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"Kayda, what's wrong? You've been acting like this all night."
You take the gown from her hand and gently pull it over her head.

"Everyone here is a much better warrior than I am and now everyone knows."

What? What is that supposed to mean?

"What makes you say that? Why are you thinking about this now?"
You suddenly feel a lot more guilty about spying on her, did she notice?

She sniffles gently, and then grabs onto your hand.

"I want to be a good bodyguard, I don't want to be replaced. I'll do anything I need to, please give me another chance, Yuuki."

..
"What?"
"No! I'm serious! I just wasn't prepared tonight, and-"

"Why do you think you're going to be 'replaced'?"

There's a gleam in her eye, and she stops talking immediately.
"Kayda."
"Never mind, I didn't say anything."

"You know that won't work on me, Kayda." You cross your arms, not even caring that you're not wearing anything. "Did your summoner tell you that h-, she was going to REPLACE you?"
"No! I'm leaving! I'll see you in the morning."

She tries walking out of the room, forgetting that she's wearing a silk gown. You quickly throw yours on and grab onto her shoulder.
"Kayda. Stop. Let's just go to sleep tonight, and we'll talk about this more in the morning. Okay?"
"..Fine."

You pick Kayda up and take her over to the bed, where everyone is already laying. Gently, you lay her down and pick a spot right next to her.
"Sleep well, Kayda."
"Nnng."

>Quest Start Next Post

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Ugh.
That familiar feeling is inside of you now. That feeling of not getting enough rest despite sleeping like a rock for twelve hours.

You know that feeling well. It usually means something is bothering you that you haven't quiet put your finger on yet.
You eyes open slowly, and you scan the room around you.

To your left, there's a blonde girl with two pointy ears. She's gripping onto your chest, like you might fly away in her sleep.
To your right, a lass with voluminous silver hair and a very strong lower body lays flat across your arm. The longer part of her has wrapped itself around your ankle.

Strange, even though you know something is bothering you, you feel like you should be the happiest man in the world.

You are Jack Albator, fleeting explorer, charming rogue, world's greatest hero. This week has been a mess. You recruited a crew to return and free the kidnapped citizens of Gallete. Through your charms and wits, you were able to free the entirety of a prison colony that a rival nation had established to take large swaths of the population from other countries. You also met a guy who could very well be a monster from your dreams, it's hard to tell.

To combat this new threat; you assembled the heroes of your crew to receive top-of-the-line training. Today, you look to another round of morning drills and exercises. These won't be as tough as yesterday.

You were also made aware of some kind of wave of drama overtaking your group. You're not sure about it, and you're not sure you want to even be a part of it.

Gently, you sit up as to not disturb the lasses. It's about the same time you wake up every morning.

With one strange exception: Keiko is also awake. The young lass sits on the back porch with her feet swinging off the edge. She seems to be watching the sun rise.

>Go see what has her up so early.
>Time to start cooking Breakfast.
>Back to sleep, you'll deal with all of this later.
>Wake one of the sleeping girls up.
>Wake everyone up
>Other?

>>43377506
>>Go see what has her up so early.

>>43377506
>Go see what has her up so early.
Alright. Keiko time has finally arrived!

>>43377506
>>Go see what has her up so early.
>>Time to start cooking Breakfast.

Being a Harem protagonist is suffering

>>Go see what has her up so early.


Writing!

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You decide that it's probably a good idea to see what has Keiko up so early. It's bad enough that the women in your crew are starting to act strange. You don't want that spreading to the usually-happy members of it, too.

Gently, you slide the Lass's arms off of you and carefully crawl out of bed. You do this with such stealth that not even Keiko heard you.

She did, however, hear you nearly stumble over the snake's hold on your ankle. You gently pry it off as Keiko eyes you oddly.
"Huh? Jack? Why are you up?"

"I was gonna ask ye the same thing."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Aye could see that. Why?"

"Just, having problems sleeping."

You both sit on the back porch in silence for a few minutes. She stands up and lets her green mass of fluff wave freely in the cool air of the morn. Gently, she stretches her arms and groans.
"I'm gonna go start sweeping."
"Do ye do anythin' but sweep?"

"No, but. It's important, right? The shrine needs to be kept clean."

"Don't ye do any rituals, or anything?"

"Nah, they're hard to learn, and Atsuko hasn't had a lot of time what with savin' the world and all with you."

She walks over and grabs her short-sized broom. Her pace seems to perpetually have a slight spring in its step.

>"Hey, wanna go try huntin' something for breakfast? Ye should know how to use a weapon."
>"Wanna go fish? Ye can do that. Fishin' is something everyone needs."
>"Let's go for a walk, ye can at least do that."
>It's fine, just start cooking for the morning.
>Other?

>>43378496
>>"Hey, wanna go try huntin' something for breakfast? Ye should know how to use a weapon."
>>"Wanna go fish? Ye can do that. Fishin' is something everyone needs."

>>43378496
>"Want me to make breakfast?"

That was a fast drop-off.

