Rewritten 08/17/2020

Disclaimer: I do not own Danmachi or Kyou Kara Maou.

Chapter 2: We Meet Again

== Murata residence – night before ==

== Murata's POV ==

'No matter how many lifetimes I'll have…'

'No matter I'll be reborn a boy or a girl…'

'I'll never forget about you…'

'I'll never love anyone else as I love you…'

'…My Aria…'

A woman with blonde hair and golden eyes smiled at me, her right hand touching my cheek before she slowly fades.

'Albert…' she called.

I slowly opened my eyes, realizing that I was having the same dream again.

A dream…

The same dream that has been bothering every night as of late.

I felt the familiar pain in my heart, remembering the promise I gave to a special woman in another lifetime when I was once known a hero.

'A hero, huh…'

Something that I am sure Shibuya would like to become, I thought as I imagine Shibuya with his demon sword Morgif venturing into the depths of the dungeon, his handsome servants following him, while beautiful goddesses and elves awaits his return.

'That is surely Shibuya', I laugh lightly. Though Shibuya has matured a lot and has been taking his responsibilities as a king seriously, there is still a bit of childishness and too much innocence in him.

'It's not a bad thing though'. I know that that is part of his personality that attracts people around him.

Dr. Rodriguez will surely scold me once he hears that I have been associating my present life with my past once again.

'The past is the past. We cannot indulge ourselves in memories and destroy the present…'

I keep on saying those words before. Words taught to me like a mantra since I was young in my current lifetime.

But I could not just forget about them. I could not just continue to live while not knowing what happened to Aria and my little girl, Ais.

I do not have enough maryoku to travel to that dimension, even if I try hard to make myself stronger. I remember Lord Weller's surprise expression when I requested him to train me. For what, he asked. To bring back some memories I replied.

In my mind, I could remember how to wield a sword, but my current body does not know how to. It took almost two years in Shin Mokoku for me to get my current body back to my previous level of sword mastery.

Lord Weller, even Lords Von Christ, Von Biefelt, and Von Voltaire were surprised at my swordsmanship. When Shibuya found out, it made him more serious in his training with Lords Weller and Von Biefelt, resulting in him becoming a decent swordsman himself, something that Lord Von Voltaire and Von Christ are very pleased about.

"He's becoming more and more like a king…" I remember Lord Von Christ said, almost moaned, with a tinge of red on his cheeks.

With my maryoku, I had to rely on Ulrike and Lord Von Biefelt with my training. I had made a pact with the element of fire and had been constantly practicing with Lord Biefelt. Shibuya himself, had made arrangement to have maryoku training too, under the Lord Von Wincott, the late Lady Suzanna Julia's father. His choice of teacher surprising me a bit.

About maryouku, what I know is that when I was in the dimension of Orario, my maryoku was far stronger than in Shin Makoku. I do not have a pact with an element back then, but somehow in that dimension, my maryoku made my movement faster when fighting and my attacks stronger. Every swing of my sword, each cut it made, was enhanced by my maryoku. But even that was not enough to kill the black dragon.

With this knowledge, if I train myself in Shin Makoku, I am certain that I will be as strong as when I fought the black dragon, or stronger once I get my falna back from Ouranos-sama.

This is my plan. A plan that will only come into fruition if I could travel to that dimension, something that I could not do and only Shibuya could. However, even with enough maryoku from Shibuya, I am still unsure if we will end up in the right dimension. Shibuya could travel to Shin Makoku because he has been there before, but he could not travel to a dimension he has not been to. I am hoping that with my memory of that place, and with Shibuya's maryoku, we will be able to.

We will be traveling to Shin Makoku tomorrow. I am thinking, maybe this is the right time to try to go back to Orario?

I do not know how to ask Shibuya without him getting too involved into Orario.

I do not know how to ask any of them help without dragging them to Orario with me, or worse, to the bottom of the dungeon.

Shibuya is a hands-on king who would most likely go to Orario with me, making sure that I would be fine.

I sighed as I stood up, not bothering to put my glasses on as I leaned over my open window. I had a laser surgery for some time now to correct my eyesight and just put my glasses on, non-graded that is, out of habit. Also, without my glasses on, I look so much like my past self, Albert Waldstein, the Sword Champion. I look so much like him that I believe that the Fates are playing with me.

A lot has changed in me. A change that everyone notices. Shibuya has been asking me lately if there is something bothering me, and I could only give him a lame answer about my advanced classes preoccupying my mind. He has been keeping an eye on me as of late.

