Hello, my dear readers,
back with me again in 'Night' series.
However we're no longer in 'Night'.
We're starting to enter the new book, Night: To The Nightmare.
I hope this continuation of the story can surpass the previous one.
I've draw a cover story for this one, but I'm not too good at
drawing, hope you will like it.
Elsword: And I thought my job's finished.
Karis: I think this story's still far from the true end.
Now, Let the fairy tale begin.
The 1st Nightmare
Elsword, Karis, Harza, and Vara are on a journey to travel around the world.
They wish to stay far away from the Kingdom, however...
To do that they must reach a harbour first.
They need to get a ship to travel across the sea, hence they're on their way to the harbour.
Elsword's POV
"I still can't forgive you, Karis."
"Yes?"
Karis tilted her head without any sign of guilt.
"You... You... I thought you're really dead!"
I hugged her tightly, only to get an uppercut.
This girl's power's still so strong even though she's no longer a succubus.
"Don't hug me, pervert! Even I not sure if I can stay alive like this! The chance of success when using Anti-Succubus rune is only 5%! I'm starting to wonder if the Goddess of El answered my prayer..."
Her eyes are teary.
Looks like she's really glad to be alive.
She's the one who saved my life more than once.
If only she didn't appear I don't know if I can fight all of my friend at once.
It's still hard to believe.
We've went through so much, but they're still afraid of me.
No wonder they never object my order.
In exception of Aisha of course.
"But still, I'm glad you're still alive, Karis."
I smiled at her.
I can see her blushing.
"W-W-What! Are you teasing me?!"
"Who knows?"
I face forward while grinning.
She's so cute, even though she's half zombie half human.
Well, as long as I can stay with her I don't mind what race is she.
"Elsword, I think we need to find a change of clothes for Karis, her clothes are so dirty."
Harza suggests.
She's right, but bringing her to city won't be a wise choice, she still get her horn and bat wings ears. It would be ugly if others see it.
"For now, anyone got a hoodie?"
"I have it, for what?"
Vara show me her hoodie.
I took it and give it to Karis.
"Use this, so no one can see your horns and ears."
Karis took it obediently, before starting a tantrum.
"Uhhh- I don't like wearing a hoodie! It would be weird on me!"
She starts to protests, but we don't give a thing of what she's saying.
Finally she gave up and wear it.
There I saw something unbelievable.
"... That... Cat ears..."
I can only spell out those words.
Due to her horns, the hood's making a shape of cat ears.
Somehow it looked really cute.
"Kyaaaa! Karis-chan!"
Harza who's weak against cute things hugged Karis tightly.
But Karis didn't reject her, how enviable!
"B-Big sis... I'm not cute!"
"Your retort only made you look cuter! Kyaaaa!"
She's starting a mess, but it's true that Karis' cute, to the point you want roll all over your bed while hugging a pillow.
"Hey, enough of this. Let's go to find some clothes."
I don't really need change of clothes since I'm a man, but girls love to change clothes, I also have quite a sum of money, so I can pay for them.
We head towards the Altera City.
At night Altera is really beautiful, you can see the light are forming a star constellation.
Luckily we've reached this place at night, so we can enjoy the night view of this city.
"So beautiful-!"
Harza yelled in happiness.
Vara's looking around curiously.
She never went shopping before?
And for Karis...
She's hiding behind me.
Like a lost kitten.
No, she really is the kitten.
"E-Elsword... Why are there so many people..."
She trembled behind me.
Looks like she's not good with crowd like this.
Even though she's an Ex-Queen of Succubus.
"Why are you so afraid?"
"Because... There are so many people... Who might hate me..."
I see, she's well awared of her name, no one don't know Karis' the Succubus Queen who made many people suffer. Even though I'm sure it's not her doing but her underlings' doings out of their boredom.
"It's okay, just walk. If something happened I will protect you."
It's not like anything will happened.
Anyone would be scared seeing someone holding a big sword like me on the road.
She's afraid maybe it's because she lost her power?
