[Intermission] Goblin-Victim Survivor

Srhro who finished praying to the Goddess of Disease turned to Nine.

Short black hair, cute, expressive. She was Noel's companion and friend. Srhro wondered what kind of relationship they had.

"Eh.. thanks."

Muttering nonsensical words, Nine took out a paper bag, and from it she took out a sandwich. Srhro looked at it happening.. when did she..

"Nine-san.. you have the inventory skill?"

"Yup, very convenient."

Srhro tore her eyes away from the mouthwatering sandwich and looked around.

The sisters were preparing to serve food. A cart had been pulled into the station.

"Excuse me, Srhro-san. I've come to serve your food, you must be hungry after going through all that," a sister brought a square bowl of meat porridge with minimal condiments. A sprinkle of greens and peppery powder on the top.

"Thank.. you."

"Nine-san, correct?"

"Yes."

"Help me watch over her if that's alright? Make sure she eats till she's just full. Don't need to force yourself alright," the sister told Nine so and gave Srhro a light touch on the shoulder.

"Will do. Thank you."

"I'll entrust it to you," the sister went to serve the other patients.

It wasn't just limited to porridge, the smell of various other foods could be recognized–

Srhro, who held her utensils in one hand, looked down at her porridge. Who would've thought she'd get to enjoy another meal? To enjoy another chance in life?

"Thank you.." she said with a sniffle, she dug the spoon into the meal.

"There, there. It's alright.. now.. eat slowly kay?" Nine consoled.. but her words were muffled by the sandwich in her mouth.

Srhro nodded. She brought the porridge to her mouth and.. squirted her eyes. Hot!

"Is it plain?" Nine asked.

Srhro shook her head. Though the flavor was lacking, the plain taste of the grain in the porridge was itself delicious.

"Maybe you can try.. using these," Nine brought out small bottles from her inventory.

"What are.. these colourful things.. spices?"

"This one is a chili mix, don't add too much, this here is marmite, this is cinnamon, this one is pickle, this is dried seaweed flakes with small abalone, and my favorite to pair with porridge it this bean paste here, but we rarely ever use it," Nine introduce Srhro to a whole slew of condiments which she had never heard of before.

"These.. am I allowed to use these? You don't mind?"

"Nope, we're not using these anyways so.. it's a waste not to."

Srhro was puzzled by Nine's words. Spices were generally expensive items, especially here in Erudite Kingdom. The typical seasoning people here use in their everyday lives was limited to salt. It might be different for the other kingdoms that produce spices. It was well known that the price of salt in Erudite was cheaper than most kingdoms.

"Thank you."

Srhro added a little of each on her porridge. Soon enough the entire top part was covered in a layer of rainbow. Red looked a little enticing, so she tried that first.

"Ah?!"

"That's chili."

"It hurt– " Srhro kept fanning her mouth.

"Drink some water–" Nine offered her the cup of water beside her.

Srhro gulped half of it down in a swig.

"That hurts.. what is that? Don't tell me the others are the same.." Srhro could still feel the burn in her mouth.

"No, it's just the chili.. this one here might taste similar to the chili though. I suppose people of this world really don't know how to eat spicy food."

"Spicy? I don't understand why this would be spicy..." Srhro's face turned red. To her, Nine has been spouting some nonsense. Things like 'Chilli', 'Cinnamon', 'Marmite', and 'Spicy'.

Fact was, the word 'spicy' did exist in Phoenic. But the common usage had a more sensual use.

"The rest should be fine, you can always push the cinnamon aside– nom," Nine bit into the sandwich which.. she had added the chili powder to. She didn't so much to the point where Nine would need a drink to cool her taste buds.

"Does it not hurt?"

"You'll get used to it in time– I think I could add more."

Srhro grimaced. In any case, Srhro ate the rest of the porridge, exploring interesting flavors that she would've never known if not for Nine. Most important of all, she began realizing that this 'spiciness' did help enhance the overall experience.

"I wish they ordered seconds.." Nine mumbled.

"Thank you," Srhro watched as the sister came to clean up the table and take away the tray with the now empty bowl.

"So.. when do you think your parents would arrive?"

"I'm not too sure. They work till sunset..? Thank you for accompanying me."

"No problem… check."

"You're good at this even though you've never played it before.. what's, check?"