I looked up the dark sky and see the moon partially covered by clouds, making me remember what I am to Shibuya. What I should be to the king of Shin Makoku.

I am the moon. The kind of light that dispels the darkness and illuminates the path. The one who seeks the sun…

I wonder though, if I am to be swallowed by darkness, will your radiance create a path for me?

== Change Scene – Shibuya residence before Yuri and Murata's dimension travel ==

== Murata's POV ==

"Remember to be always careful, Yuri, Ken-kun" Miko Shibuya said, as she gave both of us a hug.

"Yes, Mama. Always…" I answered first, making Shibuya frown. Even with him becoming more mature as a king, Shibuya will always be a Mama's little boy.

"Why does he always call my mother 'Mama'…" he muttered more to himself, but I heard it anyway.

"You're too cute when jealous, Yuri-heika", I grinned as I stepped first into the bathtub with Shibuya following me. This has been our way of traveling back to Shin Makoku, through water in the safety of Shibuya's house.

"Yeah, yeah… Traveling between worlds this way is sure a lot of fun at first. But now I just wish I could just take a train to Shin Mamoku. You know, 'Welcome to Shin Makoku Express… Next Stop, Blood Pledge Castle'", Shibuya added in his best imitation of a train operator.

'Traveling between worlds huh…' I thought as I started thinking of Orario then.

"Alright, here we go" I heard Shibuya said as I felt the familiar pull of dimension travel.

And lo and behold, we arrived at a bathhouse, which I am sure is not in Shin Makoku.

One might ask why the Divine Bathhouse. The place is safe from what I could remember back in my time, with guards at all entrances and patrolling the vicinity. This measure was placed after Zeus tried to sneak in once. The place is also not often used at times. I only hope that if we are to be successful and arrived in the Divine Bathhouse, no one else is around.

I could not confirm though if this is indeed the Divine Bathhouse in Orario. When Shibuya asked if I know our location, I simply answered with no.

Just then we heard a woman and as I turned, I could tell that this is a goddess. As I tried to think of a way to work out our situation, Shibuya had the misfortune to make a fool of himself once again by falling towards the goddess. I had to stop myself from laughing when he again tried to get to his feet only to fall over the goddess' chest. This though gave us an opening, an opportunity to escape from the place.

== Change Scene – After evading capture, on their way to the center of the city ==

== Murata's POV ==

"Where are we going?" Shibuya asked, arranging his shirt as we walk towards the city center.

I look at buildings left and right. It has been a thousand years since I was at this place. Everything has of course changed since then. Everything except for the Tower of Babel.

Since we ended up wet in the bathhouse, Shibuya has used his maryouku to gather the water out of our clothes, drying them up in the process. His pact is with water after all.

"The Guild…" I answered.

"Murata… We're not in Shin Makoku dimension, are we?" Shibuya asked as he grabbed my arm to stop me from walking further.

"No…" I answered, I could not look him straight in the eyes.

"You seem familiar of this place though after seeing that tower…" Shibuya stated, closely watching my reaction.

"Murata… Did you once live here in a past life?" he asked softly.

"Yes…", I replied as Shibuya let go of my arm, noticing the deep emotion coming from that one word.

"Were you thinking about this world when we tried to go to our kingdom?"

"Yes…" I replied once again, knowing that Shibuya has put together the pieces, finally realizing how we ended up in this world instead of Shin Makoku. He used to need someone to serve as guide when traveling to Shin Makoku. I was once his navigator.

"Murata… If there is…" Shibuya started.

"If there is anything we could do for you, please ask. You make us worry. Me, Gunter, Ulrike, Conrad, Yozak… Even Gwendal and Wolfram notice the changes in you."

"I'm sorry, Shibuya… The past has just been catching up with me as of late…" I said truthfully, emotions showing on my face "Sometimes, it is just too much… haha" forcing myself to laugh a bit.

I do not like sharing my personal problems to anyone. Even as a kid. Even in my previous lives. If there is one characteristic common in all my lives, it is that I do not like sharing my personal problems to anyone. I do not like bothering other people.

"I'll get scolded by Dr. Rodriguez again. I'm mixing up my past lives with my current" I continued.

"Murata…" Shibuya made a move to touch my shoulder, but I have started to walk away.

