Chapter 8

It’s nice to meet you, everyone. My name is Aria, and I’m an elf—currently ten years old. Right now, I’m in a bit of a pinch. “She went that way! Don’t let her get away! Elves fetch a great price!” “I know! Who’d let easy money like that get away?” I can hear voices calling out behind me as I run away. While I was walking around in the woods of the elven homeland Lumilus, a man and a woman suddenly started chasing me, saying they’d “give me candy.” I bolted right away. My mother always taught me that people who say things like that might kidnap me. After overhearing them while they’re running after me, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what these two plan to do. If they catch me, I’ll definitely be sold as a slave. That’s when I trip and fall. “Heh-heh, can’t run now, eh, girlie? Since you’re already down there, how ’bout giving me a taste while I’m at it, eh?” “Sigh… Even a kid like this gets you going?” The kidnappers keep chatting as they come closer. The man pulls his pants down and whips out something nasty. I’ve seen something like it before when I used to take baths with my father, who passed away from an illness, but this one is a lot smaller. It’s a bit…sad-looking? Still, the thing seems stiff and almost angry. I’ve heard about this before. When men feel excited, they end up like this… In other words, at this rate… “Let’s get this pesky thing out of the way first.” The man exposing himself grips my shoulder hard and reaches for my clothes, tearing them off. “Stop! Don’t! Please, someone, help me—!!” “Mwa-ha-ha!! Great reaction! This is perfect!” “Just give up now, girlie. Not like anyone’s gonna come for you out here in these woods.” The man looks even more excited after I scream out for help, while the woman seems annoyed, telling me to just accept my fate. “Okay, first I’m going to lick-lick-lick your pretty little body!” The man sticks out his tongue and brings it close to my exposed chest. No, no…he’s going to… I don’t actually know much about this subject, so I have no idea exactly what this man plans to do, but I know I’m terrified. My eyes well up with tears. My body freezes, refusing to move, and I can’t bring myself to fight back even the tiniest bit. But suddenly— “Meowrrrn!!” I hear a voice from behind the man, who screams, “Gyahhhh!!” Looking closely, I can see something that looks like a see-through spear sticking into the man’s back and coming out his chest! He slumps forward onto the ground. Now seeing a massive beast standing in front of me, my eyes open wide. “Leo!” “Mrooow!” I call out the creature’s name, and he answers me excitedly. By his tone, I can tell he’s asking, Are you okay? This is Leo, a creature known as an elemental cat. Elemental cats are quite different from normal ones—when they become adults, like Leo, they can grow up to six feet in size. Just like humans and monsters, they can use extraordinary powers called skills. Just now, Leo activated Icicle Lance to attack one of the kidnappers. “A giant cat that can use skills… There’s no—Could it be an elemental cat?! Why the hell are you here…?! You can’t be this brat’s pet!!” The remaining kidnapper raises her voice, eyes wide as the moon. She’s in complete shock. She’s right, though; Leo isn’t my pet. A woman living nearby who plays with me often is the one who keeps him as her hunting partner. Of course, Leo and I have become good friends, too, so when he found me being attacked while on his usual walk, he came to save me right away. “Shit!” Glancing at Leo and the man’s corpse, the woman dashes off at full speed. Realizing she has no chance against Leo, she’s leaving her dead partner behind… I guess there’s no honor among kidnappers. “Meowrrrooownnn!!!” Leo roars and catches up to the woman in a single leap. He definitely doesn’t plan on letting her go. That’s it, Leo! Teach her a lesson! I’m rooting for Leo inside. But there’s something I haven’t realized—Leo’s voice is much more excited than usual, and his beautiful eyes are bulging in their sockets… Falling upon the woman, Leo strikes her with a vicious cat punch to the back of the head. “Gyahhhhh—!!” The woman screams in pain and falls onto the ground. “Meowww…” Oh, what? Is that…Leo’s…?! I’ve realized what’s happening. Leo’s…thing…which is usually hidden by his fur, is bigger…and it’s growing. Oh wow…it’s like a razor-sharp greatsword. Leo’s breath is ragged. His usual gentleness is nowhere to be found. Twinge. Watching Leo’s body heave in excitement for some reason sets my heart racing. What exactly is this feeling? “Wait…no, don’t tell me this elemental cat is—?!” The female kidnapper sees Leo’s special place and yelps. She tries to crawl away, but…wham! Leo stomps down on the scruff of her neck with his massive front paws and stops her dead in her tracks. Tear! Ripppp! Leo proceeds to rip the woman’s clothes to shreds with his jaws—her shirt, her skirt, and even her underwear. I’d learn about this much later, but right now, Leo is in heat—basically a certain time when he feels particularly aroused. Elemental cats are intelligent animals. Normally, they can suppress their urges, even when they’re in heat, but according to the woman who owns him, seeing me being attacked riled him up, provoking his sexual desire (?), and he snapped. “Ahhhhhhhh—?!” The