Well, there goes that.
Cu grunted before he scratched absently at his temple in annoyance.
So much for being an Adventurer.
He was currently wandering aimlessly through the crowded streets of E-Rantel while lamenting the fact that he was probably going to get scolded if he returned empty handed. His teacher probably wouldn't say anything too annoying, but Agravain was going to be a pain.
Agravain reminded him of the intellectual types, the ones used in war as strategists or logistic trackers, but slightly worse. After all, Agravain could be considered a kind of government official as he worked directly under the famed 'King Arthur.'
Results were what Agravain wanted, and surely, he'd be far from pleased to hear the failure of an operation before it even began.
But who's fault was it really?
Cu inwardly sneered as he recalled the way the 'top tier' Adventurers in E-Rantel's guild building had belittled him. It showed just how inexperienced and inept they were to not understand the difference in capabilities.
Given the choice, Cu did not want to go back and register. As much as he said that he could endure the ridicule, his patience and pride as a Warrior Hero of Ulster would not allow it.
Agravain had given him a mission and an in-depth method to reach the intended goal, but Cu decided that he'd go about it his own way.
By the time that he had left the Adventurer's building, he already decided that he didn't need a guild ranking to begin with. Hero's were not made from fancy titles, but through achievement. Therefore, when his senses alerted him to something odd about the black-armoured warrior and his companion, Cu decided to investigate.
In some ways, his suspicions were correct. The black armoured warrior and his companion were able to completely evade his tracking.
Thinking back to the last spot in which he had tailed them, Cu already understood what must have had happened.
[Teleportation.] A Fifth-Tier spell that allowed the Magic-Caster to teleport over a distance away.
Did they notice him? Cu was certain that they must have, but why avoid a confrontation?
At that moment, he sensed it.
A feeling of a strong adversary that had eluded him throughout his entire time in the New World. If everyone in the Adventure's building appeared to be nothing more than buzzing pests, than the black-armoured warrior was a ferocious beast that deserved attention.
Cu's intuition told him so.
As to why they avoided conflict, perhaps it was too early, or they weren't sure if he had companions, either way, he'd failed to track them.
What a waste.
Walking around E-Rantel's streets, Cu still couldn't help the grin that formed over his face. Frankly, it scared other passerby's away but he hardly noticed while caught up in the thrill of finding an interesting individual.
Don't get him wrong, he was never one to be an Adventurer. He was a Warrior through and through, and that was why the thought of battle excited him.
Next him, he wouldn't lose them, but in any case, it was time to return to reality.
As he was no longer going to be an Adventurer, he wasn't certain about what he was going to do right now. A little breather was what he decided that he needed, but perhaps even something so small was still too much to ask for.
"Damn thieves!" A furious cry resounded from just off the streets.
It was loud enough that it gave Cu pause.
In his wandering, he had arrived at a point of town where he was no longer quite sure of where he was. Behind him he could hear the distinct bustle of the market place, but at his nearest vicinity, all he could see were winding roads lined with residential buildings made of stone and brick.
A vast network of alleys existed within the residential complex whose general atmosphere was both dark and dreary. Mud, dirt, garbage, filth, and rodents scurried beneath the shadows of the adjacent buildings.
It wasn't a place that he wanted to see two children in rags being beaten on by a middle-aged woman using a metal broom. The woman wasn't tall, nor were her looks above average, rather she seemed kindly at first glance, but looks themselves could always be deceiving. She had a basket overflowing with goods which she carried beside her. It was torn in a few places, yet overall, it still appeared to be in stable condition to carry the fruit within.
The two children each carried what looked to be a single apple in their hands, possibly something that they'd stolen. Even while the woman beat on them with a broom that she must have grabbed from the alley, the two children protected their individual apples by curling up their bodies.
Welts and thick red bruises were forming on the children's arms and backs, and yet the woman simply would not relent.
At this point, it wasn't really about the children stealing that was causing the woman to continue her assault, it was the vague sense of satisfaction Cu could sense that the woman was feeling. It was to the point where the woman was focusing her attacks on the children's legs to prevent them from running.
Then why not scream for help?
He could see it on their faces despite their situation. Stubbornness and tenacity, fitting only for the best of warriors.
