Nightmare? Or Premonition?

I was sleeping in my room. But somehow, it felt uncomfortable.

It's really cold and hard. I don't remember my bed felt like that. Even my pillow felt like a rock. I tried really hard, but I can't sleep at all.

The coldness I felt suddenly turned warm, or hot, like someone burned a firewood. But it's slowly getting too hot. I know it's summer now, but it's getting unbearable now.

Then I heard someone, or more, screamed. Wait, screamed? I tried to focus my hearing on the source of the scream until I know what they said.

"NOOOOO!!!"

I jolted awake from my bed, or not. It was in the cold pavement. I don't know what place it is now, but somehow, I'm really terrified.

"W... what is this place?"

The only thing I can describe about this place is... hell. Burned and destroyed buildings, blood, even corpses too. Even the sky is terrifying because of the blood-red moon.

I tried myself to calm down, but I'm too scared. I know fantasy world can be very dark and death is very common, but I don't want to die again. There are a lot of things I wanted to do in this world, like learning the history of this world.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"

A piercing scream could be heard again near where I stood, which terrified me. I wanted to come near the position of that scream, but there's a possibility that I'll become the next victims. I really need to calm down now.

Let's think about it, I don't know what caused the disaster to this place, but somehow, this place is very familiar. If I just stood in here, I won't find out any answers I need. I decided to find out the source of that scream, no matter how terrified I am.

The smoke was very thick, but somehow I didn't affect by it. Maybe I got a cheat skill after I got reincarnated, but it's not the time to joke about it. Whenever I passed the unfortunate victims, I always averted my eyes and muttered 'sorry'.

I wanted to puke for seeing those gory moments, but I need to be strong mentally.

After walked for long, I finally reach the destination. What I saw made my eyes widen in fear.

"N... No way... Annette?"

I see... myself, or Annette, clutched the stub used to be her right arm with her other arm while she sat on the ground. Her dress is also caked in blood because of her injury.

I tried to call her, but she didn't respond. I also don't remember Annette losing her arm, since she never lost hers in all of her sixteen future memories.

Please, let it be a nightmare and let me wake up from it!

"You realized that it's futile, but you're so stubborn. Now you're losing one of your limbs because of it. No hard feeling, okay~"

The voice seems very childish yet doesn't have any remorse. I looked at the source of the voice, but fell to the ground at how... monstrous it is.

I can't describe it because it's covered by the shadow, but it has a one big eye in blood-red colour. Not only that, it's also very gigantic. I can see a little girl, which face covered by shadow, sitting at the top of that monster. But her shoulder-length black hair is very striking.

I tried to run, but my body can't move. More like, it's impossible to escape from her or that thing.

"If you want to know why, my cute pets are very hungry. I can't sustain their hunger with just my body, no matter how great my regenerative skills."

After she said that, the monster gaze intensely pierced at me, describing me that I was its next prey, while the girl smiled creepily at me.

Wait, at me? How?!

"Even if it's impossible, I'm going to liberate the system you hijack, White Girl."

xxxxx

"Uwaaaah!"

I jolted awake and found myself in my room, drenched in sweat. I hugged myself because of the fear I felt while tried to calm down.

When I look at the window, it's already morning. Nothing happened. A normal day to spent or gather information about this world. Finally, I was able to calm down when I find out it was a dream.

No, calling it a dream might be crazy. It's more like a nightmare. The nightmare about me losing my right arm. But that's not the part that scared me.

It was that giant monster shrouded by shadow, with blood-red eye piercing at me like I was its prey. No, more like I'm a very dangerous being to be exist. The little girl on top of it is not only scary, but creepy too. Even she called me 'White Girl'.

I don't know why she called me 'White Girl', but thanks to that, I learned another piece of information about this world.

'White Girl' hijacked the system.

What system she hijacked? The world system, like it gave some sort of RPG and level up like in most isekai light novel? But, after I learned about the Otherworldly Sages doesn't have a level limit, maybe there's some connection between her and them. Like maybe, she loathed them, I guess. But the biggest question still remains, who is 'White Girl'?

The more I think about her makes me dizzy. I need to take some rest from it. Maybe visiting the cat cafe might relieve me.

I changed my pajama to my usual dress and ready to start the new day. But when I opened my door...

"Annette!"

...Nee-san came and hugged me tightly.

