EXTRA 1
Not Everything Is Happy Like Story In The Book!
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[ Year: 6078]
At far south overseas, lays an isolated continent and it's 'Libteras-Land'.
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[ NOTE*: Just a quick reminder, 'Libteras' is an Latin word which means 'Freedom' in English. ]
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Just like how Mech-Country is known as 'Land/City Of Technologies'.
Libteras-Land is known as 'Cold-Land' where during all seasons whole continent would always get covered in heavy snow and only during summer it would get a little warmer.
However--the continent itself got quite the lavish environment and filled with many wild animals. And also, not too many Humans lives here instead Libteras-Land was mostly populated by 'Beastmen' species.
It's an peaceful continent; free from any pollution.
Even the most buildings were build with 'Mud Hut' or 'Wooden Hut'. And every town and village were miles away from one another.
A free continent from any Guardian or Demon Lord stuff.
From one of many small village, Ino Ruiz was born into this world in summer season. And her parents were quite a different couple in this land. Her mother was a 'Beastmen' and her dad was a 'Human'.
After few years; Ino mother died in an tragic accident while returning home from work on random winter night. And her dad did his best not to dwell in sadness as he now focus all his time and effort to make his daughter happy, as a single-father.....
In latter years at age of 5; Ino had discovered that she had the magic to communicate with different types of animals, making a lot of friends in process. And soon, Ino's dad also used all of his savings to buy a huge carriage, easy enough to build a medium-size stage on it.
After building the portable stage on top of the carriage. Ino uses her magic to communicate with her animal friends to convince them to join in their travels around the whole Libteras-Land.
To which, all of her animal friends gladly accepts her offer.
And with that; Ino and her dad along with their animals companion starts their journey, at the first day of new year.
During their couple of months time in travels; they stayed at every towns and villages about a week or two, while putting a stage act along their journey as to earn some money for their living. Stage playing many classical story from around the world such as, 'Sn*w Wh*te and the Se*en Dw*rfs', or 'T*e Lit*le Ma*ch Gi*l', or ' Lit*le R*d Rid*ng Ho*d' or ' The Events Of First Great War'.
And Ino's animal friends also help in their act by portraying different characters for every different acts, adding more charm into their show.
To their own surprise, they've actually earn more money than expected.
Afterwards whenever they stayed at town and village, they would always make sure to donate some of their money to a orphanages or a charity.
And now, Ino was more happy and energetic than before, always curious to visit new place and to try out new foods.
But-most of all; Ino's dad felt really happy seeing his daughter lively again like a bright warm sun.
---Nearly a decade later.
At Ino's 15th birthday; their long journey had come to an end, as they were now at the other side of Libteras-Land, staying at the final town of their journey.
And during their journey; their stage act had become quite popular among the locals that they were constantly getting a lot of offer to perform in their town or village again.
What's more is; their little stage act show had now estimated value over 30 gold coins.
But Ino and her dad just brush off all of this, as they rest in for their last night, in standard Inn.
••••
Middle of the night; Ino suddenly felt like she had heard something coming from her dad's room which was beside her room.
At the same time; Ino also felt she needed to go to bathroom. So, she gets up from her bed as she open the door and starts to walk outside.
But--then again, she heard a small thud coming from her dad's room.
To which; she got curious and tries to look inside from the keyhole.
In which; half of her vision got blocked by someone's back. And from other half, she saw her dad talking to someone as he was showing his back...
「...I said, GET--! *Gwah*」
「Guess, I'll just take signature from your dead body, then~」
In matter of seconds; Ino's dad throat got slit, spilling blood all over the place, as he tries to gasp for air.....
And Ino who saw all of this, was totally frightened by the sight that her whole body got paralyze with fear and she couldn't even move an inch......
Ino's shaking was getting worse. And when she tries to back off quietly as possible but--her trembling leg couldn't handle her weight as she falls down at the floor with a small thud...
「Hm?」
Seconds later; the door open up from inside but instead of her dad it was a tall guy wearing a black robe, holding a bloodstain dagger in his right hand.
「Oh~You must be the owner's daughter, right~? Y'know, I was about to meet you right after finishing some business with your father~ But since, you're here~~」
The guy said as he crouch down and look closely at scared Ino, who at this point start breaking as tears fell down from her cheeks......
「...*Sob*.....W-Who are you.....*Sob*....why....why are you doing this......*Sob*」< Ino >
Ino said with shaky voice as she tries to stop her body from trembling. But--her heart was pounding more faster than ever, as she couldn't put her trembling body under control.....all while, she pisses on the spot in absolute fear.......
