My name is Heather, I’ve been a knight for the pace these st 5 years.

  I started quite young, I was only 13 back then, my father was a knight as well, but the news of his death shook me to my core, I couldn’t do anything, mother died when Ellie was born and now my father, I was very desperate back then, Ellie was only 2 years old, and we had no other family member to rely on, so taking care of my sister became my duty.

  I hated it.

  The constant hunger and pain from being two poor orphaned children, it was truly a desperate time, fortunately we weren’t homeless, we still had the house from my parents, but then they said something about taxes and such, I didn’t know what was happening, all I understand was that I needed money and fast.

  Even for me, in this desperate situation, I couldn’t turn to thieving, my father was a proud knight for god's sake, how could I as his daughter resort to thieving to survive, with nothing more to do, I manage to join the army as a soldier.

  Times were rough, even as I got scolded for taking my infant sister with me, or the constant pain of training and having to go back home and not have anything for dinner, because I had to support my sister.

  Sigh... those bitter memories are terrible, fortunately I managed to up my rank, and although it was difficult, I managed to be called the leader of the pace knights, it was the same title as my dad had, I felt proud, making all those rough years of work worth it, I could finally live a decent life with my sister, she’s the reason for me to live, the only family I have, my everything, I gave up my life for her, although it took me a bit to realize it, I’m proud of her, and I would give everything I have to make her happy, as such, another terrible news soon reached me.

  A disease, my sister got sick, and there was nothing I could do about it, despite my arguing with the doctors, I couldn’t do anything about it, she’ll die once the disease spreads enough, all I could do was buy her treatment and slow it’s progress, I felt despair, the only family I have, my one and only sister, would die.

  It was a twisted joke, all I could do was hope that the doctors would find a cure while we slowed its development, but the odds were so slim, it was basically nonexistent...

  Life continued, my sister's legs could no longer work, and she was bedridden... and all I could do was work so that my sister could see another day, every morning I wake up, thanking god that today I get to see my sister again, I felt my heart breaking in a million pieces...

  “You have to get ready to fight a demon in this hill”

  It was a weird order, but I had worse. As said demon appeared, a girl, maybe around her teens, stood before us. She's definitely the demon Milord mentioned, as her horns and tail gave it away. No point in compining, I have to carry out my duty.

  ...

  My entire ptoon was annihited, no one died, she just toyed with everyone and knocked them out.

  “Demon! Do you have no honor as to merely toy with those fighting you!”

  “Would you rather I kill them? Big words for someone who isn’t fighting herself”

  “Fine, do you want to face me that badly? Prepare yourself!”

  As soon as I attacked her, I got hit and passed out...

  I woke up in the knights barracks. Apparently the lord was pissed at us, I can’t believe her, she managed to beat me so easily, I admit that I held back a bit thinking of my sister, but that monster needed to be cut down...

  The next day, milord asked me to fight her again, what is she doing in the town pace anyways, without a shred of doubt in my mind, I attacked her with all I’ve got, the moment my bde struck her shoulder, I felt as if I was striking against an iron wall, yet the thing I saw after left me speechless.

  Fear, but not mine, the girl got afraid of me when I managed to nd a blow on her.

  “As if I’ll let you”

  The moment I prepared for my next attack when I saw her retreating, an inhumane speed came from the girl’s arm, when I realized it, my arm was sent flying into the air, it was so fast I didn’t even feel pain, my instinct told me to run, but how could I possibly run away from her, I kicked her as a ditch attempt to make her trip, this was a mistake, since my leg was sent flying as well...

  I fell to the ground. At that moment, as my body cooled down, the pain of my lost limbs struck me. As I used all my willpower to fight it, I looked at my surroundings.

  ...no one, I was left alone to die in the hands of this monster. I looked at her in sheer terror, her clenched fist, sharp fangs and slit pupils made me feel an unimaginable terror... as I was ready to accept my fate, this monster ran away...

