Discord: C7CaQzCfKQ
This is the old Loners Vol 1, if you wish to see the first chapter of the rewrite, it starts at chapter ten. Once all chapters of the Vol 1 rewrite are out, the old ones will be deleted and replaced.
Chapter 5:
"Yunyun, behind you!"
"Light of Saber!" Yunyun cast the all-familiar spell, striking down on a rookie killer. A black feline who's known to use goblins as a way to lure new adventures out is now screaming in agony as the bolt of light pierces it.
Given the chance, I run up and plunge my sword into its head. The beast falls limp, causing Yunyun and I to breathe a sigh of relief.
Suddenly Yunyun seemed to gasp in pain.
"Yunyun, what's wrong?" I asked.
"It got me..." She lifted her arm revealing a deep gash. I could see tears coming down her face, clearly in the distress.
"Oh shit, Yunyun!" I rush over to her to get a better look at her wound. "Can you walk?"
She shakingly nodded her head. I had to get to a healer quickly, so I put her good arm around my shoulder and painfully made our way to the guild.
000
As the door burst open, I cry out, "Is anyone a healer!?"
To my relief, Aqua was there; she saw me and Yunyun. "What happened?"
"I don't know, we were fighting a rookie killer. It managed to get Yunyun, luckily it was only the one arm."
"Done!" Aqua said proudly.
Yunyun's face morphed from distressed to relieved in an instant.
"Thank you so much Aqua! Your healing magic is amazing as always."
"Hehehe, praise me more!" Aqua demanded as she rubbed her nose.
"Careful, that praise is gonna go straight to her brain and feed her ego." Kazuma walked toward us.
"Huh!? What did you say you hikiNEET?" Aqua cried.
I turned to Yunyun, "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah, just a little dazed is all..."
"What happened?"
"I think it managed to get me while I was distracted. I was so busy fighting I probably didn't realize it until it was over."
I sighed, "As long as you're okay, that's all that matters to me."
000
"Alright, we need a healer on our team; otherwise we're screwed."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right; we may not get very far without one." Yunyun nodded her head.
"The problem is how we find one."
We decided to ask, only to find that everyone was already at a party, which brings us to now.
"Hey Yunyun, this quest seems interesting. In an abandoned warehouse, seems like there is something interesting. There haven't been any monsters reported in the area as well, they think that something is causing this."
We both agreed that if anything happens we both back out immediately. Hopefully, this quest isn't too eventful for us.
000
"So this is the place..." I stare at the wooden shed that looked broken down. It looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
I took a step forward, and with a loud gulp, I opened the door. The first thing that hit me was the smell of rotten wood causing me to gag.
We walked in, the room was quite small and dark; water dripped down from the ceiling on my shoulder.
"You check that side, I'll check the other side." I told Yunyun, that the place wasn't too big so it was not like we could get lost.
There wasn't much to look at, old books and boxes scattered the whole place.
"Hey Yunyun, you see anything on your side?" I turned around to notice that the air was oddly quiet, "Yunyun?"
"AHHHH!" I heard a scream across the other side of the shed.
I instantly knew it was Yunyun, without a second to waste I rushed over to her side.
"Yunyun! Yunyun, where are you!?"
"Over here!" I heard a cry out from the other side of the wall.
"Yunyun? how did you get in there?"
"I don't know, I was leaning against the wall and the next moment it spun around."
"Stand back for a moment."
"O-Okay." I heard quiet footsteps, confirming she stepped back.
I push myself and without much effort, the wall gives in and moves.
"What the hell is this room."
I looked around the room was empty, until I noticed it. On top of a small chair, a porcelain doll was staring at us. The doll was strangely more realistic than anyone I have ever seen.
Scary!
"Well I think we had enough of this for one day, let's get outa of here quickly."
"I agree, this place is giving me the creeps."
We began walking out before a ghostly voice stopped us.
"Wait..."
"Huh?" I swiftly turned around.
Yunyun flinched, "W-Who's there!?"
"You don't... want to play... with me?"
WHAT THE HELL, SCARY!
After a moment, creepy high-pitched giggles came from everywhere. "You sound like a fun bunch. What is your name miss and mister?"
"W-William..."
"Y-Y-Y-Yunyun."
"W-Where are you?" We both asked
"Right in front of you silly." She replied and bursts into giggles once more.
Wait, that would mean... Oh hell no!
