New story, new stuff to worry about…blame the head full of ideas…and I still have more swimming around the noggin, y'know?
Anyway, here's my Re:Zero and League of Legends (Spirit Blossom) crossover fic. Hopefully, nothing else related to League will pop up other than the champions themselves and maybe some lore. I put a stress on maybe because League lore has a shit ton of words that are hard to go through given my circumstances.
Chapter 1 – Isekai'd to Hell
I don't own anything except some stuff
"Finally!" I groaned, leaning back as I tiredly looked at the victory screen after an hour of starting the game. "An hour of a ranked match and I only got 15 LP. What a fucking game." Sighing to myself, I let out a soft smile seeing my grade for the match.
"Got an A, not bad with how Rengar keeps on jumping me every single time. Then again, considering the fact that I did pick Lillia, it was pretty much a given." I muttered with a shake of my head.
Pushing myself off of my chair, I stretched, getting some satisfying pops here and there. "The convention will start in a few days, glad I managed to finish it…probably shouldn't have worn it while I was in that match, but whatever." I chuckled, looking at my costume.
A slightly tight white robe with purple and gold accents barely reaching my knees alongside some comfortable plain white pants. There's the white undershirt with some gold embroideries, the belt is just a simple black belt, and the most important part is the hood showcasing a lotus flower blooming with the moon above it.
With the colors, most men wouldn't dream of wearing it. But with my blue eyes, slightly feminine face, and shoulder length hair, I can rock it no problem. Especially the white hair, dyeing your hair instead of wearing a wig always makes the cosplay look better, especially the white hair.
With the addition of a toy dagger and a small sack of fake gold coins, I can say that my work is complete.
To some people, it would look like I'm cosplaying as my own character, but to those who play League of Legends and notice my color scheme? They would see me as a cosplayer who loves the Spirit Blossom skin line by the theme alone.
"Not to toot my own horn, but I did a spectacular job." I grinned, proud of what I have created with my own two hands. I look like some sort of mage or summoner, which is exactly what I'm aiming for. I want to make myself look like a summoner, but only for champions with the Spirit Blossom skin.
Call me addicted, because I sure am.
Considering that I do commissions for both cosplays and making the costumes, one would assume that I have quite a fortune saved up…I do…it's just that I spent most of it buying the materials needed for various costumes and other…expenses.
Frowning, I turned off my computer and sat down on my bed. Looking around me, I smiled in mirth. "I'm doing a pretty good job. Haven't been found out by those shitheads for 2 months and I'm still alive." Taking a deep breath, I lay down and closed my eyes.
"Take it easy, Ken. Those limp dicked fucks are not going to find you, you covered every track you can find." Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh. "Just have to make sure that my cosplays are perfect and no one will find me."
I snorted in amusement.
"Talking to myself before I fall asleep, what has gotten into you, Ken? Seems like a perfect sign to catch a few winks of sleep, though." I yawned before falling into my bed. Before long it became silent, queuing the sign I'm off to dreamland.
Unknown Location
Opening my eyes, I felt dread. The reason? I have somehow ended up in a forest. It's a beautiful forest, but the question remains, how the hell did I end up here? Looking around me cautiously, my breath hitched slightly at the sound of rustling.
Glancing to my side, I clenched my fists in nervousness. The only way I would end up here is if I was found out and they somehow got me here without waking me. 'Fucking loan sharks playing with me.' I gritted my teeth. Of course, they can find me, it was naïve to think that they won't. And since I 'took care' of some of their members before, I can guess that they're doing this for revenge.
'Well, I'm not going down without a fi-'
"H-Hello?"
I stopped, my eyes widened, recognizing the familiar Scottish voice. Out from the bushes came a cute face with long white hair leading down past her shoulders, fuzzy long white ears droop down to match her hair, small dark purple horns, her colorful kimono is loose, she is holding a long-hooked branch with a golden censer emitting a dark blue smoke, and finally, instead of legs she has the lower body part of a deer with some dark purple rope tied behind her fluffy round tail.
There is no mistaking it, I am looking at Lillia, but not just Lillia, but Spirit Blossom Lillia. Coming from the best skin line in the game, in my opinion.
"A human? Oh no! Eep!" She backed away shyly, her hooves clopping against the ground. I stopped myself from walking forward in an effort to touch her and possibly fluff her tail. Am I dreaming? It doesn't feel like it.
I pursed my lips before looking at Lillia in the eyes.
"Am I dreaming?" I asked in bewilderment. I'm sure that the caffeine pills I was using were still good. otherwise I'm going to need to talk with those damn pharmacists about getting a bad batch.
Lillia's eyes widened at that question. Surely, she would know since she has powers over it? Encouraged by my question, she walked a few feet forward, enough to allow me to hear her if she whispered but enough for her to run away if needed.
"N-No?"
It's a shy but sweet answer, but not one I was hoping for. Seemingly sensing my disappointment, Lillia quickly shakes her head and waves one of her hands in front of her as if trying to clear something up. And her cheeks are red…she is so adorable.
"W-What I meant is that you are dreaming but it feels like you're not!" I blinked in confusion, the gears in my brain slowly processing the words. Dreaming but not dreaming? That's quite the conundrum. After all, I remember falling asleep after a match. The only way that it would make sense is if I am sleepwalking or something like that. Crossing my arms, I looked down at the ground, deep in thought.
sleeping but conscious…
'I think there was a word for that but I can't remember what it was.'
"I-It feels like you are dreaming but at the same time, you are also conscious." speaking the words I was thinking. Looking up at Lillia, she was fidgeting in place before she let out her signature 'eep' when our eyes locked. "I'm sorry!" I blinked as she started apologizing over and over again.
This went on for a few seconds before I let out a small smile. Of course, Lillia would apologize, I was deep in thought and she thought she stopped me from thinking. She did, but at the same time, voicing her opinion helped me solidify that I am for some reason my mind is a lot more aware than it should be right now.
"It's fine." I chuckled lightheartedly, this seemed to calm Lillia somewhat if her shy smile was anything to take note of. "If it means anything, I have calmed down a bit." Carefully walking a few steps forward, I put on a friendly face and introduced myself.
"My name is Ken, Amakawa Ken." I gave her a friendly nod. A few moments passed before Lillia managed to gather enough courage to reply. "L-Lillia."
"Now that the introductions are out of the way, can you please tell me where I am, Lillia?" I have a pretty good idea on where I am, thanks to Lillia, but it's best to make sure. "Oh! You are in the Spirit Realm!" She answered happily, her fluffy tail wagging in glee.
My eyes lock on to that fluffy wonder and a large part of me wants to stroke it. But I squashed that feeling, knowing that now is not the time and seeing as we have just met. I don't think she'll appreciate me suddenly acting like we're close friends.
"The Spirit Realm…" I muttered to myself, my mind drifting off to that one League event where I found my favorite skin line. I have a lot of favorite skin lines such as Project, Battle Academia, and Star Guardians. But Spirit Blossom just takes the cake for me. I just love the aesthetics and that Kindred's Spirit Blossom skin is canon.
Lillia said that I was dreaming but it felt like I wasn't. If I am dreaming, then this is a weird dream, in a good way. Not every day I dream about talking with one of my favorite champions in the Spirit Blossom skin line. Then again, this is Lillia, someone who specializes in dreams of other people. It's unreal for me to think that this dream is reality, but at the same time I'm talking to Lillia. She feels so…real. Not like a dream or an imagination, and certainly not like her fixed dialogues in game.
