[ now Alice, I said that I will take care of you, but you know, I just arrived in this city yesterday with nothing on me. So I don't want you to get your hopes high. okay? ] I said while holding Alice's tiny hands and as we walk under the street lights.
[ What do you mean onii-san? get my hopes high? if it's about feeding me, I can feed myself like I always do, So please don't mind me, I just want onii-san's company! ] Alice said as she looks up to me and smiled.
Just what does this girl saw in me? I mean, we just met, but she's already sticking so close to me.
[ we're about to arrive, Alice, you're gonna start living with me now, so I want you to behave nicely okay? ]
[ U-un! ] She replied nervously.
While conversing with Alice-chan as we walk, I learned more things about her. When I asked her how old is she, she said that she was about seven, but she wasn't sure because she doesn't know her birthday, her grandmother only told her that she was seven this year. If that's true, then she's really mature for her age. Whenever I talk with her, I feel like I'm talking with someone my age.
I also found out that she was abused by her grandmother, she was treated by her like she was only garbage and a mistake made by her parents, but still, Alice endured it because her grandmother was her only family left.
She must have had a very rough childhood.
(XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
After a while, we finally arrived at the Moonlight Inn.
I stopped walking and stood in front of the door.
[ We're here Alice, this is where I live, for now; we're also gonna live in the same room because I don't have enough money yet to rent another, Is that okay with you? ] I said that but I don't think she'll agree to live in a different room.
[ a-ano... is that okay? I mean... in the same room... I can sleep outside! ] Alice suddenly said those words anxiously.
[ wha-what!? you can't do that! people will treat me like thrash if I let you do that! ]
[ bu-but... ]
Just what is this girl suddenly saying?
[ haah... didn't I say that we will live together now? that also means you'll live in the same roof as me, isn't that already obvious? ] letting a little girl sleep outside while you're sleeping in a comfortable room is something that only trashy people will do.
[ well, maybe I can sleep on the floor? ]
[ no, that also won't do, we'll both sleep at the bed, you and I. ] well, that is the only option, there's only one bed on the room so I will just let her sleep with me.
[ but for me to sleep in the same bed as you onii-san is... ]
[ as I said, it's okay, I don't mind, no "no" and no "buts" anymore okay? ] I stopped her future disagreements with that.
[ i-if you say so onii-san. ] she's really reluctant.
After we finished discussing I finally opened the Inn's door.
[ oh! onii-san, you're already here? ] bretta came walking towards me from the counter, Marinda-san was also standing in there.
[ ah, yes, I'm back. ]
[ onii-san? who's she? ] bretta-san pointed at Alice and asked.
What should I say? that I somehow got robbed and decided to take the thief with me home?
[ well... many things happened and I decided to take her with me. ] I made a vague answer so I won't get asked any further.
[ is that so? ] bretta tilted her head as she said so.
I took Alice's hand and led her inside.
[ come-on, introduce yourself Alice. ] I whispered her those words because it seems that she doesn't know what to do and was shivering.
[ he-hello, my name is Alice, onii-san gave me that name and I decided to keep it, it's nice to meet you... ]
[ oh? are you gonna live with onii-san now? ]
[ ye-yes, I was actually the one who selfishly asked him to take care of me. ] Alice said as she gripped her clothes.
I patted her head because she was being honest, well, I won't say that I also don't have the intention to take care of her when we first met but it's true that she was the one who asked me to.
[ oh? isn't that nice? onii-san is really nice, I bet he can take care of you real good. ]
[ U-un, I know that... ]
haah... this talk is embarrassing me.
[ well, anyway, Marinda-san? ] I walked towards the counter and ignored the two little girls that enthusiastically talking with each other.
[ do I have to pay another coin if I bring someone with me to my room? ]
I hope not.
[ No, you don't need to, but if you want that person to also have the meal service, then of course you need to pay for it. ] maybe she understood my intention so she added another information.
huu... that saves me a lot, I don't have any money left in me so that sure saved me.
[ thank you Marinda-san, and about dinner, can you just take it to my room? ]
[ oh? it's already finished, why don't you eat here instead? ]
[ is that so? then I will. ]
[ you also can't order another meal because I only cook for the estimated number of people who paid their meals before noon. ] oh, I guess she was thinking that I will order for Alice too.
[ that's okay, I still have some leftovers from the bread store I came across to earlier. ]
[ okay then, I will go serve you your food, please wait for a moment. ]
[ okay. ]
I walked towards one of the tables and sit, I looked at Alice and Bretta who's still talking,
[ they're already friends huh? ] I muttered.
[ yes, I wish I could be friends with someone that fast too. ]
...
[ wow... I didn't even notice you were sitting just beside me. ]
Victor-san who suddenly appeared from nowhere is now watching Alice and Bretta too as they talk.
[ Yea... me too... ] Victor-san said while looking at me intently, just what is this guy thinking? staring at me so intently.
[ by the way, Victor-san, do you have an extra sword or bow you can lend me? I actually don't have any money anymore, and I'm about to hunt monsters tomorrow but I don't have any weapon in me. I will also pay for it if I get some money. ]
[ hmm...? well, don't worry about it, I actually already brought this bow. ] Victor-san then magically took out a bow from his back.
[ I'll give this to you for free, But there's one condition, you must repay me some time by accepting one request I'll give to you in the future, is that fine with you? ] Victor-san said while pointing a finger right in front of my face upwards.
free? he just said that I need to repay him in the future, and there's obviously something fishy about that repayment he's talking about.
[ I know you're having doubts, but please trust me on this one, I will never give you a request you won't accept, not to mention, this bow that I'm giving to you is one of our family's treasure. ]
[ what!? is it okay giving this to me for free? wait... don't tell me the repayment you're telling me is giving you my soul!? ] giving one of their family treasure to someone he just met one day ago... there's really something going on here.
[ No, I don't ask for souls, only blood, but I also won't ask you to give me any, I just want you to trust me on this one. ] hmm... I can't feel any malice from him, in fact, all I can sense was seriousness from his words.
[ well, I don't know if you have any bad intentions but receiving this bow will really help me, can't you at least give me something cheap instead of this? ]
[ that won't do, in fact, I deem that this bow is not enough payment for the request I will ask you for the future. ]
[ you're only increasing my suspicions... ]
[ yes... ] he's really hard to talk with.
[ well, okay... I will trust you, I feel like your request is only to help you with something, I can guess it is. ]
[ then there's that, thank you for accepting. ] he stood up and gave me the bow, then he sits again.
after that, I saw Marinda-san exiting from the kitchen, walking towards us.
[ here's your meal now, Yuki-kun, Victor-san. ]
Marinda-san put our meals on top of our tables.
[ I already removed the vegetables in yours Victor-san I also added some meat. ]
[ ooohhh... ] he sounds excited, but I can't somehow feel it.
[ enjoy your meal.]
[[ yes. ]]
why does it feels like she's our mother, and we're her kids?
[ oh, Alice, come here. ]
I called Alice who was still talking with bretta.
[ later Alice-chan. ] bretta-san said, as Alice walked towards me.
[ here, sit, let's share the food. ]
[ huh? ] Alice is only standing in front of me.
[ haah... I know where this is going. ]
I stood up, I then carried her and made her sit on the chair beside me.
[ come-on, here, let me feed you. ]
( And that's also the day I received the bow which I never thought will be my main weapon against monsters )