I looked at the scenery around me. The originally clean room was now smeared with the splash of my blood. The figure that stabbed me just now left me alone as soon as he saw that I was helpless. Suddenly, my breathing felt so heavy while my body felt so weak that I could no longer tremble in fear. I still tried to fight my pain before slowly my consciousness disappeared as if death had invited me.
("Huh... Huh... What just happened?!!") (Surprised)
I woke up from my sleep due to a strange dream. I quickly looked around me and found that I was still sitting on my bed safe and sound. I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I realized that everything I had just experienced was just a dream. To be honest, I thought I had been kidnapped and tortured in that dark room earlier. Stabbed repeatedly and left alone in a state of severe injury accompanied by excruciating pain. Alone with no one around to ask for help. I gently rubbed my chest after knowing that I was only dreaming as soon as I saw the night sky that was still illuminated by the moon. I then laid my body down again to go back to sleep before I was shocked to see someone next to me.
"EEP?!!"
I was surprised as soon as I saw Saoto sleeping soundly next to me while hugging me tightly. For a moment, Saoto slowly opened both eyes before looking at me which accidentally surprised him. Saoto who was awake looked at me with a surprised expression before quickly wiping my watery eyes without me noticing.
"Sei don't be afraid... Saoto is here now..."
My head was gently placed on his chest before it was hugged and caressed gently by his hands. I was still surprised looking at the face in front of me for a long time before returning to hug his body tightly while shedding some tears. For a moment, my heart felt so calm after seeing Saoto who was next to me, and tightly hugged my body which was still shaking in fear. I don't know why my heart felt so happy as soon as I smelled the man next to me and felt the warmth of his body spread throughout my body. I don't know why my heart hopes for us to stay like this for a while. My tail slowly swayed showing him how calm I felt as soon as he comforted me. I, who was carried away by the atmosphere for a moment quickly realized something odd after looking clearly at the body of this man in front of me who was completely uncovered showing his masculinity to me.
("Hmm?!! Saoto's body muscles...") (Flustered)
My cheeks then flushed as soon as I remembered that the man in front of me wasn't wearing any clothes except the underwear that covered his vital rod. Full of embarrassment, I then quickly pushed the body in front of me to escape from his arm that was tightly holding me. Saoto was surprised as soon as he saw me who seemed to be struggling to be released from his arm.
"S-SAOTO... L-LET GO OF S-SEI-" (Embarrassed)
I was surprised as soon as Saoto didn't release her arm just as I commanded but instead hugged me tighter while gently stroking my back. I don't know why I didn't want to reject his hug that was getting tighter even though I realized he wasn't wearing any clothes right now. After few moments, Saoto let go of his arms while looking directly into my face.
"Sei is calmer now, right?"
Saoto asked while smiling at me. I nodded slowly to him while lowering my head slightly to prevent him from seeing my blushing cheeks that were filled with embarrassment right now. I can't explain why I'm so liking to being hugged tightly by his body just now. I, who was very shy kept my head down until I was surprised by Saoto who lifted my face back up again to look directly into his face.
"What's got Sei worried?"
Saoto asked me with a concerned look. I, who got panicked then backed away my body from him before yelling back at him about something.
"H-HOW COME S-SEI DON'T WORRY A BIT?!! SA-SAOTO, W-WHY DON'T SAOTO WEAR ANY SHIRT W-WHILE SLEEPING BESIDE S-SEI?!!" (Panicked)
I then tightly grabbed the blanket near me to calm myself down. How can I be calm just now? A man sleeps next to his girl without any clothes on. Who would think positively when faced with such a situation? Saoto then immediately looked back at me who had distanced myself while exhaling heavily before continuing,
"Sei, do Sei realize that Sei is still wearing a shirt?"
