Chapter 7:
I look at the sleeping girl, I noticed how peaceful she looked. Despite her deformities, she looks like an ordinary girl. I had a feeling that this quiet behavior will end as soon as her eyes shoot open.
"William! Look, I think she's waking up!" Yunyun pointed out.
Sure enough, her eyes begin to stir as she mumbles something. I began to rush as far as I can, the others were confused about what I was doing. I, however, have seen enough anime to know what will happen once she wakes up.
"You guys should back away before she goes on a rampage."
"How do you know she's going to attack us?"
"W-Well-"
Sure enough, her eyes shoot open and the next thing I know Yunyun and her father were shot across the wall.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?" the girl demanded.
"We didn't do anything! I swear!" I hastily say, my hands up in the air.
"LIAR!" She shouts.
I slowly back away as she draws closer. Her hand unfolds into some blade.
"I'll give you one last chance, what did you do to me?" Her eyes sharpen.
"We found you in a facility, it was abandoned decades ago!"
She scoffs, "You must be pretty desperate to come up with an excuse like that! Now die!"
I close my eyes as she lifts her blade.
"Wait!" Yunyun shouts.
"Huh?" She says.
I peek one eye open, there stood Yunyun with a determined face.
"Y-Your eye, it's the same as mine! Are they targeting you too!?"
Yunyun hastily shakes her head, "No they're friends! Please believe him, what he's saying is true!"
She takes a deep breath, "Very well, I'll stand down. You'll have to explain what happened though."
"Alright, but it's not gonna be pretty..."
000
I felt my heart break, she got emotional once she found out that everyone she cared for died. She broke down sobbing on the floor, I looked at Yunyun for any idea on what to do, but it was clear that she was just as clueless as I was.
"Daddy?" I heard a timid voice ask as a small head poked out from the corner.
"Aya!?" She started to slowly walk towards us, "Aya, you might want to stay back."
"But... I heard crying..."
I was about to open my mouth to intervene but the other girl's eyes widened and stopped crying. I could see the excitement in her eyes, they shined almost like a star. It was when I noticed that she had crimson eyes, but unlike crimson demons, she only had one. Her other eye was painted a pretty blue.
"I think she calmed down," Yunyun pointed out.
"Could it have been Aya?" I suggested.
"Only one way to find out." We both nodded our heads, "Hey miss, would you like to hold her?"
She shot up and got close to my face, "REALLY!? CAN I, CAN I!?"
"Y-Yeah..." I don't like her eyes, she suddenly is acting like a crazy woman.
000
"There there..." She whispers as she blissfully pats my daughter's head like an animal. I don't like how her breathing is heavier and how her face is flushed.
"So... may we ask about your name?" Yunyun asks.
She looks up, "Fuyu... Just Fuyu."
"That's a nice name."
"We could show you around the village, if you want."
Her eyes lit up, "I'd love that!"
000
We toured the village, Yunyun proudly showing it off. She was a bit awkward, thrown off guard by this generation's 'interesting' personality traits. The whole time she was carrying Aya like a doll.
"There is a problem, we need to discuss how people will react outside of the village." I pointed out.
"That's true, people could really freak out."
Fuyu looked downcast at that, I felt bad; it's not like she wanted this.
"Hey cheer up, we'll find a way! Besides, we know a couple of demons." Yunyun tried to brighten the mood.
Fuyu looked shocked, "Really?"
"Yeah, don't worry!"
An idea came to mind, "Say, why don't we cover it up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Making armor that will cover her whole arm."
"That sounds great, let's go to a blacksmith."
000
"Welcome, I am Karfuzgia. The number one blacksmith! What can I do for you?" The man strikes a pose.
"U-Um, yeah. We need you make some armor."
He looked at us for a moment, "Sure! What do you want?"
"We need something to cover this one's right arm." I point at Fuyu.
"Hm?" Fufu snapped from her daze, just noticing that we were talking about her. She flipped to a mature expression, opposite to the perverted lolicon look she had before which pissed me off.
His eyes suddenly sparkled, "You mean you're the one everyone is talking about!?"
"U-Um... yes?"
"Why would you hide something so cool!?" He sounded both excited and offended.
"Well, we were scared of how people will react outside of this village," Yunyun explained.
I whispered into his ear, "Plus, think about the possible background stories that could be made about this. Like, the armor is a seal that seals a demon in her, and if you take it off the demon will become one with her."
His eyes widened with that explanation, "I'll do this right away!" He rushed inside to work.
"What did you tell him?" Yunyun asked with narrow eyes.
