Chapter 50
Holy shit, we did it…
50 goddamn Chapters…
And as promised, managed to write it before the end of the year.
Now, while I myself don't really have Volumes in this fic, I mostly just call certain events arcs, like the "Altena Arc", or the "Were-Jaguar Arc", this Chapter does indeed symbolizes something.
And that something will be mentioned at the end.
So yeah, I hope you have a good read and as always, don't forget to review.
Gimme reviews -_-
Kay, bye.
XXX
"You are all goddamn hopeless, you know that?!"
Perhaps it was the silence normal of the safety point which was the 28th Floor, but the Werewolf's shouts seemed even angrier than usual.
Neither Alicia nor Narvi could say anything in response, his glare too heavy for them to lift their eyes.
It had been their fault after all. Everyone who worked with Bete knew one thing: he takes the vanguard, everyone else takes the rear.
Yet even so, after fighting on the 27th Floor they let their guard down. And just then another Lamia appeared out of nowhere and pierced one of the rearguard Supporters through the back.
They had rushed to the safety point to treat him as quickly as possible. Luckily, despite the wound being almost fatal, their potions had stabilized the injured Supporter. However, they had been required to use up almost all of their potions for that and now they were running low.
"How hard is it to watch the fucking rear?!"
Despite his shouts Bete was actually thinking of how to handle the situation. Obviously, as long as he was here they wouldn't need potions, but that was also a reason for them to head back up despite having planned for this small-scale expedition to stay in the Dungeon for half a day longer.
Progress they were going to lose.
'Better not take dumb chances…' The Werewolf thought to himself calmly despite the wrathful expression on his face. It was still the Dungeon, after all.
"...We'll take a short break, then head back on. Got that?"
Everyone nodded and went on to check their supplies and the Magic Stones they had made so far, while the Werewolf walked a distance away to be alone.
To some degree he knew what happened was his fault. He was the leader of the group this time, and yet he simply told them to deal with the rear while he himself ripped everything in front apart.
A lack of clear orders, that is what he was responsible for. However, even so...They were far more at fault than him.
Everyone present was an Adventurer, and all of them had accumulated a good amount of experience under their belts. That they let down their guards was all their fault.
Weaklings not knowing their damn place, as always.
Just as Bete exhaled his ears picked up a sound coming from the direction of the 27th Floor. Either someone passing through, or Monsters who came up to the safety point.
It got closer slowly, but as the seconds passed he recognized the footsteps, their rhythm, their weightlessness.
'...Finally an asshole who doesn't need babysitting.' The Level 5 thought as he put his hands back in his pockets.
"...There you are." Fuzen voiced after turning the corner and coming face to face with the group. "I've been searching for you."
"The hell are you here for?" Bete asked, however he hardly sounded as angry as he had just minutes ago.
"I asked Captain Finn, and he told me your Group was still in the Dungeon. I thought I might join you."
"That so?"
Bete replied bluntly as his mind started to think of new possibilities. Heading back up was the safest option seeing how they were running low on potions, and anything could happen in the Dungeon. However, Fuzen's addition to the Group brought forth new options, as his strength was undeniable.
The Dungeon would need to spawn two abnormal Monster Rexes at them for the Group to be in any real danger, and the possibility of that happening was nigh impossible.
"If you wanted to join us, why didn't you do so from the start?" Bete heard the Elf speak up and moved his head to look in Fuzen's direction.
Seeing the kid's mouth twitch ever so slightly made his smile smugly: you reap what you sow, he thought to himself.
"...Because I had things to do." He replied after a second, Alicia's hands resting on his shoulders while her rack pressed on the top of his head.
Ever since he helped her get rid of Sakda's Ki which remained in her body, the Elf had been awfully chummy with him, always smiling at him and trying to engage in far more conversation than what was necessary. He had even asked her once about the change in her demeanour towards him, but she simply smiled and did not reply.
"Also, please remove yourself from me. Your breasts are heavy: they are cutting off my blood pressure. I wish to grow, not to have my neck become shorter because of added weights."
Suffice to say, though wearing the same poker face as always, his simple and blunt words managed to make the entire Group laugh, Bete included.
'The hell is so funny? Soft as they may be, her breasts are killing my neck.'
Though the sensation was not exactly an unwelcome one, for reasons unknown even to himself, he did not like the closeness, and so using his Ki-enhanced speed he quickly broke off from the Elf and hurried to Bete's side.
"...What happened here, anyway?" He asked and the Werewolf clicked his tongue in response, only giving him a quick summary of what had gone wrong. "...Well, at least no one died. What's the plan now? Go back up?"
"No. We keep moving." Bete replied determinedly. "The original plan was for us to continue our exploration until morning. Now that you are here, we'll keep to that plan."
"I see. Where do you need me, then?"
"I'll take the vanguard. You take the rear with Alicia. Don't let any other weaklings get jumped by stupid Monsters."
While he had no issues listening to Bete as he was the senior Familia member present, the thought of having to share the same general space with Alicia did not please Fuzen. "...M-Mhm..."
"You can call that dragon of yours to your side whenever, right?"
"I do need to have enough Mind for it first...but yes."
"Good enough. Even if we are mostly out of potions, we'll have you call that guy here if shit hits the fan."
"I'll make sure to save up enough Mind for that, then."
"Mhm. Okay, listen up!" Bete called out to everyone present. "Despite the drawbacks we encountered, we will keep moving forward and return to the surface in the morning! That's about six more hours of exploring before we head back up! Fuzen will watch the back of all you weaklings, so focus and try to be as little a liability as weaklings can be! You fucking hear me?!"
