12th Day after coming to the New World
Arche had made up her mind, she knew that this was her sister's chance a live far away from their parents.
No matter what, she couldn't simply let such a chance slip away from her grasp.
And even if it would take her life and soul to get this, she would gladly offer this exchange for a happy life for her siblings.
Though she didn't know where they would go, there was no reason to not try it after finally getting the chance.
So after she woke up, Arche went first to meet with her companions.
She was part of the worker group "Foresight".
Workers were similar to Adventurers, but not part of the Guild because of various reasons. They were mostly contracted for more shady Jobs.
Arche was also a Worker, her worker group was on the same level as a Mythril-ranked adventurer group.
Consisting of a Warrior, a Rouge, a Warriorpriest, and a Mage.
The mage was of course Arche herself.
And now she was on her way to meet with them in the usual place.
Entering the tavern, Arche already saw her comrades sitting in the distance on a table together.
Determination was shining in her eyes and after making her decision, there was no coming back. She may not be able to tell them exactly where she was going, but she could at least explain why she was going.
Walking over, she was spotted by the other woman beside her in the Team, a half-elf called Imina.
"Ah look who is there. Arche what brings you here so early?"
Imina had a very slim body, be it the chest or waist area, there were no curves on her body. If looked at from far away, it won't be surprising if people mistook her for a man rather than a woman.
Then the two man who had their back to Arche turned and greeted her as well.
"Hey, Arche."
"Hello Arche."
Roberdyck Goltron, the Warrior priest had blonde hair and blue eyes with a neatly arranged hairstyle and a beard that was thoroughly trimmed. He gave off the impression of a wise man that gives off a hearty feeling.
He wore full body armor with an outer garment embroidered with the symbol of a crest. A necklace bearing the same crest as his outer garment could be seen hanging from his neck.
The last among them was their Leader Hekkeran Termite, a man with blonde hair blue eyes, and a healthy skin color that has regularly been exposed to sunlight.
He wore chainmail in which a metallic jingling could be heard coming from beneath his clothes, which sounded like it was caused by the friction of chains.
All three of her companions, with whom she went through life and death were here.
And now she came here to leave these friends behind her, to go away and take care of her sisters in the future.
Feeling that something wasn't right with Arche, they all looked at each other, and then Hekkeran as their Leader asked, "Arche, is something wrong?"
The worried faces of the three hurt her a lot, but she nodded to do this, "I need to speak with you... best somewhere with fewer people."
Looking around the tavern was half full although it was still early in the morning.
The three sitting looked at each other and stood up together, "No problem, let's go to the back room." Hekkeran walked ahead, the others including Arche following after.
Entering into a secluded room at the back of the tavern, the four took place around a table where they would normally speak about their upcoming quests.
After sitting down, all eyes fell on Arche and Hekkeran asked, "Now we are alone. What is it you want to tell us?"
Taking a deep breath, Arche began to explain her situation. The problems with her family, their former noble Status, how her father didn't accept it, and how she fears for her siblings.
"...that is why I am leaving. I can't tell you where I will go or who gave me this option. But I at least wanted to tell you guys why I am leaving before I go."
A heavy atmosphere had fallen over the group of people after hearing the Story.
The one who broke it was their Leader, "Isn't it great? You finally got a chance to get your siblings away from your useless parents. Congratulations!"
"Yeah! Hekkeran is right, I'm happy for you!"
"True. I can't understand how parents can treat their children like this. I'm glad for you to be able to get this chance."
All three of them smiled at her, this made Arche's eyes watery, it didn't take long and before the tears could fall, she rubbed them away.
"Thank you guys... I am glad to have been part of this group until now."
The smiles on the people's faces became even brighter.
They talked for a while longer before Arche finally took her leave, leaving behind the other three.
"Ha... looks like we need to look for a new magician..." Hekkeran smiled wryly, he could never say that he didn't want Arche to leave after hearing her story, but the truth was just that.
The other two nodded as well and Imina was the one who shook her head in the end, "No it doesn't matter, we should just be glad for Arche, after hearing that her father once tried to sell his daughters... I want to go there and punch him in the face."
Imina was angry when she heard Arche's story and reasons for leaving, the others weren't much better.
"You know what? Let's celebrate today for Arche's beginning of a new life!"
"Sounds good!"
"No alcohol for me, but I'm in!"
.
.
.
In the Inn, where Dōji and Kiyomi resided, Kiyomi was currently informing Dōji, who had already been asleep when she came home last night.
"So she decided to come with us?"
"Yes my Lord, I heard it."
Nodding his head Dōji smiled, "It seems you won't need to capture her."