They would not beg.
They would not cry.
Simply because they'd been forced to understand on a fundamental level that those actions would not get them anywhere. Only through persisting and constant determination would one be able to get anywhere in life.
Cu clicked his tongue, his current mood about finding a suitable opponent deflating.
'Sorry, I killed your watch dog. So, from this day on, until you rear a new one, I will be that watchdog.'
A memory flittered across his mind that was not once programmed into his character's NPC database.
Young unblinking red-irises stared back at the owner of the Hound of Culain.
He would owe no debts.
He would own over his own responsibilities.
So, don't look as if you've given up.
The expressions of the two children were growing hollow, the light in their eyes gradually fading, and yet still they did not utter even a scream or moan.
Suddenly, the woman beating down on the children stiffened, a chill traveling down her back as she experienced what it truly meant to face down a wild beast, a Devil. The broom that she had been in the midst of swinging down was caught squarely by rugged and callused hand.
"Oi,"
The piercingly red eyes that stared down on her left her trembling by instinct. It was like she could see it, the maw of a feral hound inching towards her throat like a vice.
Death.
Murder.
The two words repeated in her mind to the point that her legs gave out on her and she fell back onto her bottom. Looking up at the monster before her eyes, the sheer indifference and frigid countenance boring deep into her psyche left her deeply shaken.
He would kill her.
He would have no qualms or regrets.
"W-Who are you?"
"Shut up."
The woman closed her mouth in an instant.
From the moment that she noticed the red spear held in the man's hands, she had choked up. I-It was evil. She could see what looked to be the vague images of howling phantoms over the crimson surface.
She swallowed audibly, but didn't dare move until the man once again sheathed his spear.
"Leave," the man's tone was somewhat subdued. "Do not force me to kill a woman unarmed."
The woman stared at the broom she was holding in her hands and hastily tossed it aside before running away with her basket of food.
Cu spat on the ground, a hint of contempt on his face.
It didn't matter which kingdom he visited, there would always be scum not worth protecting even if he was Hero. Now then,
He shifted his gaze to the two children shakily getting up onto their feet while wearily glancing at him.
They were young, no more than ten years old, but the way they stared at him made him realize that they had no intention of thanking him. The older of the two seemed to try to step in front of the younger, but the younger child refused adamantly until it ended up with the two facing him side by side.
Beaten and bruised, they stood their ground even when it looked as if they were utterly terrified.
They must have seen his earlier display. That, and the bloodlust coming off of Gaebulg wasn't something that any normal citizen could bear.
Sizing up the two, they appeared to be twins. They kept both of their hair cropped somewhat short, and their deep grey eyes reminded him of the colour of a wolf's pelt. Still, no matter how she tried to masquerade as a boy, the younger child was definitely a young girl. It showed in the way the older brother was being protective even when the two were getting beaten by the woman.
Cu eased the atmosphere by coughing into his hand and crouching so that he was eye-level with the two children.
He grinned. It wasn't as if he had no experience with living off of the streets. After all, when he was a child, he had run away from his parent's house to join the troop at Emaine Macha.
"Next time, try to choose a better mark," he pointed at the children's scrawny arms. "At the very least, work on gaining some strength first."
The two kids looked at him in confusion, and it wasn't until he pointed and started laughing at the older brother's tiny biceps that he noticed an embarrassed flush come to the older child's face.
"T-They're still growing," the kid huffed.
The younger sister's lips almost quirked upwards, but she caught herself and maintained a neutral expression. She bumped her twin brother's side moments later, and the two resumed their guarded stance. The grip they had on the apples that they were holding didn't relax in the slightest, almost as if they were guarding a treasure.
Poverty was everywhere.
Cu had such a thought, but he didn't let it show on his face.
He stretched an arm behind him to stick his hand into his travelling pack. Fumbling with his fingers, he pulled out a few pieces of dried meat he'd taken out for provision. Strong as he was, he still had to eat.
"Hungry?" He offered both children a handful and took notice of the way the two began to salivate.
"M-Meat," the younger sister couldn't help but mutter in a daze, her lips quivering.