"...Is that supposed to be a motivational speech…?"
"So we're just a liability in the end…?"
"I said focus you little shits!"
Their rowdiness aside the group was quickly back on track, with Fuzen stuck behind with Alicia. He was sure that his strength was better placed at the vanguard where the fighting was always the hardest, but he decided to go with Bete's request.
The Werewolf was an Executive, after all.
Hard as that was to believe sometimes.
'The bigger problem is…' He looked to the side and was immediately met with a smile from the Elf. 'This one.'
While Alicia herself didn't give him the same creepy vibes as Chloe did, it was unmistakeable that she, nonetheless, managed to make him uncomfortable. This needed to be addressed. "...You've gotten better."
A sad attempted at starting the conversation, seeing how he already checked up on her before he went to fight Sakda for the second time. However, there was little else he could think of.
He knew only rudimentary information about her…
That is what he would have liked to say. Unfortunately, that was not true.
"All thanks to you, yes."
"...I didn't do that much." That was a lie, even he knew as much. And the Elf knew too, and so she simply smiled. "I...understand that you are just being grateful, but…"
"Hmm?"
Conversations were not exactly among his strengths. He was too blunt and direct, something even old man Yamamoto told him to be wary off in the future. However, he also told him that bluntness also has its uses, especially when you want to give another no room for misunderstanding.
"Can I be honest with you?"
"Of course."
"You are making me uncomfortable. It's alright when we are together in a Group or when we are out on an Expedition, but could you cut down on...that when we are not working?"
"...Oh. I wasn't aware it made you that uncomfortable…"
"It's based off a selfish reason. Of course you were not aware. It's not your fault. Still, I have to ask…" He already had his suspicions, given everything that has happened with Ais and Alya, not to mention what he had discovered just a couple hours ago. However, it was better to just ask. "Why are you this...well, grateful? Adventurers of the same Familia help each other. That is nothing new."
"I know. But...ever since you pulled me back from the brink, I feel best when I am around you. I can't really explain it…"
'...Of course it had to be something like that.'
In all honesty, this did not surprise him. Back then, he had linked his Ki with hers, changing the vibrations in his Ki to closely match hers.
He only knew rudimentary information about her...That is of course what he would tell others, but in truth, he probably knew more about Alicia than the Elf herself.
Because her mind was not so muddy with thoughts of revenge and hatred, it had been far easier for his own mind to peek into hers. Not exactly something he wanted to do, but those links were not something he could control, nor could he control what he would learn of the one he was linking with.
That is why he remembered her younger days, growing up in the forest.
Why he remembered the faces of her mother and father.
The most joyous moments in her life, as well as the saddest.
Even the face of her first crush, which she developed when she was fifteen years old.
Ki was truly such a mysterious, scary power.
Neither his school's Founder, nor the Indan monks she trained with for years could fully explain its power and its limits. There were some well-known facts, and some well-known restraints, but all else was fair game.
Everything else was up to trial and error, a process he had already went through testing multiple applications when he had just gained the power, years ago.
All he could say was that Alicia was safe: she did not require him like Alya had. He and his inner stability were not required for her to continue living.
However, if he had to guess...Then maybe his presence was something like a bonfire to her.
She could do just well enough on her own in a dark forest at night, but what person would decline the soothing warmth of a bonfire if they were to stumble upon one?
Perhaps, because of their linking, that was the sensation his Ki gave the Elf, the thing she couldn't really explain.
'Which means...just one more pain in my butt...Haaa…'
"Just try to keep the physical contact to a minimum, if that is possible. I do not like to be touched. Period."
"I'll try, Fuzen. No promises, however." Alicia looked over at him with a faint smile. "Your presence is so calming, for some reason…"
'Fucking called it...Haaa...Screw my fucking life….'
In that moment he wanted to find the person who started the whole 'If you do something good, then something good will happen to you, too' bullshit and slowly cut him up.
Nothing good ever came from altruism.
Nothing.
'Her breasts do be hella soft, though...'
"Ahh."
The Group soon came to a sudden stop after Fuzen walked to a nearby wall, placed his hands on its surface and slowly but rhythmically started slamming his forehead on it.
XXX
"Hahahahahaha, I am back!" The youth exclaimed happily as he pushed the door open and rushed inside, already rushing past the counter before the entrance door could even fully close on it's own.
"...Too early, Seiji…" The Chienthrope inside the workshop muttered softly, his voice too loud for her.
"Ahahahaha! You really aren't a morning person, are you, Captain?"
"…"
"Well, maybe this will get your spirit up!" Without any hesitation he took out a small bag and slammed it on the table. The familiar sound of coins shuffling around reached Naaza's ears.
"...How many did you sell?"
"Hehehe...All of them, of course!"
She looked back at him, the tiredness in her eyes fading away. "But you didn't even leave an hour ago…"
"Hahahahaha! I'm just that impressive of a salesman, don't you think?!"
That finally got the Chienthrope to smile. "Yeah, you are." She nodded and grabbed the bag, quickly counting the amount inside. "...It is more in here than what the potions were worth. Seiji, you didn't...steal money or something, did you?"
She quickly regretted her words as silence took over, Seiji taking a moment to lean his lower back against the table as he crossed his arms across his chest. "...I'd like at least my Captain to have faith in me, you know…?" He asked with a tilted head, the traces of a faint smile still visible on his lips. "I'm a warrior. I don't steal."
