I'll warn you in advance, after the chapter comes a pretty long author's rant, who might offend some, but I feel some things need to be said on my part, because I don't want to shut up about this and for my writing this story to become a chore.

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Chapter 2 : Yuri-chan makes friends. Not.

I don't really know how long I've been on the run. I knew for a fact it had been more than a year though, because I had to 'feed' several times, and the snowy period of the year ended long ago. Good things that bandits were plaguing the region, because I would have been in a world of trouble to find some 'sustenance'. Somewhere along the road, I acquired some semi decent equipment and a horse.On the upside, I've managed to repair my body for a bit, I can now actually do everything humans can do. The downside of it, is that now I need to wash and stuff.

Wearing a chainmail is weird, let me tell you. And it's super heavy, without the fact that my semi-dead body's strength in enhanced, I don't think I could handle it. I've always been more of an agility type, even though I can't use bows to save my life.

Believe me, I tried.

Even here with less... Obstruction...on my chest, I still can't get it to work.

After almost getting an arrow in my own eye, I called it quits.

Bows and arrows suck anyways.

So , here I am, currently sitting on a hill in front of a small city, munching on some dried meat. Why am I here? I ran out of supplies, while food isn't a problem and I can survive on my own in the wilds, there are thing like clothing, armor , or even weaponry that need to be changed.

This town in particular doesn't look too shabby, in a small valley with a hill on its east, a forest from north to west, and a river on the south. The climate here isn't harsh, but it might be because it is closer to the south. In fact, some days it could even be called warm. Crops were growing, even at that time of the year, and some were bearing fruit. Truly, that town, while isolated, didn't seem to lack anything.

"Well, that looks encouraging, right Archibald ?"

The horse, whose full name would be Lord Archibald d'Halicarnasse II, clearly didn't care as he was eating some grass nearby. He was a strong horse, the biggest I've met here, and entirely white, save for his gray fore and hinds. It almost looked like he was wearing socks. I've got him from a bandit camp not far from here, he was docile enough. I think he just didn't care about anything as long as he got to eat and sleep at his leisure.

Leave it to me to get the lazy horse, how sad.

Aaah, but wouldn't the fact that I've been reduced to talk to a horse be even sadder ?

I finish eating and rinse it down with water before getting up and on the gigantic beast. Horseback riding is a literal pain in the backside. I'd rather run all the way, but sadly, this body has limits. We ride towards the city's entrance at a sedate pace, calm enough for the guards to see us arrive and suggest we are not a danger. The guards, who looked more like militia, with their spears and chainmail armors, waited for us to approach before speaking up.

"And who might you be ?"

Hm, suspicious little man, are you ? Very well. I take off my hood and cloak and they blink at my appearance. As did Nagito's, my puberty is kicking in properly, I am now about 1,60 meters ( 5 ft 3 in). Well, in their units anyways, but they seemed the same , so that should be it ? If this follows the same growth I had back home, then the rest would come in a year or so. I don't look forward to it. I keep my hair tied up and at shoulder length for practical reasons, and with my leather and chainmail equipment, I have quite the androgynous look. Pretty attractive, if I say so myself.

"I... Don't really know, to be honest."

I said, with a straight face, while the guards looked obviously puzzled.

"What?" Came their very eloquent answer.

Fencer, your turn.

"I woke up in the forest one day, with a head wound" She lifted my bangs showing a faint scar at my ear's level, souvenir from a close encounter with a higher stone elemental " I seem to have... misplaced my memories. I've been drifting since then, I came here to replenish my supplies and repair my equipment. I can only fight so much with a damaged sword."

Her/my impassive expression was putting them out a bit, but showing the sword and the bulging purse next to it pacified them. The older man, who looked like a greying bear, laughed out loudly.

"So you're one of the adventurers who's been doin' in the bandits recently, gotta admit, didn't expect it to be a little girl of all things!"

I blinked.

"...Little girl?"

There was an awkward pause between us, and unbeknownst to me at that time, a heavy misunderstanding installed itself between us. Then the old man laughed even louder.

"Gods, with those looks , I would have thought! Ha ha ha. You've got a hard life didn't ya?"

"I don't remember that either."

"Of course!"

There was another silence, and the man became serious again.

"You remember absolutely nothing?"

"I remember practical knowledge, I can't remember most of my life here."

