1.0Perpetual Daydreamshttps://perpetualdaydreams.comSleepchaserhttps://perpetualdaydreams.com/author/cherriepo/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="UlWUpbk353"><a href="https://perpetualdaydreams.com/novel/nhad/nhad-9/">NHAD Ch 9 – Three Years Later</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://perpetualdaydreams.com/novel/nhad/nhad-9/embed/#?secret=UlWUpbk353" width="600" height="338" title="“NHAD Ch 9 – Three Years Later” — Perpetual Daydreams" data-secret="UlWUpbk353" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> Three years later, I am fifteen years old. My birthday’s in the spring. Three years from now, the “Starting Village “arc will end. After three more years of hard work, the goddess will transport me back to my world—probably. It better be it! Goddess?! Why don’t you show your face yet?! The silence is too cruel. What’s going on? Although Granny Marie had prayed for the goddess to appear, she did not pay us a visit. On the contrary, it feels strange she never contacted us. What does it mean— Oh! Can it be… No way. Is it possible she’s in a situation where she can’t keep in touch with us? Is she in trouble? Can something unforeseen have happened to her? I shudder. Nonono. No way. There’s nothing else I can do here but wait for her contact. I’ll just complain, I mean, pray whenever I’m at the church. That way, I can be reached as soon as possible. After hearing the goddess’ message to Marie, I visit the church most weekends, except when I have business at home. One reason is so I can consult with Marie about future events, along with confirming and reporting the current situation to her. To see if the goddess has responded. Secondly, Marie offered me a spare room dedicated as my “research and materials storage area,” for the sake of developing technology toward the village’s defense. Naturally, the room is lockable and comes with a key. Both have been replaced recently, too. I have also linked a hand-made security device, so that no one besides me can enter the room. Well, in theory that’s the case. Finally, I can store materials and completed devices free from prying eyes! Back at the lord’s mansion, I’ve no privacy or a secure place to call my own. The butler and maids have master keys and can pretty much enter any room. Another reason I visit the church so often is because of Lian’s elder brother. He chases me to no end that it’s hard to relax. These days, his hand that frequently strokes my head has migrated to touching my shoulders and face, back and waist. It’s frightening. I’m being touched so freely. It feels like I’m encountering perverts even at home. It’s the worst. I can’t even report it since we’re related. Because of all this, I feel safe at the church. I have Marie as my ally, and I’ve already won over the orphans. It’s because I bring a box of confectionery each time, filled with donuts, cakes, and cream puffs that the children love. I’ve done my research. There’s no mistake, these are their favorites. As such, the kids are now absolutely obedient to my words. I’ve strictly informed them not to tell anyone, especially Alfred, I’m there during the weekends. The job I was given by the goddess is supposed to be kept secret. I’ve told them that if they break their promise, the goddess will punish them severely. Basically, it’s the carrot and stick method. In the dead of night, the goddess will appear at your bedside dripping with blood… When I added a touch of movie-like horror to my warning, everyone looked like they were about to cry.. I felt bad about it, but there is no denying that the effects were immediate. I also said, ‘if you kids run your mouth to Alfred, then I’ll never bring sweets over again.‘ Honestly, I think that one was more effective than the scare tactics. However, these are children so I worried if they could do it. Though they seem to be fulfilling their part of the bargain so far. Every time I go to the church, they immediately tell me they’ve done as I asked, looking proud of themselves. When I praise them for it, they get so happy. I don’t really get it, but they look like they’re having fun. Well, kids love secret missions, just secret things in general. They’re all orphans here, but they’re spirited and smiling, a bunch of cheerful and good children. The way the gentle Granny Marie, though at times strict, raises them with love may have something to do with it. Whenever I take a break and play with them, they always get so happy. It’s really soothing, wiping clean the daily buildup of stress… Alfred heads out early in the morning on weekends for his part-time job and doesn’t return home until late at night. Very rarely does he get a half-day or a holiday break. I have his schedule memorized because both Marie and the children taught it to me. Because I’ve confirmed this information before starting my weekly visits to the church, I never bumped into him, and therefore am spending my time peacefully. Though I sometimes encounter the village’s elderly, they seem to think that whenever I’m worried about something I’ll go to the church. Every now and then, they would approach me with a kind expression and say if I keep praying and do my best, eventually the goddess will answer my call. Well, since the villagers are busy with farming and living out their lives, they don’t often pay the church a visit. So it doesn’t really matter if they know I’m going there or not. For that reason, I spend my entire weekends at the church. Saturday rolls by. According to the kids’ and Marie’s “Al’s part-time job schedule report,” he’ll be at work all day and has been gone since the morning. Alright. This is great because I can’t go to the church unless he’s away. Today’s bribes are the newly-released triple chocolate scone and redberry and blueberry scone. I bought it at a delicious and famous bakery yesterday while coming home from school. They’re  fluffy and have just the right touch of sweetness. I’m fond of them as well and purchase them occasionally. The kids will definitely dig it. In high spirits, I leave the residence with my luggage, skipping on the way. The butler thinks I’m heading to the library for some independent study. It’s obviously a lie, but there’s no one to doubt or confirm it. Lian’s family is apathetic to everyone besides themselves. I don’t know if they practice the principles of laissez-faire, or are just a family of egotists. His father is often at work, his mother is busy chasing the kingdom’s latest beauty and fashion trends, and his brother sometimes shadows his father for the day to learn the ropes as his successor, but mostly just goes out and about in town to play. Craning my neck, I take in the warm sun and crisp blue sky.  