The older kid didn't say anything, but Cu could tell that his reaction was no different from his sister. In a complete reversal of what had happened before, this time, the older brother nudged the younger sister's side to keep her alert.
Cu could understand why the two were being so guarded against him. He was a stranger that they had just met. There was no way that he could be trusted so easily.
Regardless, he was a grown man, and none of the two could react before he instantly placed the pieces of dried meat into their arms.
"…" the younger sister looked entirely dazed at this point, and for the first time since the conversation began, the older twin's expression lightened.
Cu straightened his back, and backed off by a couple of feet to allow the children to relax.
He shrugged at the two children's questioning stares, but was caught off guard when the older sibling suddenly bowed. It was an unexpected development as the kid did not seem the type to lower himself to others. From the looks of it, even the younger sister was taken aback.
"Your strong," the older twin stated.
"That I am," Cu did not deny the truth. "Strong enough that I don't have to steal."
Stealing was dishonourable, but it wasn't as if Cu couldn't relate to different people's circumstances. He was just giving the two a little lesson so that in the future the two kids wouldn't find themselves at the wrong end of the stick again.
Unknowingly, his words caused the younger boy's determination to solidify.
Cu rose a brow as the older twin approached him despite the fear Gae Bulg obviously invoked in him. It was enough to raise Cu's evaluation of the child. Soon enough, the sister came over as well.
Cu crossed his arms. "So, what do you want?" He asked bluntly.
The older child looked up at him in earnest. "Please teach us to be strong!"
For a moment, Cu thought he'd heard wrong, but no matter how much he blinked the two brats would not disappear from his sight. He only had a single response. "Bye."
He began to walk away.
He wasn't exactly his teacher, and he'd never taken any students before either. Moreover, he was busy. There was no time to take care of other things with the responsibilities he had over his shoulders.
Unfortunately, he underestimated how determined the older twin was.
"W-Wait!"
The two children chased after him in earnest. Of course, if he was being serious, they would never have had been able to catch him let alone keep up with him, but damn it all!
He was starting to get annoyed.
If you were that injured than why keep chasing after me?
Cu's brow twitched as he monitored the condition of the two brats behind him. The older twin who had shielded the younger twin from the brunt of the woman's attacks was hobbling on a swollen foot. The stinging bruises over the boy's body weren't helping either, but the fool kept pushing himself.
Finally, when the boy collapsed unconscious to the bitter end, and the sister's eyes widened in panic, Cu's feet forced him to stop. He sighed while scratching the back of his head.
"Well, fuck me," he muttered lowly.
He moved back to the two children and watched as the younger twin tensed. However, he easily bypassed the younger twin and directly carried the older twin on his back. There was no way that he could just leave the two alone on the streets; one unconscious, and the other still injured.
What kind of Hero would he be if he did that?
His teacher would probably wallop him while Shirou may look at him in disappointment, both of which weren't favourable outcomes.
Well, screw it.
He'd rather by scolded by Agravain, and besides, Agravain didn't exactly specify a time limit for his task, so he might as well go at his own pace.
"W-What are you doing?" The younger twin stuttered out nervously while he hoisted the older twin on his back.
He looked at her and grunted.
"I can't just leave you both here, now can I?" Repositioning the older twin on his back, he motioned towards the younger girl. "Now which way's home?" He asked.
The younger twin opened and closed her mouth, but eventually started limping back in a certain direction. Cu's conscience constantly pestered him as he watched the little ten-year old limp, so in a single grab, he hoisted the child up with his free arm.
The younger twin's face flushed red, but Cu would not put her down despite her protests.
"Just shut up okay? I won't hurt you, so relax. You and your brother have endured enough."
The younger twin bit down on her lips, and stared at Cu with mixed feelings. She swallowed and began to squirm, but there was no way that she could escape Cu's grip. Eventually, she just pointed in a direction, and Cu began walking.
As it would turn out, he was being directed towards the slums. It was a part of E-Rantel that no tourist would ever journey towards, let alone bear to live within, but the younger twin called the area 'home.'
The wooden buildings were dilapidated with broken holes shabbily repaired by covering them with linen cloth. It wouldn't shield the homes from the rain though, and Cu couldn't help but speculate how leaky it would be in the midst of a storm.
