"I MUST RETRIEVE THEM IMMEDIATELY—" I stood up quickly, my heart racing, my face betraying my panic. My eyes widened, a flicker of urgency flashing across my expression.
"Hey! Hold on— It's already late in the evening." Falora grabbed my wrist, stopping me from rushing out. Her grip wasn't forceful, but it was steady, and I hesitated.
"B- but…" I looked at her, my brow furrowing in concern. The worry was clear on my face, my eyes searching for any reassurance.
Then, Lumi stood, her face serious now, her voice calm but firm. "Avel! Since you've helped us, I'll order a squad to search for your bag. Outside in the forest is dangerous, especially with twilight approaching."
I sighed, the weight of the situation settling in. "Alright… Thanks." I felt a pang of unease. It was already late, and the forest after dark… I shuddered at the thought.
"Uhm hum— It's our gratitude for you!" Lumi smiled, her expression warm and sincere. Her eyebrows lifted, and her lips curled up into a soft smile that reached her eyes.
I let out a small sigh. "Looks like I'll need to re-plan certain things before meeting someone—"
"Uh— someone?" Falora raised an eyebrow, her expression intrigued as she looked at me, her hand open in a small questioning gesture.
"Oh— I mean my childhood friend. He lives here, but the problem is, I forgot his address. Damn it…" I let out a frustrated huff, my gaze dropping for a moment.
Falora's interest grew. "Childhood friend—? Here, in this village? Care to elaborate? Maybe I could help, since I've known the citizens here pretty well."
"Ehhhh, I don't exactly know where he lives. The last time we met was years ago…" I rolled my eyes to the side, memories from so long ago drifting back, but still unclear.
"…him?" Falora's voice lifted in surprise, her left eyebrow raised in curiosity, while the right stayed neutral.
I smiled, a small but genuine grin. "Oh yeah— He must be honored, famous, and respected. I mean, he's the youngest heir of the legendary hero from nearly two centuries ago."
[Falora]
Wait, youngest heir of the legendary hero? There's a few, but the youngest I've known is— Haer. Childhood friend? But didn't Haer mention his childhood friend is a boy?
"Uhm— if you remember his characteristics… Does your childhood friend have loose brunette, long curly hair by chance, light brown-amber eyes and curly lashes?—" she asked, her left arm crossed over her body while her right hand rested under her chin thoughtfully.
Huh? Wait— YEAH. NOW I REMEMBER HIS KID FACE PROPERLY.
"YES! You know him?? Tell me, where does he live? WHERE CAN I MEET HIM?!" I couldn't contain my excitement, and before I knew it, I was hopping on my feet, my energy bubbling up uncontrollably.
"Heyyyyy, chill down, chill down." Falora raised both her arms, motioning for me to calm down, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
Her expression shifted slightly as she glanced at me, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"I'm sorry! Just a bit too excited."
I could tell something was on her mind. Why was she looking at me like that?
Her gaze narrowed just slightly, her eyebrows knitting together for a moment, her eyes shifting to the bottom right as she considered her words. "But… Haer only ever mentions his childhood friend, who is… a boy. And he is… Dark Royalty…"
I stiffened, realizing my slip-up.
"A- haha. He may have forgotten me— a totally normal girl— what— Haer duh, why did he forget me so easily— aha-haha-aha…" I awkwardly laughed while scratched my face nervously, hoping to cover up my mistake.
Falora's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing and still. She wasn't buying it.
"Yea right? Hahaha, I guess he really is a forgetful person! He always forgets where he put his dagger. And hey, hey, wanna know something? He said he forgot how his childhood bro looks and sounds like— no wonder if he forgot to mention you!" Her mood lightened, her voice brightening as she chuckled.
Oh? Wait— Ugh— that stings a little. What did he mean, he forgot me, how I look and sound like? Doesn't make sense… I'm different from others, right?
Wait a second… Wait, am I a forgetful person too? I don't seem to remember myself, how I sound or look like— Nah… I'm probably just tired.
My eyes rolled to the left again, lost in thought, but ehh whatever,
Anyway,
"Hey Miss Falora, can you show me where he lives?" I asked, smiling politely, my eyes squinting slightly from the smile, where it shows my aegyo sals.