  ...

  The knight's healer took care of my wounds, he couldn’t fix my missing limbs, he could only accelerate the clothing process, so I wouldn’t bleed out.

  My life was safe, yet now I was crippled for life... as the healer left me to rest by myself in this medical room, I cried, I cried like I have never cried before...

  ...

  “You can’t go home like that!”

  “Let me, I’m fine”

  After struggling a bit, I left to see my sister, she hasn’t had dinner yet and is waiting for me. I can’t think of how I should present myself to her... with my body like this...

  ...I limped my way home, with an intense pain in my stumps, I reached my house.

  “I’m back Ellie!”

  I yelled as always.

  “Big sister! Welcome back”

  “It’s te so I’ll make you dinner, wait for me a bit will you?”

  “O-ok!....”

  She’s taken aback, of course she is, whenever I come home, the first thing I do is see her, but I can’t muster the courage to see her in this state... As a way to dey the inevitable, I prepared a simple dinner, with quite a bit of difficulty, and headed to see Ellie...

  “Big sister!”

  The look of shock in Ellie’s face pains me more than my wounds...

  “What happened!?”

  I couldn’t help but give a wry smile...

  “J-just a little accident...”

  “Sister...”

  “H-here’s your dinner...”

  *sniffle*

  Ellie started to cry, my heart feels like it’s being shattered into a million pieces...

  “If I wasn’t sick, sister wouldn’t take such a risky job...”

  *hic*

  “No, Ellie...”

  “I’m sowwy!!”

  I pced her food on the table and sat next to her in the bed to hug her...

  “It’s not your fault Ellie... never say something like that! Ellie is a good girl, you didn’t do anything wrong...”

  I couldn’t help but cry with her... and just like that, I fell asleep weeping with Ellie...

  The next day... I woke up, prepared Ellie’s breakfast, and was getting myself ready to go to the pace.

  “Don’t go big sister!”

  “I have to go, Ellie”

  “You can’t be a knight anymore! Please”

  “I know Ellie, I’m not gonna go to work”

  “Then?”

  “I’m going so I can be id off from the knights”

  “W-what does that mean?”

  “Since I got this injuries as a work injury, I’m gonna be paid a pension for the rest of my life, that is to say, they’ll still pay me, even though I’m no longer a knight”

  “Really!?”

  “Un, but I have to go there to receive it officially with the town lord, also, it’s not gonna be my full sary”

  “I see”

  “We’re gonna be a bit short of money for now Ellie, but we’ll be fine, I promise”

  “Ok! I’ll help big sister with everything I can!”

  “Thanks Ellie, I’m off”

  And so I headed to see the town lord for my pension.

  “Yes, Heather, can I help you with something?”

  “Un... I know I’ve been id off from the guard knights but...”

  “You can’t come back, you can barely stand up!, you’re officially dismissed”

  “Of course...”

  “T-Then about the pension...”

  “Eh!?”

  “W-Well, it was part of my contract that I would receive a pension in case I was id off due to injury...”

  “And you dare expect me to give you anything after that pathetic dispy of yours!? Not only were you useless! You have the audacity to ask for a pension!?”

  “B-but...”

  “Besides, the contract stated about injuries received on duty”

  “B-but I fight because you ordered me to do so...”

  “Such a vulgar way to speak to your lord! Just so that we’re clear, you’re not being id off from the service that you dispyed, you’re being fired for your incompetence!”

  “B-but milord! I beg of you!”

  “I!... I need the money! Please...”

  “Out of my sight!”

  “Y-Yes...”

  ...

  I can’t believe this... I even beg on the floor... I feel awful, what will I do now... as I was wondering this, I got in front of the demon, it was clearly an ambush so I pulled my sword and tried with all my might, despite my body screaming in pain.

  After she said she didn’t want to fight, she made me point her to a restaurant, what’s wrong with her, I want to run away, but it looks like she won’t let me, as I pointed at the first restaurant I see, I felt a bloodthirst so massive, I almost pass out...

