Chapter 15: Miyuki is Still Miyuki

“Hyaah!” Miyuki big sis, one-hit KO'd the medium-sized Ursaur that tried to ambush me. “I can one-hit a C-rank monster now.”

“Maybe your stats hit three digits already?” I replied. “Thanks, darling.”

“Whoa, I envy that. You haven’t had a reveal ceremony, but your stats have already hit triple digits?” Noa joins in. Her hand is holding a basket full of herbs.

“I don’t know. Since my stats are still blurry, you can do it too, Noa.” Miyuki big sis said to Noa.

“After that harsh training, my stats are still double digits,” Noa replied. “But I want to make it into triple digits too! Let’s do a hard training tomorrow!”

We heard someone calling for help deep in the forest. Miyuki tells us to tail her when she is doing a quick search for that call. I got into my battle stance already and cast a protection spell on Noa and Miyuki.

Slowly but surely, that call for help is getting closer. We hide behind a bush to see what happens. A man is getting attacked by a group of goblins and a baby forestpillar—a creature similar to a caterpillar but giant-sized with venomous fangs and fur. Next to him is the deceased body of his friend, maybe?

“Let’s save him,” I said.

We emerged from the bush and managed to surprise them. Since we are the ones attacking them by surprise, we have an advantage. It’s my turn to move; as usual, I cast high-level support magic on Miyuki and Noa. Then I ended my turn with a defensive stance.

Miyuki, the big sis, uses her dual axe and does her battle technique of cyclone axe, a special attack using the axe. Two of the goblins were dead from her damage, and she managed to do a chain attack, eliminating the rest of the goblins. Noa equipped her flail and round shield, bashing one of the forest pillars and blinding the creature's eye.

It’s our turn again; I choose to end with a defensive stance since my spells are still active and supporting them. Miyuki charged and chopped the forest pillar into tiny pieces, ending our battle with it.

“Victory!” Noa said. “I’ll search for loot.”

“Are you okay?” I said, checking the injured boy.

“T-thank you. B-but my friend’s already dead.” He replied.

I do a quick scan of him and heal his wound. My eyes found many bruises and some open wounds.

“Whoa, my wounds are gone! Thank you!” He said happily.

“You’re a human noble, right? Those are high-level bodyguards. But defeated by such a group of low-rank monsters. You need stronger bodyguards.” Miyuki said after searching the dead body. She found a badge, “an Eturuk's Imperial Guard badge. Who are you?”

Without answering our questions, he ran away from us. We do a quick chase of him and stop when we see him being stopped by a bunch of bounty hunters. We hide in nearby bushes and observe the situation.

“Isn’t this Prince Adalbert? Hahaha, let’s ship you back to Eturuks and claim your bounty.” One of the bounty hunters said.

“Prince Adalbert is the little brother of the deceased crown prince of Eturuks,” Noa whispered to me. “We should have left him.”

“I agree with her,” Miyuki said to me.

No, I want to save him.

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Miyuki read my face, and she came out of the bush. She takes off her junior knight insignia and badge. “Hey, you finally captured him. Many thanks! He runs away from me when I take a dump!”

“A fellow bounty hunter? So you found him first. How about I give you 10 gold coins with a 65% purity for this boy?” the bounty hunter with one eye said.

“Really? That’s too high for this boy. Is he a wanted criminal?” Miyuki asked.

“I’ll tell you if you accept our trade.” The bounty hunter replied.

“Okay,” Miyuki answered. The bounty hunter throws a small pouch, and she catches it. After counting what was inside, she smiled. “Now tell me.”

“This is Prince Adalbert. When the Holy Revolution started at Eturuks, he escaped from the Druga Prisons before the Holy Tribunal executed him for treason and conspiring against the state. A bounty has been placed for him.” The bounty hunter said.

“Anyway, thanks for the trade!”

The boy was being tied up and escorted away. What the hell, Miyuki? I thought she was going to save him. But is she more interested in that money? When the bounty hunter is finally away, I rush to ask for an explanation from her.

“Really?” I asked and hid my anger.

“Money is money. Gold coins with 65% purity are more valuable.” Miyuki replied. “Have you forgotten about me, Taka?”

“Erm, no,” I answered, That's right. I was once told that she likes money because she grew up poor on Earth. “But I h-honestly don’t know how to react.”

“Our main objective is foraging, right? Saving that kid is not worth it.” She said to give a justification. Noa stays silent and observes our heated debate.

“Right, money is money. Even you might lead that boy to his death.” I replied.

“Who cares? He’s a criminal. Charged with treason, it’s a dishonorable thing to do.” Miyuki said.

“Alright, let’s get back,” I said.

We counted our gathered herbs and went back to our home. To express my anger toward her, I don't want to speak to her and will go straight to my carriage workshop to craft potions with Noa. We have to make 24 all-around potions to be given to poor people in the slums outside the capital wall.

They are mostly human who immigrate here for a better opportunity or to escape conflicts in neighboring countries. The state just placed them outside the wall and permitted them to work inside the Nekalma Federation. Because many Elf tribes hate humans, they are being abandoned.

“Done!” Noa said and carefully moved the newly craftable potions inside a cooler box with ice and sawdust.

“Thank you for the hard work,” I replied.

“Are you okay?” Noa asked. “You seem upset.”

“Kinda, but I know it’s her true self. I can’t do anything since I vowed to support and love her.” I replied. “Let’s go inside and have dinner.”

When we go inside the house, Miyuki is still cooking our dinner. Noa goes to help her while I relax and take a rest. It was a simple chicken egg with goblin meat that we scavenged.

“Thanks for the dinner,” I said.

“Let’s go to our room, Taka,” Miyuki said.

“Yes.”

She forcefully grabs my hand and brings me to her room.

“Are you still angry?” She asked.

“Yeah, but I know how you like money, and we needed it to survive. But I think our joint account for money is enough for surviving, and I think you should save that boy.” I explained.

“Hmmm, no. I want to save our money to prepare for our major quest. Don't you remember what X said? What happens if we break, and our major quests are something that require money?” She countered.

“Yeah, you win. I’m sorry,” I said, not wanting to discuss it further.

“You need more training, I guess. For tonight, let’s go out and sell you.” She said.

“Ah, please no. Don’t you know that I want to be exclusive to you only?” I replied. “Do anything except that, master.”

She ended up training me that night. My body gave in to her touch and play. She fucked up my mind and removed my will to resist her, just like back on Earth. We both had intercourse till we were exhausted.

With a last bit of my strength, I slowly move my body and hug her.

“Good night, master,” I whispered in her ear.

“Good night.” She kissed my forehead.

I had a bad dream that day. We got ambushed by a group of soldiers, and I got captured. They only captured me and separated me from Miyuki and Noa. Noa resisted and tried to fight the soldiers, but she ended up being killed on the spot. Some soldiers are brutally murdered, and Miyuki faints after getting knocked off her horse.

“No! Please stop!”

It’s still midnight. Hearing my scream, Miyuki awakens.

“What happens?” She asked.

“I have a nightmare,” I answered.

Her hand instructed my head to rest on her chest. I tried to clear my mind and hear her heartbeat. Miyuki sang a lullaby for me. “You like this song, right? Close your eyes and try to sleep again. Maybe you’re having a nightmare because of what happened today.”

Hearing her soft voice, I tried to sleep again. But got into a nightmare again. The background was inside a basement of a luxury manor. A girl who looks like my stepsister forced me to watch some soldiers rape Noa and Miyuki.

“No, stop it!”

“Weirdly, you have a nightmare,” Miyuki said. “Let’s make you a tea and spend the rest of the night awake.”