Want to know what’s worse than attending school?

Attending school while having weights put on your thighs. My legs hurt so much that I want to cry. Although, seeing Aran’s miserable state beside me was quite a fun sight, like our blood grudges have been washed away or something. But unfortunately, he already graduated from the old demon’s tutoring, since he’s already fourteen.That lucky fellow. So he only had to put up with an hour of leg torture before class started, while I had to comply for at least three. Unfair, I tell you.

At the moment, I’m walking back home alone. The sun was still high up, almost completing it’s half cycle. The old demon’s teaching schedule is quite weird, if you ask me. Two hours in the morning, and four hours in the afternoon. Although I don’t know why he uses such a troublesome system, but I can’t help but feel grateful for its existence. After all, who can comply with sitting in front of the old demon for six straight hours?!

I slowly continued down the dirty road. At the moment, about half way through it to the center of our village. So, I’m neither near the temple nor near the farm fields of the village. Both sides of the road were filled with tall grass, at least as tall as I am! And I am--I think Daddy mentioned the other day--three feet tall!

So yeah, pretty tall grass.

“Mphmmm!!”

All of  a sudden, my vision went dark!

Not only that, my mouth was covered as well!!

It’s like someone stuffed their palm on top of my eyes from behind, blinding me.

This... I’ve seen the other kids at school do this to their friends... But I personally haven’t experienced this before. It’s because... Well, they say I’m weird, for believing in immortals and what not.

But it can’t be...Is someone considering me to be their friend...? Am I finally going to have a first friend...?!

“Finally! You sure took your time, you crybaby!”

And then I heard that hot blooded voice. I immediately shot my hands toward my face and shook my neck at the same time, in an attempt to shake away the person behind me.

This voice did not belong to someone that can identify with me as a ‘friend’... Nor does this voice feel unfamiliar to me either. This voice belonged to my one and only... true nemesis! And no, it’s not the old demon, that demon’s position is further above that of a ‘nemesis’ and right into the area of ‘hell’s ruler’.  After all, he is nicknamed--by me--as a demon!

Before my hands could reach my eyes, the world returned to colors. And by that, I mean the light blinded me for but an instant, making me get into a stunned like state.

And, for god’s sake, my nemesis did not let go of that opportunity. He grabbed a hold of one of my wrists, who were now up to my neck. “Ow, it hurts!” I shouted as hard as I could. My other palm simply met air, since he already retracted both of his hands.

“Hehe, waiting here wasn’t in vane after all! We’re really lucky, having only one road, y’know? Now then, Jean, let’s head to Father’s farm and convince him that I don’t need to join anything!”

And as many of you have guessed, the assailant was none other than the potato murderer...Aran!

“Leave me alone!”

“No can do~” Aran chimed, as he adjusted his grip in order for him to walk in front of me.

I tried my best to struggle, but was only returned with waves of pain.

“Hehe~ Don’t struggle, you’ll just get hurt needlessly!” Aran sounded exactly like a true villain.

“Don’t try anything funny and just follow me.” He kept on sounding more and more like a villain from the stories Daddy used to read to me before bed...

Still, I don’t want to go...

If I try to struggle free, I’ll only get hurt...

But even if I shout here, no one is going to hear me...

Not the old demon, or the grown ups working in their fields...

Ahh! I know exactly what to do!! I’ll shout as soon as we come across an adult!!!

Hehe, I’m so smart!

“Oww!!!”

Aran came to a sudden halt, and I ended up taking a step too close--since Aran refused to let go of my hand--and ended up twisting my wrist.

“Fuck!” Aran muttered.

If I didn’t take that one step closer, I probably wouldn’t have been able to pick it up.

Anyways, did he just curse...?

Doesn’t he know that cursing is bad?!

“Oh my god, how can yo--!”

And then, just like before, he covered my mouth, not letting me utter another word. This time around though, he covered it from the front. That means, I could have seen it coming and dodged. But since I-I was too s-stunned by him cursing, I-I didn’t see it coming, okay!?