"Y-You're that c-creepy doll!?" Yunyun stuttered.
"Bingo!"
"So, you're haunting a doll?" I asked.
"Hmmm, sorta? I was more forced to haunt this doll, which is why the only thing I can do is see and talk."
"Forced, that's awful!" Yunyun expressed.
"What happened exactly?"
"I can't remember what happened exactly, it was too long ago. But I do remember the man who put me in this doll. The doll maker was what he was called." The girl's voice turned solemn, "After he killed my parents, he put me inside this doll. He said he used these dolls to store our souls, but I don't know what that exactly means. The good news is that was a long time ago, he should be dead by now. I've been so lonely, I haven't had company in a while; could you please stay a while longer?"
"Sure..."
Her voice picked back up again, "Great, do you have any stories?"
"Yeah, but first; what's you're name?" Yunyun asked.
She giggled, "Aya, Aya Corrior."
For the next hour and a half, we told stories about our bizarre adventures, I couldn't see her but I could tell she was enjoying them just by the enthusiasm in her voice.
"Alright, I think we should be headed back; it's gotten quite late out."
"Wait, before you go. Could you come back sometime, I don't want to be alone anymore!" I heard Aya plead.
"Well... I..." I looked at Yunyun. Her eyes looked like a puppy pleading for us to come back.
I thought for a moment before an idea popped into my head. "Wait, what if we take you back to where I live?"
"Huh? You'd... You'd really do that for me?" Aya asked.
Yunyun looked over at me with a surprised look.
"Sure, I'm sure you want to get out of this nasty old place."
"I... thank you... thank you so much! I've always wanted to see the world, I'm tired of seeing the same old thing."
"So, the thing is; who is going to take her? It's not like we live together."
"Eh? I thought you were a couple."
Both Yunyun and I blushed. "N-No, we're not."
"Y-Yeah, Chris only made us d-date as a punishment. There is no way we could be together, right William?"
"Grk!" I flinched, why did that hurt more than I thought it would? "Y-Yeah, n-no way hahaha."
After a bit of discussion, it was decided that I would be the one carrying her.
000
"Where are we going?" Aya asked.
"To the adventurer guild, they are the guys who sent us to check the place out."
"My mind can't wrap my head around this still, all of this makes my head spin. Being inside that place made me feel crazy!"
"Well, we just have to make up for all that lost time!" I said as we reach the entrance of the guild.
"Now before we enter, we both agreed that you should probably speak only when you are with us. We don't want to spook the others, plus I don't know what will happen if Aqua discovers you..."
"Oh yeah... Aqua..." Yunyun muttered. "That could be really bad if she finds out, considering how obsessed she is with the undead. Though I heard rumors that there is a ghost that lives in the mansion."
"Well, let's be careful just in case."
We walk in only to see Kazuma shouting at Aqua for wasting the money he gave her.
We casually walked by, which caused both Megumin and Kazuma to squeak as they saw Aya attached to my back.
"What the hell is that creepy doll!?" Kazuma shouted while pointing at the doll.
"Heyyy, I'm not that creepy!" Aya replied.
"The hell!?" Kazuma jumped back.
"Ahahaha nice ventriloquist act Yunyun!" I quickly say while nervously laughing. "Well, it's nice to see you Kazuma, but I gotta go!" I grab Yunyun and pull her along towards Luna.
"Ah, your back! Did you find anything?" Luna asked.
We proceeded to explain what happened, leaving out the details of Aya only saying that we found a doll.
She found it odd that I wanted to keep the doll but she let it go.
With a sigh of relief, I head to my room and place her on my shelf. Yunyun follows me in and sits in one of the chairs while I lay on the bed.
"So, the problem is how we are going to carry you everywhere we go."
"You plan on carrying her everywhere?" Yunyun asked shocked.
"Of course, how else will she see the world? The problem is I'd have to make her a container, which may block her view."
Aya sighs, "If only I could walk..."
"Don't worry, we're finding a way around it!" Yunyun said enthusiastically trying to cheer her up.
"Wait, I just remembered something." Aya suddenly spoke. "The doll maker said that he was after an item that mommy had."
"An item?" I asked.
"Mhm, it was said to make dolls more alive. It was an item passed down from generation to generation."
"Makes me wonder if it is a divine relic..." I muttered.
"Devine relic?" Both Yunyun and Aya asked.
"Something Chris told us- I mean me."