「Ooh~You're crying? But I can't let you until I've shown you this~」
The guy in black robe said as he grabs Ino by her hair and drags her into the room. The same room which she was trying her best to ignore, as if running away from the whole reality.
「...!?」
But--soon; Ino faces a harsh reality front of her as she confront her dad who was in pool of his own blood.....
「...Pa.....Pa-Papa........Papa! *Sob* Papa! P-PLEASE, hang on! *Sob* I-I'll heal you right away!!」< Ino >
Soon, tears starts to fall down from Ino's cheeks profusely as she desperately tries to heal her dad...
「.....*Sob*........*Sob*...........」
Ino gather every last mana into her body to cast a 'Healing Magic' but--to her dismay, magic didn't even activate.....
「Didn't your father teach you? You must be a 'Saint' or must know basic knowledge beforehand~」
The guys in black robe came closer to the scene, as he looks on in amusement.
「...」
(*Sob*.....Please, Papa.....don't......*Sob*......don't leave me *Sob*.........I'm scared *Sob*...to be all alone.....*Sob*........you'd promised me that I'll never feel lonely again *Sob*....so........*Sob* p-please...... *Sob*) < Ino >
Ino's eyes becomes all watery while a gleam of hope inside her was slowly dying out as well as her mind was slowly blanking out.....
And the guy who was watching all of this, suddenly grabs Ino by her hair as he starts to teardown her cloths with the same bloodstain dagger until none of her cloths remain......
Ino tries to fight back. But--she got easily overpowered by the guy.
「Oh my~ She's pretty hot than I imagine~」
The guy said as he licks his lips in a very lustful way.
「.....L-Leave *Huff* her *Huff* alone--」
Ino's dad said with all his might as he looks up to the guy with anger.
「Heh~」
But--before, Ino or her dad could do anything. The guy stabbed his bloodstain dagger into Ino's dad repeatedly until he stopped moving, completely.....
「! Pa-Papaaaaa!!」
Ino who just witness the scene unfold, bites the guy's hand as she got free from his grip and crawled over her whole body towards her dad until they were face to face.
「...*Huff*....*Huff*」
「..Papa! *Sob*.....a-are you alright!? *Sob*.....P-Please say something!!」< Ino >
Ino said with tearful eyes as she puts her warm hands onto his cheeks.
In response; her dad also tried to raise his right trembling hands as he puts it onto her cheeks in return, as if trying to comfort her.....
「...M-My little princess *Huff*.....be a good girl *Huff*.......and....stay strong, ok......*Huff*......and I'm sorry that I couldn't........」
Ino's dad mutter with a heavy breather while tears starts to fall down from his cheeks as his hand fell down on the floor with a small thud...
「...Papa.....no........NOO-AHHHH!!」< Ino >
Ino starts to scream hysterically while holding her dad's corpse very dearly into her arms, as if holding a part of her lost soul......
「.....」
Ino got so traumatize that she couldn't think or speak, anymore. Her bright warm sun like face soon changes with a gloomy one, something like a ghost expression........
「Ahh~You bite me really good~but we can't stay here any longer~~」
The guy in black robe said as he suddenly puts a handkerchief front of traumatize Ino, putting her into unconsciousness state.
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And soon, the guy grabs naked Ino and jumps out from the window, near the forest.
•••
••
「....mhm......mhmmm........」
All of a sudden; Ino slowly open her swollen eyes in confusion as she looks around her surroundings just to realize that she was at somewhere confined wooden hut. And also, she was completely naked top to bottom while her hands and legs were tied up by the chains tightly, preventing her from moving an inch.....
「...Where am I......where's Papa........」< Ino >
Ino mutters as she soon recall what had happen which leads her to become more heartbroken as tears falls down from her now dead eyes...
*Click*
「...?」
But soon--Ino heard the sound of door opening front of her. To which, she looks up to the sound source.
Just to see the same tall guy in black robe entering the room as he now brings a middle-age man along with him.
「So? What you think?」
「Hm. In this day and age; she's the finest product to enter a slave market~ Which can be quite profit for me~~」
「So? It's a deal then~?」
「Hm...30 gold coins, huh.....let's make it 25. What do you say?」
「Huhhh! You kidding, right!? There's no way I would accept so low price for her! At least, I want 28 gold coins for it! So, take it or leave it. There are also others who are willing to spend more than 30 gold coins just for her, y'know~!」
「...F-Fine.....I'll just pay 28 gold coins.....」
「It's a deal, then~」
The tall guy held out his right hand to the middle-age man to handshake, as if making it final.
