Koneko was happily humming as we went down the steep mountain, Ayumi was behind me, holding the edge of my sleeve, and Mr. Arthur was in front of us leading the way. It was dawn and the sun had risen up. The trees were filled with melodies and chirps of birds as the sunrays pa.s.s through the gaps above the trees. It was majestic and the air smelled nice. There were monsters around but they weren't violent. Most of them were just Dearus and Small Hogsworts. From afar, there was a pack Rivery by the River and they were hunting Prirara.

We've stumbled upon a monster named Rikurii-riku, a small plump of fungus and it was green. It was not toxic and its leafy like meat was great for producing medicine so I killed some of them and kept their parts in a wooden jar found inside my bag. That wooden jar used to contain water and we were about to throw it way until these Rikurii-riku encountered us.

As we went down the steep mountain, we encountered a demon. It was a Rivery Demon Level 0. Its color was different and the leaves are red. Its wolf-like structure had grown larger and the claws look fiercer. It drew it's mouth back revealing its fangs and snarled at us.

Ayumi was about to fight it but I stopped her. She turned to look at me with a confused look on her face. She asked:

"What's wrong?"

"Let Koneko handle them." I smiled.

She glanced at Koneko and Koneko was angry. Koneko was a cat after all and Rivery is a wolf. Wolf are families of dogs and cats hates dogs. Some of them, well, most of them actually. I used to have a cat at home. The dog didn't even do anything at her, she was just pa.s.sing by but my cat scratched her as soon as she pa.s.sed near her. Cats hate dogs. That is the end of it.

So Koneko was barely glaring at the group of demons. She was angry and she looked like she wanted to take them on.

"Go for it, Koneko."

"Can I?"

"Yes."

She smiled then she threw out her hands in front of her. A magic circle with a crescent moon symbol on the middle appeared before her as she casts.

"May the sleepless nights fall with slumber. The enemies shall lay dormant and weakened upon the crescent moon. Night Fall!"

A radiance of grey and silver showered down on the pack and soon they fell on their heads. They whelped as they tried to forcefully wake up but the effect was too strong. Even the Exalted-tier Dragon didn't have a chance of staying awake.

A huge explosion of a cloudy mist covered her and she pounced out as a Sabertooth Empress. She crouched down and held her head back as she snarled. Suddenly, she roared and two elongated transparent blades made of wind flew right at them and it sliced them in half. The tree behind timbered down as it was caught in the skill too. That skill was improved the last time I saw her use it. It must be because of Mr. Arthur's training that she reached this far.

We continued our march down the mountain and found ourselves in the same village that asked us to take care of the wyvern. The farms prospered and it looked like that the famine disappeared. As soon as they saw us, they ran towards us. One of the villagers noticed my face, s.h.i.+vered and ran back inside his home.

I forgot. These people still think I'm a murderer. Might as well use my mask.

"Mask on."

The mask appeared and covered my face. I just have to wear this as long as I'm within the territory of Chesprych.

I have a long history here in the nation of Chesprych. One, I was resurrected on the Gra.s.s Valley near the Chesprych Village. Two, This is the nation where I met Ayumi and the traitors. Three, This nation is where my suffering began. Four, Elena is the queen of this land and she tortured me in her castle chamber. And five, This is the nation that I never wanted to live in.

The same farmer approached us.

"It's been a long time. The wyvern had never returned and seemed that we haven't thanked you yet. Please come with us and we'll pay you."

"Thank you." Mr. Arthur smiled as we followed them.

We entered a wooden building and there were people drinking. A smug old guy with a mug of rum approached me.

"What's with the mask, sc.u.m? Take it off."

I kept on being silent.

"Ignoring me huh?" He raised his fist and faked a punch. He laughed while spilling a drop of rum on the floor.

He noticed Ayumi.

"Look what we have here. A beauty! Hey boys! Look at this beautiful gal here!" They suddenly surrounded Ayumi with l.u.s.t in their eyes. Their smug faces smiled and a guy reached for her hair but I went between them and grabbed the wrist before his filthy hand could ever reach her.

