[Web Novel] Gloria Infidelis

Topeng Buaya

Quote :: This has nothing to do with RolePlaying or Eremidia itselfs.

Gloria; Infidelis
-Glory beyond the Madness-
R-15
Full Cast (Will be introduced later on) :
[Web Novel] Gloria Infidelis Gloria_infidelis___the_battle_is_to_the_strong_by_lightnightknight-d66wvyn

[Web Novel] Gloria Infidelis Gloria_infidelis___the_battle_is_to_the_strong_by_lightnightknight-d66wvyn

Vram the Fallen Crusader:

Josephine the Apostle's Witch:

Summary :

Quote :: In a world where magic lingers and ancient monsters freely flies here and there, Josephine, a witch renowned in her hometown as the Nude Witch, accidentally summons a crusader human as her familiar. The summoned Black Crusader, Vram, went as far as to consider himself as a monster rather than a human himselfs. As Josephine tried to get closer with him, they realized that Vram had lost some of his memories as to why did he become a monsters, as his previous life was indeed a human. With that said, Josephine decided to travel around the world in order to found out what had happened to Vram in his lifetime, as well as to satisfy her wish to travel.

Chapter:

Quote :: Prologue Chapter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
[url=http://www.rpgmakerid.com/t8807p10-web-novel-gloria-infidelis#124631]Chapter 8[/url]

Topeng Buaya

Prologue

*KHRTAK KHRTAK KHRTAK KHRTAK

The sound of iron shoes keep hitting the earth frugally, as it covering the breathing sounds of the horse and the man above it. The horse keep running fast, even faster beyond what every normal horse could even do. By this point, the horse’s face already turned pale, almost unable to run beyond what “he” could even achieve. But the rider won’t even let “him” rest, as also the horse itself would never allow itselfs to slow down or falling down even if it means its life.

[… Sorry… for being so selfish….!]

As if “he”’s talking to “his” partner, “he” whispered these words while lowering “his” head near the horse’s head. As if responding to “him”, the horse jumped far while releasing “his” cry, as if it was shouting against its master.

*HIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

[Let’s go!]

As the master keep “his” posture steady, the horse steadily increasing its running speed, with speed comparable to the speed of sound itself, both of them dashed through the field, while preparing for something inevitable that will happened.

***

Here lies one peaceful village. It doesn’t have any distinctive feature, so there almost no royalties whom even considered coming here, while at the same time; this village never had to pay so many taxes considering the royal securities around it were too thin. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that this village was in a lot of danger, many which caused by their strong instinct to survive that the people of this villages often being sent to the capital in order to become a knight. While they do possess such instinct, they also prioritized harmony over other people, which make them being so friendly against each other. And here exist such village.
At least, it “was”.
[Impossible….]
The sight of destruction recorded clearly on “his” eyes. The destroyed house, the burning hut, blood splattered everywhere, left nothing but a fragment of what once made of such mineral and meat, either man or animal.
[WHY… WHY DID THIS…!?!?!]
But what frightens “him” the most was the figure in front of “him”. No, “it” was not appropriate to call it a figure; “it” wasn’t even on the same league as what you would call “something”. It breathes, it walks, it sees, it hears. It is truly a “creature”, but no such normal “creature” exists, at least for it to appear right in front of “him” is utterly beyond “his” imagination.
*GROAAAAAAAAAAAAR
The “creature” keeps squashing down and burning away everything around it, with its 20 meter tall feet, the shape resembling that of a turtle with shell made of spikes and scales. This by no means something that even the whole army had the capabilities to do something.
[Survivor… are there any survivor here…?!?!?!]
Trying to keep “his” cool, “he” scanned everywhere around “him” to see whether there are any survivor, since it doesn’t seem that the monster realize that “he” was around yet.
[… U… *hic…!]
Hearing some noises around, the man frantically searched for where the source of that voice was, but afraid of raising “his” voice in front of such “creature”.
[Mama…. Papa… *hic….]
Suddenly the monster’s movement changed, as if being jerked around while noticing something strange. “he” suddenly flustered as to consider how to get that monster’s attention away.
[… It’s do or die….!!]
As “he” pulled the spear on the back, “he” positioned himself, with right leg pulled straight to the back and bended “his” left leg to the front, while raising the right hand to the back, and stretched the left hand to the front, “he” aimed the spear right at that “creature’s” face, or rather, aiming for its eyes.
[UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
*FWOOOOOOSH!!!!!!!!!
With heavy scream that could split even “his” own ears, “he” throw the spear right onto the “creature’s” face. As if surprised by the sudden scream, the “creature’s” face suddenly turned right at “his” location. The sudden turn cause the spear to fly right beside it and scratched its face.
*GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!
[Alright… I’m dead now…. SCHNEIDER!!!!]
As “he” screamed the name, the horse, the one who have been hiding this whole time, suddenly rushing out. But it doesn’t head toward “him”; rather, it was aiming at the place “he” pointed at, right after “he” throw the spear. As “he” quickly rushed there, “he” went forward against the ““creature”” by readying “his” bow and arrow.
*GRAOOOOOOOOOOOOR
The “creature” furiously charging at “him”, with “its” size, it doesn’t take long for “it” to reach where “he” is located at. But as much as it wanted to quickly stomp “him”, its weight didn’t say so, as “he” keep evading its stomping attack with such small margin around “him”. And as “he” tried to evade the monster’s stomping and charge, “he” run away from it as “he” keep aiming at that “creature’s” face and started to showering it with arrows, though to no avail, it only served to anger the “creature” so.
*GROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR
As “it’s” finally getting tired of chasing “him”, the “creature” preparing its stance for its new attack. It was seen to charge some energy inside its mouth, as the heat around it were getting tense. But at that moment, “he” takes a quick peek at where “his” partner, Schneider, was. As “he” had hoped so, Schneider was seen, carrying a small, frail girl with “his” mouth and starting to run away from the scene.
[Good boy… hope that my friend will treat you to something good….]
As “he” turns toward the “creature” again, “it” already finished charging its special attack and started to throw them. Readied to take those full-blown attacks, “he” readied “his” shield.
[OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!]
*GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

***

The wind stopped blowing. The heat keeps rising from the ground. The ash spread far beyond the once was a mountain. The rubble keeps falling. But “he”’s standing beyond such destruction, while the perpetrator still stands perplexed in front of “him”. “he” almost lost consciousness, “he” almost can’t hear anything, “he” almost lost an arm, “he” almost lost “his” sight, and ultimately, “he” barely survived. Such strong intent was made in order to keep such “creature” occupied in one place. One could barely count for how long did this “creature”, whom were able to abolished one village in no time, were being keep busy by a single man. Such is no ordinary feat even if all “he” could do is to scratch its face before.

{It’s the limit, eh… my leg could barely move, my arrow and bow were burned, my shield’s bended and charred, all I have right now….}

Using “his” barely-moveable right hand, “he” pulled “his” sword from its sheath and pointed it toward the “creature”.

{My voice… I can’t hear them… no, I probably could barely even talk… I can almost feel nothing, my sense of touch is dead too… then again…}

“he” closed “his” eyes and started to smile, while the “creature” were already raised its front leg, trying to squash “him” dry.

{Why am I-}

*BAM!

….

…

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 1

A dark, gloomy room, entirely were covered by a thick fog. The fog was unnatural, but it was expected to happen inside this room, as it was seen to have so many distinctive ash-like patterns covering the room. It was quite a spacious room, decorated with much gloomy equipment as one would’ve seen from something occult-themed. Such as lantern with dark gold ornament, a wall contained many animal-head, a rune, or some magical text covering the whole room, a dusty reddish curtain covering some part of the room, and last but not least, a huge magical circle right in the center of the floor. Some sort of ritual had happened here before, thus the reason why the room was filled with so many fogs.

[… Eh?]

There lies a figure of woman, wearing nothing against her body. No, To be blunt, she’s butt-naked inside the room. It wasn't clear of her reason for doing so, but at the very least, it doesn't seem to be the necessity of doing the ritual. While she does looked a tad bit weird, she does have quite a nice figure, with the size of her “milk” being proportioned with the curve around her hip and below, and her thick, long drawn beautiful brown hair complemented her reddish cheek around her face, with her brown-reddish eyed opened up nicely. One could spend many time looking at her, even if she were to wore clothes.

And to ask her reason of being the center of this foggy room was apparently to do the ritual that was supposed to happen here. But while she was the one whom initiated the ritual. Her complex expression, which caused her eyes to be widen out, as she gaped her mouth inelegantly whilst trying to cover it up with both her hands in front of her face, the twitched eyebrows that keeps moving over and over again, something that happened in front of her eyes was anything but ordinary.

Another figure, seems human enough, appeared in front of her. With his body covered in full-clad armor, black. With its white hair tailing around the back of its helmet, a shoulder pad with an insignia of some country from far away yet drowned in blue color. The presence it releases was quite on par with something that people would call a monster, but the appearance was indeed human.

As if she couldn't believe what had happened in front of her eyes, she accidentally blurted a question.

[Are you… human?]

As she ask him that, she tried to sneak her way closer to the person, afraid of being attacked by the person in front of her. But as she tried to observe a little more of what he was, he replied her with quite an unexpected answer.

[… I don’t think I am… what do you think?]

[What do I think… EH! NO! A MONSTER SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT ALL!!]

[Is that so? My bad then, I’ll stop talking.]

[….]

[….]

Both of them went silent, even after the fog finally clears up. The answers given by him left the woman dumbfounded she lost her chance to retort.

[No no no no no no no! even if you do that, your appearance all over was that of a human! Who are you trying to fool?!?]

[….]

While she tried to initiate another conversation, the man in full armor keeps quiet as if he doesn’t understand what she’s doing.

[LIKE! I! SAID! HEY~! DON’T IGNORE ME~~!]

*PLAKK

She finally snapped and slaps him right in the head. Just a little reminder, he’s still wearing his full armor from head to toe, so slapping him at his current situation is a no go. But as the saying goes, “a man goes blind when fueled with rage” seems fitting her situation right now.

[Ouch…! That armor of yours sure is hard….]

[… Excuse me….]

[Hmm? Oh, you finally decided to talk?]

[Why are you not wearing any clothes?]

[Oh? Because I don’t need one.]

Another silent moment enveloped the room. It seems like another unexpected question was answered with another unexpected answer. And from here on out, a quick Q&A are going in order.

[Why you didn’t need one?]

[Because it’s obstructing.]

[What kind of obstruction compels you for not wearing them?]

[A magical experiment.]

[What kind?]

[Just some simple incantation and projection]

[Does it really necessary to not wear clothes?]

[It isn’t actually, but it’s far more effective that way.]

[You aren’t embarrassed?]

[Why would I?]

[Are you a human?]

[No.]

The sudden answer paused their quick Q&A at the moment.

[I see, that makes you the same as me then.]

[Hmm? No no no, I think you misunderstanding something.]

[What is?]

[Hmm… have you ever heard about “Witch”?]

“Witch”. This term was used about some years ago when the magic age was still at growing phase at that time. At that time, people were only able to use a magic spell by spelling the incantation of the magic itself, which was quite long to spoken. Another way to shorten the spelling speed is to use something akin to catalyst. But there are people whom were able to use magic spell without either using catalyst or spelling the incantation itself. Those people at that time were being isolated from other people, also often being discriminated against, as if they were looking at monsters.

Those people were called the “Witch”.

[I did hear some story along those lines, up to that they were finally being exiled into somewhere else.]

[And that’s me! I’m a witch~!]

[I see, so were you witches were supposed to never liked wearing clothes?]

[Umm nope, it’s just me whom never liked those things in the first place.]

[I see.]

[More importantly, what’s with you?] [The way you've been talking all this time were pretty much more human than I thought.]

[And what were you expecting from me?]

[Well I do expecting a monster to come out, but….]

[Then I’m a Monster.]

[Umm….]

[By the way, it is an urgent matter for me.]

[What is it?]

[Please, wear your clothes already.]

[….]

The man just keep looking menacingly at the girl while the girl just innocently keep circling her body while sometimes rubbing either her thigh, hips, or sometimes her breasts.

[Don’t wanna.]

[I beg of you, please wear at least a piece of clothes. One piece that’s covering your whole body is good enough.]

[No!]

[Then at least wear some underwear or bikini. Even if sometimes it’s unacceptable, at least it’s better than wearing nothing.]

[I don’t even have those.]

At this point, the man cladded in his full-black armor started to slap his hand hard onto his helmet-covered face while looking up at the ceiling. The girl shocked to see his reaction as she jumped a bit to the back while widening her eyes more.

But as the situation calmed down a little bit, she tried to get closer to the man in full armor and started to speak to him.

[Anyway, have you realized about our current… situation right now?] [Right now, I was actually in the middle of summoning a familiar for me.] [But since it was you whom appeared, I figured that maybe… you’re the familiar I've been summoned.]

[… Can I refuse?]

[No~pe~❤] As she says that with her eyes blinked and bend her body toward him. [Well but that doesn't mean I have full control over you, though.] [Summoning a familiar was, in actual situation, is very dangerous.] [They can get ferocious and attacking us out of the blue, so when we were unable to control our own familiar, we were told to cancel the spell.]

[Then cancel it now.]

[… Why are you so against being my familiar?] Now hugging his hand around her breasts while putting up her teary eyes. [I promise that I treat you gently.] [Or if you have some complaint, I’ll hear it for now] [So, please~❤?]

[Then please wear some clothes.]

[I refuse.] As she waved his hand refusing him flatly.

[… Hey….]

[Yes? What is it~❤?] Still hugging him around her breasts, she look up to where Vram’s head is.

[By controlling… are you saying that you’re going to make me submit to you using force?]

[I actually disliked that method, but if it’s necessary, then I’m fine with that.]

The moment she said that, she let go of her hug right away and started to gain some distance from him. At the same time, she waved her right hand upward and downward, while concentrated her power right in the palm of her hand. Then a bright, crimson flame was created right away, without any incantation nor catalyst.

[This will hurt a little bit, but I hope you can take it~❤]

*FWOOOSH!!!

As she said that, she throws the crimson Fireball straight onto the knight. But the knight didn’t flinch out at all, rather, he went straight into the oncoming Fireball.

[He...-!!!!]

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

The fireball went and exploded right away after hitting the knight straight onto the head. The size of the explosion itself was quite comparable that you could easily roasted an 100kg beef in a matter of second, considering it won’t taste good later on though.

[A… Am I overdoing it…? I thought he’s going to evade it either way, so I put more power into it than usual…..] She said that as she bit her own finger, afraid of what have become of the Knight.

[… Nhah, even if you’re going full-force, I think I’m still survived.]

[Wha…?!?!?!]

A sight of a black knight tearing through the explosion that big were quite a scare, as it makes her jumped back a lot seeing such dread situation in front of her. Whilst at the same time, the Black Knight keep charging at her fast enough that, combined with her surprised reaction, were unable to evade such simple attack at all. Then he finally grabbed her face, covering it whole inside his palm.

[A… are you going to kill me…?]

[No. I’m just going to ask you one thing in return.]

[Wh… what is it…?]

[Wear some clothes on.]

[No!]

All of a sudden, killing intent surging out strongly from the black knight, as it sends the witch shivering in fear.

[I ask once more, or the next thing that’ll happen to you will be the worst situation you’ve ever experienced.]

[Y… yes…???]

[Would you please put some clothes on…?]

[N… No…?]

At that moment, the knight’s vacant left hand was already aimed at the woman’s stomach as his right hand, which was formerly grabbing her head. Without her realizing it, her body already in his mercy and turned around without her consent.

[Eh… Ehh?!?!?!]

At the end, her current position is….

The black knight’s left hand were circling around her stomach, leaving her airborne unable to touch the floor. Her ass was pointed toward where the black knight was facing, and his vacant right hand were facing upward with opened palm.

[Eh… wait… surely you don’t….]

The moment the witch girl hesitated, the black knight already swung his right hand as fast and as hard as possible….

*SMACK!!!!

[KYAH!!!!!]

Toward her ass.

[It… IT HURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT STINGS!!! IT BURNS!!! IT HURTS!!! WHAT IS THAT?!?! WHAT ARE YOU USING!?!?! NO! IS IT BLEEDING!?!?! DOES IT BLEEDS?!?!? HEY!!!!!!!]

