There will be a note on the bottom. More explanations will follow. Cover to be made sometime soonish.

...

Everyone always said Orario was such a grand place. Everyone always said that the 'center of the world' was a great place.

What no one said was the fact that being born in such a place was really fucking annoying. Being in such a place where people would lie, cheat, steal, kill, or…rape was a problem. A large problem that everyone knew was a problem. Being born in this era sucked.

Rephrase that.

Being in Orario sucked. At least, that's what this male said to himself mentally even as his eyes were unblinking. Well, that's only part of the problem. The one other problem was the stick currently in his left hand. It only extended less than two meders in front of him but that was how he had to travel. That was how he had to learn. That was how he saw.

No one cared though. His parents did. A long time ago. Many thought he was using it for attention but once they conversed with him and saw that he only looked in their general direction. No one apologized, because why would they? This empathy? That emotion should be easily found within humanity but alas it was not.

Now, he just lived in Orario. He had no place to call home, yet this one tavern always seemed to draw him in. He was lucky to have met the owner. She knew immediately. Of course, she did. Such things were not outside her understanding.

The first words she said to him when they met were, "Do you expect me to pity you?"

His response was simple, "God, I hope fucking not."

That was two years ago.

The owner never laughed harder in the past ten years, she said. That was why he was making the walk to the tavern, a place that he had never seen but had been to hundreds of times. Easily, one of the more important locations in Orario.

Even though the Gods and Goddesses have done a lot for the world, they annoy him. He tolerates them but does not actively attempt to converse with them. They say they want entertainment, yet are vague on what that is. They say they are here to help but some of these deities have caused many problems. Evilus. The Dark Age.

His stick collided with something, a set of stairs. He smiled faintly. A true smile hasn't graced him yet. He never found a reason to. This place was the only place to get this smile. People said it made him look cute. Made him look younger.

How? He's only seventeen. He doesn't know what he looks like, and he's never asked for someone to clarify either, whether that be out of fear or something else was undetermined.

"Oh, hello, Kano!"

That cheery voice, yet laced with something that did not fit her greeted him, "Lady Syr," he greeted in return.

"Aww, don't be like that! I've waited for you all day!" Syr pouted.

His head turned in her general direction, "Must have lost track of time, misplaced my watch," Kano deadpanned as he ascended the stairs, only three of them. Left, right, left… He felt a hand on his arm, "You don't need to assist me, Miss Syr. I am plenty capable of walking up three stairs unless this is your way of saying you fancy me." His tone was light but there was no smile, only a smirk.

"W-what? N-No, I just want to help," Syr was tripped up. Honestly, does he always act like this? She should expect this yet it's a surprise every time.

"Apologies, Mister Yamabe, Syr has been waiting for you all day," another voice popped into his ears. Her voice always sounded calm, and soft. But with that softness came sadness, and regret. A skill he has, had, to learn: Hearing emotions through voice.

"I guess I should apologize for keeping a fair maiden waiting, Lady Ryuu, and you look as lovely as ever. Lady Syr, you have my sincerest apologies, had I known you wished to go on a date, I would have worn better clothes."

"Stop doing that!" she whined, or at least, what sounded like whining. Maybe he should get some cheese and crackers tonight…

"I'm afraid I do not see your meaning," Kano joked. That got a snort from one of the other waitresses. "Thank you, Lady Lunoire."

"Mou…" Syr was really pouting at him now, and even her puppy dog eyes couldn't get him to stop because he couldn't see them in the first place!

He completely missed Ryuu giving him a look. A look that clearly showed that she didn't believe him, not that he knew that. He didn't hear the teasing from the other waitresses as they said that Ryuu was looking really red.

"Is that you, kiddo?" A gruff voice called out. This was the owner of the tavern. She said to call her Mama Mia or just Mama but he never does and gets away with it. Mia allows it.

"Do you know another blind kid who flirts with all your staff?" Kano called out with a dramatic huff.

Syr recovered from her little pouting session. "Are you hungry? The usual?"

Kano clicked his tongue, "How about the meatloaf and a twice-baked potato? Or were you asking me about you? I'm afraid I don't know."

"Nya, is he flirting with nya again?"

"Lady Chloe, how dare you to assume I'm flirting? I'm just charismatic!" Kano called out to a Cat Person waitress.

Kano doesn't know what they look like, and he's not so stupid to ask them to describe themselves. He knows they are women, two humans, three cat people, an elf, and a dwarf. He just flings compliments because he always gets amusing reactions from them. They must be true maidens then. He truly has no desire to be in a relationship with any of them but that's to prepare them for when a man sweeps them off their feet.