"Our goal is to look for the guild building. It should be somewhere at the center of this city" I said. "Ouranos-sama, my familia deity should be there…"

"Your deity?" Shibuya asked, confused of what Murata just said.

"Yes. This world is the most interesting place I've ever lived in, Shibuya. Wait until you meet its citizens…"

An interesting place, it is.

I then see a building with words 'Pantheon' painted above its large door. Though the building is different from what I remember, the name is the same.

"Here we are… the Pantheon" I said to Shibuya as I entered the building.

Inside the building is different from what I remember as well. Currently, it looks like a version of a medieval bank if there is one. Back then, it was more of a tavern with a single board for quests and announcements and a back office where adventurers change their maseki to valis.

Shibuya could not read the signs posted in the board or in front of the counters, but I have no difficulties reading them. I approached one of the counters where a girl with pointy ears, shoulder length brown hair, emerald colored eyes, and wearing what I presume is a guild uniform currently sit.

"Hi, my name is Ken Murata" The girl in the counter took her eyes away from the document she was reading and smiled at us. Another girl with pink hair is nearby and looked our way.

"Hello, Murata-san. My name is Eina. How can I help you?" she asked, smile not leaving her face.

"Is it possible for us to speak with Ouranos-sama. It's rather important"

"Hmm…" the girl named Eina looked like she wanted to reject my request, possibly trying to understand why we need to speak to a god like Ouranos.

"I'll have to check if he's available, Murata-san. Ouranos-sama is terribly busy. Kindly wait over there" she gestured to a corner where there are sets of chairs and coffee tables.

"Thank you" I bowed slightly as I answered with a smile. I then pushed Shibuya towards the waiting area. He has been staring at Eina since we arrived at the counter.

"Shibuya, it's not nice to stare" I smirked as I whispered, teasing him a bit to lighten the tension that I know is expected to explode later.

"Murata… Is she…" he whispered back, looking unsure on how to continue. "Is she an elf?"

"Hmm?" I took a seat with Shibuya taking the one opposite me.

"Most likely a half human, half elf" I stated from my observation, noticing that Eina's face is less angular than how most elves I remembered.

"AN ELF? Really?" excitement discernible in Shibuya's voice.

"Are there other mythical beings in this world?" he asked.

"There you go with your fetishes again, Shibuya. That is not a good habit you know. What would Lord Von Biefelt tell you once again?" I teased, knowing that the manga he reads mostly contain said beings.

"FETISH?" he looked at me with a bit of outrage as I continue to smirk at him knowingly.

"Keep your voice down, will you." I chided him a bit, not wanting to attract too much attention.

"It's not like I don't notice the manga you keep in your room, Shibuya. Most contain harem of elves in them" I pointed out as I chuckled a bit, leaning on the chair as I regarded his scandalized face.

He did not deny what I said, merely glared at me, a tinge of red evident on his face. I smirked some more.

"…to answer your question, yes there are a lot of beings here in this world that could be considered mythical like elves, dwarves, demi humans, and even gods…"

Shibuya's eyes widened in surprise, excitement showing on his face once again. "Gods?"

"Yes, and I'm quite sure that the woman in the bathhouse is a goddess… Considering we ended up in the Divine Bathhouse…" I added with another grin.

"WHAAAAAT? DID YOU INTEND US TO ARRIVE IN THAT PLACE?"

"Voice, Shibuya… people are starting to look" I said with a slight grimace as I notice a couple of adventurers and some guild workers glancing.

"Bu – bu – but, if she's a goddess, won't she know who we are already? I mean, they are omnipotent and all, right? Won't she turn us into… I don't know, a cockroach? Or a rat? Or any vermin she could think of? And then step on us to crush our poor soul?" Shibuya panicked as he rambled on and on, both hands going over his head.

"Calm down, Shibuya. The gods and goddesses in this world are not as omnipotent as you expect. Afterall, they are not allowed to use their divine power unless bestowing a blessing…"

I sighed as I continued. "There's much I have to tell you about this world."

Before Shibuya could give a reply, an elderly looking fat elf approach us.

"My name is Royman, the current head of the guild" he introduced himself.

"Lord Ouranos is expecting you. Please follow me" he added as he walked away, not even glancing back to check if we were following him.

We received curious looks from Eina and the other guild worker as we followed Royman.

== Eina's POV ==

"What was that all about?" Misha asked as I returned to the counter area.

"I don't know. I was on my way to Royman's office when I almost bumped into him. He was already on his way here to get those two" I answered.