"Better yet, I could show you to him directly." Falora grinned confidently, crossing her arms as she looked at me.
Oh! Nice, but wait, we can't tell him that I'm his childhood friend just yet, or he'll start asking too many questions. I don't want him to get suspicious.
"Um, Miss Falora…" I hesitated, trying to find the right way to say it.
She giggled. "Don't be so formal, just call me Falora. I'm only in my early twenties."
My eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, and I lowered my gaze, thinking for a moment before responding. "Oh— Aight, Falora. Can we not tell Haer that I'm his childhood friend just yet—?"
Falora looked at me, clearly confused. "Oh, why?"
"I wanted to do— a— prank!" I grinned, my eyes lighting up with mischief.
"Prank? What is that?" She tilted her head, still uncertain about my explanation.
"Eh?— It's like I'm acting as something— that isn't me— as a joke— to surprise him, yes!" I gave her a wide smirk, feeling more confident.
"Ohh…. Okay—" she said, nodding slowly as if she were still processing it.
"Let's just say I'm a girl who's got an interest in him." I added, my tone casual but with a little teasing edge.
[Falora]
Interest? Hmmmm… but it's an act, right? Something feels off… but,
"Okay!" Falora smiled, still looking a little unsure but willing to go along with it.
"Yay!" I cheered, jumping with one hand reaching up, my excitement bubbling over.
"But how??" Falora asked, her curiosity clear in her expression as she looked at me.
"Don't worry! I'll use what I've learned from the comics and novels I've read, heheh." I crossed my arms below my chest, giving her a playful smirk, my left eye closing as I winked.
"Ahhh… I see…?" Falora's expression still seemed a little puzzled, but she was trying to support Haer's childhood friend in whatever this plan was.
As the day shifted into night, the guild began to close. Without my tools or bag, I was left with uncertainty. Where would I sleep? Where could I rest? What should I do now?
But just as I was lost in thought, Lumi approached me with a gentle smile.
"You can rest at my place," she offered kindly. "It's no trouble, really."
I hesitated. I didn't want to impose, but I had no other options. So, I accepted with a small nod.
Ainz was already awake, looking perfectly fine. He had on a new set of clothes since the old ones had been damaged. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up, a wide grin spreading across his face. Before I could react, he rushed over and hugged me, his joy clear in his expression.
I was genuinely surprised, my eyes widening slightly at the sudden gesture. But before I could say anything, Lumi pinched his ear lightly, her face stern but gentle. "Ainz, it's not appropriate to hug people, especially the opposite gender, out of nowhere."
I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach, watching the siblings in their playful scolding. They looked at me, confusion flashing across their faces, but then their expressions softened, and they both joined in on the laughter.
We continued our walk together, following the path. The night was peaceful, and the sounds of insects chirping filled the air. I glanced up at the beautiful, starry sky, feeling the cool night breeze. I helped carry some of their bags and tools, even though they insisted I didn't need to. They were shorter than me, around my jaw height, so it wasn't hard to see the path ahead clearly.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at Falora's house. To my surprise, it was only about 100 meters away from Lumi and Ainz's home.
"See you tomorrow… It'll be an off day since the guild is closed, so I can accompany you!" Falora smiled warmly, waving as she turned to head inside.
"Ah, alright, see you!" I waved back, my mouth stretched into a wide smile, feeling relieved that things were finally settling down for the night.
We continued walking as Falora waved at us. I couldn't help but notice the houses we passed by. Some were built with stone, others with wood, and a few even combined both materials. The architecture was unique, like nothing I had seen before. It was different, more advanced than the gloomy island I remembered.
I also noticed faint, almost invisible barriers around the houses, likely formed by Soulnergy to protect them from unwanted threats. I had read about it somewhere—just a small detail—but now that I saw it with my own eyes, I couldn't help but feel curious. I wanted to learn more about it. These people clearly had a level of advancement far beyond what I was used to.
Finally, we arrived at Lumi and Ainz's house. They were welcomed by her other sister, mother, and father. When they laid eyes on Ainz, the worry was evident on their faces as they noticed the few marks still left on his body, not fully healed yet.