"So maybe we can find this divine relic thing to help you walk again."
"No, last I heard, the relic never worked after the relic got passed down. But I remember that the doll maker wanted to create a replica," Aya explained.
"Perhaps we can find more information on this doll maker guy." I suggested.
We both agreed to look for any information on the doll maker.
Yunyun took her to leave, allowing me to sleep peacefully. Or I hopped, however having a creepy ass doll staring at me didn't help at all; despite knowing that Aya wouldn't do anything.
000
The next morning, Yunyun met up with me to ask about the doll maker.
"The doll maker?" Luna asked.
We both nodded, "We were curious if you had any information, like where he lived?"
"Well from what I've heard he used to live in a forest east of here. He was obsessed with his dolls to an unhealthy degree. The only thing was clear, he sought immortality. Rumor has it that he created an item that allows anyone to possess inanimate objects."
We continued to ask around, gathering as much information as we could.
From what we could gather, he was a hunger for power; this hunger drove him to seek the power of immortality. Our only lead is the woods he is said to have lived in.
We begin to pack our things and grab Aya. We inform her that we have a lead and hopefully find what we are looking for.
000
The leaves crunched beneath our feet joined with constant chirping, and we continued to head deep into the forest in comfortable silence.
"Are we almost there yet?" Aya broke the silence.
I sigh, "To be honest, we don't even know if it really is here."
"Awww!" I could practically hear Aya pout.
"I see something ahead!" Yunyun pointed to an old crooked house.
The house was almost identical to the shed.
000
We stepped inside and I instantly felt like I was watched.
The rooms were old and dark, nothing but boxes. The further we head in, we begin to see dolls litter the ground.
Both of us made an audible gulp.
"This is definitely the place..." I say, trying to calm my nerves.
We continue, the creep along finding absolutely nothing.
With a sigh of disappointment, we turn back.
"I really thought that it would be here, am I never gonna walk again?" Aya asked hopelessly, she sounded so lonely, something that we could understand.
"A-Aya, I-" Yunyun was interrupted by the sound of a large crack.
"Shit, that doesn't sound- AHHHHH!" I screamed as I suddenly fall, followed by Yunyun.
000
I don't know how long I was out, but Yunyun was the first to wake me. Looking up, I saw the roof of a cave; water slowly dripped down, hitting the walls of the cave.
The next thing I noticed was the floor, it was a large circular platform with white stone flooring. Odd patterns were etched into the stone, almost ritualistically.
"Where is Aya!?" I asked, noticing that the doll isn't there.
Yunyun shook her head, "I don't know! I've been trying to look for her, but this cave is so large that I'm afraid I'll get lost."
"You don't have to look too far..." A new deep voice boomed, followed by the smell of rotting flesh.
We both looked around for the origin of the voice finding nothing. That was until we looked up, and a large porcelain hand grasped onto Aya. It crawled forth revealing an abomination of flesh and porcelain.
"You're the doll maker, aren't you?" I asked.
"Some call me that, yes." Its glassy green eye's stared at us.
"Let Aya go!" Yunyun shouted.
It cackled, "Unfortunately I cannot do that, I thought I absorbed all the souls, I can't believe I missed the most important one. Her ancestor made it possible after all, without that item I would never have gotten this far."
He crawled down next to us, crushing the doll in front of us. A white orb floated out of it and instantly got absorbed into the doll maker.
"AYA!" We both shouted.
A few seconds later, more cracking could be heard until it finally stopped.
The thing dropped from the ceiling with a loud crash. Porcelain covered the flesh, like ice freezing over a lake.
"Finally, I'm complete... You still dare to face me?" It asked, cocking its head to the side.
Yunyun and I go to a combat stance ready to face off against this demon. However it did something unexpected, it swiftly grabbed Yunyun.
"Hm, this one is important to you yes? Plenty of memories?"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER!?" I demanded an answer.
"Don't worry, I'm just... preserving her."
I begin to charge only to get flung backward as its hand collides with my body. I could feel my head ring as a large throbbing could be felt throughout my body.
"Yun...Yun..." I slowly breathed out.
My eyes blurred as I looked at her. I could tell she was scared, but she was putting on a comforting smile. "P-Please don't worry about me William, do me a favor and get out of here... O-Okay?"
"Y-Yunyun..."
Suddenly a brilliant white light surrounded Yunyun before consuming everything.
"YUNYUN!"