  I get it! I get it! You said ‘my’ favorite restaurant, I’ll take you there, please don’t kill me...

  ...

  After an awkward talk with the waitress, we were taken to a table, it looked like she wanted to talk to me really badly, at least she won’t do anything too reckless in such a crowded pce right?...

  Then the waitress said she’ll bring my favorite dish...

  “No-“

  I was gonna refute her, I don’t have a job anymore, I have to save every penny I can, but this monster butted in...

  Dammit, why are you torturing me like this...

  Then she said she’ll pay for the food, so I felt a bit at ease...

  “Then... Why did you bring me here?”

  “Here’s the wine!”

  “Thanks”

  “I want to hire you”

  “Eh?”

  “Un, and I’ll pay you double of what that piggy paid for you as a knight”

  What? Did she just say she’ll pay me double of my sary!? With that amount of money, my financial problems will end, as I sighed relieved, a dark realization came to my mind.

  “W-what kind of job do you want me to do?...”

  “It’s simple”

  She said while pausing, for a bit.

  “I want you to be my concubine~”

  ...

  I couldn’t help but toss my gss of wine at her, yet not even a drop fell on her, just who is this monster...

  She obviously wants to humiliate me, this is her goal, for such a btant lie as needed to drink blood to survive... like hell I’ll agree, I tried to py it a bit cool, if I anger her, she’ll kill me for sure...

  Despite my worries, she ended up paying not only for my dinner, but even food for my sister. I'm sure she wants me to feel like she’s talking seriously and take the job. Sadly for her, I just scammed her out of dinner for me and my sister, serves her right.

  Besides, why would she, a young teen girl, want a concubine for? Isn’t she too young to think of these things? Ah... My head hurts. Despite all of this, she even cimed that a member of my family works on the pace. I'll admit she picked my interest but now thinking about it, it’s obviously a bunch of lies, sigh... I agreed to go with her though, so I’ll do this tomorrow, and then look for a job at the adventurers guild...

  I let my sister eat dinner, and slept with her tonight, just as I did yesterday...

  ...

  The next day I got up early and headed to the pace, only to see Marisa still sleeping...

  Sigh... and she’s the one that told me to be here early...

  After a bit Marisa yelled at the town lord and we headed to the basement, just who is this girl?

  ...

  She then freed a prisoner in the town lord basement... although I too felt pity for her, she could be a potential criminal, what’s wrong with her?

  Then after a bit, I saw another cage, and what was inside shook me to my core...

  “D-Dad?”

  I couldn’t believe it, it was my dad. Despite everything that happened, he’s still alive, I rushed to free him but Marisa stopped me, what a hypocrite! Despite saving a criminal, she decides that my father deserves to be locked up!? I got mad, but she let me continue, after blowing the lock in the cage with my sword I continued to try to free him from his shackles, but they were so hard I could only leave slight dents and cuts on them.

  “I... I don’t think this is a good idea...”

  The look on Marisa’s eyes! They’re petrified in fear, I can see it in her face, just like that time back when we fought, what is she scared about!?

  “Eh!? I-is something wrong?”

  “Heather!”

  She then suddenly pulled me with quite a bit of force. My body hurts, but then I saw my father, free from his shackles, how did he get free? It didn’t matter, I tried getting close but something was off, I felt the fear that Marisa was feeling...

  Then my dad rushed to attack me, I couldn’t understand... Marisa stopped my father's punch, even as I was behind Marisa, I could feel the force of his punch, then she simply kicked him and sent him flying.

  “Why did you kill my dad!?”

  I shouted in anger, it was the only thing my brain could assimite of this.

  “Wouldn’t it be nice if he died by that”

  What does she mean?...

  Then my dad got up, yet he didn’t look like my father at all anymore...

  “Do you really think that’s your father?”