"They both are cute though…" Misha said with a dreamy smile.

"Misha…" I said to catch her attention.

"Hmp… I was just stating a fact"

"Whatever, don't you have papers to finish?" I asked.

"You're being mean Eina" Misha answered with a pout as she looked down on her table, a stock of papers lying and waiting.

== Change Scene – Room of Prayer, Orario ==

== Murata's POV ==

Royman stopped in what looked like a doorway going into a basement. The door is open and there are stairs going down into the dimly lit room.

"This is the Room of Prayer. Ouranos-sama is inside. I'll be leaving you here" he merely said and walked away again, not giving the us a chance to thank him.

I went first into the Room of Prayer. The room is dark, and the only source of light is coming from the four lamps standing at each corner of what looked like a raised throne – there are stairs in front of the throne to reach it. A man in white robes and black hood is sitting in the throne. Another figure, one in black robes, stood at the side of the throne.

I continued to walk until he reached the first step to the throne, and then looked up to Ouranos, my familia god. It has only been the two of us in our familia back then. He looked very much the same, the robes he wears, the throne he sits on, the stoic expression, even the four lamps that surround his throne. A thousand years and still the same.

"It has been a while, my child…" he said, I recognized a hint of happiness in his voice.

"I felt your soul arriving in Orario with a companion" he continued.

"This must be him." His attention going to Shibuya.

"I'm happy to be back, Ouranos-sama" I said, bowing slightly.

"The fact that you're here… Would this mean that you have accomplished your promise to your first king to finally defeat the evil Soushu in your previous world?"

"Yes, kami-sama. I believe you already have an idea why I come back… I would like to find my wife and daughter. I would like to know what happened to both. This is now my only goal" I said with more conviction than I intended. At the corner of my eye, I could see Shibuya surprised by this information.

"Albert…" Ouranos started. "No, I have to call you with your current name" he continued.

"My current name is Ken Murata and my friend here is the new king of Shin Makoku, Yuri Shibuya" I motioned towards Shibuya, who bowed respectfully.

"We are on our way to our kingdom through a dimension travel when I think of Orario and if it's possible to travel back here" I continued.

"I have always been against you being reborn with your past lives not getting cleansed from your soul…" Ouranos said.

"You are not moving forward, my child. You would eventually want to go back and redo your past lives" he continued as he looked at me like I remember he does in the past. A look that sees through my very soul.

"This is the last time… I have already told Shinou to let my soul rest after this lifetime. But I must find my wife Aria and daughter Ais" I said.

"And if my hunch is correct, the black dragon is still undefeated?" I asked for confirmation.

"Both Zeus and Hera familia tried to kill that beast 15 years ago but they were unsuccessful. Both familia were annihilated."

"Hmm…" I gritted my teeth. "I need to get stronger. Could you please bestow me your falna once again, Ouranos-sama?"

"I'm sorry, my child. As much as I wanted to, I do not bestow falna these days. It will upset the delicate balance in power amongst gods in Orario" Ouranos said with regret.

I remembered how politics was in Orario amongst gods a thousand years ago. Orario needs a neutral faction when conflict arise between gods, and conflict between them was frequent. If Ouranos start his own familia, then he could not be deemed as neutral anymore and could not intervene. Orario will be plunged into chaos.

"You'll have to find another familia to join."

"I understand"

"About your daughter…" Ouranos started. "She's been found and currently a member of one of the strongest familia in Orario, the Loki Familia. It has been 9 years since she was found…"

I felt like a huge thorn removed from my heart. My little girl is alive.

'She would be 16 by now', I thought as I remember that she was only 7 years old when it all happened.

'Great. She would only be a year younger than me' I though sarcastically.

"Thank you Ouranos-sama. Do you have any information about Aria?"

"I don't. In the thousand years since your demise, I have not heard about Aria. I believe you would need to go deep into the dungeon where the black dragon was born to find answers."

'Of course, it all goes back to the dungeon…' I thought, processing the information that Ouranos gave me.

'I need to plan this out… I could not afford to make mistakes.'

"We will be on our way then. It is nice seeing you again, Ouranos-sama" I said, bowing slightly before turning to Shibuya.

"Shibuya, I guess we don't have a place to stay here, tonight. Let us head back to Shin Makoku instead."

"Hmm… Could we at least use a safe place from here to travel to Shin Makoku? We travel to another dimension through water" Shibuya spoke to Ouranos.

