Pet Book
This should do it...!
Phew! Done and done!
Contrary to Lydia's words, there was still one dummy left standing in the center of the training grounds.
There's still one left.
Hehe. No, it's about to be finished.
A sword fell from the sky and pierced the top of the remaining dummy.
With the first attack, I struck the dummy's sword upward, to let it fall back down.
Quick situational judgment, proper allocation, and perfect control of the battlefield.
That's how I managed to survive in the West.
How was it, Captain?
...Nice work.
As the Captain in charge of evaluating Lydia, there is no doubt that she is an outstanding Savior.
Not only is she exceptional, but she's also a model member who participates in training far more diligently than expected.
If not for her slightly twisted personality, she'd be flawless.
But there's one thing that botheres me...
Huh...?
It moved...!!!
The eerie book that Lydia carried on her back.
Not only did it look unsettling, but it also occasionally made clattering noises as it moved.
Kuku! Didn't I tell you to stay still while I was training?
Ugh... I guess you don't understand unless I spell it out for you...
Lydia walked to the water faucet, turned it on, and held the book under the stream.
You really are such a naughty little thing...
...The book shook violently, resisting the stream of water.
I've been meaning to ask...
Just what is that book?
Book...? You mean Kuku?
Hmm...? Are you curious about my Kuku?
Well, of course you would be.
I mean, how could you not be interested in something this cute?
Would you like to pet him, Captain?
Just avoid the mouth area, and you'll be fine!
What? You're afraid he'll bite you?
Awwwww, come on... He won't bite. I promise.
C'mon, Captain! Don't be shy!
Nooooo...!!!
Tch, there's no need to run away like that, is there?
My Kuku is really gentle, you know.
I wanted to refuse no matter what.
Kuku's real name is the Tome of Gluttony.
It's... my pet book I just happened to acquire.
There's... a slightly dangerous one sealed inside it, but...
Relax. I've got him totally handled.
Sealed inside...?
Yep! I sealed him right in here!
Oh, and as for how I sealed him, I'd rather not say.
Hehe... That's a secret between me and Kuku.
With a proud expression, Lydia patted the surface of the twitching book.
So... What exactly is that dangerous one?
Mmmmm... Well...
Something that existed a long, long time ago?
A powerful... and ancient being, I guess?
Yep! Something like that.
You don't even know yourself, do you?!
Do I really need to know every little detail?
The point is, I personally caught and sealed him in the book.
Is it... safe to wield that thing so casually?
*Sigh* So you're just another soft-hearted NOA citizen, huh?
You see, Captain, in the West...
No one cares about stuff like that.
What matters is whether you can survive right now or not.
Those who've resolved to fight every day on the border between life and death...
They don't have time to worry about the little things!
...
If it's a power that can be used, you use it. That's the way of the West...
Or at least, it's my personal rule.
This mindset has allowed me to survive countless intense defense battles.
Who's going to complain if I have Kuku with me?
You really do worry about the weirdest things, Captain.
Don't fret over trivial matters.
I've done just fine so far, haven't I? There's nothing to worry about.
As long as I keep feeding him properly, he'll behaves and fights for me.
...That thing eats?
Yep! Kuku loves to eat.
Apples, pencils, bread, and steaks...
...Even monsters and Voidborns too.
He'll eat just about anything. Pretty impressive, right?
And the best part is...
The more powerful his meals, the stronger he gets!
Kuku goes especially wild for meals infused with Void Force.
He starts shivering with excitement whenever he senses Void Force nearby.
And with all those trials along the Journey...
I'm sure I can feed Kuku all sorts of things.
Mhm. I'm really glad I joined the Journey.
After all, even people get tired of eating the same thing every day!
And the reward for the Journey is supposed to be the power of the Star Savior, right?
Maybe I could feed that to Kuku too!
I don't know about that...
And one day...!
I'll get my hands on the Void Core in the Western lands.
Can you imagine it, Captain?
A Void Core with that much power...
If Kuku were to eat it, just imagine how much stronger he could get!
Do your comrades know about your plans?
Huh? Of course not.
Commander Ceres would probably try to smash the Void Core the instant we reached it.
She'd swing her sword around without hesitation while yammering about justice and vengeance.
There's no point in talking to a blockhead like that.
So, the plan is stick by her side, and as soon as we have an opening...
Kuku and I will dash in and gobble it up in one bite!
Lydia...
Seriously, Commander Ceres is as simple-minded as they come.
What a waste it would be to just destroy the Void Core...
Sit tight, Kuku. I'll set the stage for you.
All you have to do is eat what I tell you to eat.
Is she... casually spilling her plan to betray the Western Liberators?
Then again, her goal is still to eliminate the Void Core, so... would it really be a betrayal?
Still, it might be best to give Ceres a heads-up.
Oh? Captain.
Your eyes are darting all over the place... Are you thinking about something?
...Gasp! You wouldn't—
I bared my heart to you because I trusted you, Captain...
You wouldn't go and tattle on me, would you? You'd break my trust and my heart...
...
As if! Surely our honorable Captain would never do such a thing!
But... just in case.
If details of our conversation were to reach Ceres' ears...
Hmm... what would I do, I wonder?
Those books you bought last Friday just might end up being posted on the bulletin board in the square—
?!?!
Hehe. Why are you so surprised?
I'd just be letting everyone know about Captain's wide and diverse tastes.
I-I-I didn't buy any weird books—
Oh, really? But...
Just last week, you bought a book titled I Can't Stop Thinking About My Sexy Neighbor—
STOP...!
The week before that, it was Secret Rendezvous with the Cool Beauty—
NOOOOO!!!
Hehe! So, don't even think about doing something unnecessary.
How terrifying you are...
...How do you even know all that?
...Oh, that's... just a coincidence!
I definitely wasn't, like, stalking you or anything. So don't get the wrong idea.
You know, Captain, the closer someone is to you, the more you need to keep some leverage over them.
That way, you won't get pushed around and can control—
...What's with that smug grin?
I was just surprised you consider me someone close to you.
...Ngh! That's...
Of course...! If you knew just how much I think about you every single day, you'd be shocked, Captain.
Every day, I think about you so much that...
I've come up with at least twenty-one ways to make you miserable.
And the thing I mentioned earlier? Those were the tamest one.
...So, it would be best if you didn't make unnecessary trouble for yourself.
Oh? You're wondering if I'm bluffing?
If you're that curious, feel free to test me.
Lydia smiled sweetly, but it felt ominous.
And so, that day's training session with Lydia ended with a slightly uneasy feeling lingering in the air.