A Map

In the evening, in the cave behind the waterfall...

“Pathetic! I thought the Baramus was strong!” Julia said.

“Kenue, are you all right?” Darma asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Julia, what are you going to do now?” Darma asked.

“Let’s just rest for the time being. We’ll wait for Roman and Shinra to come back,” Terry said.

Julia walked out of the cave toward Torou.

“Hey, I’ll go alone. Please protect Roman and the others here,” she said.

“Why? They are all tough. You do not have to worry about them. I am sure they will be fine even without me.”

Darma, Kenue, and Terry overheard their conversation.

“Hm… I’m just confused. I’m afraid of losing another member of my family.”

“Roman is strong. If you guys are together, I believe all problems can be solved.”

“Hm... I was just thinking, the burden that Dad carried before, now falls on me as the older sister.”

“Julia, you are not alone anymore, your brother is here with you.”

Roman and Shinra reached the cave at last.

“What’s this? Did those monsters come here as well?” Roman asked, puzzled.

“The Baramus with three Rhinos and ten Wolfies came here, but they were defeated by Julia.”

“Is that true? Damn. I should’ve been the one to beat him!” Roman said, disappointed.

Terry, Kenue, and Darma came over to Roman and Shinra.

“Hey, I thought you ran and hid in your room,” Kenue teased Shinra.

“I’m sorry, Kenue,” Shinra said.

“Big Bro, I’m glad you’re back,” Terry said.

“Y-Yeah, so am I,” Shinra said awkwardly.

“Hey, what’s up with you, Shinra? She’s your sister. You should be happy that your family is still alive, right?” Roman said.

Shinra smiled.

“Did those monsters attack the Sacred Hawk Kingdom, too?” Darma asked.

“Yes, five Sharkins came, but Roman beat them all,” Shinra said.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Roman said.

“You guys eat first. It’s getting late,” Torou said, telling Shinra and the others to eat.

Roman and the others went into the cave and rested for a while.

“Father, I’m sorry. I still feel awkward,” Shinra said to Gregori.

“It is okay, Shinra. You will always be my son and I will always love you.”

“I found this in my closet,” he said, showing Gregori a box containing the same necklace Terry was wearing.

“That is right, this is a necklace from me to you. I am sorry I never once came, Shinra. The Sacred Hawk Kingdom has always been guarded by monsters. I dared not come close. I was thinking there might be something going on there! It turned out that King Tertoro had informed the locations of the human villages to monsters, then they began to come to the villages and threaten us all. In fact, those monsters will brutally kill humans if they dare to resist!”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

“Hey, sorry for interrupting you guys, but are you aware that my sister is getting ready to leave? Let’s go with her,” Roman said.

Shinra and the others saw Julia, who was getting ready to go. After that, she went outside without saying anything.

Roman walked up to her and said, “Hey, Big Sis, can you just wait a minute? We’re preparing our luggage.”

“Where are you going? You all stay here! I’ll go with Torou.”

“Huh? Why? Why did you start acting haughty again? If it wasn’t for me, maybe your village would’ve been destroyed. You should be thanking me.”

“Okay, if you insist. Thanks, Roman. Now you guys just stay here! If you come along, you’ll only become a burden.”

“A burden? We’re strong, too! We can fight against those monsters!!”

Torou shook his head. “I knew this would happen,” he said in a low voice.

“What did you just say, Mr. Rat?!”

“I will wait inside until you guys finish talking,” Torou said, entering the cave.

“What do you want? How strong are you? Show me!!” she snapped.

“Yeah, I’ll show you later if a monster turns up.”

“Attack me!! If you can hurt me with that power of yours, I’ll consider it.”

“I don’t want to attack women,” he said, averting his eyes.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll attack you instead.”

She hit him hard in the face, sending him flying far away. He fainted. She then entered the cave.

“Hey you, Flashy Prince, take care of my brother. Don’t let him follow me! He’s passed out outside for now,” she said to Shinra.

