(14 years and 1 month after Reincarnation)
[Kyrielle's POV]
(8:01 a.m.)
A ray of light shone on my eyes, disturbing me in my sleep. "Zzz.... Mmm...."
It seems that the sunlight had shone at my eyes through the gap in the curtain. Is it morning already?
"Yawn...." I got up from the bed still sleepy and tired with a messy bed hair, and stumbled my way out of my room.
Entering the bathroom, I used the toilet, washed my face and brushed my teeth at the sink.... The usual things.
I could really use a cup of coffee....
As I got out from the bathroom, the corner of my eyes catches a figure standing in my living.
"What the?!" I got startled and instantly turned over to the living room.... and I saw nothing.
"Huh?... Hallucinations again?...."
Damn... These mind tricks I've been seeing recently is getting worse, I'll have to get to a doctor for it.
"I guess I'll add that to the list then...."
I took the 'to do list' paper that I've wrote last night and put on the kitchen counter, and scribbled on it with the pencil next to it.
'Things to do :
0) Take the trash out
1) Visit Thomas's grave
2) Buy school uniform (shorter skirt)
2.5) Replacement clothes
3) Buy stationaries
4) Find my friends (not important for now)
5) Find a doctor for the hallucinations'
"That's a lot of things to tackle.... I guess I'll start with breakfast."
_______________
(9:03 a.m.)
➡Take the trash out
After I finished eating, I got dressed and did my hair in front of my room's mirror, tying my long red hair into my usual twin tails with blue colored ribbons.
"Hmm...." I deliberately let the right side of my bangs hang off in order to cover up my right eye that is now gold in color.
It looks somewhat cute, I'll leave it like this.
I put on a red colored winter coat, grabbed my handbag, picked up the trash bin from the kitchen and headed out of my house. I didn't bring my katana with me today because it's kind of pointless to carry in a city, especially when I can just use Blaze Edge now.
'Cha chank.' With the trash bin in hand, I opened the door and headed out of my house.
"Urgh..." The spring sun flashed at my eyes, making me squint in response until they adapted to it.
"At least it's not snowing."
Making sure to lock the door, I closed it tightly and made my way towards the trash center where they will take my trash can and replace it with a new, clean one.
With one hand carrying the bin, I walked down the bustling streets. Some students dressed in school uniforms passes by me...
"...Hmm?" I noticed that their uniforms are different from Zoward's Academy's. Are there perhaps other normal schools built here in New Klada? Interesting.
After I took the bin to the trash center, I got a clean one and made my way back to the house. I left the trash bin right under my terrace's porch.
"Yep, that's done." I said as I took out the paper in my pocket and scribbled the first task off the list.
"Up next... Daddy's grave."
____________
(New Klada, Plains behind the city wall)
(9:59 a.m.)
➡Visit Thomas's grave
It took me almost an hour of walking but I made my way out of the city and to the graveyard that is at the plains next to the city, besides a village by the main road.
On my way here, I walked over to the graveyard's small church and borrowed some cleaning equipment from there.
This graveyard was made for the victims of Klada Disaster.... Aamon's victims. Dad is among the thousands buried here.
As I carefully walked down the yard, I came across a monument right in the middle.... It's a 3 meter long, half a meter thick great sword, stabbed firmly into the ground.
A small stand was posted right in front of the great sword. On top of the stand is a tablet inscribed with the words;
'Here lays the arm of the vile demon, an inferno killer. May no one ever bare this cursed weapon against us, may we never do the same to others, and may this tragic event be the last.'
"Damn... I'm surprised this thing wasn't teleported away."
This sword is Aamon's greatsword. Inscribed into the sword are crests that coats the sword in flames. I vividly remember being smacked by this thing and got severely injured during my fight with him. It's not exactly a fun memory but....
But wait, what if I did the same thing that Aamon did and coat my katana in fire? "Hmm... That could work...."
I mean, I could just use Blaze Edge to achieve the same effect but it's nice to develop new techniques. Besides, what if I performed Shadow Cross and Shadow Draw with fire? That'd be cool looking.