woman’s scream reverberates. Oh my—! Leo’s greatsword is going whoom…and then whaaam…and then…!!” “Aaaggghhhhh……noooooooo…!!” With each quick, repetitive movement, the woman’s voice erupts. What’s happening? She keeps struggling and looks like she’s melting into the ground. Also, something’s not right. Watching this makes my heart flutter, and…my body feels like it’s…throbbing? Leo continues until the woman kidnapper passes out. In the meantime, Leo’s owner appears and tends to me. From this one experience, I decide I hate human men. On the other hand, I love the elemental cat that saved me from being kidnapped—or really, just all cats in general—and someday, I might want a cute kitty to do wild things with…? Maybe I do, and then again, maybe I don’t? Hello, everyone. My name is Aria, and I’m eleven years old. I’m caught in another pickle today. Cries of mourning and echoes of misery. Under attack by a demon army, the elf homeland of Lumilus has become hell on earth. Demons eat people for food, and they are a foul race that revels in murder. On top of that, they’re far stronger than elves and are more skilled at warfare. The elves of Lumilus are being slain one by one—by the sword and by skills. “Mama…where are you?” In the confusion of the attack, I lost track of my mother, and I’m hiding from the demons alone in a grass thicket, purely terrified. “Snort—something smells great over this way!” A demon wielding a sword peers around with bloodshot eyes as he comes closer to the thicket covering me. Demons have amazing senses of smell. This one must have caught my scent, as he soon discovers my hiding place. “Mwa-ha-ha!! It’s a young girl! How lucky—elf girls are the softest, tastiest treat!” “Oy! Not fair! I want some!” The demons push through the tall grass, laughing as they thrust their hands toward me. Behind them, other demons shuffle through the brush to join them. My mind is filled with nothing but fear, to the point that I can’t manage to make even the smallest yelp. I’m so scared, I wet myself in the grass right where I sit… “Mwa-ha… I’ll start with your juicy little arm… Huh—?!” The demon reaching for me cries out in surprise. I am also confused, because the arm the demon was extending toward me has burst into pieces from the elbow down, chunks flying in every direction. “Waggghhhhhhhh!! My—! My aaaaarm!!” A moment later, the demon lets out a high-pitched scream as fresh blood spews from the gash where a limb used to be. “Gyahhhhhh—!!” “Huh…my leg…?!” More shouts erupt all around me. I have no idea what’s going on. How could I? I can only tell that many of the other demons are now missing torsos, legs, or necks, their bodies dismembered. “Are you injured?” “Huh…?” As I remain completely oblivious to what’s going on, a voice rings clear as a bell in my ear. It came from behind me. When I turn around, I notice an elf standing there. She has long hair that reaches her waist and porcelain-white skin. Her bluish-silver military clothing makes her look like a goddess of war leaped straight out of an ancient myth. This mysterious elf is so gorgeous that I’m completely entranced, almost forgetting for a split second that I came quite close to getting killed by demons. The elf holds a silvery bone-white longsword in one hand and a pure-black one in the other. Blood drips from both blades… “You’re safe now; don’t worry.” She swings her weapons through the air to clean them of gore before sheathing them with the exquisite grace of a bird folding its wings. Then she strokes my cheek. I finally understand. This is the person who killed the demons. She saved my life— The demons fell by her hand, restoring peace to our home. This is the story of my first encounter with the Sword Saint, Alisha. Meeting her like this inspires me to make a decision. Someday, I will become as strong as she is, a warrior who can save the lives of those who cannot protect themselves… Thankfully, I was born with the innate skill Acceleration. I’ve also been trying my best to train my swordsmanship…but it’s become clear that I don’t have talent with a longsword like the Sword Saint does. To be blunt, my innate skill, Acceleration, doesn’t pair well with longswords. If I had been born with more natural skill in swordsmanship, I could probably activate Acceleration and coordinate the timing of my sword swings to match. Unfortunately, I never quite managed to do that, which is why I decided to change my fighting style to specialize in speed. That’s when I switched to using knives instead. Turns out that was the right call. Knives are shorter and turn easily in my hands, matching perfectly with my skill set. This success comes with a complicated emotion, though, because for the longest time, I’d dreamed of gallantly wielding two longswords in battle, just like the Sword Saint. But at the end of the day, my goal is to be a compassionate, righteous warrior. I’m not about to let something so minor get me down. That said…my admiration for the Sword Saint knows no bounds, and I’ve imitated her by growing out my previously short hair and trying to sound less like a child by speaking more formally, among other things… As I honed my knife and skill proficiency, I turned sixteen years old. In order to continue my training, I’ve left my hometown to take on an