Pursing my lips, I look at Lillia. "How did I get here?" In response, Lillia tilted her head in thought. Said action just made her cute. No, I certainly don't want to scratch her ears and her tail to check if she would act any cuter.
"I…don't know. Usually, when people dream, I can see their dreams…but since you are awake..." She frowns slightly in confusion. I can see the gears inside her head working on processing the thought.
Seeing this, I can't resist.
With her cute face and Scottish accent, I just had to do it. She let out a small gasp as my hand landed on her head. I then proceeded to pat her. Her cheeks went red as she closed her eyes. Glancing behind her, I smiled, noticing her round tail wagging happily.
This went on for a minute before I stopped. I don't know if she noticed, but one of her hooves was digging against the ground, not in fear or wariness, but in excitement. Lillia is a shy girl, but in all honesty, she seems to be quite easy to please.
'Then again, in the event, it did show that Lillia is alone most, if not all, the time. So even if she acts all shy, she is happy that she finally gets some social attention.' Her reactions went from surprise, to having her lips curl into a small smile.
I let out a mirthful sigh noticing Lillia looking at me with her eyes. She may not know it, but she's using the puppy dog eyes on me…or should I call it doe eyes?
Slowly reaching to her available hand, I gently led her towards one of the trees, sat down, with Lillia bending her legs to be able to be on eye level with me, then started scratching her ears.
She went still like a deer caught in headlights and proceeded to lean in on my touch, occasionally letting out a small moan whenever I scratched at a good spot. This went on for several seconds, scratching, petting, sometimes I'll even rub the fur on her lower half.
Am I being too forward? Yes. Does Lillia care? No.
For someone who's really shy, she really loves to be spoiled with physical affection. Not that I can blame her, my hands have fluffed many cats in the past. Therefore, I have plenty of experience in giving affectionate headpats.
Of the animal girl variety though?
"Mmm~!"
I'd say I'm already a master at it.
Closing her eyes, my eyes widened as her horns grew and if that wasn't enough, flowers started blooming from it. It was such a beautiful sight that I didn't notice the motes of light encircling around me. It was only until my right hand started to glow that I noticed it. A purple tattoo of a lotus flower appeared, glowing slightly. Looking at it in curiosity, I looked at Lillia who had opened her eyes and giggled cutely. She gently grabbed my right hand and held it close to her.
This caused the tattoo on my hand to glow brighter causing me to cover my eyes with my left arm. Normally, I would pull my right hand back, but knowing that I could possibly hurt the spirit fawn made that option null and void. "Calm yourself, please." She muttered softly as she held my hand closer. This caused me to redden slightly as I felt my fingertips touch her cheek. She hums softly as I feel warmth coursing from my right arm. It's quite strange, but at the same time, very welcoming.
After that, I felt…comfortable…it's like being hugged by a blanket. It might be because Lillia has powers over dreams and making people sleep, but I felt my eyes droop.
It's all a blurry after, but I do faintly remember Lillia telling me something about wanting to see me dream.
? POV
In a dark room lies an old man on his deathbed. It has been hours since his last visitor, and now he sleeps. What he doesn't know is that he will sleep forevermore in peace.
A portal shimmered into existence and out came a small feminine figure. Hopping into the room, the figure revealed itself to be a masked individual wearing a cyan and pink short sleeved furred kimono, with a long-sleeved undershirt beneath it, her hooves clacking against the floor, her beautiful spirit bow held by her right hand. Her purplish-blue hair reaches past her hips, she also has curved sheep horns, and attached to her left horn is a yellow flower.
"Another life ends…" Out from the mysterious figure, a soft voice muttered. "A quick and painless death, it is what you deserve." She aimed her bow toward the old man, gently grabbed the bowstring, and pulled. As soon as she did so, the bow glowed slightly, producing an arrow. "For accepting death, you accept peace." And so, she released the bowstring, the arrow flew through the air for a few seconds before shooting straight through the old man's heart.
However, no blood was spilt, only the soul of the man leaves his body. His body remains intact, but his soul leaves for the Spirit Realm.
"We will meet again."
A calm silence enveloped the room as the figure silently watched the arrow slowly dim and fade into nothing. The figure lowered her head slightly, as if thanking the recently passed man.
"Thank you, for accepting death."
"I sense the deer!" A rough voice playfully growled. Looking behind her, a giant spirit that looks like a white wolf's head with purple accents and golden eyes appears, smiling a toothy smile. "She was watching him dream, shall we visit her, Wolf?" The now named Wolf nodded in excitement as a portal appeared beside them. "Race you there, Lamb!" He charged through the portal, but before he could, Lamb hopped over him and entered the portal first.
Seeing this, Wolf can only growl and jump in the portal.
As usual, the portal is bright and colorful, colors that he so enjoys. A few seconds later, he is in a familiar forest hearing a familiar humming. He instantly saw Lamb and quickly went to her side in excitement. They rarely stay separated; they are best friends after all. Looking at him, Lamb nodded before walking, following the humming.
It took them some time to reach the source of the humming, but when they did, they were quite surprised to find something odd. A human is lying his head down on Lillia the spirit fawn's lower half. Suddenly, the humming stopped and Lillia instantly has her eyes on them. Giving them her usual smile, she waved at them.
"Hello there!"
Deciding that its more proper to reply than to stare, Lamb nodded with a small wave of her hand. Wolf just growled, as usual. This isn't the first time that Lillia watched over someone dreaming and for them to die after. Thanks to that, both Lamb and Wolf have befriended the adorable fawn. It was a bit of a rough start between the three of them. But with the right amount of time and visits, they managed.
Now if only Wolf would stop pestering her about joining the Loser's Club. Then again, Wolf is literally the only member of said club, just because she always won at hide and seek.
"Human?" Wolf questioned, confused. Lillia answered with a nod. "He came from beyond the Spirit Realm. He is alive, yet he's here. Quite odd, isn't it?" Lamb can only nod before looking at the human. White hair and wearing something from what she can guess is a mage-like cloak. There is also the strangely familiar energy flowing inside his body—a mage.
"He smells like you!" Wolf declares as he hovers over the human, sniffing at him. This confused Lamb, she sensed the familiar energy flowing in him, and Wolf said he smelled like her, then that means…
"You formed a contract with him?"
She nodded in reply. Seeing this, Lamb slowly removes her mask revealing cherry pink eyes, a cute button of a nose, and soft kissable lips. She looks like a beautiful doll. Humming to herself, Lamb approached the sleeping human curiously. "You know what a contract does, right?" She questioned Lillia, getting a nod of confirmation from the fawn.
Grabbing his right hand, she gently caressed the lotus tattoo engraved on it, humming slightly as she felt it thrum with magic, Lillia's magic. "This will allow him to summon you and use your powers…" She trailed off, feeling the magic flowing inside him. It's strong, but it's like an uncontrollable tidal wave. "He cannot forcefully summon you. Not without hurting you." At least, not without controlling his magic.
"He won't!"
Her eyes widened slightly at the raised tone from the usually shy fawn. Staring at her determined eyes for a few seconds, Lamb pursed her lips as she gently put the hand down on his chest before turning to Lillia. "What makes you think so? As we all know, not all humans are nice." Glancing down at the human's unconscious form, her eyes narrowed. "Wolf and I are the spirits of death; we can tell if one has killed." She paused to let her words sink in on her fawn friend. She needs to realize what her shy friend has gotten herself into, a human who has killed is usually not a good one.
