9 Journey 8# Abode

(A/N: I'm back, I think it's been a month? I don't remember anymore. Sorry if this chapter isn't good, there is nothing I can add to this chapter anymore)

After Akihiro fell unconscious, his body and the dead Hydra's body seemed to react to each other. Energy suddenly manifests from the dead Hydra's body and slowly moves toward Akihiro's unconscious body without Yue's notice.

Akihiro's body appears to absorb the energy. There's no resistance from Akihiro's body to reject the energy.

Meanwhile

Yue felt dizzy. She then snuggled right next to a collapsed Hajime, since Akihiro was far away from Yue and Hajime's position. Damn, Akihiro is really our third wheel, but don't worry because he will soon have his fluffy moments with someone he really can love.

(Akihiro's Dream)

We see young Akihiro take a stroll around the mansion, there only maids in the garden. Akihiro didn't smile, his expression is emotionless as if he doesn't enjoy the stroll. The maids didn't notice Akihiro since he's small enough to sneak away from the maids.

Akihiro observed the maids; some had scars on their hands because of Akihiro's parents. The maids are from poor families and never had a chance to sue Akihiro's parents. Akihiro's blue eyes become hollow; he hates his parents; he knows the truth but is powerless to do anything.

His parents only act "kind" outside, but inside, they are rotten. Akihiro always wondered if they were his real parents or if they adopted him.

But he doesn't care since he's promised that one day, he will make his parents suffer as much the pain they caused to other people.

(Dream End)

Akihiro jolted awake, covered with cold sweats. A scowl appears on Akihiro's face; he's rarely angry, the dream reminds him of his past, the powerless child who can't do anything.

Don't get him wrong; he doesn't have a hero complex, but he isn't heartless either. The maids had taken care of Akihiro more than his parents had, and he was grateful, but when he saw how much they were suffering, he became enraged.

Inhale and exhale to calm himself down. He then observed the place where he was sleeping. The room was tidy, and he looked outside the window to see a beautiful view.

He stretched his arms as he yawned. He felt a little sleepy, but that didn't matter. He doesn't feel muscle soreness from forcing his body to continuously fight because his regeneration skill is always there to help.

Akihiro: "Now where am I? Surely I'm not dead yet. "

Akihiro got off of the cozy bed to investigate the place he's in right now, but before that, he needed clothes since he was naked.

He searched the wardrobe for clothes that suited him. He found suitable clothes in it: black shirts and pants in the medieval style.

Akihiro smiles and goes out to find Hajime and Yue. Akihiro finds out that he's in a mansion, so he takes a stroll for a moment. He forgets that he needs to find Hajime and Yue but lets Akihiro enjoy himself.

He found himself outside. There was a hole in this huge place, and a sculpture of a lion was enshrined in deep water there. Next to the sculpture was a magic formation. When he poured magic into the formation, warm water jumped out of the lion's open mouth. The lion seemed to be able to arrange water from anywhere in the world.

Akihiro: "A bath? Don't mind if I do. "

He takes off his clothes. He felt relaxed when he entered the water. It felt like his burdens had been taken off of his body.

Akihiro: "This is heavenly! How long have I not taken a bath? "

He let out a breath of relief and closed his eyes.

(30 Minutes earlier)

Hajime felt his whole body being wrapped by something warm and soft. It was a very nostalgic feeling. This is the feeling of a bed. A cushion was gently catching his head and back. The softness of feathers wrapped his body. His dozing consciousness was thrown into confusion.

'What is this? This is supposed to be the dungeon…Why is a bed…' Hajime thought

He was fumbling around as his consciousness was not fully awake yet. However, he couldn't move his right hand. It was wrapped in a soft feeling that was different from the bed. His palm was also wedged into something warm and soft.

'What's this?' Hajime thought

Hajime moves his hand while he was still blank. He felt a certain elasticity between his hands and it was squishy when he touched it. Just keen on the feel somehow and it becomes a habit to keep touching…

Yue: "…Ahn.."

'!?'

For some reason, a seductive gasp could be heard. At that moment, the first visage of his consciousness came back to him.

Hajime noticed as he raised himself in panic, that he really was in a bed. The bed had a pure-white sheet and it felt luxurious and it even had a canopy. He then sees outside the window to see a beautiful view.

He was confused, just a while ago he was in a desperate struggle fighting against the Hydra in the dungeon.

'Where is this? This place…don't tell me it's the afterworld…' In this place that felt so solemn, an ominous thought crossed his mind. Hajime's thoughts were interrupted by an amorous voice next to him.

Yue: "…Hn…Hajime…Au…"

"!?"

When Hajime was confused, he turned over the sheet. While not wearing a single thread of clothing, Yue clung onto Hajime's right hand and slept completely naked. He finally noticed that even he was naked.

Hajime: "Indeed…is this the morning chirp…that's not right!"

The confused Hajime did a Tsukkomi on himself for his stupid thoughts. Yue started to wake up a little.

