'Oi, kid, where were you? And, woah! Where is your shirt?!'
I came out of the woods with only my shorts and shoes on. The reason I did was that my shirt was practically all drenched with blood. It would be weird if they knew that a single kid came out of the woods after fighting a couple of wolves with a bloody shirt.
'I was running from wolves and I had to use it to escape.'
Scratching my head, nervously, I lied.
'We told you to be careful. Luckily you weren't killed in the process. Carlos said that you've already done your load so you're free until tomorrow at dawn.'
Huh? Morning? But doesn't my lumberjacking job usually start in the morning after dawn? Do they have something prepared?
'Dawn? What's happening tomorrow at dawn?'
The man looks at me with a dumbfounded look.
'Beats me. I have no idea myself.'
I guess that's all I can get out of the old man. I waved all of the other lumberjacks byes and left for the village once more. The village wasn't too far from the lumberjacking site. It was barely within eye's reach. I still don't understand how Rina could run from the entrance to here without feeling tired. Well, she was, but it was only a little. Maybe she has the Physical Enhancement skill?
It wouldn't be too surprising if she had it. At the same time, it would, since I never saw any of the labouring men using the skill, or from what I could tell. Either way, I need to know her true personality. I don't want to get killed as I sleep. Oh, Ai, is there a way that you can warn me if someone suspicious is getting close?
«I can use and modify the Status Skill, Identify, so that when someone gets close to you, while in an unaware state, I will wake you.»
That's good enough, I guess. Thanks.
As I get close to the village, I look to my right. Outside the wooden fence of the village was a girl. One unlike any that I had seen in the village before. Was she an outsider? Her hair was pink, and her eyes were green. Even with that, her body frame was petite, only slightly smaller than mine. She wore a rag.
She definitely doesn't look like she's from the village. I would've known instantly if a girl like this lived here. The girl was on the ground–she looked displeased about something as her eyes stared down at the dirt.
Slowly, I got closer to her. I kneeled and started talking to her.
'Um... Hey, what're you doing outside of the village?'
The girl's eyes shifted toward me then back to the ground. It was clear that she had no interest in conversing with me. Since she was a girl, I didn't want to go through her information with Identify, but I guess that she leaves me no choice.
(Identify.)
[Name: N/A
Lvl: Level 6
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Race: Dragon
Evolution: Dragonoid
Skills: Unidentifiable]
Wait, she's a fricking dragon? A dragon in human form, then I guess that makes sense why she's a Dragonoid. Her age disturbs me. Let me just check something on myself.
(Identify.)
[Name: Altair Nox (Tatsuya Kimihiko)
Lvl: Level 8
Gender: Male
Age: 25 (+0)
Race: Demon
Evolution: Demon
Skills: Internal Compass, Mutilate, Battle Thread, Iron Thread, Physical Enhancement, Bladeworks, Thought Acceleration, Identify, Multi-Mana Affinity, Claw, Intimidate, Harbinger of Adversity]
Okay, so my age and name are like that. That makes sense. She doesn't have a name. Also, if I can see my own skills, then why can't I see her skills? Got any ideas, Ai-sensei?
«Assessment. This Dragonoid most likely possesses the Exclusive Skill, Conceal, which can hide someone and anything on them, including their status.»
Ooh, getting that skill for myself would be fun. Anyways, if I want to start up a conversation with her, then I guess I'll have to surprise her. One way to surprise her would be to ask if she's a Dragon.
'So, you're a Dragon, aren't you?'
The girl looked at me. Her face was full of surprise. Yup, I knew doing that would get a reaction out of her. However, she also looked slightly scared. Well, if this were an anime and I was babysitting a child, then I would...
I laid my hand on her head and moved it slightly, side to side. I could feel my face burn up.
'D-don't worry, I won't hurt you.'
This is kind of embarrassing. Seems like she finds it embarrassing too. Her face is beating red right now. I moved my hand from her head, but she instantly moved back to it. Her face was cute and looked determined. I want to get out of this situation since I look like a kid patting someone younger. They'll think I'm a master with a slave or something. I remove my hand and ask a question.
'What's your name?'
Gah! The silliest question I've asked since coming here! I used Identify and it said that she had no name, yet I'm right here, asking for her name!
'I... don't... have... name.'
A soothing voice came out of her mouth, though she spoke in small intervals. It was like she wasn't used to the language. I'm assuming that there are different languages too.
'Speak in whatever is comfortable.'
Then she looked at me. Her face was empty but her eyes had a sort of sad feeling to them. Her mouth moved and words I couldn't comprehend exited her mouth. It was much more fluent than when she spoke in the human language.
«Requirements reached. You have unlocked the Extra Skill, Auto Translate.»
Why are the skills coming in a set order? It's too coincidental and too easy to gain skills like this. Zyn told me to work hard but it's kind of impossible if I have Ai with me. Not that I'm complaining.
'I. Don't. Name.'
She still speaking in small intervals and her sentences don't make sense. I guess she's just bad at talking.
'Well, I need something to call you... So, for now, I'll call you Sakurako.'
'Sa...kuko?'
'No, not Sakuko. Sa–ku–ra–ko. Sakurako. I can't just give you a name, but that's what I'll call you by.'
Sakurako is the name of the girl who liked me in junior high. I didn't give her that temporary name because of that. The reason I gave her that name was mostly because of her pink hair. It resembled cherry blossoms. I could've named her Sakura, but then that girl came to mind.
The indifferent face of the pink-haired Dragonoid slowly turned into a gleaming smile of beauty. She danced around and sang.
'Sakurako! Sakurako! Sakurako!'
It seems like she's already accepted it as her new name. It's fine, we'll find... Find who exactly? I'm not sure what I should find. Does this girl have a guardian? If she's a Dragon, then another Dragon should be her guardian, but I have no idea where another Dragon is. I mean, if she's a Dragonoid, then maybe her guardian is also in human form too.
'Say, Sakurako, do you have a guardian?'
She stopped. Sakurako's face turned clueless.
'Guardian?'
The way Sakurako speaks is like a child, so I guess I'll have to use more childish words. It shouldn't be too embarrassing to use them since I'm in a child's body myself.
'Like Mommy or Daddy?'
'Sakurako don't have one.'
Ugh, the way she said it fast with a nonchalant voice.
'H-how did you end up here then?'
'Sakurako has no memories. Remember waking here.'
No memories? This is going to be harder than I thought.