"…"

"Royman…" Ouranos called, his voice seemed to have been amplified.

"I'm here my lord", Royman appeared at the entrance of the Room of Prayer immediately.

"Accompany them to the inner bathhouse. Leave them at the entrance."

"At once my lord" he answered, waiting for us to come out from the room.

"Thank you, Ouranos-sama" we both bowed before walking towards Royman.

The walk to the inner bathhouse inside the guild was silent, only broken when Royman was about to leave.

"The door to the bathhouse is not locked. I'm leaving you two here" he said before walking away. If the instructions given to him by Ouranos are a bit confusing, Royman did not show any reaction. He is most likely used to them.

We both watched as he turned a corner before going inside the bathhouse.

"Let's go Shibuya, this time to Shin Makoku."

I once again, went first into the water. Shibuya did not say a word as he followed, activating his maryoku for the dimension travel.

== Change Scene – Shrine of Shinou, Shin Makoku ==

== Murata's POV ==

I felt the water swirled with the familiar pull of the dimension travel. When I opened my eyes, I stared at a clear blue sky. We have seemed to arrive at the fountain located inside the Shrine of Shinou in Shin Makoku.

"Looks like the time of our arrival is not affected by our side trip…" I said as I noticed not only the time of the day but also the people who have seemed to be waiting.

"Heika, Geika, welcome back" a man in brown military uniform greeted, a towel in his hands, as he waits for Shibuya to stand up. He has brown hair and brown eyes, a gentle smile on his lips. His name is Conrad Weller, and he is Shibuya's personal guard.

This is typically the time when Shibuya would reply, "I told you to call me Yuri, Conrad". This has been there traditional banter each time we arrive in Shin Makoku. For Shibuya to stay silent means he is likely to explode at what happened.

On Lord Weller's right stood a blonde young man who appears to be of the same age as Shibuya and me. He wears a blue military uniform, hands folded over his chest as he waits for Shibuya. His name is Wolfram Von Biefelt, aka. Shibuya's fiancé.

"Yuri are you just going to lie there on the water all day?" Lord Von Biefelt asked with impatience.

This must have awakened Shibuya from his trance as he slowly stood up.

On Lord Weller's left stood a tall man with silver hair and wearing a white military uniform. He too is carrying a towel in his hands and smiled at me when he saw me approaching him. This man's name is Gunter Von Christ, Shibuya's adviser.

"Welcome back, Heika, Geika…"

I accepted the towel from Lord Von Christ. "Thank you, Von Christ-Kyo" I said as I removed my glasses and wiped my face.

I felt Shibuya deliberately walked towards me. I know from then that he intended a confrontation and I'll let him do what he wants as I know that I am at fault this time.

I then felt the force of his punch as it made impact with my left cheek. The punched was maryoku enhanced, sending me colliding against the fountain.

"HEIKA!"

"GEIKA!"

"YURI"

"What do you think you're doing", the young blonde exclaimed but Shibuya did not answer.

I picked myself up from the rubbles that was once the fountain. I could feel blood slowly trickling down my face as I looked at Shibuya. White aura is starting to surround him, his maryoku leaking. I feel that my maryoku has started to shroud me as well, white aura has started to envelope my body.

The commotion garnered attention from the priestesses in the shrine. The all-female guards showed up at once but do not know what to do. Ulrike, the chief priestess of the Shrine, who has an appearance of a small girl, then come running between us.

"STOP THIS AT ONCE – HEIKA, GEIKA" the Ulrike exclaimed, looking back and forth between Shibuya and me.

Both our maryoku slowly dissipated, but the tension did not.

"Just what do you think of us, Murata?" Yuuri asked. "Do you not trust us to help you? Why would you manipulate those around you?"

"I'm sorry, Shibuya. That was not my intention…" I said in a low voice but was heard by everyone.

Lord Weller then walked towards Ulrike, coming in between Shibuya and me to intervene should we continue fighting.

Lord Von Biefelt has gone to Shibuya, placing his right hand over Shibuya's shoulder to try to calm him.

Lord Von Christ has approached me. "Geika… We have to tend to your wound" he said, concern evident in his voice.

"Call for Gisela immediately. Tell her to come to Blood Pledge Castle" Lord Von Christ instructed one of the female guards who immediately did as asked.

"Come on then to the castle…" Shibuya finally said. "You'll have to tell us everything. You are not staying at the shrine."

Thank you so much for reading.