"Wolf smells blood on human's hands!" Wolf chimed in, growling as ever as he settled on his usual spot, right by Lamb's side.
It may be for self-defense or it may have been an accident, but she is not taking any chances. And even after seeing her friend frown, she has to steel herself. Turning her head, the flower on Lillia's head shines as it blooms before a small orb emerged from it. Blinking in confusion, Lamb and Wolf watched as the fawn gently cupped her hands on the orb.
"He may have killed, but I can see what's in Ken's heart, what's in his soul. Look!" She stretched her hands out towards both spirits. Curious, both Lamb and Wolf leaned in on the orb and what they saw was quite surprising.
A dream. But not just any dream, it was a dream of the human they were talking about just now, of Ken. In that dream they can see him wearing some posh clothing consisting of a brown coat with some gold accents, a white buttoned up shirt underneath it, black pants, and black leather shoes. Not too much, but it made him look professional and high class. He is currently going through some sort of shop while gently talking to a group of children.
What caught their attention is that the children are obviously not from the streets. No, with how some of their clothes looked torn, ragged, and some even looked like it's been patched up several times, the children are from poor families.
'But why?'
Her answer came in the form of him occasionally grabbing some beautiful clothing and having each child go to separate dressing rooms. Other children who have yet to be handed clothes are handled by others, probably the workers of the store.
Each child came out of the dressing room with clothes and dresses, no longer looking like they came from the street. Each adorned with various accessories to finish it all off. The only thing needed to do is have the children cleaned up from all the dirt.
They can see Ken smiling pleasantly as he fixes the various ruffles from one of the dresses that the girls had caused, he then chuckles as he gently gives her a pat on the head.
The girl giggled before suddenly jumping on him to give him a hug. Ken looked surprised for a moment before shaking his head and returning the hug. This in turn caused all the children to surround him and jumped on him all at once. He panicked but took all the affection in stride, knowing that it's all nothing but harmless fun.
"A dream will always show what others want, their desires. Ken wants to have his own shop for clothes." Lillia giggled as she looked at the tiny orb fondly. "He thinks that children with beautiful clothing will allow others to see them not only as children but as treasures that should be protected. Whether they be rich or poor, children are treasures that should be loved." Looking down at Ken, the spirit fawn giggled as he shifted to his side while digging his face to her soft fur.
"I see…" Lamb mumbles before glancing at Wolf who seems to be bawling his eyes. "Human is good! Pups should live their lives happily and not be chased by Wolf!" He cried dramatically, making Lamb roll her eyes towards her counterpart's overreaction. But she can't disagree with him. She and Wolf are the spirits of death, and there are many times when they have to pay even children a visit.
Whenever a child is about to die, Lamb would be the one to go to soothe the poor soul, persuading them with sweet words before giving them a quick and painless death, but there are other times where Wolf had to step in. Wolf enjoys chasing after those who fight death, entertaining him by playing with them as many predators play with their food. But if those who fight death are children? He would not play with them, no taunts, no playing around, he would always try to end it all quickly.
Which always ends with the child screaming for help.
Pursing her lips, Lamb gently gave Wolf a comforting scratch. It wasn't a secret that she and Wolf had to take care of children every now and then. People die every day, that is a fact. Children being among those who die every day is also a fact. A fact that she and Wolf didn't enjoy. Mostly Wolf.
"Dreams reflect the dreamer's soul, their wishes, their desires." Lillia said as the orb disappeared. "Ken has killed people. But that doesn't mean his heart is all black." She smiles softly before turning to Ken to gently poke his cheek.
"From what I could gleam, he has his moments, but seeing what his dreams are like, I see the good in him and that's what made me form a contract." She smiled sweetly. Looking back at her friend, Lamb can't help but agree with her, but even then, she can't help herself. Lillia is her friend, a cute, shy, and naïve friend whom she can't help but worry for her. Seeing what Ken has been dreaming eased her worries a tiny bit, but some edge of doubt and caution still remains.
'Is that the only choice I have?' She thought to herself as she glanced at his right hand. Should she allow this human to form a contract with her and Wolf? To use their powers?
"Oh!"
Blinking in confusion, she watched as Lillia looked down at Ken. "He's waking up!" Her gaze shifted to Ken, watching in interest. The young man shifted in his sleep, groaning softly. Wolf looked excited with him hovering around him, panting excitedly. Lamb stopped herself from giggling at the sight. If Wolf had a tail, he would be wagging it.
Unfortunately, he's only a head.
Ken POV
Groaning, I sat up while rubbing my eyes, it may have only been a nap but it sure was relaxing. It might have been because Lillia was with me. Not only is she cute and a joy to be around with, but her powers does include being able to put anyone to sleep. Slowly opening my eyes, I hummed.
"Lillia?" Narrowing my eyes, I rubbed the drowsiness away from my eyes. Once my vision cleared slightly, my eyes widened as I came face to face against a cute girl, but not just any cute girl, but Lamb, one of the two spirits of death.
As depicted in Ionia for the Spirit Blossom lore, Lamb is a masked young girl wielding a bow, and alongside her is Wolf. Their purpose is to either peacefully or forcefully have someone pass over to the Spirit Realm, but only to those whose deaths are near. Should they accept death, they will pass peacefully, but if they fight death, then they will face Wolf and be hunted down.
And yet, being face to face with the unmasked spirit didn't even scare me, in fact…
Squish!
Lamb blinked in confusion. Her cheeks being gently squeezed by a pair of intruding hands. It doesn't hurt, the way his thumbs gently rubbed against her cheeks felt good, soothing even. Her cheeks reddened as she pulled herself away from him.
"Ah…" I blinked as Lamb gave me a small glare while holding her cheeks. Lillia giggles while Wolf laughs loudly beside her. I shook my head, smiled, and waved at her awkwardly. "Hi there."
"Human is funny!" Wolf barked as he swished around me with a wide grin.
I turned to Wolf and slowly reached out to his head. He blinked before lowering his head, allowing me to rub his fur. He may be a spirit with only a head, but his fur is incredibly soft.
I blinked as Lamb grabbed my shirt and pulled me close to her.
"Lamb!"
I hold out my hands defensively as Lamb glares at me. I may have touched her without her permission, granted it was painless. However, Spirit Blossom or not. I won't let someone come and harm me. I've had enough of that back at home and from the toxic cesspit that is League of Legends.
"Would you mind telling me why you're being so rough with me?" I ask her calmly with narrowed eyes. Other than having me pinch her soft cheeks without her permission, the only thing I can think of why she's acting like this is because I'm not supposed to be here. But there's also the fact that in the event, she wasn't acting this hostile.
In the event, she was a friendly girl who asked the player to play hide-and-seek with her and Wolf. This time, however, she's glaring at me like I did something wrong.
"You formed a contract with Lillia." I blinked in confusion. In response, Lamb pulled my right hand and showed me the purple lotus flower tattoo. "Although you didn't know, Lillia formed a contract with you. You can now use her powers and summon her." She lets go of my hand and stands up.
"That is if you can control your magic."
I stare at my hand; the tattoo seems to glow faintly in the dim light. Hours of experience playing video games and watching anime has given me a bit of excitement. To think it's happening to me of all people.
But first, I need to learn how to control it.
"Okay, so what do I have to do?" I ask, hoping to get some guidance from Lamb. She just shook her head and put her mask back on.
