The Cost of Chaos

Amelia 누님 smacked her forehead with an utterly incredulous look on her face.

"What a fucking mess."

At the same time, she stared right at my face from across the table. She didn't say much, just fixed me with that steady gaze, but damn... this embarrassing feeling. I just felt so goddamn sorry about everything.

"Phew... actually, this works out fine. I was already stressing out from quitting booze anyway."

Sis muttered under her breath like she was talking to herself as she stood up.

"You little shit. This whole mess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is your fault, and you're just gonna sit there?"

"Heh heh... no way."

I jumped up and hurried after her out of the room.

Giena, who'd introduced herself as the deputy captain of the guard, stood in the hallway with her face drained white as a sheet.

"Ah!! Smith, you're here too!! Thank fuck!!"

"Cut the hysterics and hand over that sword on your belt."

"Pardon? Oh, right."

Giena unbuckled the sword from her waist and quickly passed it to Sis. Sis took the whole scabbard and swung it through the air a few times like it was a damn club, her expression turning subtle before she nodded slightly.

"North side, right?"

"Yes. I heard you and adventurer Siron headed to the mansion around lunchtime, but..."

"Young girls these days have no sense of moderation."

"Um... Amelia? Sorry, but could you hurry? There was no civilian damage before I got here, but..."

"You got a problem with that?"

"N-no!!"

"Use your head, girl. Use your head. I'm not your big sis—what's with all the whining? Makes me wanna corn-hole you all."

Click. Sis patted Giena's shoulder with a brutally menacing warning, and Giena's already pale face turned blue, starting to hiccup for real.

"Smith. Let's go see what kinda clusterfuck your hotshot girlfriends have stirred up."

"Yes, ma'am!!"

I left the blue-faced Giena behind and chased after Sis's back.

We left the guild, and I could tell right away from the street vibe that some real shit had gone down. The place should've been buzzing with merchants and adventurers, all chaotic energy, but it was shockingly deserted—not a soul in sight.

As Sis and I headed north, the uneasy tension thickened amid the growing racket. Guards who hadn't been visible before were yelling their heads off, scrambling to control the crowds, while some folks tried sneaking past them toward the north street.

Luckily, the guards trying to hold back the mob recognized Amelia Sis and quickly cleared a path. Thanks to that, we pushed through the gawking crowd into the north street.

BOOM—!!

The massive roar hit the second we stepped in, leaving my ears ringing instantly.

"They're making one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hell of a racket."

"Sis... you sure it's fine just strolling in like this?"

"You little shit. It's free labor—should I run too?"

"No, I mean... uh, no. You're right. Yes."

The image of Sis laying into Giena flashed in my mind, and I swallowed hard, clamping my mouth shut.

Sis eyed me for a second, then chuckled and lightly punched my chest.

"Hey. Why so scared? You think I'd actually do something to you? Relax, dumbass."

"Ahem... what? When did I say I was tense?"

"Punk. Acting all manly but scared shitless."

Sis cracked up laughing and started walking again. I scratched my head awkwardly and followed.

The closer we got to the source of the noise, the stiffer my face grew. The neatly paved street was cracked and cratered everywhere—that was standard. Shop walls, house windows, some even half-collapsed. It was everywhere.

"Fuck me. They trashed the place this bad and no civilian casualties? God must've been watching out. These crazy bitches got some insane luck."

Sis clucked her tongue in disbelief at a building that was nearly rubble.

BOOM—!!

Another ear-numbing blast, and the ground under me trembled faintly this time.

"Maybe I shouldn't have dragged you along."

Sis glanced at my frozen ass and muttered.

Honestly, I was wondering the same. But setting aside manhood or whatever, bailing as the root cause? My pride as a man wouldn't allow it. Fleeing my girls' fight out of fear? Smith, you pussy—cut your balls off now.

"I'm fine. Let's hurry."

"You sure you're not pushing it?"

"Just startled for a sec. I'm good. And no matter what, you've got my back, right Sis?"

"Well... yeah."

"So let's go."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Alright, quit shoving, you punk."

At my stubborn-ass insistence, Sis squinted one eye, sighed, and kept walking.

"...Sis."

"What? Wanna head back now?"

"Nah, it's not that... but seriously, is this okay?"

"It'll be fine."

I swallowed hard, staring at the crimson-stained walls and pavement. I'd thought the half-collapsed buildings were just overkill fighting. But seeing blood up close? This was way more serious than I'd imagined. My head spun with worry.

Just as anxiety hit peak, Sis and I ran into two soldiers standing rigid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the wrecked street.

They spotted us and bolted over like we'd tossed them a lifeline in despair.

"A-Amelia!!"

"Smith!!"

"Hurry!! P-please stop those two!!"

"At this rate, west street's gonna get hit too!! Th-that'd be real bad!!"

"Yeah!! Damage to the temple side would be total disaster!!"

The two yapped like baby birds begging for food, machine-gun style.

"Fuck off!! We can't get past with you blocking!!"

"Eek—!!"

"S-sorry..."

Sis's roar sent them scampering aside in terror—and then—

KABOOM—!!

The blast hammered my eardrums. My body lurched forward against my will. A firm yet soft pressure enveloped my face gently, debris raining down around my head.

I blinked and looked up.

"You okay?"

"Uh... yeah, seems so."

Sis held me calmly against her chest. Yeah. My face was buried in her cleavage.

She brushed debris off my head and shoulders before letting go.

Freed from her embrace, I saw the building chunks scattered on the ground that hadn't been there before. That's why she'd pulled me in—the boom was her blocking flying debris.