The only one unaffected was Mia. She did not see him in any way except for a kid who needed a place to stay. The dwarf watched as Syr guided him over to the bar. She often wondered why he carried that stick but when prompted, he would just say sentimental reasons. Mia, obviously, didn't believe that but they agreed to disagree.

The sound of the stick gliding across the floor was not the only sound in the tavern. Kano always shows up before the dinner rush. Many times he's offered to help do something, wash dishes, and clean tables. That was something he always asked about.

Mia never let him.

People, mostly new or upper-class adventurers, knew that Kano was one of Mia's favorites. Those that don't know find out real quick after fucking around. Mia says she doesn't have favorites but the girls know that she does.

The glares she gives are just one of the reasons they are scared of her. Kano, meanwhile? Shrug it off and smirk.

"You know, kiddo, you always ask and I always deny it, so why bother?" Mia asked him once the dinner service started.

"Well, you never let me pay even though I have the valis to do so," he said with mock derision. "I feel as if I'm taking advantage of your hospitality."

"That offer is still here you know?"

"Living here wouldn't help," Kano replied, even as the smell of his order made him hum with glee. "Thank you, Lady Anya."

"Nya haha, nyank you," the brown-haired cat girl said.

Mia eyed the kid, "That's another thing. You have all the markings of an adventurer…"

"But the Gods also think that me being blind is a detriment," Kano replied, not looking at Mia. "They don't think I have the potential yet I hear how they complain about some of their Familia members. There's also the fact that I have no desire to be an adventurer. Maybe get a girlfriend, someone who spends time with me not because I am a charity case but because I am an actual person who craves more than just one night."

Mia only chuckled at Kano, "Boy, you are a weird one, and for Orarian standards, that's saying something. I imagine that you'd get some sort of skill or magic that would increase your hearing."

"At level one? Are you kidding me? That's uncommon," Kano snorted as he devoured his baked potato. Yet, the idea never left. The smell of his food curbed his thoughts, it was irresistible. "Give my compliments to Lady May."

"That's my recipe," Mia mock glared.

"She's the cook, Mia, unless you've been there and back without me being aware?" Kano asked with a cocked eyebrow. The motion was intrinsic, he's never seen anyone do it.

Mia chuckled and sighed softly, "Point to you, brat."

"I'm your favorite brat."

"Not true," she sang-song, well, as much as a dwarf could.

Syr's voice rang out as she seemed to greet someone. Kano heard footsteps before someone was sitting maybe two seats away. "Hello," Kano said. "I have not heard you entering here before."

"Uh, what?" the voice said.

Kano deduced that he was confused, concerned, and out of his element. Turning his head to the left slightly, "Apologies, that was a horrible introduction. My name is Kano, a somewhat regular here."

"My name is Bell Cranel, uhm…Kano-san?"

"No need for that, Bell," Kano said to the boy, judging by his voice. "Let me guess, Lady Syr 'persuaded' you to come here?"

An awkward chuckle, "Y-Yeah."

"She tried with me but I saw through it," Kano said before falling silent as Syr's footsteps reached his ears. They always sent a shiver up his spine that he withheld.

Silence stretched between them as Syr made conversation with him. He just got out of the Dungeon two hours ago and here he was, as promised. "Kano…are you…"

"Blind? Yes, since birth," Kano answered. "I apologize for not looking you in the eyes since I can't actually. Now tell me, what's got you down?"

"How did-"

He smirked, "A skill of my own I've honed for over a decade. You're upset and confused, but determined. Care to share?" His meal was over but getting a glass of water won't hurt. "You can also say no, I won't pry if you're not comfortable."

Bell did not get a chance to answer as Anya shouted, "Nya! The Reservation is hernya!"

Kano did not react except for grasping his walking stick and placing it under his conjoined hands. He counted each and every footstep. Some heavy, some light, one that floated as if they were the breeze itself, and one that was almost silent.

Speaking of silence, the girls that worked here, had mostly silent footsteps. The only thing that gave them away was the tavern itself, the squeaky floorboard. The only one who managed to sneak up on Kano was Ryuu. Then another voice rang out, "Hope you got the booze, Mama!"

Mia snorted, "Course I do, what do you take me for? Girls, get their tables all ready. Tonight's a good night!"

