Chapter 16 TRG Vol. 1 Special Bonus Story 1

Special Bonus Story – Arche, Norn, and One Night With Their Master

It was a night like any other. I’d finished my daily routine of beating up Arche and Norn, and we’d gone hunting for monsters.

I fed the twins, then immediately got into bed. Arche and Norn had both been growing up recently, starting to look like young women, but I was still renting a single room for the three of us for the pathetic, scrooge-like reason that it was a waste of money. Well, they hadn’t complained, so it’s fine. Right?

I was just starting to enjoy a nice, deep sleep when I sensed a rustling nearby. Immediately after, I felt someone shaking my body.

“Master…”

And that voice… it’s Norn. What is it, this late at night? Wondering if she’d wet the bed, I cracked my eyes open. Huh? Arche’s here, too. Oh, right. They share the other bed.

“Master,” Arche said, her voice strangely menacing, “tonight, we’re not letting you get away.”

What the hell… what is she talking about?

Then it hit me. I remembered… back when they were still little, they must have been traumatized by the monster attack, because they’d often sneak into my bed. So, that’s it. They must have had a nightmare and couldn’t get back to sleep. Sigh. They may have grown up, but they’re still just kids.

They were both leaning over me, peering into my face. I just put my hands on their heads and pulled them down, one on each side. Yes, yes. If you’re scared, I’ll be your teddy bear.

I rested their heads on my arms, patting both the black-and-white-haired heads, thump, thump, thump, trying to calm them down. Go back to your own bed when you’re not scared anymore, okay? A single bed is way too cramped for three people.

I was just thinking that when… their breathing evened out. Snoooore. Wait… are they actually asleep? If they stay like this… both my arms are going to be completely numb and useless by morning, aren’t they?

————

That night, I used the moonlight to slip out of my own bed.

“Master…”

My destination was the bed where our master was sleeping. I wasn’t sure if he was truly asleep. The blanket covering him was rising and falling faintly, so… probably. But his sleep was so still, so quiet, that I was afraid even the tiniest sound would wake him.

The moonlight, streaming through the cracked-open wooden window, reflected off my white hair, making it shine. Right now, even that reflection felt annoying.

Both Arche and I understood what a miracle our current lives were. To be picked up by our Master, to have him take care of us, to even teach us his sword…

Right after he found us, when we were still small, we had snuck into his bed just like this.

“Can’t sleep?” he’d murmured. “It’s cramped, but I guess having someone nearby is better than nothing.”

Back then… he hadn’t thought of us as anything. He’d just patted our heads as if he were lulling children to sleep. And eventually, feeling safe, we had.

But tonight was different. Since then, Arche and I have grown. Our chests are fuller. Our bodies have become those of women. Tonight… tonight I will accomplish my goal. Originally, that goal was just to ‘repay our debt’ to him. But recently… I think… it might be starting to get mixed up with something else.

I tried to put my foot down on the floor without making a sound, but a hand shot out, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me back into the bed.

“What do you think you’re doing, going alone?”

“…You were awake.”

“You were rustling around right next to me. Of course I was. And I know what you’re planning.”

The culprit, of course, was Arche. Her eyes were glittering in the dark. So, we were both thinking the same thing.

After our training, our Master always sends us back to the inn room and goes out to hunt monsters by himself.

“Get some rest,” he’ll say, patting our heads before he opens the door and leaves. No matter how exhausted we are, Arche and I always keep our eyes open, burning the sight of his back into our memories, until we can no longer hear his footsteps.

Only after his presence has faded do we finally give in to our fatigue and drift off. When we wake up… we have to wipe ourselves down, and get ready to greet him…

“…You’re awake.”

When I surfaced from my light sleep, our Master was back, standing in front of us with a tray.

“Food. Can you eat?”

Arche and I took the tray. Bread, soup, and a single slice of meat. Our Master goes out to hunt. If not monsters, then beasts. He’s never told us why, but… he always takes care of us, with few words.

“Master,” Arche asked, “did you find any monsters today?”

“No.”

That was his only reply. He must have been out walking until sundown, after training us, but he didn’t show the slightest sign of fatigue.

“How do you have any stamina left, Master?” I asked. “Even after all that training…”

“I just swung my sword, and walked. Why would that make me tired?”

His answer wasn’t an answer at all. People get tired when they swing swords and walk. But… when he says it so matter-of-factly, I almost start to believe it.

“Besides…”

He finished his own meal in an instant, stood up, and placed his hands on our heads, just as he always did.

“I can’t exactly show you two such a pathetic, worn-out version of myself, can I?”

He said it with a small smile. Our Master rarely smiles. And when he does… for some reason… it makes my face, and Arche’s, feel hot.

“We’re starting early again tomorrow. If you’re tired, sleep.”

We’d both looked down, and he must have misunderstood. He just gathered the dishes and left the room. The warmth on our heads was gone. It’s the same every time… but that moment… it’s always terrifying. I don’t think he’ll die. But I’m always afraid… that one day, he’ll just… leave, just as easily as he left the room now.

He gives us so much warmth, so much affection, and asks for nothing in return. But his eyes… they’re always looking somewhere far away. That’s why I wanted it. Something to give back to him. Something… that would make him stay.

“…Arche.”

“Yeah.”

I just said her name, but she knew exactly what I meant.

“No sneaking off alone.”

Then it was decided. Arche and I slipped out of our bed together. Our eyes were fixed on our Master’s. We crept toward him, one on each side. Getting onto the bed was easy. The hard part… was always what came next.

“Master…”

I shook him gently, trying not to disturb his quiet breathing.

“Ngh… Norn?” He woke up instantly, his eyes slitted, looking confused.

“Master,” Arche said, her voice low as she slipped under the covers on his left side. “tonight, we’re not letting you get away.”

I mirrored her, taking my place on his right. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. It was fear. The fear that he might reject us… it was unbearable. But more than that… I wanted him… to want us.

“I have no idea… what you’re talking about… but…”

Our Master… he reached out his arms. But they didn’t go where we’d hoped.

“If you can’t sleep,” he murmured, “you can just sleep here.”

His hands just… landed on our heads. We were now just… lying in his cramped bed, on either side of him.

No! That’s not what we meant! I wanted to scream.

“I’m going back to sleep.”

But… once we felt his warmth… it was… too late.

Another failure. …But then again, maybe it was a success. Wrapped in a warmth that was far too gentle, Arche and I drifted back to sleep.