Rolling for it unless someone tiebreaks in the next five minutes

>>43378496
>"Wanna go fish? Ye can do that. Fishin' is something everyone needs."

I'm still here. Just lurking and distracted.

>>43378496
>Wanna go fish? Ye can do that. Fishin' is something everyone needs."
Bonding time with our summoner!

Also poor Yuuki is going mad, and I'm not sure that Jack even wants to get involved in that mess at all, it seems complicated as hell.

>>Wanna go fish? Ye can do that. Fishin' is something everyone needs."

Writing!

man Jack's gonna show his fatherly side
and thats gonna make every thing worse for him

>>43379069
that's a weird way to spell better anon

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"'Ey Keiko."
"Hmm?" She has a strand of her own hair in her mouth as she spins around to face you.

"The sweepin' can wait. Wanna know how to do somethin' helpful that isn't just sweepin'?"

Her cute ears twitch. Slowly, her tail starts to sway behind her.
"Like what? A ritual?"
"Somethin' much more helpful, Keiko. I'm gonna teach ye how to fish."

She seems confused, "Fish?"
"If ye know how to fish, ye'll never go hungry again. Bein' a good fisherman makes anyone useful."

"I don't know, I don't think I'd be very good at it."
"Cmon, ye can't say that if ye never tried. It's real easy, You'll have me teachin' ye."

"Well. Okay, but how are we getting to the lake before those two wake up?"
"That's easy, Lass."

You walk over to her, gently hoisting her onto your shoulders.
"Boat ride!"
"Yaaay!"

--

The wind has subsided into a light breeze. The pond is a slow trickle, with a perfectly flat surface.
Perfect.

You couldn't have asked for better conditions.

Keiko watches intently as you bend a stretchy branch of a tree, twisting it until it comes off. You then tether a length of string to it, and fasten a shiny coin at the end.
Maybe it's not the perfect fishing rod. But you don't want to scare her off her first time fishing. If something is large enough to break this, she should let go of it.

"How we gonna fish like this?"
"Just watch, Lass."

You roll up your pantlegs, and take off your boots. Slowly, you become an actual boat for Keiko as you hoist her onto your shoulders and wade into the knee-deep waters.

"Now, there's only one rule: Don't hook me with the line."
"O-ok."

With a toss, she casts the hook into the calm water.
"Jack." She absentmindedly swings her legs. "If it's this easy to get food, why does anyone go hungry?"

>"Because they're not smart, like we are."
>"Fishing is a skill, like any skill, ye have to keep training it all of the time."
>"Do people go hungry here? Aye don't know."
>"Shh, Fishing is best when quiet."
>Other?

Rolled 11 (1d20)

Also, ignore this.

>>43379388
>>"Fishing is a skill, like any skill, ye have to keep training it all of the time."

>>43379388
>"Do people go hungry here? Aye don't know."

>>43379388
>"Fishing is a skill, like any skill, ye have to keep training it all of the time."
>"Do people go hungry here? Aye don't know."
Jack dont know shit about this place, why do people live so long? Do people go hungry? so many questions.

>>43379388
>>"Fishing is a skill, like any skill, ye have to keep training it all of the time."

>"Fishing is a skill, like any skill, ye have to keep training it all of the time."
>"Do people go hungry here? Aye don't know."

WRiting!

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"Aye, Lass. Fishing is a skill. Like any skill, ye need to keep training it. Other people have jobs, responsibility, they can't keep practicing a skill all the time if they get a chump job like shopkeeper or farmer."

You look up at her and smile, "We don't have that problem though."
"Yay!"

Suddenly, the line plunges into the water.
"Ah! Ye got a bite, pull the string in."

She slowly starts pulling on the cord, winding it up closer and closer to your feet. You give her a little help as hoist the end of the line out of the water.
"I got one!"

The little silver morsel squirms and flails at the end of the line.

"Nice work!"

I take the line out of it's mouth and set it in a bucket, then I slam the top back on.
"Um, now what?"
"We take it home and eat it, of course."

"But- It's not dead yet."

"Well."

You try to think of a way to explain this.
"Er- Do people even get hungry here?"
"Huh? I think so."

That was a close one.
"Try castin' again."

You both stand in the lake, casting the line out into the water again and again. Each time, Keiko asks you a question that you don't really know how to answer. Fortunately, she's distracted by more fishing.

So much more fishing, that you quickly realize that you may have lost track of time.


>"Welp! time to go!"
>No no, this is fun. Someone will come find you if they need you.
>"Hey, let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."
>"Want to join us for training later? I'll show ye how to shoot a gun."
>Other?

>>43380171
>"Hey, let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."
Ask her if there is anything/anywhere she might like to see/get on the way back.

Like food. We didn't eat this morning

>>43380171
>>"Hey, let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."

>>43380171
>>"Hey, let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."

>"Hey, let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."

WRiting!

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"Hey." You look worriedly at the sky. "Let's slowly make our way back. Ye did good today."
"Huh? Oh! Okay."

Apparently she didn't realize how much time had passed, either.

"Do you think Atsuko will be mad at me for not sweeping this morning?"

