Laura's Journey

Chapter 15: Dark mansion (Part 2)

After I get out of the room. I decided to wander around the mansion and to find the exit. I tried to use my detection skill but it’s no use.

This mansion feels really weird. It feels like the rooms are changing location and there is no right path to follow.

“It’s no use at all... This must be one of the magical areas I read about in Koyuki’s library before. This place is more like a dungeon that I need to conquer. According to the book. There is a boss monster in every dungeon who needed to be defeated to get out."

That means I need to search for that boss monster.

I wanted to stay optimistic about things, but remembering the happening in Witchport city.  Think I’m still lacking in experience in battle.

My battle with the Minotaur is my first real battle. The boss monster in this dungeon must be in the same power as Minotaur or more.

That kinda put chill on my spine. I don’t want to overthink it. But still, this is frightening.

"What is this place? It's really dark… This dangerous feeling.”

Using my detection ability. I sensed multiple evil presences of enemies behind the door right next to me. They seemed to be waiting for an assault.

That's too bad for them because I'm gonna be the one who will make the first move.

Wind magic: Wind blade!

I cut the door open with my sword. Blow of heavy gust was created blasting the monsters. Turning my glance to the monsters. I find out that they are all low leveled kobold monsters.

But what surprised me is what hiding the monsters. Behind the monsters, little kids are crying in fear.

Seems like this mansion is kidnapping kids. I need to save them.

I kick the ground and dash toward the kobolds. I swing my sword targeting their neck. After successfully cutting their heads. Their body then disappeared in black smoke.

I then turned my glance to the captured kids and said:

“Don’t worry, I save all of you.”

"Thank you, big sister."

"Thank you for saving us."

The kids said as they give me a tight hug. They look so frightened and some are shedding tears already.

How cruel the world can be? Kids are supposed to be smiling a playing. Without worrying too much about reality.

"Don't worry you're saved now… All we need to do is search for an exit. Don't cry big sister Laura will find a way."

I said to cheer up their sad expression.

They started to make gleaming smiles and believe in my words. After that, I and the kids started traveling together in the mansion. It’s risky It’s about five of them with me. I need to stay alert.

I have to do my best and protect them with all that I have.

There are so many monster low-level monsters in this mansion. Thanks to Koyuki-san teaching, I'm able to defeat them easily.

"Big sister Laura Big sister Laura."

"What is it?"

"Rin and I are tired."

Now she said it, I notice that the five kids seemed to be exhausted and chasing their breaths.

I got a large amount of stamina because of my training before so running for 3 hours straight is nothing to me, but it seemed that I miscalculate things.

"Big sister Laura let's rest in that room."

I accept their request and rest with them in the empty room.

One of the little kid's stomachs started to make a growling sound.

"My tummy... It's embarrassing."

The little girl's face started to become red as a tomato and cover her face with her hand.

Her reaction is so cute for some reason.

"I remember, I got a food stock in y bag... just wait for a second... Where is it? It's nothing fancy but I guess you can all share some of these sweets."

I get the donuts I bought in the city before leaving and presented it to them with a smile.

"Big sister Laura we don't want to eat that, we want to eat you..."

The kids stood up and look at me with a terrifying gaze. Their eyes turn red and their teeth became sharper.

The kids that I save earlier morph into monsters. Using their sharp finger they charge toward me as fast as they can.

I immediately pulled my sword and make a distance with them using the Air force.

“Ther suppose to be limit in how cruel the world can be?

I cut their heads with tears in my eyes. Then I notice that one of them didn’t turn into a monster. She turns her terrifying eye’s on my eyes and asked.

"Are you going to kill me?"

"You’re a human aren’t you?"

The girl nodded. She nearly wet herself and trembling in fear.

I think it’s a normal reaction given that I killed kids in front of her. Judging her presence she is indeed a human, but why is she with the monsters. That’s something that confused my mind.

"Sorry I nearly killed you…"

The little girl said.

"That's true… I guess, you just do it for some reason right… There must be a story behind it… Would you mind telling me the whole story?"

I get the sweets in my bag and give them to the little girl.

"... Here you're hungry right?"

She was hesitant at first and look downcasted on what happened. I smiled and give her the donut. Her stomach keeps on growling. Making her feel more embarrassed. She took the donut gently from my hand and took a bite.

