A Future Foretold and a Promise Made (Volume 3)

Previously, Domu and Soronna, accompanied by Dora, encountered a follower of the Dilia Goddess at Rainbow Plaza. The Dilia Goddess, known as the Goddess of Premonition, possessed the ability to foresee the future, though she had mysteriously vanished from the continent two hundred years prior.

During this encounter, Domu underwent a fortune-telling session. In her first vision of the future, she witnessed her own death.

However, for reasons unknown, Domu delved into her future once more, accessing an entirely new timeline. In this altered future, she met a version of herself who called out, “Hislim.”

Hislim urgently instructed Domu to prevent this future from unfolding, revealing that Dora was the pivotal figure. Yet, at this critical moment, Dora had once again fallen into a deep slumber.

****

Domu and Soronna, with Soronna cradling Dora in her arms, ambled back to their somewhat dilapidated inn from Rainbow Plaza. The unsettling events of the fortune-telling had left them both in a quiet, pensive mood.

Meanwhile, Dora, like a little sleepy piglet, remained sound asleep, nestled sweetly in Soronna’s embrace.

Upon reaching the inn’s entrance, Domu spotted Billy. It appeared Os and Karl had already returned from their run. Domu had promised Os a taste of cake earlier, but a glance at the sky revealed that it had already grown completely dark.

Given Os’s strict self-discipline, he likely wouldn’t indulge in such high-calorie food for dinner. Yet that was perfectly fine; she could offer it to him tomorrow. It would also be a final treat for Dora and Soronna, her two little gourmands.

As this thought crossed Domu’s mind, she knelt and gently poked Billy’s soft backside with a slender finger.

Despite having lived with Domu and Dora for some time, Billy’s fear of Domu had not diminished in the slightest. At the sight of Domu’s outstretched finger, he trembled uncontrollably.

His three eyes darted around, as if desperately searching for his angel, Dora.

“Domu, you’re bullying Billy again,” Soronna said, a hint of exasperation in her voice as she watched Domu poking Billy while holding Dora. “You know he’s terrified of you.”

“It’s just that he’s too adorable… I really love fluffy things, you know…” Domu turned to Soronna, a blush creeping onto her face, her eyes a little flustered. “But I don’t know why Billy is so scared of me… though… I suppose I might have done some strange things to him…”

“Oh? Has Domu done anything strange to Billy?” Soronna’s curiosity was piqued by this unexpected revelation.

“N-no! Nothing! Soronna, I’m so tired today. Let’s go back and sleep!” Domu exclaimed, her voice laced with panic.
‘Oh no, oh no! I absolutely cannot let Soronna know about that embarrassing incident!’

The thought of what she had done to Billy made Domu spring to her feet, her steps stiff as she hurried into the inn.
‘How shameful, how utterly shameful. Soronna, please forget it—forget what I just said!’ she silently pleaded as she ascended the stairs.

Soronna, still holding Dora, watched Domu’s stiff-legged retreat with a suspicious gaze. Then she lowered her head to look at Billy, who was now at her feet, ears perked and his three red eyes wide with anticipation as he stared at Dora in her arms.

Shaking her head with a soft chuckle, Soronna followed them into the inn.

“Billy, come on in! Dora’s already asleep, so she can’t play with you today!” Soronna called out to Billy behind her, then carried Dora up the stairs.

Upon hearing Soronna’s words, Billy’s normally perked ears drooped instantly, leaving him looking dejected. He wiggled his bottom and bounced his way up the stairs behind Soronna.

Soronna and Domu entered their room. Gently, Soronna placed the sleeping Dora onto the bed. Her gaze then fell upon Domu, who stood motionless beside the bed, intently watching Dora.

Soronna couldn’t help but recall the two futures she had just witnessed. The sensation felt suffocating at that moment. Taking a deep breath, Soronna, feeling utterly lost, clasped her hands behind her back and stared blankly at her toes.

An unusual silence filled the room, broken only by Dora’s soft breathing in her sleep. Domu remained still, her eyes fixed on Dora on the bed, her thoughts unreadable.

“Um… Domu… would you like to… take a bath together?” Soronna finally broke the silence, unable to hold back her question.

“Ah… I’m sorry, Soronna… I’m a little tired today…” Domu turned, her beautiful ruby-like eyes filled with profound sadness as she spoke with a hint of guilt.