Then everything went dark.
000
"YUNYUN!" I shout, launching upwards only to notice the soft grass underneath me. I was directly under the woods. The second thing I notice is the number of wounds I have, I couldn't even move my left arm and my leg felt like shit anytime I tried to move it. Then I remember everything... Shit, Yunyun!
I looked desperately around to find Yunyun to no avail. Limping around I notice a human-sized porcelain doll... of Yunyun. Just like Aya, she looked extremely realistic except slightly uncanny.
I could feel an overwhelming wave of emotion wash over me. I could feel tears roll down my eyes, "Y-Yunyun?"
"P-Please respond or something, anything... Please I beg of you! Y-Yunyun? Yunyun?" Getting no response, I uncontrollably sob.
I failed, I just lost my best and only friend...
"W-William?" A ghostly voice rang out causing my head to jerk up.
"Y-Y-Yunyun!? YUNYUN?"
"I-It's me..." She said.
Suddenly a wash of anger along with my sadness burst forth. "Why d-didn't you answer me!? Y-Y-You scared me, I thought I lost you forever and... and!" I begin to sob again.
"I-I-I'm sorry, it's just this is a-all so sudden and I was so shocked. I didn't know what to do and I..." She seemed to pause for a moment, finally grasping the situation that was playing in front of her. "O-Oh jeez, it's alright, I-I'm here... I'm here."
I grabbed Yunyun with my right hand and pulled her close while sobbing. Despite her being there I still felt lonely, she felt cold and the porcelain skin didn't help.
I spent a good five minutes crying before I managed to pull myself together.
"So... what are w-we gonna do." I continued to sniff while wiping my eyes.
"Well, we have to tell the truth to them. We can't defeat the doll maker in this state, the best thing we can do is get help, maybe K-Kazuma's party can help... Maybe Dust's as well..."
"Dust?"
"He's an... interesting character... He's also a friend and a massive pervert, l-let's use him as a last resort."
I want to question what his relationship is with Yunyun to have her react like that.
I knew one thing, Megumin is not gonna like me after she finds out what happened..."
000
"YOU WHAT!?" Megumin shouted at me, causing everyone to turn their heads.
Megumin was about to charge at me, but Kazuma and Darkness held her back.
"Let me go! Let me go! I swear I'm going to throw my hands on this man! I knew I had a bad feeling about you!"
"Calm down, you psychotic loli!"
"You just called me a little girl again!" Megumin shouted while wriggling about.
"Please let me explain!"
"Explain!? You want to explain why she was turned into a doll!? I should never have even-"
"ENOUGH!" Yunyun shouted, completely out of character.
This caused everyone to go dead quiet.
"Y-Yunyun?" Megumin asked. "You were here the whole time?"
"Y-Yes, now will you shut up and listen for once!"
The fact that Yunyun, known as the timid girl who is too scared to say no; told someone to shut up caused Megumin to freeze in shock.
We both proceeded to explain everything, even Aya.
"Wait, you found the doll maker!?" Luna asked in shock as she walked toward them.
"Y-Yeah, this is the result of finding him... He turned Yunyun into a doll with little effort."
This caused everyone to shiver.
"Luna is it alright if I make a request to the board to hire any potential parties to take down the doll maker?"
"S-Sure." She begins to walk away.
I had a feeling that no one would pick up the request.
"Hey Kazuma, do you want to help me take him o-"
"HELL NO! I don't have a deathwish, I don't want to become a doll!"
"Kazuma!" Darkness scolds.
"I agree, I never want to party with this fool."
"Megumin?" Aqua asks.
"Plus Yunyun will always live in our hearts!" She proceeded to look wistfully at the sky.
"AHHHHH MEGUMIN YOU MONSTER!" Yunyun cries out.
"Man, that's quite sad..." I sigh, "The hero who killed the demon king doesn't want to save a helpless girl, wait till everyone hears about this..."
"Grk!" Kazuma flinches.
I turn to Megumin, "Plus aren't you the one who wanted to do a quest together?"
"Grk!"
"F-F-Fine... w-we'll do the quest..." Both reluctantly said.
000
I didn't know where to put Yunyun, so I put her on the chair in my room. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
"Alright, so what's our game plan?"
"Well, we have to gather as many members as we can before we go and attack, we have to attack as soon as possible Aya's soul may not be fully absorbed yet."
