"Takahashi? What a weird name. I am Uolin' Rik, a stray member of Kin'. Nice to meet ya!"
...excuse me, what? Your name even more strange than mine, I don’t know how to spell it. Hell, I don’t even know if the writing system here even the same as mine.
”That’s my surname! Akagi is my name. Do you even listen? And besides, what do you mean a stray member of King?”
I glared at her, mildly frustrated. At least listening to people’s name! That's not a very hard thing to do! Put that aside, a stray member? guild? What is this? fantasy world?
”...Oi, boi! Are ya been livin’ under a rock? A stray member in a guil’ means that member doesn’t belon’ in any group!”
Uoling explains, or more like, shout at me. Either that or she has a really loud voice. I can understand since it seems like very basic information here. But hey, how can I know? I just fell from the sky from my world down to the sea.
”Uoling, I am from another world. Of course something like that I have no knowledge about.”
I'm mumbling the words beneath my breath, I want to say it out loud but then she won't believe me anyway, it sounds crazy to even be true.
Uoling then only stares at me unbelievable, after a few moments of silence she starting to laughs.
Okay, that's really embarrassing, I shouldn't have said a word, I don't know that her ears that good. The amount of regret I feel now keeps piling up as the girl keeps laughing.
”Oh man! I don't expect that one comin’”
The girl’s laughing died out as now she wipes out the tear from her eye from laughing.
”There’s nothing funny about that, I am serious. Please believe me!”
”Yah, bud. I believe ya. I am so damn lucky to have found ya ’en! This is like, the first time ever that someone traveled to different worlds!”.
The first time ever...wait, if so then you would have suspected of me, no? Why do you believe in me that much?
”Yess! Now I have a chance to join ’em!”
Before I even say anything, she had already spilled out her intention. Such a big mouth, simple, carefree girl. But that's already enough for me to know her personality, a person like that won't be able to stab you in the back, that's a friend that I would love to have.
My thought being changed completely afterward, when she started to complain about how slow the waves go. The girl, Uoling, starts to do what she calls a smart move.
She goes to the edge of the boat, aiming her arm and starts to punch the air, a powerful punch causes a strong force blast off the boat that we’re on.
The boat starts to fly, literally. I feel like I am at death's door the whole flight while clutching to the pole for my dear life. The pole is the only thing here that I can hold on, there's nothing else, one slip and I'll be a fish meal.
The boat flies over a town, crashing straight to a stone building before my eyes.
Yes, this is how I die, isn't it?
I close my eyes tightly, waiting for the impact which will make me sleep eternally. But it didn't come, instead, I heard a loud splash and drenched into the water part two. The water here really loves me, aren't they?
Yes, the boat final destination would be a stone wall, but Uoling heads it down to the pool in the front yard of the building, and I, once again, become a wet rat.
"Oahahaha, home sweet home!"
Uoling laughs carefreely as she hops down the boat, as much as her acting childishly at least she kind enough to help me out of the water.
"So this is King guild..."
I found myself in awe of the building in front of me, I have a thing or two for medieval times, alright? And the building, looks like a small version of a castle, standing proudly among the town. This guild must be famous if this is their base.
“Whatcha standin' around for?!!”
As she said that, she grabs my arm and dash inside, burst the door open before I can even react.
“Akira! Lemme join ya!!”
Uoling shouted out just as soon as the doors fly open, which immediately gain our attention of the entire hall. Although all of them mainly on her, the eccentric young lady, there's still the awkward feeling for me with all those eyes.
A few seconds passed, the young girl behind the counter starts to smile, while everyone else only shook their heads.
"Here we go again."
"She never gives up, doesn't she?"
"Her stubbornness knows no bounds."
All the words that they starting to said amongst themselves, make me believe this is actually just daily life for them.
"Akira! Lemme join ya! This time ya'll lemme in!"
Either she is completely obvious, or her stubbornness completely ignored their words. Uoling continues to shout, as if she will only stop if this Akira actually says something.
"Uoling, Akira only has gone for two days. He would lose at least a day to travel over to Tryal."
The black hair bartender said softly, for some reason her gentle voice is already enough to reach her ears. Uoling stops shouting afterward, but she starts to whines about that news and looking all gloomy.
