Chapter 1: Part 1
Author: Geraint
"What is this place?!"
We saw strange houses built on the hills and mountains, strange vehicles running through the farm to plant some kind of wheat in an instant. Another strange vehicles passing through the road which is filled with vegetables and fruits in the back.
"Are we really Demon Territory? All I can see are humans riding those strange things."
While Lilith was confused, I walked and followed down the path to a small village. The signs that I seeing has unfamiliar writings which I don't understand and I haven't seen anything about it in the books I read in the library of the demon king's castle.
"Seir-sama, wait for me!" Lilith followed me.
Chomping on strange green insect that we found on the side of the road while enduring the disgusting taste in order to survive, we immediately hid behind the tree when we saw children walking along the road. Few minute after they passed us, we went out and peeked around then we continued to move forward when we saw people around.
"Ugh... Seir-sama."
Lilith's stomach was already rumbling and she was very hungry. I can't let her get hungry for long and quickly find something to feed her which is not an insect. Looking around for things we can eat, the first thing came into my mind was wild small fruits and I immediately jumped into the bushes to collect some.
"Seir-sama, wait!"
While collecting anything we can eat through the forest, I found a small river and tried to catch some fish barehanded. There are quite few fishes and the sizes were small but we can't be choosey since we hadn't any meal today aside from insects. I caught a lot of them, skewing all of it on a stick then grilled them in the flames.
The taste wasn't good since we didn't have anything to improve flavor but at least our tummy was full and we have energy to travel again. I was staring at the flame of bonfire while Lilith is sleeping on my side since she didn't get enough sleep last night.
"Hm?"
With my improved senses, someone was passing through the bushes not far from our location and I can hear a crying sounds coming from that person. I stood up, jumping to a tree then I hopped on another tree until I arrived near that person. While hiding on top of the tree, looking down when I found a young girl crying and she seems not know where was she going. She has shoulder-length light blue hair and eyes, wearing a blue shoulder-less shirt and white frilly skirt which was covered in dirt.
"???!" she was crying nonstop that she ended up coughing and her language that she calling for someone is hurting my ears.
"Hey, little brat! Stop crying!" I jumped down from the tree and landed in front of her.
She finally stopped crying but for some reason, she looked confused.
"Oh, I forgot. You also don't understand my words."
She just gaze to me, not knowing how to respond. I don't have any choice but rely on sign language to communicate with her.
"You're lost, right? Let me bring to a place that you're familiar with."
Looking down, her knee has a wound and it was bleeding. I ripped off a part of my worn-out shirt then I used it to tied around her wounded knee to cover it.
"Can you walk?"
I sighed, turning around then I crouched down, telling her to hop on my back and I will give her a piggyback ride.
"Huh?"
She was timidly gazing at me, still not knowing what to do.
"Ah! Such a pain!"
I stood up and moved to her side then I carried her in my arms which made her face turned red.
"Hold on tight!"
I jumped high, hopping on from trees to trees until I found the road. Ahead of us was several adult humans was looking around in worried expression and I'm aware that she's the one they are looking for.
"Go."
She was still hesitating return back as she keep glancing to me.
"Don't keep them worrying about you."
"Shiina Ayaka!"
As I was about to turn around, she spoke while pointing to herself.
"Shiina Ayaka! ??? ????" she repeated but I didn't understand the next words after her name.
"Shiina?"
She nodded to me happily after I repeated.
So, Shiina is her name.
"Seir." I pointed to myself.
"Zeir?"
"Seir." I repeated.
"Seir..."
"That's right. You've got it."
"Seir-kun, ??? ???? ????" she was asking me something and she seems to be very embarrassed with her flushed face. She was expecting a response to me but I didn't know how to answer due language barrier.
"Umm..."
I just tried to nod at her and she was very happy with warm smile on her face as she grabbed my hand with both of her palm.
"??????"
When she realized what she was doing, her face turned red again and she immediately let go of my hand, slowly moving away from me, becoming timid. She said something while waving her hand then she ran back in hurry.
"?????, Seir-kun! ?????"
"What was that?"
After she left, I quickly return back to our camp before Lilith woke up from her slumber.
Another night arrives, and I grilling another batch of fishes for our dinner when I sensed a group of people approaching to our location.
"Lilith, we have visitors. Let's give them a warm welcome."
"Yes, Seir-sama."
We disappeared, jumping to the top of the trees then hid behind while we saw flashes of light, moving around to survey the forest. I felt like they are threats so I summoned my sword in my hand, preparing myself to ambush them from above.
It's seems, there's five of them; one middle-aged man, two young men, and two young ladies. They found our camp, checking everything in the vicinity and they checked the fish that we are cooking. One of them which was the guy which has a short hair took one of the skewed fish and gave it a taste then he suddenly spat it out and threw the fish away which is half-cook. He said something about it being disgusting which made angry for eating someone's meal. They keep looking around for a clue until I decided to jump down and Lilith followed me, landing down behind them then we quickly knocked three of them out with our hand imbued with basic strengthening magic. I knocked down the two guys while Lilith dealt with the other girl.
"Ugh!" x3
The remaining two person which was actually a young man with white coat and the other was a young woman wearing a strange dress consisted of white robe and loose red trouser below. The two of them was surprised and the young man came in front of young woman to protect her. Lilith was about to attack them but I raised my left hand to stop her.
"Seir-sama?"
"I'll try to communicate with them."
"Seir?" The young woman spoke my name.
I pointed my sword towards the young man, close to his neck then I asked them.
"State your intentions! Why are you guys after us?"
The two of them looks confused, unable to understand my language. While nervous, the young man slowly raised his arms then he kneeled on the ground while it seems he is arguing with the young woman which made her do the same as him. They are telling us that they surrendered and no meant to harm us but I can sense several people sneaking around us.
"Lilith, take down those guys but don't kill them. I don't want to do anything reckless right now."
"As you order."
Lilith bowed to me and she disappeared into her shadows, attacking those guys hiding in the distance and their scream can be heard and explosions.
*Bang!* *Bang!*
"Argh!"
When Lilith emerged back, the two in front of me became nervous, seeing the thing in her hand.
"Seir-sama, I brought something interesting for you."
She gave me some kind of artifact which made from metal then I held it in the handle, curiously looking around it.
"All of those guys possessed it and it seems some kind of weapon when they pointed it to me."
"I see..."
I pointed the weapon artifact towards them and they trembled in fear, closing their eyes. With the atmosphere, I sighed, appearing behind them and knocked down each of them out of their consciousness.
"Let's go."
I threw the weapon artifact into the river and left the place with Lilith.
(To be continued.)