I’m starting to not be a fan of being knocked out, and not just because of why it happens. It seems that when it happens, I have this strange vision. As if I’m reliving something. It’s the same thing, me running around killing… No more than that, absolutely obliterating them. Then I see Saffron, wearing only tattered clothing, crying… My mind wants me to comfort her, but that’s when my body takes control.
Then, just as I’m about to deliver the killing blow…
“Uhhh…” I wake up, with the sight of the girl herself to greet me. What’s that all about? I hope it’s not a sight of a bitter future.
“You’re finally awake.” She smiles at me, along with lending a head pat. “What were you thinking? Attacking a princess like that.” Of course she’s a princess, but I’ll still defend my actions.
“She tried to kill!” I argue my case to her.
“With this?” She asks very unamused. Then she holds up in her hand, the arrow that was shot at me, or at least what I thought was an arrow. It’s a stick, with a suction cup instead of an arrowhead. Attached on it, is a piece of paper that reads dunce. “Plus, she’s 12.”
“12!?” I guess I was severely wrong on my assessment of the girl. She really was just some immature child, instead of some assassin that never physically grew.
“Why are you shocked at that?” She looks at me, like I’m crazy. But can you really blame me? I have her as an example of small body, but still aged. Actually, still to this day, I’ve never asked her age. I was drilled that you should never ask a woman their age, and while I don’t know if that applies here, I’m not about to try it. “Anyway, you should be lucky that the king is understanding. As much as her sister would love to see you executed.”
“I’m just saying, she shot first.” I guess I really dodged a bullet there. Or I guess the term is dodged the arrow.
“It looked pretty bad, but I’m sure you’re telling the truth.” Good thing that there’s someone I can count on to be on my side. “Unfortunately, you’re not gonna like what I’m about to say next.”
“Oh no.” What’s next on this oh-so-fun trip, that I’m going to have to deal with?
“You see, I have you leave you here.”
“Leave me? But I thought you said I wasn’t in trouble?”
“Oh, it’s nothing to do with that.” She clarifies to me, that she’s going out on an important trip. It was the thing that was discussed between her and the king. “I’ll be gone for a little while, so you need to stay here.”
“But, I want to go with you.” I really don’t want to stay, especially not when those two girls live here. “Even if it’s dangerous, I promise I can take care of myself.”
“It’s not really a matter of if you can stay safe.” As it turns out, she’s going with a decent amount of soldiers, and even the king himself. I thought she said this world was peaceful, what could possibly bring this type of response? “So, it’s kind of going to be your job to help keep this place safe.”
“When you say keep this place safe.”
“You have to protect the two princesses.” She answered quickly, that girl knows me too well.
Of course things would end up like this. Of all people I have to get in trouble with, it just had to be with those two. I guess my uninvited presence must’ve given the king the opportunity to allocate more troops for this mission. Speaking of, I wish she’d tell me, but apparently that has to be kept a secret from me.
“I guess we should officially introduce you all.” She says, and gets me out of bed. Now this is going to be the most awkward thing I’ll ever have to do in my life. And that’s saying something, speaking as the only kid that didn’t have anyone at the middle school dance.
The walk there is killing me. Meeting them formally, as well as telling them that I’m going to basically be their babysitter, this is just gonna be a recipe for disaster. She leads me into a room, it’s a bedroom for a little girl actually. That’s where we see the two sitting at a table.
“He-hello.” I wave my hand nervously to the older girl. She glares back at me in response, as her little not-so-welcoming greeting. The younger girl is only slightly more inviting.
“I remember you, you’re the lost guy that tried to kill me.” Her cheerful tone is at odds with the statement she just made about me.
“Okay, I just thought you were trying to kill me.” I repeat again, trying to defend myself on that incident.
“But mister, I’m 12.” All right fine, I might’ve overreacted. But come on, I’m not a villain here. “Anyway, are you here to apologize to me?” Her attitude absolutely kills me. If anything, this girl need to apologize for making me think that I was about to be killed.
“Um, yes.” Though, with her big sister in the room. Along with my foreseeable future job, it’s better to stay on their good side. “I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you.” Her nonchalant response almost gets me mad… Almost.
“Yeah, well I don’t.” The older one says to me. “I can’t believe that dad wants you to keep an eye on us.” Well, at least we don’t have to be the ones to break the news. “I can take care of the two of us perfectly fine.” Great, so I’m getting stuck with some girl that thinks she’s all that and another that has no sense of proper behavior.
“Please try to be understanding.” Saffron tries to bridge this divide. “Your dad is just trying to do the best for everyone. It hasn’t been easy, even with the demon lord defeated.”
“Then he should know that I can take care of things.” She responds. That girl is pretty headstrong, but at least I know it’s not all just talk. But even then, that arrogance is going to end up causing her more pain than she can imagine. “If I’m going to be the next ruler, then I have to start somewhere.”
“Look.” I step in. “Personally, I don’t want to do this either. But even if we got off on the wrong foot. Can we at least try? I don’t even know your name.” With what I say, she doesn’t respond at first. I thought she was just that mad at me, but then she finally says something.
