Interlude 2 - Yumemi Log 2

“I don’t want to! Why do I have to kill monsters!? Why do I have to bathe blood!? That’s absurd! I want to go home! Aahhhhh!”

No no no no no no NOOOOO!!!

Why do I have to do such things!? I just want to go back…!

“You are not familiar with games? I think it’s mainstream to kill monsters to gain EXP though?” he commented.

“What? You don’t level up by collecting items!? Or pay money to get some!?”

I don’t even know what I’m saying, but I feel that was the correct reply.

“No, I only got 3 drops so far. Plus, I’ve found no money. I don’t think we can even find a shop in a cave, random shady merchants are different though.”

“... what are you saying?” I don’t understand what he said at all.

“Sorry, I didn’t really get it either. I think my mouth moved unconsciously because it seems I was so passionate about games at some point I still haven’t really remembered.”

“... regaining memories…” she stopped for a moment deep in thought. “That does sound strange, but I’ve got no memories either… Only blurry images of three people that always surround me, swinging me around in their arms…”

“That must be your family. It was the same for me.”

He said that so easily… Does he not find the situation we’re in strange at all!?

He’s also started doing something with his panel… how can he be that relaxed??

“Hey… Shindou-kun.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“How long have you been here?”

“I can’t say for sure, but maybe around two days? I used most of it to make my first knife though. It was hell.”

I looked at the knife he gave me. It took that much time for him to make one…?

But just a few minutes ago, wasn’t he making this…

“Back then, my status was maybe the same as yours now. Now that I think of it, I should’ve leveled up before making my first knife. Attack is so important to damage things after all. I was so dumb! I could’ve saved my time!” He started complaining about something I don’t understand at all…

That relieves me a bit, I’m not the only one who is dissatisfied with the situation we’re in…

Is he trying to relax me by acting that way? That’s kinda cute of him…

“... fufu. You’re funny, Shindou-kun.” I let out a chuckle.

“It was kinda easy this time, so don't worry about it.” He reassured me.

“... thank you.” I took another glance at the knife he gave me.

His considerate gesture really helps me calm my anxiousness…

“I’ll investigate some path to search for easy prey.”

“Eh? Wa–”

Wasting no time, he dashed off. Did he just leave me alone like that!?

A few minutes later, he returned to the Safe Zone to tell me what he found

“Hey, I’ve found harmless slimes that won’t spray blood, so–”

“Muu…!” I puffed my cheeks, glaring at him.

“Uhh… did I do something?”

“How can you leave a weak vulnerable girl like that!? What if something bad happens!?”

“But I was checking out for monsters… besides, you’re in the Safe Zone…”

“Still! Being left alone was scary, you dumbass! Huwaaa…!” I started crying again.

“Okay-okay, my bad. But think of it, what if there is a level 10 monster lurking around?”

…

“... I’ll be a burden…” I said in a weak tone.

“Glad you understood. To make you get accustomed to killing monsters, let’s start with the harmless slime, okay?”

“... okay.”

>x<

He brought me to a path. He dashed off, immediately catching a slime barehanded and holding it in front of me.

How can he be so nonchalant about touching it…? Doesn’t he think that thing is gross…?

“You see the round thing in the center? That’s the core. You break it, the slime’s gone.”

“Yes…” My hands are still trembling.

… wait, now that I think of it, this isn’t just a feeling of gross…

It is a feeling of fear… why do I have to feel fear against them…?

Is it the fact that I have to kill living beings… No, that would make no sense since I was already scared of them in the first place before I knew I had to kill them…

“Take a deep breath. You can do it,” Shindou-kun said, pushing my back.

Even if it really is, the fact of taking lives is the one burdening me… It is just blobs… they are not living things… think of it that way, and I should be fine…!

“Okay… fuu…”

After taking a deep breath, I took a stance, and leaped forward.

“Heeaaahh!”

The knife stabbed through the slime’s body and cracked its core. The slime disappeared. He stopped my momentum by holding my shoulders.

… It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be… but my hands are still shaking…

I… killed something… with these hands…

It feels so wrong, but I need to hide it so I won’t make him worried…

… On my vision’s corner, I find my EXP Gauge moved a bit.

“I… did it… Shindou-kun! I did it! My EXP Gauge filled up a bit!” I tried to sound excited, even though deep down in my heart I’m still not calm yet.

“Yeah, good job. You did well.” He patted my head.

I don’t know why, but my face feels a little bit hot… and my chest feels like being strangled…

“... Shindou-kun…”

“Yeah?”

“Patting a random girl’s head like that is not good, you know. You can be sued for sexual harassment… though I’m not sure what that means.”

Yeah, those words somehow came out of my mouth naturally like breathing air, even though I have no clue what I’m saying.

“... strange, I too am feeling like that sounds bad.” He let out a dry laugh, but still kept patting my head.