The smell of pasta and sauce filled Kano's nostrils. "Good choice, you'll like that."

"Hmm?"

"The pasta, dipped in vodka sauce, or cheese and normal sauce, is cooked to perfection. You should thank Mia by eating now," Kano quipped, not even looking at him, not that he could.

Bell ate, glancing at Kano every now and again. Bell has never met a blind person. At least, not one who heard so well. Could he be an adventurer? Why wasn't he well-known?

Kano only sat at the bar, leaving a small bag of valis, and slid it down the bar with a call of "Mia" before she caught it.

"Didn't I tell you that you don't have to pay on Fridays?"

"That's pitying me, isn't it? Remember what your first words to me were. I won't have that. This is the least I can do, considering everything." Kano also happened to be blocking Loki Familia's line of sight on Bell unintentionally.

That did catch some curious eyes from the Reservation. Not only for the brief conversation but the fact that they called Mama Mia just Mia, no one does that without consequence.

Chole's voice quickly greeted the large party, "Welcome, nya, Loki Familia, to the Hostess of Furtility nya, what can nya do for nya?"

Kano hummed to himself. Loki Familia. He's heard some good things about them and some bad things. He knew that they were one of the two most powerful Familias in Orario, right behind Freya Familia. Kano has questions about this.

One that involves Goddesses of Beauty.

It might be obvious but he was curious about the details. He's never been in the same room as one but one can dream. He just wants to live out his days as 'that one blind kid'. He never accepts special treatment. He never wants it. He has to adapt to the world around him because it will not do the same for him. Kano only stayed put because he wanted to commit their voices to memory, so that way, if he ever talks to them again, he knows who he is speaking to, or so he can look at the correct height, even if it was not necessary.

Manners maketh man.


Upon entering, Loki Familia took their seats, their usual seats as they agreed upon before arriving. Less of a hassle that way. It avoids the potential backlash of cleaning up. So, as Finn Deimne walked into the tavern, he quickly assessed who was sitting where and if they had a weapon in the line of sight.

He noted that there were a few people sitting at the bar, one whose face he could not see, and the one who sat half-turned—back to Finn—with a stick supporting his chin. Now, Finn has seen this character multiple times and was considered to be a regular at the Hostess. However, Finn's thumb tickled every time he looked at the stick. Clearly, it looked to be a normal stick.

In Orario, moreover, there was no such thing as normal.

The elegant woman, nay High Elf, followed in after, doing the same thing. Riveria Ljos Alf, covered in her robes, sat down at the first chair that was available at the round table. Her eyes were closed as she had sat. Many were whispering about her beauty, many of those reaching her ears. She said nothing. They never bothered her. Those that tried to touch her were usually intercepted by other elves of the Familia. They were not allowed to touch the greatness, the elegance of 'Princess Riveria of the Royal Alf Forest' or they should forfeit their lives.

She had noticed the character sitting at the bar, relaxing. A plate of food swept away from him, his meal, most likely. He was always here, seemingly before everyone else. There was nothing wrong with that. That stick he carried, to Riveria's observations, was a magical item of some sort.

Many others joined the pair at the round table, one being Ais Wallenstein, another pair of Amazons, Tione and Tiona Hiryute. An elf, a dwarf, and a beast person also joined the table. They were the main group of Loki Familia. Most did not take note of the bar as the girl, Ais, was currently lost in thought.

The reason being was because of what had transpired earlier today. That boy, covered in blood, ran away from her. She just wanted to help. She was apologetic about letting that Minotaur get to the fifth floor, a place where it should not belong in the Dungeon.

Orario was the center of the world because of the Dungeon. Everyone knows the story. The story of how people come for fame, fortune, and women—men too, let's not leave that group out.

Enough exposition.

Chloe had taken the orders of everyone when they all heard someone say, "Lady Chloe, please to any deity watching, come up with a new line. I get it, you speak with nya but…"

"Do not rain on nyan parade!" Chloe said with a faux pouty voice.

"Don't BS me either, I can hear the fake pouting."

"Aren't you a smart one? I just wish you were a bit younger like the cutie next to you," she said, her tail brushing against his wrist. To Cat People, that was a real affectionate gesture.

"And you say I'm the flirt, Lady Chloe," he said without looking in her direction.

Finn and Riveria, along with the dwarf, Gareth Landrock, all glanced to see him smirk. It wasn't a full one and it looked like his facial muscles were straining to keep it straight like he didn't know how to smirk or grin or smile.

