She smiled shyly at me and giggled. “Jeez! Who else could it be, Furutsu?”
Seriously?! Why do you look like that?! Also, you’re really adorable! Huh, wait a second... I know this doesn’t make sense, but I have this odd feeling like I’ve seen you like this before...
“Oho? So you have connected your path to one more, have you? Let me see...” Gaokerena said, staring in my direction. “Hm. Your path is connected to your own insides. Who is that little girl? Were you keeping a little insect inside of your body?”
“Huh?! I’m not an insect!” Grida said.
Erm, well, you are inside of an apple. What else would be there but a bug?
“Hmph. It is of no consequence. A little girl like that will hardly make a difference in this match.”
She made a face at him. “A little girl?! You’re so rude! Furutsu, let’s beat that old man!” Grida proceeded to run toward the path, putting herself between Fresa and me, and grabbed it with one hand. There was a big boom, and the mountain of dayquril behind Gaokerena started to move.
“Gah! Wh-What?!” he yelled.
No way. Did Grida just do that?!
“Wh-What is this?! What did you do?! Agh!” The old man lost his balance for a moment before quickly regaining it, trying desperately to pull back. However, both he and his villagers were slowly being dragged toward me.
“I only tugged on it ever so slightly,” Grida replied with a huge smile on her face.
Gaokerena, his face red, pulled on the path with all his might, but it was a losing battle.
“Gah! I simply cannot believe this! How could something this absurd happen?!” He roared at his villagers. “Humans! Put more strength into it!”
The villagers started to scream and shout as they tugged on the path with all their might. Once more, it stopped moving. You’re overworking those people!
Grida giggled. “That old guy is so weak! I think I’ll finish my introduction first!”
Oh, so I guess you just stopped pulling, huh?
She switched her grip on the path as she turned around toward Fresa and Datil. “Hello! My name is Grida. I’m inside of Furutsu,” she said, only lightly grasping the creaking path. She had her back toward Gaokerena.
Jeez, she’s so strong...
“I’ve been watching you two this entire time you’ve been with him. I hope we can continue to be good friends,” she said, bowing her head. Everything she does is adorable.
“Wait, are you the one who’s always casting the stronger-looking magic?” Fresa asked.
Very astute as always, Fresa. How can you tell?!
“Wow! So you noticed me, Fresa-san?” Grida hopped happily without letting go of the path.
“Heh heh, I knew it! I kind of had a hunch. Pleased to meet you, Grida-chan!”
“Nice to meet you, Grida! I see, so Apple-san’s name is Furutsu!” Datil said.
Oh yeah, I guess I never gave them my name.
“Hm, what would you like me to call you? Furutsu-san... Furutsucchi... Calling you just Furutsu sounds a bit odd,” Datil said, cocking his head to one side. “Yeah, I think I’ll stick with Apple-san.”
“Yeah, I will too!” Fresa said.
So we’re sticking with that, huh? Okay, no problemo. I already got used to that name anyway. “You can call me whatever you like. I hope Grida and I can stay as your friends!” They smiled back at me. I was glad that Grida seemed to be smiling happily too.
“You impudent humans!” Gaokerena roared, his face flushed an even deeper red from pulling as hard as he could.
Hey, where’s he get off being even redder than I am? I’m the apple here!
“What impressive nerve to act like that in front of a god, you inferior beings!”
Oh, sorry, cranky that we were ignoring you? Must be lonely being a god.
“Oops, I forgot about him,” Grida said.
“Aw, come on! Let’s, like, leave him be and talk for a bit more!” Fresa said.
“Yeah, seconded. We probably can’t talk to you two once we leave this weird room, right?” Datil said.
Whoa, you guys are quick to relax! Why’re you happily nodding along, Grida?! “Hey, guys, I totally agree with the ‘screw Gaokerena’ mindset, but don’t you feel sorry for the villagers?” I said. I’ve actually been a bit worried about them. We can’t just keep chatting away while they look like that.
“Furutsu, I just want to talk for a little bit more, okay?” Grida said.
“Hm. They do look like they’re being manipulated, but they’re our enemies, aren’t they? It doesn’t seem like they’ll die or anything,” Datil noted.
“Let’s just leave them beee! You’re too nice, Apple-san,” Fresa said.
You guys are a bit too harsh, no?
“I...” Gaokerena said.
Hm? Did someone say something? Oh wait, I forgot about you again, whoops. I faced forward and saw Gaokerena glaring at me, fuming with anger.
“I will not forgive you! I will not forgive any of you inferior beings! You shall pay the price for ridiculing me!” Gaokerena yelled, his shoulders trembling with rage. He roared, and there were disgusting popping noises as his huge muscles grew once more. “Huff... How many centuries has it been since I went all out? How vexing it is that I must go to these lengths against creatures like you! Should this decrease my life span, then so be it! I shall use all the dayquril I have saved to drag you all to your deaths!”
Before our eyes, the mountain of dayquril behind him began rapidly shrinking, and the man himself had transformed into a being that no longer resembled a human. He’s more beast than man now. I heard the shrieks of the people behind me.
“Ew! He looks so gross!”
“Wait! Isn’t that, like, totally unfair?”
“Whoa, he looks like a giant!”
I kinda feel like you guys are still way too relaxed, but whatever.
Gaokerena laughed. “Hah! This is the end for you!” He was around twice his previous size now—large hornlike appendages sprouted from his face, and his overly large muscles pulsated.
Is this his true form?
“I won’t even give you the luxury of time to feel despair.” As he put his strength into the rope, his muscular arms and legs bulged even more under his clothes, refusing to be contained.
“Whoa! This is bad!” Datil yelled.
“Nooo! He’s pulling us toward him!” Fresa cried.
The tables had completely turned, as he started pulling the path toward his side once more. Ugh, he’s so strong!
“For real?! I’ve never felt this sort of strength before!” I said.
“You’re right. I didn’t think he’d be this strong either...” Datil replied.