  As I looked dumbfounded dad proceeded to attack Marisa, she stopped her punch, but was sent flying.

  “Marisa!”

  “I’m fine!”

  She screamed while getting up as well, just who are these 2 monsters... Marisa then attacked dad with quite a bit of power, it’s amazing, if she attacked me like that I’d die in the blink of an eye, despite this, she was still sent flying across the basement.

  Marisa got up again, and then used magic to freeze my dad. This amount of magic power is astounding, she then punched my frozen dad, shattering into pieces, despite this, his body parts went back together and reformed, it’s like he was never broken to begin with...

  “Are you serious...”

  I heard Marisa mutter under her breath, whatever this monster is, he’s clearly stronger than Marisa, there’s no way she can win...

  I have to do something, so I got up, picked my sword and attacked him, even if just for a second. If I can give Marisa a second to strike back, maybe we can pull a miracle.

  Despite my great effort, I was sent flying like a piece of paper, the worst part is that he didn’t even touch me...

  Ah... I’m gonna die... there’s no way to run, as I felt my legs trembling, getting ready to meet my end, Marisa appeared in front of me again, she took the full force of the blow! I saw both of her arms fly back towards me, that monster was capable of hurting Marisa that much! Even if she survived that hit, now she has become useless... We’re both gonna die... it’s that idiotic nature of trying to save me that it’s gonna get her killed!, as I was thinking as much, I could see her shoulders getting smaller, and she’s trembling a little, she’s scared again...

  !! A sudden pressure covered my body. It was so heavy, I felt like I couldn’t move, it was worse than being in front of that monster, at that moment Marisa turned around.

  “If you’re just gonna get in the way, get lost!”

  Her eyes, with a slit pupil, looked at me while uttering those words... I felt a chill down my spine, like I was standing in front of death itself, then Marisa’s limbs regrow in a second and then she picked my sword.

  The speed of her sshing and moving it’s so fast! I can’t follow it even with my eyes. Despite this, that monster still managed to nd a couple of hits on her, but she kept sshing. I'm afraid, I can’t move a single muscle, thinking about my foolishness of fighting this girl, it’s a miracle I’m still alive...

  She sshed, even though that monster was already dead, she continued, never stopping nor taking a break, she continued to attack relentlessly, even when his opponent got turned into a mushy pile of flesh and bone, she continued sshing...

  ...

  After a while, all that’s left is a puddle of blood in the floor, but she’s still smashing the sword on the floor, her movements slowed down so much, I can see it in her movements, she’s exhausted, despite this she continues to strike the floor with the sword... up and down, the now useless sword cnged on the floor, I couldn’t bear watching this any longer, so I dashed towards Marisa and hugged her from the back.

  She’s cold! It’s like hugging a piece of ice, once Marisa realized this herself, she colpsed to the floor...

  Despite her clearly on the verge of dying from exhaustion, she asked me something I never thought I’d hear in my life.

  “Can I eat your dad?”

  “...sure...”

  Eh? I just agreed but what does she mean by this? She then gathered all the blood from the floor into a ball and consumed it...

  ...

  After a loud ‘phew’ Marisa got up, like nothing had ever happened, I can’t believe she recovered everything just from this! But it looks like she wasn’t lying when she said that she lived off from blood...

  ...

  ...

  After interrogating the town lord, we were walking outside while chatting a bit.

  “Are you sure about this? You let the pension slip through your fingers”

  “Not at all, but it’s fine”

  “I can force the piggy if you want, then-“

  “I don’t want his money, however...”

  “Yes?”

  “I do happen to be disemployed, maybe I should start looking for a job”

  “What will you do?”

  “I’ll probably register as an adventurer, although I won’t make much, I’ll work myself to the bone!”

  This was my pn since yesterday, so I’ll stick to it.

  “Isn’t there a way for you to accept my job offer?”

  “Concubine is a bit...”

  I feel bad, since I feel like I owe her my life, but then again she tore my limbs, so I’m gonna take her word from the basement and call it even.