「Yeah. It's a deal~」
To which; the middle-age man shook hands with him to make it final.
As for Ino, she was just feeling empty inside.....with no will to live or to die, just an empty shell.....
「What's your name, kid~?」
The middle-age man said as he walks closer at tied up naked Ino. And when he reached near her, he grabs her by cheeks and licks all around her face........
「...」
Ino didn't even tries to fight back--instead, she just continue to stare blankly at her feet.
「? I said, what's your name, kid?」
This time middle-age man got a little angry when he got no reply from her.
「...」
「I said, what's your FUCKING NAME!? *Slap*」
The middle-age man slaps Ino on her cheeks, as he got more frustrated by her.
「...」
But--Ino still didn't react to it. All while, she continues to look on her feet, blankly.
「YOU STUPID--!?」
Suddenly, the tall guy puts his one hand on middle-age man's mouth from stopping him to speak any further.
「Shh! Seems like, someone had found us.....」
The tall guy mutters as he lets go his hand from the middle-age man's mouth.
「...」
Perhaps, understanding the situation middle-age man keeps his mouth shut.
Both; the tall guy and the middle-age man continue to stay silent, as they listen very closely to the sounds that came from outside.
「「...」」
To which; they both heard several footsteps going around the wooden hut they were in....But--suddenly, all the footsteps stop in their tracks as they now could hear a single footstep coming closer at the front door, from outside.
*Click*
Soon, the confined wooden hut's door open suddenly bringing the sun's ray inside the room.
Along with a humanoid figure who stood amidst the sun's ray, silently.
「Oh my~ This hut is quite fragile~」
Soon, a sweet soft candy-like feminine voice echoed around every corner of the room as the humanoid figure step inside the wooden hut.
「「...」」
Both; the tall guy and the middle-age man were speechless when they identify the humanoid figure to be a young girl, covering her whole body head to toe with a white cloth as she was looking down.
「...I-Is she's the one who had found us...?」
「...Seems so.....」
「...I see. Then, let me handle her.」
The middle-age man said in confident as he starts to walk closer at the young girl who was standing still like a statue while still looking down.
「...」
As for the tall guy, he somewhat felt odd just by gazing at the young girl.
(...Why am I getting the feeling that something bad is about to happen.....)
The tall guy thought to himself as he continue to watch the middle-age man walking closer to the young girl.
「Young lady, are you looking for something~?」
The middle-age man said as he slowly tries to put his right hand on to the young girl shoulder.
「Oh my~ Would you put your filthy hands away from me? It's kinds disgusting~」
Suddenly, out of nowhere the young girl said in amusement as she shows cleanly cut right hand front of them.
「!!?」
The middle-age man felt a sudden surge of pain coming from his right arm--just to find his right hand nowhere to be found...
「Heh~」
The young girl suddenly lets go of cleanly cut hand--as she instantly grabs the middle-age man's face with her right small hand in quick speed that even the winds around them was undisturbed, all while the cleanly cut right hand falls down at the ground with a small thud.
「!!?」
「...」
With little to no effort; the young girl slowly lift the middle-age man's whole body up into the air with her small right hand, as she was still looking down.
「E-Eek!!?」
From bottom of his heart, the middle-age man genuinely starts to feel terror as he somewhat understood the situation he was in.....
「Ahh~ Now, that's the fine expression~ After all, I'm quite the sadist person, hehe~」
The young girl said with soft candy-like voice while still looking down.
「!!? W-Wait--」
The middle-age man tries to plea but--the young girl just tighten her right hand's grip and starts squishing the head. And in an instant, she totally crushed the middle-age man's head-as bloods and some part of his brain spill out from his ear, nose(nostrils) and mouth, while his both eyes pop right out from his socket.
Soon, a pool of bloods starts to form around the young girl's feet. All while, her white cloth remain stainless.
「...」
And yet, the young girl didn't even flinched nor look up to see the results.
Instead, the young girl just throws the lifeless body at one corner of the room casually as if throwing a broken doll that has no use.
「...」
And soon, the young girl starts to walk slowly but steadily forward as her barefoot were now covered in bloods.
Every step she was making, a bloody footprint were left behind in her track.
「...」
And the tall guy who saw the whole scene unfold was totally flabbergast, as he tries to calmly judge the situation...
