"Wait what??!" Nagao displayed a disbelief expression. "Fight? Didn't you already agree with my suggestions? Why would you ask to fight against her?!!"
"Ya're right! Yar words totally reasonable. Still, it's yar cake, not mine. Fo me, fo ya, fo us, I need a prove. A hard fact. Nobody cares 'bout yer dogshit, yer feeling, her feeling, even yer lala-lili-shit. The only left is a hard fucking fact. Make it simple, fight is the only way to prove it!"
Adolph's expression kept quiet although her knuckles were clutching. As for Nagao, he thought within himself ...
(This is harder than imaginable. Does he try to play with us based on our selfish requests?! In fact, this is against one of the main mission conditions. But, looking at Mr. Schmidt's character, it's a dare. If he really wants it, I must look at Adolph's situation first!) Nagao immediately glanced at her, looking her reactions.
Upon seeing her, Nagao saw that Adolph's eyes fixated on Mr. Schmidt, glaring to his eyes. Her body displayed a straight posture, providing herself with a confident.
From Nagao's intuition, he realized something about her ...
(So, you've made up your mind, Adolph? Even so, determination isn't enough. Their differences physical couldn't be put aside. At least, this fight must be fair for both of sides!) Nagao thought, looking for a way.
Amidst Nagao's weighing, Mr. Schmidt reacted, looking at Nagao,
"How's the deal, Mister Negotiator? Ya already run out of ideas despite yer girl already heat in battle? Or ain't no way that yer bluff is full of shit?" He mocked him straight-to-his-face.
Finding that Nagao couldn't reply to his mocking, Mr. Schmidt rebuked,
"If ya can't—!"
"I'm not done yet with you!" his words amplified with deep intonation.
"Looks like someone's become a white knight fo her woman. Still, weren't ya unable to reply to mine?"
"Your opinion has a point!" Nagao admitted his statements.
"Sure, it is! So—!"
"However! 'It's yar cake, not mine', remember? Or your wood brain couldn't react because of your ages? So sad to become like you~," Nagao provoked him, smirking Mr. Schmidt cynically.
Adolph got stunned with his provokes, clearing on her face. Meanwhile, Mr. Schmidt's neck veins got stiff, making those visibly. He walked to him, standing before him,
"Ya got some nerves to use mine, do ya? How's about this fight change into ya and me, Nagao Deri?!" Mr. Schmidt glared at Nagao's eyes.
"Wow, you've become more respectfully than usually you did. I've impressed with your development character. But you seem forget about your last words to fight against Adolph. Or is 'yer bluff is full of shit'?" Nagao mimicked his previously words.
Adolph's face almost couldn't hold her laugh, seeing his provokes. Mr. Schmidt who realized Nagao's taunt and Adolph's laugh, made his veins stiffed more. He immediately responded emotionally, talking straight before his face,
"Fine! What's yer answer then, huh?!"
"Only three conditions put forward for this fight. First, this fight must be a mock battle. Second, both of you must use a wood weapon in this fight. Third, the fight will be declared over when one of the contestant's weapons touches the neck's contestant. Touching, not killing. If one of the contestants is injured, whether intentionally or not, the offending contestant will be declared as a loss side automatically. That's the deal, Old man!"
"Ain't this condition favorable fo her?!" while pointing at Adolph with his left hand.
"I favorited her? I even tried to make this fight to equal for both of you!" Nagao replied assertively.
"All of it! Mock Battle? Wood weapon? Not killing, only touching? Nagao! She's the killer with a wood weapon. Ya are seriously makin' a big joke on yourself, dimwit??!" Mr. Schmidt accused Nagao.
"All of those conditions I weighed thorough deeply. Considering various aspects between both of you. Moreover, it's about a test whether someone is worthy or not. It's even not about a fight-into-death. Is it clear or ...?"
"Or?" Mr. Schmidt repeated Nagao's words.
Adolph kept silent, trying to listen on Nagao's words. Immediately, Nagao replied,
"Are you afraid because of your pride will crumbles by someone you underestimate about? If that's true, It's a meaningless in the first place. Just like a coward who cannot even safe his own flesh and blood, isn't it?"
Adolph immediately shocked by Nagao's words, making a preparation if something worse happen between them. On the different side, Nagao thought within himself ...