  “Sigh... think about it, is there anything I could do to motivate you to take this job offer?”

  “Make it 4 times the sary”

  I said jokingly, As if she’ll pay me that much.

  “How much did you earn again?”

  Eh? You didn’t even know my sary and you offered twice the amount!?

  “And why would you want that much money?”

  “Is that a no?”

  “4 times is a bit...”

  “Of course, I actually earn a lot, I know that”

  “Then how are you hurting for money?”

  That’s... sigh... I owe her a bit, thanks to her my father can finally rest in peace, so I feel like she can know about my sister, at least that much should be fine.

  “All of it was used in the medicine for my sister illness see, there’s nothing I could do about it, even if I have to hunt dragons like this to make the money, I’ll do my best to provide for my sister”

  “So you’ll kill yourself out there trying to get money, and leave your sister to die”

  “That’s!”

  “Did I lie?”

  She’s got a point, it’s a dangerous job but…

  “No... but, I don’t want to sell myself like that, I know it’s risky, but even like this I have confidence in my abilities see! So I’ll make do somehow”

  “Sigh... then how about this, 2 times the pay, and I heal your sisters disease”

  Eh!? My thought process went out the window. If she can heal my sister, if she can save the only family that I have left, I’ll do anything for her.

  Despite her being completely honest with me, all I can do is hold on to this sliver of hope!

  As soon as we reached my home, she examined my sister...

  “It’s just a hunch but...”

  She’s using magic in Ellie’s legs.

  “A curse”

  Eh!? I did hear that right, but now, Ellie’s walking again! I couldn’t help but cry of joy! My sweet Ellie! I’m not gonna have to part ways with you any time soon!

  As I looked over at Marisa a daunting thought knocked me out of my joyous mood.

  ...I just sold myself...

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  Waa... the weekend went by flying...

  ...

  Now that Ellie can walk, albeit very little and with the help of a walking cane, I bought 2 of them, one for my sister and one for me, I can’t keep using my sword for that, I would try selling it, but it’s so broken I’ll be lucky to get a couple of copper coins, not that money is a problem anymore, a part of me feels really relieved, like I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, I had a bit of money saved for my sister, in case of an emergency, or in case the cure was found, it would of taken quite a bit of money, so I saved every time I could, but now, it wasn’t necessary anymore, my sister and I went through so many hardships, so I want to use that money to splurge a bit and pamper her. I feel a bit bad using all of it, I’m not gonna go out of my way to buy her everything I can think of, but I’ll take her shopping for the time being.

  “Ellie”

  “Un!”

  She’s quite happy, being able to leave her bed after so long.

  “I need to talk to you for a bit”

  For now, I’ll expin everything to her, well almost, she’s still 7 so there’s things that she doesn’t have to know yet, but I have to expin to her since I have a job and all.

  “Ellie, I have to tell you something”

  “U-un...”

  “I didn’t receive my pension, sadly”

  Ah! Her face turned grim at this moment...

  “It’s ok big sister! I’ll work as well and-“

  “No Ellie! There’s no need, I found another job you see”

  “Eh!? I don’t want my big sister to be in danger anymore!”

  “No, Ellie, it’s not a dangerous job”

  “Then?”

  “Hmm... you’re too young to understand, but I’ll be, um, well you could say I’ll just have to keep someone company every now and then”

  “Like escorting a noble?”

  “W-Well, something like that, but I won’t fight anymore”

  “I... don’t understand”

  “I know Ellie, don’t worry about it”

  “Then you’re working for the town lord again?”

  “That pig? No, I’m actually gonna be working for Marisa?”

  My mouth slipped, I hope she didn’t notice I called him a pig.

  “The girl from yesterday?”

  “Un, also, she’s paying me double of what I earned as a knight”

  “Wow! Then Mari is a noble? I didn’t know”

  “U-un...”

  What is Marisa anyways?

