Side Story : A glass of honey [I]

Humanity and their history.

The story born from the child of a man unfolds with a diverse array of beginnings and endings, defying the limits of predictability.

Beyond eons of land and skies, a vast array of tales emerges, shaped by the decisions made by individuals—whether born from the demands of necessity or the sacrifices made.

Contained inside their narratives, reside various types of motives, and ultimate outcomes each awaiting its resolution.

And then amidst the many paths chosen and traveled, these journeys sometimes could bring unexpected blessings or curses upon their protagonists.

While at another times, affecting others in unforeseen ways thus creating another chain of history.

This chain, or this fundamental law of existence could be interpreted as—Rules and Consequences—where every action carries its own weight, shaping destinies and weaving the fabric of reality.

...

Let's start.

—————————————————

The scene unfolds in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan.

It's a country where treasured cultures flourish, admired by people globally—such as Anime, Games, and Manga, which stand as beloved aspects of the nation.

Oh! For those known as "Weebs," Japan is a must-visit destination.

Because it's the birthplace of the cultures they adore.

Moreover, Japan boasts myriad other charms, ranging from its technological innovations, preserved culture and traditions, delectable culinary experiences, breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant festivals, and not to forget, their rejuvenating hot springs or "Onsen."

Certainly, Japan's allure extends beyond these attractions alone; if one were to seek, they'd likely uncover countless other hidden beauties and uniqueness of the country.

For indeed, Japan is universally acclaimed as a land of magnificence among humankind.

When discussing its people, the Japanese are renowned for their diligence and skill in their endeavors. Thus, both as a nation and as individuals, Japan is indeed recognized as an advanced society.

At least until the dragons arrived.

...

Not only did the dragons incinerate every facet of Japan as described above, but the merciless onslaught of these magical beasts also reduced the entire world to smoldering rubble, echoing with the cries of despair.

As each day passed, the terror of the dragons spread like a malignant shadow, enveloping not just Japan, but the entire continent in darkness. No fortress could withstand their relentless assault, and no army could muster the strength to challenge their overwhelming might.

From the mighty superpowers to the largest nations in Asia and the wealthiest emirates of the Arab world, no corner of the globe was spared from the terror they wrought.

Entire nations crumbled beneath their onslaught, their once-proud civilizations reduced to nothing but ash and rubble.

In the face of such devastating power, it seemed as though all hope was lost, and the very existence of humanity hung by a thread. No one could escape the wrath of the dragons, and the world teetered on the brink of annihilation.

Scarce amount of living being could be saved from them, the human population dwindled drastically, reduced to mere remnants struggling for survival amidst the desolation.

From the five being crowned as the new lord of Earth.

The Apocalypse Dragon, an embodiment of pure destruction, heralded the end of an era with its relentless rampage. With every beat of its colossal wings, it unleashed cataclysmic chaos upon the world, leaving naught but ruin in its wake.

The Forge Dragon, its scales glowing with the molten heat of the earth's core, dwelled deep within the heart of the planet. As the guardian of the underworld, it forged the very essence of the earth itself, shaping mountains and valleys with its searing breath.

The Abyss Dragon emerged from the darkest depths of the unknown, a creature of mystery and terror that prowled the depths of the darkness with deadly intent. With its razor-sharp claws and fearsome presence, it struck fear into the hearts of all who dared to cross its path.

The Promethium Dragon, a being of pure energy and unpredictability, held dominion over the realm of quantum mechanics. With its ability to manipulate matter at will, it bent reality to its whim, leaving chaos and confusion in its wake.

And lastly, the Supersonic Dragon, a master of speed and stealth, soared through the skies faster than the eye could see. With its lightning-fast strikes, it decimated its foes before they even had a chance to react, leaving behind only whispers of its passing.

However, just like cockroaches, which have a remarkably high resilience to survive, no matter how great the disasters that befell them, humanity still exists. They are not entirely extinct even though they must now live a life filled with fear.

This is one of the realities that exist.

Even though they may have to take a few steps back and find much of their wealth destroyed, miraculously, humans can slowly rise from their adversity.

Furthermore, many of these humans have also become increasingly adapted to their environment with the emergence of various new items brought by the dragons.

A crystal pulsating with power, an enigmatic yet strangely familiar energy known as Magical Residue, the allure of gold's power, a miraculous substance that could be seized and utilized, and even mystical beings such as Seraphs or even avatars of Evil Lords of color.

It's only a matter of time before they harness the will and resources they've gathered to stand against one of them, or perhaps usher in a new era where the dragons truly reign over the world.

Unfortunately, that day is not today.

...

....

.....

In one of the areas that was once known as a city in Japan, stood a small, modest restaurant.

The establishment could only accommodate six to eight patrons at a time with its simple wooden tables and chairs, making it perhaps more aptly described as a small bar serving drinks or food.

