The Supremacy of Peculiar Dolls

Chapter 15: The Flammable

Yeomso, Hideo, Kouki and Hiroki simultaneously frowned at Valentin Bauer, disbelieving the latter's determination. How could they? Valentin has just confessed his wish to follow them through their journey of finding the other Defenders. It was understandable that he might be wanting to meet his friends despite their uncertain lives, however it might be impossible to those four because they did not even know the direction. "I'm suck in navigation," by Valentin worsened their anxiety.

"Then, what if Brother Hideo transforms and smells all the way?" Kouki suggested, with sparkling eyes and cute voice. Well, he was already a cute little guy to begin with.

"I may exhaust myself," Hideo gently rejected the idea. Kouki's awareness about his ability was outstanding, sadly it was not the best plan. "How did you guys arrive at the village anyway?"

"We wandered," Hiroki butted in innocently, "and stopped near the market. Then we were caught."

Vigorous nods by Yeomso confirmed Hiroki's answer. Hideo crossed his arms and tried figuring it out himself. Was bringing Valentin with them a good idea or instead?

"Actually," Yeomso had the urge to explain the real situation which dragged him and the twins to the village, "we were looking for methods to learn on reading. As you've already known, I'm a Dimensional. Our writing and alphabet are far different than yours, plus the kids can't read too."

The Farmer drew his face close to Yeomso's. As expected, Yeomso did not seem to shake from Valentin's intimidation. "What did you want to read then?" He asked.

The Capricorn was about to tell Valentin and Hideo about the documents he found in Kai Stewart's hut, however he manageably held himself. "As you can see, I need to travel to find that Ophiuchus. Obviously I need to master the writing here. At the same time, I'm looking for the right guardian of these twins. They need an Earthling to look after them, not a Dimensional like me. I’ll be returning there one day, hence I must make my move first."

Watching Yeomso lovingly patting Kouki and Hiroki's shoulders somehow allured Valentin into his kindness. The history of The Capricorn learnt from the memories of his ancestors was different than the scene before his eyes. Telling from the reaction by other Zodiacs, he could understand that The Capricorn was not likeable, but the one with him was much kind-hearted. As if he and the other Defenders have been told false history.

Or was he too easy to judge Yeomso, The King of The Capricorn Valley, who was famous as one ruthless leader among The Zodiacs?

"Won't we attract too much attention by walking in a large group like this?" Hideo scratched the back of his head, "I mean, Yeomso alone is already attractive to begin with."

"It's fine."

The adults and the twins were just about to figure out Valentin's solution when they witnessed the limp man shrank himself into a small stone, almost in a blink. The stone fell onto the ground, producing a small thud and leaving no trace of Valentin Bauer in the sight. The petrified Kouki and Hiroki quickly hid behind Yeomso's cloak, while Yeomso and Hideo froze on the spot, mouth gaping and eyes widening clearly in disbelief. While most of them stiffening themselves, Kouki picked up the stone and hoisted it in the air.

"Even if it's only me, this will help our journey by lessening one man in the view," the stone slightly vibrated, representing Valentin's speech. "Besides, you're looking for my friends, right? The Defenders. It's rude of me to not meet them again after years."

Yeomso and Hideo had nothing to give as an excuse to not let Valentin joining them. Plus, Kouki and Hiroki did not seem to get awkward around Valentin. They played around like how they were with Yeomso. The bond he has witnessed between the twins and Valentin indirectly proved their relationship before his arrival on The Earth.

After securing food supply and manpower, the five (including Valentin in his stone form) finally began walking. Hideo as a Human led the group, while Yeomso guarded their rear. Kouki and Hiroki were in the middle, with Kouki keeping Valentin in his pocket.

One might say that Yeomso should be the one keeping the stone in his magical robe, however Yeomso did not dare to do so. He did not want Valentin to discover the secret behind its infinite space. Only The Dimensionals could utilize its function since it was made by a Dimensional and inherited from the previous ancestors. Besides, he could not find out what Valentin’s actual superpower was. From the back story he has been listening from the twins, Hideo and Valentin himself, Yeomso could conclude The Defenders were not typical Humans.

