Juha, Cheo, and Zenon leaves the room for now as they told me to rest while they seem to be busy with outside problems, only for Yoo-Ah to barge in with a mouth watering dish hidden behind a metal cap. But most importantly is another guest visiting alongside her, Yoo-Sui sits ahead of Yoo-Ah, acting like a wall to make sure Yoo-Ah doesn't get too close it seems...
"Rrgh! Why are you even here, Unnie!"
"Why? Of course to make sure one of the Hero of our kingdom is okay."
"Wait, hero?"
I look at her confused and Yoo-Ah perks up, pointing at me shouting:
"That's right! Since you're a major contributor throughout the civil war, The King and every High Ranking people decided you deserved it!"
(Oh, I guess Hwang-So did say something along those lines).
"But is that really okay?"
Yoo-Sui ruffles my hair saying:
"Just accept it."
I nod along and continue eating my dish when Yoo-Ah stands shouting:
"Hum! Hum! Sova!"
"Y-Yea?"
"From now on, I'll be the one accompanying you across the day!"
" "Huh!?" "
Catching not only me but Yoo-Sui as well, Yoo-Sui stands along replying:
"Enough of that farce! Where did that thought come from?"
"You think I don't know, Sis!?"
"Pardon?"
Yoo-Ah leans forward with a serious expression that seems to unnerve Yoo-Sui. With a bit of a stare off, Yoo-Ah continue saying:
"You like Sova too don't you!?"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"You may act like a jerk, be an ass, and maliciously evil, but that's just an act so that you can keep her cuteness all to yourself!"
"Um..."
"Yoo-Ah that's not-"
"Don't deny it, Unnie! Even Oppa seems to change his opinions of her too! I saw how you keep separating Sova so she spends more time with you all day and all night too! I heard how you even sleep in the same bed and even play with her all night long!"
(Huh? When she says it like that... Then again, my sleeping posture would always end up with me waking up early with her foot to my face since I probably tried to embrace her a lot in my sleep).
Yoo-Sui whose face are beet red from Yoo-Ah explanation slams the side table beside her replying:
"Enough! None of that is even true! There's no way I would like or even have any sort of affection toward this crossdressing womanizer!"
(Crossdresser... A term given to someone who actually dress for the opposite gender so...)
"That's not true! I especially never crossdress intentionally ever! Especially when I already look like this!"
"Hum!? What is that suppose to mean!? Did Yoo-Sui Unnie do something else!?"
"Shut it, both of you! Tch! All you need to know is that all of what you heard from wherever that information spread is definitely untrue! Incorrect! false! A forgery! A Falacy! And simply wrong! End of that discussion!"
Yoo-Sui pushes Yoo-Ah further before she folds her arm but Yoo-Ah doesn't give up and continue with,
"Hum! Hum! Sis, you should know that the more you deny things so excessively, the more true it is!"
"That reverse psychology does not apply like that! You should also know that no matter what you say, I still won't grant that wish."
"I don't care about your gibberish! I'm still going to do what I want! And since I'm going to be living at the same house anyways, you can't stop me!"
Yoo-Sui seems go be appalled by Yoo-Ah's excessive endeavour as she holds her head and sits back down replying:
"You... Where did you learn to be so unreasonable? I never taught you to be such an unruly child."
"Hum! Hum! From you, duh! Aren't you also being unreasonable!? And also, Nari Unnie tells me that the only way you can agree to something is by bashing that idea to your thick skull until it stuck!"
"(That fucking bitch!)"
Yoo-Sui curse within her breathe when Yoo-Ah also points to herself saying:
"Besides, Sova needs someone to watch after her right!? I heard how you'll need as many nobles you need in the upcoming battle, so Juha is not available! Besides, I can cook, and help Sova with whatever she needs, so when she gets sent out as a hero, I'll be the one to stay by her side to help her and communicate with the masses! I'm more popular with the common folk than you!"
"What does she mean by that, Yoo-Sui?"
Yoo-Sui leans her back at the bed and turns to look at me replying:
"Sigh... I don't know if you heard about this from the others who visit you first but, after the Colonel's purge and our costly victory against him pretty much decimated our noble population. As of now, it is estimsted there's only less than a hundred thousand nobles left in this kingdom."