"Eh? What's the matter boy? Do you wanna start a fight here? Better leave the lady to us and be on your way, sc.u.m." They spat on my face.

"Master..." Koneko pulled my sleeve and looked worried.

"What? Another cutie!" This guys just don't have what you called respect. They would even set their eyes a 12-year-old looking girl.

I strengthened my grip.

"Don't you dare touch any one of them. One move and I'll break this man's arm."

"Eh?!" They turned at me as they encircle me. Ayumi stood there and watched. Koneko went to Ayumi and Ayumi held her.

Ayumi trusts me. We didn't train for nothing. We didn't fight a cataclysm for nothing. We didn't kill a dragon for nothing. These sc.u.ms were dead before they could even know.

The cracked their knuckles and flung their weapons out. They pointed at me and I smirked. These guys are going to lose their lives.

"Let me say it again. One move and this man's arm will become a chicken drumstick."

"Eh?!"

They launched at me. As soon as they did.

Krik!

"Ahhhh! Ahhhhh!" The guy went down s.h.i.+vering as he held his broken arm. Did they think I was joking?

"You! Kill him!"

I dodged every attack and I counterattack them with a swift hit on my knuckle. They were reckless and they looked fazed.

"What happened?"

"Don't let it get to you! Kill him!"

They approached me and pounced with their blades sharpened to me. They look pathetic and reckless. I had to laugh.

Suddenly time seemed to move slow. My vision wavered in a static movement like a broken old tv. My ears rang a painful screech like a broken radio. I thought it was my curse reacting because it's similar to what I've experienced. But no... It was different. It was far more terrifying.

It was the other me.

The Demon.

He appeared behind the thug who is pouncing at me mid-air. He had a smug smile on his face and devious eyes with a malicious intent to kill. He walked pa.s.s by the ruffian and stood before me. He leaned at my face with his tongue licking my cheek.

"Look at them, Yakiro. They are one sweep of a sword."

I tried to move but I was stuck.

"One swing and you win. Blood requires blood. Kill or be killed. Do it Yakiro."

He walked backward and held the sword pointing at me. He licked the sword and choked the ruffian.

"I can't choke him. That's why you need to pull me out of you. Let me take control, Yakiro. Use Zen. Use it. Let your demonic and violent bloodline run loose. Kill them. Kill them all!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

I could speak and I couldn't move.

"Remove your innocence. Remember the suffering you felt. Remember the days you famished. Remember the days you cried. Slaughter them. This world... Slaughter this world!"

My nose began to bleed. My eyes and ears. He leaned before me and took my mask. He wore it. Suddenly, the figure and physic of the mask changed.

The mask used to look sad and hopeless. The demon used to have a frown. But suddenly, the mask turned upside down. Horns began to grow and fangs began to sharpen. The eyes narrowed with death and the figure became evil.

It wasn't the same mask I used. It was the mask inside my chest. I still haven't moved on truly. I just hide them. I knew that I really didn't conquer my fears. I just concealed them. This pain... This suffering.

I couldn't endure.

Slowly I felt my hand move in a glitch. I felt numb but I tried to reach him.

"Yes... Yes!"

I reached for my mask.

"Huh?!"

And pulled it away. He screamed as he faded away. The mask reappeared on my face and time seemed to move again. Before the blade could ever reach me, I whirled using my stride which made me evade the attacks. All of them fell to the ground with a single attack touching me.

I took my mask off and as soon as they saw my face, they ran away screaming with terror. They were pus.h.i.+ng each other by the door and they fell on the doorstep. They crawled and ran away. I wore my mask again. Pathetic.

They were screaming:

"No wonder we can't touch him! It's the killer!"

"Run! If you value your lives! Run!"

"Ahhhh!"

They were just a bunch of cowards after all.

I walked towards Koneko and Ayumi. Koneko looked worried but Ayumi smiled. I scratched my head.

"Sorry I did all of those."

"Your stupid, Yakiro. I could have dealt with them myself. But I guess you wanted to go flashy around them." She laughed.

"Master... What's wrong?"

"Huh? There's nothing wrong."

"But you're bleeding."

