Chapter 126: What did you say about Ervas, peko?!

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Pekorina, accompanied by Acathea, Amelia, Anna, and Ismene were slowly making their way back to the Squirrel-kin village alongside many other Raccoon-kin people.

"Ervas and Veronica said that the rescued people are all good now! So, let us go and see your family again, Pekorina!" said Amelia innocently.

"My family… I am so glad that they are alive and well… my sister, my mother, my brother… and my father as well… and also all of the people of the village. I am indebted to Ervas and Veronica for what they have done for them… And well, for me as well… Ah, and everyone else, of course, peko!" said Pekorina, changing from melancholy to her usual energetic nature. Her silvery white-furred rabbit ears twitched in expectation.

"Also, the elders did a big ritual to call upon Ratatoskr-sama, so she could bestow upon the former captives with her miraculous light, and heal them of their wounds," said Ismene.

"And after that, Ervas and Veronica used their spirits to create a special healing spell using Life and Light Attributes. They used this spell to do the last checkup in the people's bodies, so they all should be just as good as before they were captured!" added Acathea.

"Haah… I am so glad that everyone is fine… This is really a miracle…" said Pekorina.

"Well, they said that your father was rather greatly injured… so they had to help him out recuperate, which ended up giving him a… stronger body so he can protect you always," said Ismene, revealing the truth about Pekorina's father becoming an undead… without directly saying so.

She had been given this information through Anna's prosthetic leg, which was one of Veronica's clones and could directly contact the main body, so it was both a leg and a cellphone in a very bizarre point of view.

"Changed? How so?" asked Pekorina.

"It is complicated, but your father is just as good as ever, remember that no matter how much he has changed… he's still your father and loves you dearly, so don't say anything offensive to him if possible, okay, Pekorina?" asked Ismene with a smile, petting Pekorina's silverly white hair. Ismene had been taking care of the little rabbit-skin girl for over a month and had naturally grown closer to her, to the point that she saw her as another of her daughters.

"I see… I will make sure that papa feels fine, no matter how much he changed!" said Pekorina as her emerald eyes showed her excitement of finally meeting with her family again.

"That's the spirit," said Anna, patting Pekorina as well.

"Pekorina-chan, you're so cute," said Amelia, petting Pekorina.

"She is the cutest! I like to rub her ears, like this" said Acathea, rubbing Pekorina's long rabbit-like ears gently with her paws.

"Uwaah… S-Shtop, peko! That feels weird! Stop petting me, I am not a little girl anymore, peko!" protested Pekorina.

"Pekorina will always be our baby girl" said Ismene, petting Pekorina.

"Yeah, baby girl!" said Amelia.

"I-I'm glad that you consider me your family… but this showing of affection is overwhelming, peko… I am not a pet, peko… Also, Amelia, are you not younger than, peko?!" said Pekorina.

As Pekorina and her group were conversing out loud, the rest of the Raccoon-kin people were hearing their chatting, most people seemed charmed by Pekorina, but a young boy was doubting the group's strength and their real participation in the battle that saved their lives.

"Such a charismatic group, are these maidens the ones that saved our tribe? Aside from the tall and muscular squirrel-kin woman, they do not look at all like warriors, dad…" muttered a Raccoon-kin boy at the side of his mother and father.

"Benjamin! Don't talk so rudely of those maidens, despite their looks, they are exceedingly stronger than any of us, be more respectful, young man!" said the boy's father, a tall Raccoon man.

"I can't see anything special about them! Look at that girl, how is that bunny even going to fight a whole army of orcs? I think they are all tricking us! And that kid from earlier was way too young, how did he exactly beat the monsters?" asked Benjamin, he was a Raccoon-kin boy in his early teens.

"Benjamin! Stop being disrespectful! The chief and many others that were on guard saw everything with their very two eyes, are you just doubting those that risk their lives and guard our tribe's words? We also heard all the fuss from inside the village… You are being way too rude today, my son! Do you want your mom to teach you some etiquette?" asked Benjamin's mother, glancing at her treacherous son with a bit of anger while showing him her fist.

