07. Revenge Is Best Served Through Generations

Yumino didn't even find the time to look around the house. Exhaustion pulled him into the dream realm as soon as he was in close proximity to the beautifully decorated bed.

Within the dream, he found himself in a situation that he was starting to acknowledge as familiar.

"Hey, don't tell me I will have to deal with this every time I go to sleep from now..."

The same familiar voice and faded silhouette appeared in front of the man.

"Don't worry, hero. After some time you will start getting used to it?"

"What do you mean by 'getting used to it'?! I have to get some rest! I can't stay chatting with y'all! Hey!"

While Yumino was busy acting like an angry dog barking at the delivery man, the woman in front of him let out a laugh.

"What are you laughing for? I'm not joking around here!"

"Ahem! I'm sorry, hero..."

"And stop calling me that!"

"I'm sorry, Yumino. In truth, seeing another elf through your eyes brought us so much happiness, I just felt like playing around a bit. Rest assured, we will only contact you in your dreams when there is something important to discuss. Dreams create a better medium for communication."

"Huh... That's good to know. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me who you are, and what are so many people doing in my head?"

*Rumble*

Yumino's search for answers was again interrupted by loud sounds, followed by more voices screaming in agony just like every other time.

"So close!"

"Go back!"

"Ah, it seems you have startled them again," the lady said in a kind but hasty manner.

"I will ask again, who are 'they'?"

"Vengeful spirits… The souls of those who have passed but cannot let go. Yumino, they're your ancestors, and there is something they’ve been trying to pass on to you."

"Wow, wow... Stop right there, lady! What do you mean by ancestors? Didn't we talk last time about how I came from another world? I don't remember having any angry elves there!"

"They are the ancestors of the current you. They are the ancestors of Yumino. They are the ancestors of Nima. They are the late citizens of Alnerius, your elfdom."

Due to information overload, Yumino signaled the lady to stop for a moment.

"Ok, you do realize this is way too much to take in, right? And even if I take your words for granted, that doesn't mean that I have anything to do with them! Would they really entrust something important to an elf who's just woken up with no knowledge of this world? Where is the logic in that?"

"Oh, but there is plenty of logic. What they’re about to entrust you with can’t be considered a gift—nor is it something you’ll treasure. If anything, you might end up calling it a curse."

"A CURSE?! Just like that?"

In response to Yumino’s scream, the abyss around them once again echoed with pain and hatred.

"Yes, it's a curse. A curse of pain, of hate, of anger—a curse of revenge. The moment you entered this world, it was bestowed upon you. Now, your purpose is to carry out their vengeance."

But Yumino wouldn't have any of it.

"Listen here! This is way too arbitrary! I don't care what their story is; I just want to find my home! Remove whatever curse this is, and let me find my own way!"

"I am sorry, hero, but it may already be too late. As soon as you have been brought here, thy sole purpose became enacting the revenge your people yearn for. Such has been, and such will be the way until everyone can rest."

As the lady proclaimed thus, Yumino felt himself slowly being dragged out of his dream—screams of the tortured flooding his mind. Once again, he felt hate for a certain "him."

"HEY! I DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD JUST GO! Stop right there and do as I've asked!"

But the lady didn't listen.

"One more thing, Yumino! In Veston, be careful of..."

*****

When Yumino finally opened his eyes—feeling like he had been hit by a train—the sun was already high up in the sky.

He got up to find his pillow missing and the bed drenched in sweat. That was when Nima entered his room with a bucket filled with water.

"AH! You woke up!"

The girl tried to cover the bucket and distract Yumino with a smile twisted by nervousness.

"So, what is up with the water?"

"Water? Oh no, how silly of me to bring this here. It was meant for the flowers. I'll go now..."

"Wait a second!"

"Kya!"

"The wet mattress, the time, the heat... Don't tell me..."

"I'm so sorry! You wouldn't wake up whatever I tried, so I panicked... and... you know..."

"What?"

"What?"

The two of them stood there as if frozen in time, looking at each other. By the time it was getting awkward, Yumino spoke.

"I was going to ask if I've made this mess while sleeping. Maybe the poison or the exhaustion made me sweat buckets. Sorry."

"Ah? Oh... Is that what you think happened? No... No problem whatsoever! I know! I'll bring you a change of clothes, and we can take those wet ones to the cleaners. Just wait a second while I go get them!"

Nima wasted no time as she ran out the door. Meanwhile, Yumino hopped out of bed and almost tripped up on something.

"More water buckets?"

It seemed there was more to this story than the girl was letting on.

*****

"I must say, Yumino. I didn't know you could eat that much."

"I was surprised too. I guess my body really needed to recover. Ah, but I'm sorry for staining the shirt you gave me. Being hungry was no excuse for the way I ate."

"Don't worry about it! I have plenty of those."

"But I must say... Elves sure do like green."

"Hm? Isn't that a weird way to phrase it?"

"Oh! Yeah...haha... I mean, I know we do, but I sometimes get bored of wearing the same color. Don't you?"

"Eh?"

Nima—who until then seemed to be getting more and more used to Yumino—suddenly got all shy.

"I mean... I do have another dress that I can wear. A red one... Do you... do you want me to wear it?"

"Sure! I bet it would look good on you."

For some reason, this answer turned the girl's face bright red.

After getting a fresh change of clothes, Nima spun around in front of Yumino.

"How do I look?"

"Great! I love how it fits you!"

To Yumino's answer, the girl stopped and took a deep breath. After calming herself down, she put on a bright smile.

"Things may be going a bit fast… But so be it! Dinner date it is!"

Slowly but steadily, her shy demeanor was taking an unexpected turn.

"Huh? Isn't that a weird way to phrase it... Whoah, slow down!"

Before Yumino had time to form a thought, the girl had already grabbed him by the hand and dragged him down the busy street.

"Here! This is the place!"

"Whew, you sure run fast. Were you really that hungry? Cause I was planning on also calling Averin to dinner..."

Upon hearing this, Nima's glow suddenly faded a bit.

"Hmm...? You wanted to also call Averin with us?"

"I feel like there is something I should understand from that reaction..."

"It's nothing. You can call other girls if you want," Nima said as she brushed her hair with her hand. "Maybe you were planning on treating her too?"

Something in her had definitely changed, but Yumino was not one for reading the room too well.

"Wait a second. Am I the one treating? And what's with that attitude? Isn't the switch-up a bit too natural?"

"Of course you're treating. What made you think otherwise?" Nima asked while leaning her head back in an attempt to look down on the man. "I treated you to lunch, after all."

"Nima... This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I don't really have any coins on me. I was lost in the forest just a day ago, you remember?"

An unexpected answer. Not knowing what to say, Nima returned to her morning self for a second.

"Oh... I see... I mean, it's no problem! I can help you a bit more, I guess!"

Nima gave an encouraging nod towards Yumino and faced the tavern, but once she noticed the time, her face turned pale.

"Oh no! It's already this late! We should go back..." she said, reaching for Yumino—but her other hand had already been grabbed by someone else.

Standing in the doorway, a pale man with sharp canines was holding on to her.

"Going back already? We were just getting ready to welcome you—"