Simulation Paused.
System Locked. Please Provide Your Clearance Level.
Detected: Agent [REDACTED]. Code name Creep. Class [REDACTED].
Welcome back, Agent [REDACTED].
Requested Condition Has Been Reached
Result: Subject 0 will wake up in 3 minute(s) with 99% chance.
Several Secondary Point of View Had Been Simulated.
View Secondary Point of View?
> Yes.
You May Choose From These Scenes:
-
Gambit’s Church Scenes
-
Slaver’s Battle Against Mercenaries
-
Rebel’s Movement
> Gambit’s Church Scenario.
Assign Actor with Most Point of View as Temporary Secondary Point of View?
> Yes.
Roll Back Simulation?
> Yes.
Rolling Back Simulation…
Continuing Simulation.
******
The soft sound of woods being scrapped echoed—almost rhythmic, followed by humming, singing as one. Occasionally, a sharp cut was heard as a knife sliced through a thick rope.
Three nuns, all dressed in tunic and belt. Their calloused hands were thin, yet adept at working with files and knives. They continued to hum, filling the silence with their voices.
Despite the rotting woods furniture, the cracked windows pane, and their worn out clothes; they were still able to smile. Their calm voice soothed the souls of the weary.
“Ah!”
The knife fall. The loud clatter broke the silence.
A sharp scent of blood tainted the air.
“Are you alright?” they hurried to the sister who cut her finger.
“Yhes… it is bhut aslright…” she sucked on her own index finger.
“Do not suck on it!”
Quickly, one stood and grabbed some medication.
“You are lucky that it does not cut deeply,” they bound the wound with bandages with herbs and a drop of alcohol.
“I apologize… it was… just… like a jolt…”
“A jolt? Something bothered… oh…” the other sisters looked at one another, smile formed on their faces. “Is it about that Infernal who came here two weeks ago?”
“N-No…” she averted her gaze.
“Did you not have his hair tied around your necklace?”
“U-Um… no?”
“You are a terrible liar, sister…” she sighed. “Yet, he is… oddly gentle for an Infernal.”
“Phrasing, sister.”
“He should be an Ice Infernal, should he not?”
“I suppose he is.”
“Yes. If he were to be a Fire Infernal—”
The large front door creaked open.
They quickly put on their veils.
“Bollocks… this hinge is…” an older sister got in, struggling as the rusted hinge forcing her to strain her old joints.
“Greeting, Abbess…” they let go of the veil and stood, bowing slightly.
“Ah, my children… greeting… have my husband put some oil to the hinges, yet?”
“We have told the High Priest, Abbess.”
“That old fart…” she sighed. “Please, continue—” she noticed the injured nun. “Are you harmed?”
“Just a scratch, Abbess.”
“She was thinking about the Infernal, Abbess…”
“I-I do not!” the flushed nun half-shouted.
“The Infernal… oh, Umbra?”
“His name is Umbra?” they looked to the Abbess. “As in… shadow in the old tongue?”
“Yes. Did he not even tell you his name?”
“No…”
“You both saw one another bare but not even knowing his name?” one sneered.
“I… um… no?”
“Please, tell me that you at least tell him your name.”
“I uh… do not have the time.”
“By the Moon, sister…”
“Yet… Umbra, quite fitting for a man his stature, don’t you think so, Abbess?”
“It does…” the Abbess let go of her veil and mantle, showing her grayish hair. “A hulking man… able to put fear even to the bravest man… yet, the way he spoke was very educated.”
“We did notice that.”
“So, have you taken fancy to the young Infernal, my child?” the Abbess teased the nun.
“I… um…” she paused, then nodded timidly.
“Ah… love at first sight… how poetic…” she smiled. “Much like when I first met my husband…”
“With the Head Priest? Was it also a love at first sight?”
“Not me,” she chuckled. “But, he was. However, I believe you did not cut your finger just for a mere thought, did you, my child?”
“No, Abbess. I felt a jolt… like…” she stared at her hands. “There was… something…”
“Odd… but, not unheard of…”
“Does… something happen to him, Abbess?”