"Then after tomorrow, we'll go for it; for now, let's just get as many people on board as possible."
I close my eyes and begin to feel myself drift away, last thing I see is Yunyun's lifeless eyes.
000
I walked around the guild the next day asking people to join. I didn't have any progress, everyone refused to even think about it.
"Hey, I heard you were asking for people to join?" An annoying voice called out. I turned around to see a guy with blond hair as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "You know, I happen to-"
"Absolutely not." Yunyun cut in, she said it so admittedly it makes me worry what he's done to her.
"Why not?" I asked, while he seemed like an asshole, surely he could still be of some use.
"That 'thing' is what I was talking about."
"Ah, so that's the thing you were talking about..." I stared at him with disgust.
It made sense now, the previous member she was forced to spend time with, Dust. He made a name for himself for his lying, manipulation, and perversions. He even had a girlfriend, honestly from what Yunyun had to put up with, I'm surprised his girlfriend hadn't left him yet.
"Yeah, nevermind let's move to someone else."
"Aw come on, don't be like that!" Dust protested.
"F-Fine, only if you bring all your party members."
"WHAT!?" Yunyun screamed in protest.
"Look, I would usually agree with you; but, this is a dire situation and we're gonna need all the help we can get." I look over at dust with disgust, "Even if we have to use 'things' like that."
"H-Hey, I'm human too ya know!?" The blond thing screeched.
"Fine, only this onece." Yunyun sighed.
"H-Hey!"
000
"Hey, you all ready?" I asked about Kazuma's party.
They all nodded, though Megumin and Kazuma seemed reluctant. We stood outside the guild waiting on Dust's group to arrive.
We heard footsteps causing me to turn my head. I noticed the blond thing with his party, Keith, Taylor, and Lynn. Two other people followed beside them, both were young girls. One had short pink hair in a green dress and the other with white hair and a plain white dress.
I could tell that both were abnormal, though I can't fully grasp why.
"Yo." Kazuma waved.
"Yo." Dust waved back. He looked around, "So, this is it?"
I sigh, "Yeah, are we all ready?"
They nodded and we began our move. I walked beside Dust, "So, why are there two little girls at your party? You aren't that scummy, right?"
"H-Hey, I'm not that scummy!"
This was the blond thing, so I held my skeptical look.
"He's telling the truth believe it or not, luckily for us; his scumminess lessens when Faitfore is around."
I sigh in relief, at least I won't have to put up with that.
I look over at the white-haired girl riding on his back, her face seemed expressionless.
"He reeks..." She pinches her nose and points at me.
This little...
"So what exactly is this quest about?" The pink-haired girl asked.
"You never told her?" I asked Dust.
"W-Well I-"
"He just dragged me off while I was doing important business..." The girl said while glaring at Dust.
"You really are scum, huh?"
"Don't bully him." Faitfore snapped.
"I don't think obsessing over Vanir is business..." Dust retorted.
000
"This is the place?" Dust said looking at the small house in disappointment. "Here I was excited - OW!?"
Lynn pinched his ear, "Don't say such things."
"How do you even put up with him?"
She sighed, "Sometimes I don't know myself... but he has his moments."
"If you say so..."
We all decide to head in, the same old smell hit our noses.
"This is it..." I pointed at the hole, "Any ideas on how to get down?"
We planned everything, and the one thing that we didn't think about was the massive hole in the house.
"I could freeze a way down?" Lynn suggested.
"Yeah, I think I can also use magic, you'll just have to pick me up and 'aim' me," Yunyun stated.
"Freeze Gust!" x2.
"It actually works!" Yunyun exclaimed with shock.
A slide was created from the ice, allowing us to land safely.
"Woah..." Lynn was in awe of the sheer scale of the cave.
"This is so cool!" Megumin was enthusiastic.
"Woah, that's creepy!" Dust yelled.
A creepy doll was sitting on a small chair. It had no hair and had a white frilly dress.
Dust got closer to it as its green eyes stared lifelessly at nothing.
Wait green eyes- SHIT!
"DUST GET AWAY FROM THAT THING-"
A loud crack interrupted me, followed by a barrage of cracks and flesh moving.
The next thing I know is Dust flying across the room.
Its body contorted into a monstrosity, its thin long legs reaching out. The area where the mouth was supposed to be broken apart revealed jagged teeth made from leftover porcelain.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" Kazuma shouted.
"The doll maker..." I answered.