"Annette, are you okay? You screamed a lot before!"

"Y... you hurt me... Nee-san."

"S-Sorry!"

Then she let go of me while I catch up to breathe.

I don't know if I was screamed a lot, and I feel bad about it. Then I felt my hair stroked by Nee-san.

"It's okay, Annette. Whatever it is, don't hide it and say it to Mother and me."

Well, since Nee-san and Mom are my new family in this world, I guess it's okay to rely on them.

"Okay, but after helping Mom preparing the shop."

With a happy nod from Nee-san, we helped Mom, so I can tell them about my nightmare. Hopefully they don't overreact, especially Nee-san.

xxxxx

After helping Mom and told her and Nee-san about my nightmare, I visited to my next destination. Sadly, it's not a cat cafe, but a shop managed by the shaman, the same lizardman shaman who did a medical check-up on me. Right now, I'm already in front of his shop after Nee-san escorted me there.

Mom said that I need a calming potion from him to prevent me from being traumatized, but I'm afraid if it has any side effect. I know Mom is a very caring person, but isn't she being overprotective? Considering what happened to Annette before might be the reason for that.

After I said everything about my nightmare while omitting about the 'White Girl' part, it's really like what I feared. Their reaction like this:

"That's it! That bi- woman must pay for traumatize Annette!"

"As much as I want to to- have a chat with her, violence doesn't solve anything, Nia-chan!"

Nee-san is enraged while Mom said another disturbing words, but they still considerate enough for not saying it in my presence. Note to self to never offend them, or hell will be unleashed.

After reminiscing that event, I entered the shop.

The inside of the shop was normal, if not counting the animal skull and some claws displayed on the ceiling, giving this place an eerie vibe. I just wish I don't have to come in here, but Mom insisted me. So it can't be helped.

At the counter, I see the lizardman shaman talking with the girl with teal colored hair. The lizardman shaman wore an indian-like uniform, while the girl wore a red blazer with buttoned white shirt underneath it and black miniskirt. She's also clutching a cane on her right side to support her.

I couldn't help but eyed at her because of her outfit, like she was an otherworlder. I mean, I know that uniform from my previous world, but what school was it?

Well, I can't assume that easily. According to the isekai light novel, there's a possibility that this world also has school too, especially the one where the reincarnated Demon Lord Amon will learn. Or maybe, she bought that uniform from the clothing store where every otherworlder ssold their uniform for a new outfit to blend in.

Before I head to the counter, I overheard their conversation.

"Here's your medicine, Ellen."

"Thank you. My muscle is getting sore lately, especially the shoulders."

"Don't overwork yourself. Know your limitation."

After putting the medicine in the pocket of her blazer, she bowed at him and walked outside. Her movement felt awkward and slightly wobbly as seen when moving her right leg, she needs a lot of effort. That explain the cane on her right side.

When our eyes met each other, she widened her eyes in surprise, but she was quick to turn her expressions back to normal. Then she slightly bowed at me before exited the shop, in which I bowed at her too.

I think, I knew why her shoulders seems sore because I eyed at the certain part of her body. It was big, much bigger than my previous self. But other than that, those teal hair seems familiar. Where did I see it?

"May I help?"

My thought got interrupted when the shaman called me. Looks like he knew about my presence, so I walked toward him.

"Um... looking for calming medicine."

Even though he tried to be kind, but somehow, those skull and claws on the ceilings felt intimidating, like that cool beauty librarian.

He nodded and took a bottle of purple liquid from the displayed item near the counter. Before he gave it to me, he asked me the reason.

"May I ask, why do you need it?"

"Nightmare."

Even if I said that, he still didn't believe what I said, like I was some sort of suspicious person. I can't help but felt he's being rude for suspecting me. He took a closer look at me, until he realized who I am.

"You're Vittorica's daughter, Annette, right? I'm sorry for didn't recognize you."

"Y-Yeah. It's okay. And thanks for the medicide, um..."

"Rouxan's the name."

"Rouxan-san."

I almost forgot that Mom's name is Vittorica, a very noble-like name. Mom's past still a mystery for me, but I won't pry it to respect her.

After that, he gave me the potion. Well, looks like Rouxan-san doesn't suspect me anymore, which made glad. It was for a while, until what he said next made me stiffen.

"You're welcome, Annette. Or should I call you, Yoshikawa Yuko?"

...

What did he call me?