Crimson Eternal - Book 6 - Chapter 29 (Patreon)

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Table of Contents

Click the following link for the 1408 word chapter 29:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19jXvWcZezro_9X45d91jXnPBSp4DFeQUsBZtuAfYir4/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

Aria

“And draw four more,” War says while playing a card on the deck between us, making me glare at him before I draw four more cards. Then Asher reaches out and plays his last card while meowing. Ending the round as I turn my glare back onto my hand that is filled to the brim with cards.

War and the cat begin to count their points, but I just glare at them as I ask, “Is there even a point in me counting my points?”

“No,” War answers with the corners of his lips obviously twitching from him holding back his laughter. “Not unless you want to know how badly you lost.”

And Asher just meows while poking his paw at his cards to count the points.

This traitor of a cat…

Asher seems to finish counting his cards before he looks at War and meows with a smug expression, crushing the amusement on War’s own face when he sees a number Asher writes on his little note pad. One with Asher’s number of points.

A number that beats War and wins the little cat the game.

I turn to look smugly at War as I say, “Since Asher is my companion, this means I won, right?”

Asher just continues sitting proudly on his raised seat while War sends me a judgmental look. One that I firmly decide to ignore.

Until War suddenly says, “If that’s how you’re going to play it, Little Aria, I have no choice.” Then he snaps his fingers, making a Gate appear before an animal walks out of the Gate. One overflowing with war energy.

I can’t help but gradually lift my gaze to meet the gaze of the enormous dog that can’t be anything other than a war hound as it walks up to us and sits down next to the table. Making for quite a sight as we all sit here at a little table with a small barrier around us to block the wind and pestilence from the Plane of Pestilence and the battle going on out there from getting in and messing with the cards.

The giant war hound has scarlet fur with traces of black and glowing scarlet eyes. And it’s not hard to figure out what it is.

“Little Red, meet Little Rain,” War says, making me blink at the hound’s name. “Little Rain, meet Little Red.”

I look at the massive hound spanning at least four meters in height when standing up over for a moment before tilting my head and asking, “Little… Rain?”

Little?

What part of this massive hound is little?

“She’s my companion,” War says, stating the obvious.

Yeah, I honestly forgot the other Horsemen have their own companions through the System just like Asher is to me.

If I remember correctly, Famine has a massive locust that can turn into a swarm of bugs. And Pestilence was supposed to have a snake.

Locust…

Come to think of it, whatever happened to Famine’s companion? I don’t remember ever hearing about it being killed.

That makes me wonder if the snake companion is just wandering around the universe somewhere, or if it’s dead alongside Famine. And, if it’s dead, whether it was killed by someone or if it died automatically when Famine died. Since it’s part of Famine’s skill.

Anyway, I have to wonder.

Just how is this hound planning on playing the game with us?

That is the most important question of the day as I hear quite a few explosions ringing out all across the Plane of Pestilence. Because four players is very different from three players. And we started playing this game because they were taking too long to finish their battle between Grand Spirits and Raja and move onto fighting Pestilence.

Oh, and there’s another important question.

“Where did you get the name Little Rain from?” I ask with a tilt of my head.

War looks at me, then at Little Rain, and then back at me again. Then he says, “Isn’t Little Rain cute? And she can turn into scarlet rain. So Little Rain.”

Little Rain lets out a growling bark that sounds more than a little intimidating while nodding her head. As if she’s confirming what War said.

She even lifts her head and looks proud.

But if that wasn’t shocking enough, Little Rain then proceeds to sit next to our table and… turn her paw into scarlet rain in the form of hands…?

I blink in shock, just staring at the hound. Then at the hound’s floating hand of scarlet rain. Then back at the hound.

And soon I find myself playing cards with them again, except with the hound included.

This game is getting weird.

I’ve never seen a hound playing cards before.

I share a glance with Asher to find Asher looking surprised as well. Meaning it’s not just me.

“Is something wrong, Little Red?” War asks, bringing my attention back to him again. “You’re spacing out and missing your turn.”

“I was just surprised Little Rain can play,” I answer honestly.

War glances at Asher before looking back at me and saying, “If Asher can play, why can’t Little Rain?”

We stare at each other for a few seconds in silence. Or whatever silence can emerge when we’re in the middle of a battlefield. Meanwhile Asher smacks his paws on the table as if insulted by the implication that he wouldn’t be able to play.

I can’t help but agree with his sentiments, though.

Why wouldn’t Asher be able to play cards? He tried writing books once. Even if he got bored rather quickly.

So why wouldn’t he be able to simply play cards?

Although he is usually extremely lazy and doesn’t care about anything. And he tries to claim everything in the ship as his own personal property.

Including me, more often than not.

Cats are terrifyingly arrogant creatures.

I blink at that thought before looking at the hound as the four of us start playing cards. And I can’t help but wonder if it would be nicer to have a dog instead of a cat.

Dogs are less arrogant, right?

Hmm.

Little Rain looks down at me – down because she’s still much taller than me despite her lying down on her belly – then tilts her head in confusion. Meanwhile I see Asher looking up at me with his eyes squinted before turning to stare at Little Rain and hissing once.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, Asher moves to my lap and sits down on me while hissing again. With the cat using death energy to block me from seeing his cards. Not that it would hide anything if I actually tried looking.

I start stroking Asher’s soft fur before smiling and deciding that cats are better after all. I wouldn’t be able to sit like this with a dog.

If anything, I’d have to be the one sitting on the dog, considering Little Rain’s size.

Anyway, the four of us continue our game of cards all the way through the battle around us until the Plane of Pestilence runs out of pestilence energy. Leaving the Grand Pestilence Spirits unable to recover anymore until more pestilence energy forms.

And, at the same time, Little Rain somehow destroys us all at cards. Even Asher.

Of course, War makes sure to take credit for the wins, making me regret doing that with Asher. But we end our games off when Pestilence finally begins to make his way out of his large castle and enter the battlefield. Because it means the real event is finally getting underway.

I take out my wine while War takes out his popcorn. Then we sit back on much more comfortable chairs – War brings out a recliner this time, which gives me the idea to bring one with me from now on – and Asher sits on my lap again. With Little Rain lying down next to War’s recliner for him to give scritches to.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Shirogane through one of the many Gates open across the Plane of Pestilence. And, for some reason, he looks rather exasperated as he stares blankly at me and War.

I wonder what’s up with him?

It doesn’t really matter, so I ignore his look to focus on the battle in front of me while sipping my wine.

Time for the main event to begin!