Cosmic System: Road To Eternity

4. Saving Their Saviour

Leaving the lifeless body of the Jinro behind, the sisters began their journey back to the safety of the elven territory, bringing the unconscious stranger with them. Their minds were filled with curiosity about this mysterious person who had selflessly rescued them from a dreadful fate. They both felt a strong urge to express their gratitude and provide him with some hospitality as a token of their appreciation.

Luckily, their passage through the Jinro-infested area remained uneventful, although they couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of being watched. It was possible that they had been spotted but spared an attack, which made them feel a sense of impending danger.

Furthermore, they now carried the burden of knowing that they had assisted a man who had taken the life of a Jinro, leaving its body as evidence. It was clear that complications would arise, but they fervently hoped that the consequences would be minimal.

The sisters let out a collective sigh of relief as they finally reached the safety of the elven territory.

"Do you have any idea how we're going to explain this to the others?" Aya asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"I honestly don't know," Asuka replied, her tone reflecting a mix of frustration and acceptance.

"I mean, how can we justify bringing this stranger with us without revealing our violation of the agreement?" Aya pressed further.

"You don't need to emphasize it, Aya. I understand what you're trying to say," Asuka sighed before continuing. "Well, we could say that we were out hunting for pheasants when we were attacked by armed bandits of an unknown race. During the struggle, this stranger intervened, saving us but getting injured and losing consciousness. Out of gratitude, we decided to bring him along, thinking it was the least we could do."

"And you think the others will believe that?" Aya questioned skeptically.

"Aren't you an elf?" Asuka responded. "Hospitality is deeply ingrained in our values, especially when a stranger has risked their own safety to save one of our own."

Aya nodded, acknowledging the point. "You're right. That explanation should satisfy their curiosity, at least for now, until we can come up with a more detailed story."

As the journey continued, silence settled between the sisters, broken only by the lingering question in the air. "Do you have any idea who or what this person is?"

"Repeat that question one more time, and you might find yourself taking an unplanned trip to the moon," Asuka retorted, her words carrying a hint of menace.

"Right," Aya agreed, releasing a deep sigh. She knew better than to provoke her sister when she was in such a formidable mood. Resigned to the silence, Aya remained quiet for the rest of the journey home, refraining from any further inquiries.

As Asuka relished in the joy of obtaining the prized egg, a feeling of unease also settled within her. Given more time, she would have planned how to dispose of the lifeless Jinro's body, perhaps by hiding it under a pile of rocks in a secret spot. Leaving it out in the open like that didn't feel like a good option.

However, their circumstances gave them no other choice. If they stayed any longer, they would surely attract the attention of another Jinro, sealing their fate. Even worse, the mother of the baby Jinro, who rightfully owned the egg, could appear, and that was a situation they desperately wanted to avoid.

The stranger's intervention had diverted the Jinro's attention, and they definitely didn't want to attract more of the creatures with the sound of a crying baby.

To make matters worse, Asuka had left her sword behind, lodged into the Jinro's head and pinning it to the ground. Although she understood the need for a quick escape, she felt a pang of guilt eating at her conscience. If she had seized the opportunity and accomplished their original goal, their situation might not have been so dire.

Above everything else, Asuka worried about her younger sister. She didn't want Aya to suffer the consequences of this misadventure. It was Asuka's idea to go after the egg, and Aya had initially objected. Now, because of her own recklessness, both of them would face the consequences when their actions were revealed.

With these concerns weighing heavily on her mind, Asuka suddenly stopped, causing Aya to turn back and question her intentions. Aya looked around, searching for any signs of pursuit. "What's going on?" she asked. "Do you think someone is following us?"

"No," Asuka replied, her voice filled with determination. "I'm just changing our plan."

Aya raised an eyebrow, seemingly able to understand her sister's thoughts. "You're not thinking of taking all the blame, are you?" she asked, a mix of concern and defiance in her tone. Asuka avoided eye contact, unable to meet her sister's gaze.

"I was the one who dragged you into this mess. You shouldn't have to suffer the consequences," Asuka confessed, her guilt evident in her words.

"Oh, so now you suddenly care about breaking the law?" Aya shot back. "Let's keep moving. You can apologize for your stubbornness later, but right now, we need to bring this man back home with us. And don't you even think about shouldering everything yourself. We're in this together, no matter what happens."

Asuka fell silent, allowing Aya's words to resound within her. They continued their journey, with each step feeling increasingly burdensome as the weight of their responsibility seemed to grow stronger. Nevertheless, they persevered, resolute in their determination to safely bring the stranger to their village.

Gradually, the village came into view, surrounded by a fence and adorned with huts predominantly made of mud and thatch. The main gate stood wide open, revealing the lively activities of the villagers. Children ran through the streets, their youthful energy met with gentle pleas from adults to slow down.

The vibrant streets teemed with vendors and customers, while street performers in certain corners played enchanting melodies, capturing the attention of passersby who generously dropped offerings into their containers. Amidst the playful children, one suddenly halted, fixing his gaze on the stranger being carried by two familiar figures. The stranger appeared both recognizable and distinctly different, causing the other children to pause as well, their eyes filled with curiosity.

The interruption in play caught the villagers' attention, causing them to turn their heads and observe the unfolding scene. Asuka and Aya became acutely aware of the attention they were drawing—it was more intense than they had expected. However, they had mentally prepared themselves for the questions that would surely follow. With unwavering determination, they walked into the village, still shouldering the weight of the stranger.

