"What the hell was that scream!?"
"Wait... Is that... Ma-ma-ma-Marcos!?"
Yugo and the others spun around in shock as the echoes of Marcos’s shriek reached their ears.
The sight of Marcos being besieged by a giant crab monster sent a jolt of terror through Yugo, nearly making his heart leap into his throat. Trembling with panic, he leveled his weapon and roared at the top of his lungs.
"Marcooooos!! Hang on! I’m coming for you!! Don’t die! Don’t let it eat you!!"
"Calm down, Yugo!"
"Don’t stop me, Ryuga! Marcos! Marcos is about to be eaten by a crab! It’s going for his head!!"
A horrific image flashed through Yugo’s mind. He couldn't help but recall a scene from his past life’s favorite shows where one of the Masked Knights—warriors who had to fight to survive—was devoured headfirst by the very crab monster he had formed a contract with. Haunted by that shock, Yugo prepared to fire a bullet infused with every drop of his Magic Power at the creature. However, Ryuga caught his arm, watching the interaction between the man and the beast with a steady eye.
"Just relax, Yugo. I don’t sense any hostility from that monster. It doesn't actually seem to be attacking him."
"Huh...?"
Dumbfounded by Ryuga’s composure, Yugo took a second look at the pair.
Upon closer inspection, the crab monster wasn't harming Marcos at all. In fact, it was simply nuzzling against him with strange fervor.
"Kaaaaniiii! Kaaaaniiii!!"
"Gah!? What is this thing!? Get off me! You’re annoying!!"
"...It seems to have taken a liking to him, hasn't it?"
"So it would appear..."
The crab monster had its massive pincers wrapped around Marcos in a tight embrace, blowing bubbles from its mouth as it affectionately rubbed its shell against him. It was a blatant display of kinship.
Yugo let out a long sigh of relief, glad things hadn't ended with the grim "and then there was one less" conclusion of some old Crab Detective drama. Meanwhile, Marcos, still trapped in the creature's clingy grip, screamed for help.
"Hey! You lot!! Don't just stand there gawking! Help me already!!"
"O-Oh, right! Sorry!!"
While they could tell the creature lacked malice, its presence still raised a dozen questions. Where had it come from? What was its goal? Just as Yugo and the others moved to pry the crab monster off their friend, a girl’s voice cut through the air.
"Hey, Poruru! You’re being a nuisance! Let go of him this instant!!"
"Kani!?"
At the sound of the sharp scolding, the crab monster flinched, its entire body trembling.
Yugo and the group turned toward the voice and saw a young girl jogging toward them.
"I’m so sorry~! This little one caused you guys trouble! Come on, Poruru! Get away from that person right now!"
"Kaniii..."
Scolded a second time, the monster looked visibly dejected as it finally released Marcos. The girl stepped up to the creature’s side and offered another apology.
"I’m really sorry! He saw that Magic Item of yours and must have mistaken you for one of his kind!"
"Don't make such a ridiculous mistake! I am clearly a human being from every possible angle!!"
"Now, now, take it easy, Marcos," Anhel cut in, trying to soothe him. "You aren't hurt, and he didn't mean any harm. Just let it go."
"Ngh...!"
Marcos grimaced at Anhel's admonishment but clamped his mouth shut, saying no more. Finally recovering from his initial fright, Yugo spoke up on his friend’s behalf.
"So, who are you? And what exactly is this crab monster...?"
"Oh! I haven't introduced myself yet! I'm Elena! And this is Poruru, a Golden Cancer! Poruru is my family. we live together!"
"A monster is your family...?"
Marcos looked at her with deep suspicion. Elena, however, gave a bright, beaming smile that rivaled the sun over Wind Island.
She was dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a hula dancer—a simple Bikini top and a long, flowing skirt—and she showed off her healthy, wheat-colored tanned skin without a hint of bashfulness as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep! On our island, people and monsters live together and help each other out! Though Poruru is pretty special even for us!"
"Ah, I remember seeing something about that in a guidebook," Setsuna noted. "It mentioned that some of the tribes on the islands around Wind Island actually raise monsters..."
"Whoa! Really? That’s so cool! I’d love to see that!"
Yugo nodded with a grin, his eyes shining. Since he already had a companion like Skull, the idea of a tribe coexisting with monsters didn't shock him. If anything, his otaku brain was already racing—the idea of a Kaijin who was supposed to be an enemy instead lending their strength to a Hero was a classic trope he’d always yearned for.
While Yugo was lost in his daydream, Marcos continued the questioning.
"So, why has a member of a monster-taming tribe come here with her 'family'? Surely you didn't just come to the beach to play."
"No..." Elena’s expression clouded. "The Sahagins were acting strange, so I thought they might try to land here. I wanted to do something about it before it turned into a disaster, but it looks like I was too late..."
"You predicted the Sahagin attack?" Marcos narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me those creatures were yours...?"
"No, definitely not. Sahagins are ferocious, carnivorous monsters. They attack and eat people. Even we can't communicate with them. Those things are wild monsters."
Elena shook her head firmly, denying any connection to the savage attackers. She started to say more, but suddenly she froze, noticing something in the distance. She hissed a command to Poruru.
"Poruru, hide! Meet me at the usual spot!"
"Kaniii!"
"Whoa!? W-What are you doing!?"
While Poruru quickly burrowed into the sand to vanish from sight, Elena grabbed Marcos in a sudden hug and pulled him down to hide. Marcos panicked as he felt two soft, ample sensations press against his chest, but Yugo and the others were too distracted by the new arrivals at the beach to notice.
"Oh, how tragic! These poor monsters have been slaughtered so cruelly!!"
"They only lost their homes because of environmental pollution and resort development...!!"
"Humans are the true evil! Stop environmental destruction! End the massacre of monsters!!"
"Wait, those guys..."
"They’re the ones who were throwing things at our ship when we arrived at the harbor!"
A crowd of people came swarming onto the sand, letting out pained wails at the sight of the Sahagin corpses. Then, in the next breath, they began chanting slogans. Realizing these were the same radicals who had harassed them earlier, Elena whispered from where she was crouched in Marcos’s shadow.
"Everyone, hide your Magic Items. If they find out you’re the ones who fought the Sahagins, they'll make your lives a nightmare."
"It appears so. We’ll follow your advice."
Fortunately, the group in question was so preoccupied with their own performative grief and fueling each other's outrage that they hadn't noticed Yugo’s party yet. Deciding that getting tangled up with such extremists was a losing battle, Yugo and the others tucked away their gear.
"I don't want those people spotting me, either," Elena whispered. "I know a good place to go. Let's hide together until they're gone."
"Understood. We have a lot we want to ask you anyway. Lead the way."
Yugo gave a firm nod and accepted her offer. With the angry shouts of the protesters fading behind them, he and his companions followed the girl away from the beach.