Komo-Doubutsu

Chapter 2: The Lie - Part 2

By: Midori Ushi Law

Ray stood in front of the class as the teacher introduced her despite her and Lipagron's tardiness.

“Students, this is Rachel Harin, the daughter of the late nonviolent protest leader, Ray Harin. Everyone treat her with high respect,” the teacher commanded.

The most of the students clapped their hands to greet the new edition except for two; Lipagron, who sat in the back corner of the classroom and a very muscular teenager named Buey, who sat in the front. Ray gave a quick wave to everyone and found a seat in a desk in one of the middle rows of desks. She looked back at Lipagron. He was staring down at his desk with his fist clenched, so the young woman returned her view to the teacher.

Chapter 2: The Lie - Part 2

“Today is a special week,” the teacher said. “Can anyone guess why?”

One girl raised her hand.

The teacher smiled and extended his hand in her direction saying, “Yes, Michelle?”

“It's the last week of the registration for the Great Quest, Mr. Barge” she answered.

The middle-aged gentleman walked from the dry erase board and walked down one of the aisles of desks. “That's right. This is the final week before this huge event happens, and the second time the Great Quest has allowed teenagers to join, since the qualification change 6 years ago. If any of you have passed the preliminary qualifications or paid the entry fee, please show your entry ticket to the principal, so you can participate without consequence for your absence from school.”

“Qualification change?” Ray asked.

The teacher looked down at her. “You're new to this country, Rachel, so it's understandable that you probably wouldn't know this but-”

“Some idiot years ago protested against the Great Quest and got himself assassinated,” blurted Buey from the front of the classroom. He looked back at her leisurely.

The teacher glared at the muscular teenager.

Buey continued, “Since you are new. You probably don't even know what the Great Quest even is. The Great Quest is an event that happens every three years. In nature, there's a plant called the Moon Tree. This tree grows from a small seed into a full adult tree in only three years, and in the third year of its lifespan, its fruit grows. Once the fruit grows, the tree dies shortly after.”

The teacher, Mr. Barge, walked back to his desk and sat down silently while Buey spoke. As frustrated as he was, he would never stand against his student, Buey.

“The fruit from the Moon Tree is what's special. If a person with powers from a Doubutsu was to eat the fruit, their power would  enhance. They become stronger, faster, or more intelligent. Anything they can do with their powers, those abilities are increased dramatically. They are the people you see in power. They are the wealthiest. My grandfather is the leader of the twelve elders and the residing elder here in Rhenica,” Buey said boastfully. “Anyway, the Moon Tree dies after the third year and starts to grow again in another random part of the world.”

Ray scratched her head in confusion asking, “You said somebody died protesting against it. Why would anyone be against the Great Quest if the Moon Tree only makes people's lives better?”

Buey smiled when he noticed how interested she was in what he was explaining. “It's because-”

“It's because the Great Quest is a worldwide scam,” a voice from the back of the classroom said.

The teacher's eyebrows raised and the classroom gasped almost in unison as everyone peered at the student sitting in the rear corner with his eyes fixed on Buey. Ray noticed the teacher didn't even try to interrupt Buey when he spoke, but Lipagron did.