Chapter 14: The Realm for Warriors
Living together in the same room for teenagers of the opposite sex is not as easy unless they are blood-related, like siblings. The condition given by Galiriothoxmus was like bringing devastation to a lively world.
Both Ary and Erica were glancing at each other reluctantly after hearing this condition.
'Living together with such incredible beauty. It's like a dream that has come true. But wait, when did I have this dream in the first place?'
Ary pondered with a slightly red face. While his face was slightly red, Erica's face was bright red. She thought,
'Living together with Ary in the same room?! What if he tries to do something to me? But...'
Then she peeked at Ary, who was already lost in his thoughts, and thought,
'I don't think I would mind.'
But in the next moment,
"Alright, fine. Show us our room. I want to have some rest."
Ary stepped forward and called out while glancing at Galiriothoxmus.
"Hmm? No hesitation at all?!"
Erica was left astounded. She pondered,
'Is he really after me?!'
But something was really going on in Ary's mind. His face had a serious expression, and his eyes were emitting a serious sensation.
"Oh~ sure, sure~"
Galiriothoxmus, who had just gotten enthusiastic after seeing Ary agree with the term, gushed while clapping his palm and turned around, saying,
"This way."
However,
"Wait up!!"
"Hmm?"
"Uh?"
Both Galiriothoxmus and Ary turn toward Erica after hearing her protestations.
"What's wrong?"
Ary asked.
"I didn't agree with this. What about our school then? Also, my parents won't agree to it at all."
Erica explained her situation, which was actually a lie. After hearing her fake situation, Ary let out an, "Oh..." in response, saying that he understood her situation. However, Galiriothoxmus already had a solution to this situation.
He snapped his finger while stepping forward and convinced her,
"I have a solution to your problem."
"Hmm?"
Erica responded as she realized that she may have fallen into her own lie.
While raising his right index finger, Galiriothoxmus elucidated,
"So, Erica. If you're truly worried about your school, then I don't think you'll go to school after two weeks. Because your winter holidays are going on at the moment and so the school problem is already solved, right? If this is true for your parents, then, according to my analysis, you're living alone because your parents are abroad for their work, right? So it won't be a problem whether you live alone in your home or live here with us. Is that correct? So, anything else?"
"Ah, umm..."
Erica hesitated. She had no excuse left. She sighed and said, in a slightly uncomfortable voice,
"No, I'm fine..."
"That's good."
Galiriothoxmus exclaimed in an excited voice, then turned around and walked toward the giant tree and claimed,
"Come over here."
After hearing his call, both Ary and Erica walked there, and abruptly, a portal opened in front of the trunk of that giant tree. While showing the way toward the portal, Galiriothoxmus commented,
"Here's the way."
"Oh, okay."
Ary responded, then stepped inside the portal, and while following her, Erica also stepped in.
As they both went inside, Galiriothoxmus, with his shining oval-shaped face, showed a victorious sign with his right-handed two fingers to Lady Selene, and then he hopped inside the portal as well.
Lady Selene smiled, and while walking toward the portal, she said to herself,
"He never changes. I know he uses the same room for them on purpose. Hihihi. Let's see what will happen now."
And then she went into the portal as well.
*Swish*
"Hmm? Wow..."
With a "swish" sound, Ary jumped onto the other side of the portal and was left stunned after glimpsing the surroundings around him.
There was green grass and some earthy trees as far as the eyes could see. There were some beautiful buildings with blue-edged windows. It looked like an advanced civilization had been established there. The area was more advanced than Ary's homeland.
There were different types of figures appearing there. Some were going here and there, holding some stuff in their hands, while others were chattering with each other while sitting on the black benches. Some were shopkeepers selling their stuff.
"Wow...the surroundings here are so glamorous."
Erica, who just jumped out of the portal, claimed while looking around with an amazing expression.
"Yeah, right."
Ary confirmed.
"This is Astral Realm. The people here are all warriors summoned by other deities from many other planets."
Galiriothoxmus said as he came out of the portal.
"Hmm?"
Ary and Erica were left slightly confused after hearing this.
"Many different planets?"
Erica asked.
Ary didn't say anything since he noticed the people around him.
"Yes,"
A voice was heard from the other side of the portal, and while hopping on, Lady Selene says,
"Warriors are summoned from many different worlds, and one of the worlds is Earth too."
"Erica, look at the people."
Ary suggested.
"Hmm?"
Erica responded as her eyes shifted toward her front as she noticed the people around her. There were many different types of species living there. Many of them were demi-humans, and many were species that were unknown to even Ary and Erica.
While they were amazed at seeing the surroundings around them, a voice was heard from Ary's left.
"E-Excuse me..."
It was a soft but nervous voice.
"Hmm?"
Ary reacted as his eyes fell to his left.
There was an elf in a maid's uniform. She had shining, snow-like skin with a sexy body. She was of average height with long green hair tied in long twin tails. She had a pair of beautiful almond eyes with long eyelashes.
She was hesitant to talk and was rubbing her palms in nervousness.
'An elf?!'
Ary pondered with wide-open eyes, then he asked,
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"Hmm? Who's she?"