"You're lucky you're hot, nya," Chloe sighed before going to the backroom.

"Is there something you need over there? I can feel your stares," he said slightly louder. They all looked away but had crossed glances, he's good.

Loki, the goddess of Loki Familia, eyed this one with intrigue. Shame he's not a woman but with someone like that.

"Do you need something, Loki Familia? I wish to enjoy my night in peace," he said again. Mia rolled her eyes, noting the small twitching smile forming.

Mia then spoke up, "Well? Don't just gawk, continue eating people! I want you all satisfied before you leave!"

"Shitttt, I'll drink to that!" some random patron called out before literally downing their mug. "Another, please!"

So, the night passed on swimmingly, which for Finn was one less headache. At least until Bete, the beast person decided to open his mouth, "Hey Ais, tell us about the thing that happened today!"

Ais looked up, looking bored, "What thing?"

"You know, the Minotaur on the fifth floor! That thing, and that guy…uh, Tomato Brat. The kid who ran away after being saved."

"Bete, it was our fault that a Minotaur made it there. Now, quiet down, you're making a scene," Riveria's voice called out.

"Shut it, old hag, you had to be there for it. He was running from it, gets cornered, and then Ais swoops in, kills it, splattering blood all over the guy, probably smelled like a cow coming out of there as he ran off. I mean, who fucking does that?"

Kano, at the bar, did not notice the boy two seats over tense and breath shakily. This set the blind boy on alert now. He put the pieces together quickly. This boy, Bell, was saved by Ais on the fifth floor because it was their fault? No, something else happened. Kano does not have all the information.

This frustrated him as he gripped his walking stick to the point his knuckles went white. His facial expression didn't change but Loki went from drunk to sober as her eyes honed in on Kano.

She was about to get up from her seat but stayed once Ais answered, "I only wanted to ask if he was alright."

"What, did you think that he was going to fall in love with you? That kid was weak, and probably will get himself killed. Listen, who wags your tail more, me or Tomato Brat?"

Ais did not answer because she did not know what love was. It didn't exist in her life.

The quick shuffling of chairs caught everyone's attention. Kano was quick, having heard the anxious breaths that Bell was taking. He put a hand on his shoulder and forced him back into the seat. "Don't run, you need to hear this. While it may be true now, don't go off and get yourself killed. The world hurts, so let this be a lesson."

He stood, his walking stick in his left hand, "Would it be wrong to ask for some guidance? I wish to make a point." He reached over the counter and behind the bar for an empty pint glass. "I'll be needing this."

Mia only watched curiously but withheld a snort. Obviously, they were not aware of Kano's 'hero complex' of sorts. Anya, the closest available waitress, quickly grabbed onto his free arm, the right arm. Many in the tavern were surprised to see he was blind. The stick guided him as much as Anya did. The brown-haired cat girl stopped him at the edge of the table. "Thank you, Lady Anya. Now, which one of you was talking shit?"

"Who the fuck are you?"

Kano's head turned towards him and looked down slightly. Riveria and Finn were surprised to see his eyes covered in a murky substance. It covered both of his irises, so only the small smidgens of color could be seen. "Just a concerned citizen wondering why an adventurer of the esteemed Loki Familia is talking shit about something that was not only life-threatening but traumatizing for the individual involved? Not to mention, he's been here the whole time, listening to you degrade him when anyone else would have done the same thing."

Then, glass shattered.

Many choked on their drinks, food, and air as this guy just smashed a pint glass over Bete's head. It shattered. Mia said nothing, only a subtle smirk. "So, I would like you to think about what you've done and kindly fuck off. Do you even know his name? Of course you don't. You have hur-"

His instincts moved before he did, stepping back, feeling and hearing the air whizz by him. "You're dead."

"I'm blind and unblessed," Kano immediately responded. "Yet, I dodged your attack."

"Bete, settle down," Riveria tried to get him to stop, her head in one hand.

"I apologize for this, your Majesty, but he needs to understand that he cannot spout off-" he dodged another fist, "whenever he so desires."

Riveria, Finn, Ais, and Gareth were impressed. Tiona was cheering the unknown on and Tione was gawking at Finn, as usual. Riveria spoke up, "How do you know that?"

Dodging Bete's drunk hit, he tapped him with his walking stick before Kano said, "Sit."

