“What time is it?” Nao asked as she finally picked herself up from the place she had been sleeping. The bed dipped at her movement and caused Nao to miss a step.

Her body flopped back over the bed, too tired to pick itself up.

Nao did not seem like a morning person to Maria and it did surprise her a little. Nao had always been an example of pepper health and habits to her. Seeing this new side of her was almost adorable.

“It’s early enough for no one else to be awake yet. You can go back to sleep if you want to” the sky was still dark outside the window. It showed no hint of the orange sun which generally meant that it was still pretty early.

Maria’s body felt refreshed after the short nap she had taken. It refused to go back to sleep again so Maria decided to wake up.

“Nah, I’ll wake up. We have a lot of things to do today and we are also running low on ration. I would like to stack up on it before we are unable to” Nao pushed herself away from the bed and headed toward the door.

Maria watched as Nao nocked and the door opened. A shadow demon walked inside and bowed down to the pair.

“How may I help you?” the hollow voice asked and it still sens a shiver of disgust down Maria’s back. The thing in front of her was just not normal and it send everything inside her into a panicked state.

“I would like to know where the bathroom is. Also, fresh clothes would be much appreciated. Maybe a more decent pair this time?” Nao asked and the blank face broke out into an amused smile for just a second.

And then the shadow was gone, leaving the other two alone.

Nao jumped back on the bed as soon as they were alone and allowed her body to relax. Maria also decided to join her and her mind finally seemed alert enough to function properly.

“Nao, about last night-” Maria decided to rip the band-aid off at the start. As much as she did not want to have this conversion, she did need to get things off of her chest.

However, Nao did not seem that enthusiastic at the prospect of having this conversation.

“I told you yesterday that we did not need to have this conversation till you are ready and I do mean it. I did what was necessary and I would do it again if it is needed. There is nothing more to it” Nao’s tired voice came out.

She was unusually honest that morning and Maria had not expected that from her. Maybe it was the post bliss of the night or it could be the residue of morning laziness that prompted Nao to say it like that.

It did leave Maria speechless and she decided not to think about it for the time being.

“We can save this conversation for later then. For now, let’s freshen up” the shadow guard chose that exact moment to enter the room.

Maria had a feeling that the guard had been looking at the pair for some time before he decided to enter the room.

“The bathroom is to your right. Lady Mei send these clothes for you and hopes that you will find them comfortable. Kindly send for someone else if you need anything else” the guard said as he backed away.

He did not seem that interested in the pair in front of him which was a rare occurrence. It made Maria want to reach out to him and ask for his name to thank him.

But the guard dissolved into shadows just as Maria made up her mind to ask for it. It felt only her and Nao in the room.

“Nao, would you like to take a shower first or should I go in?” Maria asked. Her body was telling her to take care of her needs first but it was not urgent.

“You go in first. I’m quicker than you anyway” Maria felt insulted at the slight jab. She did not take that long in the bathroom but she also knew Nao was quick in her one needs.

So Maria did not decide to argue and headed toward the bathroom to clean herself up.

The shower was quick but enjoyable. Maria had mostly been clean due to Nao’s post-active attention on her body, but the follow of water on her skin did feel refreshing.

historical

The clothes Lady Mei had provided for them also suited Maria’s taste and covered up much more than before. The ripped jeans along with a T-shirt did make up for a very street-like fashion.

Maria had missed those clothes as soon as she had come to this world and wearing them felt like coming home to her first mother before she had been hospitalized and left for the dead.

“Nao, you can go in now” Maria walked toward the bed while toweling her hair dry. She carefully avoided her sensitive bunny ears in the process and shook Nao awake.

“I’m going. You look good in those” Nao replied almost in a daze as she walked toward the bathroom.

Maria felt her jaw hit the floor at the flirting tone Nao had used. This was, once again, a thing Maria had never thought she would hear from Nao.

Today was a day of so many firsts for Maria and it had only just begun. It felt as if Maria had stepped down a rabbit hole and was no longer in the real world.

She had not slipped into an alternate reality when she had not been looking, had she?

When Nao emerged back from her bath, she looked much more refreshed and finally awake. Her eyes held an awareness they had not held previously and it showed in her body posture.

It was much tenser than before and closed off as well. The normal Nao was back and Maria could not help but feel disappointed.

To think that she had just gotten her head around the more open Nao, this one felt like a downgrade but also a relief.

“Let’s go and have breakfast before we leave. I want to swing around some places here which can give us great intel. Also, prepare your papers because we will be officially joining the Silon’s court situated here” Nao replied as she passed Maria her identity papers.

“Simon's court? What’s that?” Maria was not sure she had heard about it before.

[Silon’s court is the first branch of the adventurer’s guild situated in Central metropolis-1. They are said to be highly efficient in their work but also overly enthusiastic]

The system explained just as Nao replied.

“They’re the brach of adventurer’s guilt of this city. We will need their help if we want to get out of here undetected”