Stranger Cosmos

Bunnic Sentinel

Overview

She somehow arrived in another world and became a "Zodiac Sentinel". However, she worked hard to adapt and gradually became stronger in this strange world, ultimately defeating powerful monsters.
Eventually, she returned to her original world, but her connection with the Taeuno World seems to persist.

Chapter One

So... what exactly happened?
A hundred years on, Calliopsis couldn't forget arriving in the Taeuno World and asking why everything had changed.

"The world..."
Throughout her life, from Mirren to Taeuno, Calliopsis had never dwelled on her connection to this broad concept, though she acknowledged her place in it.
She thought her views on the world were too insignificant. Given her identity, strength, and courage, she couldn't see why the world would choose her for any tasks.
She opened her eyes, sat up, and looked around...
If everyone had a strength, Calliopsis would choose "escape" without shame. Her memories were filled with war and fleeing, making her attuned to danger. "Something's wrong," she thought. This place wasn't where she'd been before being knocked out… Could she have been unconscious for centuries? Impossible!
No dragons, no smoke, no pain, no screams, no cracks… Was this real? Had the war finally ended?
The thought made Calliopsis so happy that she wanted to jump up and down in place, and she did just that. But the next thing she saw quickly returned her to a state of bewilderment. "Huh? Wh...what is that?! A monster... don't, don't come near me!"
With no time to figure out what kind of monster it was, Calliopsis turned and ran. And then... She fell hard.
It didn't matter why she fell. Calliopsis simply got up and continued to run without hesitation.
Run, keep running… As long as the monster pursued her, she wouldn't stop. She'd dodge if attacked, fight back if cornered, and flee again. These instincts weren't just for war; Calliopsis had evaded many dangers before and would do so again.
Yes, despite Calliopsis' prayers, she faced and evaded many monsters over several days until she met people outside the strange forest and left it. Good news: she emerged unharmed. Bad news: fear and confusion revealed two major truths.
First, this world was not Mirren.
Second, after many days in this world, Calliopsis saw no sign of her reflection in the water shrinking back to her original size. Instead, she had grown taller and bigger, becoming different from her Mirren world self. It was as if…
She really had slept for hundreds of years without knowing it!!

Skipping aging and facing the changes directly was uncomfortable for Calliopsis, but she didn't mind her altered appearance much. Growing up, aging, and facing mortality had always motivated her to survive. When her parents were alive, and they dreamed of a peaceful future together, Calliopsis imagined her future appearance. Could the idea be expressed as: Even a small strength is still strength? "Surviving" is also a form of "escaping"?
Just say it was.
Was there a pattern to the monster appearances? Even if not, she'd be extra cautious and recheck her surroundings. Did the last attack inflict more damage? If yes, she'd need to practice that move more. Had the wind or water conditions started to shift? Knowing the environment changes with seasons, she began searching for a new place to stay for safety.
Calliopsis didn't bother keeping track of how many days she'd spent in this world or exploring the forest. Living in the moment might seem a limitation, but survival depended on it. Unable to discern why, she didn't dwell on the reasons, focusing instead on adapting quickly by running and moving more. She noted monster footprints near a tree, committing their location to memory. Calliopsis didn't believe she had everything in control; she simply strived to breathe, to stay alive… Then…

"Wow… it's true! There are Bunnician in this forest… Thank you for saving me! This is my first time seeing a Bunnician in person. I've heard they're really strong, and today I saw it firsthand! You've been fighting Disastrous Beasts in this forest! Thank you, Bunnician! Oh, should I ask your name?"
"Eh, Bun... bunny what? Strong? Me?"
"Yes! I've only read about your kind in books, so I'll ask just to be sure. From your ears, you're a Bunnician, right? May I know your name? Oh right, me first. I'm from the Crimson Kingdom, a Shadow Panther Sentinel named Zephyrfin, like the delicious fish! I come from the imperial capital Multilitchi, now living in a village beyond this mountain and river…"

It was both a coincidence and an inevitability. After coming to this world, Calliopsis learned many things from Zephyrfin, who claimed to be a Shadow Panther Sentinel from the Crimson Kingdom. For instance, she discovered this world is called Taeuno. People like her are Bunnician, incredibly rare and once thought extinct. She also learned about the monsters called Disastrous Beasts and her reputation for fighting them over the years!

