"Ahh! Help!"
Why, why did it come to this?
As I screamed in fear while being hung upside down by this plant monster, I wondered why this had to happen. I just didn't want to end up like Mom or my big brothers. But did that make me a bad girl? Is it because I was bad girl that this happened? Is it all my fault?
"Please! I don't want to die! I'll do anything! I'll go back to Dad! I'll do whatever he tells me to! Please! Please! Someone help me!"
I was desperate for help, but there was no one in sight to even place my hopes on. I couldn't even get the chance to be betrayed.
As the plant monster lifted me above its foul mouth, I struggled even harder, but it was useless.
'I'm going to die here. Without anyone knowing.'
Mom used to say that I had a lot to look forward to, but it was already over. She lied to me. Just like Dad did. Just like he did! They all lied!
As I fell into the plant monster's mouth, I was overcome by anger and despair.
'I wish, I had never been born.'
With its fangs right before me, I closed my eyes and hoped that I wouldn't feel any pain. But rather than pain, I felt warmth, and a cool breeze.
"Right on time."
Before I knew what happened, I found myself in the arms of a strange young man with green hair.
***
(My POV)
I couldn't say that I didn't break a sweat, but since I decided to help this girl there was no way I could let her get eaten right before me.
'It's a good thing I can use Blink consecutively'
Even though I left quite the distance between us, Jeanne appeared by my side shortly after my arrival. I could feel the child trembling in my arms, flinch when Jeanne suddenly appeared so I gently pet her head.
"You don't need to worry. We're not your enemies."
The trembling only got a little better, but I nodded when I saw her grip onto to the thin magic coat I wore in place of armour.
"Jeanne."
"Leave it to me, master."
As I had someone to carry, I left the lesser treant to Jeanne. Naturally, an opponent like this couldn't last even a second against a single one of Jeanne's fireballs, so once she easily took care of it I looked back at the little girl I held. Her eyes went wide when she saw Jeanne make quick work of the monster, but she froze once she noticed I was looking at her. Though the girl who seemed a little under ten looked similar to what one would call a dark elf, her white hair proved that she was instead a drow. Which was still technically a dark elf, but closer to the Evil God.
As I examined her condition, I couldn't help but frown.
'In terms of fresh wounds she only has a few scratches, but these...'
Her worn-out clothing could be written off as a result of poverty, but the swellings on her limbs were different. The more I looked at her, the more I saw the resemblance.
'She's being abused. And this isn't just a recent thing either.'
"Um..."
As I had gotten lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice that she had been staring at me warily. Her grip on my coat had loosened and I could see the fear in her eyes, but at the very least she was obedient. Though I couldn't say that was a completely good thing.
"Sorry. Are you okay?"
Hopefully since I was trying my best to sport a smile, her fear slightly decreased as she responded.
"I-I-I'm fine..."
"Good. Can you tell me your name?"
She appeared to be struggling to make a decision, but the girl soon answered me.
"...Kaili."
"Kaili, huh? That's a good name. But what are you doing so far from the city?"
"Ah, I..."
"Were you trying to go somewhere?"
"..."
It was only a guess at first, but seeing how her expression would move from deep-rooted fear to determination, I was sure I was right. She had chosen to escape from what was scaring her. The fact that she had acted on this choice was praiseworthy, but it wasn't enough. Not in this world, or any other one.
"Is there anyone you think you can trust in the city?"
"...No."
Unlike my previous questions, this one received a firm response.
"Then, let me ask. Was, there anyone like that?"
"... There was. My mother. She was always on my side and she, always wanted me to be happy."
I saw the tears threatening to break loose as she mentioned her mother, but I kept going.
"Then, you can't stay like this. You have to get stronger."
"Stronger?"
Watching her display innocent curiosity, I could sense my growing urge to spoil her, but I had to be firm. This was for her own good.
"That's right. If you get stronger then a world of possibilities will open to you."
"Possibilities? If I get stronger, will Dad go back to normal? Will he return to my sweet Dad?"
Though I could probably survive getting pierced through the heart, the hope that flickered in her eyes did damage that made such a wound laughable.
"... That depends on him. Even the strongest person can't change people easily. But at least if you have power, you won't be helpless like you were against that lesser treant. You'll be able to enjoy the freedom of doing whatever you want, with no one to stop you. Whether it's avenging your loved ones, or saving the one who hurt them. You can choose your own path to happiness."
"That, sounds nice... but, can I really..."
I could catch a glimmer of fighting spirit in her eyes, but it wasn't enough.
"Of course you can, but it all depends on you."
She had stopped trembling and only tightly gripped my coat while biting her upper lip. Sensing that she wouldn't be able to sort out her conflicting emotions quickly, I decided to give her more time.
"Keep thinking. For now let's head to the city."
The moment I started walking to the city, she flinched and looked at me with big, pleading eyes.
"Don't worry. Until you decide, I won't let anyone lay a single finger on you, no matter who it is."
As she settled down due to my words, I looked up and noticed the warm gaze Jeanne was giving me.
"... What?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
I was pretty sure she was misunderstanding something but I judged that it wouldn't be fixed with a couple words, so I just sighed and kept walking.
'Of course she only acts cheeky like this when I don't want her to.'
We were noticeably slower now that there was an extra member among us, but we still reached Night City in under an hour. Kaili went back to shivering in my arms, but I was briefly in awe of the city. If I didn't hear about it from Ein, I would have likely been more distraught as the sight was very similar to the cities in my past life.
Buildings of various sizes, including a tower that pierced through the clouds, were lit up through some means that replaced electricity with magic, and even outside the shiny city walls that stood several tens of metres tall, it was possible to hear the sound of demons having fun.
'So this is the entertainment capital of Lambda.'
Since the Demon Lands was under the curse of eternal night, there would probably be no lull period here since the demons usually just slept when they felt like it. Still, other than the '24-hour party time' feel this place was giving me, there was one other thing about this place that stood out to me.
'I'm not sensing as many evil spirits here as I thought there would be. It's still more than average but...'
Considering the general brash attitude of demons, I was sure it wouldn't be strange if I walked through the gate and saw a dead body in a place filled with excitement like this, but surprisingly there might be a certain degree of order here. Well, I still hadn't actually gone past the wall so I could be mistaken, but I didn't stop myself from being a little optimistic.
'Looks like I didn't choose wrong.'
Impatient to start negotiating with the Queen here, I urged Jeanne forward while Kaili and I stayed behind.