When I get home, I’m carrying a little box of leftover crepes. Full of strawberries and crème, I still remember the smile on Natalia’s face when I wiped off her little creme mustache. It left a little white whisker on her face, so she looked like a real cat cosplayer. Apparently, some Demi-Cats actually grow whiskers when they transform. However, for now at least, Natalia just looks like a normal girl, minus the cat ears and tail. When she’s not transformed anyway. But the paws are cute too. Damn though, the girl can eat! Good thing I cheated Jeff out of his gambling money. No wonder Romy and Mark grow their own vegetables. Buying any sort of fancy food is so expensive! This crepe is big, but ten coppers is a lot of money for a small town! Still, it was worth it. I’d do it again. Every once in a while, spoiling a good girl isn’t too bad. Is this why so many guys wasted their paycheck every month? Have I unwittingly become one of those sugar daddies I looked down upon?

Damn it, am I getting soft?

“Romy, I’m home!” I yell and look around as I open the door. However, there aren’t any signs that Romy has been outside her room. Hoisting the leftover crepe box on my elbow, I pad inside and go upstairs. “I brought some leftovers! Strawberry crepe! It’s still warm!” My hopes that my auntie would reply are dashed as only the silence and bouncing echoes of my own voice greet my return. Feeling the joy of the evening bleed out a little bit, I pad up the stairs. “Romy? Have you eaten anything? You should eat!”

…

…

…

Nothing. I go to her door and knock.

“Please? Mark wouldn’t want to see you starve yourself while he’s gone! Come on, the crepe guy seems a bit sketchy, but his food is actually really good!” I put my ear to the door and listen. Nothing. What the hell? Did she go out? I don’t think so…there’s no reason to leave at this hour. Maybe I need to play the guilt card? “Romy? You’re scaring me!”

I was just acting afraid and childlike to try to get her to come out. But the fear in my voice gradually turns into something real. And it only grows worse as the silence stretches out longer and longer. Finally, my patience breaks. Real panic sets in. I try the doorknob, but it’s locked.

It can’t be…

She wouldn’t…

Wouldn’t do anything drastic…right?

I don’t want to think about such things.

Maybe she is just sleeping a bit too heavily. After all Romy is very strong, so maybe she had to drink a lot to help her go to bed with Mark gone.

“A-Auntie Romy? Forgive me, but I’m going to come in! If you don’t want me to, then say something!” I take a deep breath. Still no response. Okay, that’s it. Taking a step back, I raise my leg and aim at the doorknob. “I’m coming in then!”

*Bang*

Though I’m still only six and a half, my body has grown quickly. Maybe it’s this world’s diet, but it probably has something to do with the harsh training which stimulates the Qi that Romy is always saying warriors need to master. My leg breaks through the thin wood of the master bedroom door, above the handle. Pulling my foot out of the hole, I reach inside and unlock it from the inside. Then I push the door open.

*Creak*

“A-Auntie?” I still call out even though I already activated my Foresight before kicking down the door. My disappointment becomes real, like a kick in the gut, as the empty bed and note on the table, appear. Even though she’s gone, I can at least be glad that Romy is okay. Sighing, I turn off my Foresight. She’s strong. Wherever she went…she’ll be back…right? I hope I don’t hear about a certain bastard king being killed in his sleep next week. “I guess…you’re not here, huh?”

Talking to myself, I walk over to her desk and pick up the note. As I read it, my expression grows confused-

I’m sorry, Myrr. I know I promised you and your mother I’d protect you. But I need to be a bit selfish. Can you forgive me for abandoning you? I’m ashamed to call myself your auntie when all I do is beat you. Somehow, I think you will understand though. Mark was the one who brought light into my life. If he dies because of that stupid Holy Order of his, then for what reason did I leave behind my position? Why did I leave the darkness? Better I kept being a killer. If Yuel is such a cruel god, then why should I obey his teachings? Sorry…sorry SORRY SORRY! Please forgive me! I will return as soon as I can ensure his safety. I can’t lose Mark for something so silly as a holy war. Since I can’t face you, I can only leave this note. I cannot guard you for a little bit, but I have called someone to watch over you in my stead until I return. Do NOT leave Sines, do not look for me! Wait for Perideen Darkblade! He has my Stone of Calling imprinted already, and he knows where I am, so if I do not return soon, you can send some letters to me. He will not tell you my location so don’t even ask! You need to stay safe in Sines! Be good, and obey me this once!

-Your Selfish Auntie,

Romy Rainstopper

That’s all she wrote. My heart grows heavy.

She’s going to ‘ensure Mark’s safety’?

What does that even mean?

Perideen Darkblade?

He has a similar name to Jarold Westblade.

I wonder if he was given that name, or if he chose it himself?

However, anyone Romy sends must be okay if she’s willing to entrust them with my safety.

Okay…Auntie. Your nephew isn’t happy with your decision, but I guess you need to be a bit selfish, and I cannot be angry at you for that.

“Please just come back safely.”

I fold the letter up and tuck it into my shirt. For a second, I breathe deeply and take in Romy and Mark’s scent. Then I go back outside and close the broken door. Walking to my own room, I stare out the window. For the first time in a long time, the house feels empty. First Glacia left. Then Mark. Now even Romy.

I’m alone...again.

How did things change so fast?

