Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1

Ch.23

Authornote: Howdy! The good news is my personal business is over. Bad news is my posting schedule is changing. Partly due to my internet router dying a slow death, but also due to my work schedule is changing. So far, looks like it will be either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday when the new weekly post day will be. In fact, the next few weeks, the posting date will possibly be sporadic between though three days even though I will be keeping up posting weekly. This is the last Friday post, but hope to getting a new weekly posting going pretty quickly once my work schedule becomes set again. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and have a great weekend!

I am not good with kids. Shiroe thought, finding the shrilling cry filling the barn really taking a toll on his head. But, Naotsugu is outright a dunce at childcare.

“Hey, hey! This is not time for a cry festival!” Naotsugu panicked trying to calm the crying Gaara. “It’s alright. You’re safe. Or are you hungry? Please stop crying?” Naotsugu begged, crying from his own splitting headache when the crying got worse.

How is Boss still sleeping with all this ruckus? Shiroe sighed, looking at Akatsuki. Why didn't I think of that? Shiroe thought, seeing Akatsuki had what looked to be cotton in her ears, possibly a fluffy crafting ingredient.

“This is completely different than the information I have on Gaara.” Itachi&Kisame sighed, her fingers in her ears. “The kid was basically a stoic sociopath, not a crying machine!”

Wait, this kid was a sociopath? Shiroe through, seeing Serara getting close to Gaara.

“H-Hey, what’s wrong?” Serara stuttered, kneeled down to eye level with the boy. “We can’t help you if you don’t tell us.”

“Hic…” Relief washed over Shiroe’s body as Gaara stopped wailing, now sobbing and breathing hard while looking at Serara. “U-Uncle Y-Yashamaru…” Gaara mumbled while Shiroe raised an eyebrow. “W-Where’s m-m-my u-uncle?” Gaara asked, shivering in fear.

“Itachi&Kisame-san?” Shiroe looked at Itachi&Kisame.

“Sadly, I am of no help. Yashamaru must be Gaara’s caretaker since he was Suna’s Jinchuriki as his father also being the current Kazekage.” Itachi&Kisame said, walking over to Gaara. “Gaara-san, we don’t know where your uncle is, but can you answer some questions?”

“W-Why?” Gaara asked, his trembling increasing. “D-Did Uncle leave me? W-Why is everyone afraid of me!”

“Serara-chan! Move!” Itachi&Kisame grabbed Serara, pulling her back just  before a spike of sand came out from the ground she was standing.

“Stay back from him.” Shiroe said, adjusting his glasses as sand floated around Gaara as he began to cry hard again. “We haven’t visited another city or village with a Cathedral. If we are killed now, we’ll be sent back to Susukino.”

“But, what do we do? We can’t leave this kid here and have a temper tantrum festival that could kill anyone who goes near him.” Naotsugu sighed. “Also, even with that sand, there’s no way he make it alive to another city.”

“We just have to wait till he either tires out or calms down.” Shiroe sighed, looking at Gaara’s status. His level was at one.  The first new player to Elder Tales since the Catastrophe happened. But, why did he end up here? He should have awakened in the tutorial island… Wait, is the tutorial island even still around? Shiroe pondered before flinching as Gaara began to wail again.

“Uuuuncle! Where are yoooou?” Gaara screamed, hugging his tail tightly. “Why you disappeared like Shukaku, toooo?”

“Shukaku?.. No way,” Itachi&Kisame gasped, having Serara stand behind her. “Gaara-san, calm down for a moment. What happened to the one tailed Tanuki, ah, Shukaku-san?”