I smirked, "Just something he wanted to hear." Seeing the crimson demons act and knowing Megumin gave me an idea about the things they want to hear.
She sighs, "Whatever you say, knowing you you probably said that it would give her a backstory."
"Grk." I look away, "I don't know what you mean..."
000
"So what can we do while we wait?" I ask as we walk down a small path leading to a lake.
Yunyun put a finger on her chin in thought, "Hmmm, why don't we go on a quest? You know, to test her skills."
"Yeah, but then we would have to go back to Axel."
She sighs, "True."
"Mommy, what are those?" Aya points at something concerning.
Far away, there stood a few monsters. These monsters we fought were similar to the ones we fought. Unlike the ones that chased us as soon as we came close, they seemed cautious and watched at a distance.
"Welp, I figured out what we should do." I say as I reach for my sword.
"Yeah." Yunyun gets her staff ready as Aya jumps from Fuyu's arms onto Yunyun's back.
"Fuyu, do you think you can fight, you still have a lot on you're mind but it's okay if you join."
"I don't mind, maybe I can relieve some stress." She says as her hand unfolds into a blade. The blade was straight with a slight arc, I could see the veins and bone. It was weird seeing bone used as a weapon, it was gross to see up close.
Yunyun agreed to let Aya be a party member, as long as she stays with Yunyun. She trusts Aya a little more since the incident with the robot in the facility. Apparently, they got even closer while I was out for two days, I wasn't too surprised but it was weird hearing Yunyun not flip when she called her 'mommy.'
I look at Yunyun, "Why don't you take the first attack?"
She nods, "Light of Saber!"
The blade of light pierces the first monster in the head. The others turn their head toward us. I turn to Fuyu, "Are you ready?"
She nods, "Let's do this!"
I rush toward the closest one and slash it, while Fuyu runs toward me. I was thrown off guard at first but ducted. She jumped over me and spun around, gracefully slicing the one behind it in half. I was stunned at her movements, she looked so badass! She was technically raised to become a weapon but I was scared to witness it.
"Why are these so easy to kill? We couldn't kill them this easily before?" Yunyun snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Now that you say that, it is weird that there is no metal." I look at the corpse and see a small disk on its head. It was black and a frequent red light flickered on and off. I try to take it off but notice it's attached to the head. I didn't but I had no choice, I tried to yank it out but it was stuck.
I look up from the corpse to see that the creatures have been dealt with, "Hey, does anyone have a knife?"
Yunyun shook her head, "No, I do have a dagger but I forgot to bring it."
"You have a dagger?" I asked surprised.
"Yeah, it's nothing impressive but it does it's job."
Fuyu shrugged, "I don't, you never took me shopping so I don't have anything besides this plain shirt and pants."
Yunyun and I both turned pale, I could tell that we both thought the same thing: 'oh shit!'
We just jumped a hundred steps, we really suck! We didn't even give her a weapon to defend herself with! Luckily her arm can turn into a blade, so it was a relief.
"I can just use my arm." Fuyu suggested.
"Alright just the tip." I suggested as I gave her space. The heads of these things were large but not large enough for her arm.
"T-The tip..." Yunyun mumbled with a red face for some reason.
Disgusting noises could be heard before Fuyu stands back up with a bloodied disk, wires dangled down with pieces of meat attached. I won't lie, it made me want to puke.
"What is it?"
"I don't know-" A noise cuts me off.
It sounded much larger than the monsters we killed. I could feel it was closer to us by the growl and that's when it clicked. "Shit it was a tracker!"
"A tracker?" Yunyun asked.
"Yeah, it's a device that gives away it's location." I get in a battle stance, "Everyone, be on you guard!"
I saw it, it was much larger than the others. Its top half was covered in soft grey fur, while the bottom was all white. Four yellow eyes between the two fur colors stared at us like a spider. I could tell, it was smarter than the others. It circled us, waiting to pounce; drool leaked from its mouth.
Sure enough, it pounced; luckily we were prepared and we spread outwards.
"You know what to do, Yunyun!"
"Understood! Light of Saber!" A blade of light flew at the monster. That's when something happen, so fast it shocked us. Another blade of light flew at Yunyun's which canceled out.
"Huh?" Yunyun looked around at where it came from. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, she turned to the monster who returned a knowing grin. "Did it just?"
It roared again, and another blade of slight flew at Yunyun which she dodged.
"How is that possible!?" I expressed.
"I-I don't know! I know monsters can cast magic of sorts, but not like this. Only humanoids like demons and others."