"...Right. Sorry, that was...wrong of me to think."
"I just have good friends who pay a little extra on their own accord. They support my dream, you see?"
"What dream?" She asked.
Seiji didn't reply, however his eyes went to his Captain's lips: slightly pink, plump, moist…
"...What dream, indeed…? The hell-?" He looked closer and noticed how Naaza's tail was messy and somewhat tangled. "Hahahahaha! Someone forgot to look in the mirror, huh?!"
He laughed and pointed at her tail, the girl's face turning slightly more red. "I-It's your fault to begin with! You always wake up so early, I have to start work earlier, too!"
"Don't blame me, Captain. I never told you to wake up as early as me."
"Well, it's that, you know…?" She whispered more than said. "I'd be...one crappy Captain, if I let others start work before me…"
"...Hahahahaha! Now that's adorable! Hahaha, ten out of ten, Captain!" He raised his thumps at her and her delivery.
"...It feels more like you are mocking me…"
"Of course not! I'd never mock my Captain, you know?" He laughed some more, walking the distance between them. "But...how about you go and take care of your routine, first?"
"Hmm?"
"I'll keep an eye on the brewing potion, so you go and do your stuff in the meantime." He flashed a genuine smile at her. "I like your tail best when it's brushed and shiny!"
Perhaps it was thanks to having just woken up a short while ago, or because no one ever really complimented her, but Naaza felt something as those words reached her ears. The heat also rose to her cheeks.
"Hahahaha, your tail is wagging!"
"D-Didn't you want to go to the Dungeon?"
"Sure, I'm going. But I have time: I'm hungry, after all. So you go do your thing, I'll keep an eye here and on any customers that might come."
"...You ate like, one hour ago."
He shrugged. "And now I'm hungry again. I'm growing, you know?"
"...Fine. I'll be back soon."
"Hahaha, take your time! Captain is the face of the Familia: having you look anything less than gorgeous would be unacceptable!"
Finally accepting her loss Naaza walked towards the door, however it was then that Seiji added something else. "Not that you are ever anything less than gorgeous, of course…"
She froze in place for a moment, then grabbed the doorknob and walked out. Seiji smiled as the door closed.
'She's so cute when she's in denial…'
He wasn't sure if Naaza would ever feel the same about him, but at the very least he recently understood that she was now well-aware of his feelings for her.
At first she had called his feelings something which everyone his age would have, feelings that would gradually fade away.
Now, however...Almost half a year after he joined, she finally understood that his feelings were not so easily swayed.
He looked over the brewing potion, the colour having changed just a little bit, the scent becoming slightly stronger. Just a little bit more.
Obviously, he was no brewer like Naaza, but he hung out enough around her to know the basics. Unfortunately, he had been far more focused on her than what she tried to teach him.
'...Can anyone blame me, though…? I mean, have you even looked at her?! At how gorgeous her droopy-eyes are?! Hahahahaha, I'm so in love with that girl!'
Though his mind was still in cloud nine, he still paid attention to the brewing potion and took it off the fire when the time was right, pouring it into another pot and letting it cool before it was time to place them into vials.
'We are kinda low on empty vials, though...Should I run and buy some…?'
As if on cue his God entered the workshop at that moment, a yawn escaping his lips. "Oh...Good morning, Seiji."
"Hahahaha, morning Boss! Your head's a mess, by the way!"
"Ahh...You're right…"
"Hahaha, slept in, have you Boss?!"
"Mhm...With you around the load on both my and Naaza's shoulders has been lifted off by quite a bit."
"Glad to be of help!"
"Did you just wake up?"
"Nope! I already went around and sold some potions at the foot of the Babel, hahahaha!" Miach's eyes widened at the words: it was barely first light outside. "Hahaha, don't look so surprised, Boss! Adventurers gotta wake up early! It's also the best chance for me to buy some Potions!"
"...Thank you for your hard work, Seiji."
"We all in this together, aren't we? No need to thank me!"
The atmosphere around the Familia had changed by a lot with the addition of just one single very energetic kid, even others had told Miach this much. He truly felt like a blessed God to have him.
"What about Naaza?"
"Hahahaha, the Captain is still a girl, you know?! She needs time to herself!"
"Oh...That's right, I guess…"
"Boss is kinda dense, aren't you? Hahahahaha!"
Miach simply smiled at the words. There wasn't much he could say against them after all. "I'll go prepare the shop, then."
"Already taken care of!"
"...Then, stack the shelves…"
"Taken care of!"
"...Clean the floors-"
"Already done!"
"…Put up the sign outside-"
"Hahahaha! Go have a cup of coffee, Boss! Everything's been taken care of!"
"...Mhm." The God replied with a grunt as he slouched off to the kitchen, having realized there was nothing for him to do at the moment.
With Miach gone Seiji was alone once more, waiting patiently for the brewed potion to cool off and getting the vials prepared in the meantime, cleaning them to make sure they were safe to be filled.
About ten minutes later, the door opened again. "Seiji?"
"What's up, Captain?"
"What do you want to eat? I'll prepare it for you."
"You will?!" His head turned so fast he almost broke his neck. Naaza nodded instead of replying and his smile grew even bigger, if that was even humanly possible. "Anything's fine, then!"
"...You sure?"
"Never been more sure!"
"Ok then...It will be ready soon."
"I love you, Captain!" He blurted out as she closed the door, loud enough for her and her enhanced sense of hearing to pick up.