… to be honest, this doesn’t really feel that bad, so I decided to keep quiet and let him keep going for a minute.

>x<

We’re now back in the safe zone.

After killing some more slimes, I’ve finally filled my EXP gauge.

“I’ll level up first, so you can check what it looks like. I have a doubt that I will be vulnerable for a bit while sorting out the new memories.”

“... okay?”

It is about the thing he said about regaining memories according to level, isn’t it?

I was so focused on filling my EXP gauge that I forgot that was a thing until now.

After making some gestures, *THUD* he suddenly collapsed to the cave floor and hit his head.

“Shindou-kun!?”

I rushed to check his nose, and found he’s still breathing.

Is this what he meant becoming vulnerable? Suddenly collapsing like that… for a second, I thought he died or something!

“If so, why don’t you lay down first!?”

Still, how can he be so gullible and let a stranger watch over him like this?

Leaving his unconscious body to a stranger like me…

“Will you still do the same if you’re with some other girl?” I asked while poking his cheek with my index finger, even though I know I won’t get any response.

Though, that thought just now made me somewhat irritated.

…

Sometime later, he woke up and found me glaring at him.

“That was shorter than usual. Now I get how I was so familiar with RPGs though.”

It seems like he found some answers in his sleep. I don’t know what he’s talking about.

“So, how long have I been sleeping?" He asked.

“Around 5 minutes,” I answered.

“Okay, that’s longer than I expected. If it’s not a path with only slimes, I think leveling up there means our death.”

I’ve been thinking about it, but he always keeps analyzing the system like it is the obvious thing to do, isn’t he?

How can he be so motivated to do that…?

How can he be so tough in this situation…?

“... Shindou-kun.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you not doubting me?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I mean, like dragging you while unconscious and killing you outside the safe zone just to get EXP quickly.”

If we’re something that can get EXP from killing monsters that got levels, then that also means we can get EXP from killing another person… Has he never thought of that possibility?

He looked a bit confused for a moment, but quickly answered.

“Sacrificing others for instant benefit is not my thing, and not your thing either. I can tell by your eyes. Even when you kill those slimes, you are making a shaken face. You must’ve still thought it is wrong to kill things even now, right?”

… he saw through my facade.

It is obvious that killing things is not a usual thing to do… let more, killing people…

Still, there is no doubt there will be people who would think and execute that kind of idea in the situation we’re in.

But I somehow was able to tell… that he’s not a bad guy from the beginning. For some reason, I know I will be safer with him.

Strange… I wonder why I’m able to think that way…

“... Shindou-kun, your observation is too detailed, it's creeping me out.” I let out a harsh comment again, to hide the fact that I’m so happy he thought that way, that I’m about to cry.

“Why are your comments always harsh to me!?”

“Fufu, just joking. It makes me happy that you can tell that much by just looking at me.”

… Ah… I wonder why this feels so natural… it is giving me a push to overcome the situation we’re in…

I walked towards the tree by the river.

“Thank you so much, Shindou-kun.”

I leaned myself to the tree, searching for the option, and raised my level.

>x<

When I know it, I’m always with a man traveling to so many places. Too many flashy sparkling places to remember.

The man was called… ‘Daddy Businessman?’ I’m not really sure. Seems like he’s my father…?

A white room that feels so familiar, and beeping sounds that keep looping in my ear.

On the bed, lies a woman with many things attached to her…

The man always carries me here every few days.

“Say hi to your mother, Yume-chan~”

“Au… u?” I feel like that came out of my throat.

I see… I’m still a baby here, can’t speak clearly.

“Our girl has turned 2 today, dear. I wish you could see her… and hold her… *sob* I’m waiting for you to wake up…”

The man cried while hugging me. His tears made me cry too, even though I don't know the reason myself.

>x<

… Ah…

“… maybe dying here means we can return home?”

“YOU CAAAN’T!”

Ah, she woke up.

“You mustn't!” I rushed and grabbed his knife at the blade.

“Hey, wait! You’ll hurt your hand!”

“Better than you trying to kill yourself just to test something!”

I feel something hot dripping… it stings…

“Calm down! I have no intention of doing that.”

“You’re lying!”

“Why do I have to lie about this!? Hurry up and release the knife! You’re bleeding!”

… after some time of him explaining the misunderstanding, I finally released my grip.

Blood is still dripping down from my palm, and my wound is still open.

Suddenly, he took his T-shirt off and dipped it in the river.

“Wha- why are you suddenly taking off your clothes!?” I covered my eyes… but because my instinct told me to make a gap between my fingers to take a peek, I dit it…

He hurriedly covered the wound in my left palm by rolling it tight.

“Put your hand up to prevent the bleeding, and stay still until the wound closes. 20 minutes should be enough.”

“Bu- but…”

“Don’t worry about staining it. It’s also my fault for making you misunderstand, by saying my hypothesis out loud."