Koneko must have noticed my blood dripping down from my nose. It didn't seem noticeable because I was wearing a mask but it must seem to drip down from the chin of my mask.

"It's nothing."

I lifted above my mask and wiped the blood away. It was because I saw the other version of myself. Namimi didn't save me this time and I was able to defend myself. I made my promise after all.

"Master... Please don't go..."

"I won't go."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

Koneko had heard our conversation the other day. About me turning into a demon and being taken away by the darkness. She must be worried and scared. She's been with me for a couple of months now. Even Ayumi looked troubled. I looked at Ayumi and her eyes suddenly turned blue again.

"Yakirooo... Yakiro don't go!" She pounced at me and held me tight. She began to cry. What's this? Why did she suddenly change? She pushed Koneko away.

"Yakiro's mine!"

"Ehhh? What are you doing Ayumi nee-san!" Koneko jumped in and embraced me. Not letting me go.

Both of them started to pull me again, side to side. What the h.e.l.l is happening?! Why do Ayumi's eyes turn blue and why does her personality change?

Inari! That fox must have done something with this! This must be why Ayumi was embarra.s.sed to tell me her curse! It must be this reason!

"Yakiroooo... I love you. I love you, Yakiro!" Ayumi rubbed her cheek on my shoulder. She turned to face Koneko and their eyes sparked at each other.

"Master is mine!"

"No! Mine!"

"What's happening here?" Mr. Arthur returned with confusion painted on his face.

"Even I don't know."

"I just returned and this is a sack of corn and potato. This is our reward. As soon as we return to my house, you'll help me cook."

"Yes, Mr. Arthur." Koneko and Ayumi kept on holding on my arm as they rub their cheeks on my shoulder. Koneko floated as she embraced me on my back.

"Koneko always stays on masters shoulder! Blee!"

"That's not fair! Yakiro! Hold my hand and never let go!"

"Okay!" There was no point in arguing. If I did, both of them would just make a scene. I don't want to gather more attention than I just did.

I carried the sack and attached it on my back. It might be heavy but my strength is higher now. All those carrying rocks and training with boulders did pay out. It was all thanks to my father. I like to call Mr. Arthur as my father. He's similar to my former father when I was still alive back in j.a.pan. My father would always teach me on how to properly play RPG games but I just suck at them. Even when I flatten out my wallet buying items, boosts, VIP privileges, and legendary items. I just didn't seem to be number one. I would always end up on top 50s or top 40s.

My sister played this game, Alheira and she was the top player. If I remember correctly, her user was NamiYa22. I asked her what Ya means and she told me that it meant fried cooked food. Her favorite was teriyaki after. And that's why I named myself as Yakiro. But not as food, but as someone strong. I took Ya from her user name NamiYa22 and I added Kiro which means lord.

We took a rest by the inn and left our stuff there. I stretched my arms and relaxed my stiff shoulder. Koneko was flying around the room while playing with a wisp she captured before and kept on a jar. Ayumi had returned to herself, the tsundere and haughty type.

"Ayumi... What does your curse say?" The question made her eyes expand and she gave me a fl.u.s.tered look.

"N-nothing! You don't have to know, idiot!"

Koneko started humming and she started to sing.

"Big sister Ayumi is loyal to the man she loves... hummm hummm."

Suddenly, Ayumi's shoulder shook as she looked at Koneko with a flushed face.

"K-koneko!" She started to jump to Koneko, reaching her hands up straight trying to capture Koneko and trying to silence her. I realized that what Koneko singing was actually Ayumi's curse.

"Do it Koneko! Sing more!"

"Yaaaaa! Kiro!" Ayumi looked at me with confused and twirling eyes while biting her lip. She was clearly embarra.s.sed and her face flushed red.

"Ayumi nee-san is a cute little girl when her eyes turn blueeeeeee... huh hummmm huh hmmmm! Her true self will reveal every time her eyes turn blueeee lalalalala!"

"Geez!" Ayumi sat on the floor with her hands covering her face. She couldn't take it anymore. She's so cute! Ayumi-chan! I've always liked this side of you!