That much is true, between the Queen and Berser-tan, I didn't pass much time in control of my body and memories, and most of what I do remember is my mind numbingly boring trekking in the forest. If I were more honest, I'd admit I'm hiding from everyone, especially Nagito. Rumor has it that he's been in a pretty bad mood since my disappearance.

But I'm not a honest person, so I'll just say I was lost. Which wasn't that far from the truth either.

The man cleared his throat awkwardly.

"So... What's your name ? So that we can put you on the list ?"

"..."

Well, I didn't expect them to have lists about that... I don't have a name in mind, and anything flower related is a no go...

"Argh, not even that... Fine ! " The man circled around, exasperated, before turning around Archie and I. " With those pretty features of yours .. Alainn Ua Rothar. You look like an Alainn. That's what we'll put on the list anyways. You'll have to go to the mayor's though, here, I'll accompany you."

We nodded.

"That's very kind of you, sir...?"

"Ha ha, I'm no sir! I'm Sean Mac Liam. Well , follow me, wouldn't want to get you lost on your first day here with how the women are nowadays, not that I'd complain if that happened to me! Here, you'll fill that at the mayor's"

While he handed me a slip of paper, I had only one thought in my mind.

Ah, so that's that kind of misunderstanding.

Well, we currently are pretty androgynous looking, and with the bandits around, a young girl alone wouldn't last long. I feel a bit miffed about that though, but he seems already decided about my gender, so I won't say anything. Of course, we didn't say anything and only nodded, following him. The streets were pretty large, good thing because I wouldn't wand a bucket of excrement to suddenly fall on me , that would be embarrassing. We went through what seemed to be the residential area, full of  whitewashed houses with tiled roofs. The perfect little medieval village.

Sadly, as with anything and everything I get involved with, it went to hell pretty quickly.

As we reached the building, I got off my horse and gave some money for the stableboy to take care of Archie while I did my things and stared at the building. It was pretty different from the other houses, for one, the stones were apparent. It was a pretty tall building with what I supposed was a watchtower and a flat roof. What tipped me was the utter lack of guards around, and Fencer automatically reacted by putting our hand on our sword's pommel and narrowing our eyes. The movement immediately put Sean on guard and he looked around, his expression hardened.

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"You've got good instincts. Sorry, I'm going to have to borrow your sword arm."

"As long as you introduce me to a good smithy afterwards, it shall be yours for the time being."

"Deal."

And with that, we cautiously entered the building.

I just know I'm going to regret it.

Many bodies lined up on the floor, and the floor looked especially slippery with blood. Why did I accept again?

For the money we'll save for this.

Ah, yes. Curse my penny pinching habits. Soon enough, we arrived in front of a crossing in the building. Sean looked as if he wanted to say something.

"Yes, let's separate to win time."

Urgh, what a bummer. I said it, the number one condition to get owned in an horror setting. Aaaah, well, he's already gone, so I guess I'll hurry up and get this done quickly ?

"Wah ?! You...!"

I turn around and see a random guy with a sword drawn.

" Keep quiet, problems upstairs."

Here comes my shield ! Yay. But that means no easy kills should a monster appear ! Booo.

I start running, ignoring the guy's calls. After running up a flight of stairs, I hear some screaming. Ah, there's somebody there.

There's a tall dude strangling a guy, with a pretty girl kneeling next to a wounded noble looking old man. I don't really know what's going on, but I can't let that go on. Random guy with a sword is running up to me, good.

Now, let's use our favorite tactic, the cheap shot.

I sneak up from behind, my smaller frame hidden from view, stab the guy in the back and drain him of most of his life force ( which, in passing, is abnormally high), then catch Random guy with a sword and throw him at tall guy before making my escape. I was currently silently walking down the stairs when I slipped on something and fell down the stairs to land feet first on something hard. There was a group of definitely not human looking dudes around, and a bigger one under my feet. Aaand they all look at me angrily.

You know, there are days you just know things won't go right? Well that's one of those.

***

Cardinaig was a small town bordering the demon country, but was deemed too insignificant to be attacked by anyone, so we all lived our lives peacefully. This is the town where I was born.

