Journey to the SSS ranked hot tub

Chapter Seventeen

The Beastman looked down at the entity in front of him wearily. This sparkling creature single-handedly ripped and tore through a bandit gang and now just wanted to talk to him? And in what language was he speaking? Being an adventurer, he had traveled across the world, but the tongue of this sparkling one was nothing he'd ever heard before. It was too suspicious.

The eyes of the Bearman jumped from the grueling remains of the bandit group and back to Gydion multiple times as he weighed his options.

~What should I do?~ Thought the Beastman.

Odds were that If he did try to attack the sparkling man, he would end up in no better a state than his former captors. At the same time; there was no guarantee that this Shining hellion would not simply kill them after he was done meddling. A choice had to be made though, as he felt the gaze from the vibrant one peer into his form.

Begrudgingly, he lowered his hand down and gripped the entities. Though his hand was many times larger than that of the sparkling one, he felt the gap between the two of them in spades. The handshake alone confirmed that he had made the right choice if only to keep them alive for minutes longer.

The exchange was cut short as the Bearman's two children ran over to him and tackle hugged his legs. The one on his left leg was the most evidently related as his appearance was a mirror of his father's only instead in the form of a seven-year-old. The child on the right more distinctly appeared to be a mix of the father and mother. She seemed to be about six or so years of age and had the same round and fluffy ears but her tail was longer and bushy, almost like a raccoon. The two children bawled their eyes out as they began to speak in the language of the highland-beast folk. Their words were unintelligible even to the father which was understandable. One day they were small children like any other and the next they were leashes meant to keep their father in line. It's no wonder that they'd let all their emotions out now.

The sparkling one walked forward and took hold of the chains that had bound the Bearman and Faekin. With both hands, he squeezed until the links broke. The chain clanked loudly against itself as it crumpled to the floor. The Shining one then did the same thing for the portion of the chains that still held their legs prisoner. The two children remained attached to their father during the entire process.

"In what language is that speech?" The Bearman asked, hoping that this person was capable of speaking multiple languages.

The shining one made what looked to him to be a face of confusion and said something. Of course, its meaning was lost on the Father's ears.

~This is mildly problematic. In the meantime, I need to find a way to clear this rubble.~

The Bearman shifted his eyes down at the weakened Faekin woman.

~She knows how to manipulate mana so she'd be able to clear this, but she is far too weak. The only thing I can do is clear it myself.~

Resolved, he took a knee and placed his hands on top of his children's heads, gently brushing the hair out of their faces with his thumb.

"My precious babies. You've done such a good job being brave. Daddy is gonna clear the rubble so we can leave this place and go back home. Just stand away from the rubble while I work, okay?"

"Dad no…! We can't just leave everyone else behind! My friends are back in the caves!" Said the daughter as she fought back her sniffling and pointed back at the myriad of caves.

As his sister said that, the brother got a bright idea.

"I can go back and get them while you and the shiny person clear the rubble!" he said, taking his sister's hand in his. Since all the bad guys were passed out or dead, he could easily find the rest of the prisoners with his sense of smell.

"Ahhh. I'm blessed with such kind children. Karak, keep your sister safe. I'll have a pathway by the time you've returned."

The son nodded while rubbing the snot from his nose and ran off with his sister in tow, retracing his way to where the others were being kept.

The Bearman smiled as he watched the forms of his children grow smaller until they disappeared in the caves. His eyes shifted towards the shining one next.

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Gydion had watched curiously as the whole scene unveiled itself in front of him. He concluded that the kids were likely the Bearman's, but not being able to understand their language was problematic.

~Well I suppose that my curiosity has been satisfied. These humans were conducting the trading of slaves and otherwise lived up to the vile image that is common amongst the Fairies of the Abyss. Now, I should probably make my way back before my absence becomes something of note.~

He extended out a few feet worth of Liquid iron from his hand and made a connecting wall which he used as a rake to clear out all the smaller broken pieces of rock. While doing this, the Bearman assisted him, picking up and moving some of the larger pieces that the Liquid iron rake didn't catch. The two of them went on like this for forty or so minutes until they had a crack between two massive boulders big enough to exit through.

As the two made the clearing, the children that had run back into the caves earlier came back with eight more demi-human kids. The children of the Bearman walked up to their father and hugged them and spoke briefly. While all the children looked at Gydion, only the son of the Bearman approached him. It was clear that he was intimidated, but there was also a burning admiration that glimmered in his eye. He bowed down to waist height and shouted something Gydion assumed to be a thank you. When he rose he walked back over to the other children who were all crying profusely and comforted them.

