NOVEL NEXT Chapter 95: Chapter : 95 : Let's Have Campfire!
The fire crackled, sparks drifting up into the night sky. Everyone was sitting on a long log Aiden had dragged over. Luna sat on his right, tail brushing against him with every wag. Nyxion glued herself to his left, cheek pressed to his arm like she owned it.
Thristle leaned back with her usual grin, eyeing Vegia. "So… Vegi-chan, you planning to sleep with Zera tonight? You looked pretty happy about that tent earlier."
Vegia almost choked. "W-what are you talking about? I only said I didn't want to share with you lot. Who knows what this pervert will try?" pointing toward Aiden.
"Hey... I am a loyal husband, I tell you," Aiden said in his defense.
"The best!" Luna and Nyxion said in unison.
Thristle smirked, turning to Zera. "Then what about you, driver-chan? Want to share our tent?"
Zera's eyes lit up instantly. "Eh? Really? Can I?! That sounds super fun!"
Her Eagleon was beside the tent, the rope connected to a tree nearby. They had already fallen asleep, sleeping peacefully in each other's presence.
Vegia slumped, pinching her nose. "Fine. I'll sleep alone then."
Thristle's grin widened. "Alone? What if a monster sneaks into your tent?"
Vegia flicked her staff, glaring. "Then I'll burn it to ash with my magic. Don't forget I used to be a general."
"Ohhh, scary scary." Thristle teased again, tilting her head. "But what if it's… a ghost?"
Vegia froze on the spot. "…G-ghost?"
Thristle burst out laughing. "Knew it! You're terrified, aren't you?"
"Shut up!" Vegia snapped, cheeks red, hugging her staff tighter.
Luna purred from Aiden's right, snuggling into his side. "Master, ignore these children. Just focus on me."
Nyxion pressed harder on his other side, grabbing his arm and rubbing her cheek against it. "No. Focus on me. I'm softer."
"Oi," Aiden sighed. "You two are gonna rip me apart."
Lysandra shook her head, brushing Leona's hair where the little one sat on her lap. "Honestly. Must you two act like children?"
"Mnnh," Arisha agreed quietly, but she had the faintest smile.
Leona pointed her tiny finger. "Lu-Mummy and Ny-Mummy are like me! Fighting for Daddy!"
Everyone laughed at that.
Nyxion stuck out her tongue. "See? Even Leona agrees Heartlord is mine."
"No way," Luna hissed, hugging Aiden's arm tighter, pressing her boobs against his arm, "Master is mine first."
"Both of you, stop," Aiden muttered, rubbing his temples.
Meanwhile, Ivy was sitting with Fluffynugget in her lap. She poked his cheeks. "Fluffynugget, do you like camping?"
"Mii~"
She giggled. "That means yes."
Vegia frowned. "How do you even understand that thing? It just squeaks."
"I just know," Ivy said, puffing her cheeks proudly.
"Mii~" Fluffynugget agreed, and everyone chuckled.
As the fire burned brighter, conversation drifted around. They were finally eating. Luna and Zera seemed to have the most fun. She raised her toward Aiden, telling him to say, "ahh..."
"Ahh..." Aiden played along, letting her feed him.
Nyxion copied her.
"Oi! Stop copying me," Luna said to Nyxion.
Nyxion shrugged, "I am not copying."
Luna growled.
Zera stretched, swinging her legs like a kid. "This is so cool! I never thought I'd be sitting with heroes like this, eating around a campfire. Waaah, I feel important!"
"You're our driver," Thristle teased. "Of course you're important. Who else will carry us around when we're lazy?"
"Oi!" Zera pouted. "I'm more than just a driver! I'm… I'm…" She paused, then grinned. "I'm Aiden The Hero's forever driver. Contract says so."
Luna's ears twitched. "Forever? Don't sound so smug. You're not having my Master."
Nyxion giggled, clinging tighter to Aiden. "Ohh, but maybe she wants to be."
Zera blushed furiously. "W-what are you saying?! I just… I just like being useful."
Thristle smirked. "Ohh? Useful, huh? Then maybe you do want to sleep with him tonight."
"NO!" Zera squeaked, covering her face.
Even Vegia was laughing now. "You walked straight into that one."
The fire dimmed slightly as the night deepened. Ivy leaned against Luna's tail, eyelids drooping.
"Ivy," Aiden said softly. "You tired?"
"Mmm… just a little." She rubbed her eyes, still hugging Fluffynugget.
"Mii~" the fluffball chirped, nestling closer.
Leona yawned from Lysandra's lap. "Daddy, Mummy… bedtime…"
Lysandra kissed her forehead. "Yes, baby. Sleep now."
Arisha added, "We should get them into the tent soon."
"Not yet," Luna whined, pressing closer to Aiden. "It's warm here."
Nyxion pouted. "I want to stay like this, too."
Aiden sighed, patting both their heads. "You two are hopeless."