[Don’t worry, I make sure to use a soft gloves so that your butt won’t get any scratch that way.]

[WHICH PART OF IT IS SOFT!?!?!? IT FEELS LIKE I WAS BEING SLAPPED BY AN IRON PAPER!!]

[I ask again once more, please, wear some clothes on.]
As he finished his plea, the witch’s body suddenly turn bright as crimson.

[HUMH!!!!]

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It may seems simple, but what she just do was covering her whole external body with an explosion spell magic, while she uses a barrier to protect herself against those explosions internally. It was meant for her to break free of her captors in case she was being captured just like today.

[… I’m quite impressed, to think such way of using magic exist.]

[EH?!?!?]

But as it turns out, the black knight didn’t even flinch at all. Even there are no traces of burn mark around the armor. It was still as clean as if it was never being damaged in the first place.

[So? Your answer is?]

[U…. NO! I WILL NEVER WEAR THEM!]

*SMACK!!!!

[NGHYIIIIIIII!!!!!!]

The sound of his palm smacking her ass was getting harder, as the red mark around her round ass keeps getting redder.

[Uh… u… uguuuuuu….!!!!]

[I ask again once more, wear some clothes.]

[I… I…]

Her eyes become teary trying to hold the pain that keeps attacking her butt. Her teeth keeps gritting against each other as if she’s trying to hold onto something.

[Don’t wanna…. I don’t wanna….]

[… Alright, I just keep slapping you up until you agreed to it.]

[EEEH?!?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!]

[Even a monster’s patience had its limit.] [No, to be exact, a monster shouldn't even have had patience in the first place.]

[WAIT! NO! PLEASE!! ANYTHING BUT THAT! IT’LL GET SWOLLEN IF YOU KEEP HITTING IT THAT HARD!!!!]

[Then wear some clothes on.]

[NO!]

*SMACK!!!!!!!!

It already happened. The moment [No] came out from her mouth; the black knight’s right hand already swept the witch’s frail ass.

[HIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!]

*SMACK!!!!

[AHN!!!]

*SMACK!!!!!

[NHAAAAAAAA!?!?!?!]

*SMACK!!!!!!

[NHOOOO!!! STOPH!!! STHOP!!! I… I CAN’TH…. TAKE-…!!!!]

*SMACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NHYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!]

***

[Ugh… Ugu…. Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu *hic…..]

[….]

A miraculous turn had happened. As the black knight went ahead to clean up all the mess they had made in this room, the witch finally decided to put on some clothes given by the black knight, a white one-piece dress that at least cover her breasts until her thighs. And after that, she started to sulk at the corner of the room.

[Uuuu… Hic… you… you’re cruel… against a young lady’s ass… to me… to my ass….. *hic]

[You reap what you sow.]

*thonk!

A fragment of stone hit the knight’s head. It was thrown away by the witch’s from the corner of the room, aimed at his head.

[YOU SADIST! RAPIST! ENEMY!]

[… *sigh….]

After finished cleaning up some of the rubble around the room, he started to went closer to the witch.

[Wh… what?!? Even if you slapped me more, I won’t wear more clothes than this! Rather, I can’t bear it to wear these! It’s disturbing!!!]

As the knight just scratched his helmet, he plainly asks the witch [So, are you going to cancel the summoning?]

[… No….]

[Figured.] As he sighed once again while rubbing his helmet again.

[... You don’t like it…? Being my familiar?]

[As long as you keep wearing decent clothes around, I don’t have any complain becoming your familiar.]

[… Really? You’ll become my familiar?] Her eyes become teary yet again, not caused by the itching pain from her butt.

[… I will, Master.]

The moment she says that, the black knight’s chest suddenly starts glowing bright with some insignia, marked with something. The moment the witch saw that insignia, she widen her eyes and mouth, smiling happily as she hugged the knight tightly.

[THANK YOU….!!!!!]

[… The name’s “Vram”, my beloved Master.]

[It’s “Josephine”, Vram. My name is….] {Thank you…. Thank you….!}

Unsure of what to do, Vram can only hug her back while scrubbing her head and hair with his right hand gently. As both of them enjoying their own world together at these hall, where everything begin.

wah udah apdet di chapter 1 ye, ngga ada versi bahasa indonesia ? :hammer:

kasian yang lain pengen baca jadi ngga bisa

Topeng Buaya

haduh minta versi indo? >.>
ntar de at least 1 arc kelar ta' translate semua jadi indo lagi

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 2

[This may be inconvenient, but I want you to stop talking.] [Who knows what the other will do to you if they realized that I’ve summoned a talking familiar with human-like appearance.]

Without saying anything, Vram just tilt his head downward as he agreeing to Josephine’s condition. The two of them walked together away from the Hall that was used to summon Vram before.

[… You’re quite docile actually, despite what you’ve done to me] [If by any chance I were going to undre-]

[Then I’m going to slap you again.]

His sudden remark makes Josephine shivering all over again while rubbing her ass again. It was truly an experience she would rather never experience all over again, as she keeps rubbing her ass while tugging her dress up and down.

[… What should I say to Yohana if she sees me like this….]

***

[GYAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH! I CAN’T BELIEVE MY EYES!! OH GIRLS~! THE ELDER WILL BE SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS!!]

[Muu…!! Will you stop laughing at people’s misfortune like that?!]

The girl whom have been waiting outside of the building where the summoning was set, Yohana, seen laughing out loud in front of the building as Josephine’s face went red listening to Yohana’s tease, as Vram’s just standing beside Josephine, being silent.

[Ahah… ahahahah! Well in the first place, you weren’t someone who would yield to anyone no matter how much you were tortured, but… Ahahahahaahh!!!]

As she tried to holding off her laughing whilst wiping off her tears, she tried to observe Vram a little bit longer.

[Well, as usual, quite an unusual Familiar you have there.] [It surprised me the most of its striking resemblance to that of a human male.]

[You’ve seen a human male before, Yohana?]

[Well, not as fierce as this one, okay~❤] [Most of male human whom trying to invade us were both stupid and full of greed.] [This one somehow seems… I don’t know how to describe it; it feels like he was the perfect familiar you could’ve ever had.] [Despite its tremendous strength and high resistance against magic, just like how you described him, I feel no malice from it.] [But this guy definitely a monster.]

[I… I see....]

[No kidding, what kind of material have you collected that you ended up summoning “it”???] [It was most likely the kind of monster that appeared outside the continent, considering its size.]

As she keep explaining and asking Josephine at the same time with her finding, Yohana keep rubbing, stroking, and pinching Vram’s body all over starting from its head until toe.

[O… outer Continent?]

[Yeah, you see here? This insignia? It was never recorded from our ancient history.] [Whilst I’m unsure whether the Elder had met one, but I was once heard from the elder that there are many humanoid-like monsters lingering out of this continent.] [But all of them have never been able to speak to each other though, so they still consider them Monsters.]

[I… I see….] As Josephine’s face turns sour after hearing Yohana’s explanation, Yohana’s letting go of Vram and started to hug Josephine from the back while pinching Josephine’s cheek.

[I suggest that you take great care of it, my little juniors~❤]

[Of course I’d do that without you reminding me!!] With her expression suddenly getting serious whilst a little bit angry.

[I understand, I understand~] [Then I shall report this back to elder, then returning home.] [Is that okay with you, or do you want me to stay behind for a while?]

As Yohana’s offering her support, Josephine’s face turn sour again as she looked like she’s holding back something, she tried to force herself to smile.

[Mm~… I’m fine. Besides, I wanted to visit that places together with Vram….]

[Oho? Already a name for your familiar~❤? Nice name you have there~❤] [Then, I should go right now.]
Before she finally go, Yohana hugged Josephine’s tightly as Josephine’s also leaning on her breasts as she looked like she needed some support from Yohana as her senior.

[I hope this’ll be the last time for you to visit this place.]

Josephine’s just tilting her head downward as she keeps hugging Yohana as if she doesn’t want to let her go at all.

***

[Can you keep up with me, Vram?]

Vram just nodding to responds to Josephine’s answer. Seeing such bland response from her own familiar, Josephine went a little bit annoyed.

[Why aren’t you responding me back with another talk?!] [It’s a rare occasion for me to have a talking Familiar, so I want to hear more of your story!!!]

Vram just scratching his helmet again with his palm looked confused to Josephine’s remark [But you’re the one who told me not to talk.] As he replied Josephine.

[Well I think it’s already safe to consider us safe without somebody’s overheard us.] [Also, you seem quite sharp, so I think you’ll know the time when you could talk or not, right?]

It looked like Josephine’s was quite expecting something from Vram, as she looked up to Vram with her blinking eyes piercing straight right at him.

[… I did able to sense Miss Yohana’s presence right when we’re about to get out from that place, but I don’t think you should expect much since I’m still having a hard time sensing a creature whom were able to hide its presence.]

[OHO~❤! As expected~❤!] [Then shall we have a little chat before we’re reaching the place? Since it doesn’t seems like we’re going to reach it quickly~❤] As she said that, she began to hug Vram’s arm and rubbing her face against it.

[Is it really that far? I have confidence in my stamina, though I can’t say the same for you, Master….]

[I’m fine~❤] [I’ve always been coming here at least once a week, so this much is nothing~❤]

[… You’re tougher than you look.]

As they continued on their journey, Vram did ask a lot of things regarding his own situation. The first thing he’s going to clarify is the witch’s existence. As mentioned before, witches are people whom were able to use magic without the uses of any catalyst. Josephine’s actually didn’t understand the concept of using catalyst as medium, mainly because she’s a native. So Vram had to elaborate some of the current magic system he knows.

Magic mainly operates from a formula which was made in order to bend, force, or even create a natural phenomenon by writing them with Rune Words. After the formula is written, it will processed itself using the energy gained from somewhere and started to unleash the formula result, which was referred as magic.
With that said, there was a need for a human to use mediums as means of writing those formulas in order to unleash magic. It can be said that these medium can be of anything, as long as it can withstand the flowing energy inputted from writing the rune formula.

Josephine’s actually surprised since the process of normal magic spelling was almost the same as the humans, by the exception that their magic didn’t need to use any medium at all.

[Rather, we wrote them right inside our head, after that we just unleashed them by converting an amount of these said energy to compliment the formula we’ve created inside our head.]

By that logic, it was safe to assume that these witches actually using their own body as a medium in order to unleash the magic. It’ll completely cut the processing time of magic whilst being able to use multiple magic at the same time. Vram deduced that the reason these witches are being exiled was due to the reason that how efficient their magical ability was.

The second thing he wanted to clarify was about how the witches operate. What surprised Vram the most is that witches never had a male descendant since long times after their exile. It was also mentioned that actually, every witches can get pregnant no matter what kind of creature inseminated them. It was deduced that since the way they use magic had a different nature than the other humans, it changes the way their body operates biologically. As a result, not only does the children they bear would ended up having the same nature as their parents, the child also had the potential of turning into a witch.

[That’s why we didn’t have any male human at our places.] [If we ever need to copulate, we can always use our own familiar to inseminate us. ] [Since it’s also served as a way to restore a familiar’s energy, it’s quite convenient for us.]

As he heard Josephine’s explanation, Vram can only let out a long sigh as he scratched his head confused.
[Does that mean that one day I have to do that with you, Master?]

[Of course~❤] As she said that cheerfully, this left Vram being awkward all by himself.

But he wasn’t stopping at that, as there are various questions linger like how did they procure resources, culminating food, their lifestyle, common occurrence, protection around the populace, their hierarchy, and so on. While sometimes Josephine’s quite taken aback by how much information demanded from her whilst left her confused, she was quite happily chatted with Vram as it was the happiest moment of her life.
But as they almost reached their destination, Vram begin to ask one question that somehow left a bitter taste on Josephine.

[Then… how are we familiar being treated?] [If I’m not mistaken, familiars were supposed to be the same as a slave, as their sole mission was to tend to their masters.]

Hearing such statements, Josephine put on such a complex facial expression in her face. It was a face devoid of her cheerfulness as her frowns keeps getting darker with her eyes keeps getting darker and tears almost collected in her void brown eyes, but still trying her best to keep smiling all the time.

[... Is that so…?] [If that’s the case… I guess it would be easier for us witches should we’ve thought like that from the very beginning.]

Her last sentences left Vram confuses as he ponder to why would his master put on such grim expression on her face. Before long, they’ve finally reached their destination.

***

A gentle, breezing wind can be felt through the entrance of the place. A solemn feeling can be felt through his armor onto his inner side. A little bit of shiver can be seen covering up Josephine’s body as they entered the place. Many stone tablet can be seen popping out from the ground, as there are many kind of flower and grass growing out of them, but with so little weed to be seen.

[… A graveyard…?]

Vram tried to ask Josephine her reason of coming here, but after seeing her devastated expression lingering on her face, Vram decided to hold himself back.

[This here is a resting place for the familiar whom are dying before its master’s demise.]

It was explained that Familiar is akin to monsters that have been summoned in order to fulfill their master needs. As such, they need to be constantly received their master’s energy or they’ll be disintegrated right away. That said, the moment that a master had finally meet their end, their Familiar will be also disintegrated right away as a part of their contract. But a familiar that ended up dying before its master will ended up leaving some parts of its previous body.

[To think that this place would treat their own familiar this way… I guess I should be impressed.]

[… Is it such a rare occasion for a familiar to be treated this way outside?]

[More like they don’t even care what would’ve happened to their own familiar.]

[… Is that so…?]

The moment Josephine’s stopped talking, she went deeper and started to sit down while at the same time, she started to clean up the weed and moss that’s covering the graveyard.

[… Is it possible that… I’m not the first familiar you’ve ever summoned?]

Josephine’s just nodding lightly as she keeps pinching and pulling out the weed and moss on the grave. As Vram finally decided to stay silent and helped her to clean up the grave.

[… Thank you….]

As both of them helped each other in cleaning up the grave, Vram somehow quite good with pulling out the weed, so the job went by without a cinch. But as soon as they finished weeding one grave, Josephine started to move onto the next grave. This left Vram with confused and perplexed expression shown on his gesture.

[… You know Vram?] [I did explain to you that when we need to copulate, we’re doing it with our familiar, right?] [It’s actually become our primal needs that we need to do one, in order to further increasing our ability as witches.] [I don’t know about the details, but as long as we’re being hunted by the humans, there’s no way for us to be loved by them, to be hugged by them.] [That’s why; we turned our love into our familiar.] [Most witches here always ended up having their one and only familiar they ever summoned, no matter how weak they are.]

As Vram tried to get himself together, he immediately went and helped Josephine cleaned the other grave as soon as possible. Whilst trying to suppress his emotion while listening to her.

[Before long, it has become something normal to summon familiar in order to become your family, not as someone whom always fulfill the need of their masters.] [We summoned them, because we wanted to, and we needed to be loved.]

Thus that explains Josephine’s insistence of not wanting to cancel the summoning and decided to keep me in this world. Her clingy attitude was also caused by how much losing one familiar devastated her so much. And that also explain why would Yohana reminding her of taking care of me.

[But then again….] [Losing a Familiar… is not something that I can get used to, no matter how many times it had happened to me.]

[What?]

As if he was being attacked by a wild beast all of a sudden, Vram just jumped back surprised and letting out such remark.

[Since a familiar was meant to love and to be loved by us, we would always use everything we’ve had in order to protect them.] [But somehow, my familiars….]

She tried to hide it by keep lowering her head to the ground, but it can be seen that her tears had already reached the ground. Vram tried to observe the situation around the graveyard a little bit longer. It can be seen that some grave still had many weeds covering them by an odd amount. By total, there are at least around 20 to 30 graves lingering here, but the graves that looked like it had been maintained well are about 2/3 of the total graves in here.

{By any chances… could it be… that most of these familiar were belongs to….}

He could hear Josephine’s sobbing as she tried so hard to pull one weed while shivering a lot, unable to pull it. Her dirty left hand keep rubbing of her eyes, wiping out the tears collected in her face.
Seeing such pitiful state, Vram couldn’t hold back and started to pull Josephine’s arm. [Eh?] As he turns her body right at Vram and hugged her tighly inside his chest. As if he’s trying to calm her down, he also stroked Josephine’s hair gently.