"It doesn't matter, we need to deal with this now. Yunyun, try to go at the distance since Aya is with you."
"Got it!" Yunyun nodded.
"Fuyu, I need you to help me kill this thing. As long as it stays away from Yunyun and Aya."
"Got it."
I turn back to the monster, "Now, let's send this puppy to the pound."
000
I charged forward, grasping my sword tightly. I swing it, cutting deep into the body causing it to stagger. Fuyu cut its body, however, her arm got stuck in its back.
A large fireball began to form overtop her as she struggles to pull.
"Shit!" I rush over and try to pull her out. Luckily, I pull her out just as the fireball flies forward.
"Yunyun, use your strongest fire magic! Maybe if we can overheat its mechanical body it might blow up! Fuyu tried attacking and it seems that there is metal inside it!"
"Energy Ignition!"
The fire burned its body, and some of the furs started to burn off. It roared, and fire burst outside along with large amounts of wind. I had to keep my ground while Fuyu stabbed her hand in the rough earth patch.
"Light of Saber!" Yunyun called her iconic spell.
The monster called its own and shot it directly at the other.
"Light of Saber!" I called.
It seemed caught off guard by the second spell. It tried to dodge but stumbled right into Fuyu's blade.
It shoots another fireball at Yunyun but misses. After it fizzles out, it tries again on me; luckily Fuyu hit it back. Wait, could it be that her blade can reflect magic!? SO COOL!? Another thing popped into my head, why did it only shoot one spell at a time? Unless...
"Yunyun!" I called out, "I figured it out, it can't shoot more than one at a time! We have to overwhelm it!"
"Understood!" Her eyes turned determined as she held out her hands. "Bottomless Swamp!"
A purple swamp formed under the monster causing it to sink.
"Fireball!" Yunyun called out as a fireball shot at it. It tried to block it but Yunyun kept casting fireballs again and again.
It growled in annoyance, but it couldn't do anything.
That's when it howled, large metal tentacles sprung out of its back and started pulling it out of the swamp. The body started to crack, its own body torn apart revealing its true body. Its body was dark, wires and tubes filled its body. You could see the blood move through the system. It wasn't all machine, it still had organic parts, but it was mostly machine. Its eyes stared back, it was not happy. It roared, and a large spear of light flew directly at Yunyun causing her to lose her footing and drop Aya.
"Yunyun!" I shouted.
Fuyu started to sprint toward the duo.
It snarled, shooting another one... at Aya.
"AYA!" Yunyun and I both shouted.
We scurried over but it was too late, it was over... or it should have been.
"A-Aya?" I asked, stuttering.
I look over and see Fuyu standing over Aya, the blade in a protective stance. She did it... she managed to block it. We both sigh in relief, but it didn't last. I felt cold air, I could tell Yunyun and Aya could sense it. It was all coming from her... Fuyu. She wordlessly picked up Aya and put her down next to Yunyun and began to make her way to the monster.
"You..." She pointed at it, "YOU ALMOST KILLED MY SISTER!"
I winced at the way she screeched, I noticed her eyes. They were feral, I could tell something was wrong.
She began to twitch, the fleshy arm started to grow over her entire body. I could hear the cracking of bones as her body began to change. No longer stood a girl, but a monster. Her back was hunched, and both her arms were long as the blades looked more like large sickles at the ends. Her jaw was large with large sharp teeth, and large horns formed on top of her head. Her back legs were more like a bear, large and muscular, but had the shape of a wolf's leg and feet. Her back had hundreds of small tentacles and five crimson eyes shined brilliantly on her head.
She truly was a crimson-demon.
000
She charged forward, her arms reached out. The monster took after, the next few minutes were nothing but the tearing of flesh and metal. We couldn't assist; otherwise, we could damage both of them. Luckily she managed to tear just enough where she punctured the core causing it to shut off.
I sighed in relief, but we weren't done yet. Fuyu looked at us, clearly not recognizing us.
"Shit, Yunyun, protect Aya!"
Fuyu growls, ready to pounce.
I got into a battle stance but something made me stop.
"Aya, wait!" Yunyun cried.
I noticed Aya tear herself away from Yunyun and started running toward me.
"Aya!" I call out, "What are you doing!?"
She gets in front of me and spreads her arms out. "Fuyu, stop it! Please!"
It stares her down, eyes shining. She slowly approached Aya, causing me to tense.
Aya started to slowly approach her, "I'm fine, see?"
"Sis-ter?"
Her body began to slowly shift into her humanoid form, the only thing that remained was her arm. Once she was human again, she collapsed to the ground. Aya held out her hand and started to heal her, a gentle blue light emanating from her hand. The wounds on Fyuy began to disappear.