"Ah, I'm getting side tracked."
It took me about 5 minutes of searching around the yard but...
"Hmm.... There it is."
Carefully walking over all the tombs without stepping on any parts, I made my way to dad's place. Written on the gravestone is :
'Thomas Buffet
4 AT - 36 AT
A dear husband, a father to two daughters, and a reliable captain of the Klada City's Guard Division.
His absence is a great loss to our country, and his life was a tragic end for his family.
May his life be a beautiful memory, and his soul forever lies in peace.'
"It's good to see you again, Dad." I said as I set the things down next to his grave.
"It's my first time paying a visit to these tombs so I don't really know what to do.... Mom wasn't able to make enough time to visit you with me. But she did told me to remember to bring some beer so here you go."
Opening the wooden plug of the bottle, I set it in front of the gravestone.
"You see, I was teleported to the Demon Continent that day. Since then, I've always been walking and walking.... it's none-stop travelling. Trying to make my way back here was a pain in the ass, it's insane how large this world is!"
I squatted down in front of his grave stone, and gently scraped off the moss and dirt stained on it with a wooden brush.
"But.... I made it back. I've been to a lot of places now but in the end there's no place like home, don't you agree?"
'Woo....' The winds swirled through me, blowing my twin tails gentle along the flow as sounds of the brush scraping on the stone sounded.
After a while of scrubbing and rinsing with water magic, all of the dirt was rubbed off and now the grave stone is clean as a fresh one.
As I put away the cleaning equipment, I spoke against.
"You know, I was lucky that I have someone to take care of me right when you died. After all, it left me completely hollow and full of guilt because I was too weak to save you. Maybe now, I would have been able to take on Aamon by myself but.... Sigh...."
Once I finished, I sat down right in front of the grave, and grabbed the open bottle of beer.
"Haha... Mom'll skin us both alive if she knows that I'm about to to this.... But I'm sure you wouldn't mind right? Gulp!"
I chugged from the beer... A burning sensation followed in my mouth, coming along with it is a mild taste of bitterness and sweetness.
Surprisingly, it tastes good. "Hah!... Now I see why you like this...."
'Splash.' I poured the rest of the beer on the dirt behind the gravestone where dad's body should be buried in, and then took the bottle to throw away later.
"Well, it's time for me to go. No sense talking to myself here, it's not like you're actually here anyway...."
Haha... It's very weird to speak to a slab of rock as if they are alive.... even though it does make me feel slightly less painful about him.
It was then as I turned around, the corner of my eyes saw a very hazy figure standing on the spot where I just poured the beer at.
"?!" As I turned back over, I saw nothing. There was nothing standing over dad's grave.
"Damn, it's these stupid hallucinations again.... I'm starting to get sick of this."
Slightly frustrated, I picked up my hangbag along with the rest of the things and walked away.
________________
(New Klada, Shopping District)
(10:42 a.m.)
➡Buy school uniforms (shorter skirt)
➡Buy replacement clothes
"Hmm...."
I know a few clothing shops around this area but is there any that sells school uniforms at all? Also, I don't know if I've brought enough money to buy an entire set along with the blazer as well as new clothes.
Maybe I should just head back home to grab more money- 'Thud!'
Someone had bumped into me from behind. It was a man dressed in a blue colored coat.
"Opps, sorry about that."
"It's fine." I continued to think after the man apologized. I guess for now I should check how much money I brought today huh?
As I opened my handbag to search for my coin pouch and.... Where's my pouch?
"Hmm?... Oh, it's that fucker."
That guy who bumped into me just now.... He stole my money.
I peeked down the streets and saw that blue coat man booking for it and turned the corner. The entire street was bustling with people, making it difficult for me to chase after him.
"Tsk... Clever guy. But too bad this trick wouldn't work against me."
Thruster Flight. 'Bwuom!'
Taking off to the skies to chase after the man, the entire street was surprised by my actions....
"What in the?!"
"You can fly?"
"Look daddy, that big sis is floating!"
With slow speed, I hovered above the air and scanned the entire neighborhood until I found the blue coated man again, hiding in an alleyway.
