[A Monster-Hunting "Bro Trip"]
In a rare show of teamwork (or conspiracy), Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo all decided to give Thorfinn and Takimaru a "chance to bond" by sending them on a two-man guild quest.
Thorfinn: "I see what this is. You all want a break from my radiant personality."
Naofumi: "Yes."
Thorfinn: "...Fair."
Their mission? Hunt down a Rampaging Dreadhorn Moose terrorizing nearby trade routes.
[On the Road Again… With the Awkwardness]
Thorfinn floated beside Takimaru in his bat-shaped cloak, spinning in the air like a lazy burrito while Takimaru silently read his spellbook.
Thorfinn: "So. You like magic, huh?"
Takimaru: "…I use it."
Thorfinn: "I am magic."
Takimaru: Glances sideways, visibly regretting his life.
Thorfinn: "You ever wonder what blood tastes like in milk tea?"
Takimaru: "No."
Thorfinn: "You will. Eventually."
[Comedic Near-Death Experience #1 – Death by Squirrel Swarm]
While gathering herbs, Thorfinn "accidentally" stepped on a nut pile guarded by savage mana-infused squirrels.
Hundreds of them. Glowing red eyes. Razor-sharp teeth.
Thorfinn (screaming): "TAKIMARU I'M TOO PRETTY TO DIE!"
Takimaru panicked, activated a random incantation, and accidentally summoned a localized tornado.
The squirrels were gone. So was Thorfinn's cloak.
Thorfinn: "MY CAPE! MY DRACULIC ELEGANCE!"
Takimaru: "You're welcome."
[Actual Bonding Moment – Firelight Confessions]
Later that night, after roasting stolen squirrel meat, the two finally relaxed.
Takimaru: "You're not what I expected."
Thorfinn: "Handsome? Hilarious? Surprisingly emotionally complex?"
Takimaru: "Loud. Chaotic. Kinda dumb."
Thorfinn (grinning): "...I'll take it."
Takimaru chuckled—his first real laugh in months. And Thorfinn noticed.
Thorfinn: "There it is. The Takimaru Smile DLC."
[Monster Encounter – The Dreadhorn Moose]
The beast burst from the trees like a freight train made of elk rage and elemental energy. Its antlers glowed with storm magic.
Thorfinn: "Ohhhh he thicc."
Takimaru (wide-eyed): "It's charging."
Thorfinn: "I HAVE A PLAN."
He did not.
The moose blasted Thorfinn through three trees.
[Takimaru's Turn]
With Thorfinn embedded in a rock (still conscious and yelling), Takimaru stepped forward.
He whispered a forbidden chant he'd only read about.Symbols lit up the forest floor, and Yunari, his twin-tailed fox spirit, materialized beside him.
With her aid, he cast Mirror Blitz—a refracting spell that redirected the moose's magic back at itself.
Boom. Moose down.
[Thorfinn, The Proud Idiot]
Thorfinn staggered up, fangs cracked, hair smoking.
Thorfinn: "You… OP… magic nerd…"
Takimaru: "…Thanks."
They brought the antlers back as proof. The guild gave them a bonus for style points, mostly for the footage of Thorfinn getting launched into orbit.
[Post-Mission Debrief]
Back at camp, Thorfinn tossed Takimaru a drink pouch filled with blood-orange juice.
Thorfinn: "We make a good team. You do brain stuff, I do… everything else."
Takimaru: "You're not so bad."
Thorfinn (fangs out, eyebrow waggle): "Careful. If you say I'm your best friend, I'm legally obligated to bite you."
Takimaru: "Nope. You ruined it."
They both laughed.
[Meanwhile… Across the Stars]
In the distance, unknown to them, something massive blinked awake in the Void Between Worlds.
And it had just marked the Cardinal Heroes as threats.
Next Chapter…
Chapter 14 – Starfall Protocol: The Heroes' Summit & Cosmic Countdown