I breathe a sigh of relief, thank god!
"Let's get back home, we have a lot of questions to ask her."
Yunyun sighed, "Agreed."
000
"Alright, you have some explaining to do Fuyu," I said with a stern voice.
She walked forward and sat on the couch on the opposite side, facing us.
"R-Right..."
"Well to start, why did you call Aya your sister?"
She looked at me before thinking back. "She reminds me of my own sister before she... p-passed away..." She pauses for a moment trying to collect herself, "My family wasn't the best you could have, my father was a criminal while my mother was into shady businesses. Don't get me wrong, they loved us to death but they spent more time protecting us than being proper parents. I had proper education and food, but never anyone I considered close... except for my s-sister. We were really close, and I mean REALLY close. I spent a lot of time taking care of her, and being in her presents calmed me down. Then the accident happened..."
"Accident?" Yunyun asked, her eyes lined with sympathy.
"Yes, one of the enemies found us... Killed my parents and then..." She looks down as tears fall.
Yunyun gasps, "I'm so sorry that happened to you."
"I-It's fine..." She wipes her eyes before continuing, "After that, I tried to live on my own... it didn't last long. It's not like I couldn't it was more I felt too depressed to do anything. After a while a man talked to me, he offered me a chance, a chance to become stronger. I thought to myself if I got stronger then maybe I could prevent others from falling for the same tragedy. I mean, who wouldn't take that offer; a chance to become stronger, I felt so p-powerless seeing everyone die. It became something I regret if you couldn't tell..."
She excused herself, I grabbed some handkerchiefs. "Here," I offer her a few.
"T-Thanks..."
I gave her a moment before she spoke.
"The facility was innocent at first, we were taken care of and there were some people I got along with. I was always fascinated by the weird machines they had, they seemed too bizarre and alien to me. We started training and continued to work hard every day. Then something happened, apparently, we were deemed too ineffective enough. The people above the man I spoke to demanded better results. Needles were put in our bodies, and experience with fire and other deadly things... just got worse. Then when it got really desperate, they fused a demonic parasite in us. This parasite made us stronger, but it fed on our bodies. Everyone improve drastically, people ran or fought better than any human before, but as soon as we were deemed ready something bad happened."
"Bad?"
She nods, "At first it seemed fine, our bodies were stronger than ever before. But then, the parasite grew on all of us. The day we were ready to leave the parasite took over our bodies. Most of their bodies couldn't handle it, our bodies changed. Extra eyes, and legs and some looked completely inhuman. The doctors tried everything to slow the process, but it was too late. Everyone was too far gone; except for me. I was the only one who was treated, they didn't have time for everyone else. I just got lucky that I was the first and that it worked on the first attempt. After that, they sealed me in a chamber to prevent me from aging and the spread of the parasite. After that, I don't know what happened. I assume they all died..."
She looked down as we both digested the information. To think she had to deal with all of that.
"Well, when we went and found you, there were eleven other chambers... I'm afraid to say they all passed away, sadly it didn't look peaceful either..." Yunyun explained quietly while looking away.
"At least they don't have to feel anymore pain..." I tried to lighten the mood which seemed to work.
She gave a sad smile, "Yeah, your right..." She sighed, "From the look of it, the project was abandoned before being picked up again later... People who far succeded us, stronger than us, powerful than us. All I wanted was to become strong to protect others, foolish of me to think I could e-even do that!"
"Don't say that about yourself, miss! Y-You saved my life!" Aya said as she hugged Fuyu's leg." Her large yellow eyes watered.
"C-Come on, it was natrual... I'm just some monster."
I shake my head, "Monster or not you saved my daughter, you can still help people."
Yunyun nodded, "That goes for me too, I don't know how to start thanking you."
She wiped her eyes, "T-Thank you for your kind words... all of you."
I smiled, "Say, since you have nowhere to go... why don't you join our party?"
Yunyun looked at me before smiling, "That's a great idea, you'd be an awsome member!"
Fuyu looked stunned, "You would!? Really!?"
We both nodded enthusiastically, even Aya nodded.
"Then... I'll gladly take your offer!"
"Does that mean she can be my big sister?" Aya asked tugging my sleeve.
I was worried for a moment that it would hurt Fuyu but to my surprise, her eyes widened with a large grin. She looks at me, "C-Can I?"
I was surprised but smiled, "Sure!"
"Then sure!" She opened her arms.
"Yay!" Aya cheered as she cheerfully jumped in her arms.