The moment she took a bite. Tears slide from her eyes toward her cheeks.

"S-So sweet… So sweet… Sob… Sob… I’m So-Sowwy I’m Sowwy.”

Looks like she felt really guilty about what she did.

I know that feeling. I did stupid things before like her. The saying all kids are a fool is right. I understand her feeling.

"Stop crying already, I feel like I'm the one who makes you cry."

While resting the little girl told me her story and how she ended up inside the mansion.

…

"I see, so the hands dragged you to this mansion as well and the monster threat you to help them find more victim."

"... Yes, that's what happened… They also told me that they will let me go out in this mansion..."

"Then how about the other kids you mention earlier."

She started to look depressed and hug her knees.

"They....... They got eaten by the monsters because of me.”

She replied.

That’s indeed horrible, but she is quite desperate to get out of this place. Other kids are fallen victims and now she is blaming herself for what’s happening.

“Don’t worry about it… You’re not evil. The one whose evil is those monsters who threaten you. Everyone wanted to live that’s given. You’re just pushed into a corner.”

She wipes her tears with her hand and looks at me.

"I'm not introducing myself to you yet, my name is Koyome."

"Then I will call you Koyome-chan."

"I prepared Koyome… feel like I'm a little girl if you add -chan to my name."

But you're still a little girl.

Never mind that. I just make a new friend.

The Koyome and I continue walking around the mansion and notice a significant change in the route where following.

"Big sister Laura, we already passed on this room earlier right?"

"Room 230, Yup this is the room where we rest earlier. What's happening here? Okay, let's go in another direction."

We then go the opposite way and find ourselves back in room 230.

"What's happening here? I'm started to be confused. This place is really a magical place. Finding a way out is very hard."

I said and scratch my head.

"Big sister Laura is good at fighting but she's an idiot."

"Hey, I'm not an idiot!"

I heard footsteps behind me and notice a pink-haired girl.

"The girl is right, you really look like an idiot… It's pretty obvious that we're being toyed inside this mansion."

The girl said.

What's with this girl? This is my first time meeting her but I feel insulted already.

"They trapped us here… I guess some monsters are already on their way to kill us."

She said and pick up a hammer on the floor.

"...This hammer is still good, I think I can use it."

What is with those eyes? She had red scarlet eye’s on her. She is a human but she exerts a dark aura that other monsters.

She's looking at the hammer with sadistic eyes and started to make a creepy grin on her face.

This girl seemed to be bad news.

I started to sense enemies dashing in our direction. Just like the pink-haired girl said.

I make my fighting stance.

Koyome hides behind my back.

"Wind skill: Wind blade!"

My wind skill defeats the upcoming enemies.

"Woah~ That's a really powerful attack of yours."

The pink-haired girl complimented me.

A giant monster is about to attack the pink-haired girl behind her, but the girl seemed to know what she's doing and immediately reacted.

Using her hammer she smashes the head of the monster squashing it to a pulp.

She's using her mana to power up the hammer?

It's just like using a skill.

The pink-haired girl started to fight the monsters with a creepy smile on her face.

"Yay! There’s so much blood--!!"

She got an abnormal speed movement and odd fighting strategy.

"Big sister Laura, She feels creepy."

Koyome started to pull my sleeves with fear.

My suspicion earlier is right? This girl got issues in her head. This girl is what they called psychopaths.

"I squash it's a brain… It’s so red and looks squishy!”

"No thanks."

"Why?! It's so fun killing these dumb monsters… Hehehehehe... Smash smash smash... Hehehehehehe... Weaklings go to hell."

She's insane but she's really good at fighting. She defeats almost all the monsters that assaulted us. Just by using her hammer.

If I measure our ability I feel like she's much superior to me.

"I lost my cool there, but it's so fun... It's so fun..."

She said after killing the monsters.

Then after, her brutal way of killing monsters. The monster vanished in black smoke.

"I forgot, this is our first time meeting… My name is Yumi... Just Yumi. I prepared you calling me Yumi."

Yumi offred her hands.

Am I really going to be friends with this girl? She helped me and we’re the only humans here. We better help each other.

I then take her hand to make a handshake.

"I'm Laura and this little girl is Koyome."

"I'm not a little girl."

Said Koyome as she protested.