I was shocked to hear Saoto's question. I then looked back at my body again and saw that my pajamas were still neatly worn by me. Not a single button was undone and the pants didn't look like they were being pulled. This meant that he didn't do anything to me while I was asleep even though he was in 'ready to attack' mode as a man. I then looked back at Saoto's face in the puzzle.
"E-Eeh... If that's the case, why is Sa-Saoto n-naked then???" (Surprised)
I asked the man back with shame. I tried not to look at the man in front of me because I was worried that his manly muscles would activate a 'switch' inside me. However, I was suddenly startled as soon as Saoto pulled my head and placed it gently on his chest while gently stroking it. Surprised by his actions, I immediately calmed down in his arms.
"Sei had a dream so bad that Sei often called Saoto's name in Sei's dream. Nita then quickly reported to Saoto to come to look for Sei"
I was surprised to hear the truth that the main reason Saoto was sleeping next to me was to calm me down while I was having a bad dream that I kept calling out his name. My cheeks then reddened in embarrassment after knowing that I, who felt lonely would call his name many times even if we were only separated for a split moment. I then looked back at Saoto's face while holding back my emotion to ask him something.
"B-but, that doesn't allow Sa-Saoto to s-sleep next to S-Sei naked-"
"Saoto tried to lie next to Sei and Sei even hugged Saoto's body tightly that time. But Sei didn't calm down until Saoto got undressed and lay down next to Sei. Sei was happy and calm for a moment as soon as Sei hugged Saoto's naked body tightly-"
I quickly covered the mouth of the man in front of me so as not to continue his words. I was very surprised to find out that the reason for him being naked in the first place right now was because of me. I didn't think it would be that hard to calm me down from a bad dream. However, I didn't deny that I felt very relaxed as soon as I felt the warmth of his body hit and spread throughout my body. I then froze for a moment while thinking about myself.
("Wow, I didn't think I was that addicted to the warmth of his body...") (Stared)
I dared myself to look directly into Saoto's face again. Saoto smiled at me while gently stroking my head. I realized that this man was trying his hard to comfort me who had a bad dream. I, on the other hand, immediately accused him of falsehood just by misunderstanding his actions. I quickly hugged the body in front of me while shedding some happy tears. Saoto who was surprised by my actions immediately returned my hug while gently caressing my back.
"Sei sorry for accusing Saoto... T-thank you for calming Sei..."
Saoto let go of my hug and looked right at my face which was still full of tears. I was suddenly surprised as soon as Saoto kissed my cheek. I then froze for a while not knowing what to respond to the kiss just gave me. Slowly, Saoto pinched my cheek before smiling back at me.
"It's better that way"
My cheeks immediately reddened as soon as I realized that Saoto was not angry at all with me yet comforted me who was sad. I then bowed in shame while holding both of my cheeks before being surprised to see someone behind me.
"Congratulations, Mahou Seinarin. What a very romantic atmosphere"
"E-ENA?!!" (Shocked)
I was surprised to see Ena who had been standing firmly behind me while putting on her clothes on duty. I then anxiously waved my hand towards her so as not to think something wild.
"W-why is Ena here-"
"Ena also wants to get valuable experience from Mahou about things like this. It turns out that Ena is not wrong"
Filled with embarrassment, I took the blanket near me to hide my body so that no one could see it after knowing that Ena had spying on me since earlier. I then pushed Saoto's leg which was still in the blanket out so that I could calm myself down.
"Mahou don't worry. Ena just came in to check Mahou's condition after Mahou Saoto was called by Nita"
I was surprised to hear Ena's words. My heart felt calm for a moment as soon as I knew that she hadn't seen Saoto and me when we were making love just now. I then thought for a moment in the blanket before realizing something.
