The Girl and the Plunderer (1)
The Girl and the Plunderer (1)
Munch, munch.
I was chewing jerky while flying toward Palesso, the central city of Killing World. Though I'd flown nonstop for what felt like eight hours, I hadn't even covered half the distance yet.
"Huuuaaah~."
The scenery had seemed novel and beautiful when I first ascended, but endlessly repeating forests, deserts, and grasslands quickly grew monotonous.
My only entertainment was spotting monster hordes fighting each other and watching until their battles concluded.
"Where are all the hot-blooded fighters?"
While scanning the ground, I spotted an unfamiliar structure - an enormous labyrinth. Its walls stood five meters high with an open ceiling revealing the sky.
"Wow~, what is all this?"
Observing closely from above, I saw its complex vascular-like structure winding intricately. Lost monsters roamed throughout the maze. Any ordinary person trapped here would struggle to escape alive.
"Hm?"
While admiring the labyrinth's details, something glinting caught my eye. Zooming in through X revealed moonlight reflecting off a hairpin. Its owner was a petite girl under 150cm tall, tear-and-snot-covered as she desperately ran to escape.
"Why is a child here?"
I descended before her. By my past life's standards, she looked freshly enrolled in elementary school. Upon seeing me, she immediately wailed and clung to me.
"Waaahhh!! Save me!"
"Calm down! It's okay!"
"Waaaaaaaah----!!"
The koala-like child clung tighter and cried louder, her pent-up tears bursting forth upon finding safety. Patting her back, I carried her skyward and exited the maze.
After setting her down in nearby grasslands, I kept soothing her until she calmed. Lowering my Face Guard, I showed my face and asked gently:
"Little one, what's your name? Where's home?"
"..."
She only sniffled, unwilling to answer.
Haa... this elementary brat...
Even in my past life, handling people was hard - elementary kids doubly so.
Though tempted to abandon her, she was too young. Swallowing my irritation, I pulled a red apple from Inventory. Before leaving Woven, I'd extorted Gelder from Miranda to stockpile ample provisions.
The girl's eyes sparkled as she snatched and devoured the apple instantly.
"Tasty~?"
"...Yeah."
Her blasé tone made me want to thump her head, but that'd ruin communication. Producing another apple, I hid it when she reached.
"Answer big sister's questions, and you'll get it."
Recalling my past life, I mimicked the smile of an idol resembling my current body. Having adored her, I vividly remembered her angelic purity.
The girl stared blankly before complaining:
"Big sister looks stupid."
You... you little...!!
I show kindness, and she gets cocky. Should I just ditch her?
As I leaned toward leaving, she stepped closer and examined my face. Then she declared innocently:
"But you're pretty. Pretty people are nice, right?"
"Eh? Yeah... sure."
Children naturally follow attractive people. My current appearance matches my past life's top idol. Most people would be captivated.
"So~, what's our friend's name?"
"Reni."
"Good girl. Where's home~?"
"Firenti Village."
Apparently liking my face, Reni answered clearly. X's search showed Firenti wasn't far.
"Want me to take you home, Reni?"
"Yes! Wanna go home now!"
"We'll fly up high. Hold tight so you don't fall, okay~? Don't be scared."
"Okay... don't let go."
Ruffling her hair, we ascended. Surprisingly, Reni enjoyed it like an amusement ride.
En route, I asked:
"Why were you trapped?"
"Um... uhh..."
Though deep in thought, Reni couldn't answer.
"Um... dunno... can't remember..."
No matter. She's safe and going home - that's enough.
Conversation ended as we reached Firenti in under three minutes thanks to X's speed.
"Where's home, Reni?"
"Hmm... gonna ask Daddy for ransom?"
Hadn't considered it... should I?
Nah. The village looks impoverished. Since I'm doing good, let's finish properly.
"Big sister's not that mean."
"Then that house."
Reni's chubby finger pointed to a dilapidated shack at the village's edge. We landed before the crumbling structure.
Reni immediately dashed from my arms inside. Soon, loud crying echoed from the house.
Maybe Santa will reward this good deed.
Wiping my nose, I turned to leave when a thin man in his 40s rushed out. Seeing me in X, he startled before relaxing slightly at my youthful face visible through the open Face Guard.
He bowed repeatedly, voice trembling:
"Th-thank you. Thank you for finding Reni."
"Adults should help children. I'll be going now."
His urgent voice stopped me:
"W-wait! Please! We can't send our savior away empty-handed. Night's fallen - stay over. We'll prepare warm food, humble as it is."
Hard to refuse after that. Having eaten only jerky all day, proper food and rest sounded good.
Reni's father anxiously awaited my answer.
"Alright, I'll stay tonight."
His face brightened with a radiant smile.
"Thank you, truly!"
He bowed deeply, leading me inside where his thin, frizzy-haired wife held a newborn. Reni clung to her mother's waist, beaming.
Reni's mother eyed me with more fear than gratitude, likely due to X.
"Ah, haha, one moment."
They seemed harmless - not likely to cause trouble with Reni and a baby present.
Behind the house, I dismounted X, now wearing leather clothes from Woven's Guardian. I adjusted my loosened front that had been nursing X.
Before storing X in Inventory, I impulsively mimicked a Pokéster protagonist from my past life:
"X! Return to Inventory!"
X vanished in bright light, occupying an Inventory slot.
"Good job, X! You're mine!"
A cold breeze blew as I struck a pose, concluding my solo performance before returning inside.
Only Reni's hollow-eyed father sat in the living room. His wife cooked in the kitchen while Reni and the baby were presumably in a bedroom.
Seeing me without the intimidating battlesuit, he relaxed and smiled:
"Where'd you leave the battlesuit?"
"Didn't want to inconvenience you, so I hid it where others won't find it."
"I see. Hot food's coming soon."
Sitting at the table, I felt his furtive glances. The mirror behind him reflected a juicy beauty - myself. A glamorous black-haired girl with a petite face and voluptuous figure.
I bit back remarks about his stolen glances, not wanting to ruin the mood since he hadn't touched me.
Let the simple man indulge his instincts. Even I found my reflection irresistibly beautiful and sensual. Any man would want to impregnate me immediately.
Maybe that's why they couldn't leave me alone.
Memories surfaced of being violated by Duran and Sras. Though humiliating, recalling it made my clitoris slightly erect.
...
Cooking took longer than expected. Watching him sneak glances silently sparked mischief.
The white tablecloth concealed my legs from his wife. Under the table, I brushed his calf with my toes. He startled, looking at me. I just smiled sweetly.