Now more motivated than ever Seiji went on with the filling of the vials, the brewed potion's temperature good enough for the transfer. Even so he had to let the lid off, as Naaza had instructed him to do. Once it cooled down completely they could put the lid on and sell them.
"Second breakfast's ready, Seiji!' He heard Naaza shout out from the kitchen and wasted no time in rushing there, his nose immediately picking up the tasty smell of fried eggs.
At his spot at the table four slices of Egg-In-A-Hole awaited him, the eggs perfectly friend inside the slices of bread. Two were additionally covered with cheese, while the other two had slices of bacon on top. Besides it was a bowl of tomato, cucumber and onion salad.
"Hahahaha, Captain's the best!" He laughed as he sat down and immediately grabbed a slice, munching on it slowly to get to taste his Captain's cooking for as long as possible.
Miach was to his left, enjoying a cup of coffee with a plate of two steamy slices also prepared for him and Naaza took a seat opposite of him, eating her own portion of Egg-In-A-Hole.
Those were the moments Seiji appreciated the most.
"Say, we are running low on empty vials. Should I run after this and buy some?"
"No, Seiji. We need to restock on some materials as well, so I'll go and buy everything we need later." Naaza explained.
In truth it was Miach's job to look after the stock, however he had a habit of handing out free stuff whenever he was out so it was better for Naaza do take over that and let the God watch the shop, instead.
Less chances of him making a bad financial decision that way.
"I see...Do you need help carrying it?"
"Seiji." She chuckled. "I'm Level 2: I can handle it."
"Hahaha, if Captain says so!"
With that out of the way the three continued their breakfast in silence, a silence that was most welcome. However, after they were done eating Seiji had one more thing he wanted to address. "Say, I have a question, Boss."
"Hm? What is it?"
For once Seiji's expression stopped being goofy, his smile fading away as he looked his God straight in the eyes. "What do you think of our chances of getting some new members to join?"
"...That's...going to be pretty hard, Seiji." Miach answered truthfully. "Even if our Familia is doing better now thanks to your support, that does not erase the debt we have to pay."
"Most would want to avoid joining a Familia with a large debt." Naaza continued. "As monthly payments mean less money available for them to buy Potions, Weapons and Armours, or overall just live a better life than before."
"...So no game then, huh…?"
"Why are you asking, Seiji?" His God inquired.
"Hmm...I've been thinking, yeah? And isn't this kind of setup…" He pointed between the three of them. "actually the best setup a Familia can hope for? You two holding down the fort, while I go and make the money in the Dungeon...Our Familia is doing far better now thanks to this setup compared to before I joined, right?"
"That is true, yes...So you would want us to grow and have a dual-focus, as both a Medicinal and Exploration-type Familia?" Miach asked.
"Well, it'd make the most sense, no? I mean, Adventuring is good money, sure...but it's also dangerous, yeah? Meanwhile, brewing potions is time-consuming, but it's not dangerous, right? So if we could split off, have one group focusing on gathering materials on low-danger Floors and the other group on Potion brewing duty, wouldn't it be the most effective way to both grow and make them big bucks, correct?"
Lifting his head up Seiji only notice the two of them chuckling at him. "What? What'd I say?"
"Haven't you noticed?" Naaza asked. "Every time you think deeply you end your sentences as questions."
"W-What does that have to do with anything?"
"It's just adorable, that's all." Miach replied in turn. "And while you are right, that will take a long time yet to achieve, Seiji."
"...But is it something you'd be okay with?"
"Yeah. That setup would be nice." His Captain agreed with a nod. "I'm surprised you are actually thinking of stuff like this…"
"Hahahahaha, ain't it just normal?! I'm the Vice-Captain after all! Isn't it my job to think of boring stuff and make your job easier, Captain?! And yours as well while I'm at it, I guess…" He added with a quick glance towards his God.
Nonetheless, his words did manage to put a smile on Naaza's lips, something he was grateful for.
'Damn, I could look at that all day...But, me looking at her radiant smile won't make us money…'
"Well...if there is nothing else, I'm gonna grab my daily Potions and head to the Dungeon-"
"Wait." His God's single word stopped him mid-sentence. He exchanged a look with Naaza and after the girl nodded, he stood up. "Seiji, take off your shirt."
"...You for real?"
A Status Update.
Something he hadn't had in about a whole month.
Most Deities would make sure to regularly update a Child's progress especially when they were starting out, at Level 1, to allow them to grow more powerful. Naturally, even Miach knew the importance of this, and how it could make the difference between life and death.
However…
This was Seiji they were talking about.
Someone who, on an almost daily basis had made his way to Floors he did not meet the requirements for.
And so in a desperate attempt to keep him from going to even deeper Floors, Miach had decided to stop updating his Status altogether.
It had also proved a useful type of punishment as Seiji had indeed stopped going deeper than what he should have, knowing that his power did not grow and would not grow until Miach decided otherwise.
Something he just did.
"Hahahaha, sweet!" He wasted no time and took off his clothes, revealing his back to the God. "All yours now, Boss!"
"Seiji."
"Yeah?"
"This does not mean you should go any lower than the 9th Floor. Even that Floor is not a place someone with your Status should step foot on."
"I know, all right? And don't worry: I need to get used to the power boost first, anyway."
Naaza shook her head as she cleaned the plates. "That just makes us worry even more."
"Hahahaha, it'll be alright, Captain!"
With a heavy heart Miach stabbed his finger and allowed his blood to do the magic, quickly shuffling around Seiji's Basic Abilities until they were crystallized in his very being. "Oh my…"
"What's wrong?" Both Seiji and Naaza asked at the same time.
