SC1 6.4 – Sleeping in the Hut
Under the darkness of the night I walked the ridgeline on the peak of South Ridge. I used Wind Step as gentle as possible to ensure my movement didn’t wake up Yui. However, just two kilometers before we arrived at the hut, Yui suddenly raised her head and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
Surprisingly, she only required a few second to assess the situation around her even though all she could see was only darkness being accompanied by sings of night insect.
“Uncle Deitoro, are we really going to meet Big Sis Yunno?” Yui weakly asked.
“We are,” I firmly replied.
“After we become your junior servant, can we still meet with Big Brother Sanno?” Yui asked me with expecting tone.
“Of course you can. Sanno will come to the hut as usual,” I gently replied. “Most of all, you are not going to become junior servant, but my disciples.”
“Uncle Deitoro will take Big Sis Yunno and Yui as your disciple?”
“Yeah, I will teach both of you all my knowledge and skill. However, if I say my true intention in front of your family, your Grandmother will extort me, while your uncle will ask me to take their children too.”
After a short silence Yui asked me again, “Can we still help Uncle Manno pay his school tuition?”
‘This kid…’
I couldn’t help but inwardly heaved a deep sigh. Her household had sold her without second thought or regard to what kind of fate she would face, but she still tried to contribute to it.
“Yui, listen to me carefully,” I firmly said as I looked at Yui’s clear eyes. “From now on, whatever effort and hard work you and Yunno do, it must only be directed for your own future and happiness. Forget every duty you and Yunno have to fulfill to Tadaoka Household.”
“But then Yui and Big Sis Yunno wouldn’t have family anymore,” Yui said before pressing her lips and held back her tears.
“Me, my wife, and Sanno are your family now. We will do whatever we can to taking care of you two.”
Yui didn’t reply, but she stopped pressing her lips so I guessed she would be fine for now. As for the rest, I believed that slowly but surely she and Yunno would understand that their new family was a true family.
A moment later, we arrived at the hut and Yunno was waiting us. As soon as I put her down, Yui immediately ran to Yunno and hugged her tightly.
“Big Sis Yunno, Yui miss you so much….”
“I know,” Yunno replied while hugging Yui tightly.
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They were being separated for less than a day, but from their hug, sob, and tears, people would think they were had been separated for years. But I could clearly see that Yui’s sobbing was totally different compared to her sob this morning.
She was still pressing her lips tightly while her tears streamed down on her cheek like a flood, but no sorrow in her eyes. Meaning, she was just being overwhelmed by her emotion.
Meanwhile, Yunno closed her eyes while tightened her hug. Then, big smile bloomed in her lips while relieved was clearly visible in her childish face.
Well, all they wanted just having a family where they could stay together. They didn’t even mind even if it was crappy family that treated them harshly. And that’s why I would put my life on the line to give them the best family they could get. It was the measure I readied to pay in order to avoid the great calamity.
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After taking Yunno from Read Oak, Kato installed some lanterns in the hut. It was a good call as after being illuminated by the lanterns the hut didn’t look scary anymore. Other than that, Kato was surprisingly also very good at handling children. After helping Yunno and Yui washed their face and feet, she then took them to resting hut and skillfully recited them bed time story.
After that, Yunno and Yui fell asleep in no time. It was natural as they were mentally and physically very tired. Not to mention their current sleeping sheet and blanket were far more comfortable than the one they usually used.
Then, Kato came out of the resting hut. When she saw me sat quietly in the dinning hut, she immediately came over and sat next to me. Then, as I dried my hair using a small towel I opened a conversation.
“I never thought you are very good at handling children.”
Kato gave me a small but beautiful smile before replying, “Taking care little young master and young lady is part of my old job.”
“No wonder.” After pausing for a moment, I returned the remaining Kato’s money. “I managed to haggles Yui’s price.”
“I see.” As she put the money into her spatial ring Kato continued, “I will make some clothes for Yunno and Yui.”
“Do you means buy them new clothes?”
“I will buy some as their current clothes are too worn out, but for their warrior clothes I will make it personally.”
“Do you know needle work?”
Kato proudly nodded. “Since I was five, I was being trained at cleaning, washing, cooking, and needle work. At twelve, I was being trained to taking care of children. At sixteen, I was being trained at art of bedchamber.”
In reflex I happily said, “Glad I have you around.”
Kato smiled one more time before asking, “Sanno, may I know why you put great effort in taking care of Yunno and Yui?”
“To prevent a great calamity.”
I gave Kato an honest reply, but it made her widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief. She even gave me a look like a psychiatrist checking my mental state.
“Sanno,” Kato sternly said, “don’t joking around.”
“I don’t.”
“Really?”
As Kato gave me a big questioning gaze I explained, “A Level 100 warrior received a prophecy that Yunno will taking demonic path when she is ten-year-old, right after Yui meet an unjust death.
After killing all member of Tadaoka Household, she will disappear before creating second incident a decade later, followed by other incidents until finally she become a great living calamity.”
Shock was clearly visible in Kato’s eyes as she said, “The first part of the prophecy perfectly matched with Master Hisami’s plan.”
“It did.”
As she took a deep breath the question mark in Kato’s forehead thickened. “Who is this Level 100 warrior?”
“He is my teacher.”
“Who is his name?”
“He introduced himself as Grand Elder, and asked me to call him Teacher after I agreed to become his disciple,” A lie smoothly slipped out of my teeth.
“Wait a second, he didn’t tell you his name even after you becomes his disciple.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know his guild?”
“I don’t.”
“Where is he come from?”
“No clue. Teacher never mentioned it.”
“Where is he now?”
“He returned to his home continent after teaching me all knowledge I need to taking care of Yunno and Yui.”
“Those are very absurd information. Every guild has Grand Elder, but I believe no martial guild in Arka and Marka Continent has Level 100 as their Grand Elder.”
“Well, I don’t even know if there is martial guild outside of Rokube.”
“So, your teacher didn’t give you information about martial world in Marka Continent.”
“Nope, he only warned me that I should limit Yunno’s interaction with martial world even if I manage avoiding the first part of his prophecy.”
Actually, limiting Yunno and Yui interaction with martial world was my own idea because I wanted to have peaceful and calm live like how I lived on earth. I fell in love with that kind of life and intended to continue it while taking care of Yunno and Yui.
However, it was too complicated to explain it to Kato, so I just made up a reasonable excuse. Thankfully, it seemed Kato fully believed it. She nodded her head as if she just received enlightenment.
“I see. That’s the reason why you conceal your skill?”
“Other than that, Yunno and Yui have excellent soul mark. If we don’t conceal it, it can lure demonic beast or another Hisami.”
“Got it.”
After a moment of silence I said, “I’m very tired. Let’s sleep and talk the rest tomorrow.”
After nodding her head Kato said, “Even if we just fake couple playing house for Yunno and Yui, let’s do it as best as we can.”
“Let’s do it that way.”
Kato and I then got in to the resting hut and had a night rest.
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