Drip, drip, drip, and drip drops everything.
I saw a dream.
It was a nightmare.
Someone screamed, with tears of sorrow, the child kept screaming and screaming. Him screams were so low that no one noticed that he was screaming.
But, strangely the screams that sounded deafening to my ears, really noisy.
Every time I hear screams, my heart always shakes, it hurts. The child's screams were too painful for me to continue to hear, as if there were thousands of needles filling my chest.
I tried to cover my ears, but I quickly realized my arms weren't there. There is only a shadow, nothing, guided by a boundless shadow, I can only curl up with all my pain.
I want to scream out loud, I want to cry out loud, but I have nothing. It's just a shadow, and that shadow is all I have here.
It's a dream.
The dream of a child who lost everything. The dream of a boy who has lost all hope. This empty darkness became the proof of his life.
Constantly struggling in solitude and pain, he never received what he deserved in return.
No one would be able to save him, with that cold image, he would forever be alone in this pain. No one would be able to save him, with that soundless scream, no one would be able to hear the sound of his help.
But, one day, for the first time in that shadow, a warm light appeared. A light targeting the shadow with its shape, I was surprised.
Slowly the light began to approach me and hugged me very tightly.
"It's okay now, you're not alone anymore."
She whispered to him, in her soft, warm voice. I was silent, without realizing it all the pain that had accumulated in my chest had disappeared and was filled with warmth. Now everything felt so light, all the suffering seemed to burst like a balloon.
The nightmare is over, and finally...
—For the first time, I was able to sleep soundly, without fear of the dark and solitude anymore.
***************
It's already morning.
I squinted my eyes to wake up from my really deep sleep.
"Mhn... Hm?"
But, just as I was about to get up, I felt something grabbed by a palm. I opened the covers to check and my eyebrows shot up.
There, I saw my hand being tightly held by someone. I looked up again to see who was holding me and it was Alicia who was laying her head and sleeping next to me, I was speechless.
"Hmm..."
I started thinking while rubbing my chin, I kept looking at my palms and with a serious face kept thinking. As much as possible I try to enjoy the feeling of holding hands with a beautiful girl.
How should I put it, this—
"Well, it's not bad, she has high marks for the way she holds me and sleeps beside me. But, she should have grasped the grip with both hands to give me a better sensation or maybe sleep on the wall with an innocent face. I think she still needs a lot of learning to become a heroine."
"What did you say so early, Riku-san?"
"Woo!!"
"Good morning, Riku-san."
"Y-Yeah, morning." I stammered.
Knowing that there was someone else in the place besides the two of us, I hastily let go of Alicia's hold and jumped in surprise. Somehow I had the same feeling when your mother scooped you up while reading a porn magazine.
I could only remain silent and averted my eyes doubtfully.
"What's wrong, Riku-san? Anxious like that," Elvy asked, tilting hers head.
"N-No, it's nothing!" I flinched, and answered her frantically.
Elvy saw me, she was confused to see my suspicious behavior. However, I didn't say anything and kept avoiding hers gaze. Elvy narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What are you hiding there, Riku-san?" asked the girl back when she saw me covering my lower half with the blanket.
"N-Nothing, this is nothing!" I replied, trying to smile, but failed.
"Is it true?"
"Y-Yeah, of course!"
"Okay, if Riku-san says so. But, please tell me if Riku-san doesn't feel well, I'll take care of you," said Elvy, grunting confidently.
As usual, she is a good girl.
But, seriously, just for this I can't show it to that girl. My pride as a man would be tarnished if someone saw me now.
My forehead furrowed as I looked again at what was under my covers.
Damn, I can't believe I'm going to have a wet dream just because Alicia is holding my hand.
Is it because I haven't given my little friend any treatment since arriving in this world?
I guess I should start thinking of a solution to this problem.
"Haaahh..." I let out a weak breath.
I have to wash this mattress.
My virgin soul is truly unreliable.
While I was thinking about that, Elvy walked towards me, she was carrying some red colored fruits similar to apples in her hand. The fruit is slightly larger than an ordinary apple and very red in color.
At this time, she took a nearby chair and sat next to me. She took the fruit and gave it to me.
"First, try eating this, Riku-san. It will make you feel better," she said, she smiled gently and handed the fruit to me.
"Thank You." I took the fruit.
When I held it, it had the same texture as an apple. Only the size is different. But, I stopped when I wanted to eat it, this made me a little hesitant to eat it because I had a bad experience from someone's gift.
