Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 336: Arc 5, - 30: Adventurer’s Life

"Hotaru."

Hotaru let go of the railing and looked behind her.

The blonde had poked her head out the purple-painted door, "Seriously, are you okay?"

Her crimson ears pricked, "I’m fine. Go, work on figuring out the case," she turned away and flapped her hand.

Jotou’s brows knitted... ’Yeah, I’m sure you’re absolutely fine...’ Doubt arrived at her face in a pout. "Alright," she uttered with a sigh, "Enjoy your tea," she shut the room door.

The redhead’s wolf-like ears waited... till she knew Jotou was nowhere near the door. She let out a noisy sigh and held her forehead; her palm lowered till her fingers rubbed her eyes.

...Her breath was going out of whack again. Were the walls spinning or was it just her...? "Ngrh..." she gave her head a sharp shake. With an arm on the railing, she walked to the edge of the stairs—lightheaded.

"Ho-ta-ru~ Hm? What’s wrong?"

It took Hotaru a second to register the voice behind her, "Asobi. Right, your room’s here," she spun around and faked a fanged smile.

"Mhm! But you already know that part," Asobi had her hat taken off, her raven-black hair brushed along her shoulders atop her black blazer—she tilted her head, "You, don’t look so good..."

The wolf-girl hid her slightly shaky hand behind her back and gave a mock pout to the elf, "That’s a rude thing to say. I know we’re all a little tired, but my morning routine hasn’t changed."

Asobi raised her hands and waved them with an awkward laugh, "Sorry! You look as pretty as ever, but that’s not what I meant... uhm... uhhh-would you like to see my room? You haven’t seen it yet, right?" her teeth all shined.

The other could barely put together a thought to respond, "Well, no, I haven’t..." Her tail stood still as little tufts of red fur spiked up.

Black-hued nails wrapped around Hotaru’s unhidden hand and grabbed it into a gentle hold, "Then, come on in. There’s no rush, is there?"

"Not... immediately."

With a mild tug, the magician guided Hotaru into her room; it was a mere few steps in. Through the door was a long desk fixed onto the wall that curved till the window on the other side of the entrance.

Empty shelves of wood—the same make and light brown of the desk—was higher up, with two long rows up and down. "I wanna make a little cozy cubby under here," the magician pointed under the desk that offered a lot of empty space.

The maroon curtains were half-closed, letting in mellow light—enough to see, but keep it dim. In the corner was a wide, single bed, covered in tawdry maroon bedsheets.

Beyond that, there was a closet where Asobi presumably stored her clothes and a vanity that had almost nothing on it—the only thing being nail polish items.

Hotaru purposefully slowed her breaths as she gave a cursory glance of the room. Her right hand held her left thumb, pressing onto the bone near the palm. "Preparing for exams?" she noticed the papers and stationary on her table.

"Oh, yup-yup! Detective Namora lent me some of the things Kineko’s studying. Though, I’m not really sure how to start," Asobi sat with a bounce on the bed.

"I can help with that if you want," she forced her tail to sway.

"I’d like that a lot!" Asobi clapped softly. She then exhaled and watched the brilliant blue eyes of Hotaru with the jade-green of her own, "There’s something that’s troubling you, isn’t there?" she innocently put.

"I..." she choked up. Her body felt heavy yet weightless, the room was spinning yet stable, her breaths were calm yet she could count every inhale and out.

There was no way to calm down—her mind felt locked out from the rest of her body... Her words were stuck behind a voice that could not speak.

"Hehe~"

The little gremlin-like giggle pricked her ears. "Wh-wh, why are you laughing?" Hotaru forced the question out.

"Hm? No reason," her giggle died down. Both her hands were on the bed, pushing her arms and shoulders up, "My ears aren’t as good as yours, but they’re both pointy and can listen."

"...What?" the redhead strained her eyes and her ears folded over her head.

Asobi stared at her for a good few seconds. She raised her wand and casted a spell onto herself; she looked like a certain blonde, "Maybe it’s easier to talk to me?" she mimicked Jotou’s voice.

Hotaru’s lips tightened and she shut her eyes. Multiple no-s exited her lips as whispers. "Sobi, no, no," she closed the room door.

With a swish of her wand, the light dissipated and Asobi was there once more. She tilted her head—her eyes filled with curiosity and childlike concern.

"Jotou and Meko... I," her red brows furrowed. "I healed them just yesterday and even bits today. We’re supposed to be off the case and they’re just, at it? Again!?

Trying to solve this case!? Th-they, they still have bags under their eyes!" the knots in Hotaru’s stomach began to untangle and words came flooding out. "We almost got killed yesterday!

