As Tuziku slowly regained consciousness, he opened his heavy eyelids to the blurred image of a slender boy with short black hair and a sword strapped to his back.
A—boy?!
"Who the hell do you think you're talking to like that, you brat?!"
He's arguing with someone...
"Huhhh!!"
"Who are you calling a brat, shitface?!" the boy shot back.
"Arghhh! I'm gonna kick your—"
"Guys! He's awake!" another man shouted.
"Ohhh—finally… I was beginning to think you were dead!" the boy added.
Where—am I…?
Tuziku attempted to rise, but intense pain shot through his torso.
"Ahhhh!"
"Hey, hey! Take it easy, kiddo. Your wound hasn't fully healed yet," said the man who had saved him.
Ohh... it's the man who saved me!
Tuziku glanced down at his torso, wrapped in bandages.
"Who—who are you people?" he asked softly.
"The name's Sailou… Sailou Tunberg. And this little brat who woke you up with his performance is Kutcher," the man said.
Kutcher grunted.
"Sai.. lou..." Tuziku muttered.
"Don't worry—these guys are all my crew members. You can trust them just as much as me," Sailou added.
"Please, just call me Sailou. And there's no need to thank me—I just happened to run into you at the right time," he said with a lighthearted grin.
"How—how long have I been unconscious?" Tuziku asked.
Sailou placed a hand on his chin.
"Hmm… about three and a half days."
"I see…" Tuziku's expression darkened.
So much has been happening to me lately...
"What happened to you out there, kiddo?" Sailou asked.
"I—I don't really know…" Tuziku admitted.
"That's okay. I'm sure a lot has happened to you. Just rest for now until you feel better…"
Grrr!
Tuziku's stomach growled loudly.
Sailou laughed.
"Seems like rest will have to wait! Don't worry—my friend Mika went to get some meat. When she returns, she'll make us some pot roast."
"How does that sound?"
"That sounds great," Tuziku replied softly.
"Good, then I'll start the fire!"
"Sailou, wait...!"
"Where am I exactly?" Tuziku asked.
"Oh—that's right! This is all still new to you."
"Well, if you mean the general location, we're in a forest in the Land of Hinkon near the shore," Sailou explained.
"And we're in the hideout we built here in the forest."
"I see…" Tuziku said, his expression tinged with sadness.
"Hey, once you finish eating, I'd like to show you something," Sailou added with a grin.
"O—okay…" Tuziku replied.
"Hey guys… I'm back!" a female voice shouted from outside.
"Just in time, Mika," Sailou called out.
"Hmmm? So you've finally woken up…" she said, placing the meat on a table.
"You must be hungry—I'm making some pot roast."
"I'm Mika, by the way."
A young girl entered behind her.
Mika sighed.
"What took you so long, Priora?"
"I'm sorry. It took a while to find the herbs you wanted, big sis Mika," the girl replied.
As Tuziku stared at the strange yet peaceful faces around him, a thought struck him.
Who are these people?
"Kutcher! Go start the fire!" Sailou demanded.
"Why don't you rest until the food is ready, Tuziku? I'll let Kutcher wake you when it's done," Mika said.
"M—hmm."
Tuziku felt a strong sense of comfort and security from the strangers who had taken him in.
As he tried to get some more rest, Tuziku could not help but recall the horrible events that had transpired since the day he stepped foot in the Land of Fuyu.
I wonder what's going to happen to me now...?
—FUGITIVE ARC END—