NOVEL FROG Chapter 34
Rize’s reunion with the Drifters was the worst.
Doom Bar, Doo Doom Bar…
Let’s dance happily!
The Drifters wiggled their butts awkwardly like puppets.
They looked like they were forcing themselves to dance.
Rize shouted at them.
“Terio! Ayula!”
…Doom Bar?
“Excited…?”
Hearing that shout, the Drifters stopped dancing and turned their heads.
And the despairing expressions on their faces slowly transformed into joy.
“Lord Rize?”
“Commander…!”
But that didn’t last long.
The hedgehog scolded fiercely, and the Drifters started dancing again with frightened expressions.
Doom Bar! Doo Doom Bar!
Just when I was dumbfounded by the ridiculous situation, the Centauress carrying me spoke while staring at the hedgehog.
“Spirits? Those things?”
Around the hedgehog, I took in the monsters one by one.
Their bodies were melting away.
Limbs were growing in weird places.
Their facial features were delightfully chaotic.
For something called a spirit, they looked way too grotesque.
The Centauress added more explanation.
“…Anyway, except for the hedgehog, they’re all summons, right?”
The summons conjured by the Hedgehog Summoner totaled ten.
Their danger level was estimated to be all B-rank.
‘Detected danger level is B-rank, meaning the actual danger level is S-rank…’
To summon that many S-rank summons.
Does it mean the Hedgehog Summoner is an SS-class entity?
I observed it more closely.
Estimated nerfed danger level: B-rank.
No different from the summons.
‘So, the main body seems weak.’
I relaxed my focus and checked the danger level again.
The danger level of the Hedgehog Summoner drastically decreased.
As expected.
Just like how the Poison Apple could get stronger under specific conditions and was sensed as B-rank, the Hedgehog Summoner was also measured high because it could summon powerful spirits.
‘With that level, we should be able to win. We have the A-class Black Magma Slime on our side anyway.’
Just when I finished my internal power comparison.
Rize tightened his grip on the Execution Sword and stepped forward.
“Gauntlet, we must save them at once.”
I nodded.
Just when I was about to signal the Magma Slime.
“Hey! Why are you staring at us blankly over there?!”
The Hedgehog Summoner shouted fiercely.
I thought it was ignoring us, but perhaps it was bothered after all.
“If you want to dance with us, just say it! Stop grabbing the dancers going out and blocking the ones coming in!”
I didn’t feel hostility from the Hedgehog Summoner.
It didn’t seem to be an aggressive monster.
But still, I should rescue the Drifters first.
After silently giving orders to the Magma Slime, I drew the hedgehog’s attention.
“Hedgehog.”
“I’m not a hedgehog!”
“Not a hedgehog? Then what are you?”
“…Actually, I am a hedgehog.”
“Then can I call you hedgehog?”
“Do as you please.”
The Hedgehog Summoner scratched its head and nodded.
I pointed my finger at the two that it was forcing to dance.
“Hey, uh… The two you’re forcing to dance back there, could you let them go?”
“No way! That can’t happen!”
【Yumi】─So cute…
The Hedgehog Summoner furrowed its brow.
Not threatening at all.
Rather, it looked cuter.
“Why not?”
When I asked in a gentle voice, the Hedgehog Summoner pouted its cheeks and answered while tapping the ground with its foot.
“They tried to kill me! So they must be punished! I’m going to make them dance for a long time to reflect!”
“They tried to kill you?”
“That’s right! I just wanted to dance with my spirits, but they suddenly attacked me!”
I agreed with Hayumi’s words.
Listening to the chronology.
It seemed that the mistake wasn’t with the Hedgehog Summoner but with the Drifters.
In other words, the Drifters deserved what they were experiencing.
But what can we do?
It’s natural to side with friends.
Even if the Drifters were at fault, I still had to help Rize. I had already promised to assist him.
“Hedgehog, I’ll apologize on their behalf, so could you forgive them?”
“No way! I won’t forgive that easily!”
“How about now?”
I pointed again, and the Hedgehog Summoner looked back.
And then it screamed with its mouth wide open.
“Doom Bar!?!”
All its spirits were melting away.
Covered in the magma of the Black Magma Slime.
While I distracted it, I told the Black Magma Slime to secretly take care of them.
I then withdrew my finger and asked the Hedgehog Summoner once more.
“Will you forgive them or not?”
“……”
“If you answer that you’ll forgive and release them, I’ll spare their lives.”
“I’ll forgive… please save me.”
Luckily.
The monster had the ability to judge the situation.
*
Rize and the Drifters had their heartfelt reunion.
After that, Rize explained to the Drifters about me. The one who saved their lives, the one who helped them find you all.
Then the Drifters bowed deeply to thank me.