The depressed girl, now dragging herself to the stool with all the motivation and liveliness left her soul. Despite the bartender said many things to cheer her up, none of them actually working at all. All she mumbling are Akira this and Akira that. Akira, Akira. I wonder does her life really revolves around this person that much?.
"How many times I have to reject you, Uoling? You're not going to join my group."
That doesn't last long though, for a feminine voice starts to speak up from the entrance. From that voice alone, all starts to turn to the entrance with a surprised expression, Uoling's liveliness also brought back to life immediately.
“Akira! We thought you would need at least three days to come back, why so early?”
Akira, if it's not because of the bartender said that he's a he, I would have called him a she instantly.
A feminine boy who looks like sixteen years old, wearing a black hooded cape that's basically covering everything except the head.
He reminds me a bit about a strange deity that I met, mainly because of the hair, but that all about it. Yellow eyes, fair skin, while Yumi let out a strong aura, Akira gives off a more warm and friendly one.
I don't think it's fair to compare them, especially when all they have in common is the hairstyle, but even then it still has some differences. For instance, his is a little bit longer, and not as straight as hers. Wait, what am I even babbling about? I shouldn't analyze people like this!
"I expected that I would come back later, but apparently it easier to solve than I thought it would."
Akira answered with a smile, the typical eyes closed and tilts head to the side anime style, plus the flushed cheeks that scream out the innocence vibe. Then not a second waste, a dark yellow blur pass me, Uoling dashes straight over to him with her arms open.
"Akira!! Lemme-oof!"
Not even finished her sentence, a pole showing out of nowhere thrust powerfully against her stomach. The feminine boy holding another end, as if he is using it as an object to prevent her coming closer.
“Uoling-dan, please don’t intrude my personal space, thank you very much.”
Despite speaking in a monotone, he showing a slight concern for the lady who is holding her stomach, rolling on the floor, and keep saying “it hurts!”
I don’t know whether she is being overdramatized, or that the thrust is that strong. It’s then the latter, as I saw Akira starts to apologize for using too much force in it.
"Where's Lais? I wanna meet da bean!"
As the girl stops rolling around, she then stands up, demanding to meet someone. I am now starting to think that she had completely forgotten about my existence, not that I am complaining about it, and the pain she just got a few seconds ago.
With a sigh from Akira, a small figure starts to peek out of his back. Immediately, Uoling starts to swoon over big, dull, light grey eyes.
A seven years old tomboy, half white and half black hair mixed together. The tiny figure stays hidden behind the older one, observed the environment, or more precisely, her dull eyes glued on me, watching my every step.
"Lais! Gimme a hug!"
Before she can even move, the same pole hits her straight on the head, but this time it doesn't have as much impact as the previous time.
"Stop that Uoling-dan, you're scaring her."
Speak out with the same monotone, but this time he only watching the poor girl holding her head in pain. The kid, however, immediately go back to hiding after the sound, then runs out of the other side to me. And thus, making my existence become known.
"Hello, La-”
”Ah, I forgot!”
Just when I tried to talk to the kid, Uoling shouted out as she saw me. I guess that triggered back the reason why she brought me here.
”Akira! Everyone! Meet Akagi Takahashi, an otherworlder!”
And thus, I became a main spotlight in the hall. Just as the big mouth girl finished, many gasps and surprised looks send over to me except Akira, the one who only gives me the kind smile, nothing else.
After that, the situation got even worse, as I then being bombarded with questions from everyone. Uoling doesn't comes for help, instead, she goes over to Akira. Using me as a ticket for her to join his group.
"I'll consider that request."
Akira answered with a smile as he then coming up to the crowd, speak up as an attempt to gain attention from everyone, but failed as his soft voice died out from the loud chattering before even reach someone's ears.
Not soon after that, a loud sound broke out that make everyone turns their head instinctively to the entrance. Only to see a feminine male smiling sweetly, but behind him is a big ass hammer that looks like been smashed deep into the wall. I don't even know where that hammer came from, it just exists, like the pole he was using a few minutes ago.
"Now that I have your attention. A guest here looks like they are in need of a change of clothes. So may my group have the privilege to take care of him?"
