NOVEL WEB Trivia With Mabel
After the System convinced me to rest, I followed up on the plan to climb the viaduct — without the Sentient Mask.
The last thing I remember was arguing with her, claiming there was no way I could fall asleep in this situation.
Not up ten feet high on a narrow stone structure while a tiny Orc girl snored by my side.
The next memory is the same girl, — the always adorable Mabel, — staring a hole in my face, the sun shining behind her back.
Guess who's proven wrong.
"Good morning, Goddess."
She greets me as I wipe some of my saliva away.
This thing again, but at least no soreness this time.
After that much running, it's a surprise, but a welcome one.
"Hey Mabel, have you been up for long?"
I still feel drowsy, and now hungry too. The growling from my stomach reinforces the same thought.
"I only woke up too." She claims with a mischievous grin, and it's hard to believe but I leave it at that.
She giggles, looking at my stomach.
"Should we hunt for a breakfast?"
She's a real wildling. I hate to disappoint her.
"It would be great, but I don't have weapons, or items to make a fire, and we can't eat them raw." I try to explain, and she tilts her head as if she were looking at an idiot.
"I always have a knife with me, and there is this sparky stone to make flames."
It's hard to say if the tone she uses hurts more or the fact that a six-year-old is better prepared for survival than I am.
Two items, both small enough to fit in someone's pocket, and it covers all the basics you'd need.
The child has them, and I don't.
If I didn't kidnap her in the heat of the moment, I'd be hopeless out here alone.
What does this make me? Before my thoughts can eat me from the inside, I shake my head and force a smile.
"Mabel, you're the best. Okay, let's go hunt then."
At least this is something I excel at. It's not because I have any experience in it.
But I can hear any movement from a mile away, and this body is fast. Very fast.
That 18 in DEX is no joke. And after resting, the negative CON modifier is gone too, so I'm good as new. The first rabbit I spot once we're off the viaduct is only a few yards away.
I was right about the lake and the animals.
The little critter is here to drink, and before it can notice us, I wrap my hand around its small body.
It's not the cute white rabbit type and we're both hungry. I won't hate myself for snapping its neck, but I hesitate long enough that Mabel does it instead.
This kid does not mess around. She uses her knife to prepare the animal too. Despite believing I'm the Thirteenth Bride, she has no issues giving me orders.
"Now you have to gather firewood. You could hunt more to make sure we have enough meat."
Since she's not as tyrannic as the System working with her is fun. She knows a lot more about the world than I expected. And she's happy to answer even my vague questions, unlike someone who should be helping me.
Two more rabbits, a rat — yes, I know, I don't care, — and a dove later we have a decent fire going, and our morning turns into a trivia.
"So tell me the Goddess Alexandra's five greatest exploits." Disguising it as a game, I can even ask things about myself without stirring suspicion.
"Oh, if I have to narrow it down to only five, I'd start with being the youngest to earn her Banner." She ponders while roasting the rabbits. "You were about twice my age when you did that."
Wait a second. That means twelve. And to get your Banner you need to be part of the Harem?! That sick bastard again. What did he do to Alexandra?
"Then crushing the Saipole Rebellion could be the next one." She continues without looking up, a real historian at this tender age. Let's hope she's a good cook too. The meat starts to smell nice.
"It was the first mission for the Thirteenth Battalion, and it started as a wager with the Demon Lord." She catches herself, looks up, and blushes. "Oh, but I'm telling it to you, sorry."
"No, no, go ahead." Don't stop now, damn it, this sounds interesting. "Act as if you explained it to someone who knows nothing about me."
Someone, like me. Her eyes gleam and she takes a deep breath before continuing.
"Well, it was about either giving yourself to the Demon Lord or proving yourself in battle. Then he assigned wild Orcs to the Thirteenth Battalion, rather than your folks to test you."
I recognize an interesting origin story when I see one.
"My grandpa fought in that campaign." She even adds with a proud grin.
So it seems this Harem thing isn't only about fucking, but handing out tasks to his Brides? How much does she know about that stuff? I'm too afraid to ask since she's only six, besides, there are three more exploits on that list.
"The third exploit could be that as a Beastfolk Warrior, you mastered magic. You finished the Crantan Academy in a single year." She chirps, and it does sound impressive.
So that's why I'm a level one warrior instead of a mage.
"This is why I want to become a witch, like Hank's little sister." She adds, catching me off guard. Two things. She called the Standard Bearer by his old name and the other is that he has a little sister somewhere. And she's a witch of all things?
"I'm sure you'd be a great witch. You're so smart." I nod, patting her head, earning an even wider grin. I hear a faint ping inside my head at the same time.
Is this the System being jealous? Hah, she has every reason to be.
Taking this girl was my best choice so far.
[Notice: I recommended you to kidnap her.]
Ugh, right. In a sense, I did that, way to ruin my mood.