("My heart didn't calm down as soon as Ena came to disturb the warm atmosphere. I still want to be touched by him ") (Stared)
I continued to be petrified until I was surprised by Saoto gently caressing my head which was still hidden in the blanket. My heart calmed for a moment as if I got what I wanted from him. My eyes suddenly felt sleepy. However, before I fell asleep I heard Saoto whisper something in my ear,
"Apologize Saoto for not being able to accompany Sei earlier. In return, Saoto will accompany Sei to sleep-"
"WEAR SA-SAOTO'S CLOTHES FIRST"
I thrashed around in the blankets as I told him to get dressed before sleeping beside me. I didn't have a problem with him willing to accompany me to sleep but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to control myself as soon as I saw his body shape. I realize that I won't calm down if I'm bribed with such a sight. For a moment, I was startled when I could feel Saoto kiss my head before putting his hand in the blanket to hold my hand tightly.
"Saoto promise"
I fell silent as soon as Saoto held my hand tightly. However, I didn't brush it off because somehow I was calm as soon as I was able to touch his hand directly. Slowly, my consciousness began to disappear before I finally fell asleep next to Saoto in peace and sound.
----------------------------------------------------------
The view of Saoto castle is now adorned by a blue sky shining by the sun. Birds fly out of their nests looking for food. This is my first day staying in this magnificent palace.
I sat in front of the mirror in my room while closing both of my eyes as I was being dressed by Nita, my maid. I couldn't have done it myself because I've never had hair this long. All products and methods of caring were managed by Nita and Ena who were ready to help me. Many of the other maids were assigned to do other housework such as cooking, packing, and so on leaving Ena and Nita to assist me anytime. At first, I didn't trust Nita's skills to dress me up because of her background as a warrior who is far from the word 'beautiful' since they always dripped in their sweat while fighting against their enemy. Thus, I was surprised as soon as Nita reminded me that she had been my main maid a thousand years ago.
"Mahou, please don't worry. Even though Nita is a warrior now, Nita has never forgotten all of Nita's work as a maid before."
I opened my eyes and saw Nita who was smiling while looking at me so I believed what she said. I then gasped after recalling that Nita once said she was my main maid before. I then asked her excitedly about how she met my former self. To be honest, I also want to know more about myself a thousand years ago who was known as a figure that feared the entire Terror Canyon. Suddenly, I was surprised when Nita hugged me tightly while shedding tears in her face.
"Eeh... Do Mahou want to try to remember Nita again?" (Touched)
I nodded slowly while gently caressing Nita's cheek which was placed on my shoulder while smiling. In a moment Nita resumed her words,
"If Mahou wants to know, The name 'Nita' is proof of Nita's meeting with Mahou a thousand years ago. Even though Nita has a new name, Mona... Nita is happier when Nita can use the name that Mahou gave back then..." (Sobbing)
I was surprised to hear Nita's confession about the origin of her name. I did not expect that the name she greeted me with was not her name but instead, the name I had given her long before it. I then wiped the tears that flowed from her eyes while smiling at her face. A surprised Nita then looked at me with a face full of nostalgia as if she recalled something.
"Mahou's attitude has never changed for a thousand years since Nita met Mahou..."
Nita got up again while looking at me with a sad face. I kept closing my eyes so as not to disturb Nita who wanted to tell me the story. I realized that it is not easy to remember the sad things in our lives. Plus, this woman behind me is a strong crybaby. I kept waiting while my hair continued to be combed by her until I was finally swept away by the story that Nita wanted to tell me about.
A thousand years ago...
The Kingdom's classic and majestic medieval-style cityscape proves the success of humans in uniting to fight against their main enemy, the demon. However, it's not all good and beautiful. Even though they have united, they also become their own enemies with a lot of oppression that they did to each other and even slavery is done to those who are weak. In this world, magic becomes the deciding factor of everything so that the weak have nowhere to rely.
I'm also not except as one of those who were said to be weak.
My village was not destroyed by the Demon's army which is said to be so violent and cruel force as proclaimed by The Kingdom, but rather it was destroyed by The Kingdom's military forces who sent hundreds of mages to destroy my village. The green landscape decorated with dense jungle had now turned orange as soon as it got hit by a fire that incinerated the entire village without leaving a trace. I even saw my parents killed in front of my eyes by soldiers assigned by The Kingdom. My mother's last words kept haunting my mind as soon as I saw the lifeless figure lying on the ground.