Then, they noticed me. Apparently, I was taller than all of them, which caught their attention. It wasn't a big deal to me; my vision was wide, though. The parents exchanged confused glances, but Lumi seemed to understand what was going on. She stepped forward, signaling that she would explain everything. The family then welcomed me inside, and we all entered together.
Once we closed the door and gate behind us, I bowed respectfully and kissed Lumi and Ainz's mother's hand in greeting. I then bowed to the father and shook hands with the other sister. We made our way to the living room, sitting on the comfortable sofas. The sister briefly explained what had happened, and both parents listened intently. Ma'am Alice and Mister Hagumo, they introduced themselves as.
As we settled in, Ma'am Alice turned to the other sister. "Lana, go prepare some drinks and food for our guest," she said, her gaze firm yet gentle.
"Haip!" Lana responded with a quick bow before heading to the kitchen.
I quickly waved my hands in front of me. "Ehhh— No need! I don't want to be a burden!" I protested, not wanting to seem too demanding.
But—
Who could resist free food? Let's go! Though I initially declined out of politeness, I couldn't help but accept when they insisted.
"I want to help too, sis!" Ainz suddenly raised his hand, eager to pitch in. He stood up from the sofa, ready to assist.
He dashed off to the kitchen to help Lana, but just as quickly, there was a loud bang!
"ARGH—" Ainz yelped, hopping around as he'd slammed his toes into the table.
I couldn't help but laugh quietly to myself. Ouch, but the sight of him rolling on the ground in pain was too funny.
Lana quickly rushed over to him, gently telling him not to push himself. Ainz brushed it off in embarrassment, his gaze darting between us, noticing our giggles before running away.
The parents looked back at me, their expressions filled with apology.
"We're sorry for making you trouble!" they said, their arms clasped together in a gesture of genuine regret.
I scratched the back of my head, letting out a small awkward laugh and closing my eyes. "Ehh, don't worry! I like fighting once in a while, and without them I c—"
"WE'RE TRULY SORRY!"
Before I could finish, both of them suddenly got off the sofas and knelt down in front of me.
"EHHH WHY ARE YOU BOTH PROSTRATING—?! GET UP—"
I panicked, unsure of how to react to such an extreme show of apology.
After a moment, the siblings returned with the food and drinks, and the mood lightened. The food was delicious—hot, tasty fish, full of omega-3 fatty acids. It was so good. We all sat down at the dining table, enjoying the meal together.
We were about to discuss the previous events in detail, talking about how Lumi and Ainz had gotten stuck with the goblins. However, both of them seemed exhausted, so we postponed the conversation until later, choosing to savor the food instead.
Once the meal was over, Ma'am Alice led me to an empty guest room for the night.
She flicked a switch, and the light orb on the ceiling glowed to life. I couldn't help but be curious.
"How does that orb produce light?" I asked, looking down at her, as she was a little shorter than me.
"Oh, you didn't know? That orb consumes Soulnergy from the village center. It generates something like electricity," she explained while adjusting the switch.
"Oh? How does that work?" I asked, straightening my posture in curiosity.
She shrugged, her hands now resting on her hips. "I'm not sure. They just learned about it recently in school, since it's only been around for the last decade."
"Is that so?" I said, raising an eyebrow in slight disappointment.
I scanned the clean, well-kept room, vastly different from my messy one. The light from the orb was soft and aesthetically pleasing, and it could be adjusted from bright to dim.
Ma'am Alice had brought me some of the sisters' clothes. I was visibly taller than them, but since my torso was shorter, it wasn't too much of a problem. The pants, however, were a bit too short, reaching halfway down my tibia and fibula.
The room was minimalist, medium-sized, with a single bed covered in sheets and pillows. Ma'am Alice excused herself, and I closed the door softly after she left.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I scanned the room for a moment before a wave of excitement hit me.
"HIYAA!" I jumped onto the bed with all my might.
Boing boing… The sound of the mattress springing under me made me smile.
I buried my face in the pillow, inhaling deeply.
IT SMELLS GREAT.