Thump-thump-thump— My heart pounded like mad. Without Sis, I'd have eaten that shrapnel and punched a one-way ticket to the afterlife. No joke.

Terror froze me solid, hairs standing on end.

"Hey, you two."

"Y-yes!!"

"Watch this punk here for a bit."

"Huh? Us... A-Amelia?!"

Sis left the flustered soldiers and my rigid self behind, trudging toward the booming source.

"Whores in heat have always needed a good spanking."

She muttered cryptically and vanished.

The roaring stopped shortly after she disappeared. The trembling ground settled.

I stood there awkwardly with the soldiers for a few minutes in the ruined street. Then pale-faced guards came running from Sis's direction.

They rushed past me, but one headed my way. Thankfully, a familiar face: short brown hair, plain features—the soldier Rina who'd escorted me to the guild on Kernax's orders before.

"Situation clear!! Search the buildings for any civilians who might not have evacuated!!"

"Y-yes!!"

The two beside me bolted at her command. Suddenly, just me and Rina.

She glanced nervously at me, face stiff, then spoke cautiously.

"Um... Smith?"

"Yeah?"

"Amelia said you can go back... or stay, but personally, I'd suggest heading back..."

"Something I shouldn't see?"

"N-no, not that... just, for a guy, it might be awkward... plus the captain's..."

"Yeah?"

"N-nothing. So... what'll you do?"

The cute girl ahead of me clearly wanted me gone, but no dice. I had to check on them. Only way I'd relax. If they'd taken serious injury... my heart would sink heavy. For real.

"Got it. Lead the way."

I followed Rina down the totally fucked street.

Didn't take long to reach a spot more leveled than the rest—like an empty lot, barely any trace left.

There sat Sis in a sloppy squat, looking rough as hell, with fidgety soldiers behind her.

"Over there. I got duties, so..."

Rina bowed slightly and dashed back.

I headed to Sis.

"Ah... S-Smith."

"A-ahh..."

"Captain..."

The gathered soldiers sighed and parted at my arrival. I reached Sis's side—and saw them.

Redhead and blonde facedown, half-buried in the dirt. Siron and Kernax, no doubt.

Sis playfully prodded their asses with the guild sword scabbard.

"Oh, you're here. As you see, they went overboard, but limbs are intact."

"Yeah... looks that way."

"Yep. Their bodies'll heal fine at the temple—for a price. The real issue's after."

I could only gaze pitifully at the two twitching every time Sis tapped their asses with the scabbard.

"Tch. Can't even handle post-meal exercise."

Sis clucked her tongue, dusted off, and stood.

"Hey. Bind 'em and toss in jail good."

"Yes, ma'am."

The soldiers approached warily, roping Siron and Kernax's hands and feet tight.

They lifted the bound pair super carefully. Pop-pop—their faces pulled free from the dirt.

Both bruised all over, lips split in spots. Left eyes swollen purple—pitiful as hell.

Ignoring my sympathy, the soldiers hauled them off.

"Smith."

"Yes."

"You do good massages, right? Rub 'em down when we get back."

"...Didn't you say no thanks?"

"You little shit. You clean up your girlfriends' mess, you pay the price. Complaints?"

"No. Spot on."

And so, clueless how the fight ended, I slaved away with full-body massages till Sis crashed that night.

A week after Siron and Kernax hit jail. Early morning, prepping for visitation—

Knock-knock-knock.

I paused, went to the door, and opened it.

"Who...?"

"Long time no see, little bro."

Ardella, radiant silver hair, smiled faintly at me. Swapped silver armor for black leather pants and thin white shirt, she strode right into my room.

"Uh... um..."

"Am I intruding?"

"N-no."

I checked outside—no one. Good.

"The rest are with the guards. Close the door and sit."

She plopped on my bed, patting it. I gulped, shut the door, and sat a bit away from her.

"S-so... what brings you?"

"Does a big sis need a reason to visit her little bro?"

"No. None needed. Right."

"Haha, kidding. Yeah, I came to see you, but not without reason. Here."

"...?"

I unfolded the parchment Ardella handed me. Even skimming it, cold sweat trickled down my back. I set it gently on my knee and looked at her.

Ardella still smiled faintly at me.

"Uh... why this?"

"Smith. Isn't this what your lovers did?"

Gulp. I swallowed involuntarily.

"Haha, relax. Not blaming you. Just showing that if Siron and Kernax can't cover the damages listed, they'll face heavy punishment."

"...Can they pay?"

"Hm, maybe if they had deep pockets. Otherwise, impossible."

"H-how much?"

"341 gold coins."

"Hiiieek—!!"

I dragged my hands down my face in agony.

"Hahaha, what's that hilarious reaction."

"Th-this isn't funny at all!!"

Ardella just chuckled softly, despite it happening in her city.

After a bit more giggling, she said,

"By the way, fail to pay in two days, and both get demoted to slaves for life."

"..."

The word "slaves" hardened my face. Ardella shook her head at me.

"Sigh. Meant to tease you a bit, but seeing your stiff face... not fun."

"...?"

"No lies in what I said. But Smith, accept my offer, and I can limit it to construction labor."

"R-really? I'll do it!! Whatever it is!!"

"Mm..."

"Ardella...?"

Even after I agreed blind, her face grew stiffer.

"No, forget it. Blindly accepting without hearing the offer... you really care for them."

I just nodded.

"Fine... whatever. Here's my proposal. Read it."

Ardella handed new parchment. I unfolded it hastily.

"This is..."

"Not a bad deal."

Her words left me nodding with a complicated expression. Because...

Isn't this basically telling me to hand over everything?