“But wouldn’t it be better if we went together? That will make us stronger, won’t it?” Shinra said.

“Strong? You want me to beat you up, too? I want you guys to be safe! Stay here! Torou and I will go to settle all of this. I ask you to help protect all the villagers here!” Then, she went to the Central Monster Kingdom, where Baramus who had killed his father was.

“Very well, we will get going. Shinra, you are strong, stay with your friends, okay?” Torou said, handing Shinra a piece of paper. It was the map of the Central Monster Kingdom.

“I believe that if you hold it, you can keep Roman in check,” Torou whispered.

“Okay! Thank you, Sensei.”

“Torou! Hurry up, before my idiot brother wakes up,” Julia shouted from outside the cave.

“We will get going, Shinra.”

“Take care, Sensei.”

Julia and Torou headed toward the border barrier near the Central Monster Kingdom. It was about eight days on foot from the cave.

Meanwhile, in the Central Monster Kingdom...

A few days later, the Baramus who had been defeated by Julia entered Satyr’s room. He kneeled before Satyr.

“What happened, Baramus? Your body is full of wounds,” Satyr asked.

“M-My apologies, Lord Satyr. I was defeated by a human named Julia. It was very likely that she would go here with her friends. I presume they will be here in a few days. I want to help you guard this Central Kingdom.”

“Help me? Do I look like I need your help? But thanks for the heads-up, Baramus. You can rest in peace now.” Satyr walked up to him and smashed his head with a single blow.

Then, he summoned an entire army of monsters and gave them orders.

“Listen to me carefully. In three days I’ll be having a meeting in Zhargun (the monster planet). For the next few days, I won’t be on Earth. I want you all to finish them off before long. I don’t want to hear that they’re still making trouble! Got it?”

“Understood,” the monsters answered in unison.

“Well, Baramus, just before I killed your brother, he said ‘I’ve been defeated by a human named Julia’. Kill that human right away.”

Damn it! I remember that name! She’s Satria’s daughter. I’ll kill her! She must pay for what he did to my brother! “It shall be done, Milord,” the Baramus said.

In the cave...

A few hours later, Roman woke up. “Ah, damn it!! I’ll make her pay!! Shitty older sister!”

“Roman, are you okay?” Terry asked.

“I’m all right.”

“Roman, eat first,” Shinra said.

“No need. I’ll go after her right now!” Roman said, preparing his things.

“Do you know the way to the Central Monster Kingdom?” Darma asked.

“I’ll ask monsters on the way. If they don’t want to tell me, I’ll beat them up straightaway.”

“You’re starting to act stupid again. Looks like that punch from your sister made you even more stupid,” Kenue roasted.

“Indeed, I’m stupid. I’m leaving. See you!!” Roman said, walking out of the cave.

Shinra went after him.

“Roman, I have something interesting.”

“What is it? You want to show off the necklace your father gave you? I don’t need it,” Roman said, walking on.

“Look,” Shinra said, showing the paper Torou gave him.

“What’s that? Give it to me,” Roman said, trying to take it.

“Hey, don’t be hasty. This is the map of the Central Monster Kingdom. We can catch up with your sister and Torou-sensei.”

Terry, Darma, and Kenue walked up to the two of them.

“What’s that? Let me see,” Darma said.

“You’re keeping something from us, aren’t you?” Terry said.

“No, it’s just a plain paper,” Shinra lied.

“That’s the map to the Central Monster Kingdom. Let’s go,” Roman said.

“The Central Monster Kingdom? Are we really going there? Didn’t Julia warn us earlier?” Darma asked.

“She did? I’ll beat her up later. Don’t fret. Let’s go right now,” Roman said.

“Don’t rush. Let’s just prepare what we need. We’ll leave at dawn,” Shinra said.

“Okay!!” Roman said.

Then, they were getting ready to set off for the Central Monster Kingdom.