[I’m sorry, Master…. That my armor was dead cold.]

[I… I... *hic… U…. UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!]

A wail finally released off her throat throughout the place as she let out all of her building-up tears that she’s been holding back all these time. For many years she had to endure the pain of losing someone she would’ve loved and loved her back, over and over again. In Vram head, comes out an image of a little girl keep sobbing as she cleaned up a grave of a familiar. It was weird for him to be able to imagine such thing, but as he looking up to those images he keeps hugging Josephine tightly in order to ease her trouble.

The wailing keep on going for a long time, as Vram decided to renew his oath of loyalty for his own master.

[This I will promise you, Master.] [That I shall be together with you from now on, and forever.]

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 3

It is almost evening, as Vram and Josephine finally finished with their assignment and finally returning, or in Vram’s case, visiting Josephine’s home.

[Thanks to you, the cleaning went faster than usual~❤]

Josephine smiled happily as usual it completely erased her tears. Most people won’t even realize that Josephine had cried her heart all out. Seeing such smile, Vram looked like he wanted to reply in a good manners, but at the end, he ended up only nodding.

[Eeee~??? Why are you being quiet again???] [… Ah?]

As Josephine’s finally realized, a bunch of people was seen coming to where both Josephine’s and Vram came from. Without long, both Josephine and Vram had been surrounded by a massive crowd of female witches. All of them looked very young in Vram’s eyes that he had trouble controlling himself.

[Hey hey, Josephine, who’s he??] [Is it a familiar? It somehow resembles us a lot!!!] [Is it strong as usual?] [What kind of ability does he have right now?] [Does he eat and sleep just like us?] [Does it have quite a good stamina?] [Does it have a big *rod*?] [Does it even procreate?] [….] [….] [….]

The content of the curious younger witches left Josephine and Vram both confused, as Vram tried to cover his confusing gesture. But it was as what Josephine had deduced; there was never a case where a Familiar can speak, let alone interact with each other. Somehow, if words got out that Josephine had called a talking familiar, she afraid that Vram would be used for something he didn’t like.

There’s also a case where a familiar took their own independent action without having been ordered by their master, but it can only be achieved by a familiar whom have been bonded with their master for a long time, or it’s quite an irregular monster. Though considering Vram himself was quite an irregular, he would be able to do those things by himself.

As Vram tried to ascertain his situation, he was surrounded, rubbed, pinched, and groped by most of the witches out there. This leaves Josephine with jealousy over him [HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE TOUCHING!?!] As she shouted seeing one girl had trying to aim for Vram’s nether region.
While pretending to act as a familiar whilst remain stout from the junior witches’ attack, Vram tried to listen to their conversation in order to know better about this place. It seems that this place, which was called Witch Village, was segregated into many areas, while mainly split their rank based on how strong their magic as well as how far their knowledge developed.

It seems that this place was an intermediate class area, which specialized in Familiar Summoning. With that said, it’s quite simple to say that in order to move onto the higher rank, one should’ve had a familiar strong enough to move onto the next rank.

{Despite her personality, her magic actually quite good.} {Must be because of her recent losing familiar that ended up having her stuck in this class.}

As Vram tried to pry more onto this business, he found out quite a shocking truth regarding the Familiar Summoning. It seems that, in order to summon one, a witch must prepare many sacrifices to use as a material. Heard that some of the junior witches had used many things from animal, plant, resources, and monster alike.

[So, what kind of material you’re using right now, Senior?] [Is it the usual rare monster thing?]
[Umm… yeah.] [Also, I added some compound made from a purified magic crystal and the ones which had a thick miasma.]

[Eeeh?] [What for????]

[It seems that when these two contradictive energy sources counteract each other, the force it would gather will be bigger than usual.] [And with these force, a massive amount of energy will gather around the summoning altar.] [But to balance the force between these two energy source would need quite high concentration, so one must took great care of it when trying to do these~❤]

[[[[[[[[[[OK~~!!!]]]]]]]]]]

Vram was quite surprised seeing her knowledge had grown that far. Even if he didn’t use magic, such feat was unheard of, so it seems that Vram’s admiration to her grow even larger. And also, that explain the reason how could Josephine even be able to summon something like “him”.

[Hmm…] [As usual, quite an exquisite Familiar you have there, Naked Princess~]

Suddenly the surrounding went tense, as one girl accompanied by the two girls behind her had come visiting Josephine. The girl with red, brownish wavy hair accompanied with a violet blue haired girl and a sharp bright blonde haired girl visited Josephine.

[Senior Hildegarde~?]

From what the other junior girls whispered to each other, it seems that these people were Josephine’s Senior-by-age even though all of them actually had the same rank. The trio girls were quite known for their boastful attitude among the junior, as the same were also the case with Josephine.

Vram also recognize their name as Hildegarde, the seemed-to-be leader of the group, also her companion Christine & Rosalinda. With attire that could also be comparable to Josephine’s nakedness, a black-laced frill underwear that was almost see-through, combined with her frilly yet transparent robe, she’s almost practically naked, though not much worse than Vram’s master herself. By the way, Naked Princess was a title bestowed upon Josephine because she herself never wore a piece of clothes since she was small.

[But then again, what’s with that?] [Just because you’ve had a new familiar that looked like that, you started to wear some clothes?]

Those statements made everyone almost opened wide their eyes, realizing that Josephine started to wore some clothes. This surprises everyone as much because not everyone realizes it because they were too much focused on Vram, which was quite unique himself in these village.

[Th… this is circumstances!!] [If I don’t wear one, he’ll start rampaging here and there, and I’m powerless to stop him!!]

{Well, that’s quite true, though I don’t really think you could even call it “rampaging”….} is what Vram’s thinking at the moment. But it’s true that those clothes are what you would call “circumstances” regarding her ownership of Vram.

[Humh!] [Your current familiar looked smaller and weaker than what you’ve called before, and you’re having trouble with it?] [Guess in the end you wouldn’t advance that much in this class as usual~!]
[YAY~❤!] [Weak! Weak! Naked Princess is Weak!] [Guess it’s finally your time to shine on the stage, Lady Hilda~❤!] Rosalinda giving Josephine her mocking words as she praised Hildegarde over and over again.

[Umm… but her current familiar looked a lot like human, isn’t that weird no matter how you saw it?]
As one of the junior spoke on behalf of everyone’s curiosity, Hildegarde just clicked her tongue and replied to them with spiteful face.

[HA!] [Looked like human?!] [Have you guys ever seen what human was like even once?!] [Besides, if it’s a human, can it even talk!?] [Can it understand what we’ve been saying all this time?!] [If it could do at least those things, then I’ll start to acknowledge it as a human!]

Though her words have silenced everyone, Josephine could only smile awkwardly mainly because she already knows that Vram could talk.

[Now with this, I guess you understand that you should never underestimate your senior.][Understand, Naked Princess~?]

[I understand, Senior Hildegarde.]

Though it may seem to be forced, Hildegarde was preferred to be called a senior in front of Josephine, as Josephine just gladly called her that way. Josephine’s face keep looking downward as she shows her dry smile, while Hildegarde looked unsatisfied with her answer.

[Rosa, Chris, we’re out.] As Hildegarde turned her back and leaving away the location

[Yes.] Christine, the girl with the violet blue haired girl answered with calm demeanor as she follows Hildegarde in the back.

[Aye, ma’am!] Rosalinda, the blonde ones also happily tailed both of them from behind.

As the three girls finally leaves the scene, the girls whispered to each other and badmouthing them while some of the girls tried to console Josephine. Josephine, on the other hands, were just smiling thorough it.

As if Vram’s feeling uneasy, he started to stay closer to Josephine, much to other girls’ shriek of jealousy. But in the end Josephine just looked calm after Vram went closer to her.

***

The two of them finally reached what was seemed to be a “house” for witches. At first glance it may have seemed to be just a simple 2-floor tent, but the insides of the tent were something like a exquisite 3-4 floor condominium. With size comparable on its own, they could even fit family-size furniture inside. The ornaments inside the tent were quite exquisite as it was filled with many kind of embroidery and sculptures of many shapes. But what surprises Vram the most was….

[… Quite an extraordinary magical barrier you have here.]

[Ehehe, thanks~❤] [Though at first I’m a little bit worried whether it could hold on if your magic resistance were in effect.]

It seems that Josephine realized from the time they first met, Vram had something that could resist a force of magic within certain degree. This explains the reason why at the very beginning Vram was able to survive from Josephine’s attack unscathed.

[By the way, you sure you should be talking right now?] [Not worried whether someone would overhear you?]

[When you put up these strong soundproof around your room?] As Vram said that while knocking on the tent’s wall.

[Oh, you realize that?] [Some people say that whenever I’m too focused in my training, I ended up raising my voice higher than usual.] [Also, I don’t really like the noise that’s happening outside.]
[So it blocked both outside and inside’s noise each other.]

Vram continued to inspect the surrounding of Josephine’s house, as Josephine just blankly stares at Vram confused.

[What are you doing?]

[Inspecting the place, what else?]

[What for?]

[In case of burglar or something along those lines]

[….] As Vram replied her, Josephine just stand there dumbfounded at his reply to her question, and finally, [Pfft…!] [AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH~❤!!!]

As if Vram is doing something illogical, Josephine just went laughing out loud that, if not for the soundproof covering the whole room, it could be heard throughout the whole village.

[What?] [Am I doing something weird?]

[B… but…] [It somehow feels weird for a familiar to care that much about things like that.] [Ahah…. AHAHAHAHAHAH~❤!!]

Vram just scratched his helmet confused at her reaction as he just keep inspecting and sometimes cleaning up the places, which cracked Josephine even more as Vram just keep doing his things while look confused.

After Vram finished rounding up the whole room, both of them finally sit down on what you could call it a living room. With Josephine sitting apart from him in a seiza-style, where both of her legs were being closed tight and being kept under her as she puts her hands on both of her thighs. While Vram just slovenly sitting, with his right knee pointing upward, putting his right hand on top of it as his left hand supporting his whole body, while he put his left leg forward.

[You’re… surprisingly carefree….]

[Hmm?]

[Well it’s just… seeing how you tidy up the whole room this whole time, I thought of you as someone whom always put things orderly.]

[Well, above all I’m a paladin, so….]

[Hmm?]

[We never sit when we’re in front of our lord.]

Josephine can’t count just how much she’s been taken aback by how different their culture against his own, as she just keeps widening her eyes against him.

[But… you’re sitting beside me right now….]

[Because you practically begged for it.]

[We… well… It feels weird for my own family to just standing there all days when I’m just sitting here nicely….]

[Come to think of it….] [You surprisingly had a neat way of sitting considering the way you dressed up.]

[It was the Elder’s teaching.] [A proper way of sitting will train your posture and breathing control, which in return give a proper feedback when releasing a magic.]

[That’s amusing.] [But you’re also quite stunning for also able to follow it through.]

[Ehehe~❤] [Anyway, should we continue where we left of before~?]

[You seem to be enjoying yourself.]

[Ehehehe~❤] [How could I not?] [A talking familiar is something everyone looked forward to.]

They progressed together with their chat, mainly Josephine asking and telling about something private which only both of them who knew. At first, Josephine tried to tell Vram about herself. It seems that every witch never had a mother. I can’t deduce the cause, but it may be caused by the strange ability they had, since it put a lot of strain on their body themselves. Not to mention the chance for getting pregnant by any kind of creature is quite high.

[Witches are like the total opposite of the elves.]

[Elves?]

[Another races from another region.] [I only met few of them, so I can’t really say that I knew about them.] [I’ll fill the details about it later.]

[Hmm…] [It’s just getting mysterious all of a sudden, the outer world.]

[You never ever went outside?]

[Ah yeah, I may have forgot to tell you this.] [You do know that we’re an exiled race right?]

[Yeah, so?]

[And where would you think is it?] [An exiled place where witches could expand its territory and lived secluded?]

[... Don’t tell me....]

[Yup~❤] [We’re in the very same places that most human would prefer to evade than to crashed here.]

The Forbidden Continent, Helven

This world, which we usually call “Infinus”, consists of many island encircled together creating 4 continents altogether. Among those continents, exist one continent that makes it so dangerous that people ended up banned the continent from the map, hence the name. The cause of such danger was that the continent itself somehow filled with many kind of high-class monster that could endanger even one whole kingdom with its presence. It is also said that when there exist a creature that could endanger a whole kingdom, that said creature could be coming from the said continent.

[That’s why, unless we have some other way to survive on the outer side, there’s no way elder would’ve let us went outside.]

[I see, and to support their survival capabilities, a familiar is needed.] [It’s understandable now why such extremes measures were needed here.]

[Ehehe~❤] [Actually even if you’re actually a human, I’m kinda glad that you’re an understanding person.]

[Meaning?]

[Truth is, the Elder always told us that most humans cannot be reasoned with.] [When they met one of us, either they started to kill or capture us.]

[….]

[But you didn’t do something wrong.] [In fact, I’m happy when you said that you would become my familiar, considering your capabilities.]

[It’s not that there’s a harm in it, so why not?]

[… I hope that’s really the case….]

As Josephine tilted her head a bit downward, she went closer to Vram’s location while trying to lean toward him together with her endearing smile.

[Hmm?]

[Vram…] […. Will you… always stay right by my side…?]

[… Aren’t you tired asking the same question over and over again?] [… But I shall do so, Master.]

[… Thanks….]

***

The stars have lifted up brightly. The “moon”, though it may be a little different than the moon we all know very much of, shines brightly. Such view was a sight for Vram even as a monster.

{It’s kinda soothing. Wonder if it’s because of the moon.} {It’s full now, so since I was a monster, guess it’s kinda affecting me too.} {But I guess every monsters in this city also experienced the same thing.}

Vram was standing outside of the “tent”, guarding the front guard. Josephine actually never ordered such things, but since he couldn’t sleep at all, he decided to stand outside gazing at the light. Just then, a little thread of light suddenly comes out of the front door where Vram stand besides. As Vram’s instinct were quite keen, he realized that the thread of light were anything but normal. As he tried to follow it while observing it, he found out that the light had carrying something from inside. He hurried and chasing the light as the light suddenly picked up its speed.

***

Vram reached somewhere faraway from civilization, but as he tried to observe the area, he deduced that he was still inside the Witch’s Village. As the thread of light suddenly vanished and dropped the thing, he quickly picked the thing that was seemed to be a frame. The picture inside was of an adult female together with a little girl that he knows all too well.

{Josephine…?} {That means the woman’s… her mother?} {But how could this picture even existed… I mean, doesn’t she lost her mother right after she’s born?}

*SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!

As he still fixated over the picture’s meaning, a swirl of fireball flying straight ahead against Vram.

*BAM!!!!

With his quick reflexes, Vram repelled the fireball with his palm while trying to protect the picture by hiding it inside his body.

[Hmm… I thought this one’s weaker than before, but it somehow had greater speed and resistance better than the last one.]

As the voice follows, a group of witches coming out from their hiding places together with their familiar. The group consisted of more than 20 witches, mainly the ones from the villages where Josephine lives. They are all witches that had coming and talking to Josephine right after she finished cleaning up the graveyard.

{What’s the meaning of this?}

[Hey look!] [It confused!!] [Ahahahahah!] [Guess that naked idiot gave it another weird order again!] [It looked weak!] [Can it even be useful to us?!?]

Many kinds of insults, creepy laugh, and spiteful remark happened right in front of Vram. Though it may be because none of them knew that Vram were able to understood and spoke their words.

[Well since I’m the one whom started all of this, I shall gladly tell you what’s happening, Josephine’s Familiar~❤] [What’s happening to you right now is what had been happened to Josephine’s former familiar the whole time.]

As she spoke the words, she lets out something that looked a lot like a fragment, a fragment of what seemed to be a Mana Source.

[This will be what’s left of you as a familiar.] [You familiar called by her somehow always come out as the most unique and strong familiar ever.] [I don’t like it, and I killed her very first familiar, and took away what’s left of it, which, this stone essence.] [And now, look!] [A very beautiful mana sources from it!] [So pure, so thick, so MAGNIFICENT!] [And as every familiar she called goes by, the quality of these sources keeps increasing!]