“Quiet down!”

Aran whispered again, “When I remove my hand...make sure to not make a sound...”

Like hell I’ll fall for that! Is what I was thinking, right before noticing Aran’s expression.

His complexion was horrifyingly pale, and I could see that sweat was forming on his forehead. His expression looked quite warped--he seemed to be extremely scared.

He then let go of his hand, and adjusted his figure to cover me as he turned to face forward.

I don’t understand what’s happening...but let’s just comply for now. And then let’s take a peek.

I moved my neck to the side, and took a peek to see what’s in front of the road--what made Aran seem so terrified.

And then, as if it noticed my gaze, it growled.

It which seemed to be about half of height.

“Ho--” I was about to shout, but then bit down my lip as hard as I could. Of course, no blood came out. I didn’t bite that hard. It was just an expression!!

“H-how can there be a wolf here?!” I then whispered what I was about to shout earlier to Aran’s back, who was slowly being drenched in sweat.

I, for some reason, wasn’t as terrified as Aran. I did feel fear toward the wolf, but not that much.

“Like hell if I know!” He whispered back to me without turning, “It probably slowly moved here after taking a whiff of the smell of cooked food!”

I was about to ask him, how could a wolf smell cooked food all the way to here...?

I mean, the village was guarded by a few hunters... Heck, they go outside the village once a week in order to hunt! And by doing so, they also get rid of the dangerous animals!!

And then, it hit me.

I know this might sound far-fetched, but can it be that it’s my fault...?

The mere thought of this brought tears to my eyes. But I bit down my lower lip again, and held it back.

Can it be that, the wolf was hiding in the cover of the grass...?

And when the soup spilled this morning...some was sprayed on me, even if it was just a small amount.

Can it be...that it picked up the smell of potatoes that was on me!?

It can always be the chicken too...but c’mon, who doesn’t like potatoes more than chicken?

Aran’s voice woke me up from being stuck in my head. “Listen! This is of utmost urgency...God dammit! I want you to turn around, and run as hard as you can and call teacher! You hear me? I want you to turn around as soon as I give you the signal, and call for teacher!!”

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I nodded almost immediately.

“No hesitation at all?!” Aran exclaimed, “Are you really fucking human?!!!”

“I don’t have any respect for a vile person like you.” I replied in a hushed voice.

“Grrrooowwwlll!!”

And the wolf, who seemed to have deemed that it gave us enough time to say our prayers, growled yet again.

Aran, who seemed like he still had some stuff he was to say, let go of my hand and shouted as hard as he could, “Now!”

I turned around before he even utter the first letter, and ran as hard as I could.

“Fucking hell! What a screwed up life!! Shit, dammit, who wants to fight a fucking wolf!? Is it too fucking hard to just laze around? Is it too hard to chase after women?!” Ohh right, I forgot to mention that he had a lot of lady-friends, didn’t I? Not that I thought it was important. And then, I heard another growl. And...Aran’s cry.

“It...fuucking...huuurtss!!!!” He shouted, “It fucking hurts!! Father!!! Paapaaaa!!!!” He continued to scream.

Is he fine? Is he alright?

I turned around to look, to find that the wolf pounced at Aran’s right hand, and seemed to be clenching like its life depends on it. As for Aran, he was in utter tears as he wailed and directed punches at the wolf’s skull.

And then, my plan to simply check out Aran’s situation out of worry, changed.

I came to a stop. The slight fear that I had slowly washed away, as I suddenly felt my head clear up. My blood boiled, as more and more blood escaped Aran’s bitten arm.

Some sort of feeling welled up in my chest, as I felt like time slowed down.

I wonder what type of feeling this is. I wonder, is it perhaps jealousy? Am I jealous of the wolf? Or perhaps Aran? Or might it be that, I was simply jealous that they can have this wonderful life and death battle?

“Thump, thump...” More and more blood was being directed straight to my head, as a splitting headache spread about my skull, numbing it.

But I couldn’t care less.

As the skull-numbing, head-splitting headache grew stronger, time seemed to slow down even more.