Silently, they made their way through the streets, enduring the disapproving frowns and raised eyebrows directed their way. The villagers' stares were understandable, for the person they carried was undeniably intriguing—a striking embodiment of difference, both conspicuous and subtle. The arrival of an individual from another race had unsettled the villagers.

As they continued on their path towards their house, thinking that the ordeal would become less challenging, a man named Hiroshi positioned himself in their way. Without hesitation, Asuka addressed him curtly, "Please step aside, Hiroshi."

Hiroshi's gaze shifted towards the stranger, his curiosity demanding an explanation. "What is that?" he inquired, pointing toward the person they were carrying.

Asuka carefully chose her words as she responded, "Someone who needs help."

Hiroshi persisted, "Where did you find that? They don't belong to our race."

Aya swallowed, sensing the direction in which Hiroshi was leading the conversation. If Asuka didn't navigate it skillfully, Hiroshi would easily uncover their misdeed.

"What are you implying, Hiroshi?" retorted Asuka, her sharp tongue tinged with annoyance.

"I'm simply asking where you obtained that individual. They don't belong in our community, and I have every right to be concerned," Hiroshi defended himself.

The confrontation escalated, attracting even more attention from the onlookers. Asuka found herself at a loss for words, aware of Hiroshi's underlying motives—his actions stemmed from jealousy, not genuine concern. However, addressing this matter would have to wait for another time.

Aya, on the other hand, felt a surge of anger at Hiroshi's disrespectful words towards the stranger. Before she could address this issue, an elderly voice emerged from behind.

"What is happening?" asked the voice. The crowd parted to allow the person to approach, confirming what was already clear. It was the Village Chief, an old elf, making his way towards them.

When Hiroshi saw him, he immediately bowed his head in respect, following the example of the others present. The elderly elf also lowered his head, acknowledging their greetings, before turning his attention to the onlookers. "Why are you all here?" he asked. "Didn't you have other things to do before this incident occurred?"

The onlookers bowed once again before dispersing from the scene. Facing the Village Chief, Hiroshi referred to him as "Master." "They brought a stranger from a different race to our village," Hiroshi informed him. "I was just conducting an investigation, but they refused to cooperate."

Asuka couldn't help but roll her eyes at Hiroshi's obvious dishonesty. She couldn't understand how he justified harassing people simply because he had been given certain responsibilities by the Village Chief. Hiroshi's weak attempt to call it an investigation only made her more aggravated.

"Are you foolish?" the old elf interrupted. "Can't you see that the person is injured?"

"But Master..." Hiroshi tried to respond, only to be interrupted by the elder.

"Hospitality is an important value in our village, in our race! Have you forgotten everything I have taught you?" the old elf scolded, pointing to the stranger's swollen and misshapen foot. "Look at the condition of the stranger's foot! They need help!"

At the old elf's words, everyone's attention shifted down to the injured foot, including Asuka and Aya, who had failed to notice it at first, probably because the swelling occurred during their journey home.

The old man briefly examined the stranger before turning his attention back to the sisters. "Make sure the stranger receives the necessary care. If they need anything, let me know," he instructed.

"Yes, Master," the sisters said together.

Hiroshi could sense the old man's genuine concern with just one look, leaving him with no choice but to comply. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, allowing the sisters to continue with the stranger towards their home.

"Are you sure about this, Master?" Hiroshi pretended to be concerned.

The old man smiled in response. "Don't worry, young man," he reassured. "Go back to your duties."

Hiroshi couldn't shake off the feeling that this was a misguided decision, as every part of him warned against it.

Daisuke slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in an unfamiliar place. The last time he woke up under a ceiling was in his previous life, with a small fan moving back and forth above him.

However, this time, things were different. Instead of a normal ceiling, Daisuke found himself under a roof made of thatch, which left the interior of the house exposed. The walls were made of mud and straw, giving the place a primitive feel.

Suddenly, he felt a hand grasping his waist from behind, pulling him closer. At first, Daisuke thought he was being kidnapped and instinctively tried to break free from the bed.

As Daisuke tried to get up, a sharp pain shot through his right foot, causing him to collapse back onto the bed. He looked down and noticed some swelling in his foot, reminding him of the powerful kick he had delivered to the beast earlier.

However, he still didn't know who was holding onto him from behind. The grip tightened, pulling him even closer, and Daisuke stopped struggling when he felt two soft mounds pressing against him, accompanied by a gentle moan.

His eyes widened as he looked down and realized that a slender hand with webbed fingers was firmly wrapped around his waist. Filled with apprehension, he cautiously turned his head and was almost taken aback by the person lying right next to him.

It was Asuka, her hands still holding onto his waist as she looked directly into his eyes. Daisuke examined the person lying beside him, growing tense with each passing moment. Although he could hardly recognize her as one of the girls he had saved from a monster, it didn't matter when faced with the undeniable truth—she was beautiful.

Adding to her charm was the fact that she wore only a see-through white shirt that reached her knees. Her features were flawlessly captivating, with a few unique traits that surprised him slightly—her pointed ears, webbed fingers, and feet.

His breathing became heavier as he struggled to understand why someone so incredibly beautiful and charming would want to be so close to him. She wasn't asleep; instead, she looked at him with a playful smile. Resting her head on her elbow, she presented a stunning sight.

"Good evening, handsome," she said softly, her words causing his breathing to become more erratic.