(It'll make him to eat my bait. Even so, I must prepare for all the risks that'll occur!) His feeling filled with alertness, waiting for his response.
Mr. Schmidt's neck veins became stiffer, clearing visibly. But he only went into silent for several moments, glaring toward Nagao. Eventually, Mr. Schmidt reacted,
"Ya are such a cunning asshole, Nagao! Not only make me to eat yer baits, but ya taunt me, especially with yer latest words, even though ya know the price!" while glaring before Nagao's face directly. "Deal! As fo time, any suggest?"
"A week from now. The location at the training place in the afternoon time!"
"A week?? Why wouldn't do that now instead???"
"A proverb said, 'The great food is a food that goes through a lot of processing systems'. Deal?"
"Ya got me, Nagao!" while glaring at Adolph for a long time. "Can't wait to look forward to it, ya sly snake!" he smirked cynically at her.
"So, do I. Can't wait to silence yar insults, you screw bastard!" Adoplh replied to him with the same reactions as he did.
"Once I done with this snake," Mr. Schmidt looked at Nagao, glaring at him. "Ya're the next one!"
Nagao realized his treat, looking at him with a fighting spirit,
"Prove only the matters left, isn't?"
Hearing Nagao's sentences, Mr. Schmidt's veins became stiff again. But Nagao didn't flicker his eyes by his treat. Eventually, an agreement between both sides, with Nagao's help, was being made.
***
I couldn't remember like how my first meet with him. It felt like I meet him already. However, somehow, my mind couldn't regain anything.
It might become a long story. But, trust me, I pretty confident with it ...
…
At morning, April 22nd, 2223 ...
I woke up on my bed in my hovel, hardly fuzzy remembering last night ...
'Ugh ...! My head ...! Even my stomach little bit ... hurt! Am I late in menstrual cycle again ...?' I immediately wanted to grip my wooden crutch. However, I couldn't have it, vanishing out of nowhere. 'Again ...? Huh ...!' I lost my crutch, making me to buy it. Again.
Later, I got myself in the carpenter's place, queuing to buy my stuff. I already got use myself, especially for their mocks on me ...
'Take a look! The weirdo has come again …!'
'… Did that person have shame?! …!'
'… I slightly heard rumors that the person's job is as a beggar …!'
'… That's why the body smells bad!'
(Forget about those flies. I came to buy, not in plead their mercy.) I only minded myself only, maintaining my composure.
Then, I got my turn to buy my stuff. But the cashier gave the colder shoulders, getting snappy on me. Looking at his shit, I replied his acts, making verbal spats between me and him. Until ...
'You've talked too much!' The cashier guard suddenly threw his punch, aiming at my face.
I aware that I have gotten much discriminations. But until this level ...
I ... couldn't believe it ...
My mind boiled, making my eyes glare at him. Even my eyes didn't flicker when his punch already before me ...
*Swoosh!* *Catch!*
Suddenly, his punch stopped by someone's palm hand, holding and making my shoulder kept steady too.
I got several things in my minds. Anger, frustrated, fear; surprise, even disgust, mixing together become one ...
(Who the fuck are you?! Out of nowhere, you meddle someone's else business?!! Even touching me like … the hell are you doing, dipshit?!! You even make myself become their circuses, asshole!) All my feelings crashed each other within me, feeling unease but I couldn't hurl those away. Because of my mind's shit, I couldn't hear their arguments, snapping my awareness away from reality.
But his sentences got my sense back, snapping back to reality ...
'… I was responsible for my younger brother who damaged this person's wood. Long story short, this is my sense of responsibility … You already choose your item, right?'
He made an excuse that I even didn't need in the first place. It made me super sick, feeling disgust straight to my stomach ...
(What the fuck's wrong with this asshole?! You try to become a hero or what??!! Fuck! You even made me walking into hard situations, asshole!) My feelings became louder within me, making me become completely circus for everyone in here.
In the middle of that situation, out of the blue, my words came out through, moving something within myself. I even nodded, making his excuse felt real …
'Like you said before!'
I followed his game without I realize it, fabricating several excuses with him, reclaiming my own stuffs until moving away from the carpenter's place.
While I was walking to my hovel, I was realizing that person walked behind me, tailing me around ...
(Why would the asshole still follow me?! Does he want to bring up about the payment before??? Or ... does he want to scam me, using that incident as his plot for my body??! Fuck! I can't allow it!) I immediately turned around, confronting him.
