Book 4: Chapter 1: (2)

Book 4: Chapter 1: (2)

"Translator: ClefRunner"

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They arrived late at night, sometime past one in the morning, in San Teresa City from the Golanbitha swamp.

Matobas current car was an old Volkswagen, so they put all the confiscated items in the cabin, and transported them that way. They could have carried them like that all the way to the Police Departments HQ, but that was a long drive, and they were getting tired, so they took them home with them all the way to New Compton.

By the way, is this not a procedural problem?

Said Tilarna as she was yawning. She had been sleeping on the passenger seat all the way from Golanbitha, and she still looked sleep deprived.

What? The confiscated goods. Wouldnt it be considered theft to take them home with you? Everything at the crime scene is on tape. And it was sent over to both HQ and the CBP. Also, the CBP will check it later, so there should be no problem.

Said Matoba bluntly as he took a wooden crate between his arms. They headed to the living room on the second floor from the garage on the first floor.

Alright then, but taking stuff from your work environment into your private life and someone elses property at that, doesnt feel right to me Hey hey, give me a break.

Said Matoba looking fed up.

Do you want to drive all the way to HQ just to carry this stuff? I dont have the energy nor will to do that. If you want to do it, then do it yourself. If I could drive, then I would do it. However, unfortunately, I cant make those automobiles or whatever move. At least not those manual cars, anyways.

Tilarna arched her chest slightly looking proud for some reason.

What are you looking so proud of? Theres no way you could handle an automatic car either. Thats I get it already, just help me carry this stuff.

He was incredibly sleepy. After carrying the confiscated items into the living room, and patting Kuroi who had come to greet them, he hogged the bathroom. It was always like that on nights like these. The faster person would win the bathroom. And right after locking the door, Tilarna started knocking on it violently.

Thats not fair, Kei?! Im sure I was supposed to go first today! Its a brand new day. Im first. Sorry.

He hastily got completely naked and opened the shower. Tilarna kept squawking noisily for a while but he could not make out what she was saying because of the shower.

Her showers were always excessively long. It was true that she wasnt rude enough to leave her underwear or other clothes lying around common living spaces, and she would always bring her shower set all the way from her room. On top of that, she was always brushing that long hair of hers and taking care of it and in any case, it seemed like being a girl was annoying. If he tried being chivalrous and let her go first, then he would be stuck waiting to take a shower until dawn.

After taking a shower and feeling refreshed, Matoba put on some loosely fit sweat pants and went out of the bathroom topless. He saw Tilarna giving him a mean look while holding onto her basket of personal belongings. She had no reaction after seeing him dressed like that. At first she would act disgusted but it seemed like she had gotten used to it.

Its yours. Rakebye.

Tilarna entered the bathroom, not without first rudely bumping her shoulder onto Matoba on purpose.

Ah, wait. Wait.

Matoba stopped her from closing the door

What? You refreshed yourself already, so you should just go to sleep already. No, Im obviously going to bed. But Im leaving the sorting of the confiscated items to you. What?! What did you just say?

That was an usual gesture coming from Tilarna. She opened her mouth wide in disbelief.

Well its obvious. Youre the only one who can sense that smell or whatever. Besides, who was it that slept all the way here snoring while the other was driving? S Snoring?! Theres no way that I snore According to Hernandezs notice, we have until eleven in the morning to return the goods. Got it? Its up to you. WhaFollow current novels at novelhall.com)

Matoba shut the bathroom door. They had fought plenty of times in the past. And although he had lied about the snoring, it was a good word to use so she could lower her guard.

Yeah. Ive got to use it again sometime.

Hm?

Tilarna could sense the strongest Branii coming out of that specific weapon. And it wasnt just the smell of an item that had been used extensively, but the smell of something that had been built with a purpose thats right, with the purpose of being used by a Mildita.

She couldnt know the exact circumstances of the weapons construction. However, that single item was worth separating from the rest of the confiscated goods. Tilarna loaded an arrow on the crossbow and shot at a pile of magazines that were lying next to her. Nothing usual happened.

However, the Branii she sensed was the strongest so far. All other items seemed to be devoid of any particularly strong Rahtena.

In that case, what kind of power does this crossbow?

Huh

There was no point thinking about it. She left the crossbow loaded on a corner of the table, and went back to her inspection of the confiscated items.

There was an old but well built cup as well. It seemed comfortable for drinking Cola or something.

Maybe I should wash it in the kitchen and use it later or? No, no, I absolutely cant do that. This is not mine.

She thought and then put the cup back on top of the table.

Kuroi meowed once and then jumped on top of it as well.

Hey, Kuroi, whats with those manners? This is where we put our food. Its not a place for Khes paws.

Tilarna reached out her arms to her, but Kuroi ran away. Maybe she was just messing around. It was true that because of work she hadnt been able to pay as much attention to her lately, but still that was no reason to allow her to get on the table.

Kuroi! Bad girl! Get down of the table right

Tilarna bent her body and tried to hold Kuroi in her arms, but she dodged again, and placed her front legs on top of the pile of junk, slightly losing her balance.

The black cat stepped on the trigger of the crossbow with its legs.

Ah

The crossbow was pointing Tilarnas way. And along with a quiet shooting sound came an arrow that struck Tilarnas left arm instantly.

Ow!

No, it wasnt enough to open any severe wounds or anything. The arrow was slightly thicker than a toothpick, and it didnt penetrate her skin considerably either. Putting a bandaid on it and leaving it alone for a couple of weeks would be more than enough to treat it.

However, more importantly than the slight pain, Tilarna started feeling a distant drowsiness. Her sight became narrower, and it immediately stretched.

?!

She felt herself floating, almost as if her brain had flown straight out of her skull, feeling mesmerized by a feeling similar to letting go of all her physical ties. She immediately could tell, as a Mildite herself, that she had fallen victim of the effects of a magic spell straight out of her own homeworld. The problem was that she had not intended to use any magic of her own.

Her power was running out of her control. Or perhaps it was being controlled by something else. Something completely unrelated to her own consciousness.

Her own thoughts were being stripped out of her body and taken somewhere else. Someplace she didnt know.

From her brain to her left arm. From her left arm to that small arrow. And from that small arrow to the crossbow.

They went through the magical circuit surrounding the crossbow, and then through its trigger, straight into the small front paws on top of it.

Kuroi squealed and Tilarna collapsed on the living room floor, her body devoid of strength.