Side Story : A Glass of Honey [II]

At the age of madness in a time of sadness, an immortal soldier find his home.

He was there, falling apart, and keep believing.

But when will he find solace?

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In a humble restaurant nestled in what was once known as Japan, four individuals found themselves gathered, each preoccupied with their own concerns.

Among them was an elderly man, whose demeanor radiated vitality despite the advancing years, as if he were a newly forged spirit inhabiting an aging vessel. He listened intently to the stories being shared, but his hands never ceasing their meticulous work.

"So, let me rephrase it again. You coincidentally encountered their convoy on your way back from here and immediately ambushed them? Without considering their numbers, the timing, or the location... you just followed your instincts. Is that correct?"

"Ehehehe... you're making me blush with that phrasing."「Shishiro Botan」

"Then blush where I can't see it. Children's lives aren't something to be taken lightly! Who do you think will take care of them if you end up dead here?"

Next to him sat a young woman with feline ears and tails, with her fur the color of silver ashes. Her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm as she shared her tales with her attentive audience.

"Well, there's pops~ Ouch?!!" Shishiro Botan exclaimed, interrupted by a sudden fist on her head.

As for the children they're talking, those two are currently resting on a nearby couch.

The female twins lay curled up in each other's arms, emitting a heartwarming aura of innocence for any onlookers. Their serene faces, basking in the comfort of sleep, reflect the effects of the basic treatments administered to prolong their fragile lives just a little longer.

"That's hurt! How could you treat your patient so harsh with your fist? What kind of hospital is this!?"「Shishiro Botan」

"...This is a restaurant."

"Ehh... Then can I place an order? I think I spilled my ramen somewhere, SO! Can I get a refund-" she began, only to be interrupted by a sudden tap on her head.

"And no refunds for takeout."

The Lioness continued to received her treatment, while sometimes received "fist of love" from the old man due to her own remarks.

Meanwhile just outside the door, distancing itself from the warm and friendly atmosphere within, there's a small green snake coiling gracefully.

"Are you absolutely certain the Lion girl entered this establishment?"

"Yes, sir! She was badly injured, and I'm positive the goods she stole are with her."

"Have you checked her vehicle?"

"There's nothing in it, sir. There's only one place it could be."

"Very well, let's search every nook and cranny. We must locate that merchandise."

Its piercing gaze remained fixed on the scene unfolding outside the entrance of the modest restaurant, where a group of suspiciously attired individuals began to gather, silently and soundlessly.

Despite their sheer numbers which could have easily formed a formidable football team, their presence was remarkably thin, blending seamlessly into the darkness surrounding them.

Furthermore, although they were numerous akin to a swarm of bugs or a gathering of small fry, they're not lacking in weaponry or skill either.

Firearms were a rarity in that desolate world, and the fact that each person possessed one or two suggested they're likely not just an ordinary gang but perhaps a specialized group.

That's what the serpent thought as it observed the suspicious group.

"We couldn't finish her off before, but we need to do it perfectly now. And don't forget to loot anything that can be useful afterward."

"If the captain finds out, he might just give you a good beating for sure."

However, the reason why the serpent deemed them sufficiently skilled wasn't solely because of that.

In the realm where the sun fades, The Abyss Dragon reigns with sinister laughter. None dare to walk with heads held high when night descends, for fear that The Abyss Dragon's gaze may be upon them.

This is why the denizens of this world perceive those who venture out at night as either crazy or extraordinarily daring.

"Sniper one, report your status."

And it appears they are daredevil ones.

["I saw two heads, one is our target and another is... an old man around fifty, he's a normal Asian I think. Which one should I take first?"]

"We don't need anyone besides our target. Take him out as soon as we breach. Four on the left, keep watch for any means of escape. The rest, follow me for the breach. Remember, your lives come seconds because our objective is solely to retrieve the stolen 'goods'."

"Roger."

One by one, they prepared themselves, moving in unison as they approached the entrance.

A staff ignited, its flames casting an ethereal glow that seemed to defy the natural order of their world. On the other side, a gun and sword shimmered with energy, reflecting the same otherworldly aura as the staff.

"We have a clear ten-minute window before Abyss encroachment, sir."