With my words, I gave the cold shoulders, verbal spatting him. The more I talked with him, the more I realized that person really annoying at the level of make me irritated, especially with his words like a greenhorn. But I knew from my experience, he's like a wolf in sheep's skin ...
(What a cunning bastard you are!) I already labelled him within my minds, trying to push him away from my life.
I even walked out from him, leaving him behind. But he spoke several words that I wouldn't forget ...
'... However, could you say your name as a form of 'thank you'?!'
Those words stopped me, making me realize that he slightly different ...
Does he truly different ...? Does he ... acknowledge me ...?
What if he only wants something from me ... like my body, yeah ...?
But he asked me ... my name ...
Stop ...! Remember the pains you have gotten ...!
No ... I ...
My minds collided each other again, filling my head full of loud. Out of the blue ...
'Adolph. Now, get fuck out of my sight, you scum stalker!' My words came through, saying those without hesitate. I didn't mean to say that. But it was what it was, finally returning to my hovel.
…
The next day ...
When I was doing my job as a beggar at almshouse, I was getting several people came before me. One of those people were cashier's guard at the carpenter's one. He immediately pulling me down, punching until ganging up me ...
*Thud!* *Thud!* *Twack!*
I curled on, protecting my important organs. Still, none of someone tried to intervene into these discriminations …
(Why ... always me ...?!) In the middle of my way to protect my organs, I received several punches until they pulled me over to the road, lowing me down with brutal discriminations.
*Thud!* *Thud!* *Thud!*
My blood spurted out, coming out from my mouth. My limbs even were covering with bruises by their discriminations ...
*Thud!* *Thwack!* *Thumps!* *Kick!* *Ptooey!* *Thud!*
'Go to hell, you bastard!'
'Die, you cripple shit!'
'Those are the results for insulting me, you dimwit!'
(This ... This ... I swore by my own bloods!) I glared at those people, holding my unbearable pains. My teeth even gritted to them.
But they became cruel, increasing their actions. Later, I saw someone joined up, hitting me in my stomach ...
*Thud!*
(Is he the person I met before, right?! Is ... he the same person who help at the carpenter's place, right??! Ain't no way, right?! He's him???!) I shocked, confusing with countless minds within me.
Suddenly, he took the bucket filled with dung, walking to me. My eyes caught his eyes, realizing something ...
(I see ... It was you ... My experience was right ... You are the wolf in sheep's skin, huh? An asshole always an asshole, right?!) I glared at him, fixed on him even though he wanted to throw that shit on me. Yet, my eyes didn't flicker away from his eyes.
He began to throw it, getting my minds into one simple truth ...
In the end ... I never could trust anyone else in the first place ... right ...
*Spurt!"
However, the dung threw toward those attackers instead. I stunned speechless, looking with surprise ...
(What the heck was wrong in here??! Does he really do that??!! Ain't no way, right?!!) My minds tried to understand the situation. Still, it was helpless because I couldn't get it. Not a single mind.
Just like that, he immediately took me in his arms, carrying my body on his back and running from the place ...
*Run!*
Amidst our run, we didn't talk, only going with the flow. My mind until my shit couldn't get it, blanking with these situations …
Why … How … I couldn't understand at all …
It happened until we arrived at abandoned house, hiding in one of the rooms. He carried me down, laying me on the floor. Then he said something ...
'I know you angry with me. I'm aware of it,' he then gave something to me. 'But take this. Eat and drink this to restore your strength!' He then walked away from the room. Leaving me in the room alone.
(What? You brought me here out of nowhere, leaving me behind with your shit after you did this to me before???) I thought within myself, making me furious.
'DON'T TALK A FUCKING BULLSHIT TO ME, ASSHOLE! And what is this?? Some fucking trap so you can fuck me, huh??! HELL IN NO WAY I WOULD FALL INTO YOUR SAME TRAP!' In the end, he didn't respond me.
Out of the blue, I could hear some noises out there. I tried to get up, but my body couldn't help it …
'Fuck! It's hurt!' I leaned against the wall, looking at his stuff.
The more I saw it, the more I didn't want to try it ...
'I don't need that shit! Even if I was hungry, I would never eat from that asshole stuff!' I fixed my body, leaning against the wall, sleeping with that position.
