Larvavine's Choice

It trailed Ash all the way to Azure Bay Mountain, thinking it could catch up to her eventually.

But just as it was about to close the distance, Ash unexpectedly sped up her pace and ran ahead.

Larvavine couldn't keep up and found itself unable to turn back either.

Left with no other choice, it had wandered around Azure Bay Mountain, following Ash's scent trail, hoping to find her again.

Fortunately, it had finally managed to reunite with her.

"Larvavine~"

After finishing its explanation, Larvavine crawled up to Ash's side.

Using its soft little legs, it nudged against Ash's bloodstained arm like a puppy, expressing its joy at finally finding her.

Ash lowered her gaze, watching Larvavine as it attempted to nudge her fingers with its head.

A peculiar thought suddenly crossed her mind, one that felt almost absurd.

She moved her right hand slightly, as if she was about to stroke Larvavine's head in response to its affectionate gesture.

However, reason quickly overpowered her emotion, and Ash suppressed the impulsive thought that was rising within her.

"Let's go."

Ash withdrew her hand from Larvavine and stood up, turning her attention to the mess she had made of her backpack earlier.

As she began to tidy it up, she spoke to the Larvavine beside her. "I won't be returning to Solvale Town for now… Do you want to come with me to explore a place that might be dangerous, or would you rather stay here and wait for me to come back and take you to Solvale Town?"

"Larvavine!"

Larvavine chirped excitedly without hesitation.

It then crawled to Ash's feet to indicate it wanted to go with her.

Ash chuckled softly.

After packing up her bag, she crouched down to let Larvavine climb onto her shoulder. "I'm not sure if we'll encounter dangers like the one earlier… If we do, remember, don't worry about me. Just run and save yourself."

"Larvavine! Larvavine!"

Larvavine let out a soft cry as it perched on Ash's shoulder.

It then straightened its body, using a pair of its front legs to tap the air twice as if to reassure her, signaling that she didn't need to worry—it would protect her.

Its adorable behavior made Ash burst into laughter. "Then I'll be counting on you, Larvavine."

"Larvavine! Larvavine!"

Larvavine nodded its vigorously and let out a few more chirps, as if it were trying to say something to Ash.

Ash didn't understand most of what was being said, but she picked up on bits and pieces she could guess the meaning of and responded with casual agreement.

Thus, one human and one Larvavine continued along the mountain path toward the waterfall.

Not long after they left, a few familiar black shadows emerged from the bushes.

The shadows paused at the spot where the giant Vespitoxin had died and stomped the ground furiously, clearly enraged.

Among them, a shorter black shadow faced the direction Ash and Larvavine had gone, shrieking in a series of high-pitched, incomprehensible cries.