My name is Cormac Mac Alisser, or, more precisely, Cormac Mac Alistair, bastard son to the Duke Alistair of Ranieros, a high ranking noble from Meridiens. I was acknowledged as his, but never officially taken in his family. To be honest, I don't really care about him, I've got my mother and my grandparents.

There has always been something odd about me, people said, I'm a prodigy, they said. The thing is, I'm a reincarnated person.

I was swimming in a public pool with other people from my class, when a truck suddenly appeared and squashed me. Or so I thought.

Because, apparently, other people from my class have also been reincarnated. It was pretty fun, in some way, and we had eachother, even if the adults didn't understand us. As we grew up, we were pretty powerful, magically speaking, strange things happened around us, and a wandering mage told us what was happening and taught us how to control it. I was pretty bummed that my power revolved about animals, while my friend's was to interact with spirits.

Now that I think back about this, maybe we should have turned down that mage's offer back then.

Not long after that, my friend's comportment became more and more erratic, until at our last reunion, he revealed that he was the demon king Erinias, possessing my friend's body, and attacked us. Less than half of us survived, his brother Brian( formerly his best friend) , his sister Aife ( formerly his girlfriend) and I were only spared because he fought against his host long enough for us to run away.

This afternoon, a bird arrived, panicked and informed me that the mayor's house, where Aife and Brian were living, was under attack, and I knew he was back.

I hurried up, but death was everywhere, until I saw an androgynous person, younger than me and sword drawn. The way he held himself showed that he was no beginner and he took off as I tried to call for him.

When I found him again, he had stabbed my friend in the back to make him drop his brother and then grabbed me, looking at me with a piercing , judging glance, before sending me towards Cilian, my old, possessed friend.

Whatever that mysterious boy did, weakened him enough that he had to run away , instead of fighting me, but the weird thing was, only I was the one who saw the golden haired swordsman.

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Sooo, Yuri's bad habits come back and kicking. Literally. Sorry couldn't help it.

To prevent any more PMs about last arc, and those I know I will receive for this one 

I won't lie, this arc is an experiment, I'm aiming at a more 'literary' writing, so to speak, and working like crazy on my description-fu. I hope it shows.

So, there's been a timeskip, how much time passed exactly, we'll know eventually, about the story's disjointed-ness, I'm trying to work on it, but in essence, it was a series of drabbles to begin with. Then plot happened, and I have problems to make the two of them get along, because half of what allows for that kind of humor to appear is the extensive inner pov, as opposed to a pov that would allow to precisely tell when and where the action takes place.

I'm also hesitant to edit earlier chapters to make them smoother, because I like to see my writing evolve with it, but since I saved the originals on my computer, I could edit/rewrite them so that it fits better, I'll see what's best, I guess.

About Arc 3 :

The last arc was a special case, and I'll say it now, the Rival arc wasn't supposed to exist. I even bothered to say in a note that it wasn't the normal format, and that things would go back to being like before after this one. Note that apparently wasn't read by some.

Buuut, there was a lot of stuff that needed to happen, so instead of pulling a deus ex machina ( because considering my world's history, it wouldn't make any sense. I'm sorry about this, but I'm sticking to my notes.) , I pulled out the Rival arc. That and I wanted to finally see a rival win, especially after seeing all those otome genre and thinking : what of the otome heroine before coming there? Did she have family, friends, etc ?

The answer to that made me rage a bit ( meaning : a lot), and since in essence, it inscribed itself well enough in what I wanted this to be, I let it as is despite my doubts about it and its pointed lack of humour ( If you don't include the heroine killing) . I don't really know if that part made sense.

So yeah, I think I've already been sued enough for writing a bit of ragefic, here I said it, now you can go back to ignoring me or something.

The whole point of this fic, at the beginning, was of being a ragefic of all the overused , clichéed situation that have been done too much. I think I'm allowed a bit of leeway about that.

In other words, you guys can Ignore Arc 3, but you won't understand what's going on behind the scenes if you do.

Here, everything said and done, I won't answer to it anymore.

Sorry if this seems flippant, but having the same thing pointed out over and over again without offered solutions while I already acknowledged the problem is just plain annoying. I don't think of myself as a serious author, and of this story as a serious, good story, but there are things I won't let pass.

Phew, that takes off that load. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth though.

Sorry for the rant, and thanks for reading and the comments as usual. Constructive criticism is also welcome, the ones about my lack of descriptive narration helped me a lot.