I found the poachers.
　I'm going to de-assimilate them immediately and get back to the others.

We've got him!
Whew!

　The Kanade jumped up and turned its tail upside down.

'What-what-what!　What the hell?!
Oh my God, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?
You scared the hell out of me!　You're coming back, too suddenly!

　He was really surprised.
　Kanade was lightly teary-eyed.
　Come to think of it, when cats are startled, they have an amazing reaction....
　Maybe the cat spirit race is the same way.

''I was in a hurry, I'm sorry.''
No, I don't care about that.
What do you mean, you were in a hurry?
I found some poachers, and they were just chasing a hornwolf.
Then we have to hurry!　Location.
It's about a mile northeast of here.
One kilo?　Let's go!

　Kanade ran out and....

Kanade, I'm stuck!
What?
You go to the southwest!
I knew that, didn't I?
You're lying.
You're lying.

　Sora and Luna tsked calmly, and Kanade sweated profusely.
　He looked away awkwardly...

Let's go!

　Pretending that nothing had happened, Kanade ran off, this time to the northeast.
　We can't take it easy either.

Let's hurry!
"Yeah.
Sola and her friends will be flying in with Nina.
Running is such a hassle. Fly!

　Sora and Luna fly through the air with Nina in their arms by magic.
　They're probably faster that way than they are running.

　I run alongside Tania through the forest.
　I have to plow through a completely unmaintained area, so I can't get my speed up.

''Oh my God, we have to hurry.......Rain, can we burn this area down?''
It's not a good idea!
Oh, it's just too much work!

　Tania is fussy about every single idea.
　However, it's also true that we may not be able to make it in time.
　To hurry.....

Tania, we're going in the air.
I can fly. What about Rain?　Do I have to carry him?
I'll be fine!

　Jumping on tree branches and leaping.
　Jumping from branch to branch to gain distance.

'You're so crafty!'

　Tania let out an admiring, dumbfounded sound as she put out her wings and flew through the air.

'I see it!'

　Out of the corner of my eye, I see a quartet of men.
　And beyond that, a lone hornwolf.
　It seems to have decided that it can't take on the group of four men and is running away from the men.
　Only, its body was wounded and bleeding.

　Right now, we have to prioritize the safety of the hornwolf over the capture of the poachers!

Boost!

　I cast an ability-enhancing spell on myself.
　My body becomes as light as a feather.
　I kicked the tree trunk and leapt with all my might.
　Ejected like a cannonball........

　It lands between the poachers and the hornwolf.

　At that moment, the poachers release their arrows.
　Three in all.
　I stand as a wall of hornwolves....
　He grabbed two arrows in the air to stop them, and kicked the rest off.

''Wha...?

　The sudden intruder startled the poachers and caused a stir among them.

'Do it!'

　Surprisingly, the poachers quickly regained their composure and got back on their feet.
　Seemingly recognizing me as an enemy, they took up their bows and arrows again and....

　Boom!

What?

　Suddenly, there was an explosion and the poachers were blown up.
　Each of them was knocked to the ground and passed out.

''Oh my goodness, is it over?''

　Tania came down from the sky, wings buzzing.
　Oh, right.
　So that was Tania's fireball.
　As expected, they didn't seem to be on alert for the sky, and the poachers seemed to have been hit by Tania's blow in a decent way.

　It seems to have been taken care of, and the poachers' wounds are superficial.
　However, a fireball exploded at close range.
　They won't be able to move for a while.

''Hm?　Is it all over now?
I guess we won't be getting any help from Sora and the others.

　Somewhat late, Sora and the others arrived.
　They released their magic and landed softly on the ground.

'By the way, where's Kanade?'
'Come to think of it, he's not here...?　She was supposed to have gone first...?
Have you taken a wrong turn, sir?

　It's possible.
　I was even trying to run off in the opposite direction at first.

"Nyan?

　........What a rude thought, a rustling bush sounded and Kanade emerged from it.

''Kanade. What are you doing in a place like that?
'Of course we had the wrong person. See?

　Kanade has brought a man I've never seen before.
　He seems to be unconscious and slumped.
　He's dressed like the poachers, so he must be one of them.

Where did this guy come from?
'I found him at the camp down the road. He attacked me out of nowhere, so I punched him anyway!

　Ahem, Kanade is proud of his chest.
　'If possible, I'd like you to check the facts a little more before you act.

'Is it base camp?　If that's the case, then that guy's just staying put. Either way, good job.
"Ehehehe, Rayne tells me I'm doing great.
Hey, Lane. I'm the one who shot up a bunch of poachers.
'Yeah. And thanks to Tania, too. Thank you.
Yeah, yeah. You just have to know, if you know.
"Sola, Luna. Can you use your magic to capture these guys?
I understand.
Hmm. Leave it to me.

　Well, we got the poachers out of the way.
　Now all that's left to do is....

Grrrrrr...!

　The wounded hornwolf bared its fangs and let out a low growl.
　Maybe it decided that it couldn't escape.
　It glared at us as if it was going to take a shot at us.

'Whoa, whoa. It's not. We're not the enemy, okay?
Gawd!
What?

　Kanade tries to talk him out of it, but Hornwolf keeps threatening.
　Oh no.
　I want to treat him for his injuries, but it's difficult to do so with his condition.
　I need you to calm down somehow, but.....

I'll be fine.

　Nina slowly walks up to the Hornwolf.

'Nina!　It's not safe.
'Yes!　Gulp, you'll get bitten!

　Tania and Kanade panicked, but Nina didn't stop walking.

'It's okay......................... Don't be scared, it's fine........
Guh....
We're not gonna do anything because we're good kids, okay?
....

　Little by little, the hornwolf is getting meeker and meeker.
　Well that's just great.
　Are they using magic?

　No, no....
　That's what it was about.
　Nina's kindness must have gotten through to Hornwolf.

''Hmm.......good.
Cunn....

　Nina patted the Hornwolf on the head.
　The hornwolf spilled out a spoiled squeal and got down on the spot.
　Confirming this, Nina turned around.

''With this........this girl's treatment, can we.......?
Oh, yeah it's not a problem.
Good....

　Nina smiles.

'It's kind of ... Nina sounds more like a Beast Tamer.
Don't tell me...

　I was a little bit of a frustrated me.