Scary! Despite him saying in a polite tone and with that sweet smile of his. I'm still getting the vibe that he wouldn't take no for an answer, and who knows what will happen to the person who rejects him?! That Lor rip off hammer wouldn't bash over their head, obviously… note that's sarcasm.
Seems like everyone else has the same thought as mine, as they all scrambled away from me. Saying some stuff like ”I’ll lend him to you, Aki”, ”Treat him good.”, etc
”I’ll go get spare clothes for you to change into, Lais here will bring you over to the guest room. You will get sick if you keep wearing that.”
Despite the murderous vibe he gave off to get the crowd away from me, the boy now acting as a caring motherly hen.
As Akira smiling tenderly at me, the small cold hand starts to grab mine. The little girl, Lais, waste no seconds after his words and guides me up to the stairs. She doesn't say anything, the little girl keeps on quiet and doesn't even give me a glance.
After when we reach the second floor, Lais took me to the nearest empty room. Seeing her tiptoes to even reach the door knob to open for me is kinda cute. I did an attempt to open it by myself, but the little girl keeps insisting to do it for me. When I saw how hard she tries to keep my hand away from the door is quite hilarious, the child really took Aki's words seriously.
A simple, yet beautiful spacious room. A big window lead to balcony, an old fancy style looking bed, a big wardrobe, and another door which is connected to the small bathroom.
"Does the room suit your liking?"
"It is, thank you Akira. The room is very nice."
When I'm looking around, checking out furniture and the bathroom. A feminine spoken out from the doorway, its owner smiles in relief as he heard my reply.
Actually, I am more than happy to receive a free room to live, even if it's temporarily. It's better than sleeping on the bench at the park.
"I'm glad to hear that. I have brought spare clothes here for you, Akagi-dan. Walking out with that outfit can bring you unnecessary attention that I don't think you would want."
The male said as he gives me the clothes neatly folded on his arm, he's right. I am never fond of having attention on me, it's much better to blend in and unnoticed.
I can't stand presentation during my school life, imagine myself being looked at by all the eyes enough to make me nervous. I don't like how they look right through me, watch me every step, the fact that I don't know what they are thinking is the scariest.
"Um...Akira?"
"Yes, Akagi-dan?"
"Before Uoling took me here, I fell down the pool…"
During the time when I spend changing, I decided to speak out the question that I had for quite a while now. I glance to the boy who meant to listen, Akira only nods and waiting for my next words. Seeing that he is listening, I continue.
"From that time and the present, it's only been around thirty minutes, it's impossible for clothes to dry that fast."
"Ah yes, it's all thanks to lady Tuarata-dan. She had used her element to speed up the process."
Tuarata… I'm guessing that's the name of that bartender. After all, she is the one closest to me the entire time I spent in that hall.
"Since you're not from around here, and that now you're under my care, I'll teach you about this world. Welcome to King guild, Akagi-dan."
Before I can even says anything, Akira declared to me with a welcome smile. I want to go back home, but since I have no clue how to get back, I might as well have to stay here. Oh well, beggars can't be chooser.
-------
"Akagi! I brought some food, let's cook together!"
Nozomi shouted out cheerfully, with one of her arms holding a big grocery bag, while the other pressing against the doorbell.
The sound rang across the house, but the only thing respond to her is the silent. The girl waiting and waiting, soon the amount of silenceness starting to irritate her.
"Akagi, if you don't open the door then don't blame me for invading your privacy!"
The girl immediately reach for the door knob and twist it to open the door, her irritated emotions starts to become surprised as she sees the door is opened with ease.
"Aka...gi?"
As if her brain has stopped working, she only stares at the empty room with unblinking eyes, her body starts to move in on its own. Like a simple instinct, the girl drops the bag on the floor, and runs around the house, shouting his name each time she opens a door. Up until the last room.
No, no way. This can't be happening. I have been trying so hard. No way!
She thought, over and over, as if she doesn't want to accept the reality. She stays there, comforting herself in her mind. Just like that, she let the emptiness of this place embraced her. But it only lasts for half an hour, before she starts to dial the phone.
"Soei, big trouble. They got him."
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJmmN65bD7
Rf: dan is an honorific from Ritania.
ns 172.70.130.196da2
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