apprenticeship. My destination is the city of Labyrinthos, where I plan to become an adventurer. As the name implies, Labyrinthos is home to a massive labyrinth that houses a swath of monsters. There, I’ll be able to raise my fighting ability by accumulating actual combat experience in addition to completing quests as an adventurer, which means I’ll also be helping people in need—two birds with one stone. “Aria, are you really leaving?” It’s my mother. She’s shaking with worry on the morning of my departure and has her marine-blue eyes locked on me. She’s a bit overprotective. Maybe it’s because of that kidnapping incident or that time I was nearly killed by demons—but she’s always stuck to my side. “It’s going to be all right, Mother dear. I’m quite capable of using these knives, and I’ve been blessed with an innate skill. I will be a full-fledged warrior by the time I return.” “Sigh… Well, it looks like you’ve made up your mind. You better take care of yourself out there, okay?! And don’t forget to come back to visit once in a while.” Seeing how firm my resolve is, my mother says her farewells and hugs me with all her strength. “Whoa, look at that!” “Yeah, Leona’s and Aria’s double melons are a sight!” Hugging outside the front door was…a mistake. Two men walking along the road see us embracing and squawk in excitement. My mom’s chest is about as big as mine, and she’s about the same height. In other words, whenever we share a hug, our breasts press right up against each other. The atmosphere is ruined. My mother sighs deeply and stifles a bitter laugh as she says, “Off you go, now” to send me on my way. “Heh-heh, she’s a real looker, isn’t she?!” “Yeah, and check out that rack! Will you partner up with me?” How unbelievably atrocious. A few days after reaching Labyrinthos and arranging the inn where I’ll stay, I drop by the guild to register as an adventurer. Just as I turn to approach the reception desk, I get accosted by two men. One of them is short and muscular, looking like a stubby, squat doll. The other one is tall, but he’s gaunt and cloaked in a robe. Judging from their appearance, there’s no doubt these two are a swordsman and a mage, respectively. Tags that serve as proof these two are adventurers hang from their necks. They’re bronze in color, meaning they’re D-ranked adventurers, if I recall correctly. This color denotes a full-fledged adventurer. It’s only midafternoon, but they’re both red in the face, and their collective breath reeks of alcohol. Judging by their words and the way they’re shamelessly leering up and down at my chest and legs, partnering up can mean only one thing. “Excuse me. I have no interest in…” This might be a pair of drunks, but they’re also my seniors as adventurers. I have a long future ahead of me, so I try to deflect with what I intend to be a harmless diversion and head for reception. But… “Just a minute now, young lass.” The squat, muscular man forcefully grabs my arm. Shudder… Fear courses through my entire body. As you know, I am extremely averse to human males due to past experiences. When the fear finally recedes, I can hear a cry echoing throughout the guild. “Agyahhhh—!!” “You bitch! What the hell did you do to my partner?!” A man with eyes bulging out of his head furiously screams at me. Next to him, the muscular little fellow is holding his crotch and writhing in agony. That’s right. I was so appalled at being touched by the short one that I kicked him in the ba—ahem—in his weak point. “……” The scene seems to awaken something inside me. A brawny man writhing on the ground in pain, simply from being kicked in the crotch by my scrawny leg. The thought of that…feels invigorating. (Just a little bit, you know?) I wonder what would happen if I really kicked him? I can’t help but idly wonder about it. “You’re dead meat!!” The muscular one screams. His anger reaching a breaking point, he ignores the pain in his crotch to launch himself at me. His hand is on the hilt of his sword—this man must be serious. I have only a slim chance of coming out on top against a D-ranked adventurer. But if I’m only looking to run away, I have my innate skill, Acceleration. As he draws his sword, I activate my skill and start to distance myself…or at least I try… “Wha—?!” The muscular man cries out again and is stopped dead in his tracks. The blood drains from his face, and he’s shaking like a leaf as he stares at me…or rather, behind me. “Oh my. Did I just see you even thinking about drawing your weapon inside the guild? And are the two of you ganging up on a girl? Do you want to find out what it feels like to be a couple of feet underground? Huh??!!” ““Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiit!!”” A man has appeared behind me… No, it’s a woman, I think, with the huskiest voice that seems to rumble from deep within the earth as she intimidates the two men. The pair looks pitiful as they yelp and scramble back to whatever hole they came from. I suppose it’s only natural—the person standing behind me is…over six feet tall, completely clean-shaven, and absolutely ripped, sporting a full bondage gimp suit that covers her (his) muscles… “Are you okay there, elf girl?” “Y-yes! Thank you so much for saving me…ummm…” “Oh, so sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Arnold