"Good. Let's wrap this up in seven and use the remaining three to set this place ablaze."

For most ordinary observers, the scene may have appeared akin to sorcery, and indeed it was, but to those well-versed in its ways, the phenomenon held no mystery.

The objects they wielded were known as Relics - items that appeared in their world when the Dragons revealed themselves. Each Relic possessed unique abilities, their true potential known only to those who wielded them.

Most often, humans in possession of such power wielded it in battles against the dragons or any other threats accompanying them.

However, it was not uncommon for some to turn these abilities against fellow humans. In fact, such individuals were plentiful and easily found with their numbers considerably higher.

"We'll commence our raid in my count. But before that get someone to dispose of that snake! I fucking hates reptiles."

"Yes, sir."

In a world where madness and chaos reigns, both on the surface and beneath the earth, its inhabitants have few options but to resort to the laws or methods that best facilitate their survival.

Whether it's survival of the fittest,

Grouping up and rallying under the same banner,

Or adapting and improvising with their own way of life.

"Hey what are you doing!? Didn't I just say to get rid of that snake!"

Among the various survival options, there's a high likelihood that this group is comprised of individuals united under a common banner, making them the second type.

This assumption arises because when an unfortunate man approaches the snake, the serpent notices a symbol affixed to his attire.

The snake itself is indifferent to the symbol, but anticipating that the elderly man might think otherwise, it tears off the emblem and discards the "remnants" as a precautionary measure.

"...Shit."

And from there, a bloody hue enveloped everything as the darkness of night cast its veil over all.

...

....

.....

Meanwhile, amidst the silent bloodbath unfolding outside the shop, the scene shifted back inside where Shishiro Botan found herself receiving care for the wounds she had sustained. Upon simple examination, it became evident that the lioness had suffered some very serious injuries.

Many bullets were lodged within her body, and her blood loss had reached a dangerously critical level. If she were a normal human, she wouldn't have had much chance of survival.

However, thanks to her endurance and perhaps a miracle upon arriving at that modest restaurant, she still had a chance to see another day, and perhaps another bowl of ramen for her to savor.

"Pops, have you heard of this Trope of Regust? Hehe, as expected of Pops who owns a quiet restaurant. Shouldn't you consider transitioning into the intelligence business instead of running a restau— W-What do you know about them?" Shishiro Botan asked, her laughter slightly interrupted by a sudden pain in her stomach.

"...Kidnappings and sacrifices, slavery, and their terror were heard quite frequently back then. It could be said you're very lucky to be alive after encountering them and not becoming one of their commodities. Despite their misguided way of life, their group is large and quite powerful after all."

"There're such groups in the Japan region? Aren't they pretty dangerous to be left alone?"「Shishiro Botan」

The sound of falling lead, clinking against the silver plates, often filled the gaps in their conversation. She was practically a human cheese at this moment, riddled with dozens of bullets embedded in her body, yet she persisted in conversing with the old man.

For a dying patient who chattered away was better than a silent one who was already dead.

"Of course, others didn't stand idly by and watch their wrongdoing. Groups from Academia, Justice Union, and even the United Nations... they practically crushed them and eradicated their existence."

"Oooh... so from then on, they acted as if they had vanished from the earth. However, the fact is that the remaining members continued the organization... am I correct?" Shishiro Botan turned her head towards the old man, who nodded in affirmation.

This left her with a slight headache. Despite being quite renowned and knowledgeable about the world of exploration in that ruined world, she wasn't well-versed in matters of organizations and the like.

True to her free-spirited nature, the Lioness still enjoyed traveling to many places at her own free will. Hence, she sometimes seemed oblivious to things that didn't interest her.

"Hopefully, this won't come back to haunt me later. But you know... I couldn't just walk away and leave when I heard one of those kids asking for help, right? They practically cried out to me with snot on their face." Shishiro Botan chuckled.

"Hah... I suppose you couldn't. Still, I can't quite praise your actions. Who knows what kind of secrets they were keeping regarding these twins. And if they are indeed valuable, they might still be trying to chase you down to this night."

This time, it was the old man's turn to feel a headache as he watched the Lioness leap from one problem to another. First, it was the dragon egg, and now it was getting involved with a dark organization.