Instead of replying, however, Miach took a sheet of paper and copied the progress into mortal language, handing it over to Fuzen.
The boy's eyes immediately lit up.
Seiji Okita
LV 1
STR G 214 → G 235
VIT G 282 → F 316
DEX H 197 → G 210
AGI H 190 → H 199
MAG I 0 →
"Hahaha, what the hell?! Two Abilities ranked up already?!" His eyes quickly scanned the numbers, a smile cracking his face in two as the calculations came to an end. "Captain! Look at this!"
He rushed to her side, handing her the Status Update. "Hahahaha, am I amazing or what?! Eighty-two points across the board! Hahahaha! And look: my Vitality is already Rank F!"
Eighty-two points.
Progress worth four full weeks of Adventuring.
"That just means you got hit one too many times…" Naaza herself scanned the paper, however a frown quickly found its way on her brows. "Seiji. What did you do?"
"Huh?"
"This growth is too big." Naaza did nothing to hide her suspicion, however the boy simply laughed and grabbed the sheet of paper.
"What is this? The Captain is jealous?"
"Don't play smart with me."
"Hahahaha, I'm not. I haven't gone beyond the 9th Floor. Tell her, Boss!"
The God surprisingly nodded. "He's not lying."
"Hahahaha! Look, Captain, this is just hard work, that's all."
She didn't seem to buy it, however she had no proof, even more so when her own God agreed with the boy and so finally let it go. "Fine. Just don't do anything reckless."
"Me, reckless? Hahahaha, never!" Seiji quickly put his shirt back on and placed the Status in his pocket. "Anyway, I'll go tell Misha the good news and then head for the Dungeon. Behave while I'm gone, hahahaha!"
And just like that, having grabbed his sword and his supplies he ran out. His smile slowly faded away as he got further and further away from the Blue Pharmacy.
He didn't enjoy twisting his own words around to cover his own lies.
But, he knew he was doing the right thing.
Without the knowledge of his Familia, he had taken on more Monsters than he should have. And from that profit he set a little bit to the side, money he used to buy mid-tier potions from other stores.
This in turn allowed him to fight longer after spending the supplies Naaza and Miach set aside for him, allowing him to get far more injured while fighting without actually dying. This was one of the reasons why his Vitality was his highest ranked Basic Ability.
'This...isn't stealing, is it…?'
He didn't think so. Selfish as it was, the money he saved on the side was still money he earned. However, it still felt wrong.
But the progress was there: he was already two-fifths to Level 2. All he had to do was reach Rank D and do something impressive, then he could finally provide more for his Familia. He heard Level 2's could make anything up a couple hundred thousand a month.
If he kept to his current weapons and didn't buy any armour, he'd be able to pay off the debt his Familia had in just a couple of short years.
'...I'll come clean about it once I get that damn Level Up, though.'
With the speed one would expect of a Seiji he quickly reached the Guild and stormed inside. "Hahahahaha, make room, make room! Seiji Okita is here!"
By now there was probably not one Adventurer who did not know him. He was obnoxious to the point it made him somewhat famous. Some of the Adventurers waiting in line shook their heads at him, others raised their hands and greeted him.
He was hardly liked by everyone, but...no one could deny him, at least that much was sure.
After going through the procedure of asking for his Advisor he took a seat and waited, knowing well enough Misha would need at least ten minutes added on top of the expected time to come.
And of course, he was right.
"S-Sorry for the wait!" The pink-haired girl apologized as she rushed to his table, her hair somewhat of a mess.
"Hahahaha, did you get shorter, Mi-chan?"
"That's rude!"
"The same could be said about a Guild employee dozing off during work time!"
The girl immediately twitched, noticing how Seiji pointed at his head and getting the drift, trying her best to make herself presentable. "...Keep it down, will you?"
"Hahahaha, that's one of your charms, Mi-chan! Don't hide it!"
"Well, I could get fired you know?!"
"That's fine, too! Come work at our Pharmacy, then! Unlike the Guild, I'll let you slack off as much as you want as long as you meet the quota!"
"Urgh, why am I thinking this isn't a bad offer…?" She face-palmed. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"What else?" Seiji took out the Status Update and gave it to her, the girl's eyes widening at the solid progress.
"Not bad. How many weeks' progress is this?"
"About four."
"Not bad at all. It is certainly higher than other Level 1's…"
"I know, right? It's why I wanted to share it with you. So I'll be going to the Dungeon now, okay?"
"Wait, we still have to-!" Not giving her any chance to stop him Seiji grabbed the Status Update and darted off from the guild, taking off at full speed towards the tower in the distance.
On the way he used the money he saved on the side to buy two mid-tier Potions from a lesser known Pharmacy: they would help him stay in the fight much longer.
From there he continued on, reaching the large plaza surrounding the foot of the Babel and heading for the entrance...but then he noticed a mane of long, black hair in the distance and changed his route. "Hahahahahaha, I see a stone-faced shorty!" He yelled as he approached the Loki Familia members who looked like they just came back from an Expedition.
"...Obnoxious as always, I see."
"Hahahahaha, look who is talking!"
Fuzen made a sign to his Group, telling them to move on ahead without waiting. "...You've gotten stronger." He voiced after scanning Seiji from head to toe.
"Hehehe, so even you are impressed, are you?" He didn't even hesitate to show Fuzen his Status Update. "Look alive, bro: your older brother is quickly catching up to you!"