#

For two weeks, I train my silent casting and magical abilities on my own. Now I’m relatively confident in being able to cast a good-sized Gust without chanting, and as always, Chill is at my disposal at any moment. Sometimes I can get Burn to shoot out some hot air, but it’s not very dependable without an incantation, yet. As for Meld, that’s off the table. I can’t even get a speck of dirt to move when I try that one silently. As for swordsmanship, since Romy is gone, I practice katas and drills with Natalia. She has absolutely no knowledge of how to fight because of her peace-loving parents. But unlike magic, she picks up any sort of physical knowledge very quickly. It seems Demi-Cats have excellent muscle memory along with their superior natural strength. Even though I try to fill my day, I don’t push myself to the utmost limit anymore. It’s tough to properly train without a teacher.

“Myrr, do you want to move in with us?” Natalia offers her home to me, innocently, “We don’t have a lot of space, but maybe it would be a little less lonely?”

“No, it’s fine. Romy said that someone is coming to protect me.” I reply while swinging the wooden sword I whittled for myself using Mephis’s dagger. The Demi-Cat, facing me, carefully controls her overwhelming power to avoid snapping our practice weapons as we drill in slow motion. “But it’s already been two weeks…”

I’m beginning to wonder if Romy’s friend, Perideen, forgot to come or something. But I have no way to contact him so I can only wait patiently.

“Well…if you don’t want to come to my house, how about I sleep over to keep you company?” She says worriedly. A hesitant expression comes on her face as she waits for my response.

Whoa!

Whoa Whoa!

No one call the Isekai Police!

She said it, not me!

No crime has been committed here!

“Uhm, I’ll be okay. Besides, you’d probably sleep better in your own bed, right?” I dodge the subject. A flash of disappointment appears in Natalia’s eyes before she hurriedly blocks my line of sight with her sword.

“Not really. My floor is really small. There’s no room at all. I’d be much more comfortable with Myrr.” Her assault continues.

She’s really pushing it!

Did I just get hit on by a five-year-old? Are all the girls of this world so advanced, or is it just Demi-Cats?

“B-But your parents wouldn’t allow it right? I mean you’re too young for sleepovers…yea?” Stumbling over my words, I parry her slash with my sword. But Natalia has another verbal blow lined up.

“Not at all.” She stops swinging and holds her wooden sword loosely, already looking much better than when I first started teaching her Romy’s lessons, “Father always tells me that if I have a chance to move into Myrr’s home, I should immediately take it without asking him. And mother loves Myrr. She is always praising your…errm, what does she call it…ahah! I remember now. Mother says,

‘Myrr’s business skills are top notch, as is his taste.’

Can you believe that Mother keeps asking to borrow my brooch? Heh, it’s mine though! I won’t let anyone else wear it!”

So, her mother thinks I’m good at making money…

I think Nadania still believes that the brooch I got Natalia is actually an authentic charm from the Desert Demi-Cat Tribe.

Does she really think it’s got magical powers or something? And even if it does, wasn’t it just for protecting against evil and finding love or something? Nadania is already married, and there’s nothing evil to protect against in Sines. Maybe she just thinks its pretty?

“Uhh…” I’m not sure how to answer Natalia. “Still, I’m not sure if it’s right. I mean there’s not really anywhere for you to sleep anyway. I don’t think Romy and Mark would want anyone else using their bed.”

“That’s fine. I can sleep with you! Mother says that attending to her master 24/7 is the duty of a maid, so I should start practicing now!” She blurts out another very strange thing. Is the definition of a maid something different for Demi-Cats?

“What kind of things is your mother teaching you?!”

“Oh…is there not enough space? I can bring my blanket then.”

“Don’t you mean your bed?”

“Well, I usually sleep on the floor so…”

Oh…come to think of it…there wasn’t a bed in Natalia’s room.

“Errr…” My resolve wavers as I realize that this poor girl has been sleeping on the floor of her own home. I find my eyes drifting towards her body. I check it over with concern. Is her back okay? Will she develop some sort of bone deformity because of this? Such a young child sleeping on the floor…Can they treat scoliosis with magic? “Um…you really don’t have a bed? Doesn’t your back hurt?”

“No…” Her lips do this slight quivering thing and it’s obvious she’s lying. If I didn’t know that Natalia is an innocent five-year-old, I’d swear she’s doing it on purpose. On a Demi-Cat, with those cute ears, such an expression is a deadly weapon. How is anyone supposed to say no to that face?! Even a cold lady slayer like myself has a hard time saying no in front of such an insidious technique. “Sometimes though, I think I can’t stand straight even if I stretch as hard as I can…”

Oh dear God!

“Okay! OKAY! You can sleep with me. Tch…we’re practically siblings anyway, so it’s fine right?” I mutter darkly and she smiles brilliantly. However, when she hears the ‘siblings’ bit, she seems a bit disappointed.

“S-Siblings?”

“Well, I said you’re my sister to the other kids, right?” I immediately shut down any chance at misunderstandings. Heh, record this all you want, Isekai Police. No one can say anything since we’re siblings! Perfectly normal to sleep together. “What, you don’t want me as your big brother?”

“N-No…I mean…yes…” Natalia’s face turns red and she hurriedly hides behind the wooden sword I gave her. “If that’s the case…I’ll get my blanket and return tonight, okay?”