It's painful... -
The little girl who's lying on the ground thought.
The pain that's coming from her stomach and the pain that she's currently receiving from the angry group of guys that is beating her up.
It was painful...
...
...
She was actually used to these kinds of things and she doesn't mind it that much, both the pain and the hunger.
But still, she wanted it to stop.
She wishes for it to stop.
[ Hehehe...! You're not going to get away now! We will make you pay dearly! ]
The loud shout pierced her small ears.
[ ... ]
It was that kind of shout that she always receives whenever she tries to steal food... It was normal for her... but right now, it reminded her of something else, it reminded her of something completely different.
The angry tone of the shout suddenly became gentle as it enters her ears...
As her vision started to blur and her head started to lose consciousness, she remembered the gentle feeling that she felt when she met with that one particular person ~
It was a cold night...
She was very hungry and very cold.
( Here. )
( Hey, look here kid, this is delicious, okay? I would like to eat all of this but I'm giving them to you. So accept it. )
She still remembers it. That gentle and warm feeling that she felt from that guy.
As he stroked and patted her head, as he gave her much delicious food.
She can't seem to forget it.
I don't want to die... - The words came inside her mind.
She was always ready to accept death. She thought that if her life will just continue to go on the path of pain and suffering, then she might as well then accept death.
But that change when he met him.
She wishes to meet that person again.
She wishes to thank him.
She wishes to live with him...
Those wouldn't be able to fulfill those wishes if she dies.
SFX: BAM!!!
While having these different feelings and emotions ran inside her -
She lost consciousness as a heavy kick was launched to her stomach.
...
...
...
[ But I have something to do too! ]
[ Sure... Sure... But I'm sure it's not as important as getting summoned by the Earl, right...? ]
[ You guys... ]
[ A-Anyway, Haruto-kun! Please take this kid with you! ]
!!!
As her consciousness came back, she immediately got shocked by what she is currently seeing.
It was like her wishes earlier immediately came true.
[ ...Haah... ]
She grabbed the clothes of the person sitting in front of her.
She grabbed it tight and hard as if she's planning of not letting the person go.
After a few seconds, he turned to look at her.
As she saw the face of she's been wishing to meet, her face just suddenly smiled on its own.
***
[ I don't like this idea... ] I muttered.
I'm now currently walking towards the gate of the city so that I can finally start my mission.
The task I'm about to do is much much harder and important than the previous ones I took, so I really want to make the best result out of it...
But now...
[ Nn...? ]
There's a little kid sitting on my back.
I was left with no choice but to bring her with me.
At first, I tried to go back to the guild and ask Diana-san to take care of her but she immediately refused as she said she was busy with her job at the guild. I then tried to go to Marinda-san's inn. Marinda-san of course accepted it but the little kid didn't.
Both me and Marinda-san was stunned by her actions as she didn't let go of my legs no matter how we tried to force her to let go. She kept shouting the words "Not leaving" while holding tight of my legs.
It was a complete pain.
While reminding what had happened earlier, I looked at the face of the kid that is sitting at my back.
Her face doesn't show any kind of expression, but when she turned her eyes on me, she immediately smiled.
There's no doubt about it...
I wouldn't be able to let go of this kid that easy.
It seems like she got attached to me. Very attached.
[ Umm... Are you sure you don't have anyone that will take care of you...? ] I asked.
[ Hmm...? You...? ] She answered, pointing at me.
[ Like I said... I'm not... ]
I was thinking of leaving her to someone, and I will just then continue to deal with her after I get back after finishing my task, but that seems very impossible now...
I think she thinks of me now of something like her guardian...
It's sad that no one is willing to take care of her, I really feel sad for her.
But I can't just take a kid from the streets and take her to live with me. That'll be considered a crime in my previous world. That's why I'm planning of taking care of her first then send her off again once her injuries recover.
[ Umm... By the way...? What should I call you...? ]
[ ...kid...? ]
[ Not that... ]
[ ...Boy...? ]
[ Who calls you that...? ]
[ ... ]
[ ...How about I give you one...? ]
It would be at least a good idea to give her a proper name since she will come along with me.
[ Ne-mu...? You...? Ha...luto...? ]
[ Un, if it's okay with you, I will give you one. ]
I know that giving a name is a privilege only given by the parents for their children but I have to give her one if I'm planning on taking her with me.
[ ...Un! Un! ] after a pause, she nodded twice.
[ Hmm... A name... what would be a good one...? ] I muttered to my self.
Hana...? Sakura...? Haru...?
[ That's not it... ]
It seems like all that the names I could think of are Japanese ones. A Japanese name would not fit for someone from this world since their faces do not resemble that of a Japanese person.
While still thinking of a name I could give her, I tried to think of something different.
...
...
...
When I was a kid, my grandmother read me a story about a girl who ventures to a world that wasn't her real one. The name of the little girl in that story was -
[ How about Alice? ]
[ A... Arisu...? ] she tried to pronounce the name.
[ Yes, do you like it? ]
[ A...Arisu? ] she muttered again, this time while pointing a finger at herself.
[ That's it. ] I smiled.
[ Alice... Yuki! ] she now pronounced the name right, and while she's at it, she also called my name and pointed a finger at my face while making a big smile.
[ That's right... ]
[ hehe... ]
I wasn't expecting it, but all the negative feelings inside me disappeared the moment she gave me that smile. The doubts and worries I have instantly disappeared. It was mysterious.
That moment, I decided to just accept the fact that I'm taking her with me even though it might be dangerous and unnecessary.
[ Yuki...? ]
[ Oh... I guess we're here. ]
Before I knew it, we have already arrived at the front gate.
The sun that is coming out from outside is bright while the wind is cold.
I took out the map in my pocket and looked at it.
The village that I will go to is far, and from my own calculation, it might take us until morning before we could arrive.
I looked at the girl sitting in my back.
I don't like the idea of taking an injured kid with me, but I can't just take her off of me.
I also don't have the choice to abandon this task that the assistant guild master himself gave to me.
I'm stuck between the two, so I decided to just take care of them both at the same time.
[ ...Let's go! ]
And then the long adventure started...