Chapter 23: Domination
[Edited By Arthur300000 and ArchmageNaoki]
I had flopped on the bed before I woke up. I was disturbed by the dancing sunlight that passed through the curtain’s gap, so I tried to use the blanket to block it and continue to sleep. Today is Saturday, so it’s alright to sleep in a little, but why do I feel like I'm forgetting something important…
.
.
.
“Ah! I went with the flow again!!!” I sprang up from the bed. Well, because of Bree’s problem, I forgot about mine! I still haven't organized my thoughts yet. I also don't want to miss my breakfast. I already regretted skipping dinner last night.
*Knock knock knock* “Kuro-chan? Your friends want to play with you.” I look out the window and saw those kids from yesterday calling for me. They are building a snow monster in front of my house! The most energetic boy in the group found me and waved at me. I think his name is Gregg? Won't these kids leave me alone? They're fun to play with, but I need to do something more constructive.
“I’m busy… Maybe next time.” I opened the window and told them. The morning air is freezing so I quickly shut the window. It’s not because I'm bothered by the cold, but I'm trying to save on the heating cost for my family. I learned yesterday that they were poor. Therefore, I will try not to squander their resources. However, I'm still reluctant to help them actively.
I try to think my situation over while I’m changing and doing my morning business. I have to cast calm on myself to think about this logically. About those guys at Outsider Management Institute, I don't like them but starting a war now would be a bad idea. If I remember correctly, Sun Tzu has said.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." Right now information is what I lacked, and I doubt it that they would be weaker than those group of bandits. Fighting them alone might be a bad idea. So I have to put this project on hold until I know better. I also thought about sneaking into that Institute and summoning everything I have then running away. That would wreak a lot of havoc. However, I'm afraid that my summon might stupidly tell them that I was their owner like calling out my name or something. Imagining a giant dragon rampaging through the city while calling out my name... My future would be ruined.
I want to test out the summoning spell or shout. Maybe I should find a desolate place to check it out. The tricky part though is testing how they will react to a citizen of this world. Maybe I should also find a chicken...
About my family, I still love them, I concluded. Well, I couldn't change my feelings in just one night. With what I learned yesterday, compared to Bree's problems mine is insignificant. However, the problem is about trust. Can I trust them? Logically our situation is like give and take. I got shelter over my head, relationship to back me up in the society, and delicious food on the table while they got money for taking care of me. Give and take, isn't this the most reliable form of relation? About their feelings towards me, I can only wait and see. Their situation is quite pitiful. Well, as long as I am not sure about their true feelings I wouldn't invest my money on them just yet.
*Hah* I sigh while watching myself in the mirror. Thankfully my hair is easy to manage, just a few brushes here and there and it's orderly again. However, there are still so many more things to do than when I was a man. Not to mention my menstrual cycle which just stopped. I felt dread for my future. Luckily I don't have to use those troublesome cosmetics yet. I thought about it while I was wearing my bra and watching my sister applied her lip gloss.
"Kuro-Chan are you free today? Do you want to go to the amusement park with me?" Huh!? Is this a date? Sure, why not? I always wanted to know how it feels to date a real woman. So I quickly agree with her.
"Wait, the amusement park? In the winter?" I don't have a problem with it, but if my sister is riding the rollercoaster in this temperature, I doubt that she could go without medical attention after one round.
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"Why not Kuro-chan?" My sister was tilting her head cutely. I suppose they would have a countermeasure against the cold.
"Where is the amusement park?" I asked my sister as we walked to the dining room. I've never seen one in this world before. I hope it's a decent park, not a weird thing like my experience at the Monster Burger shop.
"It's in the next town so that we can get there by train. The train leaves the station every 30 minutes." My sister explained.
My dad had gone to work before I arrived at the dining room. The dining room is the same as I remembered. This room is my favorite place in this house. It's full of love and warmth here. It might be because of that drug, but I could say that I have an attachment to this room. Mr. Bobo was sleeping peacefully in his corner. I pull up his blanket for him, but at that moment he snuggled against my hand cutely. His skin is warm, soft and smooth. I thought that pig skin would feel gross, but I am terribly wrong.