With a sign reading "Dining Restaurant" was clearly visible on a plaque attached to the entrance, albeit hidden within the remnants of a destroyed building, the presence of such a "Dining Restaurant" itself raised significant questions in the desolate landscape.

But not for her.

"Pops! You here?"「Shishiro Botan」

With her relaxed gait and vibrant voice, a young woman entered through the entrance, a sight as rare as an oasis in the middle of a desert place, gracing the restaurant with her presence.

She possessed a tall and athletic physique, with silvery eyes that seemed to hold a depth of mysteries. Her mane of silver-gray hair cascaded down her back, reminiscent of the majestic mane of a forest king.

There're also several unique features about the woman, something that made her a new sight in this ever-changing world.

With a set of feline ears and a tail adorning her, the girl named Shishiro Botan appeared quite spirited as she stepped into the establishment.

*THUD*

From behind the counter of the restaurant, the sharp sound of footsteps echoed to her keen ears. Before long, an old man appeared, uttering, "Welcome, Master Lioness, what can I do for you today?"

He was an old man who appeared remarkably healthy and fit for his age, while at the same time the owner of that modest place.

Despite his hair having turned white like ash, and a few wrinkles adorning his face, the old man appeared to be in the midst of tidying up the tables with muscles that seemed to harken back to his prime.

At times, Shishiro Botan found herself wondering how the old man managed to maintain such a muscular physique at his age. However, if she were to ask, she was certain the woman felt it would lead to a lengthy story.

"I've brought some items with me. Would you be interested in exchanging them for supplies?" Shishiro Botan asked, pointing her thumb to a vehicle outside.

"An item exchange, you say? If Master Lioness herself is presenting these items, then I would regret it if I missed this opportunity."

"Ehehe, sure. You can decide after you see them. Let me bring them in," she said, wasting no time as she stepped out of the restaurant briefly. Before long, she returned through the back entrance, which had been previously arranged with the owner of the restaurant.

With her, she brought three large crates, each sizable enough to fit a small child inside them.

They looked heavy, but despite their weight, Shishiro Botan showed no signs of fatigue as she revealed the contents of the three crates.

"Hohoo... these are pearls in any merchant's eyes, Master Lionesses. Are you sure no one was following you?" the old man inquired cautiously.

"If there's one, then I just need to teach them a lesson. Now, what will I get for these?" Shishiro Botan responded confidently.

Taking a moment to glance at the crates and their contents, the old man then approached the items to inspect them closely. There, one crate contained beautiful crystals and gemstones, while the next held a stack of carefully tied plants. Lastly, there was a crate containing a single egg.

Like an eye aged in wisdom, the old man's gaze could perceive the items in his sight, examining them with a keen and discerning eye.

"Hmm, minerals such as hematite are indeed precious. Moreover, these crystals are Forge Crystals that can only be mined from the remnants of the Forge Dragon's breath. These are valuable minerals for many tools, Master Lioness. I don't think my restaurant alone is enough to exchange for this."

Hearing the old man's words, Shishiro Botan responded with a tease, "Right... hmm, how big was your shop again?"

"No please don't take it. My home is here as well after all. Then, can I hear what you want first?"

"Can I get some food, water, clothes, wood, iron bars, and ammo for this? I've got many mouths to feed, you see. And while Pops at it, I'd like to order four take-home shio Ramen, one of them spicy," Shishiro Botan said with a laugh, handing him a list she had just written on paper.

"At least you still remember this is a restaurant and not something else, Master Lionesses. Alright, I'll throw in some medicines and medical supplies as well in this deal as a gesture of goodwill from these old bones," the old man chuckled, agreeing to her request.

"Yes, yes, may this old man live long and healthy. Now, what about the other two? One contains medicinal plants and the other... well, you can see for yourself," Shishiro Botan directed their gaze back to the two crates she had opened earlier.

Even though she had already obtained a bunch of supplies she wanted from just one crate, there were still two crates left. That's why she felt eagerly anticipating what she would get this time.

Meanwhile for the old man who returned to his wisdom mode, he carefully examined what lay within the crates, scrutinizing each item with precision.

"..."

As she had mentioned, one crate contained medicinal plants that emerged after the arrival of the dragons. These plants could thrive after being exposed to the energy known as Magical Residue or simply grow randomly when one of their seeds became detached from the dragon carrying them.

Thus, although they appeared to be ordinary greenery or a simple candy, when viewed with the right tools, something unique could be seen hidden within the plants.

"Medicines are always needed by front liners, I'm sure the alchemists will be pleased too. So... hmm, Master Lioness, do you need guns?" the old gramps inquired.

Hearing the question from the old gramps, Shishiro Botan crossed her arms. As if anticipating those words, she then smiled and said, "Lot of guns," to the old man, who smiled in return.

With this, the second agreement was made.

