“Naga, wait!”

  Somnu sprang towards his serpent familiar, watching her about to devour Carmella’s head through Fala’s eyes.

  “Why are you stopping me, master?!” Naga’s maw stopped, closed and turned in the scarecrow’s direction. “She’s our enemy! She put me to sleep to break us apart! Hiss!!”

  “That’s not why she did it, just calm down and-!”

  “Master… I think…”

  Just as Fala spoke, Somnu noticed it too. Carmella had been silent this entire time.

  “Hummm!”

  She was silently humming to herself, her face flushed red.

  “Are you really enjoying yourself right now?!” Lulu blurted out, standing between Somnu and Mathros. She crossed her arms and winced. “She’s not right in the head.”

  “This… is your power…” The blond woman mumbled to herself. “Everyone… watching…”

  “Hahaha! I can’t understand her, but I can already guess what the little snake is saying!” Mathros put his hands on his hips and laughed it up. “I’m going to miss these moments! What do you want to do, brother?”

  “...” Somnu’s mouth was left half-agape at the sight. A moment later, he shook his head into focus and took a step forward. “This is no time to play around, Naga. Let her go.”

  “But, master!”

  “No buts!”

  “...” The serpent closed her maw again and narrowed her snake eyes. Then, after turning her head between the prey in her clutches and her master, she let out a slight grunt. “Then promise one thing!”

  “... What is it?” The scarecrow winced slightly, not looking forward to what was coming.

  “If I can’t eat this tramp right here and now, promise you will give me a body even better than hers!” Naga cried out with vigor, unintentionally squeezing the prey.

  “Ah! This… envy…”

  “...”

  Lulu and Mathros simply stood waiting for some kind of explanation as to what was happening, but Somnu was once again at a loss for words.

  Where did that even come from?! Is there even a way to do that? Somnu thought, trying to think of the different possibilities.

  “I can’t… promise you that, Naga.” The scarecrow finally let out after some thought. “I don’t know if it’s even possible, but if there is a way, we’ll find it.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yeah, I promise to keep an eye out for that.” Somnu nodded his head, then realized. Even though I don’t have eyes anymore… Let’s hope I can fix that at some point too.

  “I’ll remember that, master!”

  Naga finally let up, releasing Carmella who plumped down on her straw chair and immediately cleared her throat. She kept her gaze low, but the flushed cheeks couldn’t be hidden so easily.

  “Thank you, dear…”

  Let’s hope she’s thanking me for saving her from being eaten alive and not something else… Somnu let out a sigh, then allowed Naga to crawl up his body and take her place at his other shoulder.

  ‘Master…?’

  “?!” Somnu’s eyebrows suddenly widened after he heard a voice in his head. Fala?

  ‘I want one… too. A body.’

  What’s happening…? First I sensed exactly when Naga woke up and what she was planning to do, and now… Somnu thought, not synching his thoughts with Fala’s yet. Does this mean [Resonance] is allowing me to resonate more with them since I’ve been using the ability more and more with my eyes being gone?

  The scarecrow didn’t know if that meant an ability grows the more he uses it, or if it was simply the [Resonance] skill alone, due to its name and function. If he had to guess, he would choose the latter, not having noticed any of his previous skills growing stronger except when he levels up or ranks up his Hollow Core.

  Then, he reached out and stroked the crow’s runic feathers.

  ‘Of course, Fala. You’ve been with me since the start, after all…’ Somnu finally replied, surprising himself with how easily he used the telepathy aspect.

  ‘Hey! No fair! I’m still owed much praise, master!’ Naga joined the mental group chat, making her master hunch his back slightly and pat her too.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “I assume things have been resolved?” Mathros asked, looking the scarecrow’s way along with the bunny girl.

  “For now…”

  “Then, let us get some shut eye before we pack and make our way towards the fort.” Mathros walked back toward the campfire and fed it another piece of dry wood. “Lulu and I will be able to track it as it moves after we find it once, especially with my compass.”

  “Good, so you won’t be too far away…” Somnu muttered, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

  “For now…” Lulu turned her head to the blond woman. “Tell us you actually know where the fort is or all this was for nothing.”

  “Silly bunny…” Carmella crossed her legs and leaned back on her chair, making herself comfortable. “Of course I don’t.”

  “What?!”

  “Relax, Lulu.” Somnu stood in front of the charging bunny girl. “I already had one of Fala’s clones find it after we knew the general direction. It’s not that difficult.”

  “Then you should’ve said so!” Lulu kicked him in his rear without holding back. “And put some damn clothes on already, pervert!”

  “Hiss!”

  ‘Down, Naga…’

  “I need to clean my Dream Catcher from all the blood before I can wear it again.” Somnu walked towards Mathros, using the hot water from earlier to pour some tea for everyone. “Maybe I can use some of the leftover water, and borrow your wind skill for that later?”

