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Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View, i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
" " = System and when talking to it.
「 」 = Thoughts being heard
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--- Mary Skelter: Nightmares, Liberated District ---
Lumine: Good Evening, Mr. Kadowaki.
Towa Kadowaki: Oh, look who is back. You took your time out there, girl.
Shrugging her shoulders, she replied.
Lumine: It can't be helped. There are too many things to find and gather, so I must move from one place to another.
Towa Kadowaki: Haha. Sounds troublesome. Still, Kids are always full of energy.
Pouting cutely, the blonde spoke.
Lumine: As an adult, you have even more energy. So, why are you speaking like an older man?
Towa Kadowaki: Hahaha. Why, Thank you… By the way, I met Darling in the morning and conveyed your message to her. But it seems she is still looking for you.
Lumine: Is that so? I will find some time to meet her. I appreciate your help, Mr. Kadowaki.
Towa Kadowaki: It's fine. It's fine.
Lumine: OK, I'd better go now. Later, Mr. Kadowaki.
Towa Kadowaki: Um, good day.
Then they waved at each other, and Lumine entered the district.
.
.
The Traveler didn't stroll around and went directly to the Order of Sun.
'Lumine: Like yesterday, this place is full of people.'
The girl thought while looking at the people worshipping the Sun.
'Lumine: Do these people never take a moment to think, how could someone receive the message and blessing of a sun when its rays can't even penetrate through the barrier above.'
She didn't say that outright, as she knew it was pointless to convince people like them who were already blinded by the faith. Hence, she started looking around and found the person she had come for.
Approaching them, she spoke.
Lumine: Good Evening, Ms. Sukui.
Sukui: Huh? Oh, Lumine. Good Evening. How are you doing?
Lumine: Good. What about you?
Sukui: Same.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the woman spoke.
Sukui: So, are you getting used to life here?
Lumine: Not yet. Though I know it won't be long.
Sukui: Um. If you need anything and feel lost, you can come here. The Sun will show you the way.
Lumine: Uh… Yeah. I will.
The girl then hurriedly changed the topic.
Lumine: Sukui, I came for the Work Order requests I took last time.
Sukui: Did you complete some?
Lumine: Yes, all of them.
Sukui: ...…
The woman fell silent upon hearing that. Then, under her dumbfounded expression, Lumine walked to the table near them and slowly put everything she had collected on it.
Once she was done, she turned and looked at the woman who was still in a daze and spoke.
Lumine: Sukui, can you please check them?
Sukui: Huh… Sure, give me a minute.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Sukui hurriedly took out her notepad and started cross-checking them. She also inspected the quality because the lowered one would make customers pay less than the decided amount.
After half an hour, the woman stopped and took a deep breath.
Sukui: Amazing. I never expected you to find all of them in just one day. The quality also matched the request… Please wait for a few minutes. I will grab your rewards.
The Traveler nodded as Sukui walked away and sat on the bench close to the table.
'Lumine: Finally, I can return the borrowed money. That's one problem off my shoulders. As for Red Riding Hood and Dawn, I will think about them how to handle them later.'
With that, she closed her eyes and decided to rest briefly. While she was physically fine, she was exhausted mentally. After all, she had been fighting non-stop since morning.
It was good that people around were busy in their prayers, so no one came to disturb her.
.
.
.
Thirty minutes later.
Coming out of the Order of Sun church, Lumine considered where to spend the money. After returning the money she borrowed from Sukui, she still had a lot.
'Lumine: This is enough for an average person here to eat and drink for three months. Too bad the purification decreased quantity. Hence, for me, it can only last for a month.'
Before leaving the church, she didn't forget to take all the new Work Order requests.
'Lumine: Sukui was hiding these orders from me yesterday because she worried I would try to do something beyond my capabilities. But now that I had proven myself, she didn't mind showing them now.'
She thought while going through the list of requests written on the paper. When she was done with them, she frowned.
'Lumine: Well, I can't blame her for having such thoughts. While the number of requests and rewards is much more than the last, these requests are about killing the required amount of Marchens… After killing them, a specific part of their body must be collected to prove your claim.'