Then—
The ground shook. A low, screeching hiss echoed from the darkness.
Everyone stiffened.
From beyond the firelight, two massive Death Scorpions emerged, tails raised high, claws snapping.
"Scorpions?!" Vegia jumped up, staff ready.
Before anyone else could move, Zera shrieked and launched straight at Aiden—then leapt onto his lap, facing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself to him.
"Protect me, Sir!" she squealed, trembling.
Aiden blinked at the sudden warmth of her chest against him. "This is… not the usual reaction."
The scorpions hissed louder. Aiden's eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't have come here."
Fluffynugget suddenly launched from Ivy's lap, leaving trails of sparkling glitter behind him.
"Mii~!!"
He smashed into the first scorpion. On impact, it exploded in a burst of light and flew off into the sky, vanishing like a shooting star.
The second one reared back. Fluffynugget spun and slammed into it too, launching it into infinity the same way.
Silence.
Zera blinked several times, still clinging to Aiden's neck. "Ehhhhh?! W-what the hell just happened?!"
Ivy beamed proudly. "Fluffynugget is strong."
"Mii~"
Aiden stroked his chin. "Yeah… that's my boy."
Zera then sniffed for no reason, *He smells so good.*
Luna and Nyxion suddenly realized Zera was still sitting on his lap, her chest pressing against him. Their eyes narrowed.
"…Get off," Luna hissed.
"…You're too close," Nyxion added, glaring.
Zera squeaked and jumped off, face burning red. "S-sorry! I didn't mean—!"
Thristle laughed so hard she nearly fell off the log. "Oh spirits! Did you see her face? She looked like she was about to kiss him!"
"Over my dead body!" Luna made it clear.
"I wouldn't mind. Heartlord deserves every pleasure in the world." Nyxion said as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Vegia groaned. "You're all insane."
Lysandra sighed, brushing Leona's hair. "Enough. Arisha, pick them up and get them inside the tent."
"Yes, Princess," Arisha said calmly.
She walked over and, without hesitation, picked up Nyxion, Luna, and even Thristle up like dolls with her bare hands.
"Oi! Put me down!" Luna shouted, kicking her legs.
"I'm not done hugging Heartlord!" Nyxion protested.
Thristle just laughed. "Carry me like a princess, big girl~!"
Arisha ignored all of them and walked toward the tent.
Lysandra followed with Leona in her arms, Ivy trailing after her with Fluffynugget floating above her head. Even Vegia went inside without any protest.
That left only Zera and Aiden by the fire.
The night quieted. The firelight flickered between them.
Zera hugged her knees, cheeks still red. "Um… sorry about earlier. I just… panicked."
Aiden smiled softly. "It's fine. Better you grab me than run off screaming."
She giggled nervously. "Still… kinda embarrassing, huh?"
"Little bit," he admitted.
The moment passed in silence. Then broken only by the voice of Zera, asking.
"Sir... Aren't you gonna get inside?"
"I-"
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[THE TENT CAN ONLY BE DESTROYED BY SOMEONE STRONGER THAN THE USER. USER DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY AWAKE. IT WILL PROTECT THE USER FROM ANY FORM OF DANGER.]
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Aiden sighed, "Nothing."
Zera tilted her head toward him.
"So... How old are you?" He asked without thinking.
Zera puffed her cheeks toward him, "Sir... You're not supposed to ask a girl her age." Then added, "I am seventeen,"
"Huh? You're still a minor." Aidens said, narrowing her eyes toward him.
"Huh? How am I a minor if I am above fifteen?" She asked, tilting her head curiously.
*Fifteen?* Aiden thought.
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[FIFTEEN IS THE CURRENT AGE OF CONSENT IN NUNOVO.]
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Aiden rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously, thinking of an excuse, "Ohh... My bad."
"Huh..." Zera was still confused, but took the answer for now.
Then Aiden looked toward the two Eagleon, "They look really happy while sleeping. I say that their owner is really kind and caring."
Zera smiled, puffing her chest, proud, "They're like family to me."
"I can see that," Aiden muttered warmly.
Zera's voice softened, "They have a child named Serko. We had to leave her behind with my mum and younger sister."
"I am sorry to hear that," Aiden said.
She shook her head, "You don't have to. It was my decision in the first place. And he will live happily with my family. I always had a dream of exploring the world. So... It's not so bad."
Aiden smiled. Then slowly, he raised his hand, placing it on her head, petting her.
Her eyes widened, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Sir... I am not a kid."
Aiden chuckled, putting his hand away, "Come on. We need to wake up early tomorrow. They are waiting for us."
Zera just stared at him. Her eyes seemed to measure him. That smirk, that childish smile, his kind and warm voice, and how sincere he seemed to be with his words, all seemed to have been blooming something inside her.
She nodded, smiling toward him, "Hmm.."
They both laughed quietly, the sound of the crackling fire filling the night around them.
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END OF CHAPTER : 95 : LET'S HAVE CAMPFIRE!
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