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[X] Focus on protecting Chen.

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"Chen! Just stay behind me," Vincent says. He draws his blade and prepares a defensive stance.

"No, d-don't," whispers Chen. "Follow the Captain. I.. I'll be fine.."

Vincent shakes his head.

"I'm not leaving your side until you recover," he declares. "The Captain is very skilled. She can handle herself easily."

From the shadows, two beastmen jump out toward them. He waits patiently until they are within his territory. Then, right as they leap to tear him apart, he draws his blade. After a few seconds, the creatures fall lifelessly to the ground. Vincent returns to his defensive stance.

Suddenly, Chen grabs on his shoulder and pulls herself up. She points the crossbow towards the darkness. He doesn't understand. There isn't anything there. Without delay, she fires the bolt. They hear a shrill yelp from the darkness, then something falling heavily to the ground. Chen leans against his back, panting.

"I.. I said that I'm fine," Chen says. "You don't need to treat me like a kid anymore."

"Are you sure that you are alright?" says Vincent. "You worried me back there."

Chen pushes herself away from him and stands up on her own.

"Big brother is a really kind person," she says. "I guess that some things don't change.."

She reloads the crossbow and points it at him.

"W-what?" he stammers. Without warning, she presses the trigger before he can react. Another yelp comes from behind him. He turns around to see another of the wolfmen lying dead on the ground, an arrow stuck right between its eyes.

"I am strong enough to fight by your side now, Vincent," she says, smiling confidently at him.

Vincent grins back at the girl. She has certainly grown a lot.

"Very well then, Chen," he says. "I'll be counting on you to watch my back!"

"Yes, sir!" she replies.