“Oh… I see. N-no problem… Then, Domu, you rest. I’ll go get ready to wash up…” Soronna didn’t understand why such a sorrowful expression had appeared in Domu’s eyes. It made her feel a pang of heartache, and even a touch of envy.

Soronna didn’t know what had happened to Dora in Domu’s future, but judging by the sadness Domu showed toward Dora, perhaps…

Soronna shook her head. It was only a fortune-telling, not reality. Everyone treated it like a game… But what if the future was real?

Would Domu look at her with that same expression?

As if afraid to look at Domu’s face any longer, Soronna awkwardly pushed open the door and darted out, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

“So… ron… na…?” Seeing Soronna suddenly rush out, Domu felt even more guilty. She hadn’t realized Soronna would be so disappointed just because she declined bathing together.

However, Domu truly felt exhausted at that moment. And… being naked with another girl and bathing together was still a bit too embarrassing for Domu. Although she had already bathed with Soronna and Dora many times, Domu prided herself on never taking advantage. She was always a perfect gentleman—at most just helping Soronna scrub her back or wash her hair… really.

Silently apologizing to Soronna in her heart, Domu gently knelt beside the bed, allowing herself a better view of Dora, who was still sleeping soundly.

“Dora, why were there two futures…? Why didn’t I see you in the first future? It’s so strange. But you probably wouldn’t guess—Mama actually died in that first future. But Mama protected so many companions! And… Mama seemed to meet someone familiar in that first future… Hehe, but that must have been an illusion, right? Fortune-telling the future couldn’t possibly be real, could it?”

Domu lay her upper body on the bed, resting her head on her arm as she gazed at the sleeping Dora with a silly smile. Unbeknownst to her, in her subconscious she had already begun referring to herself as Dora’s mother.

“There’s something even stranger. Later, Mama saw another future, and it felt just like a grand cinematic cutscene in a game! It was incredibly fun! But… in that second future, Mama met a strange person… That strange person said that because of Mama’s mistake… someone was lost… And after losing that incredibly important person, that strange person… did many terrifying things… Dora… why do you think I suddenly transmigrated to this world?”

“I even have a strange feeling, as if I’m an NPC in a game, with all sorts of main and side quests set for me. Pfft… what am I even saying? I’m already my own game character… ah… my head’s spinning now. But… Dora, Mama will definitely protect you. Not just Dora, but Na’er, Soronna, Karl, Os—and Billy too! As long as they are Mama’s companions, Mama won’t let anyone harm any of you.”

Domu felt her cheeks burning, as if she had unknowingly uttered many chuunibyou-like words. Yet even if they were incredibly chuunibyou, these were truly her innermost thoughts. Domu absolutely refused to see that future come to pass.

‘Hislim, whether this prophesied future is real or false, I will never let you appear.’

“If everyone could just live happily together, that would be wonderful. I truly detest all the fighting and killing… All I’ve ever wanted to be is a PvE player…” Domu glanced at Dora, who was sleeping soundly, her little pink lips pouting slightly. Then, with a sigh of resignation, she buried her face in her arms.

Her voice was muffled, hidden by her arms and the cascade of her white hair over her face.

Just as Domu buried her face in her arms, the sleeping Dora suddenly opened her eyes. Digitized information appeared within them once more, then silently vanished as her eyes closed again, as if the scene had never occurred.

[Recording maternal directive: Based on the premise of not violating the main body’s evolution and using the maternal first directive as the standard: “Create a world where everyone lives happily together”… commencing execution.]

Within Dora’s mind, a complete message was recorded. The butterfly wings that would eventually change the world’s structure had just fluttered within this small inn.

“Honestly… what am I even doing…?” Domu, still buried in her arms, bit her lip and stood up, leaning on the bedside. Gazing at the sleeping Dora, she bent down and kissed Dora’s head.

Her face flushed as she clapped her hands against her cheeks, then turned to undress. She changed into a somewhat translucent silk nightgown and slipped into the warm covers.

“Good night… Dora…” Nestled in bed, Domu softly whispered good night to Dora beside her, then closed her beautiful eyes. Overwhelmed by the day’s exhaustion, Domu quickly drifted into slumber.

“Ah… ha… ah…” In her sleep, Domu felt her body gradually growing hot and flushed. Her chest, in particular, became extraordinarily sensitive, even experiencing a continuous sensation of being caressed.

This sensation, utterly new to Domu, made her, even in her deep sleep, involuntarily let out enchanting moans.

“Do… Domu… I… I can’t hold back…”