A heavy stone fell from Kiyomi's heart, though she would do it if it was ordered, she hoped she didn't need to.
Dōji narrowed his eyebrows at Kiyomi, "I think I will speak with Lord Ainz to organize a new job for you."
Those words caused Kiyomi to look at her master with disbelief written in her eyes, "Why would you do that my Lord?"
"Tsk..." Doji clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Here am I thinking about asking Lord Ainz for you to be responsible for monitoring Carne, if such a thing is needed and you, you go and doubt me?"
Tears started to roll down the girl's eyes, "But Lord... it isn't that I'm against it... but I wouldn't be able to serve under my Lord directly anymore..." Her gaze fell to the ground, "Am I a useless sword..?"
Dōji wanted to nod just because he got annoyed with this whining all the time.
"Kiyomi... you are too good in your heart." This was something he already said a lot over the past few days and it was simply the truth.
"If I take you with me all the time I go out, you will bring one human after another back, which is something I can't tolerate. Though I don't know why you have such a liking for Humans, it is intolerable to save more humans than you have done already."
He paused for a while letting his words settle into Kiyomi's mind, "Which is why you will represent me in the Imperial Pagode in the future when I am outside."
The downcast eyes of Kiyomi went wide and she looked up at her Lord with shock, "My Lord?"
"Yes, when I am gone you will be responsible for the Imperial Pagode, but only for it, Yoru and Shiro will freak out if I make you my substitute..."
Kiyomi gulped in fear and nodded, no matter what she didn't want trouble with those two women.
"Then the next question is who to take with me next time..."
Kiyomi was sad when she heard her Lord's words but this was better than truly disappointing her Lord.
"Anyway, you should prepare yourself for our leave in the night, I will contact Albedo to inform her of our departure from the Empire."
"Yes, my Lord."
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West Gate of Arwintar
Two people were waiting here, for the people who had an appointment with them.
"Hmm the sun is already setting, it shouldn't be long before they will come."
"Just wait Kiyomi, also Albedo told me that Lord Ainz is playing as Adventurer in E-Rantel now together with Naberal. Though I don't believe it is playing..."
Kiyomi was a bit shocked, "The lord became truly an adventurer?"
Dōji nodded, "But I feel there is more to it, I think I need to talk with Demiurge after we go back this time."
"Also Shaltear and Sebas are already out on Missions, while Mare and Aura seem to be searching through the forest of tob for rare beasts."
"So even Lady Aura and Lord Mare left the Tomb..."
"Yes, but they aren't far from it, so there isn't a problem. They can easily get back there when something happens. We will also be back soon enough and remain there for a while." Dōji knew that Aura and Mare weren't far away from the Tomb and went back home every day.
"Oh... so Master will stay on the 9th Floor for a while?" Kiyomi asked curiously.
"Yeah those two, they will cut off my head if I don't show up from time to time. I stay there at least for a while." He paused for a moment remembering something, "I also want to make some plans with Demiurge and Albedo, we should try our best to work for Lord Ainz's plans even if he isn't explaining them to us."
Kiyomi nodded in understanding, something that all NPCs were in agreement with was that they needed to do anything possible so that Lord Ainz wouldn't be disappointed with them, this of course included Dōji and Kiyomi.
Though Dōji knew that they were putting pressure on Ainz, he was after all the Lord of Nazarick, and in the end, he would become the true Ruler of this world.
Just as Doji thought about this, Kiyomi on his side spoke up, "It seems our little helper is coming."
Dōji looked in the direction where Kiyomi was looking and saw the girl for the first time.
'You are really lucky to have taken Kiyomi's kindness...'
Walking towards them came Arche and on both her hands was one girl with a similar appearance just smaller.
The three soon arrived in front of Kiyomi and Doji, bowing towards them Arche introduced them.
"Greetings, I am Arche..." She then pointed at the girl with pink clothes under her small cloak, "...this is Ureirika..." Then she pointed at the other girl with sky-blue clothes under her cloak, "...and this is Kuuderika."
Arche then bowed, "Thank you for having us."
The little girls imitated their big sister, "Thank you for having us."
Dōji's eyebrows twitched a little, he had to say these two poor little girls were damn fucking cute. But this wouldn't move him much, he simply nodded and then spoke to Kiyomi, "Kiyomi, you take the girls and walk a bit ahead, I have to explain the situation to Arche."
Kiyomi nodded and then knelt on one knee, "Hey girls, I am Kiyomi, can you come with me for a while? Your big sister has something to talk with my Lord."
The two girls looked at their older sister first, who in response nodded at the two girls.
Kiyomi took the two by the hands like Arche before and left through the West Gate.
