I seriously need to put in a lot of effort to pull myself together and make sure my next words don't come out too emotionally layered.

 

"Why the fuck did you say that?!" (Y)

"Was I wrong? Believe me, I don't judge. This came from a totally neutral perspective." (E)

"N-no, I'm not attracted to centaurs. I just like how Lauro doesn't judge me for being some undead abomination! You may not have noticed, but that's pretty rare!" (Y)

"Oh, I did. Some of those looks in our direction were less than nice. But those can screw themselves. Quite dumb, if you ask me." (E)

"Are you like this to everyone?" (Y)

"I may have held back a little with the queen, and marginally with the count, but in total, that's right enough, I'd say. Not gonna bend myself over for anybody." (E)

 

Hah, at least she's honest.
I guess it's something that she apparently doesn't care in the slightest about what I could do to her.
Meanwhile, while offensive, I can't say she's hostile.
And that, after I, to be fair, drained the very life out of her body.
But seriously, what kind of life does someone have to lead to become like that?
And what does she think she's going to achieve, acting like this?

 

"That sounds like you're drawing a lot of trouble. How's that working out for you?" (Y)

"Somehow it got me the position as royal courier. Though, it also got me almost melted alive, and just today beaten up by a homicidal maniac." (E)

 

Not like my approach turned out any better.

 

"And what's that right now doing for you? Why are you seeking me out, instead of avoiding the trouble, as most others do?" (Y)

 

Doesn't seem like she learned much from... being melted alive?
How did that come to pass?!
Yet what she says next throws me off balance.

 

"Well, call me naive, but I'd like to be friends with you. Don't know how it is for you, but friendships don't establish by keeping a distance from each other." (E)

"You, you want to be friends? With me!?" (Y)

"Sure. Just in case you suddenly decide to go for the undead domination route, I'd rather prefer to be on your good side." (E)

"Seriously?" (Y)

 

I need to say, you’ve got a weird way of making that happen.
Also, I don't think it is working.

 

"Yep. Well, also, I find your situation somewhat interesting. Did you realize that it could be that you won't die? Not of old age, not of sickness? Like, ever?" (E)

 

Gulp.

I didn't think all that hard about this possibility, and I didn't confirm a whole lot of things, but she could be right that my dead body won't age.
I'm not sure if I can rot, or what exactly is going to happen if I drain myself completely, but if I don't end from this, I may only die if I get torn apart in a permanent way.
Probably if something happens to that crystal in my chest.

 

"Scratch, scratch"

 

It's again itching so intensely.
But I shouldn't show how much that got me.
Best I switch topics.

 

"S-s-so? What's that gotta to do with you?" (Y)

"Well, in case you figure this out, maybe one day I can join in on your deal. I mean, I already got one possible stick at immortality. But it may not be the best deal there is. So I'd like to see yours and compare." (E)

 

Eh?
...I'm honestly at a loss for words.
Who exactly is this girl?!!
What does she mean by having a possible way to become immortal?
Who the hell says stuff like this?!

 

"Anyway, what kind of activity did you plan for now?" (E)

 

Yeah, what exactly did I plan on doing next?
Oh, right.
I got a request to check up on.

 

"I need to see a friend in the barracks. I asked him for a favor, and would like to check on it." (Y)

"Visiting a friend would've been enough for me. Don't intend to write a report, and therefore don't need to know how you go down with your male friends." (E)

 

Wh-whah-

 

"Pffft, you should look at yourself. Quite the surefire way to get you, it seems." (E)

 

And she seriously tried to convince me she wanted to be friends...

Yet this changes nothing about my plan.
Yes, okay, she might embarrass me in front of Ethan by being herself, but it's about learning what my parents answered.
At least, training seems to be settling down.
This means I should focus on the barracks.
Ethan should be there after training.
Maybe I could even see some of my other old friends.
Sylvia didn't have any time the last time we met, but maybe there's Revan.
Sometimes old buddies get put together, so their teamplay is apt, and they have a general motivation to keep each other alive.

I reach the barracks.
The building looks nice enough from the outside, so let's check out the inside.
There are quite a bunch of people around.
It's not just the soldiers' cabins, but also gathering rooms, for team conferences.

