D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1935: Chapter 1935 A Sneaky Bug

--- Ash, Featuring Trudy ---

Ash was hidden up in the trees. Well, calling them trees was perhaps incorrect. They were mushrooms. Anyway, she’d been napping in one for some time, but Trudy her little dragonfly had come and woken her up. Normally, Ash would be more annoyed at this... but Trudy was smart enough to know the difference between ’get up I want attention’ and ’you need to wake up and do it quietly’

So here she was, a tree away from two other people who seemed to be cooking dinner. The only reason she knew there was two, was because Ash could pick out two different actions. One of them seemed to be cleaning their weapons, while the other was poking around with the fire. Personally, Ash felt the fire was a bit of a risk but it’s not like she knew what did or didn’t attract monsters in this forest.

*Hmm... the question is... is it safe to find out who it is? Two people is more than I want to fight, especially when they’re so close. Do I think they’re likely to spot me though? Plus... if they’re settling in for the night I’d much rather know who I might want to fight. I could just try to get away... but if I was going to run I probably should’ve done so as soon as the fire was started. Then I could pretend to be a startled monster. A risk... but perhaps not a major one?*

Ash projected her thoughts to Trudy, who buzzed twice and then split into three. One of the duplicates walked up the side of the mushroom before looking over the edge and bouncing twice in place, signalling that nobody was watching for the moment. Ash carefully pulled herself up the side of the mushroom, making sure not to disturb any of the vines hanging off it. Rustling one of those might set off movement in their line of sight and Ash was looking to avoid that.

Skye was easy to make out. Her outfit was fairly recognisable compared to everyone else... and she wasn’t really under the mushroom anyway. Ash could make out her whole body without issue. The second person? Completely hidden by the big mushroom. Perhaps if Ash was willing to take a few more risks she could figure out who it was... but right now Ash couldn’t see a good way to do that.

The mushrooms were sturdy sure but leaping from one to the other would disturb whatever she landed on at least a bit. Perhaps slipping down to the ground would be better? Ash had a few ways to make sure her landing was silent... but those required mana and left a bit of a splash visually and she couldn’t quite remember the size and shape of the trunk for the mushroom she’d been napping on. *Actually on second thought I don’t think I checked at all. I was travelling up across the tops before I decided to settle down here because of the other nearby mushrooms.*

The other mushroom in question was a chonky example of a mushroom tree. It was about twice as tall as the others and happened to be leaning over the top of the mushroom she’d claimed as a napping spot. It kept the sun out of her eyes and would hopefully also prevent any flying monsters from spotting her. That mushroom could certainly hide her landing ’splash’ but she might be caught dropping down to it.

*Hmm... I could jump to one of the mushrooms behind it and hope I don’t make all that much noise or movement when I do so? Then again... what’s even the plan? I don’t want to fight Skye and anyone else really. She can heal up the other person, and they’d certainly be willing to take a bit of damage to protect their healer so taking her out would be a pain.

Alright so... fighting no? Then again... hmm... it’s Skye we’re talking about here. She’s pretty famous now for her failed round one betrayal. What does that mean for me here though? Would she do it again? Maybe... but I can’t even see whoever the second person is. What if she’s taking a risk and hanging out with someone on her team? I’d be really in tough shape.

I also don’t know that I could trust her not to betray me either. Even if I get ahead in an ambush, and she agrees to join me... could I trust her? No obviously not. So... cancel that plan. Could I take her out then? Shoot her somewhere that’s a pain to heal and try to take whoever the second person is out at the same time?

Possible... very possible. Depends how wary she is. I could probably guarantee a chest shot but that’s not going to keep her down forever. I’ve got some fancy arrows but... I don’t want to kill her, I want her to remain a liability. If she just explodes in a single shot, assuming I can do that much damage, then the second person can just jump me. I’m an archer, not a melee combatant.

Then again... it’s possible they’re not? No I can certainly here whoever it is cleaning a bladed weapon. Then again it could be a dagger? But why would they be cleaning a dagger if they’re an archer. It’s probably not going to be used. Hmm... can I work out what sort of weapon it is by the sound? That’s not something I’ve tried before so... let’s see?*

Ash listened to the sound. Scrape, scrape, scrape. Nope. No idea. Ash didn’t exactly have a lot of experience with cleaning weapons nor did she pay much attention when her teammates did the same. Was that too long for a dagger? Did the sound feel curved somehow because it was an axe or a scimitar with a curve in it? Or was that just how weapons changed in pitch as you cleaned along the length. Why did they have a whetstone at all? Shouldn’t they be self cleaning?

Ash was honestly more confused now that she’d tried to work out who it might be then she was before. Still... she could work out a few things. Firstly, she doubted it was anyone from her team. She’d, likely, be able to hear familiars playing around if they were also there but she couldn’t hear anything, implying that it was probably someone with a Timmy.

Ash wasn’t sure if that would eliminate the dwarven team that spent money on broken familiars... except maybe that one guy with the dog. *If they went to the trouble to get them... surely they’d use them right? On the other hand, if they didn’t find them useful they would be more willing to callously discard them. Oh, and I think it also means it can’t be... one of the twins from that other team? No, no reason to assume that because their rabbit might not be a combatant.

It’s not Ugalaz, I don’t think... and I don’t think it can be that other demon. Um... Kat? She had a familiar she seemed really close with and didn’t have any obvious weapons. I think she used fans or something? Not sure what the maintenance for them would be like but I doubt it’s a normal whetstone. Hmmm...

Souris? That mouse beastkin? I could see it. Probably not Hedera or Green, they’re both archers like me... and not Nixilei? I don’t think? She’s meant to be sneaky I think... and she’s another healer. Probably wouldn’t pair two of those up together. Then again... if two healers are together that’s a lot less for everyone else. Still think it’s not likely...

Ok let’s focus on who it could be instead. Kress, Gareth, Souris, Crocus or Pansy, whichever doesn’t have the rabbit with them... Max? The other healer? I’ve got no idea what weapons he was using so no... hmmm... would it be someone else from Skye’s team? I know I said it was possibility but I’m leaning towards no. No sense in wasting orbs by sleeping near each other.

Do I think it can be the dwarves? It really depends on if they have their familiars with them or not and I never saw any evidence one way or the other. Grumble, grumble. There’s too many people it can be then. There’s no great way to narrow it down without taking at least a bit of a peak.*

Ash glanced over at Trudy who was remaining remarkably quiet for the moment. It wasn’t worth risking them spotting her zipper friend. Even if Trudy would be fine should they be attacked... the whole point of this procrastination was that she didn’t know if it was best to sneak away, attack, or wait until they’re asleep to be safer with whatever she decided to do.

*Guess I’m waiting then. I’ve got time, a decent stockpile and hey, maybe they decide to move at some point and I can take a look at them. If I can get even just like... a shoulder or something I can narrow things down massively. A lot of people have pretty obvious armour to look out for, and the height should help...*