While she started to shouting and explaining, she licked the fragment over and over again until she was bored.

[And sometimes, these stones are too much to handle to me, so I asked the others to help me and we shall share the loot together.] [Neatly, these stones always been able to fill the need of our familiars!] [She makes a good farming stone, you hear~~❤!]

[And what’s the funniest part of it?] [You can’t speak~!] [So even if you were able to survive our first attack, we’ll just keep coming right at you to seal the deal~!] [Whoops, but you don’t even understand what we’ve been saying all along~❤!] [Poor things, to be called by such incompetence of all people~]

The witches around him laughed hard like a madman. What was seemed to be a monsters and a man seems to be flipped through.

[For now, you shall be our NEXT prey!] [Consider it an honor to be slain by my familiar, whom have reached the height of greater ones thanks to something like you!!]

[GET HER, GIRLS!!!!!!!]

All of the witches and the familiar started ganging up on Vram, as he readied his posture in order to engage against his opponent. It’ll be quite a long night for Vram, whom have just been summoned at the very first day.

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 4

[Vram?!]

As if being shocked by something, she suddenly woke up and jerked around her bed. Afraid of losing something, she quickly searched around her house.

[Vram…? Where are you…?]

She keeps searching here and there, but to no avail. All she ever recognize are the dark surrounding and the silence that went on. If Vram was there the whole time, he would take no time to replied back to her. But he didn’t, no such answer came out from him.

[No… please don’t leave me alone….]

Although she still forgot to wear anything, at least she still brings a sheet of blanket from her bed. With her teary eyes and reddish cheek, she started to go outside of her tent to find Vram.

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!

A sound of explosion can be heard from afar, as if it was anything but ordinary followed by a flash of light and smoke coming out.

[No…!]

Keep sensing such danger and bad feeling. Josephine started to run toward the source of lights as fast as possible.

***

[What is this…!?!?]

A pale face combined with their widened up eyes and gaped mouth, such is the expression of those whom have saw such terrible event that had happened right in front of their eyes.

*GROAAAAAAAAA

A three-headed beast with yellow reddish hair around its head and giant fang on its mouth are charging onto the black-armored familiar whom also charged toward the beast. As the beast waving its hand right at Vram, Vram used his metal gloves to block its claw as he pushed his palm toward the beast’s stomach.

*BAM!!

With force supported from below, Vram blown the chimera sky-high as he quickly turned his body toward his back. A slender scaled creature with its poison fang, added with some feet and claw quickly thrust its neck forward aiming at Vram’s neck. But Vram just quickly turned around its neck and whipped the neck with his right hand.

*THWACK!

Many other familiars also charged onto him. A Flame-like beast with long canine and gums. A yellow-ish feather-winged creature with beak and fangs at its feet. A beast with also long canine and gums, but not with flame, only wings on its back . A 6-legged scaled creature with sharp eyes and poisoned fang. Many of these creatures keep charging up at Vram. But Vram just keep blowing them up or whipped them using his bare-hand equipped with his metallic black gauntlet only. This has been going on for a while, yet there are no sign of him getting tired even after getting flanked here and there.

[WAIT!] [WHY ARE YOU ALL JUST STANDING RIGHT THERE!?!?!?!?] [ATTACK HIM!] [ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

The one whom have seemed to be their leader keep ordering her companion to attack Vram with magic. As many magic circle have appeared either from their hand, on the air, on the ground below Vram, or in the air around Vram, the witches finally chant the spell

*BLAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

*DUAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

*BLAAAAR!!!!

*BYAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

Many kinds of spell continuously attacked Vram here and there, and only smoke could be seen from there. The girls can only looked smilingly worried as their leader puffed up her chest seemingly satisfied.

But what comes next completely froze them all up. As the smoke finally cleared up, a man, which they hope should’ve been grounded completely, stood there silently while not having that much damage even after that much magic had been shoot.

[Wh… what is he?] [He just keep repelling our attacks!!] [No! Our magic had no effect at all from the very beginning!!!!] [It’s scary!!!]

The terrifying scene made the other girls frozen in place, afraid of what has becoming of Vram. As the girl looked terrified, the Familiar also had such pale expression on their face, but still trying to protect their master regardless.

{… Guess no matter what, they still ended up loyal toward their masters.}

And as if he already knows the obvious, all this time Vram never ever took the fight seriously since the beginning, and only guarding and blowing them up all the time. That what caused him to be still so composed regardless of how many those monsters tried to attack him. Also, it never crossed his mind whether to kill them or not.

[YOU ALL ARE SO USELESS!!!] [DO YOU REALLY NEED ME TO GO EVERY TIMES WE’RE DEFEATING HER FAMILIAR!!!] [Then you all shall see what I, Mariabelle, shall show you people again how to appropriately hunt this one!!]

As she flailed her hands upward and whip it back towards Vram, a creature appear all of a sudden behind Vram, surprising him.

[Gh!!!]

Vram quickly jerked backward, trying to evade what was seemed to be a slashing attack towards him.

*SCHRAAAAAAAAAK!!!

But Vram couldn’t completely evade it. No, Vram should’ve been completely evading it, at least he think he is. But the scratch in his torso is completely real. And it’s not just scratching; the smokes around it were quite thick. The attack comes completely deep that, if not for his absolute defensive ability, he would’ve been split in two.

{Air Blade? Wind Slash? Either way, what caught me off guard the most is its ability to completely hide its presence, despite its size.}

The creature, a primate with overall shape looked almost human-like, but much white fur covering its whole body together with its tail, and it’s slender yet tall featured body that about more than 2 meter. But what makes it more terrifying was that its whole body was covered in golden, glittering armor. Though not as thick as Vram’s armor, the gold things covering its whole body makes it as hard as his. Its claw also equipped in the same manner as its body. The tail was also equipped with something like a golden Axe. And lastly, its face mostly covered in gold, only had viewed its visor. And the other striking feature is its golden-clad wings, spread through the whole area.

[Hum hum hum!] [Looks like you’re quite surprised.] [This is my familiar, Hanna, nurtured from having killed too many of her familiar.] [And you’re also going to be a part of it~!]

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH

The familiar, named Hanna, letting out quite terrifying screams, incompatible with its cute name. Its gum can be seen from behind its helmet that uncovered the moment it let out such screams.

[KILL IT!!!!]

Hanna quickly jumped towards Vram while waving its right hand, slashing right at him. As Vram clicked his tongue, he jumped toward the monsters and moved his right hand at Hanna’s arm.

*BHAK

Vram linked his arm with Hanna’s arm, completely blocking Hanna’s air claw.

SCREEEEEEEEECH

Furious after seeing its move cancelled like that, Hanna furiously whipped both of its hand toward Vram, as Vram just continuously blocked each and every hit Hanna lets out. More furious, Hanna just keep screaming like a mad primate all over as it keeps attacking Vram relentlessly.

[HANNA!!!]

*Kii!!!

As if being pulled by something, Hanna suddenly stopped moving and jumped back, responding to Mariabelle’s order. Before Vram could even realize it, a flash of light suddenly went right at Vram’s head.

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

It was Mariabelle. As she ordered Hanna to pull back, she quickly shot out a giant ball of light straight onto Vram. It was quite an explosion, with a range Vram wouldn’t be able to dodge with those size as well as the timing combined with the sudden attack. It’s not an exaggeration that it’s already over the moment such magic hits him.

But as usual, Vram just standing there without even flinching, though surprised a little bit. The girls around just shivering seeing such magnificent stand.

[I see.] [It was a magic resistance ability.] [It may have been the usual business, but to be able to summon such a things as a familiar, I wouldn’t say It’s as expected from her….] [… That b**ch really gets on my nerves…!!!]

*SCREEEEEEEEECH

Just when the smoke almost cleared, whip-like things suddenly went toward Vram’s head. Surprised, Vram quickly rolled sideway to evade it. It was Hanna’s tail, the golden-axed one. The sharpness of those axe were a class on its own, to be able to unleash another air blade cutting through the tree behind him.

[But somehow you still looked weaker compared to what she’s been summoning all this time~!]

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH

Hanna just keeps charging at Vram with both of his claw, combined with its tail-axe, whipping and slashing through Vram. Though Vram was able to fend most of its attack, the attack was too fierce that Vram’s having a hard time blocking and blowing most of its attack.

[HAVING A HARD TIME, AREN’T WE?!?] [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!]

As Mariabelle laughing madly seeing Vram struggled against Hanna’s attack, Hanna just keeps increasing its speed, cornered Vram at its feet.

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH

*PRAKK!!!!

It stopped. It suddenly stopped. The barrage of attack that had been released by Hanna abruptly stop. The mad laughing also stopped, or at the very least, it changed into something of awe. The surrounding witches whom have seeing this, though not laughing, are changing their expression from scared, into surprise.

*ssssssssssssh……..

A shield. A black, silverfish shield was raised in Vram’s left hand. It repelled both the tail axe and the claw, and at the same time, Vram’s right hand had been facing forward the whole time, while clenching his fist hard. It can be seen that Hanna’s already thrown off far away from Vram, and in its torso, a fist-shaped mark had been carved onto Hanna’s armor.

[HANNA!!!!]

Mariabelle screamed unconsciously. No matter who she is, it seems that every witch will always care for their own familiar no matter what. But the same case also available for the familiar.

*kieeee

Though having its body blown away, and being punched, penetrated the armor, Hanna tried to stand. And once again it prepares its claw and tail, trying to outmatch Vram again. Vram just readied its shield in front of him and take his stance.

*KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

As Hanna takes its step towards Vram and almost clashed on….

*CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!

***

{Vram…} {Vram…!} {Vram…!!!}

As if being possessed, Josephine frantically runs through the forest with her bare legs. It can be seen of such scratch and blood coming out from her feet. But she couldn’t care less, in her mind, she could only think of her new family member that disappear all of a sudden right in front of her again.

*CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!

The explosion is near. The impact can be felt through the wind force. She already reached the place where she intended to be. As the worries keep increasing, she keeps increasing her running speed.

[VRAAAAAAAAAAM!!]

The moment she got out of the wood, she saw a figure. A figure seems human enough, appeared in front of her. With his body covered in full-clad armor, black. With its white hair tailing around the back of its helmet, a shoulder pad with an insignia of some country from far away yet drowned in blue color. It was a figure she’s been dying to see, hoped to see, and wished to see.

[Vram!!!]

Hearing her voice, the figure looked back. What he saw was also a figure, a person whom have been dying to see, hoped to see, and wished to see him.

{Master…}

But he couldn’t spoke the words, as it was banned by his master herself. But all of it doesn’t matter, as Josephine jumped out and start to hug Vram tightly.

[Idiot!!] [Why are you leaving me all alone by yourself!!] [You’re my family, so please, stay by my side!!!!!]

Angry, yet happy tears are flowing after having to hold it off for so long while searching for Vram. But as she didn’t even care of her attire currently, she paid no mind to what had happened to her body, her feet, or even her face.

[….]

Though Vram wanted to point out her attire, he wouldn’t. He already knows better than anyone else, which she’s been panicking, trying to search for him. Feeling guilty, Vram returns to hug her back, as Josephine’s just smiling and keep hugging him tightly.

[Now, would you care to explain what had been happened here, Maria?]

From the smoke, arise two figure that quite hard to distinct. But the voice can be clearly heard, it was a voice of someone whom are so important in the city. With her striking gradient green-blue hair, and a pair of framed two-transparent mirror on her face, combined with her gaudy appearance of green-white combination, appears. Yohana, facing towards Maria with Yohana, facing towards Maria, glared at her with her sharp eyes.

[What’s the meaning of this, Maria…?]

[What?] [Have I done something wrong at all?]

[Don’t play dumb with me.] [Every time Josephine’s familiar were involved, you’re always there first.] [What are you trying to pull all this time?]

[Hey, just because I always the first one at the scene, it doesn’t give you any right to judge me!] [Besides, look!] [The one whom are hurt badly are Hanna! Not hers!!!]

It was quite a sound judgement. Seeing most of the familiar around were somehow quivering in fear and the strongest familiar between them were Hanna, almost unconscious after being hit once by Vram.

[It was that GUY whom after me this whole time!] [You do realize it right?] [All of her summoned familiar, each and every one of them were quite a brutal ones!] [Not to mention that things were also looked a lot like humans!] [The ones whom drive us away to these dangerous continent!!!]

[But that doesn’t mean her familiar were all brutal!]

[Then can you give me some proof?!] [You can’t, can you~!?!?] [Unless her familiar could talk like us and understand what we’ve been saying all this time, then you don’t have any right to say that~!]

Although it was quite an accurate reasoning, Josephine twitched a little since there’s a flaw. Vram’s ability to communicate. If, by sheer of luck, Vram decided to speak and reveal everything to Yohana, then it’s checkmate. But from the very beginning, Vram decided to abide by his master’s words to a fault.

The same could be said for Josephine. She sensed that something’s wrong with her familiar and the other witches. But afraid of something irreplaceable would be happened, she decided to not talk about it.

[Then are you prepared for what happened next, Josephine?]”

Suddenly another woman, though looked as young as the other witches, her facial expression, as well as their gesture were that of an older woman, appear. With her white, thick hair flowing out here and there, her purple, deep eyes shine brightly together with the pale bright moon on the sky. Also donned a transparent white-purplish color covering her whole body, yet her figure can be seen through thanks to the piercing light of the moonlight.

{Do every witches here loves to show off their body figure?} was what Vram had think the moment he saw such figure appear before her.

[Elder Endrossa....]

{Oh yep, this sure one raunchy population here, Witches Village.} As Vram finally confirmed the situation.

The Elder, named Endrossa, just went closer toward Josephine, whom have been hugging Vram tightly all this time, and Vram, whom have just been standing there silently.

[Josephine, stay away.]

[No…!]

[… You’re as stubborn as ever….] [Then, bind him with your absolute obedience.] [If you do, I’ll try to decrease its punishment.]

[Wait!] [What has Vram done to be punished?!?!]

[You can see it for yourself, the damage he had inflicted to the other familiar….]

[N… no… Vram, you would never do something like that, aren’t you?]

Though reluctant to answer, Vram cannot deny that he’s the one whom have hurt the other familiar, so he just stay there silently.

[Vram…?]

[… Josephine, unleash the absolute obedience right now…!]

[… I….]

[I don’t think she could, Elder~…] Suddenly Maria interrupted as she tried to tell her something.

[What do you mean?]

[That man had a strong magic resistance on its body.] [My strongest magic couldn’t even do things to it.]

[… Is that true, Josephine…?]

[… Yes….]

[… Though it is regrettable, I decided that he’ll be kept inside the magic barrier and won’t be given any resources, food, or energy, starting right now.] [We need to at least weaken it before we’re able to control it.] [Yohana, escort it.]

[No… that’s….!!!!]

[It’s mainly your fault, both for summoning a familiar out of your league without cancelling it, and for unable to keep it under your supervision.]

[….]

Yohana started to come near Vram and asked her familiar, a creature that had a very human-like face, but combined with a scale on its skin, a fin on its ears, shoulder, hips, and ankle. A claw was also equipped on its hand. As Yohana escorting Vram, she whispered to Vram.

[… I’m sorry….]

Josephine tried to follow Vram, but Endrossa forbid her from even getting near it. Josephine just screaming and shouting Vram’s name over and over again. A mad smile can be seen on Maria’s face, as Yohana keep sulking, unable to help her junior. And Vram just silently following Yohana’s trail as he was escorted onto the place he was not supposed to be.

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 5

{….} {How long has it been…?}

A dark, damp ceiling. A black, concrete wall, written together with something magical-like. The transparent wall that’s as hard as the wall surrounding the whole room.

Vram was locked here for almost a week without food. Though the place’s quite spacious, there’s almost nothing inside. It was a cell intended to weaken a monster with quite monstrous strength and size, and since Vram’s strength, despite being as small as a normal human, was quite extraordinary, such place was decided as his cell because of those reasons.

{They were planning to lock me up here for at least a month, right?} {I wonder if Josephine could handle it herself….}

For almost every day, Vram spent his whole time doing basic training inside the room. Circling around the whole room for at least ten laps (the room size was about 70m x 45m long as the ceiling was quite high that Vram won’t even bother guessing it. It means Vram was running around 1km per laps), push up, sit up, and squat jump for about 100 times.