Regardless, there wasn't anything that he himself could do about the situation. At least that was what he believed. Only the government and economy could hope to change the living standards of an area. As for him, he'd just focus on what he could see right before him.
A Hero that saves everyone was without a doubt an individual to be admired, but at the same time, it was pitying. One would never find any rest, and worse, there would be no solace to be found at the end of that path. Therefore, that road had to be destroyed to produce a world where Heroes were no longer needed.
Shirou was admirable, but every Hero deserved a fitting end.
It was the one shared goal amidst the residents of the Mausoleum, a building that was the final resting ground of the greatest of individuals.
If a Hero was meant to save others, then who would save the Hero?
This was the crux of everything. To repay Shirou for everything that he'd done, and for giving everyone the chance to live their own lives once again.
At least for Cu, that was the reason that he chose to fight and act out in secrecy under Agravain's instructions.
"Take a right over there," the younger twin's voice registered in Cu's ears, and his body moved on auto pilot.
By the time he turned the corner and arrived at the place that the younger twin called home, he momentarily paused.
It was an abandoned church.
Despite everything, a part of him just couldn't help but find the place to be unpleasant. It wasn't because of the Church itself, but because of some other aspect telling him that he'd once experienced something less than pleasant in a similar setting.
The frown that found its way onto his face was not noticed by the younger twin.
Instead, the younger twin was more focused on the group of other children rushing up to her in concern. They all didn't appear any older than six, and most of them were glaring at him for some reason.
"N-No, he didn't hurt us," the younger twin was quick to diffuse the situation. She tried to squirm out of his grip, and this time he allowed her.
Landing on the ground, the younger twin continued to pacify all the other children.
Where were the adults?
Cu was busy observing the surroundings, but there were no signs of any guardians whatsoever. He soon came to a single conclusion.
Orphans.
It wasn't uncommon for unwanted children to be left at the door steps of a church, and considering the situation of the slums, there was no use for further speculation.
He watched silently as the younger twin broke apart the apple and dried pieces of meat in her hands and began distributing them to the other children. They were all mostly pale and skinny, but somehow, they were getting by on just food scraps.
Still, even with the food that the older and younger twin brought, there was clearly not enough to go around.
He considered emptying out his travel pack of provisions, but there were perhaps more than a dozen hungry children around him. There simply wasn't enough, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He didn't like what he was seeing.
Gradually, he placed down the older twin on the ground, drawing the attention of the younger twin who ran up to her brother in concern.
Cu stood up moments later and nonchalantly swung his spear over his shoulders before moving in the direction of the forest he could see near the outskirts of the slums.
"W-Where are you going?" The younger twin called out to him.
He grinned as he stared down at her. "Hunting," was all that he said.
Under the eyes of all the children, he literally 'vanished' with a burst of speed that left gales of wind at his wake.
The younger twin winced and shut her eyes tightly from the breeze, but by the time she opened them again, Cu was already gone.
The one thing that Cu was glad that didn't change about the New World was that it wasn't too different to the Irish land of his memories. The forests, the plains, the air, his experiences of the past were not wasted.
As a Mini-Boss in YGGDRASIL, Cu had many passives that he could rely on, one of which was [Greater Perception] which allowed him the ability to detect Players should they enter a certain range of him. In YGGDRASIL's forums, this was known as Cu's agro range where no amount of stealth skills would allow the Players to draw any closer before battle. In this case, Cu's [Greater Perception] manifested in the form of honed instincts. He could tell what was around him by just a glance or a sniff in the air.
Based on his level, and the level of the beasts and animals around him, nothing was deemed too dangerous for him too hunt within the forest. Within minutes, he found a suitable quarry.
It was a massive boar the size of a small building. In YGGDRASIL's terms, they could be considered Demon Boars that averaged around the level of 30, with some being even greater. They roamed the lesser plains of Midgard near the Land of Shadows and were a familiar prey that Cu had no qualms with dealing with. In fact, in his younger days, he even specialized in taking down the big ones with his [Beast Slayer] skill.
In any case, he got ready to strike.