Something in Bete clicked before he sat back down, drawing everyone's eyes to him. Kano mentally cursed. However, he soldiered on, "Well, I can hear the elegance in your voice, how you speak respectfully like you were raised to be that way. Something I had to learn while I grew up. I cannot see you at all, any of you for that matter, so I apologize if I have made an incorrect assumption. I just wanted Bete…if I heard his name correctly…to stop antagonizing the person sitting at the bar in front of his face. No one deserves that."

Loki hummed, "What was that just now?"

"Personal space, Lady Loki. That is not something I am willing to share or elaborate on. Does that answer your question, your Majesty?"

"Yes, it does," Riveria said with a small smile. Respectful but knows his own bounds.

"That was so awesome!" Tiona shouted. "You totally put Bete in his place."

"Granted he was drunk," Tione said.

"You must be the twins I heard walk through the door," Kano said, readjusting his posture so that he was more comfortable.

Mia only stared at the interaction, smiling all the while. Syr was looming behind her, lips turned up in intrigue. The dwarven owner turned to see Syr's mischievous eyes, and her own narrowed. You've done it now, Kano.

""Huh?!""

His lips twitched for a moment, "As you know, I am blind. I have to adapt to the world. Hearing footsteps was a part of learning. You two do not wear shoes as feet have unique sounds when walking on various surfaces."

Meanwhile, Bell was doing his best to stay put and hidden. Ryuu, while interested in the current conversation, was more concerned with the rabbit in the room, dying from embarrassment.

That and the heated stare he was currently getting from Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess, Kenki, however, and whatever her name was. She stood to go over to him.

"Lady Ais, please sit. I know how you wish to see him but he is most definitely not ready." Kano heard her chair move, the shouts of 'Miss Ais'/'Ais' and various other things.

"But…"

Kano turned to her, following the sound of her voice, using his walking stick to go around the table. He paused once his walking stick hit her boot, "Sorry."

Ais was staring down this person, "You are?"

"My name is Kano, Lady Ais. I hear…sadness in your voice. Regret. For him, yes but…" he shook his head, "Forgive me. I know you wish to see him but understand that to him you are intimidating."

"Me?"

Kano titled his head, "And if I am hearing the rumors right, absolutely stunning. While I cannot verify myself, you are soft-spoken yet deadly. Give him time and then approach him."

Loki then decided to ask him something else, "Are you an adventurer, Kano?"

His face turned to a frown, Finn noted. His thumb tingled more and more with every passing second. His answer was, surprisingly, "No."

"Really?" suspicion dripped from her voice. How she wanted to ask about how he made Bete docile, she knew she wouldn't get an answer. This was not something she could change right now.

"I do not have a Falna on my back nor have I joined or left any Familia in all my seventeen years of living on Gekai. Does that satisfy your lie detector, Lady Loki?" Kano called Loki out gruffly. He did not like the tip-toeing around.

The goddess sighed in defeat, "It does."

That caused an uproar in the tavern because in case we've forgotten, Kano dodged a level five's attacks, despite being drunk, with ease and got him to sit and stay with one word. How was he not an adventurer?!

"But…" a soft voice spoke. "Do you have the desire to be an adventurer?"

Kano turned to the voice, "And who might you be? This is the first time I've heard everyone's voices, so I apologize."

A small huff of a laugh, "You apologize too much."

"A habit and a burden. I can't see anything," Kano replied.

"Lefiya Viridis of Loki Familia."

"See why can't people be more like you and her Majesty? Respectful and beautiful sounding?"

Riveria could only roll her eyes at this. She knew he was being honest but it was more amusing to see Lefiya blush from such a compliment.

Most missed it but Mia had her waitresses clear out the tavern except for this table and Bell since Kano wanted him here. Mia threatened them to not say a thing about what happened and that they would follow it, otherwise, they might not be found at all.

"Now, your question, Lady Viridis. I don't desire to be an adventurer, despite applying to most Familias. Why? A selfish reason. One that I am not comfortable sharing. We only just met," Kano finished and cut off any follow-up questions. If they asked now, it would be rude.

"What about your walking stick?" Finn's voice piped up.

Kano blinked, a reflex thing, as his mind processed what he heard. "Excuse me, repeat that? I…didn't expect to hear a child's voice."

Gareth, the drunken dwarf, snorted at that. The best entertainment of the night, he swears on his liquor.

"Not the first time I've heard that," Finn said tiredly, and it looked like he had aged fifteen years in the span of a second.

"I mean no disrespect," Kano backpedaled with a grimace.

"None taken. About your walking stick, is there anything special about it?"