"You are literally fifty years worth of progress behind me…" His eyes scanned the sheet of paper before looking up from it. "What did you do?"
"Damn, not you, too…Is it that obvious or something?"
"The Status looks okay to me: it's your dumb face that tells me you did something." Unfortunately, Fuzen saw through him, the boy sharp enough to sniff the smallest trace of guilt from Seiji. Even so, noticing the silence Fuzen simply sighed. "It's not my place to tell you how to live your life. Just make sure to live with as few regrets as possible."
"I know, alright?"
"...With that said, congratulation on your progress. You should still keep to the Floors recommended to you, however." His little brother voiced before a spark of electricity flashed between his fingers, burning the Status Update. "And stop running around with a Status Update: those are supposed to be secret, you dumbass."
"Hahahaha, I'm a warrior too, you know?! I don't care if people know my strengths and weaknesses! It just makes it even more fulfilling when you defeat them!"
"Can't argue with that." Fuzen shrugged, being of the same mind. Then he looked left and right, and a moment later walked even closer to Seiji. "I have a question."
"What's up?"
"Just answer honestly, without thinking too much about it, okay?"
"Sure, that's what I'm good at, anyway!"
"Mhm." He looked around once again before moving closer to Seiji's ear. "If Monsters were to have intelligence like you and me, what would you do?"
"Hmm? If they attacked me, I'd kill them. And if they wouldn't attack me, I wouldn't kill them...So no different than humans, really." He replied with a shrug. "Why you asking such a weird question, anyway?"
Seiji knew Fuzen wasn't someone who asked dumb questions for no reason. If he was asking about it, then something related to the question must have happened. Maybe he saw a Monster showing another feeling besides anger and fear, maybe one even tried to beg for his life.
"...No reason. Just thinking, you know?"
"...Right. Well, as I said, it wouldn't really make a difference to me. I neither hate nor fear them, they are just a means to an end to me."
"Figures. And good to know…" Fuzen seemed to ponder on the words for a moment before he nodded. "Anyway, I should go."
Seiji gave a thumbs up and took off running. "Sure thing! See you later! Hahahaha, make room, make room! Seiji Okita passing through!"
1st Floor
2nd Floor
3rd Floor
One by one, he ran through them as fast as he could.
Monsters on those Levels were hardly worth any Excelia anymore and it was better to leave them for even greener newbies than him.
It was only on the 6th Floor that he slowed down, sword at the ready.
'What a weird question, though. If Monsters were intelligent, huh?' He thought as he came to a stop, noticing a wall nearby cracking: a Monster was being born. 'Well, bro...If they were intelligent, I'd stand like this, and watch their reaction. If they'd leave me alone, then I'd let them alone…'
The War Shadow landed on its feet and turned to look at him. A moment of silence followed before it let out a loud shriek.
'And if they'd attack me…' It rushed towards him, but he simply stood his ground. Then when it was close enough he turned around and thrust his sword forward, impaling the Monster who slipped behind him and tried to sneak-attack. 'Then I'd kill them like this…' He grabbed his gladius next and threw the blade behind him, the sword finding its way into another's chest. 'And like this! I'll kill and kill until I can provide a good life for my Familia!'
He grabbed the two Magic Stones and walked forward, his pace increasing until he once again started running.
"Haha...Hahahahaha! Come at me! All of you, come at! Seiji Okita...is here! Hahahahahaha!"
The Self-Parade Maniac was once again at it.
In mere minutes, thanks to the loudness of his voice he was drowning in a sea of Monsters.
And yet, as his oversized blade cut through their rows, only one sound echoed throughout the Floor:
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
XXX
"...You suck at focusing, don't you?"
Funnily enough, he wasn't even mad at her. Ais understood that much as she pushed her upper body up, having just received a ball to the face which knocked her to the ground.
It was pretty early in the morning and after having come back from the Dungeon with Bete and the others, Fuzen grabbed the Sword Princess and told her to follow him.
She knew what he wanted and was not exactly looking forward to it.
Even so, it was both an invitation and a chance for her to get better at controlling her Magic. Little reason to say No.
"You suck!" The smaller version of herself laughed as she pointed a finger at her.
The fact that a child was better at control than her irked Ais...and in no small measure, at that.
"I can do it…" She motivated herself and got back to her feet.
"No you can't." Fuzen cut her off, making a hand sign for her to throw the ball over to him.
He caught it and held it on his palm for both Ais and Alya to see. Before long a current of green wind lifted it off and he placed his hands behind his back, the ball still floating at chest-level. "Why do you think I am better at managing the output of your Wind Magic despite my lack of experience with it in battle?"
"...Because you are focused?"
He smugly raised an eyebrow. "Figured that out on your own, huh?" His tone did little to help. "Yes. I am focused. And as such, I can decide how much power I put behind every gust that touches this ball. That, in turn, allows me to control where it will go even when I don't touch it physically."
"...Mhh…"
"...Your problem is that you are too battle-minded. We are not in the Dungeon, we are not fighting: we are simply playing a game. Overwhelming force is not needed: only calmness. Calmness which…" He made a head sign towards Alya. "even a child is able of."
"Let's play already!" As if on cue the little blonde girl waved her hands, eager to continue playing.
"All right. No hands: just breath." He gave the verbal sign and then blew on the floating ball, which then went in a straight line towards Alya. The girl also placed her hands behind her back and when the ball was close enough, she blew on it and send it towards Ais.
