Maya crossed her arms, joining the interrogation with a piercing glare:
—"See?! Even the midget is confused! How do you keep doing all these things? Explain yourself!"
Trapped between them, I struggled to respond—until...
Noko suddenly leaped onto my arm like a possum, declaring matter-of-factly:
—"It's obvious-nya! He's got a divine blessing!"
The silence was deafening. My eyes widened at her accidental reveal while Maya and Zara froze mid-expression.
—"What? Didn't you know?" Noko tilted her head, ears twitching innocently.
I facepalmed:
—"Unbelievable..."
Zara recovered first:
—"Noko... why would you think that?"
—"I said it when we met! Don't you remember?" She tapped her nose. —"Ren smells like he's got a divine pact. Just like me! Though his seems to be with a goddess."
—"REN!" Purin's voice echoed in my mind, resigned. —"Well... it was bound to come out eventually."
I sighed in defeat.
Maya grabbed my collar:
—"So copying my flaming sword was... because of this blessing?"
—"Y-Yeah," I admitted, avoiding eye contact. —"I don't fully understand my abilities yet, but I can apparently... replicate others' powers."
Zara massaged her temples:
—"That explains the lightning against the dragon."
I hung my head:
—"Sorry for hiding it. I was told not to reveal—"
A pause stretched—until...
Maya and Zara smiled.
—"Huh?" I blinked.
—"It's fine," Maya said, releasing me. —"Everyone's got secrets."
—"Right," Zara agreed. —"You must've had your reasons."
The weight lifted from my shoulders:
—"Guys..."
THWACK! Maya gave me a friendly shoulder punch (that nearly knocked me over):
—"But no more secrets! Got it?"
—"Ow! Yeah, promise," I rubbed my arm.
Zara eyed Noko, still glued to me:
—"Noko... how long are you planning to cling to him?"
—"Forever-nya!" She squeezed tighter. —"Ren-sama is super strong! I'll follow him always!"
—"WHAAAT?!" Maya and Zara shouted in unison.
I exhaled wearily:
—"Not a moment's peace..."
To diffuse the tension, I pointed at the darkening sky:
—"Let's head back to Lumis. It's late, and even though the mansion's clean, we can't stay here yet."
Zara nodded:
—"Agreed."
Maya and Noko exchanged death glares but followed. As we walked through the forest, Zara asked:
—"What'll you do with the mansion now?"
—"Clean and decorate tomorrow," I imagined my new home. —"I want to move in right away."
Suddenly—rustle.
We all tensed as a group of Fungoids emerged from the bushes.