Notail Simulator Beta (4/4)

You look back to the knife, and you cannot resist it. You climb up the statue and pull at the knife.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die. A 13 is rolled.

It takes a bit of effort for sure, but you get it out. This knife doesn't feel like the other knives you've obtained so far. This one has a delicate design on it, and yet a look of heavy use. Something about the design on it tells you that this knife is used specifically to hunt insects and thus would do heavy damage to them.

Before you leave the tower to walk back down you, scan the statue to see if it can pick up what type of capture creature this is. Big bold letters appear on the screen.

ONE OUT OF FOUR REQUIRED

You should have guessed it was going to be like this. You're not in any mood to think about climbing three more of these towers so that you can scan what's at the top. Maybe someone else already did it all so you can mooch off of their work.

You think about it all over and over as you descend the tower. Thankfully walking down is more comfortable than walking up.


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You spend the next few weeks relaxing at the base of the tower, having felt both accomplished in your actions and more resilient. You speak around with some of the kids who live at the bottom of the tower. Many of them are extremely surprised that it was you who caused that bright light to cut across the sky, a few of the older one remark that they've seen that light before, and only a total of three of them have even attempted to climb the tower.

You ask the only one to them to get to the top about the statue. She is a bit hesitant to talk about it, but she remarks she felt a great uneasiness when she saw it. She had planned to stay at the top of the tower for a day but had to leave in no more than an hour in due to the statue.

You had to admit, you felt a tad creeped out by it as well after you thought it had changed. You weren't sure if it had changed or if it was just your mind making up things, but either way, you and her can agree, there is something up with those towers.

Unfortunately she has lived by this tower for most of her time in the woods and never dared to climb another.

A dead end.

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Marching in was the swarm of E-classes. Leading them all was the short annoying notail you've come to hate.

"E-2732! I'm so delighted that you've kept to your word and will be joining us! Where are your friends? <:)"

Shut up.

The bag you were pulling up felt extremely heavy. They just had to mention it. They just HAD to. You put on your bag and spun around, walking right towards E-4. Despite being smaller than you by quite a bit, E-4 showed not a sliver of fear.

You shrug.

"I dunno I didn't see them. =3"
"Such a shame E-2732. Maybe we'll see them on our travels. <:)"
"Yeah, uh huh. Maybe. =3"

You melted right into the crowd of other E-classes so if E-4 says anything else pretending to have not heard them would be a valid option. They seem to let you go without any issue.

Or maybe, you just didn't hear anything else they had to say.

To no surprise, you were on "Carry our stuff" duty, along with Hawk kid, who everyone had started calling Tiger kid now. Tiger kid was ecstatic to see you again though the group was in such a rush to head to the lake that you two were barely able to talk until you got there. Finally with all the shelters set up for the summer you two could have a conversation.

Or at least, what counted as one.

"Everyone is really nice to me here! They helped me when I was injured instead of kicking me around and forcing me to work anyway. >=3"

Tiger kid is more excited and talkative now. He shows far less fear and genuinely seems happy for the first time since you've met him.

"They say I'm very useful to them and-"
"They think you're stupid. =3"

You watch tiger kid visibly slouch down and look away. There is an awkward tense few seconds. You feel like you can hear him working through his thoughts as you poke the fire between you both with a stick to watch how the fire warps around it. Tiger kid perks up again and clasps his hands together.

He's trying so hard. As always, him clasping his hands together is his signal to the world that he's stressed out, but this time he doesn't mumble at the floor but looks straight ahead and does his best to sound confident.

"Oh, we were so busy we didn't really get to talk before! I'm so glad my best friend is back! >=3"
"Who is your best friend? =3"

Why did you say that? You knew perfectly well who he was talking about.

"U-Uh, you E-2732! You're my best friend! You've been so nice to me, and you helped me out a lot! You think the same right? >=3"
"Not really. =3"

Your head feels weird and your vision distorted. You tap one foot on the ground repeatedly. You didn't even know how stressed you were until this moment, and now, you're being aggressive towards him for no reason.

You guess you're kind of pissed off about how well he's coping with things.

At least, he was. You caused him to regress into speaking at the floor instead of looking you in the eyes.

He attempts to speak again, but he starts choking up as he makes a terrible effort of not crying.

"W-W-Wh--hy a-are you...y-yoooo..."

He gives up the moment one tear slips under his face and starts crying. He slides his hands under his face in a weak attempt at wiping away his tears.

You poke at the fire some more.