"Hun- sand- what do you mean less? Isn't that a lot!?"
Fumbling through my own words, Yoo-Sui shakes her head replying:
"Logically for a small kingdom yes, that's overbearing but, Silla is not! If we wish to compare that to the people of this kingdom, that's less than 1% of the entire population! Compared it to before which is at least 5% or before the Coalition which is a healthy 20%!"
"I'm sorry? How is that bad- ow! Ow! Ow!"
Yoo-Sui grabs ahold of my head and tightens her grip as she glares at me replying:
"Are you really asking me that!? Are you sure you're really..."
Yoo-Sui looks Yoo-Ah before she calms down saying:
"I'm surprised you're not trying to protect HIM."
"Aw, Sis! So, you're expecting me now!? But not really! That is a stupid question!"
"I'm surprised you agreed but alright, let me just tell you something Sova."
"Y-Yea?"
"When there's an argument between two people, who do you think people will side with most? Those will more followers or those with less?"
"Huh? I guess the one with more people- oh..."
Something clicks as I answer and Yoo-Sui lets me go.
"That's right, and there's also how the group mentality works. Even when you know you're right, if all the people around you answers differently, you just can't help but follow along."
"R-Really? Something like that happens?"
"More than you can imagine, that's why peer pressure marketing exist. Even more so now, when you're listening to an advice who do you think will you trust more? Your own family or some total stranger?"
"Well, that's a rethorical question isn't it? My family of course."
"Wrong! The real answer depends on who the expert is! But we just can't help it can we? And who in their right mind wants to follow the people who opress and exploited their own people!"
Yoo-Sui walks over to the window and continue saying:
"The common folk now wants someone else in charge, and they want someone new. Someone more competent, someone who understands them more, someone who won't treat them like dirt, someone of their own choosing!"
Yoo-Sui press her hand to the window before she leans her head forward and continue saying:
"The conflict before us is a war not wage by guns and swords, but a silent knife. A war of words where each sentence can shatter someone's will. It'll be a really, really cold war."
I try to get off bed and Yoo-Ah helps me along as try to move my body. Walking beside Yoo-Sui I look outside and see a huge rally preaching,
"Death to the Monarchy!"
"Let us choose our own destiny!"
"Give us a republic! Give us our rights!"
Yoo-Ah frown at their message and Yoo-Sui clench her hands saying:
"Those fools have really cross the line! Hehe, what's "rights" when the Chaebols control the country... As you see Sova, our next enemy is none other than the Republic to the north and your job is simple, as the new generation Heroes of the Kingdom, you will be the one to campaign for us and win the hearts of the common folk!"
"Excuse me!? And I still don't understand about this Hero stuff!"
***********************************
[Extra] Visitors of the Night...
"Sova~ wakey, wakey."
*Poke* *Poke*
"H-Huh?"
Awaken at the sound of a rude awakening, I felt a sense of familiarity with the situation as I then slowly peel my eyes open to a serene dark room illuminated by the soft moonglow. The curtains opened with a huge gust of cold winter winds and...
"Sup, seeems you had quite the ordeal, Sova."
"I feel like you keep visiting me through the night like this... And I feel like it can make some very grave misunderstanding."
"Aw shush, you're the last person I wish to have a misunderstanding with. Here, have an orange, it's a rare fruit in this continent."
Greeting me with the common tonhue and a peeled orange on a plate is Moriz, dressed neatly in a suit and in his male form. His emerald green eyes glows in the dark as the shade hidden from the moon.
(Wait, orange? As in the legendary fruit that the colour label came from!?)
I gladly take it as I reply:
"Um, thanks? And why are you here? Just know, I don't actually know anything now and I don't wanna be involved."
Not particularly wary of his presence since this is not my first experience, Moriz shrugs it off saying:
"Come on, I'm not doing any shady stuff now."
"Says the one who does unspeakable things to me on a whim."
"Hey! When did you learn how to sass talk?"
I take a few bite of the legendary fruit and feel the sweet-sour sensation over my tongue. Pucking my lips and shutting my eyes from the taste, I slowly open my mouth replying:
"Recently... But more importantly, why are you here then?"