"Ayumi nee-san will get stronger as long as she is with Yakirooooo-sama ya la la la! Huh hummm! Huh hummmm!"

"Mō... stop it already... huhuhu..." Ayumi started to cry.

(Mō, p.r.o.nounced as Moo, means geez, jeez, any more and already.)

"That's enough, Koneko." I said as I walk towards Ayumi.

"Okay okay! Hahaha!" Geez, Koneko. Look at what you did. Well, at least she told me what Ayumi's curse is.

I went to Ayumi and sat on the floor beside her. I rubbed her head but she slapped it away.

"Ayumi..."

"Go away!"

"Ayumi, look at me."

"No!"

"Ayumi, I care for you. Please look at me."

I held her shoulder and I slowly pulled her hand away which was covering her face. She was adorably crying and her face was blus.h.i.+ng. She looked at me with embarra.s.sment in her eyes.

"You don't have to be embarra.s.sed. I find it completely fine. Didn't you already told me that you loved me before?" I held her head near to my chest as I rub her back, trying to calm her down.

"Idiot Yakiro! You're such a bully! Huhuhu! Bully! Stupid! Stupid dog!" She started slamming her fists in my chest. It didn't hurt, it was soft and slow.

I just kept on hugging her and rubbing her back.

"Koneko, come down here. Apologize already."

Koneko did what I exactly said and she went down without rebelling. She came to Ayumi and hugged her.

"Sorry, Ayumi nee-sama. Master told me to keep going so I followed his order. Sorry big sister."

"Stupid Yakiro!"

Geez, why is she blaming me? It wasn't my fault. But maybe it was?

"I'm sorry, Ayumi. Still, it made me happy knowing what your curse was. It made me know more about you. Don't be afraid, I will protect you no matter what."

She pulled her face to meet me. She looked at me with adorable eyes and a mouth that is twisted downwards. Her tears were still flowing but she's still adorably cute.

"P-promise?"

Her eyes suddenly turned blue. I guess this is her real self. She might be tsundere and haughty but she's just hiding her fragile personality.

"Yes, I promise." I leaned to kiss her forehead.

"Hey! No fair!" Koneko protested.

Suddenly her face turned even redder and her hand stretched out. No, I know what the looks of it. She's going to...

SLAP!

... me.

"Yakiro no baka!"

She bit her lip before she ran out of the room. The door swung open and Mr. Arthur was walking by.

"What happened? No. More like, what happened to your face?"

"Let's just leave it there."

Mr. Arthur went on his way.

"Let's play master!"

"Sure! What is it?"

"Kissing me!"

I rubbed her head and smiled.

"Next time, Koneko."

"Geez! That's unfair!"

She crossed her arms, faced the other way, and pouted. Her lower lip bulged out more than her upper lip as her cheeks swelled with air.

I sat by the table and went to check on my stats.

"By the way, master..."

"What is it?"

"Do you love, Ayumi nee-san?"

Why did she bring this up? She must be jealous after she saw me kissing Ayumi's forehead. It's pointless to tell a lie.

"Yes, Koneko. Why do you ask?"

"Then... How about me, master?"

That's a tough question to ask. It's not that I don't like her, it's just that I still haven't developed my feelings like that towards her. I don't see her as a pet or a daughter. I see her more like a companion.

"Yes, I do. Now stop asking questions, Koneko."

She lightened up and smiled.

"Okay! Hih!"

She spun around in her dress. I realized that her dress was prettier than before and it was indeed longer than last time. Now she really looks like a princess. Her dress was now yellow and silver. The dress was adorned with ribbons and sparkly b.u.t.tons. The sleeve is smooth and silky. It must be because of her improvement.

I started to skim through my panel and found my Cathedra available for casting. I was about to read the description but Mr. Arthur suddenly appeared from the door.

"What is it?"

"We're going somewhere."

"Alright." I was about to say 'but' but he would only hit me if I do so.

I got down and he was holding a pickaxe. Ayumi was holding a couple of bags and glanced at me while pouting.

"Hmp!"

She's still annoyed.

"What's with the stuff?"

"We're going mining."