[#CreativeAward2025 #FantasyNovelCategory] Maaaaaam! Episode 19
Episode 18 is here
"What are you talking about?"
Contrary to his calm voice, Saku's eyes darted around. Bon leaned in close and asked the same thing again.
"Why did you make Peth eat Hippon!"
"Mam! Did Peth really eat Hippon?"
Yuki asked with a pale face.
"Yeah. Hippon is too strong for creatures other than humans. I knew right away from the way he was foaming at the mouth and the smell coming off Peth. That's why..."
When he pulled Yuta, who was crying thinking Peth was dead, away from Peth and observed him, he noticed Peth's eyelids twitching slightly.
He can be saved!
Judging in an instant, Bon hurriedly took Peth to the river and submerged him in a fast-flowing area. It seems that when water rushed into his mouth, Peth spat out what was stuck in his throat with tremendous force.
"If it had reached his stomach, it would have been too late."
Hearing that, Yuta hugged him, crying "Peth!" Sato, Zou, and Yuki also touched Peth, feeling his life through his warm touch, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"When I took a close look at what Peth spat out, it was Hippon. Hippon is something you often see at the hospital. And..."
You received Hippon from the village chief, didn't you, Bon glared at Saku.
"Bon-san! I didn't do any such thing! I'm not the only one who has Hippon! Every villager here makes Hippon!"
At that moment, Saku noticed the village chief standing behind Bon.
"Village chief! What on earth is the meaning of this!"
"Saku! It's all over!"
The village chief, answering that way, pointed behind himself. Saku was startled when he saw it.
"Saku-san, I've brought your companions too."
There, the bandit-like men were beaten up and tied up.
"What are those men! Bon-san, are you hurt?"
"Boss! Everything is over!"
"They even know we fed the dog Hippon!"
"This woman is too strong!"
When Bon glared at the men shouting in unison, they all shut their mouths at once. Having realized Bon's strength on the way here, they seemed to have resigned themselves.
"Our village is no longer under your control! Bon-san saved us!"
A far cry from when they first arrived, the village chief shouted loudly with flushed cheeks. He didn't seem like the same person who had been looking down and muttering when they first reached the village. Before Bon and the others arrived, he must have been forced by Saku and his band of bandits to produce Hiiroppon.
"It's supposed to be made in small amounts for the sick and injured! But you forced all the villagers to work and make so much Hiiroppon!"
Having gained a strong ally in Bon, the village chief continued to expose Saku's misdeeds at every opportunity. Hiiroppon is a medicine made by bundling six dried Oyachai and letting them dry for months. The number of dried Oyachai to bundle must always be six.
If there are fewer or more than six, it won't become Hiiroppon. Furthermore, only the Oyachai that let out a "Hiii..." sound when pulled from the field become Hiiroppon. It takes time to become medicine, and there are very few Oyachai that make that "Hiii..." sound.
When used in small amounts, Hiiroppon serves as a medicine that reduces pain for the injured and sick. For that reason, it must be managed in hospitals. However, it was discovered that if one accidentally consumes too much Hiiroppon, it instantly removes all fatigue.
Afterward, when the effect wears off, one is struck by an incredible sense of exhaustion. It drains a significant amount of physical strength, but the exhilaration felt when taking Hiiroppon is unforgettable, and there was no end to the people who craved it. Rumors had been circulating for some time that there were people profiting by trading Hiiroppon on the black market.
"Saku, you're a Hiiroppon smuggler, aren't you?"
"Haha... Bon-san... surely not."
The moment he stood up with a faint smirk, Saku started running in the opposite direction of Bon. Bon took a few steps, stomping his feet.
Thump!
Bon leaped high into the air.
Stop!
In the blink of an eye, Bon landed right in front of Saku.
"Damn it!"
Saku thrust his fist toward Bon.
"Maaaaaam!"
The children screamed at Saku's sharp punch.
Clang!!
Bon caught Saku's fist with his right elbow and immediately unleashed a left straight.
Ha! I saw that coming!
Saku catches Bon's straight punch with his palm and laughs loudly.
Such a cute attac...
Before he could finish his sentence, Bon's right uppercut landed squarely on Saku's chin. Bon dove into Saku's guard as he wobbled and tried to regain his fighting stance, simultaneously landing a knee strike to his stomach.
Mmmph!
With a thud that shook the ground, Saku collapsed.
Mom! That was amazing!
The four children and Peth come running over.
I'm sorry for making you feel sad.
Bon calls out to the children while tying up the unconscious Saku. By the time he was tied up along with his underlings, Saku finally regained consciousness.
Saku, why did you pretend to be an acquaintance of Agu to get close to me?
It's true that I'm an acquaintance of Agu.
What?
I knew your face because Agu showed me a photo of you.
Saku continues to speak bitterly to the surprised Bon.
I hated how he would talk about his family so carefree. That's why I decided to take his precious family away from him!
Continues in Episode 20 to be continued