 

"That throws me back. The lodgings at Count Kahan's place looked pretty similar. Probably inspired by what we got here." (E)

 

I'm getting more and more intrigued by what she apparently already lived through.
Count Kahan, she says?
It's said that his troops are among the most elite monster slayers in all of Rakis.
Just who is this girl?

Anyway, after a bit of asking around, which was made more difficult by the fact that people are kinda scared of me, but ironically at the same time easier, because they were more eager to cooperate, I manage to find Ethan.

Yet right next to him, I see Silvia!
Uh, last time we didn't part as best as we could.
I hope she used the time she had to sort herself out.
And, isn't that Marcus?
Are they all in the same team?!
The only one missing would be Revan, and he might even be somewhere around here.
Did Ethan's father pull some strings to get them together?
That they’re all familiar with each other might be important for teamwork, but this might go a little bit too far, bordering on collusion.
Seems like they're in some kind of team meeting.
It would be bad to disturb them during this kind of thing, wouldn't it?

 

"Is that the guy you were looking for?" (E)

 

She seems to pick up stuff like this quite quickly.

 

"Ehm, yes, but as you see, they seem occupied, and-" (Y)

"Hey, Ethan! Here's someone who wants to talk with you!" (E)

 

As I stare at her in pure perplexion, she just gives me a dismissive grin and subsequently pushes me forward, so my stiff legs make me stumble right in front of Ethan.
Well, at least, I didn't fall.

 

"Yomi!?" (Et)

 

He seems surprised, but it sounds like that's mostly because of my sudden appearance, I'd say.

 

"Ehm, hello? A-about the, the thing I asked you to. H-how did it go?" (Y)

"Oh, right, you see..." (Et)

 

Before he can bring his sentence to an end, Silvia barges in.

 

"He couldn't do it yet. Maybe you should ask someone else." (S)

 

Is it just me, or is she pretty dismissive?

 

"N-no, I was still going to do that. I just didn't find time for it yet, Yomi. You know, with me starting my duties as the new squad leader." (Et)

 

I still can't quite believe he became that.
Both Silvia and Markus have already served for longer, and that likely under a more experienced squad leader.
Or did Ethan get competent subordinates to teach him the ropes?
Might be why he seems so unsure with them.

 

"Ethan, are you sure you should talk with her? This could mean trouble." (S)

"Silvia is not quite wrong. Maybe we should at least wait for Revan to return before we decide on anything." (M)

"What are you talking about guys? It's Yomi! She just asked me for a little support." (Et)

"Well, maybe you shouldn't? There's been some rumors going round." (S)

"Heard those as well." (M)

 

Rumors?
Is my reputation that bad?

 

"But rumors are just that, rumors! This is still Yomi!" (Et)

"I-is she, though?" (S)

 

What is she talking about?
Of course I am I!
... Right?

 

"What are you saying? She's still our friend!" (Et)

"We don't even know if that really is Yomi! It's a walking corpse! She just looks that way! Would the real Yomi go around and drain animals and people for fun?!" (S)

"N-no? I mean, she wouldn't. I mean..." (Et)

"Get a grip on yourself, 'squad leader'. As the one in charge, you are responsible for doing threat assessment, and that thing is a threat! Don't let it just come to the barracks!" (S)

 

I'm hurt.
This hurt far worse than getting beaten up all day by Relia.

 

"Si-Silvia, I..." (Y)

 

Involuntarily, I move closer as I try to explain myself.

 

"Don't touch me, you freaking monster!" (S)

 

Wha-

 

"I, I... " (Y)

"Stop speaking now, with the voice of my dead friend!" (S)

 

"WHOP"

 

The next thing I become aware of is how Elin stands in front of me, pulling her fist back, and Silvia.
The latter lifting herself into a kneeling position on the ground, holding her now bleeding nose.

 

"Huh, who would've thought? It truly goes faster. Nngh, but now my hand stings quite fiercely." (E)

 

Is she serious?
She just hit a fellow soldier!

 

"Ugh, fuck! What is wrong with you!?" (S)