Chapter 11: Well what do you know, today just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
This time, the instant the second monster centipede died before their eyes, the others were finally spooked and began to retreat into the forest.
From the looks of it, they might not be bright creatures but it seemed they weren't total fools either.
Well I didn't care, I was beyond happy that they decided to leave, plus, I was satisfied with my gains, I didn't level up twice but once was already pretty good.
I checked my status and was even more satisfied with the sight.
• [Name]: [Maple]
• [Race]: [Human LVL 5]
• [Race EXP]: [1500/1600]
• [Job Class]: [Honorary Angel: 1 Star]
• [Job Class EXP]: [0/10]
• [HP]: [70/70]
• [MP]: [74/80]
• [Strength]: [7]
• [Vitality]: [7]
• [Dexterity]: [7]
• [Agility]: [8]
• [Perception]: [5]
• [Stamina]: [9]
• [Intelligence]: [8]
• [Unallocated stat points]: [1]
• [Job Class Skills: Councilor: Lv1, Shape Shift: Lv1]
• [Equipment: None]
" Perception seems to be the lowest stat at the moment, I can't have it lagging behind. It's more useful than I give it credit for." I decided to add my unallocated stat point to perception, boosting it up to 6.
[Allocating 1 unallocated stat point to perception]
[Perception + 1]
[Perception: 5→6]
I stepped out of the dead monster centipedes corpse, reverting back to my true body. Lennie became startled by my presence, I shivered when she let out a warning growl.
' How am I supposed to take her back home anyways?' I wondered to myself, even that group of monsters centipedes couldn't move her, so how much would someone like myself fair?
While wondering how I would take her home, I became surprised when I saw Lennie's gaze change from warning to curious, then to calm.
I gulped in fear when her large head peaked out of the dark hole to stare down at me. Getting a closer look at her, I realized she resembled a huge white tiger covered in blue stripes, her appearance was somewhat majestic if I had to describe it, as if she had some sort of noble air around her.
" Why do you smell like mommy?"
" You can talk?!" I blurted out in disbelief. The sight of a huge tiger talking was no doubt awe-inspiring yet frightening at the same time. But I recalled what she said, calming myself down.
' When she says mommy, is she referring to Mrs Granger?' I thought to myself.
" Your name is Lennie right?" I asked.
The tiger beast or should I say, Lennie, nodded, much to my secret relief.
' At least I wasn't mistaken, I actually found her.'
" Did mommy send you to come get me?" Lennie pouted, staring at me as if she was a kid who was annoyed that her parents didn't trust her to do something on her own.
" How did you know Mrs Granger sent me?" I asked.
" You smell like mommy's tea, which means your mommy's friend."
' The tea?' I was confused before I recalled the tea Mrs Granger had given me before I left, to think it would later help me besides quenching my thirst.
' Well since she thinks she sent me, I should play along so I can get her to come home with me.' I thought to myself.
" Yes Lennie, Your mommy sent me to come get you. She's worried about you and wants you to come home." I said, expecting her to be happy but she shook her head, looking frustrated.
" I don't want to go back, at least not yet" She said. I didn't know whether she loved to pout but it was starting to grow on me to be honest.
" What do you mean not yet?" I didn't like where this conversation was going, who would willingly want to stay in this nightmare forest a moment longer?
" Why don't you want to go home?"
" Mommy's magic water was running out so I decided to come get her some but..." Lennie voice trailed off, sounding vexed as she glanced at the interior of the cave.
I decided to head inside for a better look, thanks to my personal night light, the interior of the cave wasn't completely shrouded in darkness.
At the center of the cave, I saw a depressed pool, filled with an unknown milky white liquid.
" That's the magical water?" I blinked, staring at the pool.
" Yes, and I wanted to get some for mommy but I forgot to get something to carry it in." Lennie sighed, dropping on her rear with a ground shaking thud that almost knocked me off my feet, her face dejected.
" I wanted to go back and get something to carry it in but those pesky bugs suddenly found this place. I didn't want them to take all the water from the pool so I stayed her to protect it."
' So that's why she hadn't been back.' I finally got a clear picture of what really happened. Honestly I didn't expect a simple cat returning mission to turn into something like this.
' Something tells me the remaining missions mustn't be any different...' I felt a bit bitter thinking about it but it was a better option than letting those useless men harass me all day.
" Couldn't you carry the water in your mouth back to your mommy?" I asked but Lennie shook her head.
" The magical water tends to be absorbed whenever it comes into contact with a living creature."
' Oh...' I realized this tiger wasn't as immature as I thought.
" Light, do you have any suggestions?" I asked the floating chibi angel beside me.
" Who are you talking to?" I realized I slipped up when I heard Lennie questioning me. It then came to me that Lennie probably couldn't see light.
" Umm... I'm just talking to a friend of mine only I can see?" I said, forcing an awkward smile, not knowing why I came up with something so stupid.
" Oh, ok, can your friend help us get the water back to mommy?' to my surprise, Lennie didn'
t seem surprised but believed me.
" You believe me?!"
" Yes, why wouldn't I?" She replied back, curious with my reaction.