Sora Kurusu, The First Artificier

"Eh?" she is confused "Um, master told me to hold this, I promise I didn't put it on..." I eyed her. And it seemed she knew I was in doubt 'For you to be linked to my mind, there must be some sort of explanation...' I thought, She nods. Although she was starting to look scared.

I sighed.

"Well never mind, Let's try and find out the solution another time..." I said. The adorable little slave girl I have kneeling on my bed, and I have to admit, She looks adorable in my Jacket. She then feverishly blushes. "Um, thank you..." I grin slightly. I got dressed into my usual attire "Wait here, I'll go see if the town has got any child-sized clothes..." She nods "While you're staying here, mind folding my Jacket if you decide to take it off?" She nods once more, and then coughed.

I took off from the worn out building, and I saw the little girl looking out through the open window sill. Her tiny little figure in the jacket being put on display for the world 'Don't look out the window looking like that!' I screamed through my head, and instinctively she retracted. 'There could be dirty idiots lurking around, so don't just go poking your head out!' She looked at me once more before closing the windows.

I sighed.

The town is small, there wasn't that much being completely offered to me in terms of clothing, but then I remembered. There was that Lady from last time, from the time I gave food to a girl named Tessa. And so I asked around town if anyone knew where they lived. And surprisingly enough, their hints lead me right back to the pub I was staying at. 'Well that was just one big circle, wasn't it...'

I entered the abandoned pub at once. "Oh, Master you're back..." A familiar voice sounded, a little girl with a mug in her hand sat on a newly cleaned table. "What? he's your master!" A surprised sound came from across the same table. Another girl sat to the opposite end, also holding a mug.

"Hello?" a voice came form behind the counter, and out rose a woman. "Oh! It's you, has Tessa been bothering you again?" The brownie on the table frowned.

"No, she wasn't much of a bother..." I said

"Oh good!" She said with a warm smile "You know we don't get that many customers anymore, so your stay here is free of charge..." I raised an eyebrow "Why?" I said. She pulls out a chair on the same table the girls sat on, and motioned Tessa to pull the chair opposite to the woman. She did so.

"Well you've heard the folks from the capital, there be demons running around the country like it's their land. Worst of all, I've heard some stories that they've even attacked small provinces like ours, because of that, our business got completely sacked..." She calmly said

"We still own this building and the land. Though can't imagine it being put to use after what's going on. But feel free to stay here, I'm sure Tessa and your girl here might get along quite well..." Tessa stood up on her chair "Eh! You're letting them stay!" She eyed my slave girl "But she's a Beast thingy!" she pouted afterwards, and the old woman then sighed.

"Tessa, not all Beastmen agreed to assist the demons in their war against humans. Most of them that disregarded the agreement got sent to slavery, and the proof of their will, is with the choker that surrounds their necks..." the woman eyed my slave as well, but with pity "I'm sorry what you must've went through dear, but I'm sure that your new master will treat you quite well..." she then redirected herself to me: "Don't try anything on her, alright?" she said

I nod.

"But then, why aren't they free like us?" Tessa asked once more. The woman nods "I've no complete story there little Tessa, but I'm sure one day there will come our explanation..." She said.

'Now that is quite interesting...' I thought 'To think that there would be sides to this war, I wonder who's got the most allies...'

"But anyways, me and my little girl here were told that there were hobos camping out here again, I wasn't really expecting you or your little friend out of all people..." She said warmly.

"Thanks, but before any of that..." "Oh don't worry, we've already provided the little girl with some clothing, we saw her attempting to wear an old sack!" I looked towards the girl again "Did you try to wear a sack?" I said "t-There were pretty clothes that I found sitting in another room, and being n-"

I immediately clapped my hand over her mouth, as I knew that she was about to say.

'What are you doing? l-Let me go!' a voice whispered in my mind, It was the girl's 'Imagine their reaction if they knew you were n.a.k.e.d while you were here! And imagine what I would look like if you said you slept n.a.k.e.d next to me!' I let go of her mouth, a little string of saliva flew out.

She nods bashfully.

The old lady let out a low chuckle "Is there anything you both need?" She said nicely

I entered deep thought, and then: "Is there anywhere in this town that makes armor and swords?" "Oh! you need that stuff, I wasn't expecting an adventurer to camp out this far from the capital..." She takes out a piece of parchment from her pocket and hands it over to me "This is a little map of this town, our local smith, Clint, should be able to provide you with some of adventuring gear. Are you guys in a sort of mission?" I looked at Tessa and then said "No, we're just here for supplies, we'll move out once we've stocked up..."

"Well, enjoy your stay here. Oh and little girl.." She looks at my little girl

"Play with Tessa a bit okay?"