"Heh, be prepared to get your knees broken!"
'Bwuom!' Flying directly over the houses I am now above the man. I stopped my thrusters and dropped down right next to him....
'Thud!'
"Hehe.... That girl is stacked- What the?!"
"Give back my money now, scum."
"You're that gi- what money? What are you taking about?"
"I wasn't asking. Give it back right now before anyone gets hurt."
"Gets hurt? What are you gonna do, cry like a little girl? Besides, you have no proof that this is your pou-"
"Sigh.... Within the very lands lies an impenetrable wall."
"What are you saying-"
"Earth Wall."
'Thump!' I raised a small sized earth wall right between his legs, and the rock slams into his balls.
"Agrh!!!... You little.... Argh...." He drops down to the ground and spilled my money all over the ground....
"This is what you get for stealing. Be grateful that I didn't hand you to the guards, scum!"
I kneeled down and picked up my coin purse....
"Urgh.... Help me! I'm being robbed!"
"Excuse me?!"
"Help me! She attacked me with magic!"
"What is going on here?!" Yelled a boy from the back of the alleyway.
I turned around and looked back at the boy.... I can't see his face because the sun is shining right behind him, covering his face in a veil of Shadow.
Ah great, just more trouble for this simple misunderstanding. "Look, you don't understand, I'm not a-"
"Don't listen to her, she just attacked me in my nuts! She's a vile robber!"
"Well that's the truth but it's a bluff!"
"Alright that's enough! Put your hands up where I can see them if you don't want to get hurt."
"Like I said I'm not a-"
The man behind me slowly crawls up and then started running.
"Hey wait!" I turned around and chased after him....
"Within the very lands lies an impenetrable wall, Earth Wall!"
'Thump!' An Earth Wall sprung up right in front of me and blocked the exit.
"God damn it, he escaped...."
"Now quietly come with me and nobody will get hurt-"
"You don't understand, I'm not the robber, he's the one who robbed me instead.... Forget it, I have my money back anyway." Blaze Edge.
I summoned a fire sword on my hand and with a few quick swings, I cut down the wall in front of me like hot knife through butter.
"Hey you are not going anywhere until we go to the guards!"
This self-righteous guy is starting to make me angry....
And it was then when I heard him chanting for a spell, I finally snapped. "Nature hides a bullet that shall pierce-"
"That's enough!" I turned around and flung the Blaze Edge at him, stopping the fire sword just in front of his face.
"?!"
"You like to play hero huh? But the flinch in your eyes calls your bluff.... Now leave me alone, there won't be a second chance-"
"Stop it or I'll blast your face off!" The voice of a girl sounded from behind the boy. Just great, double the trouble.
"Gerdur, stay back! This girl is insanely powerful!"
"Wait.... she's Gerdur? Then are you Michael?"
"How did you know my name?"
No way... it's them! "I'm Kyrielle!"
"Kyrielle?!... That twin tail and that tiny height.... It's really you!" Did he just seriously called me a midget again?
"Ky...rie...?" Said the girl from behind who no doubt is Gerdur.... My closest friend besides Richard.
Suddenly, the girl dashed forward past Michael and rushed towards me. "Eh?!"
'Grab!' ...And she pulled me into a tight hug.
"Kyrie.... It's really you... You didn't die...." She said in a voice full of relieve, all while choking me to death.
"Gerdur, you're hugging me a bit too tight..."
"Sorry... It's just that I'm afraid you'll be gone if I let go of you."
"Haha..."
"Come on Gerdur, she's not going to just disappear on us. Her face is all pale already, you are killing her!"
"Ah! Sorry!"
"It's fine, I'm not really going to die like this.... But it's so good to see you two again...."
Without Gerdur choking me to death, I can finally take a closer look at her without the sun getting in the way.
Gerdur now looks like a teenage girl and no longer a little girl, she's just like me. Her voice hasn't change that much but her body has, she's now taller and appears slimmer despite her height, giving her a petite look. Most notably, her chest has gotten quite big when compared to mine....
