Please Just Listen to Me
Please Just Listen to Me
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
In the stifling air, Seola-unni, who had been glancing between the two of us, finally spoke up first.
"How long are you going to keep this up?"
"I have to set some discipline now so this kind of thing doesn't happen in the future."
"You're acting exactly like an elementary schooler right now... wait, are you?"
"What does this have to do with being an elementary schooler!"
"It's just one jelly, what's the big deal⋯."
"I told you, it's not because of the jelly!"
"Looks like it to me..."
I glanced over at Pongpong (I don't care if he hates the name, I'm never changing it), and he was just wagging his tail, who knows what he was thinking.
How do I scold that disobedient little guy?
He's more agile than I thought, so he's hard to catch, and I can't use magic because we're inside my house.
If Seola-unni helped, maybe, but she doesn't look like she has any intention of helping...
Maybe I should change my approach. If I pretend to be nice, won't he come closer?
"Fine. Let's start by getting to know each other. First off, you eat, right?"
"Pong."
I clearly can't understand what he's saying, but that look on his face, like 'isn't that obvious?', is so infuriating.
But let's just hold it in⋯ I need to get used to this.
"Right. Then what do you like? You said you didn't want the jelly when I gave it to you."
Pongpong started typing on the keyboard again. And what appeared on the computer screen was meat that looked delicious and expensive even just in the photo.
It was meat that glistened, the kind I'd never eaten, no, never even imagined.
"⋯⋯."
He's clearly just trying to mess with me. This damn fox.
"Y-you want to eat this?"
"Pong."
I really want to turn this guy into meat.
"But this is too expensive. Can't you have something else?"
At that, the fox typed on the keyboard again, and the words that appeared on the monitor were.
"Useless."
"The useless one is you, you pig! Then show me where you're useful. You're not a fox, you're a pig-fox, aren't you?"
"Pong!"
Maybe he was triggered by me calling him a pig, because he reacted violently.
"Hmph. Did I say anything wrong? You haven't shown me anything yet, and you're trying to eat stuff I've never even had, where did you even find out about that?"
That was when it happened. Suddenly, Pongpong ran toward the door, looked back at us, and kept jumping up and down.
"Pong! Pong!"
Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?
"Isn't he saying he wants to show us something because you said that?"
"Show us what all of a sudden⋯ I was just saying that, he doesn't need to do it right now⋯."
"Hey, don't say that, he seems like he wants to show us something, let's just go see."
In the end, I had no choice but to drag my heavy body and go outside with the two of them.
As soon as I opened the door, Pongpong suddenly dashed forward.
"Pongpong! Hey! Where are you going!"
I could feel the gazes of people looking at Pongpong with curiosity, but he didn't care and kept running, and we followed behind him.
"Huff⋯ huff⋯ how far are you going on your own?"
It was a long time later when he finally stopped. Looking around, it was an ordinary park bustling with people.
It was the time of year when cherry blossoms were falling one by one, but there were still many people in the park.
People out with their families, couples on dates, friends hanging out. I could see everyone having a good time.
"Ah⋯hyeon! Phew⋯ where is he⋯? Did you catch him?"
Seola-unni arrived slightly after me. She was too busy catching her breath while holding onto a tree to pay attention to anything else, though.
"What is it. Why did you suddenly bring us here? Did you just want to play?"
"Pong!"
As if to say that wasn't it, Pongpong shook his head vigorously.
"Then why on earth did you want to come here all of a sudden⋯."
That was when I turned around to head back home.
Cr-crack-
A sound like something cracking came from the fountain.
"Pong!"
As I turned my gaze to where the sound came from, Pongpong also stood his tail straight up and bared sharp vigilance toward it.
Wiiing-!
At the same time, sirens began to blare from the speakers installed in the park and the cell phones of the people there.
"A Gate has appeared. Citizens, please follow the guidance of those around you and evacuate indoors immediately. I repeat-"
Space, distorted. Seeing a Gate appear right in front of my eyes was a fascinating experience.
The fountain that had been guarding the center of the ordinary park just a moment ago split open, and a massive circular hole appeared, shimmering like a mirage.
"Kwooo-!"
And, monsters began to pour out from inside the hole.
