Chapter 7: Lily-tan gets grounded!

Barrel-kun is currently floating down the river. He's being careful because he has an important mission you see?

He has a princess inside of him. A super, extra precious cargo!

Barrel-kun is so proud of himself.

Good Job, Barrel-kun!

But then, nasty people trying to open him walked on the river !

Be careful Barrel-kun!

Wait.. What are you doing?

Why are you rolling full speed towards them?

You hit a rock that sent you flying... In the leader's head and over the barricade ?

Uoh, I underestimated you Barrel-kun!

Hm ? You are singing something Barrel-kun?

'They see me rollin', they hatin'...'

... I'm starting to worry for you, Barrel-kun....

It wouldn't do for you to get too much of a personality...

After all, you're not simply a barrel, you are...

***

Lily ...is in the barrel with Agito.

For some rea-son, Lily feels re-s-t-less.

Barrel not big inside.

Then, big bump that sent us spin-ning.

They spoke about it in school, Lily remembers.

You have to hold tight on something.

So Lily holds tight on Agito.

He feels like that time my friend Rika got electrocuted.

Lily doesn't like to remember, but...

"Agito danger ?"

"Erm. Of course not!"

"Lie. Lily doesn't like lies."

"Sorry, my princess. But the great me did say the truth, we are not in immediate danger."

"Truth. How come.. we are... in danger and not ?"

"Ah, that would be because there are different kind of dangers, my dear."

Lily some-how gets it, and some-how doesn't. As Lily thought, that thinking stuff is hard.

"As an example, take my brother Nagito."

"The coward that ran away?"

"... I take it you disapproved of him ?"

"He ...is... in no...state to care. Damaged. We...are...damaged too. He...is...no good."

Agito surprised. Lily feels insulted and pinches him.

"Lily not stupid."

"Ow, ha ha, the great me apologizes, the way people spoke of you... Nevermind that. Yes, Nagito has always been too pretty, but more than that, he had a genetic anomaly that affected his pheromone production and caused males and females to be extremely attracted to him and caused dependence. Because of that, he's been attacked by almost everyone he ever met in the same way. He can't bring himself to trust anybody."

"So, Nagito's Body, danger for himself?"

"Yes. The great me thinks the same goes for you."

"That explains. But why ... are not you affected?"

"That is an interesting question, the great me thinks it's because we are family and live together."

Lily thinks he hides something, but lets this slide.

"Yuri selfish. Wants people to care, but doesn't. Queen is the same. Tries to hide it, but can't hide from me."

"And you do ?"

"Enough to know Nagito is a big mistake, but they never listen to me. Going to end bad. Really bad. Nagito, Queen, Yuri, they...are...all the same. They all want to take, but never to give. Can't. Need. Lily doesn't know how to explain."

Lily insists on the last part by holding Agito tighter. Then, Agito hugs Lily.

Lily is confused.

"Nagito ...is... your brother? Are...you...not worried for him? If things go bad, they make me kill him."

"Then it is the great me's job to make sure nothing goes bad. Do you hold so little trust in the great me? The one who..."

"You scared for him."

"..."

"Lily knows. Lily worries for stupid brother too."

"Even after what he did to you?"

"Lily thinks what he did was stupid. But Lily doesn't want him dead. Brother and Lily alone, lonely, so bigsis took care of us. Brother afraid we disappear."

Agito chokes on something, I pat his back.

Barrel hits ground and stops moving.

"Go out ?"

"Ah, yes, we should get out."

So out we go.

That place is weird. White buildings, normal roads, people minding their business.

"Say, Lily, when you said Healer was cloaking, you meant both of us?"

Yes, since he's been associated with us, anyone would think of looking for him to find us.

"Healer says yes, use you to find me."

There is something worrying though, our cloaking was almost breached, we passed through a very powerful cursefield. This shouldn't be a problem now though.

"Healer also says powerful cursefield. Place cursed. Safe for now though."

"Ah, the great me gives his thanks. That clearly explains where we are then!"

Lily looks at him. He look like excited puppy. Lily pats his head. He...reacts funny-ly. Trips over himself.

"Hee hee hee..."

Agito always funny. Lily needed that. All that thinky stuff hurts Lily's head. Lily not used to it. But Lily said she does her best. And Lily gets to be out without being a bad girl!

He not upset looking. Just stupid-er. It's okay though, smarter means unhappy. Lily prefers happy.

"Humph. For now, let's arrange for our accommodations. It wouldn't do for us to sleep in the wilds any longer."

Nature is good though?

Agito is strange.

We finally found an 'Inn'. We paid using one of my gold bars. Yuri prefers bars cause 'gold is always useful, but coins leave a trail'. Lily doesn't get it, but Ana-nee says it's okay. Agito has left to his own room so now I'm alone here.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

It's calm. Lily doesn't like it.