Fuyu's face turned into a perverted blissful look. "Ahhh, I could do this all-day!" She started to pat her head as she laughed creepily, "hee... hee... hee hee."
Suddenly it pissed me off, I was hoping that it would stop after she opened up, that it was some phase. Apparently not, she's just a siscon...
000
A week passed, and we went on several shopping sprees for Fuyu. We got her new clothes and a weapon. The weapon was a large scythe, its handle was long a black. The end was curved slightly, sharpened to a point. The head of the weapon was silver, red crystal embedded inside. Four large teeth were made on the bottom of it. I won't lie, it looks badass.
Right now we're at the blacksmith waiting for Fuyu's arm.
"Here it is!" He lifts the metal arm onto the table with a large thud.
It was red, the hand section looked like a claw. Odd symbols painted the arm.
Fuyu raised her eyebrow, "What's with the symbols?"
He laughs, "It's a seal of course!"
Her eyes widen, "Really!?"
He rubs the back of his head, "Of course not! It just looked cool!"
Fuyu's eyes suddenly darken, I sigh and put a hand on her should, "You'll get used to this..."
000
"Wow, you look incredible!" Yunyun gushed.
Fuyu had a dark blue jacket that Yunyun's father insisted she wore. The sleeves and sides were lined with crimson red. Her boots were jet-black, with a silver buckle. She had a spiked bracelet on her left arm. She tied her black hair into a ponytail. On her jacket, there were five black spheres for her eyes. Each one was made from glass that she could see out off but others couldn't see them. She told us that she could see through them as if it was her own. On her other hand was the piece of armor covering her entire arm.
"That is true, you look good!" I praised.
"Thanks." She says with a smile. "I'm grateful to all of you, you all picked me back up and gave me a... a family!"
I smile as well, "I guess we all don't need to be lonely anymore."
"Yup!" Aya said juming up onto Yunyun.
Yunyun chuckles, "So much has happened in these past few months, I can hardly believe it! All because of you..." She turned to me, "Thank you, for everything William!" She gave me a bright smile.
I felt my cheeks burn, "W-Well, I didn't do much, really!"
She sighs, "Don't be so humble, who knew how long it would be before I met someone as nice as you?"
I rub my head, "W-Well, I could say the same thing. You brought so much more into my life when I met you. Meeting Aya, Fuyu, all of your other friends, and other 'friends.'"
She giggles, "Yeah, you're right. Let's continue doing all kinds of adventures, together!"
"Of course!"
Fuyu nodded, "Always."
Aya grinned, "Where ever daddy, mommy, and big sis go; I'll follow right behind!"
Now we all don't have to be alone, we can be together for all of it: the good, the bad, and everything in between!
-EPILOGUE-
"So what now, should we start heading home?" Yunyun asked.
"Wait," Fuyu halted us. "Can I make a request?"
"Sure."
"C-Can w-we go to the facility, to see the others? I want to say goodbye and put my past behind me."
Yunyun looked at me and nodded, I nodded back."
"Alright, follow us." I said while motioning.
000
"Here we are..." I said as a sigh escaped my mouth.
The door was still open as Yunyun's father broke it.
I let everyone else enter before me. I felt nauseous when I came here, the glowing red light didn't help either.
"So where are they?" Fuyu asked.
I walked in, "What do you mean they're right he-"
My eyes widened, all eleven chambers were broken and lacking people. Broken glass littered the place.
I turn to see Yunyun's horrified gaze.
"T-The people... they're all gone..."
Author's Notes:
I don't usually add A/N's but I decided to add this to tell you how I came up with these characters. I wanted all of them to be based on the theme of Loneliness in one way or another. Yunyun lacks true friends besides Megumin, Kazuma, Wiz, and a few others. The others use her to their advantage due to how she can never say no. William is most similar to Yunyun, with people ignoring his presence. I wrote Aya to become a daughter to William and Yunyun, forced to sit in the same spot for all of eternity, all alone until they arrive. I wrote Fuyu as a big sister, she was asleep for a long time, so her loneliness is based on the lack of family. Everyone she knew and loved died, she had no one but herself.
I never intended Fuyu to even exist, but it felt weird only having a trio. I decided it would be an interesting idea to add a dark twist to the Crimson Demon origins. I thought it would be an interesting idea for a character, to be corrupted by a demonic parasite. I also wanted to add the typical Konosuba humor so I made her into a major siscon along with a lolicon. I plan on having Cecily will meet her at some point, but that will not happen yet.
The next part will come out sometime soon, so look forward to it!