The scent of fresh flowers and soap filled the air. I exhaled slowly, enjoying the moment, taking in the peaceful scent.
Rolling over, I hugged another pillow, sinking into the comfort of the bed. Hmm, tomorrow I would meet him. I wondered how he had changed over the years. We had only communicated through a device, rarely with words. No voice, no sound—just like letters transferred by bird, but now with Soulnergy technology.
How did they manage to use Soulnergy outside the body, though? These people were clearly smart.
The light orb slowly faded, its timer running out, as Ma'am Alice had set it for a few minutes before it shut off.
What time is it? 10 p.m.?
"Huarm…" I yawned.
I took out my sunglasses, revealing my Dark Human eyes. The moment the glasses came off, I could feel the shift—my pupils slowly rounding, then expanding outward, dilating. I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. The whitish ring surrounding my pupils gleamed brightly, reflecting the dim light from the moon outside. The contrast was striking, especially as the shape of my pupils matched their full dilation—wide, round, almost feline.
For a brief moment, my vision sharpened. The dark room suddenly seemed clearer, as if the shadows themselves had been chased away. It was like I could see every detail as though the darkness had lost its grip.
Haha… look at that. I look like a cat… Damn, that looks cute—I mean, cool…
…Okay, but it is cute. I won't lie about that.
I started to wonder how long this disguise spell would last. I hoped it would hold up for at least another day. If only I could find my bag again, I could contact the Acolyte and my family via royalty-only visual soulnergy transmission devices.
But then, a wave of sleepiness hit me, and my pupils began to shift again, this time constricting. They slowly narrowed, becoming thin slits—almost like a cat's eyes in the dark. The transformation was subtle, but I could feel the change all the same.
As my pupils transformed into that tight, narrow shape, my vision started to darken, just like before. The surroundings began to fade into shadows, and the world around me seemed to retreat.
Now… I can barely see… sl... zzzzzzzz...
The sounds of chickens clucking and crowing pulled me from my sleep. Slowly, I opened my eyes, letting the morning sunlight stream through the window, casting a warm glow on the mirror.
Today is the day!
I slid my glasses on and got ready to take a bath. I glanced at myself in the mirror—my face looked like a cat who had just woken up, my short-medium length wavy hair a mess.
But hey, at least I felt refreshed!
I grinned at my reflection. Even with the bedhead, my defined aegyo sal seemed to pop a little more than usual.
"Morning, Gorgeous," I said to myself with a dramatic heroic pose.
Outside the room, I was greeted by the sisters.
"Morning," I raised my left hand with a soft smirk toward Lumi.
Lumi turned and met my gaze for a brief moment before smiling back. "Ah—morning."
I walked to the bathroom with a towel draped over my shoulder. It was close, but there were no sounds coming from inside, so I opened the door.
I reached the handle, scratching my head with my eyes nearly closed. "Oh, it's unlocked, duh, obviously it wi— WOAH, I'M SORRY!"
It was Ainz, and he was about to take off his clothes to shower. I froze, my eyes involuntarily tracing his toned shoulders, traps, and chest muscles. For a 13-year-old, that was insane.
I slammed the door shut in a split second as I profusely apologized.
"Damn it, I should've knocked first," I muttered, softly banging my forehead on the wall beside me a few times in frustration.
"Don't worry... I forgot to lock it too, so it's my fault," Ainz called out from the other side of the door, his voice laced with embarrassment.
"Oh no, no—I should've checked properly," I quickly replied.
There was a soft click, and the sound of the door locking.
"Nice physique, though!" I added with a nervous smile, hoping to ease the awkwardness from outside.
"..."
Well, maybe that didn't help. He probably thinks I'm a weirdo now.
Pap! I slapped my face with my right palm.
The sound of my soft skin meeting flesh echoed in the quiet hallway.
Sighing, I leaned against the wall, waiting.
An hour later, after finishing all my grooming, I slipped into the same outfit as yesterday, now freshly cleaned and dry.
Wow, they're fast, on god.
Hmm… the sky is dark. Will it rain?
I sat outside, kicking my legs repeatedly while softly whistling to myself.