"There's a game similar to the one I've played before and everytime the 'General' is about to be eaten, you call out a 'check'. Is this game popular? I've never seen it. "

"It's a common competitive game back in my student days."

They weren't playing chess, but something similar. The nurse offered them this board to pass time, not that Nine actually knew the rules. Srhro had to teach her how to play. And as soon as Nine got the hang of it.. Srhro was screwed hard.

"Eh.. uh.. right. My loss."

Or not.

"You can't beat a master in the end, hehe," Srhro laughed with pride. She went easy on Nine the last round, "Want another match?"

"No.. I'm done with this game.. how about cards?"

"Cards?"

"Yeah, let me teach you blackjack."

They played around for a bit when Nine muttered out of nowhere.

"I'm slightly worried about Arine-san though."

Srhro, who had been staring at her cards, looked down at her lap.

"We tried to save her.."

"You mean Arine-san?"

Srhro nodded.

"Our party never intended to venture into the goblin village but.. we heard a girl's scream and so.. we couldn't help but think we should save her."

Nine blinked.

"That's how I ended up there," Srhro raised her head and look at Nine with a bitter smile.

She knew.. even though she came out alive..

What she had experienced.. what had happened to her body.. the virginity she lost..

"That sucks.." Nine patted her head.

Srhro leaned forward, Nine brought herself closer to and the both of them embraced each other. Srhro weeping as all the painful memories came flooding back.

It hurt.

She yelled, shouted, begged, prayed.

Even though it was only for two days.. those two days were the worst she had ever experienced in her life.

===

"My dear!"

""Srhro-chan..!""

"Mom, dad, brother Terry..."

The family had a nice reunion. Nine offered them space, a small smile hung on her face.

"Thank you very much for saving our daughter, thank you so much.." Srhro's mother knelt.

"Eeh.." Nine reflexively backed away at the sight.

"Are you here for the compensation? How much do you need.. would 10 silver be enough," her father said in panic, digging thought his wallet.

"It's alright, it's alright," Nine waved, a wry smile on her face.

"No, no, you saved our daughter. To express our thanks.. please receive it," he pushed the coins onto Nine.

"Um.. alright then.. thank you?"

The compensation reward for the guild quest for saving the girls was 30 silver.

"Actually, is this the same as the one posted up on the guild?"

"Ah.. you don't mean.."

"No, dad, she doesn't mean it that way," Srhro said sitting beside the bed, she almost wanted to kick her father's butt.

"What do you mean?"

"There's another girl her party members saved."

"Then the reward I should be able to claim from the guild.. It's alright if you took back these coins."

"Is that.. really alright?"

"Dear," Srhro's mom glared at him.

"N-No, we insist, please take it."

"Okay.. then… and about the reward claim, I might need to borrow Srhro for a while tomorrow. Could we meet at the guild? Or do you want to meet up after a few days of rest?"

"Tomorrow.. I should be fine tomorrow.. I'm feeling a lot better now."

"Are you sure, Shro-chan? You've just gone through all that.. and.." Terry, Srhro's brother asked in concern.

"I'm fine.. I shouldn't be pregnant.. I'm sure of it.." Srhro laughed. But it wasn't something to laugh about.

"Then I'll accompany you tomorrow. Thank you for saving my sister.. then we'll meet at the guild, Sea Gold at 7 of the Sundial, is that alright?"

"I'll be waiting there tomorrow. Sorry to trouble you."

"I'm an adventurer myself, so I understand where you're getting at.. I'm glad my sister was able to come back in one piece. I couldn't find the village no matter how I tried. Thank you.." Terry lowered his head. Nine guessed that he was trying to become a knight seeing how stout he was with the whole 'place your arms at your abdomen before giving a bow courtesy'.

"It's quite deep inside, I stumbled upon it by accident a few days ago so I knew about it.." Nine said, a half-lie.

Srhro was discharged after a quick screening from the priest.

"Good evening.. and help me say thanks to Noel-san too,"

"Alright."

The family left through the streets painted in the colours of the evening sky.

"Saving someone isn't all that bad after all," Nine muttered.

"Excuse me, Nine-san."

"Hm? yes?" Nine turned to the nurse who tended to Srhro just now.

"The other girl you had saved, her parents wish to meet you."

"Oh, alright."

Nine followed the nurse back into the church.

'I'll be a little late,' a short message was sent to the group chat.

Looks like her business wasn't finished.

Saving people was troublesome..