The old man sighed as he replaced his second bloodied tool, while Shishiro Botan herself laughed at the old man's expression.

"Hmm, now that I think about troubles, how is the egg doing?"「Shishiro Botan」

"Still dead."

"Uhh, dead is good I think... thankfully those two didn't," Shishiro Botan remarked, glancing towards the twins who still had their eyes closed.

"Sigh... yeah, thankfully."

With each bullet removed and placed on the metal plate, the Lioness furrowed her brows even more. Especially whenever she could feel something sharp and pointed pierced her skin over and over.

Despite displaying signs of satisfaction as the foreign objects were extracted from her skin, it was evident she wasn't particularly fond of being treated such way.

"O-Ouchhy... you also know how to stitch wounds? Just what did you do before being stuck in here?" Shishiro Botan winced.

Fortunately for the Lioness, the treatment administered by the old man seemed quite effective.

Upon shifting her sight slightly on her abdomen, she could observe the neatly stitched wounds on some parts of her body. The precision resembled the handiwork of a skilled seamstress which somehow surprised her, even too skilled as a matter of fact.

"Just doing some stuff. There, it should be done as long as you don't move too much. I'll let you use one of the employee rest areas for now, you can take a brief rest there. I'm going to check outside and bring your car into my garage, so pass me the key."

With effort, he rose from his seat and retrieved an antique firearm, a relic of times long past, before making his way towards the entrance of the shop with the key in question having been handed by the lioness.

Passing him her key, she also made sure to remind him not to let her car get scratched, while inquiring about something that caused the old man to furrow his brow further and further.

"So... pops, does that mean all the services in this restaurant are free for me?" Shishiro Botan asked cheerfully.

"...If you're still alive tomorrow, we'll talk about it."

"Then I'll be using your shower as well! You have hot water running, right?"「Shishiro Botan」

The old man looked at the Lioness with evident skepticism.

How could someone who had just been stitched up and bandaged now be thinking about taking a shower? He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if those stitches got wet and infected.

Nevertheless, as he cautiously gripped the door knob to unlock it, he gestured towards the bathroom within the restaurant.

"Don't use the shampoo in black container," he warned.

"Y-You even have shampoo?! U-Uhh yeah, I mean! No way I'm going to use that, a-ahaha!" Shishiro Botan chuckled nervously.

Observing the Lioness's curiosity, from this point on he became more concerned about the fate of his restaurant which would soon be converted into lodging, rather than the higher chance of encountering one of the dragons outside.

Without further ado, a faint flicker of his flashlight could be seen for the last time as the door closed behind him. The old man ventured out into the enveloping darkness, armed with nothing but an ancient firearm and a small flashlight in his grip.

Unaware of the fleeting expression of regret that briefly crossed the lioness' face, which soon got replaced as she remembered something important regarding the twins.

"How about you two? Fancy a bath first or maybe... some food?"「Shishiro Botan」

Like a lioness yawning on her throne, she soon heard a rumble akin to a lion's roar emanating from her stomach. It was uncertain when she had last eaten a decent meal, as her ramen order had become one with the earth.

However, what made her behavior truly intriguing was not only the growl of hunger she emitted but also the unexpected tenderness in her call for the twins to wake up.

It was as if Shishiro Botan had sensed that the twin girls were already awake.

This revelation came as a shock, as the twins had nonchalantly pushed away the blanket, revealing that their supposed slumber was nothing more than a cleverly orchestrated act.

"Then, which one the big sis and which one is the little sis?"「Shishiro Botan」

"I'm the big sis... Fuwawa."

Seated to the left was a girl, appearing to be around twelve years old.

Her long blonde hair fashioned into playful pigtails, accentuated with streaks of light blue. Her eyes shimmered with a mesmerizing blend of bright pink hues, as she displayed a nameplate hanging from her neck.

"I'm the youngest... Mococo."

"Moco-chan, your name plate."「Fuwawa」

"Oh..."「Mococo」

Meanwhile seated on the right, the girl who had been holding her sister's hand all along was none other than the other twin. She had a short blonde hair with streaks of pink, along with eyes of similar blue hues to her big sister's hair.