“I can’t answer that, my child… you may pray… be it to the Sun, or to the Moon, or both. However… do not expect Them to fulfill it. As he, too, took lives… he had expected his lives to be taken as well…”
“Y-Yes, Abbess…”
“I apologize for the harsh word, my child…” the Abbess sighed, patting the nun’s shoulder.
“I, uh… I will take that to heart, Abbess…”
“Very well… then… I believe we need to start to make breakfast. Wash your hands, all of you,” she looked around. “You may continue to work later, but our duties came first…”
“Yes, Abbess.”
The same nun carefully washed around her wound. The thought of him injured made her shiver. Was she so smitten that she worried about the man she just met once that she accidentally injured herself? Or was it just a bad luck? But why did she feel so unease?
She washed her face, trying to shake the thought away.
As she closed her eyes, her mind drifted away. His face appeared inside her head. She reached to her necklace.
Once again, their first and only meeting flashed before her eyes.
***
A repeated knock was heard on the giant door.
The nun hurried over with tunic and mantle on her. She was trying to put on her veil, but it was quite difficult with a lantern on her left hand. “Yes! Do wait for a minute!” She stopped just before the door and dusted her tunic before opening the door. “Oh… come on…” the door creaked open, almost completely stuck.
“Need a hand?”
“I do need some help…” she grunted.
“Please, stand back.”
“Okay,” she did stand back.
The door was forced open.
“Hm… it is rusted.”
A giant and horned figure loomed over her, his two tails perked up.
A hint of rice wine, oil, and alcohol tickled her nose.
He was still staring at the rusted hinge, scrapping the rust with his long nails. “It will take some time to fix this.”
Two sabers—one shorter than the other—clattered as he turned to the nun.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
She still froze.
“Excuse me, Sister…” he lowered his posture.
“Y-Yes?” she jolted.
“I know that it is late. But may I come in?”
“M-May I ask what for?”
The man tilted his head. “Why do a man go to the Church other than to pray?”
“A-Ah… o-of course…” she stepped aside.
“Then, excuse me…” he stepped inside. His long tails lowered as he passed through the door.
“Do you wish to light a candle?” she closed the door and hurried to pace his long stride.
“Thank you, but it’s not needed,” he took a deep breath then bowed in front of the altar before kneeling down.
His head lowered. His hands clasped together.
She was stunned to see that he knew a proper way to pray. She put the lantern down and joined him, kneeling next to him. “Do you wish to pray together?” she offered her hand.
“I… uh, is it alright?” he looked at her.
“But, of course.”
“Then, do excuse me…” he accepted her hand.
She barely even flinched as his coarse hands enveloped hers.
His hand was steady yet barely held on hers, almost as if terrified that he would hurt her.
She glanced at him.
Eyes closed. His mouth was mumbling something she could not hear.
Was it hope that he wished for? Or was it just a gratitude? She would never know. She, too, then closed her eyes.
After a while, he then sighed and let go of her hands before standing up.
She picked up the lantern and stood, “I hope whatever you wished for will be fulfilled by the Sun or the Moon.”
“Thank you…” he wiped his face.
“Then… may I help with anything else?”
“Thank you, but, it is late. I have bothered you enough,” he shook his head.
“It is alright. It is our duty to help.”
“Then… if it is not a bother, may I ask for a bath?”
She froze.
“I have not yet taken a bath for a very long time…” he sighed. “Just cold water is alright… just something to clean the filth from the road.”
“Um… I-I can prepare warm water… but… um…”
“If you offered, then I accept…” he took his purse, the coins clattering against one another. “I do not have much for donation, but… I hope this will help.”
“Y-Yes… I, uh… will prepare it…”
The nun swiftly walked to the back, and to the room where five more nuns was asleep. She accidentally closed the door too loud, waking all of them up.
“W-What…”
“Is it… morning?”
“No… Sister? What is wrong?” they saw her sweating.
“U-Um… there was… a man asking for a bath…”
“Oh… you mean… that?”