  “As such! Let’s go out shopping?”

  “Eh?”

  “I want to take my sister and go shopping, since I want to buy a couple of things for my new job, I thought we could go together, what do you say?”

  “B-but...”

  “You haven’t gone out of this house in a while, don’t you want to come?”

  “Un!”

  And so we went out shopping. I hired a young kid from the streets to help us carry the things. These things are common, and with me being crippled and Ellie barely capable of walking, it’s safe to say we couldn’t carry that much.

  And so I took Ellie and bought clothes for her and for me, I need to look good for the job I’m doing, I also bought makeup for me and a bit for my sister, I remember mom taught me how to use makeup when I was around 10, so I want to teach her as well, she’s a bit young but she’ll need it in the future, and since I’m gonna be using makeup now, she’ll just get curious, so I’ll teach her now, I bought her new shoes, as well as other things we might need in the future.

  “B-big sister? Is it ok to buy all of this?”

  “Un, don’t worry about it Ellie”

  We continued going through the city, taking constant breaks obviously, it’s hard to walk for the both of us.

  As we rested on a bench, Ellie was gncing towards a shop, she was looking at a stuffed teddy bear on dispy.

  “Do you want it?”

  “No!”

  She answered quickly, Ellie is such a good girl, worrying about our economy, but it’s fine.

  “Are you sure? Then what would you like from that store?”

  “Eh?”

  It’s a toy store, I almost never gave her toys, so she obviously felt a bit sad when she saw other kids on the streets pying and such.

  It was difficult Ellie, but now I can give you a proper life, so if she wants that plushie, I’ll buy it for her no questions asked.

  “I... I do like that bear...”

  She said in a low voice.

  “Then let’s go”

  I purchased the bear for my sister, seeing her bright smile made every coin worth it.

  And just like that, the day was coming to a close.

  I left my sister at home, and said to her that I’ll buy dinner from her favorite restaurant, I’ll take her out for dinner but she seems exhausted, so it’s better to let her rest at home and I’ll get the dinner, besides, there’s something else I have to buy before the day ends.

  “Welcome customer”

  It’s a bit fancy... I’m buying lingerie for my... Uh... new duties, I really pnned on going in just my normal knight attire but, I’m forced to take this job, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t be fired, so I have to do my best! I... I’m nervous.

  Eh!? What’s the point if the important parts are exposed!? Wow, this is expensive! Uh... how do you wear that?...

  ...

  ...

  I was overwhelmed to say the least, but I think I picked a couple of good ones. It was a bit expensive, we already blew through a big chunk of my savings, but it’s ok, if she does pay me double the sary, I can recover them in a couple of months.

  I went to get dinner for me and my sister and headed back home.

  “I’m back Ellie!”

  ...

  Weird she didn’t answer me, I got worried so I ran to her room, only to see her sleeping like a rock, hugging her new teddy bear.

  “...I love you big sister...”

  She’s speaking in her sleep, so cute...

  “I love you too Ellie”

  I whispered to her, then covered her with a bnket, she’s gonna wake up so hungry tomorrow...

  I had dinner and went to sleep.

  ...

  Or so was my pn but I can’t sleep...

  I mean, I’m gonna lose my virginity the day after tomorrow! It’s a very important thing, and I’m gonna do it on Monday...

  Am I ever gonna have sex with her? How would it work if we’re both girls? Would she just make me do it with another man for her amusement?

  These thoughts crossed my mind as anxiety settled in my heart...

  ...

  Sunday was quite an uneventful and peaceful day. I spent it pying with my sister and talking with her, it’s been so long since I had this much time with her.

  I couldn’t sleep at all that night as well, then the next morning, I got up early, dressed myself up with everything, I combed my hair sideways, instead of my usual ponytail, maybe I should’ve gotten a trim, it’s too te now, I put makeup lightly, and head to the pace nervously, probably the most nervous I’ve been in my whole life...

  Joanne_carper