A few white clouds float over the horizon. It’s a bit dizzying. I drop my head and try to shake off the feeling. Maybe I’m mentally drained. I did leave the school late at night after doing my homework, preparing for the next lesson, and working on the alarm devices for the village. So far, I’ve created the first prototype and tried testing it with a mouse-type demon I caught past the village’s borders. The risk of getting injured from a small demon is low. If you don’t attack first, they won’t bother you. Even so, they’ll target the crops, so the farmlands will sustain a ton of damage if I don’t do anything. It seems these mouse-type demons wreak havoc every so often. The alarm device senses the mouse-type demon and blares. For now, it’s a success. The fruits of my hard labor. I sacrificed so much sleep for this and worked myself half to death! However, even though sleep is precious, increasing the village’s defense as soon as possible is crucial as well. I also need to make several of these devices. Only one won’t cut it. I plan to expand the search range, increase the alarm’s volume, and add an electric barrier to the second prototype. I’ll call it “Alarm No. 2 (Electric Execution).” By the time I reach No. 5, I should be close to something with practical use. Another thing on my list is drawing up a map of the village and marking the areas where demons will strike. Then I’ll have to distribute them to the villagers as a disaster prevention measure. As long as I designate a few evacuation centers on the map, people should head there in times of need. It’ll be a good idea to litter the perimeter of these shelters with demon traps and barrier devices. For these countermeasures to last a full night is my current goal. The demons appear to be weak against daylight, movement slowing into a trudge as soon as the sun rises, and as such giving the villagers an opportunity to escape. I sigh. This is not the time to be feeling dizzy. I have to get it together. I can’t be collapsing now. There’s still a long list of things waiting for me to check off. A whole mountainload of them. As usual, Marie greets me with a smile after I knock on the church’s doors, her cheeks reminiscent of apples. “Welcome, Lian-sama! Hehe. The children have been loitering around as they eagerly waited for you.” “Hello, Marie. Haha. Is that so?” “Yep!” Well, it must be because I’m always bringing goodies along. Sugar is very expensive in these parts. Unfortunately, this country doesn’t produce sugar. Since sugar canes only grow in tropical climates, we won’t be able to make any sugar even if we try. For this reason, we have to rely on pricey imports from the south, which drives up the prices of confectionary. Kids don’t normally get a chance to taste them, let alone eat them every week. Similarly, in my original world, the general public can’t eat frivolously. Noticing my presence, several kids that are playing in the courtyard rush toward me. “Ah, it’s Lian-sama!” “Lian-sama!” “Hooray! Lian-sama is here!” “Hello,” I say. “Looks like everyone’s doing fine today, hm? It’s good to be healthy.” The kids burst into laughter. The little shorties’ cheeks flush pink, shy smiles showing on their lips. Three little kids tug on the hem of my spring coat. All three sport a head full of brown curls, the one on the right with red eyes, the one in the middle yellow, and green on the left. According to Marie, from right to left is the elder brother, elder sister, and youngest sister, but to me, they’re indistinguishable. “Lian-sama, pway!” “Pway with!” “Come pway!” “Sure. In a little bit.” I pat each of their heads, and they each flash me a bright smile. Ohh, so cute. I feel soothed. “Now, now. Lian-sama is a busy person, so don’t pester him, okay?” The kids say in chorus “okaay” looking a little disappointed, and begin to run back. “See you later, Lian-sama!” “Later!” “Yes, yes.” I wave my hand and see them off into the garden. Whenever I come here, it’s always lively. Totally different from the deathly silence of Lian’s mansion. I hand the paper bag with the scones to Marie. “Today’s tea desserts are scones. Here you go.” “Oh my. What a delicious scent! Thank you as always. But even if you don’t care about such things, is it really okay for you to spend so much money on the kids?” “It’s not a problem. Especially since you’re letting me use that room. Besides, I’m just buying what I want to eat, so don’t worry about it.” As I smile, Marie laughs and her cheeks dye red. “Is that so? Then I will serve some delicious tea!” “Great! I can’t wait to try it.” “Yes! Please look forward to it. I’ll be working on some documents on the first floor, so if you need anything, please call out. I’ll be able to hear it from the stairs.” “Okay.” “Tea will be served at noon!” “Thank you very much.” I bring the lunch and Marie brings the tea. Although in the past she has told me that she would...https://perpetualdaydreams.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ko-fi-button-300x135.png