"Don't lose faith in the world... K-keep living..."
I was upset as soon as I heard my mother's order as soon as she was about to die. Even though she was on the verge of death, she still exerted all her strength to convey to me something useless at the time.
What is the point of believing in this cruel world?
Is it worth it to continue my life?
I kept staring at the lifeless body in front of me before I was pulled and dragged by the soldiers who attacked my village. I tried to fight back while struggling to release the hold of the soldiers who were dragging me even though it was futile. I, who was still young at that time, did not have the strength to let go of myself let alone fight against the soldiers who kept holding my hand tightly. In an instant, I was gathered together with many children of my age who had the same fate as me, no place to live and no figure to depend on. We were chained and forced to go to the city which was strictly guarded by the soldiers who accompanied us. Anyone who resisted was immediately beaten and tortured on the spot, leaving most of us to simply submit to the fate that befell us. However, everything I saw there was not like the heaven I often imagined but another hell that was waiting for our journey.
Many of us are forced to work. Some were forced to become slaves to the nobility. Some become assassins because they have certain skills despite not being able to use magic. Some satisfy the lust of the nobility due to their beautiful faces. I on my side became an assassin due to my agile movements despite my very young age. I continued to train under the Assassin's Guild in The Kingdom and managed to become one of the most feared assassins in the entire nation. During my training, I saw a lot of children with the same fate as me as long as I monitored the city. They live hard in the narrow alleys with only a ground as their bed. Despite my terrifying appearance as a killer, they did not hesitate to approach me to ask for something from me.
"O-One-San... Does Onee-San have any money? My s-sister hasn't eaten for t-two days..."
I was surprised to hear the request of the boy in front of me who asked me for food for his hungry sister. In an instant, I immediately grasped the meaning of my mother who once told me to keep believing in this world. Although there is no place for me to believe in this world right now, there is always a savior like this child in front of me who believes in me as his savior. For a moment my tears welled up as soon as I caught the meaning of my mother's words. I then wiped the tears that came out of my eyes before looking back at the boy's face in front of me with a smile. I then lowered my body while gently patting the shoulder of the boy in front of me.
"Show Onee-San the other"
In an instant, I was faced with a gloomy environment in front of me. My eyes saw many people with the same fate as me lying weak behind the narrow alleys to take shelter from the heat of the sun. I then looked back at the face of the boy who was leading me while slowly stroking his head and shedding tears. I understand very well what I just witnessed. I had felt how hard it was to have no shelter when I had just joined the Assassin Guild when I was still a child. Slowly, I said to the boy in front of me,
"Don't worry... Onee-San will help as much as Onee-San can so that everyone here doesn't have to live like this"
I then walked while greeting everyone who was there while being accompanied by the boy beside me. My good intentions were welcomed by everyone there. We finally stopped in front of a box in which lay a girl with a rather pale face. Her body was covered in black spots that spread all over it. At a glance, I immediately knew that this girl in front of me somehow had been poisoned to cause her to be like that. The boy who accompanied me immediately rushed to sit next to his sister while smiling at her face. With difficulty, he woke up his sister to show me who was currently looking at her with a smile.
"Haede, please be patient... This Onee-San said she wanted to help us"
The girl named Haede looked at my face with a surprised expression. She wouldn't think that someone who dressed like an assassin would have the conscience to help them. I then looked back at her face while holding out a loaf of bread that I bought for my breakfast this morning. Haede was silent for a moment before snapping the bread that I handed out to her.