Appearances of the twins were quite similar indeed.

They're adorned in nothing more than a simple, dirt-stained white garment, each wearing a choker with a nameplate dangling from their necks. These were the same clothes they had been rescued in, and they still clung to them since their liberation from the cage.

In addition to their worn attire, the twins displayed unmistakable traits of the animal kingdom, with pointed animal ears atop their heads and a swaying tail protruding from their bodies, similar to the Lioness.

"So Fuwawa and Mococo. You two remember me?"「Shishiro Botan」

The twins nodded, indicating that they still remembered the Lioness as the one who had once rescued them from their cage. However, observing how the girls maintained a distance, it seemed they still harbored suspicions toward Shishiro Botan.

This sentiment was keenly felt by the Lioness herself.

"Now hear me well, the owner of this place is a very good person and he had also heard some part of you story. He's also the one who've healed and treated both of our wounds. So I'm asking you two to lower your suspicions alright?"「Shishiro Botan」

Awkwardly, they both nodded in response.

"I don't know what kind of bad guys you two have met, but he's not one of them. So, don't judge him until you've seen more of him. And remember, I'm the one who rescued you two from those bad guys, you know?" Shishiro Botan asserted.

Embedded within her words was a sense of authority, coming from a woman who was older and more experienced than the twins. She was a seasoned explorer who had survived countless challenges in the ruined world.

Though her firmness might have initially intimidated the twin girls, Fuwawa and Mococo were able to grasp the meaning behind her words.

Therefore once again they nodded in agreement, albeit hurriedly.

"That's good, now then do as you will. You could take a bath, cook some food or just sleep again in that room over there. You're welcome to run away but... hey you two hear me?"「Shishiro Botan」

In her mindset, the twin girls were still not far removed from children their age. Therefore, their attention could easily be diverted by the many things around them, like the sight before her.

"Y-Yeah don't worry! We hear it fine."「Fuwawa」

"It's fine! We won't run!"「Mococo」

Perhaps it was the first time the twin girls found themselves in such a modest restaurant.

They even took the opportunity to bounce on the couch they were seated on.

Fortunately, their curiosity was quickly satisfied, leading them to inquire about the location of the bathroom from Shishiro Botan.

The voices of the twin girls were soon accompanied by the sound of water they were playing with, reaching the Lioness's ears. Hearing them playfully splashing in the water, Shishiro Botan leaned back, allowing herself to relax.

"Fheew... talking this way exhausts me. Babysitting is going to be tough for sure... was this how Pops feels when handling me?" Shishiro Botan mused aloud, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders.

Memories of her own past flashed through her mind, reminding her of the time she had spent with the old man. Unfortunately, her nostalgic moment was short-lived.

"Moco-chan, this shampoo smells really good! Let's use this on your hair!" Fuwawa's voice echoed from the bathroom, interrupting Shishiro Botan's thoughts.

From the direction of the bathroom where Fuwawa and Mococo were, a piece of news reached her ears. One that causing her hairs to stand on end.

"...You do me first, then I'll do yours."「Mococo」

"Sure! Ah- I accidentally spilled it..."「Fuwawa」

"It's fine... I'll just scoop it back up. As long as that older sister doesn't find out, it should be okay, right?"「Mococo」

"Moco-chan so smart!"「Fuwawa」

Hearing the conversation about the shampoo from both of them, Shishiro Botan, who had previously struggled to stand, suddenly found herself infused with a surge of energy from within, propelling her to rush to the bathroom.

She felt that something very threatening was unfolding inside the bathroom.

"Sigh... I should've told them..."「Shishiro Botan」

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In the dark expanse of space, beneath the suffocating veil of night, an old man strolls casually through the darkness. With only a flashlight and an old gun as his companions, he explores the aftermath of a battle that has ended without his witnessing.

"..."

The cracked asphalt which he stepped upon, the neighboring buildings leaning and broken in half, everything around his restaurant was already long far deserted and many facilities lie in ruins.

Even as the darkness limits his vision those sights have become commonplace for him in this world.

Although the nighttime atmosphere lends a different, slightly eerie ambiance to the surroundings, he had become accustomized to this loneliness.