He crouched poised by the top of a tree and tightened his grip around Gae Bulg. A second later, he tossed it forward like a javelin and directly stabbed through the boar's hide and body.
Cu didn't give chase. He didn't have to. After all, he was just waiting for the beast to bleed itself out.
In due time, he came upon the boar's corpse, Gae Bulg having struck directly through the boar's heart and killing it.
Pulling the spear out of the boar's body, he was now left with the task of lifting the carcass back. Due to the weight of the body and its size, he wouldn't be running any time soon. Therefore, he lifted the boar onto one shoulder and began his walk back.
By the time he got out of the forest and began walking through the slums, the sight of him single-handedly carrying such a ginormous boar attracted everyone's attention. However, he hardly noticed as the shadow of the boar's body and its long fur obstructed his view.
He soon reached the abandoned church where the children and younger twin stared up at him in shock while he tossed the boar to the ground. The large thump shook the ground in the vicinity, a small depression forming over the long grass.
Even as Cu started a fire and began roasting the boar piece by piece, the children were all still in a daze. It wasn't until the scent of cooking meat entered their noses that they snapped themselves out of their shock.
"T-This is," the younger twin visibly swallowed, a growl coming from her stomach. The other children around her were no exception aside from the still unconscious older twin who was tucked aside into a bed.
He gestured invitingly towards them. They hesitated at first, but after he broke of a branch from a tree and used it as skewer to pierce the roasted meat and offered it to them, they lost their hesitation.
The children crowded him all at once, fighting for the first piece of meat until Cu grew annoyed. "There's enough for everyone, so stop fighting," he chastised. In fact, there was more than enough.
The boar was huge, and its meat plenty.
Cu handed out roasted piece after roasted piece, inwardly sighing in regret that his journey to become a renowned hero in E-Rantel had devolved into him being a simple cook. At the very least, he prided himself in his roasting skills.
"Aren't you going to eat?" He kept the offered skewer of meat in front of the younger twin who was eying it, but not grabbing onto it.
"W-We can't repay this," she scratched at her arm in anxiety.
"Damn brat, you have spirit don't ya?" Cu bumped her head with his fist. "Do I look like I want anything out of you all? So, just shut up and eat."
The girl placed her hands on top of her head where Cu had hit her, but there was no pain which showed just how much Cu had held back. She pursed her lips, and eventually took the skewered meat into her hands.
She sniffled silently as she began nibbling. It was the first real meal that she'd had in weeks, and rough as Cu was, she could feel his honest sentiments in helping.
She swallowed the food in her mouth, and took several consecutive bites.
"Careful now brat, or you'll choke," Cu warned her in earnest, but she didn't care and continued eating. She knew that if she stopped or slowed her pace, then she'd start crying at the kindness of a stranger.
Unheeding of his warnings, Cu could only watch as all the children stuffed their faces. Meanwhile, Cu took notice of the other residents of the slums gathering around the location.
He looked once at the large boar beside him, and then at the hungry residents, and shrugged. Moments later, he began roasting more and more pieces which he then placed out for the others to take.
They stared at him dumbly in incomprehension, but all was made clear by the sound of his voice.
"Well, what are you all waiting for? There's plenty to go around."
One resident came followed by another until the entire area was filled with starved people and families. Cu accommodated all of them, and inadvertently facilitated the start of a rumour in the slums.
That a Saint had suddenly come and taken residence in the abandoned church.
There was more than one way to grow famous. It was just that Cu never considered what kind of effect he would have by choosing to help two random brats in an alley.
Now if only he could stop people from spreading the name of 'Father Cu,' around in the slums. He was not, and will never be a priest.
It was just a preference.
The title of a Fake Priest, oddly just creeped him out.
Sorry for shorter chapter! I intended to have another Break section after Cu's bit, but I didn't have enough time to include it. This update had been scheduled yesterday so I already ended up delaying by a day so I at least wanted to get something out. I've been hit with allergies lately and sneezing, congestion, and a mild headache basically just crippled my writing pace. As it stands, my allergies are getting better and I should be back to par within another day or two. So let me just repeat again that I'm sorry for the smaller chapter.
Thanks for Reading!
Next update: Holy man of the Church Creek