"Eeep! O-Okay, mom, calm down…" muttered Benjamin while twitching his raccoon ears, he was already an adult man on raccoon-kin standards but still feared the weak and feeble hits of his mother, often used to reeducate him… although such a rudimentary way of teaching was not quite effective other than to make for comedic relief or childhood traumas.

Of course, Benjamin did not have any trauma, as he was an energetic boy with a playful personality that did many antics in his life. If anything, he deserved every single weak and feeble hit that his mother gives to his head for all the stress he made the people of the tribe go through with his naughtiness.

"When we get to our new home, we'll make you train with these little girls that you underestimate so much! How about that for a good lesson?" asked Benjamin's father. 

"Hah? How is that a lesson, father? If I fight with them, they'll end up crying like babies" said Benjamin… his last words were finally heard by Pekorina's ears.

"Hey, who are you calling babies, peko?!" she roared, walking back to the boy.

"Hey, I don't have time to talk with stupid girls, move aside, please," said Benjamin.

"Apologize! And you called me stupid, peko! Apologize twice!!!" roared Pekorina, although she was trying to be intimidating and menacing, she came out as very cute at the end, making Benjamin release a chuckle.

"Come on, I'm not apologizing… to be honest, how is it possible for you to have beat that big army with your little friends? I bet that big girl over there offered you the kills of the small goblins for some measly experience points" laughed Benjamin.

Benjamin's fathers were covering their faces in embarrassment, while also remaining silent to let his son learn a lesson… never underestimate someone for their appearance.

"W-What did… What did you say pekooooo?! Small Kick!" roared Pekorina, raising her leg as she enhanced it with her mana and unleashed her weakest Unarmed Fighting Technique towards Benjamin.

"What the…?!"

Pekorina's movements were so fast that Benjamin was caught completely off-guard, her rabbit feet flew above Benjamin's head and then fell like a deadly guillotine.

CLASH!

"GAH…!"

Bump!

Benjamin was knocked out in one hit, falling face on the dirty ground…

Even Benjamin's parents could not see the foot of the rabbit girl flying through the air… they glanced at their knocked-out son and kneeled while apologizing for his regard.

"W-We are deeply sorry!" they shouted at the same time.

"Sigh… hopefully he learns to not be disrespectful with people like that! Who does he think he is, peko? And please do not apologize on his behalf, you are not at fault in here" said Pekorina, gently grabbing the hands of Benjamin's parents and making them stand up again.

"Yeah, don't apologize. When we reach the tribe, we will teach him some good etiquette! Leave it to us, we are all experienced mothers, and we know how to deal with mischievous kids!" said Ismene.

Ismene then walked towards the boy and conjured a healing spell over Benjamin's head, quickly healing the small amount of blood that was dripping from the boy's skin. It seems that Pekorina's hit was not strong enough to crack the skull but enough to leave quite the severe wound in the head.

When the wound was healed, Benjamin ended with an area of his head completely bald…

"We'll call him baldhead if he keeps being mean to us," said Amelia with a chuckle.

"I was actually about to hit him first… but Pekorina had less patience than me, I guess," said Acathea.

"I would have slapped that insolent scoundrel," said Anna.

"W-We sincerely apologize… again!" said Benjamin's parents, as they carried the knocked-out boy.

"Don't worry, don't worry~ Anyways, I bet the boy has some kind of history in your village?" asked Ismene with a mischievous smile.

"I-Indeed he has… Benjamin is very proud of his own mischief…" said Benjamin's father, introducing himself and his wife afterward, as he continued talking about the charismatic boy.

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<Skill Explanations>

[Superhuman Strength]

A Skill that represents the user's ability to exert a strength higher than those of simple humans, hence superhuman.

This Skill is often acquired by those of those with Beast-kin and Demon Bloodline, but some Dwarves have been seen acquiring such Skill, however, Humans and Elves are incapable of acquiring it, and in their case, acquire other skills such as 'Strength Enlargement'.

This skill helps the users increase their strength to superhuman levels every time they level up, their Strength stat and often their HP and Defense might be affected as well, and those with a high level will often have incredible, almost ridiculous strength.