I couldn't sleep myself because of some noises out there. Several times later, those noises voices vanished and, sometimes, I heard about floor squeaks from another room …
*Krrt!* *Thud!* *Krrt!* *Thud!*
The person -I mean the asshole- came in, walking to me, asking about the food that he gave me before. And with that, I argued with him, confronting with my harsh words. He evaded me instead, leaving me with his replies …
'I do am what I am.'
His words left me with speechless. His egoistic was absolutely reaching at the level of nonsense …
'What a big bull crap ...! Ugh!' My body felt the pains, making me unease to move my legs even my hands.
With same principes, I slept in the same position. Although some noises could hear again, but I forced myself to sleep, focusing on myself only ...
(Fuck it! I don't care anymore!) I slept, snoring later.
...
Much later ...
I slowly opened my eyes, waking up in sitting position. Still, my pains didn't leave me. Moreover, the asshole came in, asking me casually without nothing happen between us.
He even asked me to follow him, holding my shoulders like a pervert when I was trying to walk out of the room. It made me furious, verbal spatting him. He then left while saying ...
'Only proof speak loudly then.'
Just he left the room, a scream loud from outside ...
'P-please … spare my—ARGHHH!' That scream got my attention. It because the scream came out from the someone that I know vague familiar. I tried to walk, limping toward outside of this room.
As I reached the outside of my room, I saw him, gripped the dagger -covered in blood- on his hand. I literally shocked ...
(He tried ... to kill me??!) My instinct became wary.
He looked at me, giving a hint to take a look. With wary, I kept myself. With my current conditions, I couldn't do anything even defense myself. By that situation, I went with the flow, slowly walking to his spot.
I reached his spot. He pointed his finger to somewhere and my eyes followed toward it. My expression changed literally, shocking with what I have seen …
(Just … what the fuck was really happened here???!) I literally blanked with my shocks, seeing those attackers -their mouths until bodies- were already being tied, covering with bloods on several their limbs.
Not enough with that, but the asshole also gave his dagger to me, talking to me. We even argued each other. But he came out with his words ...
'Listen! I did what I did. Our business crossed paths coincidentally. Your business is already served on the table. So, I'll be waiting outside. Have fun!' He eventually leaned against the wall.
I looked at his dagger, gripping his covered blood dagger. The more I stared it, something whispered within me, lurking with such words ...
Did you want to lose this privilege, did you ...?
Show ... more confident ...
More ... More ...
More ...
My breaths started heavy. I suddenly got headache, feeling like I can't unease myself. My eyes got blurred, seeing several black spots crawled from beneath of my eyes. Until ...
I do not know anything else after that ...
...
I slowly opened my eyes. I immediately checked my body, looking at several parts of mine ...
(Does he rape me in my sleep? Or else?!) I realized that I didn't receive sort of those things. Only several bandages covered my hands, legs, and so on, stared my body already being taken care of.
Although I still got the pain, but it was better than before ...
(So, he was taking care of me, huh?) I stared closely at my body, checking one by one and glancing him.
As I checked up my body, the asshole started argues with me, bickering about irrelevant things between us again. It happened until one moment when I wanted to go back, he insisted me, wanting to escort me ...
'Listen! ... Stop fucking drama. No intrigue, just escort. Understand?'
I stared him for a while ...
(Think again, if he's an asshole in the first place, he would such rape or sexual harassment instead of taking care my body, right?) I thought about my conditions, remembering the bandages on my body.
'For now.' I only responded concisely, walking out of the room. He then followed me later, escorting to my hovel.
In the middle of our walks, we became closer than before, chilling in talks and so on. In several moments, I slightly opened to him, giving my name and he also was doing the same. It happened so quickly to killing the times until both of us arrived at my hovel.
Out of the blue, the rains fell down, making these situations became complicated. And the rest was already known, was it ...?
...
Eventually, we slept together in one bed. Even we slept together, nothing happened between us. Just literally sleep. At least that's my first thoughts ... But ...
He caressed my face ...
He stroked my hairs ...
He even caressed my back and ... hugged me ...
*Hug*
(W-w-wait the fuck! H-h-how he was so bold and ... d-d-do that so sudden???!!) This is my first time, freezing my body for a moment.
My face on his chest, feeling my face little bit flushed. I even couldn't sleep ...