[… Aren’t you tired doing the same things over and over again?]

Yohana, whom somehow have been keeping watch since the very beginning, can only watch in both confusion and awe. Seeing a freshly summoned familiar to do some basic training for a whole week was not something she would’ve expected.

[Though I must say, you do look a lot like humans.] [No wonder Josephine gets attached to you in no time.] [If only you’re able to talk, it’ll be perfect as a companion.]

All this time, Vram actually had become Yohana’s talk buddy. Though she was supposed to jail watching him, she was actually trying to comfort Josephine by make sure that Vram’s fine, by initiating conversation with him.

[… It’ll be great if you really could talk, you know?] [But what I mean is… It’ll help me to caught Maria red-handed.] [It’s not that I was accusing her without proof, but I can’t help it since this is already the 57^th time it happened.] [To find her at the same crime scene that much is by no means a coincidence.] [But Elder just won’t accept my reasoning….] [Does she not care at all about what has happened to Josephine all this time?]

{I don’t think that was the case with the elder, not when Josephine admires her greatly.} {Then again, I’m surprised that she was able to roaming free that long.} {Guess that explain her high-and-mighty behavior for being able to keep killing a high-familiar summoned by Josephine all by herself.}

[… Really now, what’s the deal with Maria and the Elder….]

***

2 weeks has gone by, and unexpectedly, Maria hasn’t doing something strange at all.

{Though I could deduce the reason of why….}

While Vram was contemplating inside the cell after doing his basic training as usual, he could hear an unusual footsteps coming through the door. About 4-5 people are coming inside the cell. As Vram was wondering who’s coming in, he surprised to see someone he haven’t seen in a long time, as well as she is.

[VRAM!!!] [Are you okay?] [Aren’t you cold?] [Are you lonely???]

Like a water bursting out from its vessel after being used to contain too much water, Josephine just went ahead onto the transparent wall, holding against it, and started to spoke out everything she wanted to talk.

[Whoa whoa slow down, Junior~] [He won’t go anywhere, just take it easy~!]

[How could I, Yohana?!] [It’s been too long! Even my previous familiars never have endured such a long treatment like this!] [And how can you expect him to be fine when he almost had nothing to eat all this time?!]

[Well, seeing as how he was able to train despite such hunger and exhaustion, it seems he was fine and well.]

[Isn’t that because he doesn’t want you to worry, that he does something like that?]

From the back, another figure could be seen coming inside. It was the trio senior whom Josephine talked to before, Hildegarde, Christina, and Rosalinda.

[Wait what? You’re saying he’s doing all those things and keep listening intently to my story because he cares for me?]

[Well Vram is a good guy after all!]

[That’s just your delusion, Naked Princess] As Hilda scowl and giving Josephine a mean look.

[He… hey, c’mon, Hilda.]

[Why should I?] As she said so while stroking and waving her hair in the air.

[Uwah…. you’re as annoying as ever….]

[Huh~! You just don’t understand Lady Hilda’s greatness at all~!] Rosalinda tried to support Hildegarde from behind.

But though there are 2 people bickering on the back, Josephine doesn’t seem to be interested at all, as she just keep trying to talk to Vram in front of her.

[Vram…] [I’m sorry….]

[Wait, why are you apologizing?] Hilda just suddenly cut her out as though she just heard something that’s unacceptable.

[But… it’s….]

[It is true that some of this is your fault.] [But not everything, so it’s not like you have to feel sorry for him.]

[But….]

[Rather than feeling sorry, you need to find out how to solve these troubles.] [Anything you summon just keeps bringing trouble after all.]

[Hilda! That’s just…!!!!]

[And you just stand here, lowering your head without trying to figure it out why such things happened.] [How is that going to help your own familiar after all this time!?]

[I….]

[At least, decide.] [Are you going to hurt your familiar, or are you going to hurt everyone else.]

[Everyone else?] [Are you implying that he will slaughter every single person in this village if he were to be let roamed free, lady Hilda?] Rosalinda let out a careless remark on behalf of Hilda’s sentence

[What?] [No! I won’t let Vram do that!!!]

[But it would still hurt people.] [Even just by him existing, he’ll bring harm to other people] [Even if he didn’t do anything, just the fact that she was summoned by you, was enough to hurt other people.]

[Why would that….]

[Because fundamentally, we aren’t that much different than humans after all….]

[….]

[Lady Josephine.] Somehow, Christine, the girl whom has been standing silently besides her this whole time has stood up to talk to Josephine. [What Lady Hilda is trying to say is, that you must takes priority to what most important to you.]

[Well yeah!] Rosalinda also butt into the conversation [It’s impossible to make everybody happy after all~!]

[… I….]

[Come to think of it….] As if just realizing something, Yohana pointing something awkwardly [What are you all doing here?]

The awkward question put everyone’s lips closed silently. Even Josephine started to put on a blank face as if didn’t understand the reason of Yohana asking something like that.

{This girl sure had some guts….}

[W… well, we just following Lady Hilda here, right Chris~???]

[Yes, Lady Hilda actually decided to visit Vram here on her own whim.]

[Wh… WHY ARE YOU PUTTING ALL THE BLAME ON ME?!?!]

[So… Hilda, what are you plotting?] [Are you by any chance trying to do something to Vram when he’s weakened?]

[What are you talking about?] [… Then again, I do have something to tell him, though I’m not sure whether he would understand or not.]

Hilda takes a step closer onto the transparent wall, facing Vram with all his might.

[If you really are Josephine’s Familiar, I only have one advice for you.] [Do everything you have to do in order to survive.] [Even if by doing it, it’ll sadden your own master, you just have to do it.]

Vram was quite taken aback at what Hilda has told Vram to. Josephine, Yohana, and the two other confused at what Hilda was trying to say. But what makes them surprised the most was that Vram responded to Hilda’s advice by nodding his head.

[….] [You’ve summoned a good familiar, Josephine.]

[… Thank you, Senior Hildegarde….]

[H… hey, Josephine, did he somehow understand our language?] Yohana asking curiously.

[Hmm… is that how it is, I wonder~❤?]

***

The promised days have arrived. There are only one day left for Vram to left the jail, as Yohana finally relieved of her assignment.

[Well, guess this is it.] [Somehow being told to guard you here all by myself wasn’t as boring as what I would’ve expected.] [You sure are a good company to talk to.]

Yohana then smiled and waving at Vram as she finally went ahead to report back to Elder about his freedom. As Vram just sitting here waiting for Endrossa to come back there and open the lock for him.

{Though this is weird….} {Even if that Maria really has been killing her familiars, Hanna’s ability just won’t suffice.} {Even if Maria had some stronger magic to kill them, that’s still won’t affect the fight that much.} {If my guess is right, then this had happened many times before, which means….}

Vram tried to observe his surrounding, as if trying to ensure his bad feelings all over the room. After observing the situation a little bit, Vram tried to relax a little bit.

{… Wonder if I’m overthinking things….}

Just the moment Vram tried to think that way, he felt that someone has entered the jail. A single footstep.

[Hello there~] [Enjoying your last moment here~?]

It was Mariabelle. It is as Vram had presumed, she finally took action.

[It’s the usual moment I’ve been waiting for, you know~] [Ever since Josephine started calling out a higher-class familiar, me and Hanna had a trouble to kill them~] [Then I was thinking, what if they were weakened then I went straight for the killing.]

As she went closer onto the transparent shield, she keep her bewitching mad smiles all over her face as she keeps looking down on Vram.

[As such, this place will be your end now~]

*SRRRRRT

[KHK!!]

It’s the 2^nd time. Vram weren’t able to evade Hanna’s attack the 2^nd time, as Hanna’s main ability seems to be able to hide its own presence. As Hanna slowly appearing from the shadow, it can be seen that its tail had already choking Vram’s neck so tight that it seems that Hanna’s going to chop’em off. No, he really is going to chop them off.

[Your awareness of your surrounding is magnificent, as if you have an eye on the back of your head.] [But, Hanna’s ability will render those ability of yours useless~] [Because that ability was the sole ability Hanna had when he was just born~!] [Though useless in a straight battle, at least I can use it to obtain a greater material~!] [THROUGH YOU, THAT IS!!!]

Hanna just keep tightens the choking as the sound of metal clashing together can be heard. Vram, though seemed calm enough, were struggling in order to get away from the grapple. His hands were grabbing the tail that choking him, trying to release himself.

{It’s… no use… unless I go for the killing, I….}

[If you really are Josephine’s Familiar, I only have one advice for you.] [Do everything you have to do in order to survive.] [Even if by doing it, it’ll sadden your own master, you just have to do it.]

Suddenly Vram was reminded of what Hilda has told him before. What actually happened to him right now, is threatening his own life. Though he was a familiar, he was once a glorious knight whom always known to put priorities of other people than their own life. Vram never had any chance to consider of his own life, nor do he feel the needs to survive.

But this time, it’s different. He has a reason. A reason to keep on living. Something that would put his life on the priorities.

[... You don’t like it…? Being my familiar?]

[Why aren’t you responding me back with another talk?!] [It’s a rare occasion for me to have a talking Familiar, so I want to hear more of your story!!!]

[But then again….] [Losing a Familiar… is not something that I can get used to, no matter how many times it had happened to me.]

[Eeee~??? Why are you being quiet again???]

[Vram…] […. Will you… always stay right by my side…?]

[Why are you leaving me all alone by yourself!!] [You’re my family, so please, stay by my side!!!!!]

{Master… Josephine…!}

Vram somehow let go both of his hands from Hanna’s tail, as the choking keeps getting tighter. This somehow amuse Maria even more.

[Eheheheh!] [AHAHAHAHAHAH!] [With this, you’re mine!!!!]

Thinking that she’s already won, she let out such unsightly laughter that’s not even fit for a lady like her. But Vram, whom have just lowered his hands, suddenly take stance.

{I’m not a human.} {I’m not a Paladin anymore.} {I’m just a monster.}

Somehow Vram’s body showing a bright red line covering his whole body, centered around the chest area. The line started to gets brighter, which makes Maria stay on her toes.

{But even if I’m a monster, I still have a reason to fight!} {For the one whom I love!} {My Master!} {Master Josephine!!!}

[OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!]

*CRASS!!!

It split. A red-yellowish liquid splattered here and there. A fragment of what seemed to be a tail thrown off everywhere. A golden axe dropped on the floor.

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was Hanna’s tail. Hanna’s tail suddenly split up in pieces. No, it was slashed. The tail have been slashed onto pieces. The excessive amount of blood comes from having put too much strengths on the tail.

[HANNA!!!!]

While Hanna’s jumping back after having its tail gets chopped off, it finally took a stance. A stance of trying to run away from the dread in front of it.

It was Vram. With a single red vector line covering his whole body, the deadly aura he emitted becomes thicker. It was almost nauseous for Maria, whom has been watching from afar of Vram’s deadliness. In both of his hands was no longer a bare hand. A sword, with Silver-ornamented color on the sharp side. It was a double-edged sword with a short range, hence named the Short Sword. Yet such sharpness was too deadly it could even cut through a gold-coated armor on Hanna’s tail. In the other hands, a shield, the same Black-silverish one he used to repel Hanna’s attack before.

[What… what is that…?] [What are you…!] [WHAT ARE YOU…!!!!!!]

Seeing her familiar getting cut out as well as Vram’s dreadfulness made Maria shivering in fear, losing her cool in the process. She keeps hitting the transparent wall as if trying to break through the jail.

*KIIIIIIIIIII!!

Surprisingly so, Hanna’s started to get back on its two feet. Though losing its tail, it is still ready to engage against Vram.

{You’re surprisingly tough.} {But I need to teach you and your master a lesson…!} {For messing around with my master!!!}

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 6

*KIIIIIIIIIIN!

[Huh?!]

A weird voice is heard from an orb right below Endrossa’s head, or to be exact, on the necklace Endrossa had been wearing this whole time.

[Elder… is that…?!]

[Somebody’s trying to forcefully broke onto the jail!] [Is it….]

It was something akin to defense mechanism that ensure that warns the locker, in this case, Elder Endrossa, in case there’s a person whom trying to broke Vram out of the jail.

[Wait, look!]

A figure of someone’s running hurriedly, though not frantic, more like a jump of happiness can be seen getting nearer. It was Josephine. She has been counting on the day Vram’ll be released, which was pretty much her reason for visiting Elder right now.

But….

[Elder!] [So today Vram’ll be released right!? Right!?!?!]

[Y… yeah… but….] Endrossa confused as to what happened currently.

[Elder! We must move fast!] [If it isn’t Josephine whom are trying to breakthrough the Jail, then Vram’s in danger!!!]

[Eh?]

Josephine can only expressed her confusion with a blank face as the two other, especially Yohana, are having such troubled face.

***

[QUICK! BREAK IT! HURRY!!!!!!!]

[We’re trying!!] [This barrier was too strong!!] [It was a high class barrier meant to seal a Titan Class Monster! We couldn’t break it with our flimsy magic!] [Rather, your magic was stronger than us! Why don’t you break it yourself!!]

[My mana’s already dried out for trying to slip him inside!!!!]

All of the girls outside of the barrier were panicking up. They’re trying to break through the jail where a strong monster had been sealed, which in this case, is the one they’ve been trying to kill all this time. But it was not a case of capable or not, but rather, a case of urgency.

[Hanna?!] [How’s his condition?!?!?!?]

When Mariabelle observing the situation inside the jail, her face frozen up. It was truly a nightmare she hadn’t seen in such a long time. A sight that’s unbearable even for the girls around her.

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Hanna’s still standing, though one of its legs was already broken and bleeding, which makes him unable to jump anymore. It was stripped off of its golden armor, showing a glistening red fur, though some of the fur was white. The red fur was caused by blood flowing out of its body. Its gauntlet was already cracked, the helmet’s bended, and last but not least, is his already-chopped off tail before.

In front of such disgracing figure, a man, donning a black armor, with its basic guarding stance, standing gallantly without ever having a single bit of its armor scratched. The shield, though letting out some smoke, the surface looked clean enough as if it hadn’t been hit by anything. The sword, which had lost its brilliant silvery shine, had been buried in red color, a thick, deep color of blood.

[HANNA!!!] [STOP! PLEASE STOP IT!!] [HE CAN’T FIGHT ANYMORE!!!!] [PLEASE FORGIVE HIM!] [PLEASE FORGIVE US!!!!!]

Vram, looking at Mariabelle whom have been crushed by the despair of seeing her familiar in such a sorry state, can only offer his apologetic nod to her.

{I did want to stop.} {But he wouldn’t.}

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hanna jumped once again charging at Vram, flailing both of its hand as he clawed on the air.

*SLASH’D!!!!

As he clawed onto the air, a sharp, waving air blade went forward against Vram.

*CRAAAAAAAAAASH!!!

It was stopped, however. Vram’s shield, which he had been readied in front of him had repelled the air blade so easily as the smoke’s coming out from the surface.

But….

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!

The monkey didn’t stop jumping. With its only capable leg, he jumped with all his might and started to aim at Vram’s head with its air claw.

{IT’S USELESS TO REPEAT THE SAME STRATEGY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU MONKEY!!!!!}

*BHAK!!!!!!!!!

Vram quickly jumped toward Hanna and bashed the claw that’s almost finished flailing, losing his balance. As Hanna’s went toward Vram defensless….

*CHRAAAAAAAAK!!!!

[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Blood was splattered and surged through Hanna’s only capable leg that’s been supporting it the whole time. It was as if the golden armor that’s covering Hanna’s whole body had of no use this whole time, as Vram’s silver sword could easily penetrated those golden armor of his. As Vram finally pulled out his sword from Hanna’s leg, both of them finally landed on the floor, with Hanna’s landing on its body.

[HANNA!! HANNAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!]

It was a one-sided slaughter, though the other person never intended to. As Hanna finally lost both of its leg, it crawled his way to move away. But it doesn’t move away from Vram, rather, he gets closer as his claw pointing toward Vram.

*KIIII!!!!!

It screaming. Though it has been wounded that far, it still let out such scary scream as if to provoke Vram. Though Vram, whom somehow still had his sanity, wasn’t affected, he still felt guilty toward his action.

[No…!] [What are you doing, Hanna!?!]