Considering the fact that we either battled or lived in the wilds, it is perfectly understandable that we wouldn't be able to stay put for long.

Hero? Why here ?

I was bored. My restless nature might affect you for a bit, for that I deeply apologize. I bring good news though. I was able to break Fencer-san out of the spell, she is now fully operational.

Hm.

Lily look around. Room, wood. Bed, wardrobe, window, my bag.

Ehem. Lily-dono?

Hero? Fencer? Healer? Why you all here ?

I think I can speak for all of us here when I said that it would do us some good to get some fresh air. Knowing that a curse active around this place is unsettling.

But going out night bad ?

Indeed, so bad people would be out too, and what do we do to bad people?

We beat'em up and dry'em !

Good girl. Ah, you should really put on the outfit we discussed about.

Girlyyyy!

Now now, look around , you have a chestplate, gauntlets, and it's armored from waist down.

Cosplay?

...Wherever did you learn that word?

Lily always watches.

Forgot about that. No, it isn't cosplay. Cosplay is playing with costumes, this is a fully functional battle dress.

Battle dress with ribbons ?

So that people know you're a girl. Here, let me put it on.

No. Listened to imouto. She did mean things to Agito.

Aaaah, fine, you know what? Healer can do it. She can't do anything bad.

That you know of, anyways.

What ?

Nothing~ So, do I do it, Lily-san ?

Muuu, fine, but any tricks and I...

You beat me up, I know.

...

It feels weird. Ribbon in the hair necessary?

You insisted on tying your hair up after all, wouldn't want to let people think you are a man after what happened in that city ?

Lily broke Fox woman's teeth and kicked brother's butt, why would Lily be a man?

Since when are you this difficult?

Adult selves proven un-re-li-able.

...

Hum, anyways, armor check, weapons?

Sword here.

Good, we're ready to go, patrol, patrol, saving people!

Hy-po-crite.

Please stop hurting my feelings Lily-donooo!

Well, nothing much happened first. Boring, but Lily got to walk. Then Lily heard fighting noises.

Hurt man, scared woman, thugs.

Time to intervene, Lily-dono.

Looks like it.

"Heh, don't worry, the boss'll take reeeeal good care of your woman for you."

"Damn -hrk-you!"

Erm, Lily feels nervous, what should Lily do? What if Lily gets tongue tied!

Don't worry Lily-dono, I shall-erk-

Stop dallying Hero. Lily-san, this one might be unreliable, but regarding the matter of fighting for a just cause, this Fencer shall be you weapon.

Lily doesn't understand what you say, but whatever.

We dash towards the men.

Kick first one in the face, drain him until he can't stay conscious while doing so.

Dodge second one and send him flying while feeding on him.

Third one screams something. Lily doesn't care.

Bad people must be punished.

Ten of them down, the rest ran away.

Lily hears noise behind and turns.

The two look like idiots.

That's a lot of blood. Healer?

Hai, put your hand on him.

Pretty lights...

"This should...be enough. Please, avoid that kind of situation in the future. More might come."

Lily said a big sentence without being awkward !

Good job Lily-dono.

Indeed.

"W-wait! Who are you?"

Mu, the no giving name thing is still on, but not answering questions is bad.

"You... may call me a knight. What I was previously doesn't matter anymore."

Dropping the princess part, are we ?

Lily thinks this isn't important.

Oh, poor, poor Yuri.

What about her?

Nothing...

"Lily..."

Hwe ?!

Agito is here !

Lily gets a bad vibe from him ! Danger ? Combat mode activate!

Clench sword.

"More trouble?"

"Yes, this way."

Lily dashes away, in the direction he pointed... To see the inn.

Agito grabs me and puts me over his shoulder.

"Wa ?"

"The night, you sleep. You don't go gallivanting in dark alleys."

"But they said it was a good idea..."

"Since when listening to the voices in your head is a good idea?"

...

"Lily is going to be grounded?"

"That you are."

Lily supposes that's what she gets from listening to unreliable people.

Hey-urk-

"Lily is sorry."

He puts me down.

"As long as you don't do it again, the great me will find it in him to forgive you for your youthful mistakes."

...

"Ne?"

"Yes?"

"Can Lily sleep with you? Lily doesn't like to be alone in the room."

Mu? Agito's hitting his head against the wall?

"S-Stop! Hurting the walls is no good!"

He stops, and laughs.

"Lily, it seems it's time for us to speak about something...."

"Lily was there for the Talk, she knows how it works."

"...Called boundaries."

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Aaaaand so it begins !

Some of you probably expected the reveal, but yeah. It was already an open secret , so to speak.

Poor Agito, I really feel sorry for him *rolling on the bed, choking because laughing activates her asthma*