"Train yourself or form contracts with the other spirits."
"Like Wolf and Lamb!" Wolf boisterously adds as he circles around me. Lamb shoots Wolf a look but nods nonetheless.
I nod in understanding and take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. This was a lot to take in, but it's a lot better than running away from a gang of loan sharks in the real world. I've dodged and killed enough of them to paint a big target on the back of my head.
"I know that we just met, but will you form a contract with me, Lamb? Wolf?" I asked them directly.
Lamb glances towards Lillia, seemingly conflicted. It's a long shot since she doesn't know me. She shouldn't have any reason to accept.
Silence looms over us for moments. It felt like an eternity if I'm being honest. But to my surprise, Lamb nods. "Very well. But know this, forming a contract is not a decision to be taken lightly. Are you prepared to accept the consequences?" Despite her mask, I can feel Lamb's eyes bore into mine, and I can sense the gravity of her words.
I take a deep breath and nod, my resolve hardening. "I understand, and I accept the consequences. I want to learn how to control my magic..." I turn to Lillia and smile softly before turning my attention back to her. "My name is Amakawa Ken, and I promise to never hurt Lillia, you, and Wolf."
I'm a cosplayer who loves to make clothes by heart. The goons from the loan sharks that I killed are purely for self-defense.
Lamb nods in acceptance of my words. She takes my hands and holds them tightly. Around us, the air started to glow a light blue. The tattoo on my arm started to shimmer and grow warm...and suddenly, I felt my body grow warm as well. It wasn't unpleasant, it felt soothing, just like when I fell asleep with Lillia earlier.
Lamb looked up at me and nodded slowly. "Focus on your magic." Wolf used his teeth to gently unmask Lamb. She gave Wolf a thankful smile before standing on her tiptoes to press her head against mine. The golden flower on her left horn glowed slightly.
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to concentrate on the magic flowing through me. It was an odd feeling. Like a current running through my veins, but I felt a sense of excitement build in my chest as I felt a connection between me, Lamb, and Wolf.
As I opened my eyes, I saw that Wolf was circling around us, his ears perked up, and his tongue lolling out as he watched us. Lamb's eyes were closed, a serene look on her face as she focused on the magic connecting us. The tattoo on my hand slowly started to dim.
Despite the excitement of using magic, I'm distracted by one thing and that thing is in front of me holding my hands.
I have to admit, as a young man, I do find Lamb attractive. It was different from seeing her unmask herself during the Spirit Blossom event. Of course, I can also say the same with Lillia too.
When Kindred, her and Wolf, were released, it was a furry bait. But with Spirit Blossom Kindred, Ionia depicted her as a young girl wearing a mask with Wolf by her side, I will admit that it's what inspired me to start playing her.
With Lamb standing in front of me with her mask off and her eyes closed, I see her in a completely different light. She is no longer a character that I play in a video game. She is a person, a spirit to be specific.
Her hair is a soft, gentle purple hue, and her face is delicate and serene. I can't help but stare at her with a mix of awe and admiration. She's beautiful in a way that I can't quite describe.
As the magic flows through us, I feel it start to take shape. I close my eyes and let my mind go blank, letting the magic guide me.
Soon, I felt something on my hands.
Looking down at it, it was a beautiful bow, just like Lamb's. I felt like I knew how to use it despite never using a bow in my life. I felt light. It's like something was lifted off of me.
"Don't use my power." I froze at Lamb's icy tone. She was giving me a cold glare before slowly lowering my hands.
"If you use my power now, you will exhaust yourself."
Exhaust myself? How s-oh…
I see. She meant 'Lamb's Respite', her ultimate in the game that allows all living beings in a zone to not die and heal after a few seconds have passed.
"Give it time for our magic to infuse with yours. Once it does, you can use my power without feeling tired." She explains as she looks at my tattooed hand. when I look from my hand to her, her eyes are showing a soft and caring emotion. I wonder for a moment why before it hits me.
I'm flattered. Despite her cold tone, she's worried.
I nod in understanding, a small smile forming on my lips despite her stern warning. "I won't use it now, Lamb. Thank you for your concern." I give her a slight squeeze on the hand before letting go.
"New friend to play hide-and-seek with!" Wolf barks happily, excited about our newfound connection. I can't help but laugh at his antics, feeling a sense of joy and lightness that I haven't felt in a long time.
"Thank you, Wolf, Lamb. I won't let you down." I bow deeply in gratitude before turning to Lillia, who had been watching us with a small smile on her face. "Thank you as well, Lillia. I'll make sure to take care of your powers." She nods in response, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
As the magic slowly dissipates, I feel a sense of exhaustion wash over me. Unlike the drowsiness I felt from Lillia when I formed a contract with her, this one is more exhausting.
Lillia giggles as she catches me from falling. From what I can see, Lamb puts her mask back on and says something to Lillia. What she said, however, I can't make out of it.
She's wearing a mask, after all.
However, I can hear Lillia with her cute Scottish accent.
"Looks like you need some rest, Ken. Don't worry, I'll take care of you." She gives me a sweet smile before pulling me up and holding on to me tightly.
I feel a blush creep up on my face at the intimacy of the situation. Being carried by a cute girl like Lillia, who also happens to be a powerful spirit, is something I never thought would happen to me. Even in my dreams.
"I found you..."
I felt the back of my hair stand on end as I felt a cold sensation take over me.
In an instant, I was in a forest...and then in a bustling street.
"What the..." I mutter as I glance around me.
Lizards, dogs, and even cats with humanoid features are walking around me. Hell, there are even big lizards walking on all fours pulling a carriage!
I accepted the fact that I was in a fantasy world thanks to meeting Lillia, Lamb, and Wolf in their Spirit Blossom forms. But I didn't need to be teleported to an unknown street to remind me!
I quickly turned, pausing as I heard something clink on my person.
"Hold on..." My hands slowly crept to the small sack I was carrying. It clinked again, confirming my suspicions.
Glancing around me, I quickly walked to the nearby alleyway.
Looking down at the sack, I gave it a quick squeeze. It felt solid and definitely metallic.
Turning to the dagger, I unsheathed it and carefully inspected it.
The dagger is around the length of my forearm, with a purplish sheen to it. The pommel is shaped like a lotus flower like I asked for.
It looked more like a decorative dagger than anything. But I can tell with how it shines that it's anything but that.
So distracted by what was happening to me, I didn't notice the three pairs of footsteps approaching me from the side.
"Hey, hey, hey. That looks like a really good dagger you got there." My eyes narrowed at the rough sneer as I turned to the ones who approached me.
My eyes instantly turned to the tallest guy. He has a wide build with muscular arms. I instantly marked him as the most dangerous of the three.
The other one is a lanky man that looks to be trying too hard to look scary but is failing hard, especially with the chain wrapped around his neck. It doesn't look like he's armed, but I can never be too sure.
The last one is a midget wearing a cloak. He doesn't look much, but the cloak can easily hide any small weapon.
All in all, these three look like your typical thugs. They even dress the part too. Especially the big guy.
I grip the dagger tightly, ready for whatever comes next. "What do you want?" I ask, keeping myself calm.
The big guy sneers at me as he steps forward. "We want that pretty little dagger of yours." He cracks his knuckles menacingly, and I can feel myself slowly tense up.
I carefully turn to them and take a step back, putting some distance between us. "Sorry, but I'm not willing to part with it." I hold the dagger up in front of me. I've roughed up and killed plenty of thugs who worked for the loan shark that I borrowed money from. These three I have a feeling are not a problem.