“Pepper.” She replies simply with just that one word to my questions. Not really sure what a spice has to do with anything. Though with the look on my face, That’s enough to make it clear to them, that I have no clue what she just said. “I can’t believe we have to trust this idiot.” She shrugs and crosses her arms in response.
“That’s her name.” The younger one clarifies that. Wow, I really do look like an idiot here. But is it really my fault that the names they got here are kind of weird? “My name’s Salt.” Yep, they got some really strange names here.
Salt and Pepper, huh? That had to be on purpose by that king guy. Odd though, since he’s got a normal name with Arthur. Wait a second, King Arthur? What kind of world did I get summoned to?
“Come on big sister.” Salt pokes at the older girl. “It could be fun.” As much as I want to appreciate the kind gesture, I’m certain that it’s so that girl can pull more dumb tricks over me.
“Well, it’s not like we can just go against dad.” That response isn’t the best I could’ve heard. Still though, it’s better than nothing.
Once the oh-so amazing introductions are out of the way. It’s time for Saffron depart with the King and his men.
I really don’t want her to go off on this mission. Sure, she’s done incredible things before, but if I don’t even know what she’s up against, then anything can happen.
“Are you sure things will be all right?” I ask her, as they’re getting packed to leave. She’s already got her things put away, so it’s time to say our farewells.
“Of course.” She gently touches my cheek, wiping the one tear I have. “I’ll only be gone for a week, then we’ll be back to our normal lives before you know it.”
“I’ll miss you.” I can’t hold back any longer, and give her the biggest hug of her life. “Just stay safe, okay?”
“I will.” She says simply. But why… Why does it sound so uncertain, while she stands still within my arms?
This is going to get annoying, a girl that can f*ck over MC at any time and a status that can back her up. Hope this gets resolved quickly. She did tried to kill him, after all. Never let this slide.
Yeah, I gotta be careful to avoid a Rising of the Shield Hero ordeal. Which funny enough, I did base the older sister's look on Malty.
@bigbear51
@bigbear51 this doesn't jive with his personality at all.. he went from speaking his mind to rolling over and being a pu**y. Im droopping this story here his interactions with salt and pepper are flat out contrived. This story could have been far better at multiple points and it just falls flat. There are no high points. Its feel unnatural. Goodluck on the next book.
Sorry even a timid person like the protagonist would Demand an explanation, especially if Saffron would be in danger... And since Saffron knws he doesn´t have much power and can´t fight she must have told the King this.
So is this King totally stupid to leave his daugthers with him and taking more Troops then planned???
You could say that Saffron spoke her case for him. But truthfully, there's no danger that required a fighting force for his daughters. It's more to keep them from causing trouble themselves.
@bigbear51 Sorry that´s makeing even less sence because in the palace shoukd be servants used to their behavior and people with more authority then an outsider...
Well, he's an exceptionally accommodating person. Stick me in a castle with two people without telling me why... What could I even do if I knew? The entire army is going anyway, so it's not even like it's going to be a perpetual secret. I really wouldn't be so understanding of not being told.
This was really stupid and forced. At least explain sh*t to MC, I like mystery but don’t put it too much where MC stands in a disadvantage..??
salt, pepper, saffron, will you make a one harem or one sauce?
Probably just keeping it one sauce. It's funny, since when I first thought of this series. There was supposed to be the mc boning a lot more girls.
yeah, sorry man. I liked what you put out before – trying to break away even if just a little from the JP isekai cliches at every opportunity. Poking fun at them in a pretty playful way but never being too edgy or angsty, or trying way too hard to break the mold, which worked especially well considering that the MC is almost a fourth-wall-breaking version of ourselves, the reader. It can't work any other way, that's why I feel this is kinda cringe and I'm not really feeling it.
I really like your writing style tho
I understand what you mean. The second arc was a lot more serious than the first one, which may have been a bit much considering the story's premise.
" All right fine, I might’ve overreacted. But come on, I’m not a villain here. "
Me: No you are
TFTC!
Thnx for the chapter.
Things might get tricky.
Is he going to remember when the two princesses literally do something shitty to trigger him??
I don't understand your question. As in is he going to remember their first meeting at an inopportune time, or that something's going to cause him to go ballistic?
@bigbear51
Yup. And maybe he then uses dark magic.
Like maybe past Alan had sh*t done to him cause of nobles. Plus Saffron was a slave. With her looks one can guess what type of buyer there would be.
With the arrogant 1st princess and the mischievous 2nd one who both can use their authority with the king gone...
He might have some nightmares at night with him finally recalling something too triggering the next day when the princesses do something(either to him or someone else)
@Solstice1309 You're really overthinking things. Salt is a mischievous kid and Pepper is an angsty teenager. The king seems to be a friend of Saffron and the former Alan. I can't see them befriending some depraved cruel nobles.
Just like in real life, someone being rich and powerful doesn't automatically mean they're a piece of shit.