The breakfast that mom cooked today is ice cream with waffles. As always it's of excellent quality. Not only is it delicious it's also pleasing to the eyes. It's like the pancake I ate last week, but the pancake was replaced by the waffle. It also tastes perfect. Maybe it's because of her inability to leave the house. She had practiced a lot.
"Is there a way to get mom walking outside the house instead of being stuck inside?" I asked curiously. She looks pitiful like this.
"It's because her cybernetic implants consume a lot of energy, more than her energy pool or small monster cores can supply. It's also impossible to use medium monster cores because the device would be too big to carry around." My brother explained.
"Hmm, what about using my energy?" It’s the least I can do for all the wonderful meals she provided.
"... Well, if you are willing, that could be done. You just need to hold her hand when she is outside the house, though. Also, I need a couple of devices to make it work." My brother paused for a while before answering. Do you think I'm a petty person, brother? Holding a beautiful MILF woman's hand? I don't mind.
"I will look for them today, then." He continued after he had observed my expression.
"You are a kind-hearted girl, Kuro-Chan." My mom smiles while patting my head. She looks delighted. But maybe it's because of her gentle personality; she didn't show much.
"Oh, you've also got mail." She gave me a white envelope. It's from the police station. Don't tell me... it's about that thing I broke yesterday. Damn, 5,000 credits. It's a significant sum. *Haaa* what's done is done. I checked my ID card and saw they've already deducted the amount from it.
Before anyone could see it, I store the letter inside my hair clip. While I don't help my family financially more than what they got from Outsider Management Institute, I also don't want them to worry about my problems. When we were going to leave the house, I hugged my mom according to the house rule. She also affectionately hugged me back. Deep down I hoped the feeling she showed is real. But after I learned about that drug, I'm not so sure anymore.
"Big sis! Where are you going?" A boy from the group of children yesterday noticed me leaving my house. I forgot about them. Well, I had a lot on my mind. Thankfully my sister just innocently told them that we are going to amusement park. Unfortunately now they want to go too. They called their parents, some of their parents seemed reluctant to let them go. However, after those kids told their parents that they are coming with me, they got an approval. Why?
"Kuro is so reliable." My brother mused. You!!! I stared at him. However, he just smirked and walked away to buy a couple of devices that is needed for my mom.
We walk to opposite direction from when we were going to school. The children seem excited about the trip. However, my excitement has dropped by a notch. Why can't they read the mood? When we arrived at the train station, I found Vicky and Sophia. So it wasn't meant to be a date since the beginning. Damn it, give me back my excitement!
"Who are these kids?" Vicky asked after we greeted each other.
"We are big sis Kuro's minions!" An over energetic boy answered. Oi! Don't give me a weird image. My sister and Sophia giggled while Vicky had a twitching smile on her face.
"Big sis Kuro! Let's buy the train ticket!" A little girl the same age as Bree pulled me along to the ticket vending machine. She has red hair, and if I remember correctly, I think her name is Cherry. It took me a while to understand how the ticket machine worked. I have to read the instructions because this is also my first time buying the train ticket in this world. The kids applauded when I got the ticket. A boy also said. "As expected of our boss."Somehow I felt more shame than delight. Please stop clapping your hands. And when did I become your boss?
The round trip train ticket cost only five credits for me while my sister has to pay ten credits. Well, you know, it might be because of my height. In this world, they have 140cm cut off for humans. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. However, when I saw Bree going to pay, I couldn't help but intercede.
"I'll pay for you, Bree." With her father having just gone to jail her family would be in financial ruin. My conscience wouldn't allow me to have her pay for this kind of thing.
"It's alright, big sis Kuro! My mom said my dad would go somewhere far away and he leave us a lot of money." Bree rejected. Does that mean he is going to... die? Then what about my 5,000 credits!?