I did remember she's not a succubus anymore.
"Hey, Elsword... Let's get back..."
She's pleading me like a weak little animal.
Somehow she's really cute.
Too cute that it's a crime.
So I hugged her.
"W-!?"
As expected.
Another attack coming.
This time I was kicked for about 5 metres away.
"P-P-Pervert! I said don't hug me in front of people!"
So you mean I can hug you if we're alone!?
Just when I'm about to get excited-
"Now don't you ever touch me before I let you to do so!"
NOOOOOO!
THIS PUNISHMENT IS TOO HARSH FOR ME!
But...
"You have this much of power, I don't think you need to afraid of people?"
"Tsk-!"
Wait- What?
I think I just heard a click of tongue.
Please tell me I'm wrong!
"I-I mean..."
That way of talking's just so suspicious!
So after all she just doesn't want to change her clothes!
I pulled her into a boutique shop.
"Hello, clerk. Here's my girlfriend, she needs new clothes because her clothes now is dirty, mind finding a suitable cloth for her?"
"W-!?"
Karis' so surprised that her face's boiling.
The clerk took a look at Karis and-
"Kyaaaaa! So cute! Follow me, let big sister find you good clothes!"
"K-Kyaa!?"
She pulled the timid and small Karis to the changing room.
I really hope that nothing happened.
'Hey, that's quite a nice accessories you have! Can I touch it?'
'No! It's expensive so don't!'
I'm getting quite worried.
But looks like she managed to trick her.
After waiting for a while they come out with-
Karis in China dress.
I was literally stunned.
What a stunning beauty.
The dress showed her body lines so perfectly.
This dress is a magic itself.
"W-What? Hurry up and give me your opinion!"
"... –So beautiful."
Her face turned into red in an instant that even a chameleon would be ashamed of itself.
She's really beautiful.
I can find no words to describe it other than that.
"I-Is that so-? Then I will take this one."
"Okay, let's pay for it."
I went to the cashier.
I was surprised that piece of cloth costs so much, but it's still in an acceptable price.
So I managed to pay for it.
Since the china dress is expensive we decided to keep it and only wear it at special event like a party or something else, so we bought another cloth, she looked like she want a sleeveless cloth so the clerk picked the one that...
Expose her chest.
It's not like I'm not used to it, normally her attire was even more revealing, but seeing her in normal clothes like this made my heart raced.
But as long as she's happy I don't mind anything else.
After we finished shopping with the clothes we went to find Vara and Harza.
But those two are not around.
I wonder if they're lost?
Harza's not a problem, but Vara's not used to society.
I'm afraid she might get hit by some perverts.
"Hey, little girl. Want to come with us?"
"Your hair color's purple, how cute."
"U-Um..."
Told you.
"I'm sorry, she's mine."
I took Vara's hand and pull her with me.
"Tsk... Already taken, huh."
The perverts cursed me, but I don't care.
"... Elsword, I'm not yours."
"I'm sorry, but it's the keyword to get them away from you."
She stay quiet, but I can see her cheeks are getting red slightly.
When I met with Karis, she's looking at me unhappily.
"She's yours, huh?"
"U-Uh, that's how to save a girl who's getting hit, so I don't think twice..."
And then she smiled.
Thank goodness.
"If that so, it's fine then. Big sis is not around, I don't know where is she."
Harza's missing?
But I don't have to get worried, maybe she's just carried away while having fun.
"Don't worry, she's not the type that will follow-"
'Hey, sis. Want to have something fun?'
'Eh really? If it's fun let's go!'
"-Strangers..."
I moved my neck slowly to see Harza's there with those perverts from before.
I hurriedly go there and call for Harza.
"Harza! Let's go home!"
"Eh, Elsword? I'm sorry! Maybe next time!"
Harza apologized to the perverts.
"Tsk! He again?!"
I'm being cursed again, they say if you're cursed three times the curse will work, so I hope I'm not cursed again after this.