The lanky guy speaks up now, his voice faltering slightly. "Come on, man. We just want the dagger. We won't hurt you if you give it to us." They're trying to intimidate me into giving up the dagger. But I refuse to back down.
I have my contracts with Lillia and Kindred. But I don't know how to summon them.
And to add on to that, I'm still tired from forming contracts with Lamb and Wolf earlier. I'll have to push myself some more.
"I told you three. My answer is no." I glared at them. I won't hesitate to kill them. If someone finds us, I can just claim self-defense.
The big guy lets out a low growl, taking another step towards me. "Then we'll just have to take it from you." With that, he lunges forward, attempting to grab the dagger from my hand.
"Huh...?" He looked so...slow. His hand was reaching for my dagger, but it was so painfully slow. Not slow motion slow, but slow enough for me to dodge to the side, giving me the opportunity to slash the dagger across his arm. He howls in pain, clutching at his bleeding limb.
"Well...whatever..." I mutter in disinterest as I turn to the other two.
The other two looked surprised, probably not expecting me to fight back. "You bastard...die!" The lanky guy hisses before lunging at me with a pair of daggers. He's faster, but he's still slow.
That will be easily taken care of.
I sidestep his attack, deflecting both daggers before using my free hand to deliver a straight punch right at his nose. He staggers and falls down, instinctively dropping his weapons to clutch his bleeding, and probably bent, nose.
The midget tries to make a run for it, but I'm faster. I catch up to him in a few strides, slamming the hilt of the dagger into his back. He crumples to the ground, out cold.
"Hmph, you thugs are way over your head if you think you can steal from me. Now get out of my sight before I finish the job." I glared at them coldly.
The big guy cursed as he got the midget on his shoulder and ran with the lanky guy right behind him.
Looking at the dagger, I swung to the side to get rid of the blood staining the blade while being careful to not make it stain my clothes.
"There's no way I'm cleaning the blade with my clothes..." I pause before clicking my tongue. "Probably should have wiped the blood off with one of their clothes..."
As someone who prides himself in my skill on creating cosplay and clothing, staining my work with blood is a big no-no.
I paused once again as I heard quick footsteps running towards my direction. "Hey you! Out of the way!" I only had enough time to get a glimpse of the runner.
She is a young girl with long blond hair and bright red eyes wearing some rugged clothing...if it can even be called clothing. Such skimpy looking clothes looked more like they came out of a hentai.
Within a split second, she jumped on a wall and kicked herself to the roof and made a mad dash away.
I was staring in place for a few seconds. Taking away the fact that a child just jumped higher than an Olympic athlete, she does look oddly familiar. I've been through many cosplay conventions, and I recognize her. She was from a popular isekai anime, if I remember correctly.
"Which one...?" I mutter to myself, tapping my foot on the floor. I haven't been getting into any new anime lately so I'm mostly coming up with blanks. But surely I can figure out if I look into it a bit mer.
If I got to meet Spirit Blossom Lillia and Kindred, surely I can meet other characters from other franchises?
It has something to do with zero...but there's more to it...
"Excuse me?"
I paused my line of thinking and turned to the person who called out to me.
The moment I did so, only one thing came to mind as I felt my breath being taken away.
Beautiful.
That was the first thought to fill my head when my eyes made contact with this wondrous being before me. Just looking at her is igniting my passion for creating wondrous clothing as I stare at her, enamored.
The long silver hair, the crystal-clear violet eyes, the pointed ears, and that doll-like face!
If perfection was a person, then I am looking at it…and she's an elf!
Never mind the fact that she, like the other girl that just ran past me, looks even more familiar!
I snapped myself out of my daze and shook my head as I gave her a small greeting.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"I...a little girl has robbed me of something very important. Have you seen her?" She asked me. Her tone is of frustration and worry. Obviously, that something that was stolen must have been really important for her.
I point to the roof just behind me. "She went that way. Unless you find out where she's hiding or if you have a way to keep track of her, she's long gone by now."
She pursed her lips before looking up at the roof. "Even still, I need it back..."
I hum before nodding to myself.
"Anyway, what's your name?" I ask her with a brow raised. Given the way she's dressed, which I approve of, she must be from a high-class family. But there's also the fact that knowing her name might give me an idea of which anime I am in.
Because if it wasn't obvious, I got isekai'd.
She paused, briefly showing a rather vulnerable side of her with how conflicted she looked. But eventually, she resolved herself.
"Emilia. My name is Emilia." She said slowly.
A flash of recognition came to me. Silver haired beauty named Emilia and she's a character from a popular anime. The number of cosplayers I encountered cosplaying as Emilia is plentiful enough.
I'm in Re:Zero, which, according to what I know, is a really dark isekai anime...great.
"Well, Emilia, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a bit of a wanderer myself, so I can help you look for that little girl if you want." I try to keep a smile but it keeps twitching due to realizing how bad the situation turned out.
She doesn't notice though as she nods, grateful for the offer.
"Thank you. And what's your name?"
I give her a bow of my head. "My name's Ken. Pleasure to meet you." I can give her my full name, but I'd rather not.
Ken is a name even western people use and I am in a medieval fantasy setting.
"Pleased to meet ya!" I blinked as a tiny cat appeared from Emilia's shoulder. The cat gave me a mischievous smile and floated towards me. "Call me Puck!" The now named Puck swishes its tail playfully against my face.
There's only one thing that came to mind when he suddenly appeared and floated toward me. "A spirit..."
I'm not well versed with Re:Zero lore since I never did watch the anime nor did I read the manga. I only got bits and pieces of information from my fellow cosplayers. Never thought until right now I regret not talking to them more about the storyline.
"Puck, come on, stop playing around." Emilia says as she gently grabs Puck. But despite those words, there's a smile on her lips.
"Now, now, Lia." Lia? What an adorable nickname. "As your contracted spirit, it's my job to inspect the people around you." Puck gives me an observant look for a few seconds before raising a paw.
"Okay! We can trust him."
"Really? That quick? Are you that keen on trusting me..." I pause. Now that I think about it, I don't know what Puck's gender is.
I turn to Emilia with a slightly pleading look. "Is Puck a male?"
Emilia blinks in surprise before giggling. "Yes, Puck is a male."
I nod as I give her a reassuring smile. "That's fine. Puck is a cat, so it's fine. I trust you, Puck." I say it confidently. After all, I am in a medieval fantasy setting. A cat spirit is not an uncommon thing to have.
"Hmph, you better." Puck says as he jumps from Emilia to my shoulder. I can feel his tiny claws poking my shoulder through my cloak.
"So, now that we're all acquainted, let's get to it. Where to find this little girl?" I turn to the roof and smirk. Years of street-wise experience processing in my brain.
"The answer is simple." I hold one finger up. "The slums. It's the only logical explanation."
"Slums? Why?" Emilia asks, confused.
"Think about it. She got what she got from robbing you, didn't she? That means whatever she stole is valuable enough for her to risk getting caught. So there's a good chance that means she's from a poor family desperate for money." I cross my arms as I look at Emilia.
"Wait...then isn't this a bad idea? Why do you think she's in the slums?" Emilia asked me. I smile, reassuring her.
"Think about it for a second." I raise a finger with a thoughtful expression. "If she steals something, do you think anyone here in this place will buy it from her? The only places that people don't often visit or would even buy goods that they know are stolen would be someplace out of sight and out of mind." I finished with a small shrug.