Putting her index finger and thumb on her chin, she pondered deeply about it.
'Lumine: These requests suit me better than where I need to collect the resources. Though I understand that It's not something normal humans can accomplish.'
She then put it away and walked around the streets to buy food and water before returning home.
.
.
.
--- Liberated District, Lumine's home ---
Closing the door behind, the girl made her way to the top floor of this seven-story building.
After entering her room, she walked directly into the kitchen and placed the items on the counter before making space in the refrigerator and cabinets. Next, she organized the things inside them.
She couldn't help but let out a deep sigh, seeing how the refrigerator doors and cabinets were falling.
'Lumine: I need to buy new appliances. Too bad I am currently on a tight budget. Though this problem will be solved later as I will complete more Work Orders.'
Once she set everything, she nodded.
'Lumine: Good… Now then what to make, what to make.'
Since she had to be mindful of the ingredients, she took some time before selecting Bananas and Eggs.
'Lumine: Alright, let's make pancakes.'
She took a blender from the cabinet, cut bananas into slices, and put them inside. Once the blender was full, she used her Adeptal energy to purify the bananas, reducing the quantity to 1/3rd.
Next, she took six eggs, reduced them to two, and put them in the blender alongside bananas before starting it.
After a few seconds, she stopped it, put flour in it, and continued. This time on low power.
DRRR!!!
Finally, the batter was done.
Turning on the fire, she put the pan over it and let it heat.
Next, she used the batter to make mounds on it and let it cook. Once it was brown on one side, she flipped it and cooked it for another few minutes.
Time went by.
When she was done, she heard the sound of door knocking.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
…
Getting vigilant, she put everything down and took out her sword before slowly moving towards the door.
Even when she reached the door, she didn't hurry to open it and waited. Before long, a voice was heard from the other side.
???: It's me, Lumine.
Hearing that, the blonde sighed in relief and de-materialized her sword before opening the door.
Seeing the person, a smile appeared on her face.
Lumine: Welcome, Otsuu. Come in.
The person with the structure of a human but looked like bamboo was Nightmare, whom the Traveler met in an Underground Cavern named Otsuu.
Otsuu: Sorry for the intrusion. Though… is it really ok for me to be here?
Lumine: Did someone see you?
Otsuu: I don't think so.
Lumine: Then it's fine. Anyway, take a seat. I have made some pancakes.
Otsuu: Pancakes?
Lumine: You will know when you eat them… Nightmare can eat, right?
Otsuu: Yes.
Closing the door behind, Otsuu followed Lumine into the kitchen and saw a table with two chairs at the side.
As she sat, Lumine brought a plate and placed it before Otsuu. The Nightmare tilted her head in confusion, witnessing the disc-like things stacked on each other with a cube on the very top.
Otsuu: So, this is pancakes. Huh.
Lumine: Yup. Have a taste.
Answering, she passed a spoon to Otsuu, who again showed a puzzled expression.
Witnessing this, the blonde realized her mistake.
Lumine: Oh, sorry. I forgot that, as the Nightmare, you have no concept of utensils. Let me help.
Taking back the spoon, she took a piece of pancake and brought it to Otsuu's face.
Lumine: Here. Ahh.
Otsuu: Ahh. Oom.
Watching the Nightmare chewing, the blonde waited for her to finish. Before long, a happy expression appeared on Otsuu's face.
Otsuu: It's delicious. I have not eaten something like this in my whole life.
Lumine: Then eat more.
Otsuu: Um. But now I know how to use a spoon, so Lumine doesn't need to do this. It would be best to start eating before it gets cold.
Nodding her head, the Traveler returned the spoon to Otsuu and started eating her own portion.
Otsuu: By the way, what is this cube melting on the top?
Lumine: It's butter.
Otsuu: Butter. Huh.
Lumine: Yes. While we can eat pancakes as they are, butter adds richness to them. There is also something called syrup, which can add sweetness. Too bad I don't have it with me right now.
Otsuu: I don't think you will need it, Lumine. It is already so tasty.
Lumine: Thank you.
