"...I'm not a bad person...?" Katsuri's face stiffened, she doesn't know what of face she should be showing.
Due to that, everything appeared. Both fear and anxiety painted her face as a whole.
While on her rear, her legs was shaking, her hand slowly reached towards her mouth, as if trying to prevent something from escaping.
It was dark already, the moment she got discovered, the sun had already set.
With the light from the mask store illuminating her view, she caught sight of a couple people.
Of course, she's too scared to actually make out who they were.
Remind you, that was a brick wall. That woman had just destroyed it using her bare hands.
If it was replaced with her head, wouldn't it actually fly off her neck?!
"Who is this young lady? Quite a beautiful skin you have. Would you like to have a mask designed for you? Looking at your face, I feel like I could make a masterpiece that would turn eyes everywhere!"
A voice appeared from behind the counter.
Though... Katsuri didn't expect to not see anyone.
Except for a moving mannequin with a floating mask.
"Are you alright, young lady?" A woman with white hair crouched down to her level.
"Wait, Zani! Don't get too close!" Abby panicked. Everyone was quite confused by the way he's acting. He usually wouldn't lose his composure like this.
But Rover do trust him quite a bit, so she wouldn't push away his opinion without concrete reasons.
"Um, my apologies. I can't offer my hand at this moment... but can you stand up?" The white haired woman scratched her face awkwardly.
"Y-yes!" Immediately, Katsuri got on her leg, straight as a pencil.
Of course, her legs were shaking.
"Abby, what's wrong?" Rover asked after cleaning her hand from the dust.
"Am I crazy? Why is it that only I can sense the malice on her!?" Abby pointed his small finger towards Katsuri.
"Malice? What do you mean?" Rover followed his finger, ending up on the small child.
"Uh... It's like... Yes! It's like drowning! That person is drowning in malice!"
"...We can't understand it if you put it that way. What do you mean by malice? Is she targeting us or something?" Zani returned back to Rover's side, everyone scrutinizing this small girl that had been caught in their conversation.
Katsuri was simply listening, still scared from what had happened earlier.
Even she can't understand what the heck the floating Echo was saying. What does it mean she's drowning in malice?
She's not a bad person.
She literally just saved someone a few hours back...
"Ah, there you are. I told you to not ran off on your own."
Then, a savior came.
"Danjin!"
"Danjin?"
Rover turned her head towards the newcomer. A redhead with a soft smile was approaching from behind Katsuri.
"Well, well. If it isn't the infamous Rover. I've heard many tales about your adventure in Huanglong, I've always wanted to meet you at least once in my journey." Danjin bowed her head a little before placing a palm on Katsuri's head after she reached her side.
"Don't mind her, she's always been socially awkward. Let me do all the talking." She said that while rubbing Katsuri's head.
"It feels like we're watching a comedy skit..." Abby whispered to Rover.
"You're right, it does feel like so."
Zani turned towards the floating mask, Madame Nyarla, and said, "Excuse us for cutting the conversation short, we'll continue in a bit. It seems like we're going to need to talk to these people for a bit."
Madame Nyarla responded mischievously, "Haha! That's alright. Watching the young ones interact has always been part of my past times!"
"...She's a bit weird, don't you think?" Danjin whispered to Katsuri, most probably trying to rest the listless heart of the smaller girl.
"..."
Of course, she got nothing.
"Anyways, let me introduce myself to the Hero. My name is Danjin, I am part of the Midnight Ranger of Jinzhou. It is my in my honor to meet you, Rover."
"Yes, nice to meet you too. I am Rover, this is Abby and Zani."
'No wonder they looked familiar...' Knowing who it was that had almost killed her, Katsuri pressed her chest using her hand.
So it was Rover.
"So you also work under General Jiyan?" The floating Echo asked.
"That's right. He usually sends me to do missions that's located far away, so I'm not usually seen near Jinzhou."
"So even during the stampede, you were away?"
"...I am ashamed to say, yes. Unfortunately, I was on a long term mission at the time and couldn't return back."
Katsuri slowly inched to place herself behind Danjin.
Now, she's hidden.
"Anyways, this is Katsuri, a girl I am currently traveling with. She may be a bit of a bother, but don't let it distract you from her cuteness."
"!!!!"
Oi! Why are you exposing me now!?
Danjin sidestepped, and now Katsuri became the main topic of interest.
A single glance upwards was enough to make her hide behind Danjin again... Of course, Danjin grabbed her hood before she could actually move.
She's being lifted up like cat.
...and she can't do anything about it.
[Wuthering Waves]
"...Is it just me, Rover?"
"No, I understand you. I also have a feeling that this girl might bring misfortune in the future. But that doesn't mean we should kill her."
"That's on you! I didn't tell you to actually try and kill her! Why'd you move on your own?"
"Your tone suggested otherwise. It sounded like you really wanted her dead or something. I'm sorry, Abby."
"It's alright. We're both a bit dum dum on the head, I guess. But now what? Should we take action or something?"
"I'm waiting for you. Don't you smell the malice anymore?"
"...Now that you said that, no. The smell is gone."
All these were the silent conversation they're having.
Rover placed a finger on her chin, contemplating her own plans. Abby also copied her action.
They were both closely paying attention to the child being held on the air.
'...Our imagination?'
No way in hell that kind of Cliché thinking would be their decision.