However, upon realizing something out of the ordinary, the old man halted his steps.

"...What a mess."

In a place devoid of any living creatures besides birds and insects, the surroundings of his shop shouldn't have so many people lying on the ground in such a pitiful state.

Blood stains are scattered everywhere, and the foul, unpleasant aroma pierces his nostrils. When he shines his light towards the source of the stench on his side, he discovers more torn and mangled corpses of human scattered all over the place.

"What a troublesome way to wipe them out."

The old man continues to traverse the bloodbath without hesitation or fear, tagged with his old firearm at the ready. Passing through puddle of red and evading chunk of flesh seemed to be an easy task for him.

With only the sound of his footsteps and not a single insect in sight, the old man's instincts grow increasingly alert.

He keeps a vigilant eye on the piles of corpses he passes at every opportunity, and then he found a surprise.

"...H-Help... please..."

"A survivor?"

When passing a pile of bodies at one point, the old man is startled to hear a plea for help from someone who has survived amidst the carnage.

The old man is taken aback, for upon closer inspection, he sees a young boy seemingly hiding within the heap of corpses.

"Did you hide yourself beneath them?"

"Y-Yeah... please help me, there's this scary creature roaming around! It suddenly turned huge and it might be even stronger than those dragons! No relics we use could affect it, that colossal long dragon completely decimated my friends! Please... PLEASE HELP ME!"

With pleading eyes, the survivor reaches and urged for the old man to help him. As he struggles to emerge from beneath the pile of bodies, the young man continues to gaze at the old man with hope.

After all, the fear he just expressed is indeed true and genuine.

The young man is clearly terrified and may have experienced trauma from the event a few minutes ago. Thereby why the appearances of someone still alive and kicking is an amazing sight for him.

"...We, we're in the middle of crossing this path! Suddenly we got attacked by a lone bandit and when we chose to follow her then we met a snake, only to find out if that snake is a monster! Y-Yeah that bandit! She's hiding in that place! If you help me then I can help you too!"

"How so?"

"I am a member of a renowned organization! We have many branches and influence all over the world, even if you've never heard our name please believe me! When I tell my boss about you, you'll surely be rewarded! Help me, and I'll make sure to repay you- eh?"

BANG

"...You bastard... old man bastaaard..."

Unfortunately, as the man continues to speak and believe he will be saved, his head was met with the barrel of an antique firearm instead.

Without hesitation the old man pulls the trigger, delivering a precise shot directly between the eyes of the lone survivor.

Turning that survivor to be one with the corpses he used to hide.

The sound of the gunpowder explosion and the flintlock echoes like a cannon being fired into the shallow water. Realizing the disturbance he has caused, the old man proceeds to clean his firearm and reload the cartridge.

"You don't need to, I was just about to kill him."

It was at that moment the snake slowly emerges beside the old man, gazing at him as he continues to tend to his weapon. 

"...But I already did."

"Yeah, you soil your hand again for something useless. She'll be upset hearing this news."

"Then don't tell her."

Feeling finished with his business, the old man gestures for the snake to accompany him.

However, before they both leave the scene, the old man picks up an emblem lying on the bloody ground. It's made of copper and shaped like a hexagon, with the symbol of two eyes and a crescent moon in the center.

It is none other than the mark of the organization known as The Trope of Regust which he knew well.

With the emblem in hand, the old man and the snake depart from the gruesome scene.

"They never learn don't they? Do you want to strike them first?"

"...I don't care what those monkey are playing. Status about the champions?"

"Few moments ago I feel their presence in Southern seas, but then got into a little fight with Abyss Dragon. I think they've pretreated themselves and going to try another approach."

Carefully preserving the evidence he could use, the old man proceeds to search for Shishiro Botan's car without uttering another word. Meanwhile the snake follows him without a sound.

Upon arriving at the designated location, the old man sets out to find the vehicle he had previously encountered.

However for some reason, the car he is looking for now lies in ruins, reduced to a mere heap of scrap metal.

"Sorry, I did that... just about half of it though."

"Then you should pay for it, brace yourself."

"It's not fully mine fault!?"

"Then you'll do half of it, that should do."