  “Of course, brother.”

  For the next hour or so, Somnu tried his best to savor his last moments with his friends. He didn’t ask any more questions about the fort or its master, nor did he bring up his siblings to Carmella so she could finish what she was saying earlier.

  Despite the rush within him to go see them, he needed to properly regain his energy before traveling to the fort. Henry had mentioned it would be a day or two by foot, but Fala’s clone had spotted it in the distance after around half a day of flying, not that flying and walking could be compared.

  Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed their last night together.

  It was a night unlike any of the nights Somnu had experienced before.

  Even when the others or his familiars took turns to keep him company during his long watch, he was laughing and smiling the entire time.

  His efforts had bore fruit. Although temporary, reaping this harvest before the coming storm was something to etch in his memory.

  After all, he wasn’t alone anymore.

  ***

  “Alright! Got everything?” Mathros asked, sliding the last of the belongings onto his sturdy back, carrying all the things that didn’t fit in his [Discoverer’s Pouch].

  Everyone looked around for one last time, then nodded and followed after the Grodran explorer and his compass.

  “I made sure to store a lot of Alfalfa Hay in one of the bags, but be mindful of how much and when to eat them.” Somnu explained, strolling behind Carmella and in front of Lulu.

  “Sure, thanks…” The bunny girl kept her focus on the surroundings.

  Finally, Grudgekeeper had been cleaned and equipped properly. Fala was flying above the party to keep an eye out, while Naga remained on her master’s shoulder.

  “And be sure to take good care of Fala.” the scarecrow added. “I’ll be leaving her with you guys for communication. She can’t do much flying inside the fort anyway.”

  “Of course, Fala is part of our party too after all!” Mathros cheered from the front, receiving a “Caaw!” From up high.

  “Oh, and Mathros still has one active fear, right?” Somnu remembered, before almost stumbling on some uneven ground. “Naga?!”

  “Sorry, master!” Naga apologized for turning her head and shifting Somnu’s borrowed vision.

  “Anyway, just be careful since a restriction might suddenly appear out of nowhere and-”

  “Stop that already!” Lulu kicked him in his rear, making him stumble forward again. “What are you? Our mother who’s leaving us home alone for the first time?! And tell that snake of yours to stop hissing at me! I’m not food!”

  “Oh, dear? Need a hand?” Feeling Somnu suddenly grab onto her shoulders to avoid stumbling, Carmella turned her head and said with a soft, melodious voice. “We’ll be alone soon, so-”

  “Back to two meters!” Somnu jumped back, then turned his head to the bunny girl behind him. “Say what you will, Lulu. I still think this is very dangerous. You two will practically be alone, not counting Fala!”

  “So?”

  “So, don’t be stubborn and ask her for help if a situation grows desperate! Especially if it’s a pawn or John Doe!” Somnu furrowed his brows at her.

  “Fine, just keep walking.” The bunny girl clicked her tongue and picked up her pace to make him resume his. A moment later, she mumbled. “You be careful in the fort too. We both know it can be more dangerous there…”

  “... will do.”

  His last words hung in the air for a while.

  After some short and long breaks, and more pointless advice from the scarecrow, Fala finally spotted the fort in the distance. Thankfully, the road had been quiet due to Somnu’s repeated use of [Hollow Gaze].

  But now, that meant…

  “This is it! A few hours remain, but we’ll split up here.” Mathros said, stopping and turning around. “Let’s make it quick, it won’t be good bye for long.”

  “Yeah…”

  “Well, on your way!” The bunny girl slapped the blind scarecrow on his back. “We’ll keep in contact through Fala.”

  “...” Somnu clenched his fists for a moment, then relaxed them and took a step forward. “One last thing.”

  “Oh brother! Enough already!” Lulu complained with a huff.

  “Keep an eye out for the entrance to the Second Layer.”

  “Of course, brother.”

  “Alright then.” Somnu waved his hand slightly, watching the confusion grow on his friends’ faces, before they realized it was a farewell gesture and not a number being held up. They tried to imitate it, forcing their wrists to mechanically move left and right. “Heh. Let’s go, Carmella, Naga.”

  “Yes, dear.” The blond lady followed behind him.

  ‘Keep them safe, Fala. I’m counting on you.’

  ‘Of course, master. I’ll… miss you.”

  ‘...Me too.’

  The party split up in two directions, each group with their own goals.

  Being far away from his friends, and especially Fala who had been alongside him all this time, Somnu was already feeling the tightness in his chest growing.

  It’s okay… No matter what, we’ll all make it safely out of this Layer. He affirmed to himself. I’ll do anything to make that happen. Anything… at all cost.