"Elvy-chan, this isn't a fruit that will put me to sleep forever and only a kiss from a handsome prince from a faraway land can wake me up, right? It's not that kind of fruit, is it?" I asked worriedly.
After all, I don't want to be kissed by a prince, I won't let my first kiss get to a man— No, not only the first kiss, I never want to kiss a man, because I will definitely be haunted by nightmares for the rest of my life.
I've had enough of nightmares.
"I wonder if there is a fruit like that in this world. But, don't worry, Riku-san. This time I didn't put any anesthetic in it at all," Elvy replied with a cheerful innocent face, which made me wince.
"Oh my, so that was your doing huh. You really just make other people panic. From now on you can't do that anymore, understand?" I scolded, and began to bite the fruit.
It seems that this time it is completely safe.
To taste, it is similar to apples, but has a softer texture.
Well, it's delicious.
"But, it's also Riku-san's fault for never listening to me rest," said Elvy while puffing out her cheeks in annoyance and scolding me back.
Hearing that, I let out a short sigh.
"Well, it can't be helped, right? I'm really busy after all. I have to go around distributing potions to everyone who's seriously injured, besides my business with that Demon King Leader is still unfinished."
"I understand that Riku-san is very busy, but you also have to take care of your health or I have to use this method again to put Riku-san to sleep, understand?" said Elvy with an angry face, making me a little surprised.
It's not because I was scolded by her, but it's because the current Elvy is really very adorable.
God, she's still cute even when she's angry. I may understand a little why that woman is so obsessed with her.
"Riku-san, are you listening to me?!"
"Yeah yeah, I understand. Starting today I will watch my sleep pattern," I said in a relaxed tone. I got off my bed after I made sure that my bottom was dry and started to move Alicia to the bed.
But, hearing that, Elvy only got more irritated, she looked at me with a complaining look, and puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
Seeing that, I gave a short snort and patted her head after moving Alicia.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Elvy-chan. But, sorry, I don't think I can keep your promise, because I don't have much time left to continue living here, so I want to at least do whatever I can to help you guys." I said with a regretful smile.
Elvy lowered her face sadly, it seems she also has guessed that sooner or later we will leave this village.
"Are you guys really going?" she asked, looking at me with the gaze of a kitten about to be abandoned.
Ugh, that's cheating.
If you look at me like that, I want to hug you, right?
This made it even more difficult for me to refuse her. But, bear with me, you're not a lolicon. You can't just hug a girl carelessly without permission, or you'll be labeled a sex offender. It seems that the woman's bad influence got on me a bit.
Damn it, if only I was born with the talent of a playboy, I definitely wouldn't have any trouble dealing with situations like this. What should I say to make her happy?
It's true, next month we intend to leave this village immediately, because we have caused a lot of trouble to this village. That's why, I need to work hard to pay off everything before then.
I intend to give most of my potions to them, since it seems mine can not only heal one's wounds, but can also stimulate the growth of plants to grow faster.
I also intend to teach them how to reforest to restore this forest, which I learned from my original world.
We were the ones who caused all this mess after all, so we need to take proper responsibility. Because of us, many Elf lost their homes, and because of us too—
—Elvy had to lose hers brother.
I myself know that this still isn't enough to make up for all their losses, so if there's something I can do, I'll definitely do it with all my might.
In the end, I couldn't apologize to them at all. Is it because I'm afraid they hate me?
It's the first time I've felt this kind of feeling. As I kept myself shut in my room, I didn't care about other people's feelings at all, and just judged them all according to my own opinion.
This is a great lesson for me.
I really owe this village a lot, so I have to pay them back this time.
"Sorry, Elvy-chan. I still have to go. I'm really grateful for your kindness. But, I still have an obligation to bring Alicia back to her house," I said, making up a bit of the story, but I wasn't completely lying. "So, I'm really sorry, Elvy-chan. I can't stay here with you guys," I continued honestly.
It felt like a needle was stabbed in my chest when I said that.
It really hurts.
I don't want to say anymore.
"…."
Elvy didn't say anything, it made me even more sick like a direct punch to my stomach, I panicked a bit.
A moment later, she walked over with a downcast face and stopped when she leaned hers head against my chest, not allowing me to see the look on hers face.
But, I can feel a little wet from her tears dripping and squeezing my clothes.
"Elvy... -chan?" My eyebrows rose, but I didn't say anything else. I just reached out my arms to hug her, and looked up regretfully.
Damn, even though I just came to this world, but I already made two girls cry.
I'm really pathetic.
Apparently, I don't have the talent to be a protagonist.