The Sword Princess tried to do the same...only to end up failing to produce any significant amount of Wind, the ball once again hitting her square in the face.
"That wasn't even that fast…" Fuzen muttered as he sighed at the sight of the blonde once again on her butt.
"...Focus or not, I can't produce Wind without my Chant."
"Yes you can." Once again he cut her off. "You are just making excuses."
"I am not." She replied stubbornly.
"Yes, you are. When you are fighting Monsters you are capable of producing such powerful winds, ones which have protected the Familia over and over again. Why should you not be able to produce such winds on a smaller scale without the Chant?"
"...Because humans can't use Magic without Chants."
"Good thing you aren't human then, right? You are more than that: it's in your blood."
"...Play without me." She voiced as she grabbed the ball and threw it his way, then walking up to the porch and taking a seat.
Without wasting time Fuzen passed it to Alya again and the two continued their play without any setbacks, both of them capable of impressive feats of concentration. The ball did not touch the ground once, nor did it hit any part of their bodies.
They were able to keep it afloat between them with just Magic, passing back and forth, back and forth…
For more than twenty minutes, it was all they did. "I am getting thirsty." Fuzen then voiced as he grabbed the ball with his hand. "Alya, go and bring something to drink for all of us."
"Okay!" In the blink of an eye she was gone.
However, that was not a feat of Magic: it was simply her overflowing energy.
Whoosh!
Ais raised her eyes just fast enough to see the approaching ball, catching it in her palm. Looking up she noticed Fuzen making a sign for her to pass back, which she did a moment later.
He caught it. "You hate yourself." Then threw it back.
Then she caught it, but just barely. "W-What?"
"Pass." He caught it again. "I said you hate yourself."
"Ngh...No, I don't." She passed back.
"You are completely fine with using your Magic when in the Dungeon." He passed back to her. "But you cannot use it outside of combat. You cannot use it without a Chant: without a shackle, in other words."
"I told you already…" Then she passed back at him. "People can't use Magic without Chants."
"You aren't 'people'. You are Ais Wallenstein."
"You can only do it...because you are abnormal."
"In this situation, right now...I am the abnormal one?"
"Yes."
"No." He passed back, by now the strength behind each pass between them increasing every time. "Alya can do it, and she is just a child. Is she abnormal?"
"...What are you...getting at?"
"What is the difference between you...and her?"
"I...don't know."
"She is a child with a child's mentality. She accepts herself. You are a child yet acting like a grown-up. Trying to think like one, but failing miserably."
By now he was already getting on her nerves. She passed back, without saying anything in response.
"Do you want to know how I can control both your Wind…?" Another gust of twirling wind manifested in his hand, holding the ball above his hand. "And my Lightning…" And a moment later sparks of electricity crackled around his left hand. "at the same time?"
"You can do it...because you are abnormal..."
"No. I can do it because I am focused."
"...How?"
"You are not asking the important question. Instead of 'How', you should ask 'On what'."
"...On what are you focused?"
"On making these powers bend to my will." He replied bluntly. "When I call them forth, without a Chant, without a single word, I don't 'ask them nicely' to manifest. I don't 'beg them'. I force them to come out. Because no matter what the Status says their limitations are, my will is more important than that. I impose it on them."
"That's absurd."
"And yet, you have the proof in front of your eyes." He voiced, cancelling both Magic and passing the ball back to her. "The Sword Princess can use the Wind. That is okay."
His words confused her, but she passed back to him. "What?"
"But Ais Wallenstein using the Wind, that is not okay."
"...What are you-? Nnghh!" The next pass was powerful enough to force her body slightly back.
"I am just speaking your inner thoughts out loud."
"No."
"Yes. Using the Wind to kill Monsters, that is good. It helps ease your drowning feeling of hatred. Hatred for Monsters...hatred for yourself."
She did not pass back. "...Shut up."
"You don't want to force the Wind to bend to your will. You look up to it: it reminds you of your kind, gentle mother. You don't want to defile the memory. Ais Wallenstein is a good daughter."
"Shut...up…"
"But it is okay for the Sword Princess to use it to kill Monsters. It is okay to use it to slaughter and draw blood, over and over again, as long as it quenches the hatred."
"…"
"Hatred of yourself. Hatred at your own weakness to do anything. You don't want to defile that Wind and its legacy...except you have already done that a long time ago. You're a goddamn phoney."
"Shut…"
He then raised his index finger and tapped it against his temple. "Your mother's rolling in her grave, you know?"
"UP!"
The dust blew up in the next second and by the time she realized what she had done, Ais had already gone through with the throwing motion, her arm extended forward, traces of green still visible in the air.
A loud crash happened and she looked up, seeing Fuzen tumbling across the garden until he hit the wall in the distance, having caught the ball thrown at his chest with both arms, clutching it to his abdomen.
"...So you can do it." He voiced as he rose to his feet.
"I...did it?"
"Yeah. Congratulations: you are on the same level as a six-years old now."
"But that's...impossible- Guahh!"
As she looked at her hands she failed to see the ball coming in fast, hitting her directly in the face before it bounced back to the boy who threw it. She fell down, one hand holding the now bloodied nose.
"Also…" Fuzen drew nearer, looking down at her. "Don't raise your voice at me on my own damn property."
"...Sorry."
He sighed, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to her feet then reaching for the inside of his clothes and taking out a handkerchief. "Here."
"Thanks…"
Obviously, the hit was not nearly hard enough to break her nose, but it was still bleeding pretty hard, Ais taking a seat back on the porch. "Do you hate me now?" He asked bluntly.