“I think so…” she looked at the coin purse, then opened it, revealing six silver coins, fifteen bronze coins, and five copper coins. “T-This is… a lot…”
They, too, froze. “We… certainly need that… but… will you be alright? Should I… take your place?”
“H-He is an Infernal…”
Once again, they froze.
“No… no… don’t… it is too dangerous. We need to tell the Head Priest and the Abbess…” they quickly put on their mantles and veils.
“Yes… they should know…”
“P-Pardon? Bath?” the Abbess and an old man came out from the same room, still wearing their mantles. They looked at one another.
“Do you not tell him that the New Order can’t force you into that service anymore?” the old man asked.
“I believe he knows, Father… but,” the nun handed the coin purse.
“You must not do this…”
“But, Father… this will be enough…”
“And have him claimed you?!” he raised his voice. “We are not that desperate for this house of Gods to become a whorehouse!” he stormed out. “You do not have to worry, child. I will refuse him.”
“But, Father…”
“Pardon?” the Infernal tilted his head. “I thought that she agreed to it.”
“I am sorry, but this is already late,” the Priest stated, his voice strained. “We are grateful… but we do not provide such service here. I hope you understand.”
He sighed. “Very well. Then, forgive me for intruding.” He turned out and left. “Have a good night.”
The priest was stunned. He was about to return the coins, yet, this man just left? What did he truly ask for?
“W-Wait!” the same nun then shouted. “I-I will prepare it!”
“Child, do not—”
But, the nun quickly run to the Infernal and dragged him deeper into the building. “J-Just follow me…” she walked pass everyone, ignoring their surprised stares.
“I thought that the—”
“It’s fine… just follow me… okay?”
The Infernal emerged from a large wooden bath tub. He took a deep sigh as he scrubbed his face. He looked to the side, several burning ember with stones on top. Using a tong, he put more hot stones into the tube, raising the temperature.
He looked around. Stone structures and draining engraved at the floor. The wall, too, was made of stone and mortar. To the side, there was a small ventilation and several torches.
Several knocks was heard from the wooden door.
“Yes, come in.”
The door opened. “E-Excuse me…” the nun came in, only wearing a tunic. “Um… do you need something else?” she fidgeted around.
The Infernal sniffed the air, noticing a scent of oil was from her. “Thank you, but no… and where is your veil?”
“Oh… um… do you want me to grab my veil?”
“I… no… why do you ask?”
“Then…” she let go of tunic from the shoulder. The piece of fabric fall off, showing her bare body as she stepped into the bath tub. “Please, be—”
“Stop,” he looked away, covering his eyes. “Why do you strip naked?”
“Um… because you… want…”
“I want what?” he asked again. “Do I ask to have intercourse with you?”
“N-No… but asking for bath is…”
“Put on your robe…”
“But… I… uh…”
“You have prepared your private?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Hah…” he sighed. “Fine… you may stay. I do appreciate the company… but please, both of us are adult. Let us take this like an adult, okay?”
“Alright… do you… um, wish me to wash your back?”
She scrubbed at his rough and hard scales. Some were chipped and deformed. “Are these… still hurt?” she asked.
“Pardon?”
“The scar?”
“No.”
“Okay…” she started scrubbing his back using some fibers. “So… uh… I apologize to misunderstand you…”
“It is alright… as I said… I don’t mind the company.”
“You are… a mercenary… or soldier?” she washed the fibers and continues scrubbing again.
“Former soldier. Now a mercenary…” he grunted. “How about you, Sister?”
“Um, me? A Sister?”
“No… uh, do forget it…” he sighed. “Yet, I was surprised that you just took this matter into your own hands.”
“Oh… it is just…” she chuckled. “I thought it would be alright… you seem like a good person.”
“Good enough for you to…” he looked to the side. His posture tensed up. “Did the Head Priest… often do this?”
“If you mean by offering this… um… service, then no. You are the first…”
“Oh… good to know,” he returned to his relaxed posture.
“You tensed up… what’s wrong?”