Teary eyed, Mariabelle hoped, or rather, wished for someone to come and put everything here to an end. As finally….

[WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!!!]

Screaming her lungs out, Endrossa pulled out everyone’s attention back at her. On her back follows Yohana and Josephine tailing her. But as long as they entered the jail, Josephine hurried and quickly went to the place Vram is.

[Vram!] [Are you all….]

The moment she saw what was happening inside the jail, Josephine can only went silent, unable to express her surprise. But soon after, she took a hold of herself and quickly faced toward Endrossa

[Elder, hurry!!] [Hanna’s dying there!!!!!]

[What?!] Hearing Josephine statement, Endrossa can only hurried and quickly went inside.

[Eh…?] And left Maria with a blank expression on her face as if she wouldn’t believe what Josephine is trying to say.

As Endrossa gets closer to the jail, she did saw the same scene Josephine and the others had seen. But rather than fearing the scene beyond her, all she ever does is sighing at the current situation, and finally decided to open up the jail.

The transparent wall opened. The bound had opened up. As the wall finally opened up, Maria quickly running to Hanna’s side.

[Hannaaaaaaaaaaa!!]

[Stop right there, Mariabelle.]

Suddenly Endrossa stopped Mariabelle from getting near Hanna, and Maria just abruptly stopped. No, she actually didn’t wanted to stop, but somehow, a giant tail in front of her quickly made her realizes that she couldn’t get near her. The tail was coming from a creature, with scale covering its whole body, a sharp eye just like how a cold-blooded creature should’ve been. Combined with a pair of giant wing on its back as its four legs supporting it, equipped with a claw comparable to, or stronger than Hanna’s claw. These things usually referred as a Dragon.

[Elder, what happened?!] [Maria familiar’s dying there!] Josephine somehow started to questioning Elder’s action, though every other girls around her had already knew the obvious.

[Maria….] [I’m going to ask a question….] [What’s your familiar doing here, inside this jail, that Josephine’s familiar currently being punished for?]

Mariabelle went silent. She didn’t know how to answer that question, as she knew something irrecoverable will happens if she does.

[Speak now…!]

Maria just keeping her lips tight, as she saw Hanna’s figure in front of her, already dying after losing much of his blood. Until suddenly….

[She… was trying to kill him….]

[Eh…!?]

It was another girl. Another girl which was also one of Maria’s members somehow spoke up, as much to Maria’s surprise. Because of that, the other girls finally decided to sacrifice their own comrade. [She has been killing Josephine’s familiar all this time!] [She used her familiar’s remain to reinforce her own familiar!] [She threatens us to not telling this to the elder!] And all the other accuse, whether they’re right or not, only them and Maria knew.

[Maria….] Josephine expressed her own disbelief as she saw Maria’s face keep looking down.

[I knew it… it was you…!] [All this time! How much pain have you caused to Josephine because of your doing!!!!!] [Do you understand what am I saying, Maria!?!?!]

As Yohana becomes enraged with Maria, Elder Endrossa suddenly stopped her as she faced toward Maria.

[You do understand, right?] [That it’s a taboo to kill each other’s familiar.]

[I….]

[I guess it’s time for your punishment, Maria.] [Starting with your familiar!]

[No!]

[Craud!]

*ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

The Dragon, Craud, letting out its great roar as sparks of lights collected in its mouth. With great strength, it flailed out its head backward and finally, throwing out the energy out front.

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blazing thunder, which composed of many light and fire, bursted and went straight onto where Hanna’s lying. The explosion caused by Craud’s Thunder Breath made the other girls, including Josephine and Yohana speechless.

[No… Hanna…!!!]

Despair was the right word to express Maria’s feeling right now. There’s no way a dying familiar would be able to survive the attack. Tears running down from her eyes to her cheek as she finally down to her knees

*Fffffffffffshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…………

As the smoke clearing out, no one would’ve anything will come out from it, except its remain. At the very least, that’s how it should’ve been.

[….] [… What are you doing, Josephine?]

[It wasn’t me, Elder….] [It was his own will….]

[You’re saying he does that all by himself?]

Hanna’s still alive. Hanna hasn’t died. Hanna survived. As some of the smoke’s starting to cleared out, it’s easy to distinguish Hanna behind all those blurry smokes. But everyone realized it the moment a shadow of someone appeared behind the smokes.

It was Vram. Vram had protected Hanna using his own body. Though what he used to protect Hanna right now is something different than before.

It looked like a shield, only bigger than usual. The size was almost as big as Vram, or even bigger. With blue-purplish ornament and an insignia looked the same as the insignia on his shoulder and the black-silverish plate, the same as his sword. The Great Shield was somehow able to able to absorb most of the damage caused by the Thunder Breaths.

[Hanna…!!!]

[… Josephine.] [Tell your familiar to move… NOW!!!]

Endrossa, already feeling annoyed, are readying her own familiar to attack Hanna once more again. But Josephine somehow just went silent, and walked right in front of Endrossa, right between the Dragon and Vram.

[Can we… talk about it a little bit more…?] [I know she may have done something unforgivable… but, can’t we just talk about it a little bit more?]

[What are you saying, Josephine!?!?!] Yohana suddenly enraged at what Josephine had to say. [You’re the victim!] [You’re the one whom experienced these, and you’re still thinking to forgive her?!?!]

[I CAN’T FORGIVE HER OF COURSE!!] Josephine’s sudden outburst surprised everyone including Maria herself. [Of course it’s unacceptable… Why is she doing this… why she targeted my familiar…] [But… does killing her familiar also is the right thing to do?] [Does it satisfy me to see another familiar died in front of me again though it isn’t mine…?]

Everyone went silent after hearing Josephine’s word at hearts. Though Yohana was enraged, hearing Josephine words somehow cooled down her heads a little bit. But it seems that it doesn’t have that much effect towards Endrossa.

[… It has nothing to do with that.] [When you stay in this village, you must follow the rule that had been passed down by the older generations!] [And the one whom didn’t follow it, must be punished!!!]

[But…!]

[No more talks!] [She need to learn her mistakes!] [CRAUD!!!]

*ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!

The dragon letting out a huge roar as it prepares its next move. Its mouth were already shining brightly as it’s going to charge its thunder breath again.

*FWUUUSH!!!

*BLAARRRRRR!!!!

Something flew. All of a sudden, something sharp, heavy, and long thing has flown through the Dragon. Though it misses the dragon by a meter, it was surely aimed right there, as if to threaten the Dragon to not shooting something like that again.

What was flown was something like a lance, though the handle was a little bit different than the usual lance. The handle seemed to be hold on to, not being wielded. The edges were also in spiral shape, not fit to be used as a thrusting weapon, but an excellent weapon to be thrown….

Or be used, as an arrow.

In his hand is a weapon, a pair of giant curved elastic limbs, joined by a riser, while having both ends of the limbs connected by a thick string. Though it is a weapon, it is not used to hit people. Rather, the way it was used was to have something stuck between the string, draw it backward, then flex it towards the enemy. It is commonly known as a bow, but what Vram wielded this time was something way bigger than a normal bow, or even a normal longbow. It was classified as a Great Bow, a bow with greater firepower than a normal bow, and uses a lance for an arrow.

The destructive power can be seen by the speed of the lance itself, and the impact that happened on the back of the dragon’s head. The ceiling was pierced through and the rubble had fallen after being destroyed by the lance.

[… Josephine, what kind of creature have you summoned here…?] As even Endrossa at a loss of word of Vram’s versatility.

[I… I don’t know… I haven’t even had any chance to talk more with him yet….]

[Talk…?] Yohana sudden reply caused Josephine to get nervous all of a sudden because of her slip-up.

While the other witches had been on guard and started to stare at each other, Vram, somehow erasing his previous weapon suddenly walked toward Endrossa and face toward her.

[… What now…?]

[… Vram…?] Josephine somehow realizes what Vram was trying to do, and trying to stop him, but unable to do it.

{….} [Would you spare some time for others to listen to what other people had to say?] As Vram lower his head toward the Elder.

[[[[[[[[[[… … … … ….]]]]]]]]]]

The whole room went silence. The dragon’s roar could no longer be heard. The whisper of the witches stopped, the tears that Maria had been letting out also abruptly halted. Yohana somehow opened both her mouth and eyes wide opened, and Josephine, whom have already realized it since the very beginning, can only smile worried, as she hold onto her cheeks, afraid of something that’ll happens later.

[You’re… a human?] Endrossa finally let out the very first straight question which was meant for Vram, her very first chat towards a familiar. As the question had been raised, Vram does the reply with….

[… I don’t think I am, what do you think?]

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 7

Silent enveloped the whole room. A room not that far from where the group formerly was. A room where usually a meeting is being held, though there are neither chair nor table existing. Inside, many people resides with their heads looked down, except for Josephine, Endrossa, Yohana, and Vram. All of those people, whom have been doing something unacceptable, lead by Maria herself.

[I shall ascertain the situation one more time….] As Yohana started the conversation first. [From what Vram had told us, all of you have been conspiring to, no, already killed all of Josephine’s familiar all this time.] [Was that true?]

All of the girl cannot answer honestly to such question. The silent just went on as finally Endrossa decided to spoke towards Vram first.

[And?] [Why are you decided to reveal your secrets right now?] [Had you been talking from the very beginning, you wouldn’t have to be objected to such punishment.]

[Well, I was trying to fulfill the wishes of my master.] [But had I not spoke much more later, another lives may have been lost while this problem gets unsolved.] [I mean, it’s tiring to have a backstabbers lie behind our backs the whole time.]

Though the other girls convinced with Vram’s reasoning, Endrossa just won’t accept that so easily.

[And what does that have anything to do with protecting the ones whom have trying to kill you?]

[I may be a monster right now.] [But I still have some ethic code to follow.] [And it’s against my policy to kill a defenseless monster.]

[Ethic codes?] [It’s like you’re a human.] [No, not even humans have those] As Endrossa retorting to Vram’s sentence.

[But I’m not even human.]

[Alright, stop both of you.] Yohana abruptly stop the conversation between Vram and Endrossa as both of their talks almost getting derailed. [What we’re discussing right now is how to deal with these people whom have been threatening Josephine all along.]

[…] Josephine, whom have been dead silent since the very beginning, are trying to raise her opinion. [Maria… everyone… There’s something that I’d like to ask of you….]

[… What?] Maria answering Josephine’s call nonchalantly, as if trying to be a prick.

[Why are you doing this?]

Though it’s quite a simple question, the meaning of these words hold heavy meaning towards Josephine, as she may have already realized such reasons.

[… What, you say…?] [I really can’t stand someone like you, whom always act like you know nothing of the sort!!] [If you couldn’t even understand our reasons of doing all these then don’t even bother to ask!!!]

[But….] [I really didn’t understand…!!!] [What do you even hate from me?!] [Have I done something wrong to you all?!] [Have I done something to anger you so?!?]

[I don’t think you have.] as Vram suddenly cut their conversation. [In this case, the root of these trouble actually quite simple.]

[And?] [You’re saying that you’ve actually recognize it?] Yohana, asking curiously.

[It’s Jealousy.]

Vram’s simple answer gave everyone quite a shock. Josephine, who looked as surprised as everyone else, suddenly enraged.

[What… …?] [What are you saying, Vram?!?!] [You’re saying that, just because of those reasons, she would do something like that?!?!?!]

[It is precisely because of that, Master.] [It is not uncommon for other people to hunt each other because of such reason.] [In fact, wasn’t that very same reason was the cause of us getting exiled here?]

Again, the whole room went silent as they were unable to defy Vram’s reasoning. But then, Yohana started to hold her ground.

[Are you saying that… we’re the same as those humans?] [The same ones whom could never think rationally as they keep harassing us?]

[If not, then how can you explain all these things that happened here?] [Though your predecessor may differ, it doesn’t change the fact that you are indeed the same.] [That’s just how it is.]

[Then, if by any chance there are those among humans whom harbors these feelings toward other human, would that human be also harassed, exiled, or even be killed just like us?]

[The possibility is quite high.] [… No, in fact, those kind of humans were the one whom I’ve been facing off.]

[… Josephine Familiar, let me ask you once again.] Endrossa was trying to ensure something of Vram. [Are you… human?]

[I don’t think I am... currently.] [I indeed was once a human, but then after, I wasn’t….]

[I see….] [Maria, what do you have to say?]

Maria can only bite her lips as if she’s trying to hold something. It was true. Everything Vram had said was the truth of every single action she has done. But she refuses to believe it. She refuses that such ugly things was the reasons of her action all this time.

[Then if Maria had also done so, it can be said of the same reason for all of you whom also doing such things to Josephine’s familiar.] [Is that right?]

As it was the same with Maria, everyone else whom have been plotted to harm Josephine Familiar were also share the same guilt of such things, thus they do also harbors such ugly things inside their hearts. It was so impure that they had even thought of hating themselves.

[As such, Elder Endrossa.] Vram finally begin to speak his own mind. [For such case, it would be unwise to kill her familiar.]

[The reason?]

[In human case, this charade would only ended up to deepen further their jealousy and thus resulting in hatred.] [Once that happens, the only way to stop this was for either of the involved party, or both of them, to die.]

[Wait!] [I… I may have killed her familiar over and over…] [But I never intended to kill her, I swear!!!!]

[I do believe it for now.] [But in the far future, I’m not convinced.]

The whole room went silent as they were thinking of what to do next. As the time goes on, the conversation finally entered the phase of her trial, punishment, and responsibilities.

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 8

Vram, Josephine, and Yohana both are on their way from the elder hall, the previous place where they talked about what to do with Maria. Though the problem may have seemed to be solved thoroughly, Yohana didn’t look satisfied at all.

[This is unacceptable…]

[I don’t think you have any right to protest, Miss Yohana.] [Since their sanction was finally left to Josephine to choose, I think that’s quite a satisfying result.]

[BY TELLING THEM TO KEEP CLEANING THE WHOLE GRAVEYARD FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO COME?!?] [Too soft, “Fina”! You’re just too soft!!]

[Fina?] Vram pointed out such unfamiliar name that Yohana call all of a sudden.

[Oh, I usually called her either “Junior” or “Fina”.] [To call her full name is tiring, so I shortened it.] [At any rate, you should’ve given her a more grave punishment!]

[Umm… but….]

[What kind of punishment are you talking about?]

[What else?] [A capital punishment! Whipped hundred times! Being hanged on the central area! And other else!!!]

[Wha… Senior, that’s a bit too much!!!]

[She deserved that!!!] [After what she has done to you this whole time, it is not an exaggeration to do the same to her.]

[But I don’t like it!] [I know, maybe she really deserves it…!] [But… even if I do that… they would never return….] [Even if I used the same material used to call them, it would still call a different monster….]

[Wait…] [Don’t tell me, the reason you used your own familiar’s remnant to summon a new familiar was….!]

Josephine just went silent as she slowly nod her heads.

[… And instead of the ones you’ve lost returned, you’ve gained a new one, stronger than your last ones….] [I don’t know what to say about that….]

Suddenly the conversation abruptly stopped, either did because of such awkward answer that comes from Josephine’s mouth, or the sensitive-question which Yohana had thrown first.

[So, are you done?]

As they keep walking, Hildegarde suddenly showed up from behind the tree she was hiding all this time. Together with Christine and Rosalinda, they approached Josephine, Yohana, and Vram altogether.

[I see that you’ve made up your mind, Josephine’s familiar.]

[It’s all thanks to you, Lady Hilda.] As Vram bowed his head toward Hildegarde. Though she may have already knew, she still look quite shocked as she took a half-step backward.

[… Quite a creature you are.] [Yet your master still haven’t grown as much.]

[I… I can’t kill her…] [I just can’t….]

[Who told you to kill her?] [What I’m going to ask of you, is what are you going to do after this.]

[Eh?] [What do you mean?]

Hilda somehow put off a gesture of disbelief, shaking her head left and right while putting her hands on her forehead.

[You think just because your familiar had busted the entire people whom were trying to aim you, everything would end?] [That surely isn’t the case at all.]

[But why!?] [I haven’t done anything wrong to them!!]

Vram suddenly interceded the conversation [I already said it before, Master.] [It was not a case of someone hurting each other.] [Rather, it was them who pricked with us first.]