"Morning…"
A soft, soothing voice called out to me, gentle and calming.
I turned my head and body toward the source of the voice. "Oh hey, morning Falora. Oh, you brought an umbrella?"
"Yeah, just in case of a rainy day. Anyway, hurry up. If we're late, Haer will be heading to the market without us," she explained while walking toward me in a good mood.
"Ah! Let's go!" I said without hesitation, eager to move.
We walked together for about 20 minutes, covering a distance of around 2 kilometers. The light rain started to fall, so Falora quickly opened her umbrella to shield us.
"Here we are, Haer lives in this neighborhood… Ah, this way!" She gestured to a small alley with her right arm.
The place was empty, maybe because it was early in the morning and raining.
Tap… tap… tap…— the sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet streets.
Falora's eyes widened for a moment, her expression twitching slightly. "Oh, you hear that?? That must be Haer's."
"How can you be so sure?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"That's the sound of his footsteps. I can tell it's him from the way he walks," she exclaimed with a smile and her eyes closed.
What?! Damn, is that her ability, or does he really walk that differently?
"How will you start your prank now?" she asked, tapping her finger against her cheek, a playful gleam in her eyes.
Heh, let me start the show.
"I know what I'll do! I read about this in romcom comics and novels. This will work!" I clenched my fist in front of me and bent slightly forward.
"Huh??" Falora looked confused.
Quickly, I sprinted silently to a nearby bench in the middle of the rain. Falora hid beside a wall, holding her umbrella.
I had read that in novels and comics, the heroine would often be found sitting by herself in a quiet spot, and the male protagonist would be concerned about the young girl sitting alone in the rain. It was the perfect setup!
Hehe, this will look so natural! I rubbed my hands together in anticipation.
[Falora]
Huh… she's weird, but interesting. This will be a good show, I guess...
"Oh, there he is!" Falora whispered excitedly. "He's coming!"
I quickly shifted my pose and expression to that of a sad, helpless girl sitting in the rain, my gaze now facing downward.
…Luckily, this dress is pretty water-resistant. Imagine if it wasn't… then my— ARGH— focus.
Peeked up slightly~
So that's how he looked now? Damn, he looks fit… fine… wait, ON GOD, LOCKED THE HELL IN.
Tap… tap… tap… tap…
Haer, with his umbrella, noticed me sitting alone in the rain. He stopped for a moment before continuing to walk slowly toward me.
[Haer]
Huh? Who is that? What is she doing out here in the rain??
His expression was confused, probably wondering what this young girl was doing.
OH— He's taking the bait, he looks concerned! He must be thinking,
"Why is this cute girl out here in the rain?" "She's going to get sick!" "I must help her, like a handsome, heroic knight!"
I smiled evilly to myself. Yes! He's falling for it!
Then, I would act like a helpless girl, and we'd have a conversation. He'd be in slight denial, feel pity, and then take me along with him. The real prank would begin after that! Mueheheheheh.
Haer continued walking, step by step, getting closer and closer.
Come on… hurry up! Pick this young beauty up! Take the bait already!
[Haer]
She's going to get sick… man… Is she maybe crazy?
…..
She must have some issue to act like this... nah, not my problem. Who cares? Maybe it's a social experiment or a prank or something.
Tap, tap, tap...
Haer kept walking right past me—wait, WHAT?
HUH?!? WHOA— WHAT?! DID HE JUST WALK PAST ME LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED?
A mix of shock and disbelief flooded over me. I heard faint giggles coming from Falora.
HE WALKED RIGHT PAST ME?! DUDE, ARE YOU FOR REAL RIGHT NOW?! NOW I KNOW WHY YOU'RE SINGLE.
A vein popped out on my forehead as I furrowed my brows in irritation.
I quickly stood up, charging toward Haer.
Pap! I placed my hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
He slowly turned his head, creaking slightly as he did.
"Y-Yes?? Is there something wrong?" he stammered awkwardly, trying to smile but clearly uncomfortable.
I looked down at him, my gaze fixed on him with an uneasy and angry aura radiating off me.
This guy… WHAT DO YOU MEAN by "Is there anything"? YOU DUMB F—