Like this, time went by. None of them brought up the topic of Jail, Marchens, Nightmare, or Little Mermaid. They just talked about casual things.
The entire room was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
.
.
.
An hour later.
SPLASH!!
Lumine was washing the dishes while humming. Otsuu, on the other hand, just looked at her back in silence.
'Otsuu: I never dreamt of having a moment like this. Back in Underground Cavern, I always remained afraid and tried to avoid as many fights as possible with other Marchens. On the surface, I face humans… To think one day, I will meet another human who will be as kind to me as Little Mermaid was… It's really a good feeling.'
By now, Lumine was done and was drying her hands with a cloth. Watching this, Otsuu stood up.
Otsuu: Thank you for the meal, Lumine. I better go now.
Lumine: Go? Where?
Otsuu: Back to Underground Cavern.
Lumine: No need. From now on, you will live with me, Otsuu.
Otsuu: Eh?
Lumine: There are many empty rooms in this building.
Otsuu: Wait. Wait. Wait. That's not possible. I am a Nightmare. If someone finds out that you are keeping me here, the---
Lumine: I will handle it when that time comes.
Otsuu: But…
Lumine: Otsuu.
Putting her fists on her waist, she pouted while looking at the bamboo girl.
Lumine: Didn't you call me a friend? Now, you don't believe this friend of yours.
Otsuu: No. That's not what I mean.
Lumine: Then…
Otsuu: ...Ok, I understand. Just don't get upset, Lumine.
Lumine: Hmph.
Snorting cutely, the blonde left her room and entered the one next door to do some cleaning so that Otsuu could stay there.
In truth, while the bamboo woman said she planned to return, she actually wanted to stay here with her new friend instead of in that cold place in Underground. Hence, she was happy when Lumine told her to live with her.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her face as she thought about it.
Lumine: Otsuu, I have cleaned the place. Come and check to see if you want to make some changes.
Chuckling, she walked towards the door.
Otsuu: Coming!
.
.
.
The Next Day.
--- Mary Skelter: Nightmares, City Streets ---
SHING!!
THUD!!
With another swing of the sword, the Marchen fell.
Crouching down, the Traveler used her blade to cut a part of it and stored it in her pouch. This will be proof that she completed the request without any fabrication.
She then turned her head to the side and saw Otsuu swinging her tentacle-like arm at the five Marchens.
Otsuu: Hahh!
SWISH!!
SPLURT!!
THUD!!
…
All five of them were killed altogether.
The Traveler was surprised to witness that.
'Lumine: Amazing… I remember Otsuu saying she is weak and has to spend most of her time hiding. But seeing this makes me think otherwise.'
She then gave it some thought and concluded.
'Lumine: I see. Otsuu is weaker when compared with the Marchens of Underground Cavern. However, on the surface, she is strong. Even stronger than that Clown Nightmare I defeated last time… Maybe even stronger than those all the Blood Maidens of Dawn.'
Otsuu: Lumine.
Snapping out of her thoughts, the blonde saw the bamboo girl walking towards her.
Otsuu: Is something the matter?
Showing a reassuring smile, she replied.
Lumine: No. Just thinking about something.
Otsuu: If something is troubling you, you can tell me.
Lumine: I will, Otsuu.
Otsuu: Um. By the way, here. That's what you want, right?
Looking at the parts of the Marchens in the bamboo girl's hand, the blonde nodded.
Lumine: Yes, those meet the required parts. Thanks, Otsuu.
Otsuu: It's okay… So, what's next?
Lumine: Let me see.
Taking out the paper with all the Work Orders, Lumine put a check in front of another one before going over the remaining ones.
Lumine: Only the resource collection Orders in this area are left. However, to gather them, we need to go deeper.
Otsuu: Then let's go.
Lumine: Wait. I am considering of first completing the ones that don't require a deeper venture.
Otsuu: Is that so. Then what do you purpose?
Lumine: To complete these Work Orders, we need to go to Graveyard and Downtown. According to the information, these things and Marchens can be found on Floor 1 and 2 of these areas.
Otsuu: Alright, let's do this. But which place should we go first?
Lumine: Let's go with Downtown.
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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
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