I bit down my lower lip again. This time, however, blood did get out. As I felt this pain, time somehow turned a little bit faster. As I saw all of this, I somehow came to the realization that going back to school, explaining things to the old demon, and then returning...it would all be too late. Aran would perish way before I could return with the old demon. That, I was sure of.

Aran looked like he was in too much pain--or perhaps too busy punching the wolf’s skull in vain--to notice that I came to a stop.

I looked down, to the ground, to find some sort of rock.

I found a few heavy looking rocks, but decided to abandon them since it didn’t seem like I could lift them at all...

“Ahh!” I exclaimed as I found something pretty suitable.

I found a sharp edged rock that looked quite light. I quickly picked it up, and ran toward Aran.

I don’t know what has taken over me, but I quite enjoy this feeling...even the headache felt somewhat comfortable. Ahh, is this why people have battle? Is it because of this feeling? If that is so, then I can kind of understand.

I reached Aran, who was now sitting on his buttocks. His back was facing me, so he could not have noticed me. He continued to shout for his dad, his mom, and whoever relative he could name for help. I could not help but have some sort of respect for his determination, because in midst of it all, he was still punching the wolf’s skull. Even...if he had his fist bloodied.

Oh, can it be that he was in so much pain at the moment from his other arm, which was being bitten, that he couldn’t feel the pain on his fist?

Wait wait, this isn’t the time to think of such stupid things.

I raised my right arm upwards, as high as I could, and directed the sharp end of the rock towards the skull of the wolf.

And then, like an arrow that was shot, lowered down my arm as hard as I could.

“Crack!” A sharp sound echoed out, as the rock’s sharp end snapped. Ahh, could it be that the wolf’s skull was harder than the rock?!

The wolf, in pain, bit even harder.

“A-aaahhh!!!” Aran shouted as hard as he could. Seemingly, he didn’t notice me yet at all.

I, as if in a daze, as if I wasn’t myself at all, as if I didn’t care how Aran felt, calmly looked down and searched for another suitable rock. It seems like I was quite dissatisfied with my previous performance, more than feeling sorry toward Aran.

I quickly found another sharp ended rock, and broke a smile. More blood went up to my head, that I honestly felt like fainting. Yet, this brought me even more comfort.

I grabbed the rock, and went for my second try. I walked around a bit, until I found a suitable position. Why? I didn’t plan on attacking the skull like earlier, since it seems that the skull was too hard...So I thought of attacking the belly!

My hand rose, and was shot downward.

Success! The rock went inside the wolf’s stomach!! It seemed like the wolf wanted to cry out, but its fangs were simply too deep into Aran’s arm.

I took out the rock from the wolf’s stomach, and had blood splatter all over me. This made my headache even worse.

Ahh, I’m really going to faint at this rate. That’s what I was feeling.

I felt a burning sensation throughout my body, like a fire was lit right beneath my skin.

But it seems, that Aran threw the white towel way before I did, and fainted just now. Because, his wails came to a stop.

I raised the rock again, planning to slam it down the wolf’s stomach yet again.

But, it seems that because Aran fainted, all his muscles relaxed...and thus, the wolf’s only weapons, its fangs, were released.

“Grrrowwll...”

The wolf wailed.

I smiled in response.

And as if it was intimidated by my smile, the wolf lowered its head and growled yet again. However, it soon turned tail and stumbled its way into the grass.

I soon came to my senses, and felt that time returned to normal. To be honest, it felt like hours went by...but it seems that only, at maximum, just a few dozens of seconds. It is truly a wonder, how Aran's muscles held on against the wolf's fangs.

As soon as the wolf turned tail, I sighed in relief. And alongside my body’s relaxation, as if cold water was dumped over a furnace, my conscious extinguished.

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A/N: Wow, it seems that I made our MC turn out to be quite a blood thirsty maniac, huh...

If I screwed up, let me explain it! It seems that when Our MC looks at blood, she turns into a cruel battle maniac! Yay!  I really hope I didn't screw up.