Ruri’s perspective.

It’s morning now and I can’t seem to shake my embarrassment. I mean how could I cry in front of big brother Al? Why did I show such a side to me? He won’t think I’m whinny and throw me away, is he? I should take a walk to clear my head.

I jump up from my bed and open my bedroom door only to find Anne waiting for me.

“Ah, Anne. What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, lady Ruri? I have always been here.”

“A-always been here?”

“Yes. I’m your maid and also your bodyguard. It is my duty to make sure nothing happens to you especially when you’re at your most defenceless state.”

Is she telling me she didn’t sleep at all? She doesn’t look tired though. Sigh, I can’t read her at all.

“Where are you going my lady, early this morning?”

“I-I-I wanted to go for a walk and clear my head. Is that alright?”

“Of course, my lady. But since it’s cold outside, let me help dress you up warmly.”

Anne enters my room and picks suitable warm clothes for me.

Wow! These clothes are also comfortable and fluffy. It’s like I’m wearing a cloud. This is how a cloud would feel, right? Anyways, isn’t this a little too much? I look kind of fat now that Anne has stuffed me with all these clothes.

“We can go now, my lady.”

We leave. Outside, a bunch of people are preparing to depart.

“What’s going on here, Anne?”

“The guards are preparing to go and challenge the dungeons that were discovered.”

Oh, I see. They look kind of strong too. Oh, one of them is looking at me. I should look away. Huh, why isn’t he looking away? Oh, no he’s coming.

“Hello there, little girl.” Says Light with a big smile.

“Light. You’re scaring lady Ruri.” says Anne with her unreadable face.

“Lady? Who’s that?”

“Sigh, isn’t it obvious idiot. She’s talking about the girl. Allen briefed us remember. He said that we should treat her well and make sure we don’t… you weren’t listening, were you?” Luke says.

“Can’t say I did. I was busy thinking about what the reward was.”

“Of course, you were. Why can’t you ever listen for once in your life?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“What was I supposed to do. Don’t talk like you don’t want to know the reward.”

The two started arguing.

“My lady, these three are Light, Luke and Kelvin.” Says Anne as she briefs me on the trio.

Come to think of it, there is another one. How come I didn’t notice him even though he is much bigger than the two. Is he one of those people who just fade into the background? I was quite scared when they were coming to me but these guys don’t seem bad.

I guess not all humans are bad towards beastmen.

“Anyways little girl. My name is Light but you can call me big brother Light.”

In your dreams. I only have one big brother.

“Stop being rude in front of lady Ruri or I’ll be forced to respond.” Anne says whilst slightly opening one of her eyes.

“Sorry! Please don’t beat me up again!” says Light as he covers his eyes.

“That serves you right, idiot. Anyways Anne, where are you guys going? Is Allen going to be alright if you let a frail girl like her wonder around in this cold?” asks Luke.

Frail girl?! Somehow those words make me angry.

“I’m not frail. I’m strong.” I say pouting.

“Oh, really. If you were so strong then why would you wear so many clothes?”

I made up my mind. I don’t like this Luke person. How dare he say that to me? Don’t underestimate the tenacity of a member of the Silver Fox Clan. I only wore these clothes because of Anne, okay.

“I might not be strong, yet. But after big brother Al trains me, then I’ll be strong enough to make you eat those words.”

The three of them look at me with shock written on their faces.

Hehe, did mentioning big brother’s name scare them?

“Poor girl. How can you want to die so young? Sigh, it was nice knowing you.” Says Light with a long face as tears gripped from his eyes.

What does he mean by that?

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“To think you’re going to be trained by that tyrant. I feel sorry for you. If I were you, I’d run and never look back.” Says Light sympathetically.

Is he trying to scare me? Huh, it doesn’t seem so considering Luke and Kelvins look. Did I sign up for something I’m going to regret?

“Well, Ruri. I guess we’ll be going then. We still have a briefing to get to.”

They leave.

How dare they scare me like that and not even tell me anything.

***

The guards are going to challenge the dungeons today. The people who will be responsible for mining have already been picked by Abaddon. Since we have four hundred guards, I decided to split them up. One hundred of the guards will challenge the two dungeons for this month. They will be divided in half which means fifty guards will challenge a dungeon on their own.

I divided that one hundred into two teams. The Old and the New. The Old is made up of Light’s father, Gerald and some of the old village guards. While the New is made up of the new generation which is Light, Luke and the new members that joined at the same time as them like Marco.

The remaining three hundred guards are tasked with patrolling, hunting, training and clearing the monsters found in the mines.

The reason why I divided the dungeon challenging teams the way I did is to see the result of their training. It is also to see who are capable being leaders.

I still have a month and a few weeks till I leave. I guess I should start training Ruri. I’ll be training her in one of the PDT rooms. One month is equivalent to one year so that should be enough time for the basics.

(PDT means pocket dimensional training).

I should have Anne bring her to the training grounds.

“Anne. Bring Ruri to the training grounds immediately.” (Using telepathy)

“I understand master.”

That should do it.

I teleport to the training grounds where Ruri and Anne were waiting for me.

“All right, Ruri. Are you ready to start your training?”

Ruri seems frightened. Is she still sad because of what happened to her?

“Um, ah, ehm big brother Al. I-ah.”

Okay. She’s just making noises now.

“Anne. What’s going?”

“Light and Luke frightened her about your training routine.”

Of course, they did. Those idiots. Is she scared because of that? Well, I am going to train her like hell so I guess she does have a good reason to be scared.

“Well, let’s go then Ruri.”

I say that as I open the door to a PDT room and enter with her.

Poor girl, she knows nothing of what I have instore for her.