"Haede, don't be like that... Onee-San is willing to help us, you know. Say thank you"
His brother reprimanded his younger brother for what he considered to be impolite. However, I told him again that I did not feel bothered at all by what his sister did. I am well aware that people like her will have a hard time trusting anyone as much as I did before. I never considered other assassins as my friends since they could stab me in the back at any time. I, who continued to daydream for a moment, was surprised as soon as I saw Haede holding my hand tightly while smiling before saying,
"Th-thank you..."
I then patted her head to show that I didn't mind helping. I then asked Haede again about the black spots that were visible on her body. She was silent for a moment before his brother answered my question.
"Actually, as her brother, I have to work guarding a stall every day to buy medicine that can reduce the poison in Haede's body. The medicine is so expensive that there is no money left to buy us food..."
I was shocked as soon as I found out the truth. The poison that was used on him was only intended to force the older brother to work since the money he got had to be spent again to relieve the suffering of her younger sister. I then looked back at the girl in front of me while smiling. I understand very well that she feels terrible because of her sickness, his brother has to struggle to take care of her. I then gently patted her head again while saying,
"Don't worry. Onee-San has promised everyone here to help"
I smiled at the girl in front of me. Her eyes were shining, indicating that there was a new hope that appeared in her life. I have also made up my mind to change the fate of those who are here because I have also felt how bad it is to live like this. I closed my eyes while thinking about something.
Don't stop believing in this world.
That was my late mother's last message before she breathed her last. I now have a new purpose in life for me to carry. I will do my best to help change the lives of those who have the same fate as me.
Thanks to that, I ended up being one of the feared figures throughout The Kingdom as a ruthless and heartless assassin. Even so, no one knows about my activities that secretly help those in need. I continued to help until the people there now had their own houses and lived peacefully among themselves. But I realized something.
The sun doesn't always shine.
I was shocked as soon as I found out that the entire member of the Assassin Guild had planned to end me. I'm not surprised since it's nature. Those at the bottom will never feel satisfied until they achieve what they want. In one single night, everything I treasured disappeared from me. I lost my place to live, my position, and even my faith in the world. My home was destroyed, and my membership as an assassin was revoked while I was accused of being a traitor, plus those I had worked so hard to protect disappeared in an instant as soon as they were mercilessly killed by them. Despite that, I couldn't do a thing since I was outnumbered. I was lying weakly on the ground while being mocked by those around me who kept laughing at me. But behind the moonlit sky, I saw a strange figure approaching my crowd. In an instant, all the assassins who laughed at me disappeared one by one while spraying the blood all over the place. Deep in my heart, I was very calm as soon as these people got a reward for what they did to me. I then continued to see the figure that kept coming towards me who was now alone. I, who was just waiting for my death, just surrendered to the fate that would befall me shortly.
("Finally all this suffering will end")
"What are you thinking I am?"
I was surprised as soon as the figure held my head tightly and seemed to heal me from the wound I got while fighting the assassins earlier. Slowly, my vision began to recover before I could finally see the figure who helped me. A demon with long flowing white hair accompanied by two flaming red eyelids terrifies anyone who sees it. I then took a few steps back as soon as I realized that the figure who helped me was none other than the Tyrannical Demon King herself who was feared by the whole of The Kingdom. But I was immediately surprised when I saw her face which seemed to be saddened when I took a distance from her.
"Fo-forgive me-"
I then apologized to her after realizing I was in the wrong before I was startled as soon as I found the figure in front of me gently stroking my head. I remained silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond to it properly. Although this woman is an important figure that The Kingdom is on the run from, I also have no reason to kill her especially since she saved my life. In an instant, the figure in front of me looked back at my face while wiping my eyes that were shedding tears.
"Don't be sad. Now everything is calm. Go back, there are many waiting for you there"
The figure quickly got up to get away from me. I was shocked to see that I just got released just like that even though she must have known that I was her enemy. I then held her hand to prevent her from continuing her early intention to leave.
