THE MIGHTY LANDALE - LANDALE POV

The Mighty Landale emerges from behind a tree, wearing a triumphant smirk as he surveys his handiwork. Three goblins lie sprawled on the ground, their upper garments in tatters, while the two adventurers watch in stunned silence. With unwavering confidence, Landale begins strutting toward the top of a small hill, only to realize it is much farther away than he anticipates, taking an embarrassingly long ten seconds to reach. Nonetheless, he brushes it off, determined to maintain his sense of grandeur.

That's an entrance worthy of a hero! he thinks, beaming with self-satisfaction.

Standing atop the hill, Landale gazes down at the pair he has just saved. Aki, his mortal enemy, shoots him a glare that could pierce steel, while Yumi's expression could curdle milk in an instant.

Fools! I just saved your measly lives, and this is how you look at me? he grumbles inwardly.

Attempting to brush off their unimpressed reactions, Landale clears his throat and prepares to deliver a heroic proclamation. "YOU ARE WEL—"

"Idiot!" Aki spits, rudely cutting off Landale's grand monologue. Aki shoots him a scathing look, then motions for Yumi to follow as they continue down the path, not bothering to spare Landale a second glance. Yumi skips merrily beside Aki, seemingly oblivious to the brewing storm within Landale.

The shock and anger on Landale's face are palpable, his mouth agape but devoid of any words. Not only has Aki stolen his thunder before it can even rumble, but they are now walking away as if he were a mere apparition. Determined to release his pent-up frustration, Landale shakes his head and decides to give chase, intending to give them a piece of his mind.

Unfortunately, in his haste, his gaze falls upon the gaping, still smoldering holes in the goblins' torsos Aki had killed. The sight sends a shiver down his spine, causing him to stumble and face-plant onto the ground, much to his embarrassment.

Thanking the gods above that Aki and Yumi remain oblivious to his misfortune, he ponders to himself, Magic missile can do that?

Landale quickly swallows the thought, brushes off the dirt, and scrambles to his feet, determined to make his presence known. "H-hey!"

Yet the two adventurers continue their march without so much as a flicker of acknowledgment, as if Landale were a figment of their imagination. Frustration transforms into a bubbling fury, fueling Landale's sprint toward them as he roars in anger.

To his bewilderment, in the blink of an eye, Aki stands right before him, hand on his sword, ready to draw. Fortunately, Landale's reflexes kick in just in time to prevent a collision, his momentum halting in an awkward skid.

"A-Aki," he stammers, his voice quivering. Aki simply stares at him with an inscrutable expression, while giggles erupt from Yumi. Determined not to be intimated, Landale straightens his posture, attempting to assert his presence.

Unfortunately, despite being taller than Aki, Landale's height advantage is minimal at best. Aki stands tall, matching him inch for inch. Landale strains his neck, desperately attempting to gain an extra bit of height, but all it accomplishes is making him resemble someone with a neck cramp.

"It is I, The Migh-"

"What you are is an idiot," Aki interjects, cutting him off once again with an air of exasperation. "We left those goblins alive for a reason. Goblins are smart and proud creatures. The survivors would have informed their tribe about us, warning them not to cross our path. But now, more of them will come to investigate."

Landale can only gape dumbfoundedly at Aki, his mind racing a mile a minute in search of a suitable retort. Alas, no answer presents itself.

"And what will they find when they investigate? Two sets of footprints and one bumbling imbecile hiding in the forest. They'll conclude that we bested their hunters through sheer trickery. Figure out what happens next yourself, Landers."

After a few seconds of deafening silence, Aki turns on his heel and walks away. Yumi shoots Landale a pitying look, giving a half-hearted bow and muttering, "Um, good luck. Hope you survive!" before trotting after Aki.

Paralyzed in place, Landale watches them retreat, a realization suddenly dawning on him.

It's Landale, not Landers! They've mistaken me for someone else! This must be rectified immediately!

"Hey! Don't you know me?" Landale blurts out, scrambling to catch up with the duo, determined to set things right.