“Just remembering the past. Speaking of that… what’s your story?”
“Well, I was a war orphan… like everyone else…” she shrugged, “and then, the Holy Empire took me in after War Born razed my village… and so, I decided to be a nun to say my thank you…”
“Did… they treat you well?”
“Very much so…” she squinted her eyes, “you sound like you meet the Old Order…” she tilted her body, hoping to see his expression.
“I did…” he answer quickly.
“Oh… that explained everything…” she continued scrubbing. “So… you also from the Holy Empire?”
“Yes… raised in the orphanage as well.”
“Oh… we might even meet in the past, then?”
“Possibly…” he shrugged.
“That explains everything… you prayed like a proper devotee!” she exclaimed. “That is why you seemed so… fluid…”
“Very obvious, isn’t it?”
“So, have you done reading the scriptures, then?”
“No. I joined the military at young age…”
“Oh… I see.”
“I do still have some memories…” he shrugged.
“Are you trying to quit?”
“I don’t know…” he sighed. “It was confusing…”
“It’s alright… everyone has their up and down…” she rinsed the fiber. “It is done…” she leaned back.
The Infernal then turned around slowly, facing her. “Thank you.”
“With pleasure. And, I am sure you might find the calling once again,” she smiled.
“I doubt…” he sighed, looking away from her.
She noticed his gaze. “Oh… um, sorry about this…” she, too averted her gaze.
“Not that I am uncomfortable with a bare woman, but I thought you are not used to… a bare man… especially an Infernal…”
“Yeah… I… just saw from books…” she chuckled. “And it is very different… I-I mean, you are… uh… different…”
“Very typical… but most would be similar to the books.”
“Is it?”
“Well, I am an Infernal. The book contained about Grasshopper… sorry, I mean Grass Walker, and Mountain People.”
“W-Wait… wait…” she leaned in. “Did you just call my race Grasshopper?”
“A bad habit, yes…” he sighed. “It is just… how you talk… takes me back.”
“Where is it from? I never heard that before!”
“Well… in my orphanage… the Grass Walkers, where called Grasshopper… the Mountain People was called Stone Skipper, and—”
She almost burst into laughter. “Stone… s-sorry… do continue…”
“War Born is called… uh… this after we got into the rank of soldiers… Battle Whore…”
Her mouth agape. “You don’t just…”
“Yeah… rough past… and the… uh Infernal is called…”
“Called what?” she leaned in.
“Well… Infernal is called… Walking Club…”
“Walking Club?” she stared at him. “Why?”
“It… is obscene for us to talk…”
“Oh, come on… we already bare. Do spill it.”
“Well… it was from a joke about the size of our… genitalia…” he sighed.
“Go on…”
“Are you seriously do not know? Or do you simply want to tease me?” he stared at her.
“No… well, I just know that your kind are big… in everything… so… other than that… no…” she stared back at him.
“Fine…” he sighed. “Well… us, the male… we uh, often joked around that… with their privates… the uh… Grass Walker and Mountain People… that it was like a finger holding a berry…”
“Ah, that is… low…”
“Yeah…”
“I… don’t think that went well…” she snickered. “I kinda know how petty boys can be… about their privates…”
“Yeah… so, one told us this in return… fuckin’ hell… why am I sharing this with a woman? A bloody nun no less…”
“Oh, come on… even a nun is a human as well…”
“Right… okay… so… they said that we can probably beat the women to death with… our privates…”
She coughed up. “Bloody hell… what the fuck… was… beat a woman with…”
“I am not kidding… hence, Walking Club.”
“I mean, it is… large enough to pass as a stick… but…”
“Sister…” he grunted, rubbing his nose.
“Oh… fuck… you just make me swear again… sorry…” she covered her mouth. “I… still have… quite a loose tongue. I’ve been training, but…”
“Well… sorry for that…” he leaned back.
“But… I doubt that was the last…”
“Well… aye, but it should be your turn, Sister. I can’t have you know all my past.”
“Fine… then…” and so, they continued.