"Why help me who is a human even an assassin-"
"There is no specific reason. But due to the place where you guys fought inside Terror Canyon, I as the ruler had to intervene to resolve it well, especially when I saw being oppressed by the group. I knew well I had to intervene even though I was certain that the result would be like this-"
"Forgive me for my arrogance earlier. From today onward, please let me serve under Mahou"
I straightened my body while bowing respectfully at him. For a moment the woman in front of me was shocked as soon as she heard my speech.
"Eh?!! No need to force yourself..."
I looked at the face of the figure in front of me who still had a flat face while smiling. Even though her face was still flat, it was clear that there was worry behind her face. I then tightly grasped the hand of the woman in front of me while making up my mind. I was very surprised as soon as I found out that the woman in front of me was not as bad as I was told about but rather was a figure who cared about her people and even her enemy. Maybe this is what my mother told me before, I finally have someone I can trust to change the fate of those like me.
"After all, I have no one waiting for my return-"
I was surprised as soon as my head was hugged tightly by the woman in front of me. For a moment she smiled a little while looking at me before saying again,
"Hmm... It's possible... But in the palace, there's only a shortage of maids. Do you want it?"
I nodded quickly accepting the task given to me. Even as a servant, I don't mind serving someone like her in the hope that those who share my fate now don't have to live in fear. I will ensure that this kind and caring Tyrannical Demon King does not turn into a cruel figure. I then accepted the hand he extended before the woman in front of me asked me something.
"Your name?"
"I didn't have one..."
I looked at the figure in front of me with a slightly sad face. Everything that happened to me at that time happened when I was still a child. Even after I became an Assassin, I still didn't have names to be called by. We called ourselves each other only by using our nicknames or codes that had been set by the Guild. For a moment, I was shocked again as soon as my face was lifted by the woman in front of me.
"Hmmph... How about Nita? Nita-San? If not it's fine, I am not good at this thing... "
I smiled while nodding to accept what was given to me. I then lowered my body again respectfully to the figure in front of me once more before saying aloud,
"Starting today, Nita will do Nita's best as Mahou's maid"
Suddenly, I was surprised when Nita wiped my watery eyes which I didn't realize was shedding tears. I then looked back at her face who was behind me to make sure of her condition. Nita smiled at me to comfort me who was crying as soon as I heard her story a moment ago.
"It's okay Mahou. Everything is over. After all, Nita is very happy to see Mahou again now..."
I was surprised as soon as Nita hugged me tightly. However, my heart still felt tears after learning about his life's journey full of obstacles before meeting me. Unknowingly, I was shocked again by Nita who pulled both of my cheeks while nagging me about something.
"EEK?!!"
"Don't keep sad, Mahou... Nita already said that Nita is fine... Here Mahou, have a look at Mahou looks like now. How is it?"
Nita told me to look back in the mirror in front of me to see my makeup done by her. I was amazed as soon as I saw my appearance. My long white hair flowed past my waist matched with a bright red dress that was exactly the color of my eyelids. I momentarily moved my body in front of the mirror to fully see my current appearance. I then looked at Nita's face again with amazement.
"S-Sei looks so beautiful. Didn't Nita say that Nita was an assassin before and is now a warrior? How come Nita's hand is this detail?"
I asked in amazement. For a moment Nita jumped with joy toward me before saying,
"Nevertheless, Nita is still a woman. So does Mahou. So from now on, Mahou needs to learn how to take care of Mahou's appearance. Nita is ready to teach"
I was shocked to hear Nita's words. But I realized that I would learn that too since I had chosen to be by Saoto's side. For a moment, Nita put her mouth close to my ear to whisper something.
"What if Mahou shows Saoto-Sama how beautiful Mahou is right now? Saoto-Sama must be surprised by Mahou's beauty"
"EEP?!!"
I then lowered my head again while cupping both of my reddened cheeks that filled with embarrassment. However, I didn't deny that my heart wanted to see Saoto's reaction as soon as he saw my appearance so bad right now.
("Do I want to be praised by him so bad...") (Stared)