Oh my fucking god, this is crazy!

Just as I'm about to apologize for bothering my companion yesterday by getting dead drunk, he starts talking. Sun is still alive! This guy in front of me is a Gu User! Does that mean the little fruit fly is a Gu?!

Any one of these is enough to blow my fucking mind and he just casually says it all at once! Before I even notice it I'm shouting. That's when I realize I fucked up because the tavern keeper is there. But somehow he doesn't seem that angry either. I guess he understands that we are actually pretty chill.

Still, who the fuck would have guessed all that? Especially the Sun being alive part! This is some worthy reversal! Wait, don't tell me he tried to tell me yesterday, but I was so drunk I didn't understand it…this is awkward.

That's when he shares the story of how it all happened. At first, I'm extremely confused. Why would my friend attack a village? Why would he chase some random guy too? But he doesn't seem to find it weird himself, so I guess it's a conflict between both sects.

Then when he shares his profound doubt about my friend's motives, it all becomes clear. I can't help but chuckle. I think he's doing that to join my sect. Well, it's just an excuse to break away from the war-filled mindset. That's what the TUG sect is after all. It's a way of life.

Hopefully, I'll have the pleasure to share a meal with him too. He'll take care of the fire, I'll take care of the barbecue and Wolfie will take care of hunting. Then we can have more friends to help too. This sounds like paradise.

Well, it's also making my stomach rumble. Good thing because our host is back with some food. Follows a hearty and happy breakfast. Just knowing that this one friend is well is enough to make my day.

Our host still looks jittery at first, but then I offer him to eat together, and he complies. Then once he starts seeing up close how cute the little fly is he seems to change his mind about Gus. I thank him for the apples and the cider and get the cute creature to do the same by bowing.

On the side, my Gu User companion is shocked beyond belief. He keeps saying something about how shy it usually is.

[This, my friend, is the power of delicious apples! It brings people closer!]

On the side, our host is nodding repeatedly. That's most of their production here so of course, they are proud of it. As we leave the village everyone is waving us goodbye. Not because they like us, but just because they are bored. As we walk my friend seems to be pensive.

"Thank you for showing me this. All my life I've been used to Gus being monsters. I was one too by the same extent. But back there…"

[Let me tell you something. The world is extremely complex. There is no black and white. It is more like Fifteen shades of Grey instead. It's not about the magic, but how it's used. Plus, I refuse to believe a creature that just wants to eat berries is inherently evil.]

"You being able to see through that is already amazing. I wish I had your insight. Ah, but there is one thing I don't understand."

[Yes?]

"How did you manage to fake being pricked by it? It looked real."

[Let me give you some wisdom. The best way to make someone believe something is to actually go through with it. It really happened.]

"What?! How are you still alive?!"

[Don't worry about the details. I'm just resistant to poison.]

He's now looking at me akin to how one would an alien. Apparently, that's something impressive. Still, it feels nice to brag a little from time to time.

[Alright, where should we be heading, now?]

Then he resumes his duties as a guide. I can't help but think that I got lucky to stumble upon that guy. Otherwise, I would have totally held a symbolic burying for my Sun friend. It would have been quite awkward when he'd turn up alive and well later on.

Eventually, we stop to camp for the night. We do so in a small valley that is relatively flat. We can easily notice our surroundings, but that also means that we are easy to notice too. I was expecting us to take turns for a nightguard, but he doesn't seem too worried.

He's the expert. I just follow his lead. Not that I care anyway. Well, I still listen to my surroundings as I peacefully close my eyes and enjoy the fresh night air. Oh yeah, somehow it seems my companion bought some cider when I wasn't looking.

I need to keep some for when I meet my pink-haired friend soon. I'm sure she'll love it too. Actually, there is water in that too, right? Couldn't she cider-bend? That would be an awesome drinking method.

That is when a weird sound brings me out of my reveries. It sounds like the rumbling of something. Just as I'm wondering what kind of exotic animal song this could be, my companion wakes up startled.

"This is bad."

He's frowning while looking at both sides warily.

[What is it?]

From the way I heard the villagers describe him as a villain, he should be relatively experienced. What can scare a man like that? Then again it may just be all exaggerated nonsense.

"You are aware there is a war of the gods happening, right?"

[Of course!]

I'm not following the current events that well but even I know that.

"Well, we're about to witness it firsthand. There is just one issue, however."

[?]

"It seems the place we randomly chose to camp is the designed battlefield. This rumbling sound we are hearing is the sound of tons of soldiers stepping on the ground rhythmically."

[Wait, it's an army!?]

"Armies…"

That is when I see groups fully equipped with deadly-looking equipment appear on the horizon. In every direction, I see enemies. Is this a free-for-all or a fight between many coalitions?! In any case, we are in the worst possible spot!

[I propose we run.]

"I agree too, but where? My Gu is mostly suited for single target attacks."

I'm mostly suited for defense…should I try and use an illusion spell? Somehow, I get the feeling it could backfire easily on me. I mean I've seen people be immune to it recently so there are countermeasures.

I also know how good it is at pissing off people. If I beg gently, will they let us leave peacefully?...