"Well, now that we have a plan, we better head off if we wanna get back whatever that kid stole from you."
"We?" She looks at me with a perplexed expression, as though the thought never even occurred to her.
"Yes, we." I point a finger at her, then Puck and then to myself. "I know a few things that might help out and if it's as important to you, then it's better if I lend a hand."
"Why?"
"Why what?" I tilt my head at the question.
"Why help me even though we just met?" Her confusion showed as she addressed the question.
"Is it not obvious?"
"Sorry Ken, but my precious child is still getting used to the world." Puck chimed in.
Child? Oh lord I hope that he means it in a platonic way.
"Then I'll say it plainly." I deliver this with a look into her eyes "What kind of person would I be if I let you go alone in this?"
I have a once in a lifetime muse in front of me and she wants to wander alone into an area where she would be an easy target? Not on my watch.
"Ken, I...I can't thank you enough." Emilia says to me as she bows her head.
"Stop that, Emilia. I haven't done anything worth your gratitude. At least not yet. Speaking of which, we must be going soon." I say with a wave of my hand.
"Huh?"
"The longer we wait, the higher the chances are that the thing the kid stole from you will get sold." I glance at her. "Especially if it's something really valuable."
"Now come on, lead me to the slums." She gave me a look of confusion. I just shrugged.
"I just got here just now. It's not like I'll magically know where everything is."
Emilia blinked before letting out a weak chuckle, likely out of embarrassment.
"Oh, right..."
"Anyway, where do we go to find the slums?" I ask her. She looks at me for a few seconds before nodding.
"Follow me."
As Emilia led me through the streets, I can't help but take in her beauty. Her long silver hair, soft pale white skin, purple eyes the perfect shade that I want to see more of, and most importantly...her tastes in her outfit!
As someone who prides himself in fashion for cosplayers, seeing a beautiful young lady wear such appealing clothing is something that I will never pass up on. In fact, I can't help but feel the urge to have her pose for me!
But more importantly...
"Do you mind if I ask why you were out in the streets in the first place?"
I glanced at her in curiosity. While I am not sure of the lore in Re:Zero, I have a feeling that Emilia is a pretty important character. I mean...she's a beautiful character, so she has to be the main heroine, right?
"Oh, uhh...I was separated from my companion...I hope she's alright..." She mutters silently.
"Don't worry, Lia. I'm sure Ram is looking for you as well." Puck comforts her as he floats around her.
"You said that you're new here, right?"
I hum in response.
"What brought you here in this kingdom?" I blink before thinking. Should I even tell the truth? I can't just say I fell asleep after playing a game, then met Lillia and Kindred in real life, because that felt way too real for it to be a dream. And then, in an instant, I got here. Yeah, definitely not a lunatic.
I should just go with the flow, and not reveal any more details than I have to.
"Just...tired of my old life, so I decided to make a fresh start." I smile softly. That wasn't a lie either. All the time I had to run from loan sharks, even going as far as killing some of them as self-defense, it is something I'm glad to leave behind.
"I see..." Emilia nods slowly, and I can see her eyes look at me with a hint of understanding. Puck was looking at me weirdly though, I don't know if it's just me being paranoid or something else.
"Anyway!" I clap my hands once, surprising her. I feel my passion for tailoring growing more and more the longer I stay with her. Her clothing is simply...exquisite!
"I can't help it, I apologize in advance, Emilia..." I say slowly.
"What?"
"Will you become my muse? I want to use you as a model for designing new clothes."
"Huh?!"
I take a few steps in front of her, staring at her with wide eyes. "Your dress, it's so beautiful! And not just that, but you as well! The shade of your hair accentuates the color of your eyes and your dress gives you a new life that I can't help but admire. If I were to tailor something for you, I would not disappoint you and bring to life something that would bring out your true beauty!" I can feel my heart pounding loudly as I look at her. Thankfully, we're no longer in the busy streets so there's no need to be embarrassed.
Her eyes widened as she glanced at her hair. "My hair is...beautiful?"
I nod vigorously, my eyes sparkling as I imagine what kind of clothes I could make for her.
"Of course it's beautiful! In fact, it reminds me of snowflakes!"
"Snowflakes..." She mumbles in wonder.
"Exactly! They're so unique and beautiful! I would love to have you wear something that suits your beauty. Maybe something that compliments the purple? Navy blue, pink, maybe something lilac!" I got closer to her, my eyes shining with excitement.
Unfortunately, it seems in my excitement I was getting inside her personal space. But I can't help it.
Puck floats in front of me to try and separate us and when I realize what I was doing I lift my hands in apology. Puck then took a moment to see something.
"Hey, hey, Lia! Look! He's got a tattoo!" Puck points to my left hand. I blink and look at my tattoo. I had forgotten about it, honestly. "Oh, this? It's a recent addition." I wave that thought away as I refocus my attention on her hair. She blushes when she notices my gaze, but I don't mind. Although as much as I want to, I'm not going to touch her hair without permission.
"Once...once we get my item back, I would like to have a conversation with you about that..." She says, still blushing.
I nod, grinning happily.
"Of course! I'll make sure to make something that will show the world that you will always stand out!" Puck chuckles as he floats over to my shoulder before sitting down.
"You seem to really like making clothes. So can I trust you to make something for Lia?" I look at him and smile softly.
"Of course. I would never do anything to hurt anyone." Unless if they intend to harm me first, that is.
He narrows his eyes at me.
I'll be honest, his look did intimidate me. But it's not like I would let it show on my face. I've dealt with loan sharks, gangs, and a few thugs who were out to kill me. Puck is no problem compared to those. After all, he's a cat, a spirit cat to be specific.
"Well, if you say so then I trust you." He gives me a toothy smile and I pat him on the head. "Thank you for trusting me, oh great spirit." He laughs and purrs at the same time. It's adorable.
"So, what are we looking for?" I ask curiously. Emilia looks at Puck, as if silently communicating with him. There were a few seconds of silence as I waited for them to answer.
Whatever it is, it must be something really important for them to take this long to answer. After a few more seconds, Emilia slowly nods.
"It's an Insignia...I need it for something important."
Ah, I see. vague but informative enough. Something she doesn't wanna reveal to a total stranger. Understandable.
"Well, let's find it then. We should be close to the slums by now, right?" I ask her. She looks up at me and nods. Her lips curled into a smile, thankful for me not prodding for any more information.
Whatever this Insignia is for, Emilia doesn't want anyone else to know. I won't force her. I know I wouldn't want something very important to me being pried open for others to know. That's called respect to one's privacy.
"Also..." She stops walking and looks at me. I stop as well, waiting for her to finish what she wants to say.
"Thank you, Ken."
I chuckle and smile at her.
"You've already thanked me? I'm just helping, it's only natural, right?" She shakes her head before continuing.
"Still, I appreciate it. So thank you."
I feel my chest swell with pride and happiness. "Hey, I'm helping a pretty girl like you. I should be the one thanking you." I chuckle at my joke before turning to Puck. "And thanks to you too, Puck."
Puck laughs at me and gives me a cheeky grin.
"No problem, Ken! Just don't get too handsy with Lia, alright?"
"H-Hey! You two! Jeez..." Emilia pouts as she crosses her arms, her pale cheeks dusting with red from embarrassment. I can't help but laugh at her reaction. She's really cute when she's embarrassed.
