Return Through Magic

Chapter 9: Aira's Secret

 

After a long journey, Yuki, Aira, and Seira finally arrived at the inn. They disembarked from the freight cart with tired but relieved faces.

"Um, Aira. Are we staying here?" Yuki asked hesitantly.

"Of course, Yuki. It's already dark, and it's too dangerous to continue traveling now," Aira replied, puzzled by Yuki's question.

"But, Aira... it's like this..." Yuki looked unsure. He scratched the back of his head and seemed nervous.

"What? Speak clearly."

"Well, it's like this. Sorry, just a moment." Yuki leaned closer to Aira's ear, his tall frame bending down to match Aira's shorter height.

Yuki whispered, and Aira burst out laughing.

"Hahaha. It's fine. I'll cover it this time. Don't worry. Hahaha." Aira laughed, patting Yuki's arm.

It turned out Yuki had confessed he had no money. He told Aira his money pouch had fallen somewhere. Of course, he couldn't mention that the death god who threw him into this magical world hadn't given him any money to survive.

Yuki felt embarrassed, but there was nothing he could do. However, he silently vowed to earn money and repay everything he borrowed from Aira.

Aira then went to the reception to book rooms. Yuki and Seira quietly followed her.

The inn also functioned as a restaurant. The first floor was a restaurant, and the second floor housed several rooms for lodging.

"All done. Here's your key, Yuki. Seira will stay with me since Seira's a girl." Aira handed the room key to Yuki.

"Seira is a sword, so she'll be in my room in her sword form. That way, you won't be disturbed, Aira." Yuki patted Seira's head, who had been quietly composed all this time.

"Oh, alright then. I'll head to my room first." Aira, looking exhausted, waved her hand and walked towards the stairs leading to the second floor.

Meanwhile, Yuki still stood on the ground floor near the reception, watching the upper floor until Aira was out of sight.

"Excuse me, sir. Is there anything we can help you with?" asked the receptionist, a middle-aged woman in her fifties.

"Um, well, Ma'am, can I ask you something?"

***

Aira, having entered her room, immediately took off her backpack and placed it on the small bed, which was just enough for one person. Then, she walked to the window and opened it to let in some cool night air.

As she opened the window, Aira was startled to see Yuki walking while holding a sword in his right hand. Aira's brow furrowed.

"Where's that fool going at this hour?" Aira wondered.

"Ah, forget it. He'll come back eventually." Aira told herself not to care, but she continued to sit by the window, watching the street where she had seen Yuki leave without saying a word.

"What have I done?" Aira murmured to herself, enjoying the occasional breeze blowing through her hair.

Aira kept recalling everything that had happened that day with Yuki. Truthfully, Aira didn't know why she was doing things she usually wouldn't do.

After her village was destroyed by a group of irresponsible people who burned down her home and kidnapped the villagers, Aira always felt anxious and alert. The ruthless group wore armor, hiding their identities. They not only destroyed but also kidnapped the villagers to be sold and used for their amusement.

Aira held the locket necklace she had hidden inside her clothes. With trembling hands and full of emotion, she slowly opened the locket. Inside was a small photo of a young girl with long white hair, pointed ears, and a beautiful face, holding a bouquet of wildflowers and smiling brightly.

"Laura. I will find you, my sister," Aira whispered, tears beginning to flow unconsciously.

Losing her sister, Laura, was the deepest wound Aira felt. Since that fateful night, Aira had vowed to herself to find Laura and bring the culprits to justice.

Suddenly, Aira grinned, as if she had found the path to the revenge she had longed for.

"Yuki, you will be my stepping stone," Aira murmured, then laughed softly before kissing the locket with Laura's photo still open.

Meanwhile, outside the inn, Yuki walked alone along the deserted village street, holding Seira in her original sword form.

Yuki walked a considerable distance from the inn.

"This should be the place. Get ready, Seira."

With both hands, Yuki gripped Seira, now in sword form, preparing for an attack. The blue gem at the sword's hilt glowed, indicating Seira was also ready to follow her master's command.

It didn't take long before he heard something approaching from the bushes. The creature immediately leaped toward Yuki.

"A r-rabbit?" Yuki was surprised because the creature approaching him was a small, cute white-furred rabbit.

Yuki lowered his guard because he was weak to cute things. However, Yuki made the wrong decision.

Soon after Yuki lowered his sword, the cute rabbit before him let out a high-pitched scream, creating a strong gust of wind. Yuki had to brace himself with all his strength to avoid being blown back by the fierce wind generated by the adorable monster.

"What the heck is this?" Yuki was shocked, unable to believe the cute rabbit he had just praised could do such a thing.

Yuki had come to the forest's edge to hunt this monster rabbit for a reason. It was because of a suggestion from the innkeeper.

The innkeeper, an elderly woman, mentioned a small monster near the forest edge that often troubled villagers gathering firewood and medicinal herbs. She said the monster had been a nuisance for a long time. The village head had asked for help from the adventurer's guild, but because the guild was in the capital, it took a while for help to arrive in their remote area.

The old woman also said the village head would reward anyone who hunted the monster, but no villagers were willing because most were just farmers and herbalists.

Thanks to the old innkeeper's encouragement, Yuki boldly ventured into the forest, thinking he could easily deal with the small monster.

Yuki thought it would be easy to defeat a small monster since he had faced stronger creatures like the bull monster.

However, Yuki gulped as the cute creature before he suddenly grew rapidly.

The cute rabbit was now one and a half meters tall, with sharp fangs and horns. Its claws, now made of metal, and its eyes glowing red revealed its true form.

Yuki swallowed hard, panicking.

"Damn it! I'm doomed!"