Michael is much taller than before, and his facial features are now more pronounced. His shoulders have widened, and although he's also slim like Gerdur, I can see that his arms are thicker than us girls. He's a good looking boy now.
As for myself... My chest has started bulging a bit as well, and many of my features have also gotten sharper. Not to mention my eyes have now became heterochromic, it's no wonder that they couldn't recognize me at first.
"Gerdur.... Michael.... It's been 2 years...."
"Mmm. We've missed you...."
"Haha... I've been trying to find you guys for at least a month now, I can't believe that we'd met under such circumstances."
"So who was that man? Were you robbing him?"
"No! I told you already, he was the one who stole my purse and I just went to retrieve it. It's all thanks to you that he escaped after he tried to frame his crime onto me."
"Hey, I saw a suspicious person flying over the buildings and then turned around a corner to see a man screaming in pain! I assumed you were the one who attacked him."
"You should've just listened to me from the start...."
"Come on you two! No fighting on our reunion!"
"As glad as I'm to meet you again, you are such an airhead, but.... that's so like you as well, Mike."
"And you're quick to attack someone as always, Kyrie.... Your security ensurer habits never grew out of you."
"Haha, is that so?"
Gerdur barged in between us, and put both of her hands on my shoulder as she speaks.
"Alright everyone, now that we've reunited again I think we should have our lunch together. To catch up on each other, you know?"
"Yeah, you're right. You guys seems to be familiar around this parts so.... any recommendations?"
"No, we don't frequent this part of the city."
"I see... Well we can always settle with a tavern so shall we head there?"
"A tavern? Where?" (2x)
"By the guild, of course. I've got a 25% discount rate there so it's my treat."
"The guild? Aren't only members of the guild allowed in the tavern?"
"That's the whole point, I'm a member there."
"Does that mean you are an adventurer now?!" (2x)
These two seems overexcited about adventurers....
"Eh?... Well yes...."
"Can we see your adventurer card?!" (2x)
"Uh... Here you go." From my hand bag, I took out my platinum card and handed it to Gerdur.
"Woah... This is a real thing Mike, see?"
'Ting!' She knocked her nails on the card and it made a satisfying metal sound as it should be.
This thing is made out of steel with a platinum coating after all, it is highly expensive. If I lost the card, I'll have to pay for another one or I won't be able to get my adventuring card again.
"Wait this is platinum, you're an S ranked member?!"
"Ahaha...."
"How?!" (2x)
"Well, that giant slime that attacked the city last week was killed.... by me. And they instantly promoted me to S rank after that."
"You're insane, that slime is an A ranked threat and you neutralized it?! Even with the help of the soldiers it'd be almost impossible!"
"It was a difficult fight, but I did it with my fire magic." I should keep quiet about the fact that I killed the slime by myself. They also don't know the fact that I used my True Dragonic Burst to completely annihilate the slime in one attack.
Well before they question me I better change the subject. "So why are you two so excited about my card? Aren't you adventurers yourself?"
"Sadly, no." (2x)
"Why not? Aren't you two excited about this?"
"We tried to register for one last year, but we are simply too young.... How were you able to get yours in the first place?"
"I got mine in Creimland, I guess the rules are just less strict when you are in a city so far away."
I still remember how surprised the face of that receptionist when I told her I wanted to become an adventurer.
"Creimland?" (2x)
"It's a city on the demon continent.... Come, I'll explain on the way to the guild."
_______________
(11:07 a.m.)
➡Buy clothes (failed)
➡Find my friends (success)
(Tavern, Adventurer's Guild)
I bought my friends food, and started chatting with them as we ate.
"-and I made my way back here after 2 years of travelling."
I told them everything about me.... From when I fought Aamon all the way until I met Watabe-san, the katana wielding sword master who taught me quick draw techniques.
Well I left one important detail, I never told them about my Dragonkin body.
"I guess I wouldn't be surprised that you of all people would be able to make it back huh...."
"Why would you be?"
"Well, it's just that out of the 100 or so people that were teleported out of the city, only 10 or so have made it back alive. The rest of them were just presumably dead, or worse."
"....Worse?"