It picked itself off the ground almost tripping itself.
"You're back..." it answered back with a growl. "How annoying, can't get enough of me?"
"Yes, I can't get enough of you, now give us back Yunyun and Aya!"
"Not happening!" It arched back before charging forward.
Taylor was the first to attack, his sword bounced off one of the limbs. "The body is too tough to penetrate with a sword!"
"Shit, what do we do!?" I yell.
"Try to freeze him!" Kazuma shouted.
"Freeze Gust!" Lynn yelled.
"Crystal Prison!" Yunyun yelled.
The doll maker was encased in a large amount of ice, with small ice crystals growing from the sides.
I turn to Yunyun, "Use bottomless swamp."
She nodded, "Understood!"
A large purple swamp was created, causing the monster to sink.
This could be it, without any causalities.
The ice started to crack before shattering, ice flew everywhere. One of the larger chunks hit darkness much to everyone's despair and her... pleasure? Why the hell is she panting and red-faced?
It jumped out of the swamp using the leftover ice as a platform.
"Alright, that's it!" Its limb reached out and snatched Darkness.
"W-What are you about to do to me!?" Darkness panted.
"I'm turning you into something perfect!"
"You want to turn me into some sex-obsessed monster!"
"Huh?" x10.
"I saw the way you were looking at me, undressing me with your eyes! You are going to have y-your way with me! You may take my body, but you'll never have my heart!"
"What the hell are you going on about!?" It demanded.
"LEWDNESS, NOW IS NOT THE TIME!" Kazuma scratched, his voice cracking.
She moaned, "K-Kazuma, what kind of p-play is this? N-Now isn't the time..." She blushed while looking shy.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING!"
"Enough!" The doll maker roared.
A similar flash of light engulfed us, before a doll of darkness was on the floor.
"Darkness!" Megumin asked.
"Sacred Dispel!" Aqua shouted.
A large blue light engulfed Darkness, suddenly her body returned to normal.
"Huh?" Darkness looked at her body confused.
"What the hell, how the hell!?" It charged at her but was interrupted by a fireball from Lynn.
"Aqua... YOU COULD HAVE HEALED YUNYUN THIS WHOLE TIME!?" Kazuma yelled at Aqua while pinching her cheeks.
"K-Kashuma! I'm Schowwy!" Aqua wailed.
"Yunyun, do you have any ideas?"
"U-Unfortunately, I'm low on mana; I can't really do much."
I look over to see that Aqua is quite far from where we are, so there is no chance for us to reach them.
It roared and swiped its arms toward us, catching us off guard.
"Shit!" I grunted as it whipped one of its limps into my stomach.
It closed its distance, everyone else was far away so I had no chance.
This is it, the end.
"Cursed Crystal Prison!" A new voice shouted.
"W-Wiz!?" I asked.
Kazuma looked at me with a smug grin, "I asked for some backup as well!"
"Yes the brat paid for tons of merchandise, so of course moi is here!"
"Vanir!"
I shook my head, using the time I rush over to Aqua to allow her to heal Yunyun.
The next thing I know, I notice Yunyun's actual body in front of me.
"YUNYUN!" Yelled, almost jumping on her.
"H-Hey, it's good to be back," She said while hugging me, causing me to blush.
The doll maker's voice broke the moment, "EVEN MORE!? YOU ARE ALL ANNOYING LITTLE BRATS!" The ice broke again.
"That's great and all, but if we don't figure something out, we're all dead." Dust pointed out.
Kazuma was the first to come up with the idea "Wait, his body is made of porcelain, right? All we need to do is use extreme temperatures or something heavy that can crack it."
I look around and notice some loose rocks above the cave, "Darkness, Taylor, grab its attention over there!" I point to the spot where the rocks on. I run over to Dust and tell him my plan, he nods and agrees.
"Lynn, Yunyun, I want to use Blade of Wind on our command!" Dust shouted.
Both Taylor and Darkness lured the beast to the spot.
"NOW!" x2.
"Blade of Wind!" x2
Two sharp blades from the wind cut the rock in half, causing the hole spot to collapse onto the beast.
"Megumin, Wiz, Use explosion!" Kazuma commanded.
"Understood!" x2
"EXPLOSION!" x2.
Two massive explosions strike the beast in the back causing it to fall.
It began to lift its body with its struggle.
