"Namimi..."

I was brought back again in this void room inside my head. I can see my sister being chained and pulled into the darkness.

"Namimi!"

I reached out my hand trying to reach hers.

"Nii! Be careful!"

She shouted before she disappeared in the darkness. There was nothing left inside this void. I'm alone... Alone again...

"... kill..."

I heard an unfamiliar voice. It was barely audible yet faint. I searched as I look around in this vast s.p.a.ce that surrounds me. It was dark in here. From afar, I could see a flame igniting. It was hard to see since It was a miserable dark flame.

"... kill them..."

There it is again. That voice...

"NII-SAN! BE CAREFUL!"

"Namimi!" I screamed awake as I snappishly rose from my bed. My thunderous shout has woken Ayumi and Koneko from their peaceful slumber.

"Wha... What's wrong, Yakiro?" Ayumi rubbed her sleep away.

Koneko covered her cat ears and went back to sleep as she rolls over to the side. She continued to roll and roll until she fell off the bed.

"Kyaaaah!"

Blag!

She stood up from the floor, cradling her head like a kid. Her teary eye made me laugh.

"Geez... Master is rude for laughing at Koneko..." Koneko said with irritation as she rubs her head. Her cat tail wiggled side to side.

"Sorry, Koneko. I can't help it."

I gaze at Ayumi and she was half-asleep sitting beside me. She had her eyelids close mildly as she tries to keep herself awake. Her hair was messy and had a couple of bed hair curling up.

"Sorry, Ayumi. It was just a nightmare. You should go back to sleep."

"Right..."

She replied as she laid her back to bed. She returned to sleep. She looks innocent and beautiful.

"Koneko, how's your head?"

"It hurts..." She said as her cat ears wiggled. I rubbed her head and tip-toed out of the room, trying not to wake Ayumi.

"Koneko, go back to the cat form. We're going around town."

"I don't wanna!"

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Koneko became stubborn.

"Why?"

"Because if I do, I won't be able to wear this nightgown that Ayumi nee-sama gave me."

She was right. If she reverted back, She wouldn't be able to wear it. She has grown into liking fas.h.i.+onable dresses. She really is a little girl. But a nightgown is a sleeping attire and people might be mistaken me as a lolicon pervert bringing a child around wearing only a nightgown. It wasn't see-through, but still, it was inappropriate.

"If you won't, I won't buy you food."

She angrily pouted at me. She crossed her arms then turned her back away from me.

"Fine!"

Poof!

The nightgown flattened to the ground and Koneko came out in her cat form. She flew towards my shoulder then bit me.

"Ahhh! Koneko!"

Nyan!

We went around town, the town was just a walk away from the village. It was called Asget Town.

We went to a shop and bought chicken for breakfast. Koneko happily demolished the chicken in her mouth. Our first on the bucket list was to buy my new underclothes and armor. We've spent three pieces of silver for that chicken and it looked like we're down to 67 silver pieces.

"Welcome! Oh! New faces! Welcome welcome! Come in!

The shop owner was kind and altruistic.

I scrolled upon dozens of armor. There were leather, chainmail, and full armor.

" I would like to buy armor, about 12 silver at least."

"I see. Would you like a full armor?"

Full armor would be great for defense but it restricts your movement. It might slow me down and might be hard for me to use during my stride. Even back in the real world, full armor was really heavy that if you fall down, you wouldn't be able to get back up.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I would like something light yet durable."

"A chainmail perhaps?"

Chainmail? It's good though, blocking stabs and slashes but if you fight monsters with attacks that use force or attacks that uses magic that can pa.s.s through holes, it wouldn't be great.

"Anything but that. I was thinking if I could get a separate part of a full armor you got."

"Hmm. For 12 silver? It would be impossible but for 26 it might be."

"C-can you lower it down a bit?"

"Hmmm?" I can see him smirking at me. It felt like he realized that I'm not good with businesses.

"Then 27 pieces and I'll add a free under clothing."

"Umm, 16 silver."

"26 then." He returned the price.

"15 Silver."

"26 and free underclothing."

I'm getting troubled trying to negotiate with this guy. It was like he wants to dry my wallet out.

"13 and that's final. I want a breastplate and underclothing."

"Then 20 silver."

That seems fine. I'm too lazy to debate the price anyway.

"Then I'll take it."

He took out an iron breastplate. It has some bronze carvings on the edges and looked a bit fas.h.i.+onable.

"There's a fitting room there if you want to try it on. Also, based on your size..." He took out a dark medieval pants and a black tunic s.h.i.+rt.

It fitted perfectly. Just how did he know my size just by looking at me? Maybe that's what professionals are for. My pig demon boots were still fine, just like how that old man said it was pretty durable.

The underclothes were comfortable and easy to move in. I wore the iron breastplate and it fit just fine with a bit of s.p.a.ce. I took the letter that Ryan gave me and transferred it to my new armor.

"You look the part, Lad!"

I placed my old armor by his table.

"How much for this?"

"Hey, this armor looks familiar."

"I looted it before from dead adventurers. The clothing I used too, belonged to them." I pointed a sack where I left my clothes.

"I see. I'll take it for fifty pieces of bronze."

"Fine then."

I took the money and went my way back to the inn where we stayed.

I walked at the door and heard someone discussing. I knocked and the door opened revealing Elena holding the doork.n.o.b. She was in a hurry all of a sudden.

"Ayumi, I'll be on my way. Don't forget what we discussed."

"Yakiro." She greeted me as she got out.

I stared at Ayumi and her head hung low. She glanced at me with teary eyes. She looks unhappy.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

She took out something from her pocket and seemed like it was the gold coin that she got from the Sabertooth stone.

"Take this..."

I was confused. Why did she give me this all of a sudden?

"What's wrong, Ayumi?" I held out my hand and she gave her golden coin to me.

"Nothing... It's just my thanks for you..." She smiled at me and a drop of tear fell from her right eye.

I hugged her and she started sniveling on my shoulder.

"Ughh.... huhu... Yakiro..."

"What's wrong, Ayumi-chan? Don't hide it from me..."

"I'm sorry... I can't say it..."

My shoulder started to drench all of her tears. Koneko reverted back to her human form and cuddled the crying Ayumi.

"What's wrong, Ayumi nee-sama? Koneko is worried..." She said with a teary eye. Her cat ears were twitching and her tail was wagging.

"When the pillar comes by midnight..."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you, Ayumi..."

She started crying even louder. It felt like she was hurt. I don't know what Elena discussed with her but she was deeply hurt by it.

Her sobbing face suddenly lost color.

"Ayumi!"

She fainted. I carried her and laid her on the bed and made her rest.

"Koneko, Stay here. Protect her. I'll be back. I'll just buy something..."

"Yes... master..."

Koneko was worried too. She stayed behind as she held Ayumi's cold hand. She was having trouble breathing from all that crying.

I went down to the village and started buying water enchanted by a holy affinity. It cures depression and negative emotions. I also bought some apples that looked sweet and tasty.

As I walk back to the inn I saw a chained man being pulled by knights screaming:

"I didn't do it! I didn't slaughter the whole village! Let me go! Let me go!"

He was pulled inside the carriage and the horses rushed off.

I went back to the room and saw Koneko and Ayumi with their head lowered.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"Nothing, Master." Both of them smiled.

"I see. Here, I brought some refres.h.i.+ng water and fruits."

I sat beside them and they started consuming the things I've bought.

"Don't worry you two. I'll take care of you. I'll be your big brother. I promise that I'll protect both of you until the end." They replied my words with a gentle smile.

Six more hours and the pillar will finally appear. I'm not good at games back in the real world but I love dungeons. I'm excited!