Episode 39: No power of friendship here

Time had passed again. The season was about to change, and the festival preparations were being started. The gentle days and fluffy white clouds of the raneh season were slowly being shifted to cloudy skies, the seasonal desserts were also changing to match the vibe and available ingredients, but some things continued the same, such as Taro and fancy boy training in the school arenas

fancy boy: Taro, my trusted friend, I’m sorry to interrupt our training, but I just can’t take it anymore, there’s something eating me from inside, and I must tell you immediately

Taro: (uh-oh, this better not be a confession. then again, I always guess wrong when I think that) ok, what is?

fancy boy: remember Angea? She has been avoiding me, and it really pains me. I thought she became my friend, but now she runs away. I know I'm the stupidest prince, my brothers always tell me, so I know I did something wrong, but I don't know what it is! you seem to be smart and successful with women, that's why I ask you for help!

Taro: (uh-oh, did the confession go horribly wrong?) uhh, what happen at rooftop?

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fancy boy described how it all went down in the rooftop meeting. He arrived, bathed and wearing his finest garments. Though dressing fancy, cute, and appropriately for the occasion, the girl’s presentation paled in comparison to fancy boy’s ostent

Angea: prince! For a very long time I have admired and yearned for you, I’m in love with you!

fancy boy: not only do you want to be my friend, but also become my wife?, I like your audaciousness, let’s get married immediately!

Angea: m-m-marriage? I didn't expect to move this fast, I'm so sorry, I need time to prepare myself, sorry!!

fancy boy: see you tomorrow friend!, er, correction, see you tomorrow wife!

the girl ran away embarrassed, something he didn’t give much importance to

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Taro: (is this prince doomed?, how did I even become his friend?) I see, maybe go too fast?, she run scared, marriage too fast, for her

fancy boy: So that's what I said wrong! absolutely brilliant!, I knew I could count on you, friend!. But now I don’t know what to say, I fear I will lose her friendship if I let this continue, and friends are so hard to come by, even in the glorious Asarana, it's a scarce resource…

Taro: go say to her, uhh, say thing from chest now, before no chance in future (perhaps I should follow my own advice, lately, I’ve been thinking about the girls so much…)

fancy boy: absolutely brilliant! you must be some prince from far away, your wisdom is even bigger than your strength! do take me to visit your kingdom one day. for now, I give you my word, I will repay you this favor! you can ask me anything!

Taro: I need help too. I have problem with girls, they all nice, I like them, but, I can’t choose. if I choose, I hurt others, I no want others sad

fancy boy: I may be stupid, but this question is very easy, why choose one, when you can choose them all?. Does your kingdom restrict you?, the glorious Asarana is truly the best under the sky hahaha!

Taro: (wait a minute, he might actually have a point, this is another world!, rules are different!, perhaps it’s possible for me to—)

Taro’s enlightenment was interrupted by the Horde alert, everyone was supposed to run towards the checkpoints for instruction and coordination. As Taro and fancy boy ran to their destination, they saw dark creatures flying overhead and dropping Horde monsters of all sizes. They arrived at a checkpoint where the injured were already piling up.

royal officer: we need help on the commercial plaza, there’s still people trying to evacuate! Prince Artoggio! please go to the palace!

fancy boy: nonsense! the people are in danger, I cannot sit idle while these lowlifes trample my people, I will fight too!

royal officer: that’s why I’m sending you to the palace, I heard there’s monsters approaching there! (hopefully somebody will convince him to stay inside when he gets there)

fancy boy: those bastards! I must go immediately!, don’t you dare be injured my friend, I will see you later!

Meanwhile in the plaza, most of the guards and adventurers were dead or taking cover injured, there were also a lot of corpses of the Horde. Face to face stood a tall, lanky but athletic Horde officer, and Turt. his arm and armor shattered, legs shaking, holding his two-handed sword with one hand, behind him, his pregnant wife

Turt: go now! I'll distract him, I… I promise you; I'll catch up soon!, then we’ll go get some of those fragrant cake rolls, I’ve also been having cravings recently, just let me handle this first

Turt’s wife: never!! Death will take us both before I leave you behind, I will fight too!

Turt clenched his teeth, ready to protect everything dear to him, knowing he would not make it out alive. Suddenly, a rock hit the monster like a shooting star, crashing it to a building

Taro: Turt! friend!, I come help!!

Turt: Taro the man?!, did you shoot the monster just now? you saved us!

Taro: I tell you before, I never forget in my chest, I pay you now!. go, run!, I kill monster!

Turt’s wife: may the goddess protect you, please don't die!

Turt: I’ll return with reinforcements, hang in there man, don't you die on me!

after they evacuated the premises, the monster stood up from among the rubble, now face to face with Taro

Horde officer: you miserable, I was having fun toying with them, how dare you spoil my fun?, this is why you inferior lifeforms deserve worse than death, I will take your powers, and your soul will know no rest!

its voice, though monstrous, was familiar. There was no more need for words, the battle was on. The monster rushed at Taro with extreme speed, but he was used to that kind of attack, he swung his loyal sprout covered stick, batting the monster away like a home run, but it returned for more. the times Taro would place a good shot on it, it would shrug it off after standing up, it was lanky, but it was still armored

Taro: (now I wish I trained harder with fancy boy, I could have learned some actual swords skills, because I really need them right now, this monster is unlike anything I have fought before)

Horde officer: I have eaten better “heroes” than you before, you are nothing, now die!

the monster materialized out of mana something awfully familiar to an ethereal machine gun, and started blasting Taro, forcing him to dodge and be on the defensive

Taro: (wait a minute, when did the Horde learn to use mana?!, and is that a damn helicopter machine gun?!, I’m so glad I learned how to dodge, I would be so dead by now!)

The weapon required no munition but mana, and it ran out. the monster staggered in a dizzy spell, an opening for Taro to rush in, targeting the only known weak spot of the Horde, but before he could reach it, the monster fired a light beam from his palm, piercing Taro’s left lung, giving the monster enough time to reposition

Taro: (even though I fully mana enhanced myself, it still went through!, it hurts so much!, I can't breathe!, but I can't die here! Everyone is waiting for me, Turt, fancy boy, the girls… I will not fall here!)

Horde officer: strange, that's usually enough to bring down the strongest of you pests, no matter, I will have my fun with you

The monster created an assault rifle with mana and started shooting at Taro, who was pushed back by the impacts, but did not stop nor suffer much damage, his mana enhancement was still protecting him. The monster responded by creating a rocket launcher, blasting Taro off his feet, rocking him and waning his focus, before he could put his protection back up, he was pierced in the stomach by the monster’s arm

Horde officer: you pests think remembering your loved ones will somehow give you powers to save yourselves, try to save yourself from that then, go ahead

a spear hit the monster square in the chest, forcing it to jump back and drop the agonizing Taro

fancy boy: how dare you hurt my best friend?!, you must die immediately!!

Ari, Shizuka, Sidra and Nagye: Taro!!!