I also bought clothes for Harza and Vara, I just guessed their size but it looks like the clothes suit and fit with them, so it's fine then.
Somehow I can see Karis pouting.
Just what's with her?
Karis' POV
I'm happy that Elsword bought me new clothes, but to think he would bought those two clothes too...
It's not like I want to be special!
I just... Feel like he's treating me the same like the others.
"Hey, Karis. Why are you looking unhappy?"
"... Playboy."
"Huh-?"
I turn around and walks away.
I don't know how did that words came out.
It's not like we're dating yet.
So I don't have any right or ownage of him.
I don't own him...
I do want to own him...
But I'm not ready to do a romantic relationship...
He did said he love me, but will his heart waver?
Big sis' pretty...
Vara's cute...
Ugghhh...!
It looks like I will most likely lose if I were to compared with them...
Sigh...
"Karis? What are you doing?"
"Big sis..."
Big sis sat beside me.
She caressed my head.
"Is there a problem?"
"Um... I'm afraid Elsword might starts to hate me."
"Hm? Why? Didn't you two just start dating?"
"D-! We're not dating yet!"
"Hahaha don't be so worked up. Then? Why would he hate you?"
I sighed.
"Because... I'm still not ready to do a romantic relationship... I'm afraid he might be tired of waiting and hate me..."
Big sis sighed and then she hugged me.
"Big sis?"
"It's okay, Karis. If you're not ready it's fine, Elsword's not a bad guy, he will surely understand your condition, so you must trust in him more."
"How... Can you be so sure of it, big sis?"
"Call it woman's intuition."
She winked.
Woman's intuition...
"Thank you, big sis. I'm feeling better now."
"That's good, feel free to tell me if you met a trouble."
Big sis' smile's so sweet.
To think that she used to tried to kill me.
Her black hair's emanating purple aura.
It somehow looked exotic.
"Big sis, have you ever fell in love?"
"Me? ... Yes I do."
"When?"
She sighed and look at me with a gentle smile.
"It's not too long ago, but I already gave up on it, since it's impossible."
"Really? Who?"
"S-E-C-R-E-T."
She poke my forehead.
She's treating me as a child.
"Muu... Big sis is so mean."
"Hahaha, maybe next time, Karis."
She smiled and left.
"Remember, don't lose your faith."
"Umm."
I nodded at her.
Thank you big sis.
Now I need to apologize to Elsword...
Elsword's POV
Karis' acting weird, she gets irritated easily.
I guess she ate wrong food.
I'm going to buy her a 'Snicker'.
"Let go of me!"
Hm?
Looks like a girl's in trouble.
"Hey, don't be so cruel, let's play with brother."
"Brother will be kind, let's go."
"I said GO AWAY!"
That girl is being hit by those pervert lolicons.
How disgusting.
"Hey, go away from her."
I point my sword at them.
"Tsk! You again!"
Huh? It's them again!?
With this I'm cursed three times, I will surely be cursed now, please bless me O Goddess of El.
"U-Um... Thanks for saving me."
"Nah, it's nothing-"
She hugged me.
Wh-What!?
"He-Hey!"
"I need to thank you! Thank you so much!"
I-I understand, but if it keeps going like this I will looked like a lolicon!
Her pink hair's fluttering and giving me a sweet scent of cherry.
"Elswo...Rd...?"
Chill ran through my spines.
Without even looking I already knew who is that.
"K-Karis! Wait- I can explain!"
"So you love little girl like that, HUH!? I'm so stupid to trust you!"
*Slap*
She slapped my cheek and go away.
Sigh. This will need a long explanation before she will understand.
"Now... Who are you?"
"My name's Ignia! I came from Ranox Nice to meet you, big brother!"
She smiled sweetly to me.
The 1st Nightmare End
That should be it for the opening.
I hope it's quite interesting!
Here comes the New Challenger!
Ignia: Nice to meet you! I'm Ignia!
Karis: *Stare*
Elsword: Nice to meet you, hope we get along well.
Okay, that's it. See you again my dear readers! :D