"To hang out with some guys, duh! Cheo is zealously training and fulfilling his duty as the new Duke of Belluga, kitten is still a bitch trying to do his thing, and I can't really talk to Daniel since he's not really a grown up until he mentions you... You said you're 16 right? By Confederation standards, you're an adult."
"I feel kinda sad to hear I'm an afterthought and I don't like what you're trying to imply there."
Moriz ruffles my hair replying:
"Aaah, don't sweat the details! Why? Cause I'm here to talk about girls!"
"Guys talk about girls too? Interesting. So what do they talk about?"
"Well it depends on how much of a degenerate they are but for me... I'm rotten to the core so it has to be about their looks first."
"That sounds so shallow."
As I'm about to take a nother bit, Moriz press his finger on my lips shouting:
"Nap, up, up! That's where you're wrong! If you're an observer connoisseur like me, you get to use their looks for the greatest entertainment. Picking them apart piece by piece is the best."
"I just realize... You just called yourself a stalking creep."
Moriz nods rubbing his chin with a smile replying:
"I'll take that as a compliment, but you have to understand that pictures tell more than words! So don't skimp out on her looks."
"For example? I mean, that's still so shallow. Especially when the phrase don't judge a book by its cover exist. I mean, I'm the perfect example."
Moriz shakes his head replying:
"Oh, understand this, I will judge a person by their cover, but I will not like or dislike that person from the cover alone. Their cover is not there for you to rate them, but for them to intrigue you, Just like you. After all, from the cover it makes you can tell the contents by wondering,
How thick is it? What is the paper or cover made out of? How old is that book? Who is the author of authors? What's the summary at the back? How many words are there? How is the style of writing? What's the language? What's the font or fonts? What's the margin of each words? What's the size of the words? What's the layout of the cover? Who is the publisher? Where is it published? Who's the target audience? Is it inspired from another work?
And so much more! What I'm trying to say is, the looks is what hype up and makes the reading more exiting! That's why we unknowingly keep asking what's the person like before we even meet the person, attitude IS part of a person's image after all."
"I'm sorry... I think my mind wondered somewhere, are we still talking the same thing?"
"Haah, Sova, you really are a girl at heart. Well, seeing how you're not so excited seeing me, were you actually expecting somebody else?"
Hearing him, I can't help but remember what Soo-Nari said and reply,
"Yea."
"And it's a girl, am I right?"
"Oh? How did you know?"
"All the people you know are all cute and hot girls! It's not fair! Why can't I have the luck of both Oars and You! I'm still more surprised with how much nobody suspect you for being a boy. But most impressive is how you never even pitch a tent throughout all that physical contact! I would've been more harder than a AP1 nominal war head if I was in my male form!"
(What in the world is that suppose to be!?)
Moriz drops his shoulder as he seems to weaken and continue saying:
"Did... Did you actually learn "That" ultimate technique? Impressive, not even I can do it no matter how much I tried. Or did you finally turn into a real woman? Maybe I should check again-"
"Heck no! And what in the world are you talking about? It's... It's just that I already got used to it. If you spend your whole life until now interacting and using female items of course you're not going to find it strange. I'm only getting some realizations recently. And if you keep that up, I'll fight back no matter the chances!"
I slowly try to move and take a stance but Moriz push my head down saying:
"Sheesh, I'm just joking! You're not the first femboy I met so settle down."
"Arg!"
Force to lay down again, I look at the unfamiliar ceiling and calm down a bit as he pats my head...
(I wonder how long has it been since someone stroke my head while I sleep?)
Mori looks down at me and smile, he continues stroking my head saying:
"Hoh? Look at you, being so relaxed. Haah... Seriously, why must you be involved with Yuwei?"
I open one eye and glare at him replying:
"And what is that suppose to mean?"
"I'm saying you're hanging with the wrong crowd. Honestly, kids like you are suppose to still be at school and making friends, not participating in some foreign war where you have no personal attachments."
"That... I admit I'm very intrigued with going to school and doing whatever people my age are doing but..."
I close my eyes and think for a while for an answer before I get up and look at Moriz saying:
"Now it's more... Fulfilling following this thorny path. And I thought you said I'm an adult?"
"You're only considered an adult when you actually earn your own money and contribute to society. From what I see you're severly lacking at the first one."