Ev-every fight we’ve faced, it’s been scary, yes. But this, this," she panted. "We’ve never been so hilariously overwhelmed like last night! That was just last night!" her hands trembled.

"We gave it our all, didn’t we?" Asobi thought back to it.

"I don’t think any of us were pulling our punches," Hotaru’s breath steadied the more she spoke. "And even then, Jotou’s Thundering Strike... did nothing!

We’ve seen that spell tear buildings asunder and blow it to bits! She put her all into it and it did nothing! All of our magic is a hundred percent better since we started and we barely made a scratch on them...

With all of that," the redhead gulped. "Those two are just ready to get up and go again...? What in the- I don’t get it! Didn’t we get chewed out by Detective Aetherton and told to be done with case by Meko’s dad?

I mean, yeesh! What are they trying to do? We can’t just go against them again! And Jotou’s just," her voice cracked. "Not listening!

I understand wanting to help Fumeko, I really do, but this is taking too many risks and going against so many things," tears formed in her eyes. "I’m really contemplating our involvement in this..."

The redhead’s wobbly breath was the only sound that filled the room. She managed not to break into tears while she steadied each exhale...

Asobi awaited till her breathing calmed; then spoke, "Is it because you’re scared of losing everything?"

Hotaru’s ears pricked as she faced the magician.

"Jotou has Daiyu and her friends. Fumeko has her dad and younger sister. You and me are the only ones who have nothing else for us. Or, no one else for us."

The redhead looked to her in concern—how could she say that with such a sincere smile?

It was just a soft, faint smile on Asobi’s lips—nothing like her wide, joy-filled beams. She tilted her head slightly and faced the window, "All we have is them.

So we really, really don’t wanna lose them. Because losing someone you’re attached to is..." Asobi didn’t finish the sentence. "We really don’t want it to happen at all. So, is that what’s scaring you?" she turned her head back to the wolf-girl.

Hotaru slowly closed her eyes. It wasn’t too loud in here. She gulped... but then two droplets from her eyes rolled down her cheeks. Her father... The memories of him began plaguing her aching mind.

Though the brief memory of Zayexiwovu flashed in her mind, Asobi instead giggled. "Jotou and Meko are really, really stubborn."

Hotaru inhaled deeply and waxed open her eyes. She wiped the tears away and glanced to the magician.

"I think we still matter to them a lot of course, but they just believe in us a lot more. That gives them confidence and us, tough choices... Hehehe.

There’s an adventure to be had, lives to be saved and a mystery to unravel—what else do they need? They’re probs still gonna do it no matter what you have to say.

As for me, isn’t it all a bit thrilling?" Her wand glowed bright with rainbow lights and the room in an instant was filled with confetti, lights, fireworks and gothic images, "The dramatics, the theatrics, all in the City of Fashion and Flare!

So what about you?" the illusions disappeared and Asobi lowered her excited tone.

Hotaru fluttered her lashes.

"You wanted to be an adventurer, get respect and explore the world. It’s a beautiful dream," Asobi hummed. "The Azure Firefly’s quite the achievement—but I don’t think it’s time for us to retire just yet," she chuckled.

Hotaru contemplated in silence... That overwhelming sense of dread; that she’d have to face against beings and casters like that—risking their lives in the process. Even so, she considered losing her own life was hardly an issue...

The elf watched Hotaru concentrate with her gaze to the floor. Asobi huffed out a sigh and fell back on her bed. She rolled inwards and positioned her head onto the soft pillow.

Hotaru cautiously approached the bed, and sat down with a hand to the side of her head. "I... really wanted this adventure, didn’t I?" was there any regret? Was it all still the best decision? Or was this dream hopelessly naïve?

Asobi watched the redhead sat by the side of the bed... She reached out a hand and gently petted Hotaru’s back through the strands of crimson hair.

"S-Sobi, I," her ears folded down and her voice broke. Her breath hitched and she clenched her fists. "...Ch..." as much as she tried to keep it together, the sound out of her lips was the straw that broke the camel’s back...

Hotaru whimpered and fell onto the bed. Impulsively, she curled up and wrapped her arms firmly around Asobi. She buried her face into Asobi’s shoulder and sobbed.

Asobi held back a gasp and her eyes bubbled at first. Her head lifted forward a little and she wrapped her arms around Hotaru to soothe her gently.

"It’s okay..." Asobi patted her hand down the redhead’s back. "It’s okay," she said in little whispers to Hotaru’s folded down ears, beside her chin.

The elf frowned and her eyes softened. Hotaru only curled up further into Asobi and no longer tried to stifle her crying...