The final crate, the third one, contained something that had caught the old man's attention earlier. However, due to his professional commitments, he could only inquire about it now.

"Last crate. Honestly, I knew this was one of those dragon eggs. But... when I checked, it seems this egg isn't alive or something like that. You know what this could be used, pops? I don't think eating this egg will bring any good for my stomach either."「Shishiro Botan」

"Hoho, I see. Like an unfertilized egg perhaps? This could be perfect for those academics who study dragons. How did you get it, Master Lioness?"

The Lioness paused for a moment, contemplating how to respond to the question. "During one of my trips, I stumbled upon an area with high levels of radioactivity, you see? Perhaps that place was once visited by Promethium before, or so I believe."

"Well, I'm glad you didn't eat this radioactive stuff."

As she explained, the old gramps served tea and snacks he had to his guest while also turning on the stove in the kitchen. Shishiro Botan accepted them graciously, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, and continued her explanation.

It's rare to eat such delicacy in current era after all.

"At first, I didn't want to go there, but when I saw a swarm of pixies stealing the wheels of my vehicle, I had no choice but to chase after them and enter the area. Then, as I chased them for a while, the pixies led me to their nest, filled with various discarded items. That's where this egg came from."「Shihiro Botan」

"Did you encounter the Promethium Dragon afterward?" the old man asked, his expression tinged with concern.

"No, not at all. My journey went smoothly. In fact, I got plenty of bonuses after raiding the pixie nest," Shishiro Botan said, pointing towards where the two crates were placed, a satisfied grin on her face. Before asking further, she added, "Pops, have you ever cooked dragon eggs?"

Of course, the old man shook his head. Who would dare to get close to such ferocious creatures capable of wreaking havoc on the world in the first place? The Lioness chuckled when she saw his reaction.

Finally, they returned to discussing what item would be worthy of exchanging for the dragon egg. The old man fell silent for a moment before making another offer.

He presented a relic that he had retrieved from his warehouse.

"... Pops, is that one of the relics you own? Isn't that just some sad-looking axe?"「Shihiro Botan」

"Sheesh, lady these days. I acquired from a woman associated with the Abyss Dragon, it's called the Demonic Ax. I'm not sure if it truly comes from the realm of dragons or not, but it is indeed a relic."

It was a one-meter-long axe with red stains on its blade, and it had a brown wooden handle that upon closer inspection, appeared incredibly fragile and seemingly useless, unless for chopping firewood.

To be honest, Shishiro Botan wasn't particularly impressed with the axe. Especially since she was a firearms user, such an axe wouldn't be very effective for her.

However, despite its fragility, the axe remained a relic, a term given to unique items that emerged when the dragons came to this world.

"Only a few people can use it, and I'm not one of them. So, how about you take this as a replacement for the dragon egg?"

"No, not possible. If it's a relic, at least give me a new firearm, not this old axe," Shishiro Botan expressed her dissatisfaction. When she swung the axe, it felt no different from swinging a piece of wood with iron attached to it.

Moreover, she felt the axe had no effect whatsoever when she swung it, so she wasn't the chosen one either. Seeing his loyal customer's dissatisfaction, the old man pondered once again.

"Hmm, as expected, you'll deny it, huh? Then come again in another two days. Although I don't have any new guns in stock, I think there's a relic crossbow somewhere. That should be better?"

While it did sound like a better offer, Shishiro Botan still felt something was lacking. "Well... a relic crossbow is better than nothing, but what about the arrows? Dots? Equipment?"

"In house, five packs each fifty shots, within with its additional accessory as well! They're some special arrow after all, I need to prepare for it. So don't push this old man further than this."

"Sweet, then it's a deal. Can it penetrate an armored vehicle?"「Shihiro Botan」

"Well... it do dragons."

They both then shook hands, concluding the transaction for the day.

It didn't take long for Shishiro Botan to receive the payment she had agreed upon with her meal order as well. The old man easily retrieved the numerous items and materials from his warehouse, although it required several trips in and out of the store.

At times, the Lioness herself also helped to carry some of the items, once again showcasing her physical strength surpassing that of an ordinary human. Huge pile of box and many gallons of plastic filled with liquid got placed perfectly.

However, all the supplies would be challenging to transport with just the Lioness' vehicle alone. Even though a Hummer V1 could carry a lot of supplies provided by the old man, the total supplies and resources only covered a quarter of the overall amount.

Furthermore despite being helped by the Lioness herself, the process of retrieving and packing all the supplies took quite a long time. As a result, by the time her vehicle appeared full, the evening was drawing near.

"Night is the curtain of the Abyss, Master Lioness. I'll have everything prepared in two days, while you should make your way back to your shelter soon. That creature can appear anytime anywhere if he want to," the old gramps advised, ensuring the supplies were neatly arranged in the car.