You don't have the heart to tell her that she probably only tells her to do that so she doesn't get into trouble.
"Aye, she'll probably just get mad at me, instead!"

"Aww, I don't want that."
"It's fine, I'm used to it." You flash a grin at her.

Gently, you set her down on the bank. You trudge a fairly-full bucket of fish as you step back onto dry land.
"Cmon." You hoist her back up onto your neck, and walk several paces.

Just to see Madeleine curled up in the dusty road, with a picnic basket and a smile.
"Oh? Did you decide to come visit finally?" She huffs, with a smile. "I made breakfast, and brought some along for you two."

>"How did ye follow us?"
>"How long have ye been watching?"
>"Aye! Thanks!"
>"Don't ye think we should be headin' back?"
>Other?

>>43380831
>>"Aye! Thanks!"
>>"Don't ye think we should be headin' back?"
then
>>"How long have ye been watching?"

>>43380831
>"How long have ye been watching?"

>>43380831
>"How long have ye been watching?"
>"Aye! Thanks!"

>>43380831
>>"Aye! Thanks!"
Best girl time

>"How long have ye been watching?"
>"Aye! Thanks!"

Writing!

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"Huh." You look at Madeleine, who is slowly unfurling her body. "How long have ye been watchin'?"

"Mm, just the past hour. I was going to say something, but you two looked like you were having such fun."

She's been staring at you the past hour, and you didn't even notice?
Uh oh, you just noticed that she has that look on her face again like she's about to hit on you.

"Hmm, you didn't tell me you were such a good father, Jack."
Oh, here we go.

"Aye didn't know either. It's not like I was ever one."
"Mm, I could help you with that." She giggles.

That was such a lame joke, you can't help but laugh, too.
"Madeleine, that-" You start laughing again.

You're laughing, and a part of you hates it.

"Aaanyway!" She unfolds a cloth from the basket. "I brought soup from last night, and fresh bread for this morning! I might have some fish for the rest of the week, by the looks of things."

"Aye. The kid is an expert at fishing. The shrine will never have to worry about havin' enough food."
Keiko giggles. You can see her tail swishing back and forth.

Everyone sits down to enjoy their breakfast. Keiko hungrily bites into the bread.
Madeleine takes an interest in what you were teaching her, and eventually, the idea of teaching her something else comes up.

Anything else you had in mind?

>How about some magic training?
>Maybe some firearms training
>Maybe nothing combat related at all
>She wants to be a shrine maiden? Maybe I can find someone to help her with that.
>Barrier magic? I know an expert.
>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?
>Other?

>>43381749
>>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?

>>43381749
>>How about some magic training?

>>43381749
>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?

>>43381749
>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?

>>43381749
>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?

>You want to try teaching her medicines, Madeleine?
Writing last post of the night!

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"I was thinkin'. Maybe ye should teach her about some medicine, take 'er as yer apprentice or somethin'?"

Madeleine seems surprised by that.
"Why would I do that?"

"Well, just think, ye were the only one that knew how to cure Louise a few months back. It'd be great if ye had another doctor with your experience, right?"

"That would be great, but it's very high-level stuff. I mean, it's secrets about anatomy that I don't think the rest of the world is even aware of."

You glance over to Keiko. She hungrily gulps down some noodles as her tail wildly twitches back and forth.
"..It's true she's a bit young, but it's best when she starts young, aye? Aye started sailin' when I was too young to remember who my parents were, but I turned out great!"

"This is a little more complex than that, Jack. And- This kind of stuff isn't really 'accepted'. How would it be for her if she started repeating things that everyone thought was patently false?"

"Madeleine, do ye hear yerself? If ye want the world to change, keeping it to yourself isn't gonna make it happen. Ye need followers, you need to plant the seed."

"I'm not sure it's worth that, Jack."

Your group starts packing up the picnic spot, as you all begin slowly making your way back to the shrine.
"If it's the truth, then is it worth keeping it to yerself? Ye may be the only one that knows."
"It's not about knowing, it's about keeping it safe. Could you imagine how bad it would be if someone found out about this, and pretended to be able to heal anything?"
"Yar, but think of how many people are being hurt right now because they don't know."

"Hey!"

Keiko exclaims, hopping off toward the shrine.
"Yuuki!" She chants.

Sure enough, sitting in front of one of the alters, is Yuuki.
She stands up to intercept Keiko as she goes crashing into her. Then she solemly walks toward you.

"Aye, Yuuki. Somethin' wrong?"
"Sort of, Jack. We need to talk."

You never liked it when a girl told you that.

>Thread End

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Thanks for the thread, everyone!

This was a nice sidestory. It's good to get progress with Keiko, I really like it. We should do this more often.

Thanks to everyone for the thread, Maybe we can have a thread next week. I'll just be traveling, so we'll have to see.

Until next time.

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>>43381749
>"Mm, I could help you with that." She giggles.

>>43382837
Thanks for running boss,

snake tail a best

>>43382837
thanks for running

>>43382837
Thanks for running, Announcer.