[Yuki. Wake up.] (???)

[...WAKE UP!] (???)

I abruptly woke up to find Axilia staring at me, a little angrily.

[W-what’s wrong?] (Yuki)

[I’ve been telling you to wake up for a while now. We have to go to the marketplace.] (Axilia)

[We do?] (Yuki)

[Well, I need a new sword and we should also get food. The food at the inn is expensive you know?] (Axilia)

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

After getting dressed, Axilia and I went to the marketplace. She got a new sword and then we decided to go to the food area.

[This...It’s that isn’t it…] (Yuki)

[Hmm? This? These are delicious you know?] (Axilia)

I keep staring and I’m sure of it now. It’s the blue apples from the forest. No matter what, I will never try eating one. They don’t even look edible. If I take one bite, I’m sure I’ll die.

[What’s with that look? Hey! Mister! I’d like 10 apples.] (Axilia)

[Sure! It’ll be 8 copper.] (Old man)

Axilia hands him the copper and hands me an “apple”. She takes one and takes and bite, trying to assure me it’s fine. I finally decide to eat it.

[Th-this is...really good..] (Yuki)

And it really was. It tasted just like an apple but...better? Sweet, crunchy and juicy. I decided to take another bite. Then another, until it was gone.

[See? Nothing to be afraid of.] (Axilia)

After that, Axilia bought some more food and then we decided to head back to the inn.

[We’re really far from the inn...hold on..] (Axilia)

[Hmm? What is it?] (Yuki)

[I think we should take a short-cut.] (Axilia)

We walk into an alley and immediately hear some people arguing.

[You bastard give us our money back! You damn corrupt guards.] (Red-haired man)

[I’ve already told you. I didn’t take your money and I’m not a guard anymore!] (???)

I was wondering when something like this would happen...

Three men were threatening a young man, one who was bald and holding a knife. The other two looked very dirty and one had a bandana around his head of messy, red hair. The person they were yelling at was handsome. He had blond hair and was tall. He also clearly looked stronger than his harassers, but he wasn’t attacking them.

[Hey! Idiots! What the hell do you think you’re doing?] (Axilia)

[Young lady, it would be for your own good not to get involved! We aren’t the bad ones anyway, he’s part of the guards. They took our money!] (Dirty-looking man)

[Just because he’s a guard doesn’t mean he’s with the ones who took your money. Are you guys idiots? No, you must be idiots.] (Axilia)

Ah, there she goes with her sharp tongue.

[T-this girl!] (Dirty-looking man)

The man without the knife lunges at Axilia, but she swiftly turns her body, dodging his fist. The man falls over and is about to get up, but Axilia steps on his hand and puts force on it.

[Aghhh! W-what are you doing? S-stop! Please! I’m sorry!] (Dirty-looking man)

Axilia keeps digging her heel into the man’s hand.

[Haah? You were the one who attacked first you know? It’s self-defense.] (Axilia)

[A-Axilia, I think you should stop...he’s already apologized. And self-defense can only go so far…] (Yuki)

Axilia lifts her foot and the man gets up and turns around, but immediately pulls out a knife and turns to me. He grabs my arm and begins to threaten us.

[If you had just ignored this, you wouldn’t be in this position. The girl might be good at fighting but you look weak. Just drop your belongings and maybe I’ll let you guys go.] (Dirty-man)

[Tch. You scum.] (Axilia)

Axilia clicks her tongue loudly. A little too loudly. It seems there’s going to be more trouble...

[Oi. Girl, you’ve been pretty rude for a while now. How about in exchange for these two’s lives, you come with us hmm?] (Dirty-man)

As soons as he says that one of the two other men who were cornering the former guard walked up to us and the man holding me pulls the knife closer to my neck.

[Girl. Put your hands behind your back so we can tie them. Maybe you should also strip here? We can humiliate you in front of your friend!] (Red-haired man)

As soon as he said that something snapped.

[You’ve been touching me for a while now, can you please let go. I can’t have someone as dirty as you touching me.] (Yuki)

SHIIIT. Why did I say that?!

[W-what?!] (Dirty-man)

[Do your ears work? Let go of me. Who do you think you are to be touching me so casually?] (Yuki)

Why did I suddenly say all these arrogant things. I’m screwed!

I took his hand, twisted it and grabbed the knife that was in it. The man then fell down on his face.

[Who did you say was weak? You’re nothing more than a cockroach. Die fool.] (Yuki)

I said that as I was kicking him. Neither my body nor my mouth was in control at this point.

[Do you guys still want to fight? There’s two people who can fight and I get the feeling that blonde guy is holding back on you.] (Yuki)

[T-Tch. Fine. But it’s only because I have something else to do. You’d better be grateful.] (Bald man).

As soon as he said that he ran away. I guess whatever he has to do is really important.

[Thank you for that. I’m sorry to have gotten you involved in that. My name is Aster.] (Aster)

[It’s fine. My name is Axilia] (Axilia)

[Why do I have to be nice to you?] (Yuki)

It’s still not overrr?!

[A-ahaha. No one said you needed to...How can I repay you?] (Aster)

[Y-you don’t need to. We were just passing by anyway.] (Axilia)

[Ah. Is that so. If there’s anything you want don’t hesitate to ask.] (Aster)

I turn to Axilia and look her in the eye. I think she understands.

[Actually...Can you treat us to some expensive inn food?] (Axilia)

[O-okay. Do you have somewhere in mind?] (Aster)

[Blue Rose Inn.] (Axilia and Yuki)

I give Axilia a thumbs-up and she gives me one back.

It seems I’m in control of my body now...