The entire teleportation incident is part of my fault.... what happened to the people who were caught in it?
"Out of the ten people who made it back seven of them are girls, and there's a reason for that.... They survived because they we're captured and 'used' by bandits before they were brought back here for ransom. At least that's what the news says."
"That's messed up.... I can't even imagine having to go through that...."
"Yeah... We girls should know that more than well enough...."
Fuck.... It was entirely my fault that this happened to them.... and I can't never bring myself to tell my friends this....
"....What about Richard?"
"Richard is..."
"Was he teleported out?"
"....He's dead. Richard is dead."
Richard... is dead? "I... see..."
I was so occupied with finding him again and talking to him and wanting to test my feelings for him that I had failed to consider that he might not have made it out alive.... Why am I so stupid?
I had always thought that he was a capable mage himself but.... I had totally forgotten that even I had almost died that day if not for Lynn saving me. I had taken for granted my luck and has totally forgotten that others might now have it so easy.
....It's because of me that those 7 girls that 'survived' the incident was brutally assaulted and went through worser things than I could have ever imagined.... It's because of me that my best friend is killed....
I messed up.
"...." Before I know it, a droplet of tear dripped down my face.
"Kyrie... Are you alright?"
"....I'm okay." I said as I wiped off the tears from my eyes.
"....We are sorry." (2x)
"...Don't be. To be frank, I had only survived out of sheer luck myself so I don't get to talk as if I was special..... Why is it so that out of all those people only I were able to make it out alive?!...."
'Thud!' I slammed my fist onto the table.
".....Kyrie, it's not your fault-"
"But it is...." You wouldn't get it....
"Kyrie, clench your teeth."
"What?-"
'Slap!' Suddenly, Gerdur hit me across the face. It didn't hurt at all because of my mana shield but...
"Kyrie, when have you became so arrogant?"
"....What?"
"There's no way you survived this because you are special, did you believe that you had a responsibility to protect those people that were killed?"
"I... That's not what I mean!"
You wouldn't get it.... you don't know that I was the cause of the teleportation in the first place!
"Then why are you blaming yourself? You are biting off more than you can chew, and that's arrogant!"
"What...?"
"Besides, have you considered us?... And your family? You have no idea how relieved I was when I found you in that alleyway.... I don't want to have you back just to see you blame and sabotage yourself because you survived!"
She doesn't have any idea why I'm in fault.... but her words made me realize something.
"I'm sabotaging myself?...."
"Gerdur, what's gotten into your nut head dumbass?! She has just met us again and you slapped her like that?!"
"Well I can't just let her continue on like this, she can't blame herself! Instead standing aside and doing nothing, I want to help her!"
"There are better ways to help her than slapping her, don't you think?!-"
"No.... She's right. I thought I was over with blaming myself for my father's death but here I am doing the same thing again...."
I was lying.... I am not just blaming myself over Thomas's death but also those 100 people caught in the spell.... It's still entirely my fault and I won't try to justify it....
But.... I also know that I can't continue like this.... if I blamed myself any further then I know I will fall into a trap of constantly doing it and grow to hate myself for it....
"....Thanks for snapping me out of my nightmare... quite literally."
"....Sorry that I hit you. I didn't mean to."
"Haha... What are you gonna say that your hand slipped?"
"Umm.... Yes."
"Seriously, you have just reunited with your friend and you're already slapping her?...."
"Thank you Kyrie.... You didn't get angry at me at all even though I just hit you...."
"Well, I got hit multiple times during my journey.... A slap like this can't even tickle me at this point."
"I see...."
"But I'd rather not have to grow so strong just to survive... To tell the truth, I had a crush on Richard from back when we're still in school."
"We could tell for some time already.... That's why we were reluctant to tell you." Said Michael, with a guilty expression.
"I see. Those feelings have obviously died down since the Klada Disaster but... sigh... I wish I could've seen him again. At least this isn't the first time I've lost someone...."
"...." (2x)
I've find that I'm saying 'at least something is still positive' quite a lot recently.... It's like my coping mechanism to deal with losses at this point.
"....I am sorry about your father as well."
