spot were pretty well behaved as well. When they passed by Mt. Kanlaon, the flying-type mutant beasts weren't at a high enough level to not be afraid of Angry Bakunawa. They could only hide, lest this Dragon-serpent decided it wanted a quick snack.
”Tita Hana.”
”Y-you can just call me Hana, Maxene-dono. I'm only in my early twenties.” Hana couldn't help but feel awkward being called that. While it is respectful to call someone that, it was usually towards someone much older.
”Oh... Okay!” Maxene didn't mind whatever she wanted to be called, she only used that term because Luna taught her the proper honorifics.
”Did you want to ask me something?”
”Do you like Father?” She suddenly asked.
”Pft!” Hana who was taking a sip of water lost her usual composure. Evidently the question caught her by surprise.
”Fufufu! I knew it!” Maxene had a devilish grin on her face.
”Maxene-dono, it's not like that. I mean..”
”It's okay, it's okay. I knew because you looked at him the same way my Mother looks at him. Although... Recently that gaze has diverted from my father to Tito Mabini! Speaking of which, we should have invited him to come with us. Does he know?” Maxene said as she was rubbing her chin, as if she was in deep thought.
”That...” Hana didn't know what to say. What was this little girl up to?
”Oh? You haven't told him yet?” Maxene's smile grew even wider. Emergency Food hopped over to Hana's side, patting her back with his wing as if to console her. If he could actually speak he would be saying. ”I know that expression on master's face, good luck with what's to come.” World Destroyer and Spot looked at each other, then towards Hana as they shook their heads, apparently they were aware of that expression as well.
”ANGRY BAKUNAWA! Turn back! We're picking up Tito Mabini!” Out of nowhere, Maxene suddenly ordered. Responding instantaneously to her command, Angry Bakunawa made a U-Turn.
”EH?!?!” Hana lost all color on her face. Much like Sura, she usually wore a stoic expression on her face, quite the opposite to Yu-jin, So-hee, and Seo-hyeon's who consistently wore a smile on their face. Right now she only had the look of utter shock on her face. It was like when you were in High School and your friends told you they were exposing you to the person you had a crush on and trapping you two in a room.
”This little girl.. since when did she start wanting to play matchmaker?” Hana thought in her head.
If only she knew that Maxene, in her own innocent little way, was actually looking out for her. She definitely felt how mushy her parents were, and while the mushiness disgusted her, she knew that it meant that the two were happy. Thus, she wanted the same thing for the unsuspecting Hana.