~That kid… He is a good one.~

The Bearman walked up to Gydion afterward and did the same as his son. Gydion nodded, hoping that at least that would bridge the gap. The Bearman stood up and raised a fist to his chest. He then walked back to the group and picked up the Faekin woman.

Gydion used that chance to make his exit.

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"We're going to follow the shining one."

The Faekin, who had been unconscious for the whole ordeal and was still weak, nodded as she leaned on the Bearman for support.

"I-I see. I'm sorry, but I'll have to rely on you a bit longer Mirak."

Mirak shook his head and picked her up princess-style.

"Think nothing of it, Angelica. Even though the town has been razed, we'll be fine as long as we work together."

Angelica touched the bandages over her eyes and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"Without my eyes? I'll just be a burden."

"Your eyes were never what defined you. You'll come back from this." Mirak said half-heartedly.

He knew her days as an Adventurer were over, but he couldn't bring himself to openly admit as such to her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the glimmering one exit through the space they cleared together. He did not know what that one's nature was, but he saved them all when he could have simply let them die, which meant that for now he could be trusted. If they followed him, surely they would find a place where the children and Angelica would be safe.

"Alright children. Let's go."

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~These people…~ Gydion thought as he turned around and looked at the small caravan of wayward peoples.

~Whenever I look back, the Bearman just gives me a smile and keeps following me. I don't know what he thinks is going to happen. I doubt that Tryamon will take too kindly to them… And if that happens, they'll be stranded out here in the dark.~

Gydion crossed the stone-lined threshold for the arena and made a B-line for the tent. His eyes widened in mild surprise as he took stock of the state of the training arena.

~Damn. Seems that the Grand Magus really worked Suzuka to the bone.~

He rubbed the bottom of his chin with his fingers and continued on his way to the tent. As he rounded the tent to get to the entrance he could hear Suzuka's whining and whimpering at the same time as the Grand Maguses giggling through the fabric. Suddenly a sense of foreboding overcame him. His gait turned to a gentle tiptoe as he peeked his head around the corner with nearly closed eyes.

Were it any other person, they'd be gawking in awe at the beauty and fantasy of the scene before him. But it was him, and the sight before him made his non-existent heart crumble. A Ten by ten-foot pool sat snug in the corner of the tent. Inside the water was practically overflowing with bubbles that gently bobbed on the surface of the water. Suzuka sat in Tryamon's lap in the pool as Tryamon gently combed through Suzuka's ankle-length onyx hair with her fingers.

~The Grand Magus… I don't want to see this!~

Tryamon turned her head and torso and waved at Gydion with only soap suds covering her voluptuous breasts.

"You left to cool off but you're no better for it? What's got you so roused?" She said coyly

Color flooded Gydions cheeks as his eyes wandered to her bountiful bosom.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry!"

Gydion closed his eyes and ran clear away from the Tent's entrance.

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"Honestly, what a strange boy. Running away like that is just rude."

I turned around and looked at Grandma with confusion and worry.

It was so beyond clear that the reason he ran off is that you just flashed your E-sized breasts at him, Grandma! Why are you being like this?

"N-No Grandma… I think his reaction made perfect sense...."

She turned her head down and peaked at my face whilst wiggling her eyebrows in an amusing way.

"Oooooh? And how would you know little lady?" She said as she began to tickle my sides.

Defenseless in the face of the assault, all I could do was clutch my stomach and worm around in her lap. The sound of our laughter overfilled the tent and spilled into the arena outside.

"Weeeell? Spill the beans you little rascal!"

"Waahaha I can't Hahahah Can't Wahahah TALK!" I managed to wheeze out underneath the duress of the tickle attack.

She relented and instead wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me.

"Now you can speak. Go ahead ♥ "

I could feel my cheeks flush with color as her lathered rack pressed against my back.

No… STOP. These are the feelings from that lewd bastard! Not MINE.

"Ah… Um, Well, it's just… Boys like girls and… You're kinda like a supermodel… So… Of course he reacted like that…"

"Kyaaaaa! You're so adorable! I could just eat you up!"

Her hugging intensified, nearly strangling me in the process. I began to flail my arms around wildly, splashing the water around whilst enduring her love. She forgets how strong she is…!

Suddenly, the pitter-pattering of feet entered the tent stopping what would be a love-induced homicide just in time.

Two bronzed kids in torn clothes stood there looking at Grandma Tryamon with pleading eyes. She was taken on sight. Same with me! They… THEY HAD FLUFFY BEAR EARS!