“Ho, what a surprise… are you really?” The Medusa flashed an enigmatic smile that can cause any living being to feel a chill.

“Chief, I think it’s better for this human to die!” A Lamia standing behind the Medusa muttered while glaring at Rain as if he had assaulted her last night…

“That’s right! Humans cannot be trusted!” Another Lamia snarled.

Rain frowned at their tone. A man can be killed but cannot be humiliated.

“Ladies, I know I’m a human and humans can’t be trusted… okay fine. Since there was already a precedent in that aspect, I can’t argue with it but…” Rain’s eyes narrowed. “If you still insult me in this matter just because of History, I will go and sue you for slandering!”

Rain’s raised voice startled the two Lamia and even the Medusa was taken aback.

But Rain ignored it. He really had this strange character that whenever he was angered or his emotions running wild, he had this fit that relieves his fear and opens his mouth and says whatever he wanted. It's as if his mind was liberated and become free.

He once was fired because of this since the manager he was working with was harassing a co-worker and he just can’t swallow it and he stormed into his office and scolded him and knocked the daylights out of him.

“I may be a human, but I love what I love and that is Lafetti! Don’t ever my question my love, dear, or else my attorney will face you in the cou –!”

Ah-! I did it again! Rain frowned but he didn’t apologize. He averted his eyes and snorted angrily.

Seeing Rain’s actions the Medusa was somewhat amused.

“Chief let me cut this human!”

“No, let me do it! Let me slit his throat!”

The two Lamia was angered by Rain’s outburst but they were stopped by the Medusa with a wave of her hand.

“Well, at least he wasn’t lying about him and Lafetti’s relation… thus we can’t touch him,” The Medusa said as she leaned closer to look at Rain’s face. “For now… that is…”

Rain frowned at the added word but he didn’t say anything. He knows his current position.

“But,”

“I don’t want to be hated by Lafetti over this, so we will deal with this human when she arrived… after all, she still needed to face a punishment for hiding this fact from us…”

Rain heard the Medusa’s words and trembled. His head snapped back and looked at the Medusa.

“La, Lafetti didn’t do any wrong! What do you mean by punishment?!”

“Sheltering you without our permission and hiding your existence from us is already a grave sin of itself.”

“No!” Rain exclaimed. “It’s not Lafetti’s fault! If taking a human is really a mistake then please forgive her! I, I will bear the punishment, whatever it is! I will receive it!”

[ Master! ] Sylphy was surprised at Rain’s words. Even the three women were flabbergasted.

Rain decided. Just like the saying, “When in Rome, do what Romans do.” Rain never doubted Medusa’s words. Lafetti will be punished severely because of him… because that is their own law.

But Rain can’t accept that!

“You will?” The Medusa’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I will,” But Rain didn’t back down.

“Even if you die?”

“Death rather than Dishonor.” That is what Glen taught him when he was still a child. A man cannot hurt a woman… if you make a woman cry, you’re not a man!

If Lafetti’s life would be ruined because of him, then how can he still continue living on?

It’s not just because he loved Lafetti but also because Lafetti had done so many things for him and he couldn’t do anything to pay it back.

“I’m scared but if I don’t do this, as a man, I will regret it for the rest of my life!” Rain spoke in a very serious voice.

“So be it,” The Medusa showed a malicious but at the same time a satisfied smile.

--- ---

Rain was being bounded by a rope which was, in fact, a long slim snake which had turned into a rope.

Magic, Rain couldn’t help but admire this world even more.

However,

“You don’t need to do this, after all, it’s not like I’m planning to do anything. I’m an advocate of pacifism; I prefer peace rather than war…” Rain muttered. “I’m just a cute, harmless guy… doing this is a bit overboard, can I at least call my lawyer beforehand?”

“We apologize but caution is necessary,” The Medusa replied with a faint smile.

She looked really amiable and kind but Rain could feel something hidden behind her scales. There was actually a hint of dangerous gleam hiding inside her eyes, which she might have been thinking she was hiding it pretty well but Rain, who had done many odd jobs in the previous world and managed to socialize with different kind of people, has a very good sensitivity and observation regarding this kind of situation.

This kind of thing, Rain can easily notice it.

But Rain didn’t do anything and just act like usual.

“So, human why are you inside this place?” The Medusa asked, her eyes darting with curiosity and suspicion. “This isn’t a place a human like you should be…”

“Yeah, I know…” Rain nodded. “And I find it out in a hard way…”

“Before I answer your question, I suddenly realized we haven’t introduced ourselves, did we? Well, I think I did but you didn’t…”

“Hehe, I am Zarda, Chief of the Amani Laminas and these are my guards, Drova and Stagna…”

“Amani Laminas… is that some kind of a tribe’s name? Well, nice to meet you then…” Rain shrugs. “Actually, I don’t remember anything about this world, of course, I’m not lying…”

Zarda flashed a doubtful looked and stared at him as if she was looking if Rain was saying the truth.

Of course, with those sharp ruby eyes, Rain felt as if Zarda can see through if he was lying or not… that is why he said, he didn’t remember anything about this world instead of ‘I don’t remember anything’… which is in fact not a lie…

He didn’t know anything nor could he remember anything about this world. He wasn’t local since he came from another world!

How could he know about this world?

Thus, he wasn’t lying nor was he also telling the entire truth…

This wasn’t misconception. Rain’s suspicion wasn’t in fact wrong.

His pulse, his breathing rate, perspiration, movements, gestures, Zarda doesn’t have mind reading skills but she was observing every change in Rain.

This is Cold Reading…

And even if she has the skill to know whether he was lying or not, Rain was certain that he wouldn’t be found out because he wasn’t lying at all…

“… The only memories I had about this world, started when I wake up. I was already here, I don’t know why or for what purpose. But I was alone, in this dark and dangerous place.” Rain narrated.

“Lafetti came and took care of me when I needed it. She was far more important to me than you can imagine…” Rain spoke while walking, no, being dragged by two Lamias.

“Then you’re fine with her being a monster…?”

“What do you mean by a monster? Humans or Monster, I don’t really care about it.” Rain snorted. “The culture of this world doesn’t apply to me. What I see as monsters are those who I deemed as enemies and those beasts who have no intelligence and only knows how to cause destruction and pain…”

“Lafetti for me is never a monster…” Rain said with a handsome and gentle smile.

“You’re only saying that now…” Zarda replied with a trace of sadness. “Humans called us monsters, hated us, despised and even went to the point of subjugating us…”

Rain didn’t reply back and only listened, after all, it wasn’t his place to say anything. This was the norm of this world. Even if he says that he was different and he wouldn’t do that, after all, that was all but empty promises and declarations with no substances.

Besides, looking at the history of Earth, even fellow humans which possess similar appearance and traits, such occurrence was abundant as trees. Thus, he found no reason to doubt Zarda’s words.

Rain listened to Zarda, when she was done, he only said, “I only see two types of people in my world. One that is my enemy, wanting to hurt me and the second type is my friend, including my family that would be my ally no matter what happens.”

“Lafetti is the latter, she would do anything for me, probably… but what I know is that I will also do anything for her…”

Hearing Rain’s statement, Zarda’s lips turned into a faint smile. This might be the first real smile she had shown him up until now…

“You are a strange human… I hope you didn’t only say that just to save your life…”

“Well, I--”

“Rain!?”