After a minute, with a loud cry, it pushes itself out of the debris. However, it cost him his back; with a crack, the porcelain fell apart. Inside revealed a soft fleshy inside, its organs on show.
"D-Damn you all!"
"Now is our chance!"
"Kazuma, can use you drain touch on Yunyun?"
"Got it!" He exclaimed.
He managed to give some of Aqua's mana to Yunyun, much to her dismay.
"Inferno!" Yunyun cast, as a burst of fire, hit the open chest.
It cried in pain, "I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
Darkness charged forward and started to hit the spot.
I stared in shock, "I thought you said she missed everything, even stationary enemies."
Kazuma smirked, "That is what happens normally."
"Normally?" That's when I noticed it, Vanir's mask was on Darkness. "Possession?"
"Yup!" Kazuma gave me a thumbs up.
As everyone started stabbing the beast, more porcelain fell off.
"There it is, the heart!" Keith pointed out.
Dust, Kazuma, and I charged at the heart, stabbing it.
"NO!" It screamed.
It thrashed around as the rest of the porcelain fell off, revealing the ugly monster inside.
"Fireball!" Lynn shouted.
"Inferno!" Wiz shouted.
"Energy Ignition!" Yunyun shouted.
The next thing I know, the beast is engulfed in flames.
Two glowing lights flew from it, slowly descending to the ground. The first light continued to grow until it revealed a little girl who was about seven in age. Her red hair flowed to her legs, she had a long orange dress and short boots.
"William?" She asked while rubbing her eyes.
"A-Aya!?" I asked in shock.
Her mouth grew into a wide smile, "William!" She ran towards me, with her arms wide open. That was until she phased through me, do both our disappointment.
The second light grew into a silver ball, blue symbols ingrained into it.
"Is that it?" Yunyun asked.
"I think so..."
I grabbed it, "Hey, Aya, I found it."
"You did?" She rushed towards me.
"Here catch!" I flung the device towards her.
To both Yunyun and I's surprise, she caught it in her hands.
She closed her eyes as the orb absorbed into her. The next second she glowed a second time before, once it dimmed she didn't look any different except there was no soft glow.
She looked around, before looking at her hands and feet. Tears begin to drip down her eyes, "I-I can f-feel again? I-I can feel, I can feel everything!" She begins to break down crying.
Tears begin to well up in our eyes.
"Aya!" x2.
Both Yunyun and I ran up and wrapped her in a massive hug as we all sobbed together.
Everyone had a smile as they watched the scene unfold.
000
"So, what now?" Lynn asked.
"Well, I suppose we should leave; nothing else to do." I explained while holding Aya's hand.
"Our we going to your room daddy?" She looked up.
"DADDY!?" x11. Everyone screamed in shock.
"W-Well, since daddy isn't around anymore, I was wondering if... if you'd be my daddy?" She explained.
I think I almost had a heart attack from shock.
She turned to Yunyun, "And I want you to be my mommy!"
"M-M-M-M-Mother!? Y-Y-You want me to be your m-mother!?" Yunyun's face was tomato red.
"Yeah!" She beamed.
"I-I-I-" She stammered before fainting.
"Y-YUNYUN!" I screamed.
Aya looked confused, "M-Mommy?"
"G-Give her some time to recover."
000
After some time, she managed to recover, "So, mother, huh?"
"Yeah, I-I wouldn't mind t-taking care of her... She's a sweet girl, this is still shocking." She smiled while overlooking Aya who was currently chasing Lynn around.
"Yeah, we'll figure something out. After all, she's been through, she deserves a family."
She turns her head, "Even as bizarre as us?"
"Even as bizarre as us." I give her a thumbs up.
"Alright, Aya, let's get a move on!" I shouted.
"Kay!" She stopped chasing Lynn and skipped toward us.
"Aya, go head out with your mother, I'll catch up."
"Eep!" Yunyun jumped as soon as I said 'mother,' "W-Why, you got something to do?"
"Nah, I just wanna see something real quick."
"O-Okay, w-well, we'll be outside waiting for you..."
"Alright."
I watched them turn away and begin heading out before turning back.
000
"You're back, it took you a bit longer than expected." Yunyun pointed out.
"Ah, don't worry about it."
I looked around as everyone was looking at me.
As soon as I made contact with the pink-haired girl, she made a small "Eep!" for some reason.
With that, Aya took both our hands as we headed back to our room.
"Wait, we never got ourselves a healer!" I screeched.