Love Live Online: A Bard Grudge
Zerra's Story

Blue-colored fragile duck eggs, like the brush strokes of a reliable painter. It seeps and weaves smoothly through all obstacles. There were large boulders on the riverbank, twigs spinning on its flowing surface, small twigs from the mountain trees they came from.

The river flows on a pebbled ground. The mountains stood still in the background, the presence of the morning complementing the scene. Snow covered the top of the mountain, circling them like they were equipped with a beautiful white wreath.

The crying waterfall flowed from the wound on the rock surface, looking like a piece of blue silk flowing down the mountain. Carrying a charge of ice crystals, which seemed to be surrounded by glittering silver.

A distant rumbling sound emerged from him, like the steady rumbling of a drum, it was an astonishing sight. Renne's gaze returned to the swirling river. The clear water and its surface glistened as if dream dust had scattered all over it.

The elegance of the watery river felt magical to him back then. The riverbank has wild peas. The fruit is black, but inside is a small, fresh seed pod. Renne tried to taste it and it tasted good. Never had food wrapped in a demonic robe tasted so good.

Bending down, he took water through his hands and drank it. That quenched his thirst. Renne leaned back against the boulder there and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the rising sun. The sweet perfume of the forest drifted into his nostrils as he contemplated the beauty of nature.

Moist soil combined with old, fallen foliage, has an instinctively soothing effect for humans. There are also some tree smells that seem unique, have a sweet aroma while others are almost sour and bitter.

Renne is awakened from the daydream, now all she has to do is cook breakfast before Zerra awakens from her sleep.

He stood up from that place, trying to lift the lukah he had prepared from yesterday, as they were about to make this long journey. When he picked up the lukah, several fish were trapped inside.

Not wanting to waste a lot of time, he immediately broadcast the fish on the burning coals.

****

Some time later, the fish had matured and Zerra had also woken up from her sleep. Since he was resting on the ground with a thin mat, most of his body was in pain. However, the boy never once intended to complain.

“I've grilled fish for you, eat.” Renne gave one piece of fish that had been pierced with a tree branch.

“Ya,” reply Zerra short.

Zerra tried to bite the food she had been given. Never once had he eaten such a meal since becoming a slave to the merchant even though the taste of the fish itself was a little bland.

“Te-about yesterday..” Zerra tried to open the conversation, since last night, he did not even have time to talk about the thing that came to his mind.

Renne squinted and then replied, “What?”

“Te-about that question..”

“Oh, sorry I forced you to answer some time ago.” Renne lowered her face, she still felt guilty about it.

“Ti-no, not ..” Zerra stopped talking to listen to her employer's reply, but because Renne never retaliated, she continued to speak, “A-I was once betrayed by someone. Someone I trust a lot.”

You could say, the case they are facing right now is the same. Being betrayed by a highly trusted person is something that hurts to feel.

“Do you want revenge?” Renne slightly smiled bitterly.

“Y-yes. The one who got Mom killed and the one who made me into a slave like this.” Zerra clenched her hands so tightly.

The girl understood the hatred of the boy. Even when they first met, the aura of hatred that enveloped Zerra felt extremely dense. However, it seemed that he did not show too much of his heart in front of Renne.

“Who?” Renne frowned.

Renne gasped, not surprisingly the reason behind the sour-looking face. What Zerra felt was definitely more painful than what she felt.

Suddenly, a pack of bears came to them both. That made Renne a little surprised because the Wild Bear was not an animal that was happy to live in groups.

But, behind her shock, Renne had actually set up some traps that had been prepared some time ago, more precisely before she fell asleep last night.

Renne had set up a kedah, a trap that is usually used to catch elephants that are right in front of the feet of the bear group.

Zerra is already circling, so is Renne. They cannot rely too much on traps because the number of enemies is quite a lot. Zerra stretched out then took the rapier that was in its sheath.

The bear was about to storm the two men, but a trap had just activated and trapped one of his comrades. They ignore it and then hit another trap.

Zerra slid towards one of the bears, while Renne activated Sleeping Lullaby to support her from behind.

Some bears managed to fall but there are still many bears that graze without being affected by the effects of the skills issued.

‘I think, I should use this.’ Inner Renne, annoyed.

“Dance of Death!”

A skill that the girl had just learned. Any enemy who hears the chant of a song derived from Renne's skill will then move to attack his own group within the specified time limit, more precisely as long as he is able to defend the skill.

Zerra's fight is getting more intense with the bear he previously faced. Now, the boy jumps on the bear's back and delivers a fatal attack. It made the beast turn over in pain.

On the other hand, some bears begin to attack their own herd. They attack each other and bite each other. The fight lasted a long time until in the end they won the fierce fight.

「Managed to defeat Wild Bear.

Prize: - 6 silver coins.

experience points increased by 3,172.

the Paralyzing Sword.

the Bear Tooth.

- Earn the nickname Bear Lovers!」

「Fine level 8.」

“You did it, Zerra!” renne shouted with excitement.

Zerra gasped for breath, hunting breath and heart rate increased. Sweat also began to flood his body. It was also an achievement for him because he had never been able to survive this long. Usually, after 5 minutes he will immediately feel the impact of the disease, but this time is different. It can last up to 7 minutes and has not felt the side effects.

Renne then ran towards the boy and hugged him tightly. He also stroked Zerra's hair with a soft soothing caress.