"Yeah, only the crazy or some daredevil brave enough to roam at night. Thank you, Pops. I'll be back in two days," Shishiro Botan said as she got into her vehicle, and with another farewell, she pressed on the gas pedal.

Watching his loyal customer depart while waving goodbye, the old gramps then entered his tiny restaurant. He began tidying up the remaining mess from the previous transaction.

Whether it was soil scattered on the floor or a bit of spilled water, the old gramps cleaned it all up before finally packing the crates he received from Shishiro Botan into his warehouse.

"Fheww... oh my back," he sighed, feeling the strain of the day's work.

He work diligently.

But unbeknownst to the old man, as he securely locked the crate containing the dragon eggs and many others, there's a snake slithering from his behind and slowly approaching. A brightly colored snake, clearly dangerous if it were to bite a human.

Swiftly, the snake crept closer, emitting no sound as it approached the old man. Meanwhile he remained unaware as the snake who've now found itself nestled among the stacked boxes beside his head.

Then... as the snake drew close enough to the old man's side...

The snake began to speak, "They've catch up, soon they'll descend upon this land. The Champion of Tide and Championess of Övning, followed by their army," all the while lifting its head. Its peachy eyes gazed towards the old man, who didn't pause or freeze in his actions.

However, seeing how the old man continued to remain silent and seemingly ignore its words, the snake appeared slightly annoyed. Like a reptile expressing anger by flicking its tongue, the snake began to hiss loudly within that small warehouse.

"Fuuuh... I hope the Lioness can make it there safely."

Even after he had finished packing everything inside his warehouse, and found out the sky had turned dark outside, the old gramps still disregarded the presence of the talking snake and returned to the main room where the counter was located.

The snake continued to shadow him wherever he went, like a silent sentinel. Despite this, the old man paid it no mind. Even when the old man rested on a chair behind the counter, the snake still slithered onto the table and raised its head before him.

"How long will this charade continue? Your aging body is no longer capable of supporting your ideals."

As if still expecting an answer from him.

"... Just rest and sleep eternally, that way—Hmph, nuisance."

Unfortunately, as the snake still seemed to want to say many other things, it suddenly sensed someone emerging from the direction of the store entrance. Hastily, the snake slithered back into a corner inside the main dining area of the restaurant.

While the old man himself felt surprised, it was unusual for someone to appear at this time. As the snake hid itself, the old man simultaneously went to approach the person still standing outside the store.

"Isn't this too soon from our agreement?"

When he opened the door, he was truly shocked by what he saw.

For behind the door stood his loyal customer who had left earlier, now returning with numerous wounds covering her body. Fresh blood could be seen flowing from the open wounds, which consisted not only of gunshot wounds but also numerous slashes.

"... Well, Pops. Sorry, looks like I messed up quite a bit. Can I borrow your place?"「Shishiro Botan」

"Can't let my loyal customer die can't I? Inside."

"Thanks."「Shishiro Botan」

Upon closer inspection, the woman's vehicle appeared severely damaged and disheveled. Many frames of the Hummer V1 were torn or destroyed, likely from attacks by ferocious creatures.

And without needing to ask, it was evident that many of the supplies that had once been in her vehicle were now missing or destroyed. Regardless, the old man believed that luck still sided with the Lioness.

He then placed his loyal customer on a chair at the room and let her rest right there. Shishiro Botan also reassured the old man that she could still manage with the wounds she had sustained.

"Sorry, Pops, but I just remembered. There's one crate left in the back seat of my car. Could you please fetch that crate for me?" Shishiro Botan asked as she pressed her bleeding wound with her palm.

While the old man did as she requested.

The sound of the Lioness's voice sounded weak, so after the old man placed the only crate that could hold a small child he found in the car, he immediately searched for medicines and tools needed to treat the woman's wounds.

Meanwhile, not long after the crate was placed before her, Shishiro Botan, though struggling a bit, attempted to pry open the crate cover with her fingers and succeeded. This left her with enough energy to speak.

"More than me, could you take care of them first, Pops? I don't know how long they're going to last," Shishiro Botan said as the old man tried to clean the wounds on her body.

Upon hearing this, the old man sounded displeased. "What kind of mats and stuff are more important anyway? How foolish," he muttered as he continued to move his hands, unaware of the misunderstanding.

Realizing this, Shishiro Botan immediately grasped the restaurant owner's hand tightly, before making him see... that what was inside the crate wasn't just some materials or other raw goods. Instead, it was a pair of twin children, peacefully sleeping with their rough breaths.

The old man finally realized this.

"They can still be saved, you can do something about it, right, Pops?" Shishiro Botan pleaded.

"Oh? You have twins? This is new to me."

"... No they're are not. They're not mine, I found them... uhh, I'll talk later so please, do something to help them. It'll leave some huge bitter aftertaste if they're left like this," Shishiro Botan explained urgently while the old man in treatment nodded.