"....What about you two? How have you two been since then?"
"Well for starters, we are dating."
.....
....What?
"Aha, I couldn't hear you clearly just now so can you please repeat that again-"
"We are dating. Michael is my boyfriend."
"And Gerdur is my girlfriend."
"Wait wait wait, you two?!"
"Yep, see? We are holding hands."
Beneath the table, they brought up their hands.... They weren't just holding hands, they are literally interlocking their fingers together, something that only couples do when they are having sex.
"That's lewd!..."
"It is?" (2x)
"It is! And you two were always at each other's necks so I thought it'd never happen between you two.... Yet you two are now doing a PDA?! It's lewd!"
(AN : Public Display of Affection)
"To be honest we thought the same thing as well. But before I know it, I had found Michael to be comfortable and nice to be around, and I really enjoyed our banter."
"And then it just sort of happened one day. I asked Gerdur to be my girlfriend and if it doesn't work we could always just remain as friends but...."
"It worked out more than good enough huh? And then I'm left all alone, without a love interest to even choose from.... Just my rotten luck with boys...."
"Well maybe if you stop beating them up, you'd have a better chance?"
"Oh shut up Michael, that's just how I am...."
"Eh, I'm sure you'll find someone you like soon. You're cute and all, and many boys like your petite body anyway."
"Thank you, but you'd do best not praising my looks in front of your girlfriend next time...."
"Grrr...."
"Umm.... Gerdur, you're just as beautifu-"
"You were flirting with her!"
"N-no! I mean Kyrie is cute but I'm not saying that I prefer her over you-"
Oh, he just self-destructed.
"Kyrie has such a nice, petite and cute body, and her hairstyle perfectly compliments her physique as well, there's no way I can compete with her right?"
At this moment, both Michael and I have the same thought in mind.... She's such a pain in the ass to deal with.
I guess this is the so called "honeymoon phase" where the couples will fight and get jealous a lot, but it never hurts their relationship because in the end it happened because they love each other too much huh?
In contrast to common sense, situations like these often times strengthens their relationship. It is after all the couple's responsibility to take care of each other's feelings.
"But you don't have to compete with Kyrie, you're good looking in your own right! Kyrie looks adorable, sure, but she also looks childish and immature. Besides, Kyrie is a cutting board so that's a downside as well."
"Hey.... I can hear that you know?"
"....I want you to prove that to me." Said Gerdur as she makes a big pout on her cheek.
"Eh?... H-how?"
"....." Gerdur didn't respond to him but....
Kiss her god damn it! Just fucking her!
I signalled him by pointing to my lips, and then pointing my lips to my cheek.
Michael looked at me in confusion until.... "Oh!"
'Smooch!' He plants a big kiss on Gerdur's cheek.
"Yes that's it!" I yelled out in excitement.
"....Maybe I do love you a lot, Mike!"
"Yes!"
Wait, when did I became a wing woman to these two?....
Well, maybe once in a while isn't too bad. I did swore to myself that I'd watch over these guys like a big sister since I first met them in the school, getting to watch them banter and flirt like this do makes me feel warmer....
"Gerdur and Michael.... a moment please?"
"Hmm?" (2x)
"I hope you two will become great couples in the future. I never expected you two to date but now that I've seen you two together, it's like you were made for each other."
The two smiled as if they are synchronized. "Thank you, Kyrie."
"I hope you'll find a partner in the near future as well."
"Yeah.... If you say it like that it'll sound miserable for me you know? Like I'm the leftover friend that no one wants to love...."
"Ah don't be like that! I'm sure lots of boys will like you, don't feel too lonely!"
"Mmm...."
Love life huh?.... For the moment I don't have any intentions to date though. I do have other things to do, I don't want to have a partner who'll bind me down.
I want to travel to the Moonfall Continent and pay a visit to Amaterasu-sama.... I never forgot about that. I also want to sightsee around Moonfall Continent, and hopefully learn a thing or two about swordsmanship there because I'm interested.
I still have loads of things that I want to do.... I don't want to have a boyfriend just yet.
(Chapter 79, end)