Discovery!

After our break ended, we wandered around for about another hour, but there were still no noticeable traces. Around lunchtime, we settled down to prepare our meal. We'd brought simple, ready-to-eat foods, but even those required spreading out a mat and some prep work.

But Als wasn't helping with lunch at all—he was still scanning the surroundings. The guy really seemed desperate to run into a Hero Eater.

I approached Lizbet, giving her ass a couple light taps with my front hoof as a thanks for handling my lust earlier. She flushed with embarrassment, kicked my thigh with her foot, and went back to prepping lunch. A smile crept onto my face unbidden.

Lizbet's resistance to me was fading bit by bit. That reddened face no longer showed the fear, suspicion, or disgust she'd felt when we first met. The flustered look was pure loveliness, the charm of a female in transformation.

Confirming it all, I called up her status window from behind her.

Seeing Lizbet's status window updated again, I inwardly marveled, as expected. I'd only sensed it intuitively, but my view of her status seemed to expand with each progression. When I checked other humans or myself, it stayed the same basic initial window, but Lizbet's kept adding items. It wasn't precise, but maybe it updated based on the state of women I targeted?

Mulling that over, I admired the new and changed entries, then pondered her favorability. 39%... almost 40 percent. A bit more, and she'd be split evenly with Als—soon she'd be my bitch, I thought optimistically. But wait, not yet? Doubt crept in.

Among cheating women, some fall head over heels for their affair partner without realizing it, yet keep up the lover act with their original guy. Considering that, would surpassing favorability really snap the bond Lizbet and Als built since childhood?

What I truly wanted was Lizbet rejecting Als on her own and swearing obedience to me. At similar or slightly higher favorability, it felt insufficient. There was still a long way to go—I decided to treat favorability as just a reference.

Lost in thought over the status, I noticed lunch was ready. The two ate their simple rations while I grazed on nearby grass. I could probably eat convenience foods too, but they cost money, and during that week without Als, I'd tried bread Lizbet bought—barely any taste. This horse body seemed to have issues with taste buds too. Please be normal when I humanize...

After lunch, despite moving quite a bit, the only finds were two horned chicken-like trash mobs. Another blank day, I thought as we headed back to Radia. I was musing if I could convince Lizbet for another lust relief session tonight when Als, out front, suddenly dropped low and gestured us over.

"......There's something."

What? It took a moment to process, then realization hit. Lizbet and I scrambled beside him, bellies to the ground. No way—did he actually find it?

Peering through the brush, an ominous black shape loomed. Two faces, twelve eyes, black smoke billowing like it was flaunting its menace.

But... its actions didn't match the vibe. It was in a clearing, scratching at the dirt like a cat digging for something. Up close, hard to believe this thing brought ruin. Really a world-ender?

"...What now? Als," I asked, eyeing him. He'd insisted on hunting it, so his call. I didn't care—run or fight, whatever. If risky, I'd grab Lizbet first and bolt at horse speed.

"......"

Als drew his sword quietly, looked at us, and said, "First, I'll charge while it's off-guard, alone. After I engage, Liz, support from range. Sema, wait for an opening while I fight and join in. Sound good?"

Looked risky. Was Als reckless or fearless? My ideal plan: Lizbet blasts with that flamethrower spell from last time on sneak attack, then Als and I pile on. Even then, recalling last time's near-death, it'd be tough.

"Als..."

"Lizbet. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know it's dangerous, but like I said, I want to test my strength. Alone, I wouldn't be this stupid, but we've got Sema, right? With his speed, escape's viable if needed."

He was banking on my speed for recklessness. But what if I couldn't carry him? I didn't care much as long as Lizbet was safe.

Lizbet glanced worriedly at Als, then me. I didn't give a damn about him, but to ease her, I flashed a grin and lied, "Well... I'm a bit worried, but since you're set on it, let's try. Worst ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠case, I'll charge in, grab you, load you both, and bolt."

With her nod, gripping her staff tight, Als detailed timings. He slipped to a diagonal bush from the still-scratching Hero Eater.

We watched him from afar, tracking the Hero Eater while awaiting his rush. Tension thickened the forest, broken only by its scratching.

Als tensed, gripped his sword—and stepped.

Snap. Dry twig cracked like thunder.

"Kieeeek!!"

The Hero Eater startled, spotted Als, leaped back cat-like with weird yowl, and one face spewed black breath attack. New move—what the hell?

The blast engulfed Als's bush. He dodged sideways, but it still shrouded him.

Fuck, you idiot! Cursing inwardly, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shoved breath worries aside and charged. My plan was Lizbet and run, but her pale, horrified face spurred me on.

Reaching him amid rising smoke, Als lay collapsed, sword flung far, motionless like passed out. Wide-area breath clipped him despite dodge.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠snatched him in my teeth, heaved him onto my back—no time for care.

"Lizbet! Get ready to mount!"

Yelled as I bolted toward her. Hero Eater screamed ear-piercingly, pursuing from afar.

"Lizbet! Hop on!"

I crouched; she scrambled up. Just as it neared, feeling her weight, I exploded leg power.

"Kyaaaaak!!!!!"

It kept pace briefly, but as my speed ramped, its cries faded. Thankfully, I was way faster.

Couldn't grab his sword in haste, but priorities.

"Als! Als! Wake up!" Lizbet's frantic cries from my back. Seemed knocked out for real; she clutched his limp form.

About ten minutes later, no more sounds. Safe. I slowed, stopped, checked them.

"Als! Als!"

She laid him down, shook him—no response. Black breath marks mottled his body, face ashen corpse-like.

She checked breathing, placed hand on his chest, eyes closed in focus. Then urgently, "Something... like Tesser energy. Is the Hero Eater a demon beast? If so, our potions won't cut it. We need a church—fast!"

Hands shaking, fumbling gear, face deathly pale, muttering.

"Lizbet."

"Should've stopped him... What if... demon beast wounds... even church can't..."

"Lizbet!!"

She startled at my shout.

"Y-yeah!?"

"Calm down. We ditched it. Breathe, load Als tight on my back. He's not dead, body's intact-ish—Radia treatment should work."

Her color returned somewhat. Nodding, she positioned him, mounted behind, holding firm.

"Thanks, Sema..."

"Save it. Tell me where; I'll go max speed."

With them aboard, I raced to Radia.