Chapter Two

"A good name."
While it may not match a "world-famous name," for Calliopsis, "having a good name" is already significant—something she never imagined could apply to her.

"No, no, no! While I recognize some of what you said resonates with my experience, I assure you I have nothing to do with the person you described. There must be a misunderstanding!"
"Oh, are you absolutely sure of that? Well..."

In shock, Calliopsis struggles to recall Zephyrfin's words. She vaguely thinks, "I've spent almost ten years in this world," and realizes her survival in the forest sparked gossip like "Reclusive Bunnician Hero Hunts Disastrous Beasts."
Daisy is so shocked that she feels she might lose her rabbit shape. At that moment, she never anticipated anything could be more jaw-dropping.

Calliopsis leaves the forest with Zephyrfin, trembling with anxiety, and is welcomed by the village chief and villagers as a guest of honor. Overwhelmed, she thinks, "Don't misunderstand; I'm not a hero… What if they discover I'm nothing like they said and kick me out? I'm so scared." Despite her fears, she finds the village's peaceful life as appealing as honeyed carrots.
"A village with families! There must be plenty of necessities." Calliopsis thought. "I know the forest well, and if those beasts return, I can handle them or escape!" This village is so cute, with its little houses, flowers, and plants. Could it be that after wandering through worlds, her dream of a peaceful life was finally coming true?
Holding onto this hope, Calliopsis settles down. She follows the peaceful routine of other villagers: waking up, working, dining, and resting.
"When the beasts come, I'll just escape and hide. "
Calliopsis always thought of herself as Miss Nobody. What could a small potato do but escape? During the wars in Mirren, dragon wings darkened the sky, and their fiery breath scorched the land. All she could do was hide, and sometimes she wasn't even lucky enough to escape. "Accepting yourself as a small potato," she reminded herself, "means hiding well…"
……
Calliopsis couldn't remember why she thought of herself as a small potato. Was it because her carrot field was destroyed, the sun-dried bedding was dirtied, or because the little girl who picked flowers every day was now buried under rubble?
She can't quite recall.
Calliopsis only remembered standing under a sky much like Mirren's, gazing up at the colossal beast that brought cries and wails. When she looked down, she was startled to see her shadow was much taller than she had always believed.

"Then, try hard, small potato.''
She hears the trembling voice of her own. Very quickly, no one heard, no one noticed.
The same as always, she isn't a hero, but in the forest, she has survived for so many years… so many!

If I live in peace, I can do nothing and just enjoy the peace;
But when the beasts come, I will defend the peace that I have always been longing for!

"Peace."
This word can be grand yet closely related to small potatoes, at least for Calliopsis. After that day, she continued to live peacefully in the village, focusing on repairs and reconstruction. As for fighting the beasts…
The beasts near the village are manageable, and those a bit farther away are still okay. But wait… are more coming? A peaceful life is important to everyone, so it's not entirely impossible…
Calliopsis feels changed, but her anxiety lingers—just like her love for carrots! When she hears, "Thy merits are great. Thou shouldst journey to the capital to meet the emperor and receive thy title," she struggles to understand. It must be another mistake by Zephyrfin.

"'Calliopsis'? Bunnician names are hard to pronounce. I shall give you a new name. As one of the Twelve Sentinels, you shall be 'Autumn Glory' the Bunnic."

Hearing this, Calliopsis felt nervous. Her anxiety came not just from her hard-to-pronounce name, but mainly from the title "Bunnic." It reminded her of village kids calling her "Sister Bunny" or birds chirping "Coo Coo Coo." To her, a name was just a name—one syllable or another didn't matter. But… Bunnic?!
What does that mean? Who are the Twelve Sentinels? With a weighty title and being taken to a refurbished palace where everyone was more respectful than Zephyrfin, Calliopsis's eyes nearly popped out.
"The Nian Beast sends beasts to overthrow Taeuno World. The Twelve Sentinels must fight it each year. With the Year of the Rabbit here and no Bunnicians left, we urgently need the Bunnic Spirit to awaken and protect the capital…"
The world…
The timing of this request is irrelevant; the fate of the world, the future of the country, and the safety of the people carry great significance.
With a thud, Calliopsis faints. Before losing consciousness, she desperately wishes to wake up back in Mirren.

