Chapter 81: 8:20 P.M.

***Dwarven Capital(City wall)***

***Thalia***

“Can’t you find someone else?”

“I am sorry Thalia, but you are the only one with experience out of all of us.”

“I scheduled and took time off to participate in this event! You are telling me that I have to babysit inside the game anyway?”

“We will make it up to you somehow.”

“I want first dibs on the loot roll on the next five raids.”

“Three.”

“Four and you owe me a favor.”

“Three and I owe you a favor. Take it or leave it.”

“Fine, deal.”

I slithered my way into the room where the two children were kept. Just as I entered the room, I accidentally knocked over a chair. Hastily, I stood them back up right. Even though I have been playing this character for quite a while, I still couldn't get used moving properly in this lamia body.

When the red haired child noticed me entering the room, his face immediately tensed up. He didn’t move a single muscle on the rest of the body, though. He was afraid of waking up the oranged-haired child lying on his lap. Dried tear scared his face. It seems that he was too tired from the crying and fell asleep. I decided to start by trying to calm the red haired children down from his tense state.

“Hey, how are you doing?”

Not surprisingly, my questing was returned with silence. He kept being the petit cornered critter that he is, baring his fangs at me. Seeing that he is protecting the other child, I decided to try a different approach.

“Your friend there is asleep. Do you want to let him sleep on something more comfortable? I have enough travel beddings for both of you.”

Seeing that his face relaxed for a slight moment, I know it was the right direction to go. The most important thing in child care is to let the trust of the child. I pulled some beddings from my dimensional bag. I laid it down in front of them and backed off, not wanting to destroy the small yet significant grounds I have made. The kid gently lay his friend on the bedding in the corner. Once he has done that, he trained his eyes back on me.

“How about you? Do you need anything? Perhaps some food? I think I have some sweets in my bag. Do you want some?”

“I thank you for providing us the bedding, but I know what you are trying doing.”

***July 14th, 965 A.F.***

***Dwarven Capital***

***Ajax McGuire***

I noticed something strange when the travelers saw me. I know the one called Arun see me as a nuisance, but I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just get rid of me. Instead, they assigned a lamia to take care of us inside the castle. It would be far simpler to kick us outside or killed us if they think we are a hinder to their plans.

I overheard bits and pieces of their conversation. I believe that it’s something to do with me being a child. I should be able to exploit this point to gather more information about the event by pretending to be a clueless child. Since the Lamia is desperately trying to get me to talk, I happily obliged her. I pretend to let my guard down to have a small chat with her.

“But I know what you are trying doing.”

“Oh, what do you think I am trying to do?”

“You going to kidnap us and sell us to someone else! That’s what my parents say about strangers!”

“No silly goose, we are not going to do that.”

“Then why did you fight with Mr. Soldier? My parents say they protect us from strangers!”

“We are going to keep you safe in place of Mr. Soldier. We are only borrowing the place. You know it’s going to be very dangerous tonight. We just need someplace safe to pass the time.”

“Why?”

“It’s because a dangerous disease is going to spread very fast tonight.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s because the the people who get the disease will become crazy and spread even more.”

“Why?”

“...”

“...”

“Okay, that’s enough questions for now. Are you sure you don’t want some candy?”

“No, my parents told me I couldn't take sweets from strangers.”

“Speaking of your parents, where are they anyway?”

“They are not here anymore…”

“You two are orphans? I am so sorry to hear that.”

“No, they are just at home waiting for me.”

“...”

“...”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what on purpose?”

“Nevermind I asked. Are you comfortable? Maybe you want to go to sleep just like your friend?”

It’s not a bad idea. I think I have wrung enough information out of her without any raising any suspicion. The event sounds like something out of the movie “28 days later” where people infect each other. Soon enough, the city would be filled with pseudo-zombies, and I have to come out uninfected at the end, lasting through the night.

I don’t think they will harm me whatsoever while I rest. This will be a long night, and I will need every ounce of advantage I can take to survive. However, I can’t help but be a little bit naughty and tease the lamia a bit more. She looked somewhat like the main girl from “Monster Musume, ” and I liked that manga.

“Okay, that sounds good. My parents didn’t tell me not to sleep in front of strangers. But first, I need to go to the potty.”

“Here is a chamber pot, you need help with that?”

“No. It’s okay. I am a big boy, and I don’t need help going.”

"Is there anything else?"

“I need more blankets.”"Can you tell me a story?""The floor is too hard, do you have pillows?""My back is itchy, can you scratch it?"

“There, I have done everything, will you go the f- to sleep now?"

“I always drink some warm milk before I sleep.”

“I don't have any milk.”

“But I NEEEEEEEED to drink warm milk to sleep.”

I begged at her with puppy eyes. At this point, she looked down at her breast, turned red and shook her head. Mission accomplished.

“I will go out to see if someone else have milk in their bag. In the meantime, can you promise me that you will stay here?”

“My parents told me not to make any promises to a stranger.”

“Ju-just stay in this room ok?”

“I can't make promises.”

The Lamia stormed out of the room in frustration, knocking over several pieces of furniture again just like when she came in.