"Come on, Lia! He's just teasing you!" Puck snickers as Emilia starts walking fast. "Ah, wait, Lia! And Ken starts walking faster!" Puck shouts playfully as his tail swats at my cheek. I laugh in response as I run to catch up to Emilia.
"You're adorable when you're embarrassed!"
"Hmph!"
Slums
It took us quite a lot of time since the Royal Capital of Lugunica is huge, an info I got thanks to asking both Emilia and Puck. During my time with both of them, I decided to learn more about them after Puck and I stopped teasing her.
One thing I find interesting is that Puck is usually around at nine in the morning until five in the late afternoon. After that, he goes to sleep until the sun rises. It was fun learning about the two of them and having to tell them about me. Of course, I kept the more sensitive details about me to myself.
By the time we arrived, a few hours had passed.
As soon as we got to the slums, I pursed my lips. The slums are...well, it's the slums. I've been through my fair share of slums, but it doesn't change the fact that it's very depressing.
Rundown buildings, shattered glass, there are even some people who look like they're just about to die. Thankfully there doesn't seem to be any children that are among that last thought.
The worst I've seen is a kid leading some of the younger ones inside a house. Poor kid looked like she hadn't eaten anything for days.
I would like to help them, but what can I do? I have some gold coins inside the sack I have with me, but I can't just give it away willy-nilly.
I glance at the tattoo on my hand, feeling comfort from it. I can summon either Lillia or Lamb and Wolf, using their powers if needed.
I just hope that we can get whatever was stolen from Emilia back.
"Now we just need to find out where this girl lives." I mutter as I look up at the skies. Having her name would be nice.
Glancing at Emilia, I nod to myself.
"Wait here a bit. Watch over her while I'm gone, Puck."
Puck nods and waves at me. I give them both a smile before walking towards a middle aged man.
He instantly has his eyes on me, which is good. No need to surprise anyone, especially with how I look.
"Need something?" He asked gruffly, giving me a narrow glare. I just gave him a pleasant smile. I've dealt with plenty of his types back in my old world.
"I'm looking for a place where you can buy…well let's just call them off the market items." His face shifted into one of interest. I reach into my bag and flip a coin his way. Small investment now, but I'm sure it will pay off.
Now that I have his interest...
"Y'see, I've seen a little girl who is as quick as the wind. She managed to snag a really valuable item. I caught a glimpse and saw it was worth grabbing."
"Uh huh? Well, if you don't mind describing this girl to me?" I nod at his question.
"Gold hair, red scarf, able to scale buildings easily?" giving the best details I could from the 1 second I had eyes on her.
"Ahh, you must be looking for Felt." his eyes lit up in realization "She's well known around here, she lives with Old Man Rom." I raise a brow of interest. "Oh, care to tell me where I can find it? I would love to buy what Felt just stole and several other trinkets that I can find."
The man just flashes me an amused smile from how wolfish my grin looks.
And so, the man gave me the directions to go to Old Man Rom's house. It took me a few tries to memorize the directions, but I managed to memorize it easily.
Going back to Emilia, I gave her a confident smile. "Got the details right here." I point a finger at my head.
"Great job, Ken." Emilia beams at me, and I feel a warm sensation in my chest. I shake my head, trying to ignore it. I can't afford to be distracted right now. Especially with these annoying emotions right now.
"That sure was fast." Puck comments as he hops on my head and taps my nose with his paw. Even as a spirit, cats will still be cats.
"Follow me." I say, leading the way to Old Man Rom's house.
As we walk through the slums, I can feel the eyes of the residents on us. It's not hostile, but it's definitely curious. It's really obvious that both of us stand out like sore thumbs. With Emilia's noble-like outfit, Puck sitting on my head, and me, who looks like a mage with my cosplay, it was a no brainer that we get the spotlight on us.
Arriving in front of a rather large house that is also the most maintained to a degree, I stopped as I felt my tattooed hand grow warm.
'...danger...ous...'
Was that...Lamb's voice?
Narrowing my eyes, I quickly tried to use my magic. 'Come on, remember that feeling...' I thought to myself as I closed my eyes.
"Ken?"
I ignored Emilia's call as I focused on bringing the bow I summoned with Lamb's help earlier. Motes of light appeared around me, and slowly forming on my hand is a bow. I breathed in, allowing the bow to manifest in all its beauty.
And what a beauty it was.
Even if I have already seen it once when Lamb was instructing me on how to use my magic, its still a wonder to behold.
My tattooed hand glows as a familiar white-headed canine appears.
'Wolf…'
Emilia gasped while Puck remained silent but interested as Wolf appeared. His wolfish grin grew wide as he floated beside me. The bodiless Wolf circled around me, barking out his excitement.
"A spirit…?"
I narrow my eyes and turn to Wolf.
"Go, Wolf!"
"Yeah!"
With my improved senses, I can feel something wrong inside the house. But not just feel, I can smell blood.
Wolf charged through the door, surprising those inside it. I glanced at Emilia and Puck before nodding as I ran ahead. My footsteps were light as I jumped through the broken-down door. My eyes instantly locked onto a beautiful woman with a curvy body wearing a very revealing dress.
With the bloody dagger in hand, it was obvious that she is the most dangerous one in the room. Especially with the giant of a man breathing heavily with a giant club in hand and a bloody stomach on the other. I also noticed the little girl, Felt, as she holds a knife in one hand. She's trying to look tough, but from the way her eyes looked and her hands trembling, it was mostly for show.
Without hesitation, I take aim with my bow, the arrow glowing with Lamb's magic. "Stop right there!" I shout to the woman. She turns to me, her face having a beautiful smile as she skillfully twirls the dagger with her hand.
"My, first a wolf with no body and now a young man?" She said without an inch of fear in her tone. In fact, it was as if she was talking about the weather.
And that makes it worse.
There's nothing harder to deal with than someone who is confident in their own strength. Especially if that someone is not even worried.
"I smell blood...a lot of blood!" Wolf growls as he swirls around me protectively, baring his teeth at the femme fatale. "She stinks of it, Ken."
That means she's killed a lot of people. Great.
I'm nervous about this, but with Wolf, I'm sure I can get through this. I square my shoulders and pull the bowstring back, conjuring an arrow as I aim carefully at the woman. "Who are you?" I demand, trying to keep my voice steady.
The woman chuckles, still twirling the dagger in her hand. "I am Elsa Granhiert," she says, "and you, my dear?"
"Ken." I answer quickly, my mind trying to fish out information from what my fellow cosplayers told me.
As far as I know, she's a character who has a thing for cutting open people's stomachs.
I can hear Emilia quickly running towards me, which caused me to turn to her.
"Emilia, stay back!"
In an instant, I felt my senses going crazy.
Before I can react, Elsa darts forward with surprising speed. I quickly release the arrow, but she dodges it with ease. I curse under my breath as I pull the bowstring, another arrow conjuring.
But Elsa is already on me, her dagger flashing in the dim light of the room. I manage to dodge her first strike aimed for my belly, but her second one grazes my arm. I grit my teeth, ignoring the pain as I continue to dodge and aim.
Wolf charges to bite her, but she easily dodges, this gives me the time to position myself in front of Felt and the giant old man, who I can easily guess is Rom.
"Ken!" Emilia and Puck shot icicles at Elsa.
But she easily dodged it with inhumane speed. I grimace as I watch her movements. The way she ran, flipped, and even crawled on the walls sends chills right down my spine.
