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    "What are you looking at, Chen? Is it more important than your training lessons? These lessons might save your life someday if you are not careful."


    Amane looked down at the small child she had recently picked up.


    Chen was a peculiar case of a child. Even Amane, who had seen all kinds of human beings in this world could not figure him out.


    "I was looking at this nt. It is fascinating how it can survive anything that nature throws at it but a single st from a griffin makes it so that this nt can never live again."


    Chen poked the said ''nt'' with his stick. The nt wiggled but then died down.


    "Oh Chen, that is not a nt. It is a beast called Stipule. It takes the appearance of a nt and is highly toxic. I see that you found one of these things. Get up and head inside. I wille there as soon as I kill this thing."


    Amane looked at the new beast with hard eyes. This thing was a pain to kill but it was also a pain if it was kept alive.


    This one creature could hardly be killed and it caused a lot of diseases. It made sense now, why Amane had gotten so manyints about a recent surge of disease.


    "You are going to kill it, Master? Why not study this creature first? I am sure we can make something better if we look at its gic makeup and apply it to human creatures and-"


    Amane put a hand on Chen''s shoulder to quieten him down. She did not want to see this kid go down the road other foolish people had walked before.


    "Chen, it is time to head inside now. I do not think you can be lurking around outside. Also, I am sure that Charlie said she needed your help."


    Amane changed the topic as swiftly as she could. She was thankful that the kid did not notice this change.


    Chen could be highly annoying when he was fixated on something. But that hardly happened so Amane was not worried.


    "Charlie wants my help? Alright then, I will go and help her out. Can we continue our conversationter? I want to run some ideas by you about how we can mix different beasts and their properties to help our race."


    Chen''s eyes were sparkling with hopes and dreams. Amane wanted to shake him and tell him to abandon this foolish idea.


    There were things in nature one should not try to y around with. And beasts were such a category of natural things that should not be touched.


    "Let us take care of this toxic thing first. I will need to freeze this and kill it that way."


    Amane looked at the Stup in disgust. It looked up at Amane with its eyeless face as well before deciding that she was a threat.


    It tried to attack but Amane''s mana froze it before it could finish that attack. It was now enclosed in a block of ice but even that was not enough for Amane to be assured that the beast had been killed.


    She threw it intova she kept in her workshop and that finally settled the unsettling feeling Amane was having. Finally, the abomination made by human hands a long time ago had been dealt with.


    And hopefully, no more would show up in the future as well.


    "There are some things one should never mess with. And creation is one of those things. The more we try to help ourselves out, the more we cause an imbnce. At this rate, things would continue to worsen for everyone."


    Amane closed her eyes, not wanting to see anymore.


    //////////////


    "There are some things one should never mess with. And creation is one of those things. The more we try to help ourselves out, the more we cause an imbnce. At this rate, things would continue to worsen for everyone."


    Amane did not realize she had said those words aloud until she heard a startled coughing from in front of her.


    Her eyes shed open, only tond on Charlie''s wide eyes and a cked face.


    "Y-You are right Lady Yoko. Creation is a domain that living beings should not step in. But not everyone gets this memo and they foolishly decide to try and force nature''s hand."


    "That was why, I was hoping to get your help in this case. You are someone who understands the natural boundaries and refuses to over-step them."


    Charlie had looked startled at first but she finally seemed to have calmed down and came around.


    Amane felt the sincerity in her words and she was willing to take Charlie''s word for it.


    But then, Sakura decided to butt in.


    "Hey, I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. Understanding or not, Yoko is still a powerless human for the most part. We cannot put her in front of danger like this."


    Sakura''s worry was evident on her face and so was her resolution. She was not going to follow Amane to participate in this investigation.


    Sakura''s current self-reminded Amane a lot of the children she had raised in the past. They had been a little weird and over-protective of her as well.


    And since Amane had experience, she knew how to deal with Sakura and her sudden temper.


    "Sakura,e here. I am sure everything would be alright and participating in this mission is my own decision. So that is no need for you to be worried or afraid for my sake."


    Amane patted Sakura''s head and the girl melted in Amane''s arms.


    The tension Sakura''s body had been holding melted away and Sakura''s body tiredly sagged against Amane''s. But those eyes still did not lose their mistrust and suspicion when they looked at Charlie.


    "I know what you are saying Amane but do you have to participate in this investigation yourself? We have a lot of support and we can also send Eclipse in your stead."


    Charlie proposed that deal to keep Amane away from Charlie. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach every time she saw Charlie and Amane together. Chapter Experience:


    Sakura knew that what she was feeling was jealousy. She was jealous of Lady Suzuki, but Sakura was not ready to admit it to herself.


    "It will be alright Sakura. If you are worried, then I will keep you updated on what I am doing. But I have a feeling I need to be a part of this investigation this time."


    Sakura finally gave up and decided to let things be for now. She had already realized that nothing she said now would convince Amane to give up this investigation.


    All Sakura could do was try and intimidate Lady Suzuki in hopes that she would back down.


    But that turned out to be another foolish dream of hers. Lady Suzuki looked amused at Sakura''s attempt to make her back down.


    "Do not worry, little Sakura. I will take *excellent* care of your cousin. I will entertain her to the point that she even forgets about you and this ce. Will that help and ease your worry?"


    Lady Suzuki teased Sakura. Even Sakura knew she was being teased and that there was no point in reacting to those words.


    But she was not able to stop herself from reacting.


    "Y-You evil witch. How dare you say all that to me? Yoko, are you listening to these words? Are you going to allow such things to be said about me? How is this fair?"


    Sakura created a fuzz but she decided to calm down and go back to her room ultimately. She had spent enough time outside.


    Amane breathed a sigh of relief once she was able to convince Sakura that nothing of importance would take ce without her and that she would be back soon.


    "She is a cute and entertaining kid. You must be proud of your cousin, Lady Tsurugi. I wish I had a sister like Sakura as well."


    Amane rolled her eyes as she remembered all the shenanigans Charlie got into as a kid. She, along with other kids Amane had taken in had been a handful to take care of.


    Compared to all those kids, Sakura''s behavior was cute and harmless.


    "Lady Suzuki, I am sure you got into enough trouble with your siblings in your youth as well. Somehow, you just strike me as the troublesome type."


    Charlie Suzuki looked stunned for a minute before she startedughing hard. It seemed as if Charlie was trying to get herself under control but she could not hold herughter back.


    "Lady Yoko Tsurugi, you are an existence I cannot figure out. You are also the only one with enough nerve to say all this to me. Anyone else would not even have dared toe close to me."


    Charlie admitted what a straight face and somehow Amane was willing to believe her words