He took his jacket that was left on the ground, wore it and zipped it up.

Ah… wait, did I just feel disappointed? Why?

“There, you don’t have to worry.”

“... I’m sorry.”

“... but, you’re thinking I would kill myself, right?”

“... yes.”

When I realized, my body moved on my own… even though he’s supposed to be a stranger to me, I wonder why did I go that far…

“Then, you’re someone who would stop a blade from a suicidal guy. That fact alone is nice to know.”

He looked kinda haughty, nodding to himself and made a weird expression while closing his eyes.

“... Shindou-kun… were you just thinking something rude about me?”

“...”

“At least try to defend yourself!”

“... no comment.” (“... I plead the fifth.”)

“Hey! Look at my eyes!”

“...”

“You are doing it again just now, aren’t you!?”

It’s subtle, but I can tell he’s thinking something rude about me.

“But still, I’m not suicidal or anything. So how about I tell you about all the memories I’ve regained, and you will tell me yours?”

Ah, he tried to avoid the topic, huh?

Well… I guess we should prioritize building trust over small fights like this.

“... okay. Even though mine still only have the memories of 2 years old me.”

“No problem.”

… and so, we told each other about our memories so far. We talked for what felt like an hour, that’s also how long I’ve been asleep it seems. I learnt a lot about him.

I know enough to trust her with her actions before, and I hope she can trust me too.

>x<

“Shindou-kun… I want to remember everything as soon as possible. Is there really no other way to earn EXP besides killing monsters?”

“I feel the same way, but there are so many things I don’t know yet. We want our memories back, we have to get a lot of EXP. Still, killing all those slimes won’t give us much EXP… you know what that means?”

“... other monsters…”

I shuddered at the thought… of cutting the flesh and blood splatters.

“I can carry your level for now, but eventually you will have to face the situation we’re in. In order to get home, we have to do it.”

Oh now… ah, I dropped the knife… Why did the thought make me this scared…?

“Yumemi, I’ll try to raise my level first so that I can carry your level easily. Is that okay with you?”

“... okay…” I replied unconsciously, not understanding a single word he just said because I was so deep in fear…

…

“… checking it myself will be faster.”

… when I realized it, he’s gone…

>x<

“Where have you been!?” I immediately snapped at him.

“I properly said that I’m going out and you replied okay.”

“I don’t remember saying that!”

That might be my fault for not listening properly, but still, how dare he leave me alone!

“... sorry.” He replied.

Ah… that’s not what I wanted to hear. Him apologizing like that even though he didn’t really know why… has always been irritating me… ‘always’?

… Anyway!

“But Shindou-kun, you are not the type to lie, so that must be the truth. The fact that you’re giving up and just apologizing when you’re not in the wrong irritates me, you know!?”

I bowed down so deep.

“I’m sorry. I’m at fault here.”

“... huh? But… huh?”

He was so shocked that I apologized. I straightened up my posture and continued

“I can apologize too, you know? Welcome back, Shindou-kun.”

“Uh… I’m back?”

>x<

He’s on to making another knife. While doing so, he explained to me about the EXP bonus EXP we can get if we’re low leveled.

I told him my EXP history and he came up with a conclusion in his mind.

“I was worried each time you took damage, you know?”

Since I can see his HP Gauge since we’re in a party.

“Don’t worry, level 1 monsters are no threat to me.”

“That’s not the problem!”

“By the way, are your wounds closed yet?”

“Don’t change the subject! It is closed though! I tried washing your T-shirt but the stain in the middle just won’t go away…”

I pointed at his T-shirt I hung on a branch. The bloodstain the size of my palm remains at its center.

“It’s just a plain T-shirt anyway, giving it a pattern might be a good idea. Okay, I finished a new stone knife. Let’s see… all that pounding and it still had a durability of 98.1, not bad.”

“... Hey, Shindou-kun. Why are you always changing the topics?”

“Tch.” I can’t escape huh.

“Why are you clicking your tongue just now!?”

I was genuinely worried about him, and this guy is just unbelievably…!

“Shindou-kun…”

I tugged the sleeve of his jacket.

“I’m just worried that something bad will happen to you, you know…”

I feel like crying whilst saying that. I was worried about his safety, but I think that’s also because I don’t want to be left alone…

“Got it, thanks for worrying about me.”

“Shindou-kun, you’re patting my head again.”

“It’s your fault for being so cute.”

“... HUH!?”

What is this guy saying so suddenly!? Me, cute!?

He kept ruffling my hair.

Uhh… why do I actually think this feels nice…

… after 5 minutes has passed,

“That was refreshing, reminds me of when I pat my little sister.”

I puffed my cheek, kinda irritated at his last comment. I then immediately looked at the reflection in the river, and found out how messy my hair had become.

“Never heard about the saying, Hair is a woman's life?”

“Never heard of it.”

“... baka.”