[It’s just as your familiar said.] [Ever since you were young, you’ve always blamed yourself, sacrifice yourself, put everyone else’s need before you….] [But above all else, you never tried to question people!] [Are you trying to say that every people is a good girl?!]

[But they….]

[NO BUT…!] [Either it’s a mistake they did made, it doesn’t change the fact that they were attacked you!] [And you’re saying that they were blameless just because there were “circumstances”!?!] [This is why I can’t stand you!!!]

[Then what should I do?!] [I… I just can’t stand to hurts them….]

[Then your familiar’s going to die at this rate, even with you besides him.]

[Eh…!?]

[I’ve observed your familiar quite a bit.] [He’s what you call a “perfect familiar”…] [Fierce Loyalty, Absolute Strength, and wide understanding.] [Yet, no matter how perfect the familiar is, if the master was an idiot, you’re only sending him to death.]

[No way…!]

[It’s not exactly wrong to say that everything’s your fault.] [But then again, are you just going to blame yourself without even thinking what you have done wrong? What should you do to not repeat the same mistake again? What you should’ve done to not make any more mistakes.] [Have you tried to learn so?]

[Learn…?] Josephine somehow responded strongly towards this words.

[… Oh yeah, I forgot about your primal trait of loving to learn something.] [But yeah, you’re smart, but you still need to learn how to interact with other people, how to treat people, how to talk with them, and for the most part, how to protect yourself from harm.] [You think just because you didn’t make other people sad, everything’s going to be alright?]

[I… I don’t know….]

Vram then suddenly come closer toward Josephine, and rubbed her soldier.

[Vram…?]

[Let’s think about it this way, Master.] [You are hurt when I am being hurt, right?]

[… Though it’s not a physical damage, but you’re right….] [I do feel hurt seeing you getting hurts….]

[Then, if I am feeling sad, would you going to feel sad too?]

[O… of course I will!!!]

[Then, if master is sad, what about us?]

[Eh?]

[What about me, whom have sworn to protect you, and Yohana, whom have been teaching you, protecting you, and helping you?] [When you were sad, overwhelmed, hurt….] [What would you think would’ve happen to us?]

[….]

Josephine went quiet after hearing what Vram had to say. She’s thinking hard. Real hard that somehow, the light in her eyes somehow changing. It turned bright. Though it wasn’t clear, she was definitely changed. Something inside her mind had changed.

[… Senior….] [I… I am very sorry, I still think that punishing them that way would do me no good.] [But… I won’t hold back any longer….]

[Hee….] [So… if there are people whom were trying to aim for your familiar again, what would you do?]

[I’ll confront them!] [Though I don’t know what kind of result it’ll bring, I still have to protect my own life… my own family!]

*BWOOSH

All of a sudden, Hildegarde raised her hands as she casted some magic towards Josephine. A fireball flying fast toward Josephine.

[Fina!!!]

*BLAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!

The smoke raised, everything went blurry, Christine, whom just keep her eyes downwards while Rosalinda, acting indifferent, and Hildegarde, whom put of her haughty smile after shooting Josephine with Fireball. Only Yohana who seemed to be panic with what happened.

[HILDA?!?!] [WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!]

[Just shut up, you overprotective senior.] [Look.]

When the smoke cleared up, Yohana looked quite surprised seeing what has been happened in front of her eyes. Both of them were unscathed. By both, it means that Vram, whom have been protecting Josephine, and Josephine, whom have been protected by Vram, just standing there motionless as the fierce glare on her eyes lit brightly.

[… Though I really can’t stand you, guess that part of yours is your special trait, to be able to execute such feat in no time.]

[Senior Hildegarde….]

[You should be grateful to her, Master.] [All this time, she has been teaching you all kind of things with her own ways.]

[Eh?]

[Wh… what are you talking about?!] Suddenly Hildegarde looked a little bit flustered.

[Well Yohana told me so much about you.] [About how you’ve been forcefully took Master book, then changed it with something different yet valuable.] [Or when you were browsing some item, then she took Master’s entire item and trade it with something more valuable and useful.] [And even now, as she was trying to reform your personality.]

[Wait!] [What are you blabbing about!!!]

[Eh?] [That wasn’t a harassment towards Josephine?]

[… Senior….] Josephine somehow changed the way she looked at Hilda, from the eyes of contempt, into something of admiration.

[Wait!] [What’s with those eyes?!] [Stop it!] [I never intended for things to go that way!]

[It’s useless, Lady Hilda.] Somehow Christine, the girl whom have been standing silent behind, put up a faint smile as she speak toward Hilda. [That man already saw through you the whole time.]

[Chris?!?!?]

[I guess some people do think precisely together~.] [You guys both love Josephine that much that you can guess that much~] Though smiled wryly, Rosalinda teased Hilda with her light tone.

[ROSA!!] [SPEAK ONCE MORE, AND I’LL INCINERATE YOU!!!!!]

[IYAA~~N SCARY~~~~] As Rosa jumped towards Christine’s back.

[So~ Mister black armor over there~~~?]

[The name’s Vram.]

[I guess Lady Hilda took a liking toward you since you’re the one whom were able to interpret and execute her advice perfectly~!] [Be nice to her alright~~~]

[ROSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!]

As if being possessed, Hilda charged ahead toward Rosa as both of them running round and around circling Chris, as Chris can only smiling. Josephine suddenly burst out a laugh while Yohana shake her heads while holding her forehead, smiling.

***

After many things had happened, considering Rosa’s situation that gets omitted, Chris finally excuse herself while dragging both Hilda and Rosa out of the way. And finally, Yohana, Josephine, and Vram reached the house.

[I guess I should head back for now.]

[Thanks for the company, Senior!!]

Somehow, Yohana didn’t reply back to Josephine at all, she was rather looked a little bit gloomy after what had happened.

[I guess… I wasn’t that much of a help to you….]

[Huh?]

[Hilda… though her method may be unthinkable all this time, she has been taking care of you….] [While me here…] [Even the ones whom have stopped Maria was Vram singlehandedly….] [I feel kinda useless as a Senior….]

[No… that’s…!]

[I think I have to disagree, Lady Yohana.]

[Vram?]

[It was thanks to you that no serious harm has been done to Josephine.] [Though losing a familiar may have been disheartening, but at least the damage were only limited to that.] [You also volunteered to guard me, in order to ensure my safety when I was being imprisoned, right?]

[… Though you’re too strong that you don’t even need those….] [But thanks a lot.] [Somehow you’re quite reliable.]

[I appreciate the compliment.]

[Well then, I shall take my leave.] [Don’t get to crazy inside there, Fina~]

[Wh… Who would!!!] [Muu~!! Senior~!!!]

After teasing Josephine, Yohana finally leaves Vram and Josephine alone. Though it’s been a while, the gap made the relationship between them grows awkward.

[So… shall we go inside, Master?]

[Eh?!] [Ah, yes! It’s cold outside, so let’s get inside!!]

Awkwardly and nervous, Josephine stepped inside the house. And following her on the back was Vram, walking indifferently.

[Umm… Vram….]

[Yes?]

[Can you… wait here for a while?] [I need to prepare something….]

Though it was sudden, Vram just agreed with her and decided to stargazing outside again while waiting.

***

[….]

Continuing to stargaze, he raised his hands toward the sky, where two moon had meet each other. No, there is literally a two piece of moon on the sky. Though what does these things entails, no people in the world even care. All things were considered natural, even for Vram, whom somehow had experienced something unnatural.

{I should’ve died back then….} {No, maybe I’ve truly died….} {If so, then why am I revived again?} {Does familiar summoning entails to revival magic?} {But has such things be made possible?}

Vram keep moon-gazing as he played around with his two finger upward and downward, as if counting for something.

[Though I do wonder how she’s been.] [Does she angry that I’ve done that before…] [And more importantly….] [Were that little girl safe, I do wonder….]

[Vram~!]

Just when Vram was doing a monologue by himself, finally Josephine called her out.

[It’s okay now, please enter inside.]

Vram returns back to the room inside, then started to go ahead, onto the inner side of the room, where another room exist. It was Josephine’s bedroom. Though right now he was her familiar, Vram can’t helped but feeling a little bit nervous of entering her room all by himself.

[… I’m entering, Master.]

Slowly he entered the room, the room had been lit bright with the light of the moon entering through the giant loophole on the center of the room. And inside, Josephine had been waiting, only covered half of her legs with a sheet on top of the bed. She returns to wearing nothing again, which almost angered Vram again.

[W… wait!] [I have a reason for this…!!!]

[… Speak.] Suddenly Vram’s tone have turned cold toward Josephine. Though it hurts her much, she keeps ensuring Vram that everything’s fine.

[Umm… look here.] [You’ve been imprisoned for a whole month, without food to eat even.] [Though maybe you were able to endure such, but fighting a whole group of familiar, against Maria’s familiar, defending against Elder’s familiar attack, it must’ve drained your energy so.]

[… I can’t disagree with that.]

[And… though you may be able to regain those energy by digesting some special meat, the process of turning the material into mana actually quite long, and I doubt that it’ll be able to fill your mana in no time.] [That’s why… I prepare this….]

Vram traced and observed the whole room for a while. Though it was pretty rough, a thorough clean-up can be seen and decorated to fill the mood. The lights shone through the sky were also accounted. It was quite obvious what she was trying to do.

[… You want me to sleep together with you?]

[DON’T JUST SAY THAT NONCHALANTLY!!!!]

Awkward silence began to envelopes the whole room. Josephine’s face somehow turned red after Vram mentioned it.

[You sure there aren’t other method of restoring my mana capacity to normal again?]

[… Well, there are various… troublesome… and confusing ritual to do so, and it’s not like you were unable to do so on your own, but….]

[But?]

[I….] [I want to do it with you….] [… Can’t I…?]

After saying those words, Josephine became meek as her face was flushed red. Deep red color covering her whole face until her ears. Such expression was deadly even for Vram. To think that her master, whom never even bothered to cover her own body, could even produce some expression of that level.

Finally he takes a deep breath, and letting it out. As he tried to calm himself down, he approached Josephine slowly.

[Well, my colleague do told me to never reject a girl’s advance, even more so when you’re actually fallen for her.]

[… Then~…!?!]

Then somehow, Vram started to release his gloves, his shoulder pads, his boots, and his armor out of the way.

[It’s actually my first time though, so I don’t think I can hold anything back.] [Are you fine with that, Master?]

[Eh? Eh? I… I am fine?] Somehow Josephine wasflustered at the way Vram released every inch of armor that has been covering him, and finally his hand went straight for his head.

[Then do forgive me if I hurt you midway.]

[Eh…] [Vram….] [You’re…] [Eh…??? EH….????] [EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!?!?!?!?!?]

Topeng Buaya

Chapter 9

[She hasn’t waked up yet????]

Morning had come, two lovebirds chirped and fly together under the sunny sky. On such a bright and clear sky, there can be only a smile gathered upon these peaceful village, and all the more so for Yohana’s Junior, Josephine, whom was known to never even slack off in the very morning.

[Yeah, when I was trying to wake her, she somehow holding her blanket tightly and never even tries to look at me.]

[This is unacceptable…!]

Yohana, both confused and enraged seeing her junior slacked off, rushed off inside and quickly headed toward Josephine’s room.

[FINA~!] [I don’t know what had happened to you, but on such a bright sky of today, and together with a new familiar, are you trying to slack off from your study!?] [Well I can’t let that-….]

Just before Yohana finished her speech, she realized something were different. Josephine were curled up on her bed, her ears somehow flushed red, and it’s as if she can’t hear what was happening around her.

[… Fina…?]

She tried to remove the blanket, but as she tried to tug it, somehow Josephine just keep holding the blanket tightly. As the blanket keeps scuffled, Yohana saw something strange on the bed. It was a stain, though it surely wasn’t an ordinary stain. As she tried to observe it more, she saw a red, deep red stain coloring the bed combined with some strange smell covering it.

[Is this… blood?]

Hearing the words, somehow Josephine jumped up and quickly covered the bed.

[DON’T SEE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!!!!!!]

That sudden action puts both of them on an awkward situation. But though that was the case, somehow Yohana was able to predict what had happened that night.

[You… were you and Vram-….]

[Don’t say it, please!!!!] [I beg of you! I’ll die!!!]

[Nononono, you won’t die from such embarrassment…]

[… Embarrassment?]

[Ah yeah, I guess this is a first for you.]

It was unknown who have taught her so, but it seems that Josephine was never liked to wear clothes since kid, hence never grows inside of her the feelings of embarrassment. The reasons were also the lack of men in this village. Though not as worse as Josephine, everyone in the village were also wearing quite a revealing clothes, which what makes Vram awkward in the first places. But only Josephine would go so far as to not wearing anything.

[But how did this happens anyway?] [Were you seduced him?]

[I… I did say that I wanted to sleep with him….]

[So in the end it was your own fault….]

[B… but I never thought that he would do something like that!] [L-like, he j-j-j-jammed his *rod* onto my *hole*, then h-he does *omitted* and *omitted*!!!!]

[….] [My junior~]

[Y… yes??]

[That, is how you are created, and being born into.]

[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

As if being hung dry, Josephine’s face went flushed red covering her whole head as if a smoke almost comes out from her head caused by the heat from her face.

[I guess that is one fastest way to recover his mana.] [That’s your actual intention, is it not?]

[… I thought we only need to be sleep naked together….]

[Well, it was partially my fault for never teach you about these things.] [Then again, so many things happened that I don’t think I have a time to teach you that.]

Josephine can only go silent as she played with her hair while rubbing her thighs against each other.

[So, what are you gonna do with him?]

[… I don’t know….] [It’s the first time I’m feeling this, whenever he saw me naked, my chest beats harder than before, that I thought it’s going to burst out from my chest.]

[That’s not it.] [Were you regretting your action?]

[… At first it was hurts….] [It’s… indescribable… it does feel like I was being stabbed from below through the head.] [But it feels special.] [It’s as if… I have entrusted everything I have through him.] [And he does replies back.] [It… made me feel so happy that my chest hurts.] [And cried~.]

[I see…] [That’s good to hear.] [Well then, shall we solve your problems regarding how to face him normally?]

[Eh?]

***

[… Why should I listen to what you have to say, though?]

[Guh…!] [Though at times you’re pretty docile, you’re quite pricky aren’t you, Vram?]

Within the border of Josephine’s house, two person were in the middle of conversation, or rather, in a debate whether what to do of Vram himself. The gist of the situation currently right now, is that Yohana were trying to lure him away from Josephine for a while. Yet somehow Vram was against the idea, thus argument happens.

[Like. I. Said!] [We need a bit more time to prepare something, so in a while; we need you to step away for a bit!]

[Can’t I just help with this “preparation” you were talking about?]

[And I said that you can’t!!]

[… What’s with the ruckus in the morning…?] Suddenly Hildegarde came and butted in into the conversation.

[Hilda?] [What are you doing here?] [And where’s your companion?]

[I’m here to drag her back onto the class.] [Since you haven’t appeared back, I was told to oversee what was going on.] As she somehow looked annoyed at the fact that she was here.

[Ah… that’s….]

[So, where’s that naked lady?]

Yohana frantically went by Hilda’s side and quickly informed her of what has been going on.

[….] [Alright, I understand.] [Vram!]

[Yes?]

[Come with me!]

[What for?]

[Your master’s conditions were actually quite severe right now, so it’s best to leave it to someone experienced like Yohana!]

[What?!] [What happened to her?!?]

[It’s something that only woman would ever experienced!] [So you best to shut your trap and follow me!]

[Uh… Where to…?]

[No more question!]

[Yes, Ma’am!]

And just like that, Hildegarde was able to convince Vram to stay away for a while and Yohana feels relieved after what Hilda has done.

[… Wow….]

[Um… Yohana… did he gone…?]

Josephine slowly sneaked out from the house while looking left and right.

[Don’t worry, Hilda were already took care of him.] [I’m surprised though, never thought that she would be that reliable.]

[Uuu…..]

Josephine started to gets teary on her eyes, and somehow cried a lot.

[E?!?] [Wh… what’s wrong, Fina?!?!?]

[It’s… It’s been a while since I have a familiar… and it’s been a while since I was able to spoke with him again, yet….] [I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT HIM~!] [HUAAAAAAA~!!]