Erica, who was standing beside Ary, asked.
"I don't know." n-.o//V--e)-l.-b.-1/)n
Ary replied to Erica, then gazed back at that elf for her response.
"Um, I... your... um..."
She again hesitated.
"Our?"
Ary and Erica responded by twisting their eyebrows as the elf said, "your" while looking at them and again starting to hesitate.
"Hahaha. No need to hesitate, Selina. They are the good guys."
Galiriothoxmus comforted her with a little laugh.
And just by getting assured by his words, Selina's face lit up and she asked,
"Um, really?"
"Yes,"
Lady Selene confirmed, with her gentle smile.
After getting fully assured, Selina gently grabbed her skirt from her uniform and, while bending a little, she greeted them, saying,
"Nice to meet you, Warriors. My name is Selina Kitsuke. I'm your caretaker."
"Our... caretaker?" they asked, tilting their heads. "Yes,"
Selina replied in her honey-like voice.
Ary looked at Galiriothoxmus with a puzzled expression. Why would warriors like them need a caretaker? That was what his expression was saying.
"Ahem."
Galiriothoxmus coughed and clarified,
"Actually, every warrior needs someone to take care of their food, their clothes, and other stuff since they're new here. Also, you're warriors, the protectors of many realms. Isn't it obvious to you that you're getting VIP service?"
"Ah..."
Ary responded, then he glanced at Selina and pondered,
'But she looks the same as my age. Aren't caretakers supposed to be at least adults?'
Then, with a sigh, he pleaded,
"Okay. So, Selina, Please show us our room."
"Uh?"
Erica widened her eyes after hearing this.
"Ah, sure. But..."
Selina responded as she hesitated a little.
"Yes?"
Ary responded.
"Um, would you please introduce yourselves, kind Warriors?"
Selina asked with a naive expression.
"Ah, yeah."
Ary and Erica responded.
"My name is Erica Kisai. Nice to meet you."
Erica introduced herself with a smile.
"Likewise."
Selina replied with a gentle smile, then she glanced at Ary for her introduction.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Ary Inochi-"
"Ary, wait!"
Galiriothoxmus tried to stop him. However, Ary had already introduced himself.
"Hm? what?"
Ary responded as he looked at Galiriothoxmus. "Hah...you big idiot."
With a sigh, Galiriothoxmus responded while placing his right palm over his oval face, while Lady Selene showed a fake smile to Ary after seeing his stupidity.
"What?!"
Selina was left flabbergasted after hearing Ary's surname.
"I-Inochi...?"
She reacted with a flabbergasted voice.
Every other person there was left astounded after hearing "Inochi".
"Ah, I get it now."
Ary mumbled as he realized that it was his surname that had made everyone here shocked.
"Ahem, ahem."
Just like Galiriothoxmus, Ary coughed and said to Selina,
"Let's talk about this later. But first, lead us to our room, please."
"Ah, s-sure."
Selina replied then, showing her hand to their right, toward a blue portal, she commented,
"This way, please."
Then they walked toward the portal and went inside it.
And when they hopped on the other side, they saw some blockage buildings with many flats inside.
"So, this is where the Warriors reside?"
Ary asked while looking around.
"That's correct."
Selina replied while walking.
Soon, they reached the front of a door with a number plate reading "777".
With a chirping sound, the door slid open and they all entered inside.
"Is that our home?"
Erica implored with a stunning expression on her face.
"Hmm."
Galiriothoxmus, who along with Lady Selene had come, responded by nodding his head.
"If you need anything, please call my name and I'll be here to help."
Selina stated in her gentle voice, then went away.
"Hey, how can just calling her and make her appear here?"
Ary, after hearing her odd statement, asked Galiriothoxmus.
"Well, she is a caretaker. The caretakers get it instantly whenever a warrior needs anything for them."
Galiriothoxmus clarified.
"Oh."
Ary responded as he understood the concept.
"Well, Ary!"
Galiriothoxmus gushed while pushing Lady Selene outside the room and walking away with her.
"Enjoy your stay."
In an enthusiastic voice, Galiriothoxmus claimed.
The door opened again, and they both stepped outside, and before going, with a smirk, Galiriothoxmus advised,
"Don't forget to use protection, my friend. Hehehe."
*Chirp*
Then they went away.
"That pervert!!"
Ary murmured while tightening his right fist, and finally, the situation changed when they were finally alone.
"Um... Erica."
Ary said as he turned around, but his eyes got dilated as he saw the scene in front of him.
"Um, Ary. Would you mind coming here, please?"
While sitting on the bed with a bright red face, Erica asked, whole signalling to him to sit beside her.
"H-Hai!"
Ary replied in a slightly nervous voice, then stepped forward and sat beside her.
*Ta-dum* *Ta-dum* *Ta-dum*
Unconditionally his heart started beating a little faster after being in this situation.
'Why am I feeling like she is going to confess now?'
Ary pondered after noticing Erica's blushing face.
"Actually, I..."
Erica calls out.
Gulp!
"Here it comes."
While gulping it down, Ary murmured.