Holzweilzenegger, and I’m the receptionist at this guild. Call me Anna, okay?” “My name is Aria. I came here to become an adventurer. It’s very nice to meet you, Anna!” I reply to Arnold Holzweilzenegger—Anna—as enthusiastically as I can. Anna is a bit…no, absolutely a curious sight to behold, but the fact of the matter is she saved me, and I can tell she is a very soft and gentle maiden from the sweet look in her eyes. Elves have sharp instincts. We can generally determine if someone is an evildoer or not with a single glance. And in this case, my instincts seem to be dead-on. Since I mentioned that I’d like to become an adventurer, Anna explains the ABC’s of adventuring to me with great care. From that point on, every time I return from a quest, she checks to make sure I’m not injured or harmed in any way. She’s just like a really caring older sister. Because I’m a beginner, the first quests I take on mostly involve gathering items and defeating lower-level monsters—slimes and goblins. To be honest, it’s depressing to fight disgusting goblins every single day. But as long as I remind myself that this is training to become a warrior like the Sword Saint, it’s easy to put up with. Treating every quest seriously is very rewarding, and after carrying on like that for a while, I advance from the introductory level of E rank and become a D-ranked adventurer. The very next day, I make a fateful acquaintance… “Okay, another day, another chance to do my best!” Even though I’ve reached D rank, I still haven’t been able to form a party, which means trying anything risky is still forbidden. Today, I’m going back into the labyrinth to defeat more goblins on the first level. “Is that a…kitty? What’s it doing in the labyrinth…?” After spending some time searching for goblins, I spot a tiny kitty that’s just barely visible. Under normal conditions, there’s no way an animal would wander into the labyrinth. I’m a bit suspicious of what might be going on here. Further, the kitty is lying on its side and isn’t moving. Maybe it’s taking a nap, or maybe… I get worried and decide to move closer. I absolutely adore kitties—I could never ignore one that got lost down here in the labyrinth. “…!! Oh my, he’s in trouble…!” My eyes grow wide—the kitty has a huge gash on his torso. He must have gotten separated from his mother and been attacked by a monster while he was down here. “He’s still breathing. Don’t worry—I’ll heal you…!” I withdraw a healing potion from the utility belt around my thigh and administer it to the kitty. Potions have an immediate curative effect. They can’t remedy disability or dismemberment, but they will heal any general wound. Normally, you’re supposed to drink the potion, but they still work to some extent when applied directly to the wound. The kitty was unconscious, so I couldn’t have him drink it anyway. “Okay, your wound has closed up, and your breathing is more even, but your body’s still cold…” The only thing I can do now is warm up the kitty and pray that his will to live can save him. Holding the kitty, I rush back to my room at the inn. The innkeeper is a kind woman. When I tell her what’s happened, she says she’ll let me care for the little guy in my room. That night— Rustle. The kitty wakes up and slowly rises on my bed. He’s studying the room with a puzzled look. I’m so glad. It seems like he’s going to be okay. I can’t help myself and give the kitty a big hug. Apparently, that surprised him, because he keeps blinking, but staying like that for a bit must have helped him relax—he’s drifting off in my arms. He is the cutest little thing! Looking at the kitty, now comfortably curled up on my chest, I can’t help but think how adorable he is. He has orange tabby fur, and his sleepy eyes are a clear golden color. He’s so tiny, he could completely hide in my two hands, and he has the most charming little face of any cat I’ve ever seen… My pri—ahem—my chest starts throbbing uncontrollably. Setting that aside—a few hours later, it’s the start of a new day, and what a wonderful day it is. Sleeping while hugging this absolutely lovely ball of fur all night was already amazing—but this morning, he nuzzled into my chest with his little head, cuddling with me. I wonder if he’s mistaken me for his mama? In that case, he’ll want milk…but I don’t have any to offer him. Wow…nipple play—with a kitty…!! But this isn’t the time to think about that. I want to spoil this cat with my whole heart, but I have something to take care of first… Today is the cutoff for finishing my quest to hunt down goblins. The thought of being apart is painful, but I put the kitty down on my bed and begin changing clothes. As I start to take off the negligee I sleep in… Mmmnnn… I feel a bit excited because the kitty is staring intensely at me as I change. I mean, if such an adorable kitty saw you in your underwear, you would feel the same…right? My privates start to feel a little tingly… My panties…are fine. I won’t need to change them. Okay, all done changing. Time to set off on my adventure! A short while later, I end up making a huge mistake on my quest, but kitty appears to save me just in the nick of time! That’s when I realize—this is no ordinary kitty. And I fall in love with him—the kitty that saves my life—Tama. But that’s a story for next time…