UWA! The Path To Creating A Light Novel Is Riddled With Starlight And Honeycomb!

Chapter Six

My escort is silent. They can tell I'm in a foul mood and no one wants to disturb me. Unlike actual people, I don't care about these monster's feelings. If they get sad because they can't cheer me up or they think I don't like them, then it sucks to be them, they killed all my friends.

I am carried just at the surface so I can breathe. It's a slow, boring trip, and at some point the sun goes down. The Mer bring me the occasional ocean delicacy, that is, some raw fish before they realize I have standards. After that I get cardboard-tasting rations they've brought with them. It's better than nothing, I SUPPOSE.

Nothing attacks us. At least, nothing I can see. The Mer are efficient escorts. Sure I'm soaked and freezing after the sun goes down, but I'm safe and my stomach is full, so can I really complain?

Yes. Yes I can.

"Can't you go any faster?" I do nothing to disguise the whine in my voice. "I'm cold."

"We're almost there, Lady Marisue." One of them promises. I'm not convinced.

Not until I see the horizon aglow. And then we're racing toward a city like my hometown, but much, much bigger.

It's lit with a rainbow of colors, they must have actual electricity here. The buildings are taller, the structures more intricate. It's a long way from home.

Home is gone. I remind myself. Maybe this place could be home, once I figure out how to remove my curse.

"Where to, my lady?" The same Mer asks. I think he's the leader of this squad.

"A shopping district." I need real food and some dry clothes. I also want to get out of the company of these murderers.

I'm a murderer too. I shake my head as we come closer, but the thoughts remain. If not for me, they wouldn't have died.

The Mer duck below the surface, swimming down. I close my eyes against the sting of salt, but I saw the wire mesh sticking out of the waves. It's almost too long before we come up to the surface. There must be a hole in the fence somewhere. Even Tokyo isn't safe from these monsters.

They drop me off at a boat launch. This one is well-lit and a lot of people in fine clothes are milling about. The boats are big and fancy-looking.

This is my kind of place.

"Shall we wait for you, my lady?" The lead Mer asks.

"The best thing you can do for me is leave and forget I'm here."

They look sad, but they disappear under the dark waves without another word.

People are staring at me, pointing at my sudden, sopping wet appearance. I smile and wave, and they are soon put at ease. While my curse has a tendency to get everyone around me killed, it sure is useful for showing up at random places.

I walk up to the shopping district. A quick trip into a clothing store and the salon next to it are all it takes to blend in and get dry.

I feel clean for the first time in weeks.

I want to avoid talking to people here, so I try to find the library on my own. I end up wandering the wide, wooden streets for hours. I get up to the highest level, and just like back home, it's where the finest, most important things are. I see the mayor's office, a police station, an aquarium, and the highest end shops.

The fact that I can't find the library up here is a crime.

Three levels down. THREE LEVELS DOWN.

HEATHENS.

The library is huge and grand inside, but the entrance- while just as beautiful as everything else in this district, made of carved stone leading into a well lit foyer- is nowhere near the other attractions and is much too difficult to find. No wonder a goddess can rest here undisturbed.

I forget my grievances as soon as I see the shelves.

Endless shelves. Endless books. Endless pages. I can't count how many floors there are but I rush over to the nearest shelf and pick up a book. 'Generic YA Novel 413'.

They have fiction?

I open the book, I've read it before. The familiar words are a comfort after everything.

Tears drip slowly onto the pages as I sink into the source of solace.

~

I blink awake. How long have I been here? At one point I looked up to see a plate of chocolate chip cookies left out for me. I grabbed book after book off the shelf, greedily drinking in story after story. I long ago forgot my quest. I could live here forever, good luck to the Mer finding me now, I'm nestled in pillows between the shelves in a small corner. I am alone. This must be my paradise.

This isn't living, says the voice in my head that describes the bloody scenes over and over. This is hiding. This is cowardice. They didn't die for this. I ignore it.

I managed to find the bathrooms, but I could honestly use a shower and a change of clothes.

I haven't seen any library staff, maybe they just know not to disturb a girl and her book. Maybe Jillia has invisible servants. Either way, I can't find anyone to ask directions from, and there's no one at the checkout desk. Maybe books are too precious to leave the premises.

I wander out, trying to avoid crowds. Several people stop and stare. I'll have to go get a more low key wardrobe.

One of the lower level shops grants me a hoodie and other items. I grab a free backpack and head out. I'll change after a nice long bath. I know I saw a bathhouse on the highest level.

The one bad thing about Tokyo is the stairs. They have electric lighting, but few elevators. The ones they do have are powered by people and carefully calibrated weights. There's always a line, and while I COULD easily cut to the front, I'm trying to keep a low profile. So stairs I must suffer.

The bathhouse is this huge building with steam coming out of a chimney and pipes running around every undecorated surface.

The reception is hot and humid, but there's no line. I soon find out why.

"I'm sorry miss, but you need a reservation."

"Oh..." Time to work my charms. "I'm sorry, I've just... I've never been here before, and I've always heard such great things about this legendary bathhouse." She seems... unmoved.

"The reservation desk is right over there." She points across the room. Ah, there is the line.

"I... was wondering... could you maybe make an exception for me?" I've turned it up full-blast. I want that bath.

"No." What? "The reservation desk is right over there, miss." Is it possible that Jillia removed my curse while I was at the library? No, because I was still able to get free clothes. So that means...

"You..." I lean over the desk, reading her name tag for the first time. Kismet. "You're a cursed soul."

She blinks at me. "The reservation desk." Her brief confusion turns to a glare. "Is over there."

I remember the last cursed soul that got pissed at me. I don't want another werewolf running around, that would cause a panic and then I'd NEVER get in.

So instead I shrug and walk over to the reservation desk, wait the line, and convince the sucker there to give me a reservation for right now.

My face is smug as I stride past the lady who is immune to my charms. She lets me through, because she could really care less about me and whatever magic I'm using.

I emerge clean, refreshed, and dressed inconspicuously from the bathhouse. The cursed soul isn't at her desk when I leave. What's her name again? Kismet. I'll have to remember that. I could get into trouble if I see her again.

My stomach is making strange noises at me, and I decide to stop by a restaurant, the first one that catches my eye.

I end up eating at a grand place where the food is bitter and the portions are much too small. They do, however, have excellent ice cream. I don't remember ever having eaten the cold, creamy goodness before. I like it.

The sun is low in the sky by the time I head back to the library. I don't know when I woke up today, but it sure wasn't early.