To serve as evidence, the old man proceeds to retrieve several damaged parts and interior components from the off-road vehicle. He handles them with the same care as he did with the emblem he had previously saved.

But it seems that the snake is still unable to accept the verdict handed down by the old man.

Hissing frequently with its tongue, the snake continues to sound like someone muttering behind another person's back.

"Yjor, just say something you want to say."

"...It's not entirely my fault, then why should I even take care of it. You humans and your moral responsibilities are so incongruent with me!" the snake retorts.

"...Indeed, being a human holding onto his morals is tiring sometimes. But it can be kind of fun if you look at it from another perspective."

"Who cares about what's fun? I still disagree with the punishment I have to endure," the snake stubbornly declares.

And just like that, his short nightwalk comes to an end and he finally returns to the restaurant with the snake, who now must accept the punishment from the old man.

What kind of punishment Yjor the snake must endure remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure: the snake will not like it.

...

....

.....

Shortly after their backstage dealings were done, they returned to the modest restaurant filled with light and warmth, a stark contrast to the world outside.

"How about you, pops? Nothing happened out there? I kind of smelled blood on your clothes."「Shishiro Botan」

"It's not mine. More importantly, we need to do something about your blood loss."

He had just divulged a few necessary details to Shishiro Botan and now examined the Lioness's condition, conveying some bad news and some good news he had acquired.

Meanwhile, the Lioness herself discussed several events that occurred after the old man left.

"...Don't worry, as long as the twins are happy with the Shampoo Fair, I don't think it needs to be a concern. But still, I'll be taking my payment from your pocket later."

"Pay?! Uhh... it's not going to cost my arm and leg, right?"「Shishiro Botan」

"It won't cost that much. So where are these Fuwawa and Mococo twins?"

Upon hearing the old man's words, Shishiro Botan glanced towards where the twins should be.

There, they were spotted peeking and eavesdropping on the conversation from behind a makeshift hiding spot they've crafted upon meticulous effort and work, the result from their intelligence, which is none other than the "counter table."

"Hide Moco-chan, don't get into his line of sight!"「Fuwawa」

"That's easy! I'm completely out of sight."「Mococo」

Unlike the Lioness who found herself rubbing her own temples at the thought of dealing with the antics of the twin girls all by herself, the old man seemed quite amused by their childlike behavior.

"As you can see, they're a bit... airheaded," Shishiro Botan remarked with a chuckle.

"...Master Lioness, have you ever wondered about working as a Livestreamer and singing like an idol?"

He even unexpectedly asked a question that seemed out of place in their current situation, prompting the Lioness to wonder if something had gone awry with him.

"Haha, I guess that's a weird thing to ask. I'm sorry. Actually, I also brought someone I'd like to introduce. I just met them outside, and they might have been waiting for my call."

"Well, that's your guest, right? Then don't let me hold you," Shishiro Botan replied, dismissing her doubts. However despite letting go of her skepticism, the Lioness would still remember his words.

Calling out towards the entrance, soon enough someone entered from outside.

Someone clad in a dark robe. The fabric billowing slightly as they moved, with their boots leaving muddy prints on the floor.

Judging by their height, that person stood around waist-high compared to the old man, indicating they weren't particularly large in stature. Similar size to teenagers like Fuwawa and Mococo.

However, when the Lioness caught sight of the symbol adorning the sleeve of the cloak, her hair stood on end. She had seen that symbol once before, and from her first encounter alone, she had faced more bullets than most people encounter in a lifetime.

"Introduce yourself now, and be friendly, alright?"

The figure remained silent.

With all the hostility directed towards them, the cloaked figure seemed displeased.

They weren't particularly keen on speaking or obeying the old man's commands, but what choice did they have? Punishment was punishment, and they had to endure it.

"Name is Yjor, ex-member from Trope of Regust." (Yjor)

And as soon as she unveiled her hood, there stood a sight of a young girl with a fair, scaly face, who gazed at them with eyes as bright as peaches.

Her dark and long greenish hair looked slightly ominous, especially when it twirled around a small horn protruding from her head.

"...I'm not here to make enemies, so don't make me your enemy either." (Yjor)