(...Those body posture......those white cloths.....and lastly, those long smooth sliver hair......don't tell me she's.....)
The tall guy gulp his own saliva in fear, as he watches the young girl slowly approaching him.
As for Ino, she was still looking down at her feet blankly. All while, the tall guy suddenly starts to scream hysterically but--Ino still continue to ignore her surroundings.
「AHH-No! P-Please!!」
「Nighty night~ hehe~~」
As soft candy-like voice echoed around the room. The whole room suddenly got quiet, eerily.....
And Ino who had become quite literally a broken doll at this point, heard a single footstep coming near her, slowly.
(...Just..kill me already.....) < Ino >
Without a slight hint of emotion, Ino just continue to stare down.
But the next moment; Ino who was staring down, saw the chains which were holding her legs starts to rub itself as it rust away. And also, the chains which was holding her hands also starts to rub itself as it rust away as well.
*Snap*
With a small snap, the chains restraining her rot away, as she fall down at the ground with a small thud. But she was still in an broken state, staring down blankly.
「...」
Seconds later; the young girl starts to walk forward 'till she got near Ino's field of vision, as she made some cloths out of thin air...
「Here, put some cloths on~」
The young girl said with soft candy-like voice as she throws the cloths at Ino.
And yet, Ino didn't react to it as she remain motionless....
「.....why.......」
「Hm? Did you say something~?」
「.....why did you stop.......aren't you going to kill me......」< Ino >
Ino mutters in low voice as if she was talking to herself, without a sight of emotion on her face...
「Cause it's not worth it to kill someone who's been already dead inside~ And besides, your little friends had begged me to spare your life~」
「.....? My friends......?」
「*Woof*!」
Suddenly, Ino heard a soft howl coming from outside the wooden hut. To which; she looks up slowly at the open door--to find her animal friends which she had forgotten about.....
Several 'Snow Wolves' and 'Snow Leopard' wiggle their tails while the other animals such as 'Polar Bear' stand on their feet as they saw Ino's face, as if showing their happiness to see her again.
Ino felt a little happy when she saw some familiar faces. However--at the same time, her heart begin to ached more as it was getting more unbearable....
「Don't try to ignore the you who's been struggling inside, instead embrace it~ After all, facing it with all your might is the best thing than to run away~~」
Suddenly, the young girl said with soft candy-like voice as she puts her index finger at top of Ino's head.
「...」
Ino felt silent after hearing her words and tries to subdue the pain that ached her heart so much by taking a long breather while clearing her mind from any negative thoughts.
To which; Ino was able to relief her aching heart to some extent but--not fully though.....
「Now then, I should give you a little boost before I leave~」
「..?」
「Care to open your mouth~?」
The young girl taps her index finger at Ino's head repeatedly, as if commanding her.
「...」
To which; Ino complies as she open her mouth just a tiny bit.
Soon, a single droplet of blood drops from the young girl's index finger as it straight went into Ino's mouth.
「...!?」
A sudden rush of mana starts to flow through her veins that she felt her whole body been heating up as well as she felt dizziness as seconds passes by.
「Well then~」
Th young girl suddenly turn around as she starts to walk towards the open door.
「....w-wait.....」
「Hm?」
Then again--the young girl stop in her tracks as she turn around at Ino.
「....why....are you saving me......if so.....then, you could've came earlier when...when I-we needed someone to help.....」< Ino >
Keeping her wits together, Ino tries to get some answer out from the young girl, as she was slowly losing her consciousness......
「Let me correct you~ I'm not a 'Hero' you're looking for nor am I a 'Villain' you're looking for to end your life. I'm just a spectator who's been looking over the world~ And it was a pure coincidence that I met you during my travel~ So, think of it as a dream~~」
「....You're basically telling to forgot about this incident like it never happened....?」< Ino >
「Yes~ In return, I've given you a little boost for your survival~」
「...Guess, I have no choice but to accept it, huh.....」< Ino >
Ino mutters to the young girl, as she was almost fading out...
「Heh~ Then, I'll take my leave~ There's still way too many places for me to visit~~」
The young girl turn around again as black mist suddenly formed out of thin air and slowly starts to envelop around her.
But before, the young girl could leave the sight, she open her mouth to speak.
「Y'know, I actually hope to see you again~ Just so, I could see the blooming flower you'll become~~」
「..H-Huh..?」
Before--Ino could comprehend what she was saying, the black mist cover the young girl whole as she and along with the black mist vanished into thin air...