The longer their journey was, the greater their energy was consumed. Kouki and Hiroki began dragging their feet after five hours of wandering almost aimlessly in The Forest of Eve. Yeomso was fine all the way, but Hideo seemed quite worn out himself. Valentin in his stone form stayed quiet ever since their journey. The group saw no other than trees in their sight - even animals were not spotted anywhere, which bewildered them.

"This is indeed bizarre," As a living carnivore, Hideo found it utterly weird. "I don't smell animals. Even insects."

Yeomso skimmed around. He did not detect anything strange too, physically and spiritually. Judging from the thickness of bushes and woods, he believed they have gone deeper as time went by. Commonly wild animals were available in a forest, but it seemed like the situation was reversed.

"I don't feel any magical energy too," Yeomso murmured while his eyes kept on scanning around, "I mean, just in case if we've accidentally entered someone's territory."

Hiroki clasped on Kouki's arm sleeve, limbs trembling and face sweating in fear. The big brother was fully aware that his little brother did not like the sensation, and their emotional support shook harder when they looked up just to see Hideo and Yeomso’s portrayed nervousness.

“Somehow I really can’t underestimate a Capricorn’s intuition.”

The mysterious voice echoed through the air as a response to Yeomso’s initial assumption. Immediately, Yeomso and Hideo put up with their stance and encircled Kouki and Hiroki behind them. Their eyes wildly glared at various direction to find out the exact location of the voice, which did not take their time too much.

“Who… are you?” Yeomso was so unsure of the scenery before his eyes.

A significantly tall man appeared with a long tree branch in his hand. In comparison to his height, his physical did not match. He should have broader chest and more body muscle since he was really tall, however his slender limbs depicted his level of power. Only one name came up once Yeomso saw this man.

“Sobong Yong Saeng,” he murmured, yet loud enough to be heard by Hideo and the twins.

Nevertheless, this Sobong Yong Saeng man did not seem to act all calm like how Valentin Bauer did. Despite his fishy appearance, Valentin thought thoroughly before executing any plan. The vibe this Sobong Yong Saeng emitted depicted his unbounded rage over reasons they could not figure out… just yet. Yeomso and Hideo quietly shrank their circle to hide the twins from Yong Saeng’s view, but the latter has already caught their sight once he accosted them.

“So you brought me the twins? How lucky!” Yong Saeng guffawed and swung the tree branch in his hand. “I don’t have to move around anymore!”

“What do you mean by that, Mister?” Hideo attempted on controlling his own facial, or this Sobong Yong Saeng man would detect his fear.

Sobong Yong Saeng tilted his head on one side, dropping the tree branch and gradually made his way closer to the group. It felt like he sniffed them altogether though Yeomso doubted he could distinguish each of their scents. Kouki and Hiroki tightened their grip on Yeomso’s robe.

“Before we do our business with you, Mister,” As the calmer one, Yeomso initiated the conversation between them and Yong Saeng, “Can you please tell us what your name is?”

Yong Saeng frowned a little while glaring right into Yeomso’s pupils. Yeomso, The King of Capricorn Valley, did not shake by the intimidation, but he did not seem as the type to offend first too. Yong Saeng took a glance of the twins behind Yeomso and turned around.

“My name is Sobong Yong Saeng. I’m that twins’ legal guardian,” said Yong Saeng, sternly and confidently while back facing them. “Please hand them to me, Your Majesty.”

Naturally, Yeomso blocked Kouki and Hiroki from being seen by Yong Saeng. Hideo as the rear guard gulped at the situation. It was not favourable because he recognised Sobong Yong Saeng as a short tempered guy, thanks to the psychic superpower he possessed.

“My name is Yeomso. Just Yeomso. You don’t have to call me Your Majesty. I’m just an outsider here,” Yeomso brushed it off with a chuckle, initially to wipe away his own anxiety.

Yong Saeng squinted at Yeomso and crossed his arms. “You are not an outsider now once you laid your hand on the twins.”