The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

No way!

Kalpas wanted to argue, but he was too exhausted to speak.

The woman in front of him had asked him to come with her. Kalpas figured she should at least prove she was worth following, so he challenged her to a fight. If she won, he'd go with her.

She'd promptly beaten him to a pulp. Sure, she'd taken advantage of his injuries, but Kalpas honored his word. He had nowhere to go anyway. She won, so he'd follow.

Besides, despite her slender frame, she was ridiculously strong. Even healthy, he might not have won.

"He's… a Honkai survivor." Lee glanced at Kalpas, who was leaning against a wall, recovering. "The Herrscher of Ice was already dead when I got here. It looked like a one-hit KO. Whatever did it might still be around. Keep the troops back; it's dangerous."

With Kalpas's personality and power, Fire Moth would probably screw things up. Better wait until Mei has more clout to protect him… Lee was about to tell Mei about Kalpas, then reconsidered. Knowing Mei, she'd probably treat him like a lab rat.

Mei's not stupid; she wouldn't provoke someone who can tear apart Herrschers… probably. But just in case, I'll keep him with me. It's better for him, and for Fire Moth.

Lee didn't want Kalpas fighting Fire Moth. She'd lose an ATM either way!

"Send Kevin…? But—fine…"

Kalpas looked hesitant as Lee spoke on the phone, then sighed and asked, "Someone giving you trouble?"

"No, they're trying to protect me…"

Lee sighed, looking troubled. "Humans are so weird. They're trying to do good, but… never mind."

"I have to apologize, Kalpas. The credit for killing the Herrscher of Ice… might go to someone else—"

"Don't care." Kalpas didn't get it. Wasn't tearing apart a frosty lady something to brag about?

"Sorry. I'll make it up to you later." Lee chuckled. "I wanted to take you back to HQ, but we need to wait for my friend to pick us up… You might get along. He's strong, and you even have the same hair color."

"He… strong?"

"Stronger than me."

"Ha, good!"

"But don't fight him, okay?"

"Tch…"

"Don't be mad. Behave. I'll spar with you later. If you beat me, I'll arrange a match."

Lee sat beside Kalpas, chatting. Kalpas mostly gave one-word answers, but Lee didn't seem to mind.

Kalpas found her annoying. She talked too much. When she started rambling about what to eat back at base, he finally snapped. "How do you tell someone to shut up where you're from?"

"Hmm… 'Your eloquent discourse is truly enlightening, perhaps better suited for a more formal platform'?"

"…Are you messing with me?" Even Kalpas didn't think anyone actually talked like that.

"Manners are important, Kalpas~" Lee shrugged. "Fine, I'm kidding. You'd usually say, 'Please be quiet.'"

"Good. Please be quiet."

"Yes, yes~" Lee chuckled, finally leaving him alone.

It was like the window theory. If you ask to open a window, people might say no. But if you ask to tear down the whole ceiling, they'll let you open the window.

Similarly, if she'd just told him to be quiet, he might have complained it was too much effort. But after that long-winded speech, "Please be quiet" seemed simple.

This was civilized society. She didn't want Kalpas running around yelling, "Shut up!" or "Get lost!"

But Lee's attention was soon drawn back to Kalpas. He was carving something from the debris.

Despite his injuries and lack of tools, carving wood was child's play for him. His skills, however, were… lacking. He carved a thin piece of wood with two holes and put it on his face.

Is that a mask? It's so abstract… Kalpas has zero artistic talent…

Lee didn't know why he was wearing a mask, but it was a goodwill farming opportunity.

Kalpas's goodwill was still at level one!

Instead of asking about the mask, Lee grabbed a piece of wood and started carving, humming to herself.

Her own skills and the Worker Bee skillset allowed her to create something far better than Kalpas's abstract mask. But what to make?

She needed something cute to offset Kalpas's intimidating aura. Cartoon characters were too childish…

Lee's eyes lit up as an idea struck her. She quickly carved a mask, its rounded features and oval eyes taking shape.

There were no Ultramen in this world, but there were other tokusatsu heroes.

"Here." Lee smiled, handing the mask to Kalpas. "Use this."

"Don't need—" Kalpas tried to refuse, but his wooden mask cracked in half.

"… "

He silently took the mask, clearly unimpressed by its strange design. "What is this?"

"A great hero." Lee grinned. "A hero who defeats monsters and saves the world… Just like you, Kalpas."