Side Story Inari POV: A Small Request (4)

"Could you make some of that training equipment fairy sized?"

"I'll see what I can do."

After that, I manage to convince him to take me on their first dungeon exploration, which is a rousing success. Nick's quick orders give me the confidence to offer some fairies for support. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. They get some more firepower, and we get experience. Not many of the fairies in the village remember the last war. I have to imagine the humans have improved some since then, so this fight will be even more ruthless. Nothing can prepare these naive creatures for the horrors of war, but I have to do what I can. My crackdown is paying dividends as the village becomes a more cohesive unit. There are fewer arguments, and tasks are completed more quickly. I think I've made the right decision, but every time I see the stern look on their little faces, it's like sticking daggers in my heart. I've fought for so long to protect those smiles, and in the end, I'm the one to wipe them away. My mood droops as the days pass.

[Maybe this is a mistake. Is it really worth losing what makes us special to wage this war?]

I'm lost in thought when I receive a report.

"A woman is following Nick?"

"Yes, leader. I think she is very strong."

"We'll see about that. Assemble everyone. We're going for a walk." This might be an opportunity to not only weaken the human forces but to gain some experience fighting against them as well. A smile appears on my face but never reaches my eyes.

"Hi, honey." My temple throbs as a drunk boy releases an absurd greeting into the night.

"Is that how you always greet the fairies?" The shadow approaches him from behind. I'm on full alert.

[The most likely scenario is that Nick turned coat and sold us out to the humans after we betrayed him. Our entire last conversation was an act to gain our trust. Fortunately, I've gathered the entire tribe, so we can eliminate this threat now.]

"No, I just thought it would be f–" My eyes narrow.

[Is this an act? Are we being played?]

The whole situation is too convenient. Nicks maintains his shock and continues speaking.

"Why are you doing here?"

"How drunk are you?"

"I feel like that's a trick question. Wait, don't try to change the subject. Why are you here?"

"Yes, I'd like to know as well." I induce myself into their conversation. All the fairies in the area light up per my instructions.

"Kukuku, I've never felt so threatened by something so beautiful." The shadow laughs in my face and admires the surroundings. It steps forward, so we're only a few feet away. It's the blue-haired woman who was threatening Nick the other day. I quickly get a read on the person in front of me.

[Weak. It feels like a waste to bring out the whole tribe just to crush these two. The relic in front of me was probably a threat at some time in the past, but now they're just a shell.]

I notice a small light inside that empty shell, but it's nothing to be concerned about.

"Hi, my name is Jezabel. I'm the leader of the Adventurer's Guild branch in town. It's nice to meet you." She notices the difference in strength and backs off her pressure, not that it was particularly bothersome, to begin with.

[Even if she came for a fight, she'd have to talk if she wanted to save face.]

"Likewise. I'm Inari, the leader of the fairies. You've come to talk, I presume." I quickly shake her finger and push the conversation forward.

"How did you know?"

"She can read your mind," Nick interjects. "You get used to it."

It's all I can do not to fly over and punch him in the face. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but he easily cut apart the tension I've been trying to build. In hindsight, that seems to be how he talks to people. I doubt we would have talked much if he didn't do something like this when we first met.

"If that's the case, then please, come inside." I lead the way into the cave, where I find the newest human to join the group.

"EEP!" She falls to the ground, and Nick leaves to help her. I take this opportunity to talk with the guild master. Before I can get a word out, she engages Nick. Her aloof demeanor is pissing me off.

"This is some impressive equipment you have down here." There's too much at stake for me to sit idly by, so I cut them short.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you showing off, but I'm losing my patience." Nick gets the hint and busies himself with his bag.

"I'll be frank with you. I've got a bit of a problem with some nobles, and I think we can help each other out."

"Proceed."

"I'm sure you're aware of the coming war."

"I've had my suspicions."

Jezabel explains the situation to me. I don't understand why she is telling me this until she says she's playing both sides. We set out some loose terms, and she agrees to supply us with information. I don't know how much it will help, but if it saves even one life, then it's well worth the effort.

"We'll be in touch." She waves and makes for the exit. "Oh, and before I forget. I expect to see you in my office tomorrow, Nick."

"Okay, see you later." Nick perks up and waves to the stoic-looking woman. I get a sense of deja vu seeing him behave so arrogantly in front of his senior. "Woohee! Here's your cookie."

He hands a large cookie to Woohee, who swiftly disappears into his shirt.

"So? I think that went well, all considering." This whole situation is absurd. My head is swimming with possible ploys. I recount the events of the last few days over and over to check for any inconsistencies.

[Was this an act? Is this genuine but earlier conversation fake? Is he acting on behalf of Jezabel by pretending to befriend me? Am I the one being used to trick Jezabel? Is this situation being manipulated by a fourth person searching for some unknown gains?]

Information rushes through my mind, and I'm having trouble putting things into focus. A thought I had earlier comes to mind.

"What is a fairy?"

"Does it matter? You're alive; isn't that enough?" he responds almost instantly. This clearly isn't the first time he's been asked this question. How is that possible?

"That's it, huh?"

"What else is there?" I don't understand how he's so certain about the unknown. My mind is drifting in an unfamiliar direction, so I choose to leave.

"Very well."

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm here if you want to talk about it," says Nick.

[Talk to me about reading minds, this little shit.]

"I might have to take you up on that."