Hajime: "Yue, wake up. Yue."

Yue: "Hn~…"

When he tried to wake her up, she curled up and shook her head to fret. His right hands were between Yue's thighs and it was approaching a dangerous place.

Hajime: "Ku…Don't tell me this is really the afterworld…is it Heaven?"

Hajime he was saying those stupid things, he tried to free his right hand, but everytime…

Yue: "…Hn…Hn…"

Yue panted seductively.

Hajime: "Ku, calm down me. No matter how old she is, her appearance is still of a child. Impossible for me to get excited! I am absolutely not a lolicon!"

Hajime tried to persuade himself of this, while his expression was on the brink of looking like a pervert. He gave up trying to free his right hand, and instead tried to wake up the cause but no luck.

Gradually, he started to get irritated. Hajime could not swallow the situation and confusion, and he had a blue vein popping out on his forehead at her leisurely sleeping there.

His irritation culminated…

Hajime: "That's enough, get up! This natural erotic vampire princess!"

He invoked his [Lightning Clad]. Electric discharge started to gather in his right hand.

Yue: "!? Ababababababa"

Yue was shocked by the discharge. She released Hajime's arm and finally opened her eyes, while she twitched a little.

Yue: "…Hajime?"

Hajime: "Yeah. It's Hajime-san. Sleepyhead, wake up…"

Yue: "Hajime!"

She woke up and widened her eyes when she saw Hajime. The next moment, she jumped towards Hajime. In the nude. Hajime trembled.

Yue buried her face into Hajime's scruff. and he noticed she was sniffing. He decided there was no helping it, and just stroke her head with a smile.

Hajime: "My bad, seems like I worried you a lot."

Yue: "Yeah…I was worried…"

It seems she didn't want to stop clinging for a while. He let her do it until she was satisfied because she did take care of him. Hajime continued to stroke her head gently.

When Yue calmed down after a few minutes, Hajime asked about what happened. By the way, he made Yue cover herself with the sheet.

Hajime: "So, what happened since then? Where is this? Where is Aki?"

Yue: "…After that…"

She said that after the battle, she felt dizzy from her magic depletion and snuggle right next to the collapsed Hajime. Then the double doors in the room automatically opened. Reinforcements? Yue stayed vigilant but nothing ever came. When she started to recover bit by bit, she decided to enter the door.

The sacred water was healing Hajime little by little. Still, he was in a dangerous state with all his serious injuries. His tough body had escaped death, but she didn't know when the sacred water would lose to the poison. Akihiro doesn't need sacred water as his body injuries are already healed with his High-Speed Regeneration. The three of them would be finished if a new monster appeared. Therefore, she had to check it out.

And in the depths of the door,

Yue: "…Abode of the Traitors."

Inside was a vast space with a good-looking mansion. Then, she confirmed it wasn't dangerous. Yue confirmed there was a bedroom in the mansion and took unconscious Hajime to it but since the bed isn't fit enough for three people, Yue took unconscious Akihiro to another bedroom. Yue nurse Hajime and Akihiro. Recently, God's Crystal extract was decreasing considerably. Hajime had kept drinking the sacred water.

(A/N: To be honest, I really don't know how long Yue nurse Hajime in the LN since the author never mention how long Hajime stay unconscious but let's just say Akihiro and Hajime stay unconscious for 1 day)

The sacred water finally beat out the toxins, and it was able to display its usual restorative prowess. Yue became exhausted eventually.

Hajime: "…I see, you took care of me and Aki. Thanks, Yue."

Yue: "Hn!"

Yue's eyes brighten up joyfully from the bottom of her heart. She was expressionless but her eyes said all.

* * *

Hajime and Yue finally dress up. They exit the room and try to find Akihiro, who's gone from his room.

However, it's not a problem as Hajime and Yue immediately found Aki.

Akihiro's POV:

I believe it's been a few minutes since I bathed...At this rate, I'm going to be sleepy, but it feels so good that I'm going to be lazy.

Getting out of the bath, I put on my clothes.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps. I was alerted by my senses.

Creak

The door is opening and I point my finger in the direction as I prepare to kill someone. If it's someone suspicious, then I won't hesitate to kill them with my [Sonic Bullet].

Hajime: "Aki?"

I blinked, I dash at Hajime. Not to hug him but something else.

Akihiro: "Hajimeeeee!"

I punched Hajime's face, caught him off guard, and landed on his butt. I then saw Yue, who was surprised to see me punching Hajime.

Hajime: "What the hell are you doing, idiot?"

I smirk. It's amusing to see Hajime's angry face.

Akihiro: "Payback, fucker!"

A vein appears on Hajime's forehead. I start running as Hajime chases me.

Hajime: "Stop running, idiot!"

Giving the middle finger to Hajime, I didn't stop running.

Akihiro: "Make me!"

I saw Yue smiling. I laughed as I kept running.

-To Be Continued

Sorry if the chapter is short, I don't really have the motivation to make 2000-3000 words chapter today.