And soon, Ino also fell into deep slumber for months as her animal friends took her away into the deep snowy forest, away from any civilization.
◆◆◆
A year has been passed since that incident happen in the wooden hut.
And now, Ino was bit stable but--not fully. The deep scar that engraved on her heart still gives her the pain while a image of her dad corpse flashes out through her mind....
「...」
Without a emotion left show, Ino was travelling somewhere into the deep snowy forest with her animal friends.
With no place to call 'Home' nor no one to call her 'Family', Ino keeps on walking aimlessly going around one forest to another with no destination in mind.
(.....Where should I go....? Where should I stay....? Should I search for the same person who had saved me....? What should I do......?) < Ino >
WIth her cloudy thoughts, she continue to walk aimlessly.....
And during this one year period; Ino had encounter many Humans and Beastmen in her path.
Some were Hunters.
Some were Merchants.
But--Ino didn't care as she would always knocked them out in surprise, and loots their stuffs and foods and would always run away into the deep snowy forest.
However--sometimes, Ino would acted on her instinct as she would kill some humans who were just a random travellers or hunters.
'Cause within this past months; Ino came to resent humans specifically as it would always reminded her about the killer who had killed her dad...Even though, her dad killer was no more alive--So now, she pointed her hatred towards the whole human race.
And unbeknownst to Ino; a rumoured were starting to spread around the whole continent at rapid speed that even she was unaware of.
A rumour that Ino herself was actually a 'Devil's Child'. And she's the one who had killed her own mother not from an accident. And when her dad had found out about this, it was already too late as Ino had fully manifested her power and kill her dad and ran away into the deep snowy forest.
And not long after; she had been spotted at many different location into the deep snowy forest and with the killing she committed. Soon, all local residents starts to refers Ino as, 'Devil's Child'.
•••
••
•
On a random frigid night; Ino suddenly sense a presence passing through the cave she was staying in, for a night.
To which, she suddenly runs outside the cave in hurry as her animal friends soon followed after.
And when Ino came outside the cave, she saw a blonde man in his 30s carrying a large shoulder bag as he was walking straight East even in this heavy snowfall.
「...」
But--without a care, Ino just jump front of the blonde man's path while holding dull daggers in her both hands.
「..Woah?」
The blonde man got a little surprise as he stop in his track, seeing some humanoid figure standing in his way.
「...Hey there....my name is 'Kageyama Tomoki'...and I'm not your enemy, okay....look, I even surrender!」< Tom >
The blonde man who's name was 'Kageyama Tomoki' soon held his both hands up into the air while his shoulder bag fell down at the snowy ground.
「...」
Without a word; Ino step forward a little where they could see each other face very clearly, while she standing on her guard.
「...」
Tom also got quiet as he looks on at Ino for a mere moment--before opening his mouth.
「..Hm? Wait....I've seen you somewhere before......」< Tom >
「...」
「Oh yes! You must be the 'Devil's Child' who's everyone been talking about, lately~ Huh..?」< Tom >
Suddenly, Ino silently starts to run towards Tom who wasn't guarded by any means.
「...」
When Ino reaches near him, she swings her right hand holding the dull dagger to slit Tom's thoart.
But--the next moment; Tom who was raising his hands-up suddenly crouch down on his one knee as he swiftly dodges her attack and hugs her with open arms.
「..!?」
「But to me, you are just a innocent child who seems to be lost...」< Tom >
Tom softly whisper to her ear, as he gently stroked her hair.
「But that's alright. Getting lost is just a part of our lives--So, question yourself as much as you want. But also remember to smile time to time too.」< Tom >
Tom continue to whisper softly.
「...」
To which; Ino's whole body starts to tremble--not in fear but at Tom's words.
「You've been going through so much pain and yet--you're suppressing all these emotions inside your heart as if nothing had happen.....I know, you hate yourself--I know, you're feeling guilty--And I know, you are angry......So, it's kinda lame to say this now but--would you care to share your story with me? I may not be able to help but I can assure you that from now, 'You are not alone', I'd like to carry your burdens as my own.」< Tom >
Tom continue to stroked her hair, gently.
「.....*Sob*.......*Sob*........*Sob*........」
As Ino listen very closely to every words that Tom spoke, her whole body was trembling even more as tears starts to fall down from her cheeks while sadness envelops her eyes to become more watery.
In matter of seconds; Ino lets go the dull daggers from her trembling hands as she hold tight onto Tom while more tears fell down from her cheeks, profusely.