Somehow Josephine was throwing a tantrum like a little kids that lost her balloon because they wouldn’t grab them properly. Yohana panicked and tried to calm her down with many ways she could think of.

[Anyway, for now should we get going so we would be able to cure your embarrassment toward Vram?]

[Umm….] [I’ve been thinking about it for a while….] [But how are we going to do that?]

[Well of course, the only think that you usually would never think of.] [To wear clothes~!]

[Huh????]

***

Hilda, now together with Vram, were walking toward an empty space where there was almost nothing in front of it.

[Umm… Lady Hildegarde….]

[Hilda is fine.] [If you’re going to ask about your stupid master, forget about it.]

[Well, it is something related to her, but not directly.]

[What is it, then?]

[Umm… Do Lady Hilda and Master… had a special relationship?] [From what I see, both Lady Hilda and Lady Yohana do cares a lot for Master….]

[… How much do you knew about a Witches….?]

[Hmm… Only as far as the general knowledge of them.]

[Then, do you know that Witches basically doesn’t ages?]

[What?]

[Let me went through it a little bit.]

As both of them walked through the forest, Hilda does a thorough explanation of witches. It was when Vram knew that Josephine’s age were actually still very young, about 15-16. It is said that every witches will reach adulthood at most 12 year, or even less for those with more talent. For Josephine, since her magic quality was very high, she reached adulthood at mere 8 years. Thus the reason why she was being shunned by everyone else.

[… Guess that’s the side effect of being able to use magic without having to enchant them again.]

[… And you’ve also already of how we were unable to have a mother, right?]

[Umm… yeah?]

[For us, Josephine was our very own dear mother.]

[… Umm… sorry?] [I didn’t quite get what you’re saying.]

[Ah, I’m sorry, I guess she didn’t told you that much.] [Josephine’s name… were actually her mother’s name]

[What???]

[When she’s giving birth to that naked idiot, she says this to us.] [That she wanted to be reborn again, as a “normal witches”.]

[“Normal”?]

[I don’t know what she meant by that, but her wishes was so that naked idiot would never forget of herself as a witches.] [For that reason, I myself and Yohana have always vowed to protect her, and to teach her the way of living, and the way of witches.] [Though maybe our way differs, and that she forgot the very vow she made herself when she was still a kid.]

[Uh… does that mean Yohana was actually younger than you?]

[Yes.]

[….]

[What’s wrong?]

[No, it’s just that… Lady Hilda was very honest with me, that it’s quite surprising.]

[It’s because you were too perceptive that it’s almost useless to hide anything from you.] [And that’s why….]

Suddenly Hilda slammed her hand pretty hard against Vram’s armor, that her hands looked beet red.

[If you went blabbing on just like yesterday, I won’t forgive you!!]

[Yes Ma’am!] As he suddenly feel nervous toward Hilda’s exclamation.

[Anyway, we’re almost arrived.] [Let’s go.]

***

[WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?]

A scream of a young, tall girl echoed throughout the whole room it surprises everybody inside.

[Ssssh!!!] [Not too loud, Esmeralda!]

[But… but…!!!] [But finally, Josephine, you finally decided to wear a dress I’ve designed myself~❤!!!]

Somehow, the girl named Esmeralda, whom height can be compared together with Vram, sobbing and crying while smiling happily, after hearing that Josephine finally wanted to wear some clothes.

[Umm… about that….]

[Yes, my dear~❤?] [Were you by any chance have some request to be added, do told me~~❤]

[Umm… If you’d like, I wanted something that doesn’t feel too restricting, but also doesn’t reveal much, especially around the waist and chest.]

[Humm~❤] [I see~~❤] [Were you in love, Josephine-dear~~~❤?]

[WHA…!?!?!]

[Ju~st kidding~~~❤] [Well sit tight, my dear, I’ll sew your very own request as I compared it with a color that suited you best~❤!]

While leaving the red-beet Josephine out of her sight, Esmeralda started to use her magic to swiftly sew the dress.

[… She saw you pretty good, eh?]

[Muu~!! Yohana!!!]

[But still, don’t you think it’s kinda weird?] [No matter how you think about it, I think Vram is a good, courteous human, though he may deny it.] [Would he goes so far as raping an under-aged girls like you even if your body looked like this?]

[Umm….]

[What?]

[I actually never told him about it....] [… my real age, that is….]

[….]

*PLAKK!!!!

Taking some paper on the table besides her, Yohana smacked Josephine’s head hard it makes a loud voice inside the room.

[It hurts~!!!]

[And why~ you never told him about your real age, hmm~~~?]

[Be… because he seems strong, scary, and mature despite being my familiar!!] [I don’t wanted to be looked down at by my own familiar, so…!!!!]

[Yet, this happens.]

[Uuu….] Josephine curled up besides the room with her face turns redder than ever again.

[ALRIGHT, DEA~R~~~❤!] [Your clothes’ ready~~❤!!]

[SO FAST?!] Josephine surprised so much that her red-beet face quickly turned normal as she suddenly stands up seeing Esmeralda comes to her.

[Here, try it~ try it~~❤!]

[Umm… alright.]

***

[Humm….]

Vram, while still walking together with Hilda, was quietly thinking of something.

[What’s wrong?]

[I was thinking of what you had said before.] [You say that Master reached adulthood when she reaches 8, right?]

[Yeah, and this year she’s turning 16.]

[Ugh.]

[Hmm?]

[How immoral I have been… to *forced* a girl under the same bed with me… I have failed myself as a familiar, as a guardian….]

[Nonono, that’s kinda extreme perquisites you put on yourself.] [Besides, I think she herself was at fault, since she never told you her actual age, right?]

[Well that’s true….]

[*sigh~……] [Alright, we’re here.]

Both Hilda and Vram finally arrived at another graveyard. Though the amount of the grave is incomparable than the familiar’s grave, it still gives off such solemn feeling.

[Here.]

Hilda lead Vram toward one spot where a weird tablet lies above the grave. Though at first glance it may have seemed to be another gravestone, the shape were a little bit too boxy and wide to be called a gravestone.

[An altar?]

[… You’re quick on the uptake.] [There was something that I had to give Josephine whenever she succeeded in summoning a familiar.] [But… there are circumstances….]

[Well you were too shy to just straightforwardly gave these to her, so you’re having a hard time dealing with those emotion, right?] [Don’t worry, I understand.]

[… It’s best if you shut your mouth a little, black~!]

Though Hilda may have had no chance of hurting Vram, just the cold stare, the insult, and the threat itself hurt Vram to the heart.

After a while, Hilda were sitting besides the tablet, and started to enchant many words. It was quite weird for Vram, since Witches were usually never have the need to chant when they were planning to use magic. It was quite a long chant, that a trail of sweat can be seen flowing from Hilda’s cheek.

{What kind of magic that needed such chanting for so long even for a witch….?}

After some times, the reaction came from the tablet keeps getting stronger and stronger, as Hilda’s chant keep went faster that it’s not just a trail, but a whole lot of sweat dripping altogether as if she’s just finished taking a bath. Vram couldn’t help but keep quiet in order to ensure that Hilda can keep her concentration toward the magic.

*SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Finally the tablet broke, and within it, a book appears. A book, covered with many layer of transparent paper covering the whole book. The cover looked like it has been buried for years, but the book inside doesn’t seem to get broken.

[Fuu… Thank you….]

[For what?]

[Just wanted to say that~❤.] [Anyway, here.]

Hilda then gave the book towards Vram. When Vram double checked the book, he felt something strange as he keeps investigating the outer book a little bit longer.

[… You seems to be interested in that book.] [Anyway, it was something mother gave us before her death.] [She also said to give it to that naked idiot when she matured a bit.] [… Well maybe it was a little bit fast, but it seems that she finally grow thanks to your presence here.] [… Hey, have you been listening to me?]

[… How did this book exist even here…?]

[Huh?] [What in the world are you talking about?]

[This book is-….]

***

[They sure take their time.]

Yohana and Josephine, both were already prepared in front of their house, though currently Josephine only wear a cloth, covering her whole body. Yohana already clicked her tongue for a whole time while stepping her feet over and over again, and Josephine can only fidgeting, feeling nervous whenever what to say to Vram.

[Ah, they finally arrived.]

As if it was a normal thing, Vram and Hilda finally went back together to Josephine’s house together, and Yohana, whom were already restless, started to shout.

[GET YOUR ASS TOGETHER HERE AND HURRY UP, PIG!!!!]

[Wha…! Yohana, that’s too vulgar!!!]

[*sigh…. We both had the same mother figure, yet how comes she turned out that way….] As Hilda slam her hand onto her forehead hard, and Vram can only chuckle besides her. [So, what are you going to do?]

[… Can I… keep a hold of this a little bit longer?] [I’ve seen many hell caused by these books, and I don’t want my own master to get involved in one of those.]

[It’s your call.] [It was originally my mistake for not being able to ascertain this book’s potential.]

[Thanks.]

As they finished their conversation, they were approached by both Yohana, whom were unable to wait any longer, and Josephine, whom were dragged by Yohana.

[Ah… We-welcome home, Vram~~!]

[I’m home.] [Why are you wearing such clothes?]

[U… umm….] Somehow Josephine’s faces turned red when faced with Vram.

[?]

[Umm… Can you please not laughing?]

[… I don’t know what you’re hiding under those clothes, but I’ll try my best not to.]

[Th-then….] [EEEEEEY!!!!]

*ZASSAAAAAA

As Josephine prepared her heart, she throw out the clothes far away from her place. And within those clothes, lies something that Vram and Hilda, the two who would never guess will happens, happened in front of their eyes. A pair of sleeve disconnected from the dress waving from both of her hands, a white robe that fluttered from her neck until her thighs, the underwear she wore were not as indecent as the other girls, as it was only consisted of black tube top while the lower parts was a black laced panties combined with black lace stocking and a garterbelt, while also covering the middle part with a corset. Though it still reveal some skin, it doesn’t strike Vram as hard as when she was naked.

[… Vram…?] [Does… does this suit me?] [Or… am I look-….]

[I guess women could change much just by changing their dress and makeup.] [You’re absolutely stunning, Master.] [No, you could even consider this downright beautiful.] [Though the way you reveal your skin is pretty weird, I’d say it’s quite perfect on you, master.] [Also-….]

Just before Vram started to talk more, Josephine hurried and retrieved the clothes she had thrown, and then shove it back at Vram’s head.

[STOP!!] [DON’T SPEAK ANYMORE!!!] [You’re practically killing me softly~!!]

[… M’kay then.]

Suddenly the awkward silence enveloping the whole places, making Josephine even more nervous than before.

[Wh… Why are you getting so silent?!?!]

[Because you ordered me to.]

[But not that quiet!!!] [It makes me more nervous than usual!!!!]

Suddenly Vram went closer toward Josephine while removing both of his gloves. A dull, dark smooth hand went toward Josephine’s cheek and rubbed them softly.

[What are you feeling nervous for?] [Didn’t you told me that we were a family?]

[But….]

[… I’m sorry.] [Had I known you better, that would never happened.]

[N-no no!] [I’m fine with that, actually.] [In fact… I was feeling happy.] [Such happiness… somehow feels like it’s going to crush my chest….] [But I was happy.] [So, please don’t be too hard on yourself, Vram.]

[… I’ll be sure to remember that.]

After watching each other together, Josephine finally gets used to it and started to hug each other tightly. Josephine’s face somehow looked relieved, calm, and serene, that somehow looked so childish despite having such figure.

[*sigh*… really, such a troublesome child.] As Yohana makes a comment toward Josephine’s act.

[You’re one to talk.] As Hilda suddenly pricked back on Yohana.

[By the way, where are you taking him before?]

[… I have no obligation to tell a forgetful person like you.]

[Hey! That was uncalled for!!!]

[Though I can tell you one thing.]

[Hmm?]

[I’ve given ‘that’ to Vram…]

[… Why Vram?]

[Originally I’ve planned to give it straight to her, but Vram said it was dangerous….]

[Eh?]

[I don’t know about the exact detail of how dangerous ‘that’ is….] [But can I ensure you to never speak about this again…?]

[… I’ll try.]

[Good.] [Then I shall return.]

As she leaving the stages, two lovebird flirting against each other. Such situation caused Yohana to hit her forehead pretty hard. It was quite a show to see both of them becomes like that. As of now, Josephine finally leveled onto a real witch, as now many obstacles stand in front of her and many challenges shall come toward her.

Topeng Buaya

Prologue 2

A footstep. A sound of sizzling wind and the bush, touched by a figure of red haired person wandering around here and there. Though the figure never looked gallant at all, his whole dress were dirty and smelly, most of the clothes’ were already beat-up and full of holes here and there. It’s almost like they were stranded for at least a years or more.

[AND WHERE IS THIS RUMORED WITCHES VILLAGE, EEEEEEEEEH!?!?!] [I CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER HOW LONG I’VE BEEN HERE WITHOUT EVEN EATING A SINGLE THING!!!!]

[Calm down, partner!!] [It’s not like screaming here and there would do you good!] [In fact, it’s going to annoy you even more!]

[What do you mean by-….]

*GRMMMBBBBLLLLLLLLL

A sound of empty stomach howling around the forest, as the red haired person finally fall on his knee while rubbing his own stomach.

[Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo………]

[I told you so, right?] [So far you’ve barely been able to survive thanks to those weird-tasted fruit you eat before, but it’s all run out now.] [Besides, all we ever heard is just a rumor, it can’t be trusted.]

In any case one would wonder, what was a man, alone in this forest, were talking, bickering, and even discussing all by himselfs. The answer is that he is not alone. Another creature was already in front of him. Not human, not even looked like an inteligent creature. It was just a primate with two long front teeth which was used to chew something. It often called a mouse. Though it may be a little different than the other mouse, since it can talk and have some weird hair model on it.

[Then, can you at least find some food for me?] [If this goes on, I might’ve died before being able to do what we need to do.]

[Hurmm… It’ll be troublesome if you died on me….] [Then wait here, I shall find some great food to eat with these great nose of mine~!]

[Thanks a lot, partner.]

After saying that, the mice started to run as fast as he can while somehow, the red-haired man returned back to his deep sleep.

***

[zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………..]

The red-haired man just keep on sleeping below the tree while hiding himself from the sun. In the middle of enjoying it, another creature comes up through him.

[PARTNEEEEEEEEEER!!]

The dandy-haired mouse keeps running as fast as possible while carrying something, bundled with a cloth. But as if without a care in the world, the red-haired man just keep sleeping.

[‘TILL WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SLEEP LIKE A LOG!!!] As he gets angry, he pulled something from the bundled cloth, a food with yellow-sih to orange color with its round-oval shape. And he just jammed the food onto Rud’s mouth.

[HMNGGH!!!] [HA HA HU HOI?!? (WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?)] […. HMM!?!]

As the red-haired man realized that the thing that being jammed onto his mouth was a food, a genuine ones, he quickly munched and gobled the whole things straight onto his throat, then to his stomach.

[*GULP… PHUAAAH!!!] [FEELS ALIVE AGAIN~!] [Hey, where did you find it?]

[Just find it along those ways.] [The shape of the tree somehow feels like they were being nurtured by someone.] [So I stole some that’s already no good to be eaten by normal humans.]

[Wait, did you just said that you gave me the worst taste of all the other fruit?!?] [That’s unnaceptable! For you to be able to eat delicious food alone while you gave me these rotten foul of a food?!?]

[No, nope. I never eaten one actually.] [Because it’s just the same as me stealing.]

[Who cares!?] [My, no, our life is on the line here!] [We can’t expect to survive without stealing one or two foods!!]

[Your mind… is wrecked up, partner….] [Moreso than me, whom have been turned into ‘this’.]

[Shut up!] [For now, lead me to where that fruit’s located at.]

[Alright, alright….] [Don’t blame me whether something do happens.]

Thus, the two person whom have been bickering over and over again, started to went straight onto the place which they’ve been searching all over again, yet unknown to them. Aiming for something they have to find no matter what, the two sets their feet onto the most forbidden and secret place people have been trying to find all by themselves. Such place had a name.

They have entered the area where the Witches lives, the Witch Village.

Topeng Buaya