"How delightful. Two spirits and four morsels for me." Elsa giggles sultrily as she jumps towards me, dagger shining with the intent to kill me.
I clicked my tongue as I shot an arrow at her before going back to dodging her attacks.
She's always aiming for my gut, so I can somewhat predict her attacks. But her speed is something else. "Wolf!" I call out to Wolf to have him attack her from behind.
If we can reduce her speed to even a tiny bit. Then we win.
"Here we go!" Rom roars as he tries to flatten her with his club, only for her to jump back to dodge. Wolf easily dodges the club before going back to my side, growling protectively.
"Fufufu..." She's laughing. Smiling and playing with us like a cat playing with a mouse.
I can only silently curse. "Old Man!" Felt calls out in worry, hurrying towards Rom. The old giant is panting heavily while trying to keep himself up. His wound is not only deep but he's also bleeding out. The fact that he tried to push himself to attack her only made his condition worse.
We only have a small amount of time before the old man bleeds out. Maybe Emilia knows healing magic? But I can't hold off Elsa on my own. But I can count on Puck. He, Wolf, and I should be able to hold her of-
"Not gonna work, Ken. As long as I'm out, Lia won't be able to use her healing magic." He said simply but with a slightly grim expression. My lips pursed. Did he read my thoughts? If so, it doesn't matter now.
"Then…!" My thoughts are interrupted as Elsa lunges towards me once again, her dagger glinting in the dim light of the room. I grit my teeth and raise my bow, conjuring another arrow. I aim carefully, taking a deep breath before releasing the arrow towards Elsa. She dodges it with ease, but it gives me the opportunity to step back and assess the situation. In turn, she threw a dagger towards me. Way too close and too fast for me to dodge.
"Wolf!"
Wolf quickly circles around me before catching the dagger between his teeth before shattering the blade. His fur standing on end as he bares his teeth at Elsa. Emilia and Puck stand behind us, their hands raised as they both casted ice magic at her. But she dodges them all, her movements fluid and graceful.
"It's gonna be a battle of attrition at this rate…" I mutter, feeling sweat running down my cheek. "Not bad, boy. Too bad that spirit of yours has no body. Otherwise, I would gut him…but I guess I can settle by putting more effort into gutting you." The way Elsa speaks confidently sends a chill down my spine. She's not even tired.
"It's getting a little late, y'know?" Puck says as he calmly shoots another icicle at Elsa, only for her to dodge it with ease. "Girls like you shouldn't stay up late."
"Fufu, it's been a long time since I've been called a girl." The agile woman threw a dagger at Emilia. Only to be caught by Wolf with his teeth. He growls before tossing the dagger to the floor.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Elsa is a skilled fighter, but I refuse to be taken down so easily. I glance at Rom, who is now slumped against the wall, his breathing shallow. Felt is beside him, trying to stop the bleeding with a rag.
I felt a chill as Elsa turned to them both. A beautiful smile formed from her lips, hiding a more sinister expression.
"Ah, what a touching moment," Elsa muses, her eyes flicking toward Rom's bleeding stomach. "But I'm afraid I'll have to interrupt. It's time for me to have my fun with him before he bleeds out."
She darts forward, her dagger glinting in the dim light of the room. "Dammit!" I quickly raise my bow, aiming carefully at her. This time, I release the arrow with all my might, imbuing it with all the magic I can muster. The arrow flies straight and true, piercing through Elsa's shoulder with a sickening thud. She staggers back, her eyes wide in surprise.
That's all I need.
"Wolf, Emilia, Puck! You three keep her busy, while I try to heal the big guy!"
With a nod from each of them, they quickly gather around me, forming a circle to keep Elsa at bay. I quickly ran towards Rom and Felt, checking on Rom's wound.
"Keep it together, Old Man!" Felt's voice trembled as she tried to stop the old giant from bleeding.
I kneel before them both as I feel my mind racing. I'm a cosplayer who got isekai'd into this fucked up world, not a doctor or anyone with medical experience.
I lifted my tattooed hand and stared at it. "Lamb..." I called out her name. "Please let me use your power." I begged the spirit I'm contracted with. Even if I know that it will tire me out, I have to save the old man using 'Lamb's Respite'.
I didn't hear from her. I can only hear the battle behind me as Emilia, Puck, and Wolf kept Elsa at bay.
"Whatever you're doing, better hurry up Ken!" Puck calls out as he casually shoots icicle after icicle towards Elsa. "You won't be able to fight if you use Lamb's power, Ken!" Wolf growls out as he bites Elsa's dagger, forcing her into a stalemate.
I ignored their warnings upon hearing Felt sobbing. Knowing that Lamb's power is the only way to save Rom. "Please..." I felt my heart break.
Children shouldn't have to live like this. They should be treasured and loved.
Suddenly, I feel a wave of warmth wash over me, and I feel Lamb's presence inside my mind. "Please, Lamb. I need your help," I pleaded with her.
After a few seconds, she responded. 'Very well. Just be careful, Ken. Lillia will be sad if you get hurt...' I heard her voice in my head while feeling her magic in my hand.
Rom coughed and wheezed, causing me to go into action. "Don't you dare die on me!" I slammed my open hand on the floor, causing a circle made of bright light to appear around us. I grimaced as I felt nearly all my magic disappear from my body.
Everyone stopped what they were doing as the floor inside the circle glowed like the sky. Next, a bright light made of magic in the shape of the moon slowly descended in the middle of the circle. I watched as it slowly landed on the floor before bursting harmlessly.
In an instant, Rom's stomach wound and even the wound on my arm healed. I turn to the old giant, breathing out a sigh of relief as I noticed his breathing looking more relaxed.
Even with this, I can tell he's tired. His body was big and strong enough to keep himself from dying.
Turning to Felt, I pursed my lips before slowly turning to Elsa. I felt my body protest, but I have to push on.
"I'm tired as all hell..." I pant as I grip my bow tightly. "But that doesn't mean I'm not out of this yet."
"Run, kid." I whisper to Felt. "Run and get help." We're in the slums so I doubt she'll get help. But it's worth trying.
"What?! You think I'm gonna run away an-"
I snapped my head towards her. "Yeah, run away! We'll keep this old hag busy while you run away and get help!" I grit my teeth as I stand up. Elsa shoots me a narrow glare at my insult to her, but I couldn't care less.
"Children are treasures! So, as adults, it only makes sense that we stay here!"
I turn my eyes to Puck. He's smiling in approval but he looks like he's tired.
Time's up for him, huh?
"Would you please shut up?" Elsa dashes towards me, her dagger glinting maliciously. Wolf intercepts her and pushes her back.
"Go, Felt!" I shot another arrow, barely scratching her cheek.
She turns to me, her lips pursed before making a mad dash to the door. "Don't die!" With a burst of wind, she managed to get away.
Looking out, I can see that the sun is beginning to die down.
'Ken,' I almost jumped from hearing Puck's voice in my head. 'I'm almost out of mana. We'll have to make this one quick.' I frowned as I took a deep breath and chuckled weakly. "I'm tired as hell…" I lifted my hood off my head and glared at Elsa. I aimed my bow at her, pulling the string and conjuring an arrow.
"That's why let's make this quick." My lips curled into a confident smile as I prepared to fight her again.
Cut!
12k words took a lot from me…hopefully I don't start writing more and more fics like Shiro does…who am I kidding? Of course it will happen…
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I'll see ya all in the next chapter/fic/update!
Ciao! Peace!