“Thank you! Gauntlet!”
“I won’t forget this grace!”
As a side note, the names of the Drifters were Terio and Ayula; Terio was male, Ayula was female.
Their appearance wasn’t much different from the genderless Rize.
Except Ayula’s chest was a bit more pronounced.
Anyway.
While I was being thanked.
“Doom View View… all my friends have died…”
The Hedgehog Summoner, who had huddled on the ground, muttered.
Its expression looked severely gloomy.
Its voice trembled, and tears were welling up in its eyes.
I squatted down next to the Hedgehog Summoner and said.
“Hedgehog, summoned spirits don’t die, do they? When they die in a summoned state, they normally just go back to their original world. They don’t truly die.”
I thought maybe its summons were different?
For a moment that crossed my mind.
“Oh! That’s right! They just go back to their original world! I can summon them again!”
Indeed, its summons weren’t really dead.
They just returned to their original world.
After all, if they had really died, Solorb wouldn’t remain still.
It seemed the Hedgehog Summoner realized this fact a bit late.
The Hedgehog Summoner, regaining its spirit.
I caught it and lifted it onto my palm.
Gently matching my finger to its spots.
“Doom Bar?”
The hedgehog tilted its head in confusion.
Ignoring that, I presented it to the Drifters.
And told them.
Since they were the first to make a mistake, now apologize properly from the heart.
The Drifters glanced at each other for a moment, then nodded quietly and followed my words.
“We’re sorry.”
“We apologize.”
“…Hmph!”
They were also told to express their gratitude, as they had basically been protected.
“Thank you.”
“We truly appreciate it and apologize.”
This time, the Drifters also followed my words without reluctance.
I was prepared to take measures if they offered half-hearted thanks.
But it was unnecessary.
Both of them sincerely conveyed their apologies and gratitude.
“Hmph!!”
The Hedgehog Summoner pouted its cheeks and turned away.
It said it would forgive them.
Yet, it seemed it wasn’t ready to wholeheartedly accept the apology.
The Hedgehog tried to break free from my hand.
I tightened my grip.
“Wait a moment.”
I couldn’t let it go.
The spots were still only partially colored.
‘Although it doesn’t hold any hostility toward me, the coloring speed will slow if I hold it forcefully and induce resentment, right?’
After pondering for a moment, I soon found a suitable way while keeping hold of it.
I called out to the Drifters.
“Hey, Ayula, Terio.”
“Yes!”
“Yes, Gauntlet!”
“The hedgehog seems still angry. Instead of just saying thanks and sorry, how about showing sincere intentions with your bodies?”
How about another dance?
To do it with sincerity instead of half-heartedness, without showing reluctance, if they dance with true feelings, the hedgehog might forgive them.
While adding that, I looked down at the Hedgehog.
“How about it, Hedgehog? If you see a heartfelt twerking instead of forced dancing, won’t you feel better?”
“That might be the case. But what’s twerking?”
“It’s a dance that wiggles your butt.”
“Oh, I see! Then let’s see it!”
Thus, I stopped the hedgehog from leaving.
Without developing hostility towards me, the taming process was running smoothly.
“Are you really asking us to dance again?”
“I sincerely apologize and appreciate it, but this is still a bit…”
The Drifters hesitated and stammered.
However,
“What a disappointment. You’re trying to wash away the sin of wanting to take another’s life with just a few words?”
“……”
“……”
“What you should feel ashamed of now is not the butt dance, but your cowardice in not taking responsibility for the foolish actions you’ve committed. So cease that shameful act and dance with sincerity at once.”
When Rize said that, they bowed their heads and changed their attitude.
“…Understood. This time, we will show a heartfelt dance.”
“We’ll do our best…”
【Mysticism】─
Thus, the Drifters began to dance with determined expressions.
We settled down on the ground.
And I held the Hedgehog Summoner in my left hand while watching the Drifters’ cringeworthy butt dance and began working on my compendium.
Recalling the spirits I had seen earlier.
—
■ Hedgehog Summoner
—Actual Danger Level: S-Class.
—Current (Nerfed) Danger Level: B-rank.
—Ability: Summoning Abyss Undead Spirits.
Doom Bar! Doo Doom Bar!
Even while I finished compiling the compendium, the Drifters’ dance continued.
The hedgehog clapped excitedly as it watched the dance.
“Wiggle more fiercely! Doom Bar, Doo Doom Bar!”
“Doom Bar! Doo Doom Bar!”
“Shout excitedly!”
“Shout excitedly! Doom Doom Bar!”
“Dance happily!”
“Dance happily! Doom Bar!”
【Mysticism】─
Finally, a bright smile blossomed on the Hedgehog’s face.
At the same time, the red spots turned completely green.