[Hanako] Chapter 9: Life in the Estate

[Asta]

"Oh yeah, I can probably get you something like that. Exercise is always good." Hanako said, and then a beat later "Wait did you just say you can't read...?"

"Do you like... want to learn how?"

The notion was practically inconceivable to Hanako, having come from a world where most people in a "civilized" society learned to read at a young age. Perhaps this world was different.

"Can I assume that means you don't know how to write either?"

[Throndir]

Falah shook her head.

"I don't know how to write either. Most demons have natural powers, and there are many who learn to read to learn more spells, but no one bothered to teach me, and it wasn't anything I really needed. Noe one really gave me much attention since I am a half-demon. But umm... do you think being able to read will help you?"

[Asta]

"Well, I mean at the very least it's a life-skill you should just have. Once able, you can read or write for entertainment or I suppose yes it could be used to help others. Basic literacy is the foundation of a productive life!" Hanako said, sounding very much like the mouthpiece for a social welfare organization that helps people living under bridges.

I'd teach you myself but the only language I actually know how to read and write in is basically useless here. I have a power that translates languages for me. I can talk to Minette and Trudy about it though, if you really would like to learn."

Hanako wondered if Falah really was illiterate. She wondered if this was all a ploy to gain her trust and then stab her in the back and escape. It was a gamble for sure, but whether Falah knew it or not she was a hefty piece on the chessboard that had become Hanako's life, and it was only proper that her pieces knew how to read.

[Throndir]

She thought about it for a moment.

"Alright, I'll learn!" Falah agreed. She looked hesitantly at you. "Umm... Since we're like this already... Can I umm... snuggle you a bit more?" She asked, you noticed her start fiddling with her fingers.

[Asta]

Hanako got a little red. "Uh... sure, I guess." she said.

Is it just me or is everyone in this world really handsy...?

It was still an unfamiliar concept to her, to have people that for wanted to be close. Trudy she could understand, and Minette was... well she was just forward. She thought for a moment that maybe Falah had gone her entire life without the affection of others, perhaps she understood what it meant to internalize all that into the mass of self loathing that eroded Hanako's confidence from within. Sure she talked a good game, but all of that was out of the necessity of survival in this place. She couldn't help but think: what's the angle here?

[Throndir]

Falah smiled happily, and you felt her reach towards you, her own arms holding on to your waist as she clung to you.

"I never had something to snuggle with! I always thought it would be a nice feeling..."

[Asta]

"Yeah, I suppose it kind of is." she said softly and gently ran her fingers through Falah's hair. "I imagine growing up was kind of hard for you huh?"

Might as well get to know her at least; was Hanako's thinking as she sort of went with the mood. Her kindness wasn't exactly duplicitous, she genuinely wanted to be nice to the girl and provide her with a safer life. However, anything she might learn along the way that could be useful would be nice as well...

[Throndir]

"Mhmm, it was. I never knew my mother, though, everyone told me it was a human. Master Maou didn't care much about me, though, had no reason not to keep me either, so I simply lived in the castle and helped clean it up. Father and I don't get along either. He usually ignores me, or pretends I don't exist. Anytime I'd try talking to him, he would get upset and tell me that I was being too much like a human..."

"The other demon generals didn't care much for me... And their minions weren't really friendly either. It was when I found out my father is acting as a governor or something of these human lands, that I thought it might be okay to visit...  I had thought humans are usually docile and gentle... So I thought it would be nicer here."

[Asta]

I had my suspicions before, but I'm really beginning to think she might be a little ignorant of the situation going on here...

"My parents didn't much care for me after a certain point either..." Hanako said. "Docile and gentle though? What gave you that impression?" she asked, though she had a good idea what the answer would be.

[Throndir]

"Well..." Falah paused as if figuring out how to go about it. "Lord Maou captured humans sometimes... And even if I was there cleaning around their cells, and making  sure everything is neat, they never said anything bad or mean. It was actually kinda nice... I cleaned their cells often because of it. They got replaced often though, so I never got to know any of them. It wasn't until I met that samurai coming from Isikawa, the one I mentioned to you before? That I got to know them. And... I thought they would be all like that, so I was really excited about applying for the trading company."

[Asta]

"Ahh..." Hanako made a sound indicating she understood. "Probably slaves I guess. You'll find that human personalities kind of run the gambit when they aren't locked in cages. Some are good, some are bad, most are looking to survive. People are complicated."

She shifted her weight a little to get comfortable. "I forgot to ask last time, but what was the name of the Refedoran samurai you met?"

[Throndir]

"Her name is let's see... She would say..."

"Raina Fuchs, master of the silver star style, savior of maidens and knights, vanquisher of foes, and friend of spirits!" Falah then made a 'peace' sign with her fingers, then placed it horizontally across her right eye.

"We didn't know each other for very long, but we traveled together for awhile. She was hesitant around me at first, but when I didn't really do much but follow she warmed up a bit. Since... umm... I didn't actually know how to get to the country my father governs, this country, Refedoria."

[Asta]

A chuunibyou weeaboo in a fantasy world. What is life?

"She seems like... quite a colorful character..." Hanako said with all the enthusiasm that was due for the description of a person with middle school delusions. "You didn't know how to get here though? How were you planning on finding this country if you hadn't run into uhh... Raina?"

[Throndir]

"Umm... well, I had planned to go into the next village I found and ask... When I found that road from Isikawa, that was when I realized I was going the opposite way, when I met Raina."

[Asta]

She couldn't really be this naive...

I see... Yeah I suppose that would have been quite a shock to end up in the wrong country. Did you walk all that way...? How far is it even from Maou's castle? she asked. It was an innocent enough question.