"That I can't argue, I almost never even carry money in my pocket-"
"You dumbass! You should always carry money in your pocket! Even if it's only 1 CC!"
Moriz ruffle my hair again before he lean back at the wall and locks his arms. He looks up and let out a cold breathe before saying:
"Haah... Then again, with how strong you are now, you'll probably just gonna bully all those poor kids your age. With your strength alone you can definitely be part of the lower rank of the Super Nova from my generation. I pity anyone who is going to teach or even challenge you, they will definitely suffer and dunked on."
I lean closer to him which spook Moriz a bit as he try to avoid me asking:
"What?"
"I know you said not to bother with how this Confederation scale their power but... Hearing you I wonder if I'm considered abnormal?"
"Generally from all the people I know? Hell nah! You're smoother than a baby's bottom. But for the masses? You're a walking disaster... 3 years and just like me, that's how long I imagine you'll spread as one of the Beacons. And by that time, you'll be someone who's blacklisted when travelling internationally without permit or affiliation, just like the World Strongest."
(Beacon? World Strongest? How is he involved in all of this?)
Moriz then leans back and looks outside saying:
"I mean, look at the aftermath of the battle between someone who could barely use [Origin]. Can you imagine the damage on some other kingdom with no great monuments like this kingdom? They would fell to ruin from the corruption. I'm more surprised the Theocracy hasn't sent any Censor here. I mean they definitely tried to whoop my ass back then."
"Censor? What is that suppose to be? I did hear a lot how people fear them with the tone they speak."
"I'll be more surprised if you do. But yeah, that's sums them up. Scary people with weird fashion, that's all you need to know about them. More importantly though! We have more topics to discuss!"
Moriz leans closer as he shouts and I can only be let down since I can guess what he is trying to ask...
(This night will be a long one. But I don't mind learning about how guys do their stuff).
"Isn't that right? You guys?"
"Huh?"
(Huh did he bring more people!?)
Moriz points his attention to the door and turn to look at the room and stops at the side table.
*Swoosh* *Slip* *Tack*
Multiple people in cloaks over their futuristic suits that hides all their body reveal themselves from behind the curtain, rising from the floor, and even from under my bed. Their suits are filled with weirdly patterned plates of armour that gives each person a distinct look of crowns, like one seems to be oval, one is triangle, and another is spiky.
(Where did they all come from!? And did they really all watch me sleep? And... They're definitely not the ohgranye).
"I was wondering who could move so stealthily, I recognize those suits... You're the thieves that actually raided the house of the Grand Patriarch while he's still home and manage to kidnap his precious youngest daughter... And even now, her fate is still a mystery."
Moriz leans over with cold sweat whispering:
"(Wow, Sova, you became an international target faster than I thought. If they are trying to kidnap you, you can only pray that your new master is very kind. But knowing your luck, your new master would definitely be some thristy milf. But seeing how they show themselves, they might have another-"
*Rumble* *Click*
"Uwaah!"
The side table stood up beside me transform which shock me to my core as I drop the fruits. The new square phantom shoves a revolver at Moriz's head as her visor shine through the shelves saying:
"Quiet, handsome. I'm impressed, for a hunk I thought you'd be the muscle brain. But we'll be the one doing the talking. Now..."
She pushes Moriz further by bringing the gun closer and turn to look at me. Squirming with excitement as she glares saying;
"Wow, seems we might get some sweet bonus. Boss sure does have good taste- Slurp, if a pretty girl like you steal Boss' crush, she'll be very mad. Now where is that Sova boy go? I'm pretty sure they say it's this room."
Seeing their lustful gaze, I can't help but wonder,
(Are they really here to kidnap me? And how long has she been that table!? And wait, they don't know who I am?)
*Click*
As my heart sink in panic, the door to the room opens and someone who seems to be their leader shows up looking like a feather crown. She pulls her hood back and press her helmet. As it retracts back and all the feather tucks in, I can finally see the face behind the mask.
"You misunderstand Mianguan. That girl is Sova."
"Huh? Are your eyes finally rotten, Krona?"
Her tri-colour hair flow amidst the lunar glow, as she slowly takes a few steps closer with her darkening purple eyes my lips speaks...
"Sis... Fei?"