The park turned into chaos in an instant with people fleeing.
-R-run!
-It's a monster! Aaaargh!
-Help me!
【 Quest Occurred - Protect the people from the monsters. 】
The same blue window as always popped up in the corner of my vision.
"I was going to do that anyway! Transform!"
It was a little embarrassing since it was my first time showing my transformation in a place with so many people, but what could I do? People's lives are more important⋯!
After finishing my transformation, I quickly looked around, and monsters were still pouring out of the Gate.
"Ahyeon! I'll take care of the mobs coming out of the Gate as much as I can, so you save the people first!"
Kwa-kwang-!
At the same time as she said that, Seola-unni's drones, which had flown in at some point, poured fierce fire toward the monsters coming out of the Gate.
"Got it!"
A young boy fleeing from the monsters tripped and fell, and a Goblin was slowly approaching him.
"S-someone help⋯."
"Blossom Kick!"
"How dare you! Not while I'm watching!"
"Th-thank you!"
"Go quickly!"
Seola-unni's drones were doing their best to block the monsters, but because of the sheer number, small monsters were slipping out one by one and threatening people.
"Blossom Punch!"
"Th-thank you, kid!"
Of course, I took care of those guys immediately.
Fortunately, there must have been other Hunters who came to the park besides us, as I could see Hunters fighting monsters all over the place.
I glanced at Seola-unni for a moment; she was controlling Combat Drones with one hand while using Scout Drones to help with the evacuation with the other. As expected of an A-rank.
"Mister! Do you want to die? How can you go back there to get your wallet!"
It's scary how she keeps yelling and getting angry about things⋯.
"Come to think of it, where did Pongpong go?"
I hadn't even thought about it because the situation was so chaotic.
Kwang-!
I turned my head to where the sound came from and saw a Slime-type Monster embedded in a wall, with Pongpong standing in front of it.
"Pongpong!"
Pongpong was weaving through the people with his small body, taking down monsters.
He was moving around at high speed, swinging his tail, and it looked like it would hurt quite a bit if you got hit.
He fights better than I thought. I thought he wouldn't be any help because he was small. Am I right to be nice to him?
"Pong!"
In the middle of that, he noticed I was watching and was making a triumphant face as if to show off.
I take back what I said about being nice to him. That guy needs some discipline.
Hunters arrived one by one, and as a defensive line was established in front of the Gate with Seola-unni at the center, most of the monsters that had escaped were taken care of.
Perhaps because of that, I could see people in the distance filming the situation at the Gate with their cell phones.
Anyway, I don't understand them. You never know what's going to happen, so why do they think they're safe just because they're far away and act like that? They must really love getting views by posting it on the internet.
Kung- kung-!
Just then, massive footsteps rang in my ears one after another.
And what appeared from the Gate was the Goblin Great I had seen before.
"What is it. It's nothing special."
One⋯ two⋯ three⋯ huh? How long are they going to keep coming out?
The Hunters who had established the defensive line were flustered as Goblin Greats, which boast destructive attack power even with just one, kept popping out.
"It doesn't matter! Take them out one by one!"
Maybe it would have been dangerous if Seola-unni hadn't been there. I wondered if the Seola-unni commanding the Hunters was really the same playful person I knew.
I also helped catch one. Even so, it was a bit embarrassing to transform into White Lily. Of course, I would have done it if it were dangerous⋯ but I'm glad that situation didn't arise.
The last Goblin Great fell, and the exhausted Hunters sat down on the spot.
"It's finally over!"
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work⋯."
"Wow, you fought well even though you're young?"
"Hehe⋯ I didn't really do much⋯."
Still, it felt good to be complimented.
"But why isn't the Gate closing?"
"I don't know. I've never seen a situation like this. Usually, open-type ones close on their own once all the monsters come out."
A question someone threw out.
The Gate was still shimmering red and showed no signs of disappearing.
"Pong! Pong!"
At the sudden noisy sound, I turned my head and saw Pongpong wagging his tail and barking in front of the Gate.
"Why are you being so noisy again. It's all over."
Come to think of it, Pongpong was the one who brought us here in the first place.
"Wait, then, don't tell me even now⋯."
"Watch out! It's not⋯ it's not over yet!"