They continued talk until it was morning, and yet, they still went on and on.
“Oh, believe me… it was very itchy,” he carried the bath tub on his left shoulder.
“I can see that… but like, why?” she followed him. “Why not just give up?”
“I was stubborn…”
“I know, but like… wearing the same underwear for three whole months?”
“Yeah… I was a dumb kid before…”
The others looked at them, relieved, but most confused.
“Father… um… they bathed… together, right?” a nun whispered. “Yet… nothing happened between them? I… mean… they looked closer… and she walked normally… so…”
“I believe so… I think we have a confession to make.”
“Yes…”
“Never truly judge a person by their appearance…” one mumbled. “Never been that sentence sounded so true.”
“Ah, Father… I uh…” the nun flinched as the Priest arrived.
“Go on to your work, child” the Priest nodded.
“Y-Yes, Father… then, uh… see you later?” she looked at Umbra.
“Of course.”
The nun walked away in a hurry.
“I wished to have a word with you, privately…” he looked to the Infernal.
“I wished to apologize,” he bowed down. “The reason being… I was in the wrong to expect the worst…”
“I did notice that later as well,” he stood the priest up straight. “So, please, stand up straight… I understand, you do not to bow down to me.”
“Yes, thank you… yet, she looked glad.”
“Quite a box chatter…” the Infernal sighed, a smile formed on his face.
“You both have talked all night, yet… there seemed more to say…”
“I don’t know… we just…” he chuckled, before shaking his head. “I really must go now… I still have to go to an expedition.”
“Ah, very well… once again, thank you and I apologize, Sir…”
“Umbra. Just called me Umbra. I am used to being called child back in the Holy Empire… so, it is alright.”
The Priest smiled warmly. “Very well, then. May the Sun and the Moon shine upon you, Umbra…”
“The same goes for you, Father…”
“I will get her to see you out… it would be more comfortable than an old man like myself.”
“It does not matter.”
“For her, it might be. Would you wait for her?”
“I really need to—”
“Please?”
He sighed. “Alright…”
Umbra was standing by the door.
A hurried footsteps approached him. “H-Hey! You’re still here!” she panted.
“Yeah.”
“Here!” she handed him a one-piece rope necklace including the liontin. “Um… we usually sold this as trinkets… but… um, I made this myself… it wasn’t pretty but…”
“Thank you…” he accepted it, “but, it would probably do not fit my head.”
“Ah… right… um, I could…”
Umbra just rolled it at his wrist twice, forming a bracelet. “Will this do, then?”
She beamed. “Y-Yeah…”
“Hm…” he stared at the liontin.
“Um… something wrong?”
He sniffed it, then looked at her. “Did you tie your hair in this?”
“U-Um… yeah?” she averted her eyes. Her cheeks reddened. “Just um… something to remember me by?”
“Alright…” he grabbed his tail and shredded a lock of his own hair.
“W-What are you… doing?”
“Well… it is not fair for me, right? You need something to remember me as well,” he handed her his hair.
“Ah… true…” she took his hair.
“So… then, I’ll be going.”
“Um… s-stay safe out there.”
“I’ll try.”
***
“Umbra…” she muttered, caressing the rope necklace’s liontin with some black hair glued into it. “You are… unharmed, right?”
******
Research Log 4.
Agent: Creep. Class: [REDACTED]
That was… terrifyingly perfect…
Okay… so I am sure about the Sun and Moon now… but that is not the main point…
Unfortunately the simulator do not generate the outside much… but if the church’s interior keeps consistent… this is very… very… I have to describe mostly here…
(Scribbling)
(More scribbling)
Why don’t just I capture it… perfect…
This is far away from the primary subjects… yet…
(Chair creaking)
(Loud sigh)
Okay… okay… so… the only thing to do is to cross check everything later…
The church’s interior.
The slang.
Subject 0’s origin.
And more importantly, if the characters even remember Subject 0.
Oh… and the flashback feature was… perfect.
I… uh, have nothing else to say… this is more than we hope…