「Ah-Ahhh-Ahhhhh *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*!」
Like a newborn child; Ino cried and cried for hours while clinging onto Tom. All while, Tom continue to gently stroked her hair.
And Ino's animal friends who were watching the whole scene silently were also in tears.
「AHHHHHHHH *Sob*!」
「It's all alright~ let it all out....I'm right here and so your friends~ we'll be by your side so you don't have to worry about anything...」< Tom >
Ino cried for few more hours-before, she suddenly fell asleep into Tom's arms, peacefully.
So, Tom got back on his feet and starts to walk towards the cave to rest for the night, carrying sleeping Ino on his arms.
While Ino's animal friends also soon follow him inside the cave.
•••
••
「...mhmm......」
Early in the morning; Ino slowly opens her eyes as she found herself laying near the bonfire while a blanket was warp around her.
When she look around, she saw her animal friends also resting near the bonfire.
「..!?」
But--she didn't find Tom anywhere near the cave.
To which; Ino quickly got ready and headed outside the cave in hurry.
The moment; Ino was outside, she saw a man-made trails going more deeper into the snowy forest.
「...」
Soon, Ino starts to follow the trails by running.
For more than few hundred meters she ran desperately, looking her surroundings while following the trails.
「...Haah......Haah......Haah......」
With short and rough breathing, it was getting hard for her to run while she grows more impatient inside.
(..Where are you.....you cannot leave me after saying you'll stay by my side.......) < Ino >
After for running through the snowy woods for a while, Ino suddenly came across the open clearing where she saw, Tom picking some tree leaves.
「...」
Ino slowly moves forward as she feel like her heart would explode at any mintue.
「Hm? Oh, it's you~ Good morning~! I hope you had a good sleep~~」< Tom >
Tom said with a cheerful voice as he continue to pick up the tree leaves, without a hitch.
When Ino got near him, she grabs Tom's coat with her little fingers, with a darkened face.
「?」
「..what....are you trying to do......」< Ino >
「Oh! I'm just picking some pine needles for tea~ It's really good for our eyes--」< Tom >
「...No--What are you trying to do by leaving me behind....like everyone.....*Sob*!」< Ino >
Ino said with little shaky voice as she looks up to face Tom with her teary eyes.
「..? It's about that, huh.」< Tom >
Tom stop picking the tree leaves as he crouch down, facing Ino.
「I'm not going anywhere, I promise~ So, would you wipe those tears and smile for me~」< Tom >
With a cheerful smile, Tom handed his handkerchief to her.
「...」
Slowly, Ino grabs the handkerchief and wipe her tears with it.
「...」
After wiping her tears, she returns the handkerchief as she tries her best to smile back.
But the result was; an awkward smile...
Deep down; Ino knew that she somewhat forgot how to smile...
However--Tom didn't care as he gently patted Ino's head with a smile.
「See, smiling isn't that hard~~」< Tom >
「*Nod*!」
「Then, hop-on I'll give you a piggyback ride~ You must've been tired by coming all the way here, right?」< Tom >
Tom said as he got ready to carry her.
But--Ino moves her head sideways as if rejecting the idea of his.
「...I can walk.....」< Ino >
Ino said with a soft low voice, while looking down at the snowy ground.
「Are you sure?」< Tom >
「*Nod*!」
「*Sigh* As you wish then. Now, let's head back to the cave before weather gets any bad.」< Tom >
Tom said as he got back on his feet, holding pine needles in his right hand and starts to walk back towards the cave's direction.
Soon, Ino also starts to follow him, albeit from two step behind.
(...What am I doing......did I made the right choice......I can feel at little ease........but I'm still feeling lonely........) < Ino >
Ino's mind were filled by many uncertain thoughts which she couldn't find any answer of....
「...」
Ino clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in frustration, while she walks a little faster getting near Tom.
「...」
With her trembling little right hand; Ino slowly reaches her hand to hold Tom's left hand pinky finger.
「...」
In response; Tom smile back at Ino and continue to walk.
From outside perspective; it looked like a father and his daughter were walking through the woods, as daughter was tightly holding her father's pinky finger as they were walking.
Unbeknownst to Ino; her life soon about to take a roller coaster ride by following Tom.
After all, in near future; they would meet a certain person who will become the very first 'Demon Lord' of 'Libteras-Lanhd'.
But--It was a whole another different story in itself.
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I hope you enjoy it and sorry for my bad grammar and I hope it's understandable.
I'm trying my best to improve and if you find some mistakes or anything like that, then let me know on the comment.
Peace:)