***
"hmmm!! Nghhh~"
" Lewd~" (Cress)
"Don't call a 6 year old stretching lewd!"
Flexing my tiny muscles, the stiffness of my back and limbs gradually fade away. With nothing to do, a walk through the streets would have to do.
"Do you want to come with me? There won't be much, so it'll just be a walk."
"Oh ho~? Have you finally warmed up to me?" (Cress)
"Quit it or you won't have a chance again."
"Fine, fine. I'll stop teasing you. I'll come with." (Cress)
Closing my eyes, I took a whiff of fresh air before bringing out my soliloquy. "That's better... Let's go. "
The back yard had playground and other various equipment packed together in the storage. It was bordered by waxy wooden fence and climbing over was discouraged by the caretakers. Something like that was unreasonable for kids or anyone to do, so it would only lead to chiding from the caretakers of the orphanage.
It was too dangerous to let kids out on their own, adding to that was the small amount of staff that could afford to bring them out and supervise them. Another factor was mob mentality, it was rampant among kids as they are easily influenced, when one kid is allowed to go outside, the rest would follow. All of this lead to us not being allowed to go outside. We had to escape.
"Do you need any help? Since walks aren't generally available in orphanages. It's much safer to stay here afterall, though I can cover for you if you need." (Cress)
"That won't be necessary. [Illusion-tier 2] [Stealth-tier 2]"
Agility was the stat that referred to how fast you could move. With each number adding 1m/s to your speed, I had the capability of moving at 1/10th the speed of light. What if I was able to direct all this energy upwards? The answer was simple, I would fly into space. So all I had to do was hold back my strength, and make it as safe as possible for Cress to jump over the fence.
With the [illusion] made to look like us having a conversation, it would be okay to slip out for an hour or two. As long as it looked like the 2 of us were there in the background , they wouldn't catch on to our absence subconciously. With [stealth], they wouldn't see us hoping over the fence, I only had to be mindful of the sound we make. My [stealth] tier was too low to cover up sound.
Hoping over the fence with minimal strength, with Cress's left hand in my right grip, I dashed toward the streets. Crowded with people and carriages, business was flowing as usual in this branch of the capital's main street. Browsing through the stalls, I made sure Cress's warmth was still enveloping my palm. The area was quite noisy with the bartering and bargaining, little things would escape my untrained ears. Swiftly sifting through the crowd, we explored to our hearts content.
***
" Isn't the sky turning a little dark?" (Cress)
" It is? It should only be around 4..."
" Let's head back..." (Cress)
"I agree... Hold on! I'll get us out of here."
"Wha-! Wai-!!" (Cress)
Lifting my legs, I activated my magic on instinct and burst through into the skies.
"People will see us! This is embarrassing." (Cress)
"It's okay, I've already activated [stealth]."
" But it's low tier! People with proper security catalyst will be able to see us in this embarrassing position! Why are you carrying me in a princess carry!" (Cress)
"Ah. I guess they would. For the Princess carry... I didn't realise you were so light, so I instinctively carried you with my own comfort in my mind. Hehe... So soft..."
" Now is not the time~!!!" (Cress)
In the distance an old couple was discussing about their past.
"Ah, would you look at that. " ( old man)
"Yes, I agree. That's youth for you~" (Old woman)
"Would you put me down already!!!" (Cress)
" Wait for a little, we're almost there... "
Flashing black over the whole sky, I could feel my legs coming to a stop. All the momentum and energy that I carried recoiled onto my limbs, giving me an unbearable sore that swam through my body like electricity.
"Nghh!!!!!"
"Where are we..." (Cress)
Bending my neck, I realised what had transpired. The sky didn't flash black, we we're transported to a place with no light. Was this some kind of kidnapping?!
"Tch! Unhand us! Someone... There's someone there isn't there!"
"Hahah! You... The queen has her eye on you both, does she not? Then it's natural she'll pay a ransom. Though... No... That does not matter. You there... Don't try anything funny, the orphanage has been rigged with explosive catalysts. You understand what those are... Right~?! "(?)
" I see. So you expect me, a child, to be rational under this circumstances. What gave you the confidence to execute this operation? Surely, you wouldn't expect me to have composure under this situation. "
"Simple, we have spies. Even if you are vigilant, spies have been planted for years, whereas you've only been in the orphanages for a month. Observing every child, it was natural that'd we found a strange one to pick apart in this fiasco."(?)
".... I see. One of the orphans... "
"Hahah!... Have you finally lost your composure? You seem to be much less talkative now. Wait... *beep* John! Glev! Tell me the situation right now!" (?)
"..."
"I see... The queen was a step ahead huh~ Did she not believe we wouldn't lay a hand on you?" (?)
"..."
" You... Don't..." (Cress)
" It seems that this may be the only division left. Comms have been cut off...well,I guess time has run out. You guys will have to die... And your orphanage as well..." (?)
"NOOOooo....!!!" (Cress)
"Time has run out... I see. I'm sure you have multiple units to obliterate the orphanage. In any case, it's fortunate I have no attachment to them at all. It has been a month... Hahah... I can't feel it... Concern, anxiety, worry, fear, sadness, despair, grief. No... I only feel a need... To end your time... [Demonic energy] "
" [Multi-barrier] [Multi-cast] [Multi-potency] [Multi-- GUARGHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "(?)
Consumed in explosion, it was unfortunate for him... Nobody remembered his name.
"While you were speaking, I had used [Demonic energy] to track the locations of all individuals in this room. By sending it out in waves, I could sense the amount of warmth and the shape of the individuals present.
Simply put, I fried all their brains except for you who's blabbering on and on. I don't need the queen's protection.
[Demonic energy]... How convenient and versatile, to be a form of detection, offense and defence. Even if put up that many barriers... A few million... No wonder your thought you were invincible. However if you were the [ideal barrier], I would be the [ideal attack].
[Demonic energy], sucking energy from the world system and converting it into chaos, it was effectively an infinite amount of attacks. It flowed so smoothly... Faster than the amount your barriers were multiplying at, to curb your territory expansion. Some of the [demonic energy] was also phasing through your barriers like air to destroy your flesh directly.
[Demonic energy] also had anti-magic properties. You were simply an awful match-up. "