(W-w-what the fuck!!! I c-could even sniff his odor ... F-f-fuck!!!!) My thoughts burned out, feeling with embarrassing and my heart literally throbbed so fast.
*Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!*
In the middle of those incidents, I heard his words ...
'Somehow … I found your allure in the middle of madness ….' He stroked my hair again.
*Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!*
My heart throbbed faster, my minds collided each other ...
(I-I-is this .... What the fuck is t-this?!! Do I-I-I have ... some bad fever...? N-no! This is different ... like feel warm yet mysterious ... Don't tell me ... this ... is ...?!) My minds kept same, battling inside me about this feeling.
Only one answer leaded me to this feeling. And the more I wanted to seek, it throbbed harder than before.
Don't tell me ... it was ... love ...?
Realizing this feeling, my body immediately woke up, moving my hand suddenly ...
'You—!' Just like that, his jaw was being punched by my hand, making him passed out.
I woke up instantly, looking at his body. My breaths felt heavy, touching my cheeks and felt same as before.
Slow but sure, my face came closer to his face, staring him literally in close. My palms gripped itself, as if it contained these feelings within me. In those moments ...
'You are really an asshole, Nagao ....' I whispered before his face, grooming a private smile without me realizing it.
...
Nagao ... Remember when we argued, bickering in the morning after you were caught peeking on me during my morning practice? You know ... I didn't mean to say that. Really. It's just ... the thoughts from the last night kept swirling in my head even while I was practicing. Besides ... that feeling ... It was still there, you know ...
'Stupid. You're so damn stupid, Adolph!' Those words I've could said only.
If I could have little confident ... Maybe ... I could say the truth ...
...
Although many times I spoke bad things to you, but you still came to me, saving me. Remember when you helped me, fighting together against those douchebags and we defeating them, did you?
Until ... we made a blood pact ...
Our hands tangled, shaking our hands together until sharing our bloods with same dagger ... and the coins ...
For me ... it was like ... a sacred vow ... you know ...?
...
Many things we have shared ...
I still remembered ... clearly ...
And I remembered how you carried me that time, running from the enemy's chase with all your strength ...
Even ... you risked yourself while you were protecting his child, causing your face covered in blood ...
'Did you feel anything hurt ... Emilia?'
'I can still see you, okay! As long as you save, I felt relief, you know!'
When you defended me even though I was accused by your acquaintance ... you fought back him, backing up me ... Believed in me ...
'I'm not done yet with you!'
'However! 'It's yar cake, not mine', remember? Or your wood brain couldn't react because of your ages? So sad to become like you~,'
'... But you seem forget about your last words to fight against Adolph. Or is 'yer bluff is full of shit'?'
'Are you afraid because of your pride will crumbles by someone you underestimate about? If that's true, It's a meaningless in the first place. Just like a coward who cannot even safe his own flesh and blood, isn't it?'
'Trust me ... I can handle it!'
'First, it's her abilities ...,'
'It's her mentality ... Based on those, I choose her!'
It was ... the first time someone acknowledged me ... despite the suspicions thrown at me ...
(You ... are seriously ... stupid, you know ....) I smiled faintly to Nagao.
***
One week later ...
Time passed fastly, and the time of the mock battle arrived. While accompanied by Nagao, Adolph walked toward Nagao's place training, Mirror Lake. Upon their arriving, Mr. Schmidt already came first to the location.
Adolph and Mr. Schmidt glared each other. Immediately, Adolph set some preparations on the mock battle, especially with her wooden sword until her new leg ...
*Tap!* *Put!* *Schrrk!*
After her equipment were installing, Adolph spoke to Nagao,
"You have some words to me before the fight, Nagao?"
Nagao only yawned, replying to her concisely while stretching his forearms,
"Just don't break your new leg, okay! It was expensive, you know?"
Hearing Nagao's words, Adolph punched his upper arm,
"Ugh! Have some sense, will ya!" she glanced at him, changing her last words into whisper. "At least give some courage to me ...,"
"Huh? What did you say? I can't hear you!"
"Nothing. You just moron!" Adolph then walked to Mr. Schmidt, making a stance before him. Mr. Schmidt also did the same.
At this moment, both of them got into their positions. Nagao, as the referee, started giving on cue,
"Set!" while looking at both of them. "Fight!"