Chapter 92: The Return

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Return

Daniel turned.

He heard the voice. He knew that voice. He loved that voice.

"MASTER!"

Fluffy was running toward him.

She was small. She was fast. She was covered in dust and blood and bruises. But she was alive. She was safe. She was running toward him.

Daniel smiled.

A real smile. A warm smile. The kind of smile that reached his eyes. The kind of smile that he hadn’t worn in hours.

"Fluffy," he said.

She didn’t slow down.

She ran faster. Her legs were pumping. Her arms were flailing. Her ears were flying behind her. Her tail was wagging.

"MASTER!"

Daniel opened his arms. He prepared for a hug.

Fluffy leaped.

She flew through the air. She tackled him. Her small body hit his chest. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Her legs wrapped around his waist.

Daniel flew backward.

He crashed into the ground. His back hit the dirt. His breath left his lungs. Fluffy landed on top of him. Her face was buried in his chest. Her body was trembling.

"Master!" she cried. "Master! Master! Master!"

Daniel groaned. His back hurt. His ribs hurt. His everything hurt.

But he was smiling.

"Fluffy," he said. "You’re heavy."

Fluffy looked up at him. Her eyes were wet. Her nose was running. Her face was a mess.

"Fluffy is not heavy," she said. "Fluffy is fluffy."

Daniel laughed. He reached up and patted her head.

"Yeah," he said. "You are."

Fluffy buried her face in his chest again. She hugged him tighter.

"Fluffy was so scared," she whispered. "Fluffy thought Master was dead."

"I’m not dead."

"Fluffy is happy."

"I’m happy too."

They lay there for a moment. Daniel on the ground. Fluffy on top of him. The world around them was destroyed. The buildings were rubble. The streets were cracked. The bodies were scattered.

But they were together.

That was enough.

---

They stood up.

Daniel dusted off his clothes. Fluffy dusted off hers. She was still trembling. She was still scared. But she was smiling.

"Fluffy has something to tell Master," she said.

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

Fluffy stepped aside. She gestured behind her.

Daniel looked.

Spicy was standing there.

She was tall. She was an elf. Her hair was white. Her eyes were blue. Her face was sharp. Beautiful. Cold.

But she didn’t look cold now. She looked nervous. Scared. Her hands were clasped together. Her eyes were darting around. She was shifting her weight from foot to foot.

Daniel saw her ears.

His eyes narrowed. His body tensed. He entered a fighting stance. His hand reached for his dagger.

"Master," Fluffy said. "Wait."

Daniel didn’t wait. He stared at Spicy. His eyes were cold. Dead.

"Who is this?" he asked.

Fluffy grabbed his hand. She held it tight.

"She is Fluffy’s friend," she said.

Daniel didn’t look at her. He kept his eyes on Spicy.

"Friend?" he repeated. "She’s an elf. The same elves that attacked us. The same elves that tried to kill us."

"She is not like them," Fluffy said. "She is good."

Daniel shook his head. "Fluffy, she’s an elf. She’s the enemy."

"She is not enemy. She is friend."

"Fluffy—"

"Master, please."

Daniel looked at her. At her pleading eyes. At her trembling lips. At her desperate expression.

He looked back at Spicy. At her nervous posture. At her scared face.

He didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe that an elf could be good. Not after everything that had happened. Not after Bob. Not after the attack.

But Fluffy believed it.

And Fluffy was not stupid.

Daniel lowered his hand. He didn’t relax. But he didn’t attack.

"Explain," he said.

Spicy flinched. She looked at Fluffy. Then at Daniel. Then at the ground.

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

"I..." she started. "I..."

"She saved me!" Fluffy shouted.

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Spicy saved Fluffy! Fluffy was attacked by another elf! A bad elf! Fluffy was hurt! Fluffy was dying! But Spicy saved Fluffy!"

Daniel stared at her. His expression was unreadable.

"Another elf?" he said.

Fluffy nodded. "Yes. A bad elf. He had iron skin. He hurt Fluffy. But Spicy fought him. Spicy saved Fluffy."

Daniel looked at Spicy. At her nervous face. At her shaking hands.

"Is this true?" he asked.

Spicy didn’t answer. She just looked at the ground.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t buying it.

"Why would she save you?" he asked. "She’s an elf. She’s trying to kill us. She’s trying to kill humans. Why would she save a rabbit folk?"

Fluffy hesitated. "Because... because she is good?"

Daniel shook his head. "That’s not an answer."

"It is answer."

"No, it’s not." Daniel looked at Spicy. "Tell me the truth."

Spicy looked up. Her eyes were wet. Her lips were trembling.

"I... I don’t..."

"Tell me."

"I..."

"She saved me!" Fluffy shouted again. "Fluffy is telling truth!"

Daniel looked at her. His expression softened. For just a moment.

Then it hardened again.

"Fluffy," he said. "I know you’re not a liar. I know you’re not fake. But this... this doesn’t make sense."

Fluffy looked at him. Her eyes were wide.

"Unless..." Daniel paused. He looked at Spicy. "Unless she’s mind controlling you. Or manipulating you. Or—"

"No!" Fluffy shouted. "Fluffy is not controlled! Fluffy is Fluffy!"

Daniel looked at her. He saw her desperation. Her fear. Her need for him to believe her.

He sighed.

"I’m sorry, Fluffy," he said.

Fluffy blinked. "What?"

Daniel moved.

He was fast. Faster than Fluffy could react. His hand shot out. It struck her neck. A precise blow. A knockout strike.

Fluffy’s eyes rolled back. She collapsed.

Daniel caught her. He held her in his arms. He looked at her peaceful face.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "But I need to know the truth."

He laid her on the ground. Gently. Carefully. He made sure she was comfortable.

Then he stood up.

He looked at Spicy. His eyes were cold. Dead. The eyes of a man who had killed.

"Alright," he said. "Let the real interrogation begin."

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[Magic castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s]

[space craft = 15 bonus Chapter’s]

[golden gachapon = 20 bonus Chapter’s]