Kano sighed, "Not to my knowledge. It's been mine since I was able to walk, almost tripped over it a few times growing up."

Loki blinked in her chair. That's not a lie yet I feel something much more from that thing.

Kano felt himself yawning, "Now, as much as I would like to play quid pro quo all night, I am tired. But first, Lady Loki, I want you to apologize to Bell over there."

Many voices cried out but Kano cared not. The waitresses were around, cleaning the tavern up but almost all of them almost dropped a dish. "Why should I?"

"You allowed your Familia member to drink a lot of alcohol, spout off about someone almost dying, then compare himself to him while he was present, which is highly unfair as Bell had just started while Bete over here has many more years of experience."

Bete's mind seemed to swirl but he still kept sitting, no matter how much he wanted to jump up and throttle this guy.

"Need I go on, Lady Loki? From what I'm hearing, he has done nothing wrong. Her Majesty had said it was their fault, and while I know nothing of Familia politics, I do think apologizing to him is the least you can do. So, will you bend your pride for all of about five seconds, or continue to fight me on this?"

Loki smirked, "I like you. Not many would talk this way to me outside my Familia."

"Not aiming to impress," Kano replied dryly. "Bell, please come here and tap my shoulder."

The boy at the bar stood up, and suddenly all eyes—except Kano's—were on him. He walked over to the blind man who had defended him despite meeting him only an hour or two ago! Bell reached out and tried to not let his hand shake. Once his hand met his shoulder, Loki spoke up, "Listen, Bell, I apologize for Bete's actions. I shall be punishing him once we return home. Is there something, anything, I can do within reason?"

Bell sputtered to find an answer, "Uh, I uhm, N-No. That's not necessary…I had gone down further than my advisor wanted me to and I-"

"Enough, Bell," Kano softly commanded. "I take it that you accept Lady Loki's apology?"

"Yes."

"Then, go home. None should follow you," Kano said. He felt Bell's hand leave his shoulder. He reached into his pouch and threw a bag of clinking coins over his shoulder, "That's for his meal, Mia, and the glass."

"This time, I'll take it, but you let that boy pay for his own meals next time."

"Deal, Mia," Kano said. The chit-chat between Loki Familia echoed in his mind as they left, not before feeling their stares. He turned to them passively, smiling internally as they all faded from his 'view'.

Once they did, his head hit the bar, "That was stressful. I knew I should have let that go but that's unfair to Bell."

"Raise your head, boy," Mia said firmly, her hands spread across the bar.

"Listen, if this is about the glass-"

"The glass is the last thing on my mind, boy. How did you do that? In all my years, I have never seen something like that."

Kano cursed mentally, knowing that she wasn't going to let this go, "Like what?"

Her voice hardened, "Don't play stupid with me, Kano. You know what I am referring to. Loki's now interested in you and she will try to recruit you."

She used my name, oh I'm so in the deep end now. "Personal reasons, Mia. Please respect that."

He could feel her gaze on him, staring directly into his blind eyes. An odd sensation, knowing he was looking someone directly in the eyes yet couldn't see them.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, Mia looked away, cleaning the bar, "Fine, it's not my business anyway. Girls, stop eavesdropping. Kano, go home."

Kano grabbed his walking stick and padded his way to the door, Lunoire calling out if he was going to hit anything. He exited the door, grabbed the handle, right, left, right, and stepped out into the street.

Just as he started moving, someone bumped into him. He stumbled but recovered quickly. He dropped his walking stick and froze in place.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?"

It was right then that Kano felt his heart thud in his chest. He didn't register his aid being placed in his hand. He was sure his jaw was dropped. The only thought he had was: Who is this angel?

...

So, this idea came to me because I have some OCs that are mute. I wanted to test the waters, so how about a blind adventurer?

You may have noticed that I did not describe Kano Yamabe(meaning capability, meaning mountain, respectfully) in any capacity aside from his eyes. He doesn't know what he looks like, and he's never cared.

His ability to hear emotions by voice is as explained, a skill he had to learn himself. He is not blessed nor will he ever be. As for who that person at the end was, well, the tags will have given it away. The walking stick, his aid...more on that some other time. His other abilities that he demonstrated? That enters [SPOILER] territory.

Listen, I have a weakness to strong, cute, black-haired swordswomen. She fits. Don't worry, I like all the other girls too but she is my number one, yes, even over Ryuu, Ais, and Haruhime.

I'm trying a different spin on DanMachi, hopefully, you found this interesting. I'm willing to hear criticism.