Chapter Three

Back in Mirren…
Though it seemed her wish was fulfilled, Calliopsis's desire was merely an escape from despair.
Burdened with heavy expectations, she felt uncomfortable in the capital, where days stretched into years. Despite her fear, she tried to understand the "Bunnic Soul" through reading and asking questions. Fear often compels those overwhelmed to act to avoid disaster.
Calliopsis was diligent and hardworking, but did effort guarantee success?
Perhaps "fate" defies easy explanation. Despite her prayers, time marched relentlessly forward, and she achieved nothing.
As the New Year approached, so did the Nian Beast.
If anything remained in her power, it was gratitude that the Drago Sentinel would awaken each New Year. But did the Bunnic Soul within her truly exist?

After the New Year, the Nian Beast retreated, and the Drago Sentinel went back to sleep. Returning to the palace, Calliopsis felt lost.
The Twelve Sentinels rotate every twelve years. The Drago Sentinel is the only one who awakens each New Year to combat the Nian Beast. In the Taeuno World, apart from Calliopsis, no other Bunnicians exist. Everyone feared the Nian Beast and knew only the Sentinels could stand against it. So, she hid the fact that she was useless in battle without the awakened Bunnic Soul.
Calliopsis, or the "Bunnic Sentinel," must exist.

Yes, it must.
Trivial characters adapt to their environment. Now, consider this—not a forest nor a village, but a palace to call her own? Life can go on under such conditions; it would be illogical otherwise.
u3000\u3000Calliopsis consoled herself… and it worked! Twelve years… If one cycle passed peacefully, surely more would too. Not needing to sleep for those twelve years worked out well! Staying awake meant she could keep moving and find something else to do. She might not handle the Nian Beast, but she could deal with weaker beasts! And if all else failed, enjoying carrots every day was a joy!
After numerous cycles—four, five...
Nine, ten...
Calliopsis lost count again. She loved peace but couldn't recall the details of these cycles. When did news of Zephyrfin's death reach the palace? How long ago did the Empress pass away? Now Emerina is Prime Minister—huh, Emerina has grown so much! Wasn't she knee-high last time?
Another Year of the Rabbit is around the corner.
Gazing into the mirror, Calliopsis pondered when she stopped doubting the Bunnic Soul's existence. Was it when she last contemplated her unchanged appearance? Since when did she stop eagerly awaiting the awakening of the Bunnic Soul?
Never mind.
They would depend on the Drago Sentinel again that year. When summoned by Emerina, Calliopsis was lost in thought, wondering when the Drago Sentinel would awaken…
…Wait, what?!
Calliopsis looked up in shock to meet Emerina's gaze through the veil.
The Drago Sentinel hasn't awakened yet? What do you mean "no response"? If she doesn't come… That means…!!
We are doomed! Can anyone help? Please… anyone…

"No… Bunnic Soul… What can I do? The Bunnic Soul still can't awaken… Who can help me? Boohoo…"

Historical Notes

Crimson Kingdom:
An ancient kingdom in Taeuno where Calliopsis stayed after arriving in this world. Later, it became Lord Oracle's destination. It is the largest kingdom in Taeuno, with a long history and vast territory.

Time Difference:
Time flows differently between Taeuno and Mirren. Taeuno's time progresses about three times faster than Mirren's, though the exact conversion remains uncertain.
Specifically, time in Taeuno progresses approximately three times faster than in Mirren.

Twelve Sentinels:
The Twelve Sentinels—Mousar, Taurin, Tigris, Bunnic, Drago, Serpens, Equar, Gaerros, Simian, Gallux, Canin, and Porcan—take turns protecting the kingdom each year. They battle the Nian Beast at year's end and then enter an eleven-year slumber until their next rotation.

Drago Sentinel:
The Drago Sentinel is unique among the Twelve. It awakens annually to assist the current Sentinel in fighting the Nian Beast at the year's transition.