Dōji and Arche waited a bit and once the distance was around 200 meters followed.
Dōji didn't speak immediately but waited until they had a certain distance from the City.
"You have resolved yourself to give up everything?"
Dōji's question didn't suprise Arche but she nodded simply with a determined look.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Dōji nodded, "I can respect that. You will tell me everything you know about the Empire, no matter how insignificant it seems to you. And also about the ministry of magic and the education of sorcerers in the Empire."
Arche was stunned for a moment, and then realization dawned upon her, "So I'm... I'm a traitor..."
"You aren't stupid. But I can assure you about one thing, even if you don't tell me I can get all the information on my own..."
The words surprised Arche, "Then why?" She didn't understand why they needed her.
Dōji shook his head, "Let me say one thing, I didn't care about either you or your sisters." Dōji's voice was filled with an icy chill, "But my little subordinate wanted to help you, so I gave her a chance... it would be better if you don't disappoint her..."
Arche felt cold all over and her body was drenched in cold sweat in less than a second. She understood one thing immediately, this man didn't care one bit if she was alive or dead.
Her gaze even while she was afraid, fell on Kiyomi's back and she understood, that without this person she would have never had this chance. A deep sense of gratitude welled up inside of her and even while still trembling in fear she spoke, "I will not disappoint her."
Dōji narrowed his eyes but took back his slight killing intent at the end.
"Good," he spoke before grabbing the girl by the collar and lifting her, before she could understand what was happening, the two were beside Kiyomi and the sisters.
"Kiyomi, hold them up and follow me, let's go a bit faster..."
Kiyomi nodded, bowed down, and held up one girl with each arm when she stood back up.
Dōji ran ahead, with Kiyomi following behind, Arche felt the wind brush past her as she was held under the arms of the giant like a sack of potatoes.
Although it felt a bit uncomfortable, she didn't even dare to think about complaining.
The speed at which they were traveling was beyond anything she thought possible by human beings.
After around half an hour, Doji stopped, "Kiyomi, you can take off the bracelet now."
Arche was sat down and to be truthful, she felt a bit sick after the fast travel.
Her sisters on the other side were jumping around Kiyomi like she was their super cool new older sister.
But once they heard the words of Dōji, they first looked at him and then at the excited one.
"I can? Really?" Kiyomi jumped once in the air, then as she saw the nod of Dōji, a bracelet appeared on her arm made of a silver material she had never seen before.
When Kiyomi took it off, suddenly two dog-like ears appeared on her head and a long fluffy tail came out from her back, then her hair started to shorten, reaching still over her shoulder, but nearly as long as it was.
"Ha... so comfortable..."
The two little girls were stunned looking at the tail wagging around, "Big sister Kiyomi, what is this?"
"Yeah yeah, what is this?"
Kiyomi turned around and flaunted her tail, "Fufufu this is my tail of course! After all, all Inugami have one!"
"Inugami?"
"Big sister, what is an Inugami?"
"Hehehe, that is your big sisters' race, like you two little ones are humans," Kiyomi explained while teasing the two girls with her tail, making them giggle happily.
Arche was completely stunned for a while, she had never seen such a race, then she turned to Dōji, looking at him as if waiting for the same to happen.
A thick tick mark appeared on his head and he shouted, "I'm not an Inugami damn!"
The next moment the same bracelet appeared on his arm and he took it off.
But what happened next, made Arche take two steps back.
"De...De...De...HM!" before she could finish her words a hand covered her mouth and Kiyomi's voice came into her ears.
"Don't say that you won't want to know what happens when you insult the Lord more than you already have..."
Arche calmed down as she was held by Kiyomi.
Letting her go, Arche whispered, "Then what is he?"
"My Lord's race is called Wicked Oni. A very special race."
"Doesn't sound good at all..." Arche mumbled to herself as she looked at the two horns and large canine teeth that had appeared.
Doji got a bit annoyed, "Ha I am the Lord of a whole race. Why would I need to hear nonsense about my race from a little Human."
Arche suddenly understood why this guy was so cold to her, this was a being in an entirely different realm of existence than herself, a little mortal human.
She shuddered just remembering how he slaughtered those monsters, "No wonder it seemed like trampling ants when he fought in the Arena, for him those things are like ants..."
Kiyomi beside her nodded while her sisters seemed to know no fear and walked over to Dōji.
"Hey, uncle can I get such horns as well?"
"Hey, uncle can I get a tail like big sister Kiyomi?"
Doji was a bit stunned, looking down at these two little humans who looked at him as a monster that spread fear and disaster everywhere, with endless innocence and curiosity.
It made him a bit uncomfortable, 'This is too much light and innocence for me...'