"...No. I don't like it when you mention my parents so casually...but I don't hate you."
"That so…?" He muttered in response, taking a seat as well, but some distance away. "...If it's any help, I didn't take any joy from saying all that."
"...Oh. So you didn't mean it?"
"Oh no, I totally meant it." Fuzen stated bluntly as he looked her straight in the eyes. "I said I didn't take any joy from having to say it, that's all."
"...You're a jerk."
"What a secret you uncovered…" She could almost hear him roll his eyes at her.
And he was indeed a jerk, of the highest calibre. He had managed to do what not even Bete or Tiona managed to: annoy the ever air-headed Ais. "Why are you...going to such lengths for me?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for Alya."
"Hmm?"
"Going forward, she is going to need a role model in her life." He looked over to her, the disappointment bare in his gaze. "...Haaa…"
"A-At least say something if you are going to sigh!"
"Say, Ais."
"What?"
"At your age, were you that competent with using your Magic?"
"No…? I didn't get my Magic until I was already a member of Loki Familia…"
Her reply seemed to faze him, the look in his eyes immediately getting sharper. "So it's not something you are born capable of?" He looked down at the ground with enough intensity to drill a hole, then looked back up after a good couple seconds had passed. "If I had to guess...It's probably because she was born from a link which also involved me, someone who can use Ki. She doesn't have a Falna, and thus no Magic stat. Yet she can use the Wind, and make the most of the little natural Mind pool she has...While we are not biologically related, maybe she took some traits from me after all, because I'm something similar to an artificial progenitor to her?"
"...What?"
"...Should I hire mentors for you, too…? Haaa…" He shook his head, not wanting to have to explain everything in even simpler terms. "Leaving that aside, it doesn't change the fact you are going to be the closest thing to a role model to her."
"...Why can't you be that role model?"
To Ais's surprise…"Pfffff...Hehehe…" Fuzen started chuckling, a dry and ear-scratching chuckle. "Mass murderer. Feared for my great magic power. Hated by a whole damn country...and you think I should be a role model?" He stared at her, all emotions gone from his eyes. "Are you just pretending or are you actually that stupid?"
"...You are already raising her-"
"I am providing for her. Difference. She is not Alya Katsumi: she is just Alya...Or maybe Alya Waldstein would be more appropriate?" The Sword Princess said nothing in return, the name too strange for her to hear from the mouth of another.
"Role model...Do you think I can...be something like that?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. Only one question matters: are you gonna do it or not?"
Ais remembered something he had told her a short while ago. It was never a matter of 'can do it or can't do it'. It was always a matter of 'do it or don't do it'.
Right now, he was telling her the same thing: she could either do something for the girl...or she could not do it.
"...I'll do it."
"Hmm?"
"I'll do it. I don't know what I can do exactly...but I'll try my best."
A nod was Fuzen's response. "Good. Start by making more time to come and hang out with her. The more time she spends with her family, the better. Answer her questions, expand her horizons. Help her when she will reach the age where bodily changes happen. I don't want nor should I be the one who has to tell her about menstruation later down the line: that's your job...Wait, do you even have that? Taking in consideration your origin and all…"
Ais twitched at the question, surprised he knew even of such matters. As she stared back at him she felt her cheeks starting to heat up however and turned around, simply giving a small nod. "How do you even know-?"
"I happen to actually be interested in biology."
"Wait you have interests?" Ais asked in return, even more surprised to hear of this.
Fuzen however looked hardly amused. "I'm not a goddamn automata, Ais. Unfortunately…"
Shaking his head the boy said nothing else, the next couple of seconds going by in silence. It wasn't long before he stood up, however, and let out yet another sigh. Before Ais could ask what was wrong he started walking, and she quickly followed.
When they arrived at the kitchen Ais understood why he had previously sighed.
"...Goddamn airhead stuffed her face with Jagamarukuns and fell asleep…Haaa..."
Indeed, Alya's head was resting on the kitchen table while she snored ever so softly, the bag of Jagamarukuns besides her which Fuzen had bought on the way to the mansion half empty by now.
"How hard is it to grab some drinks…?" He shook his head again: there weren't even filled glasses anywhere. The moment Alya came to the kitchen she gave in to her hunger and descended upon the snacks.
Letting the girl be, Fuzen went ahead and took out a tray and some glasses, filling them all up with orange juice and then placed it on the table, putting the bag of Jagamarukuns on the tray, as well. "You grab that." He told Ais before flicking Alya on the forehead.
She gave no reaction, being fast asleep. Seeing that she wouldn't wake up he picked her up in his arms and walked out, Ais following behind him with the tray.
Instead of bringing the girl to her room, Fuzen opted to bring her to the porch overlooking the back garden, placing the girl on it before grabbing a thin blanket from a nearby room and placing it on her.
With that done he took a seat by Ais's side and grabbed his drink.
"Shouldn't you bring her to her room…?"
"It's not cold. Sun and fresh air will do her better."
She accepted that line of thought and grabbed a snack from the bag, as did Fuzen.
Silently and without words they both enjoyed the light snack, watching the blue skies above as they did so. It was peaceful, to say the least.
No...It had been peaceful for a long time, now.
But until recently, Ais had not realized that, being too drowned in her own affairs to truly notice the world around her.
"It's...nice."
"Hmm?"
"The sun...It's nice."
"Mmh."
He nodded at her words, looking up at the sun. A few moments passed before his lips parted.
"And up the east another day
Shall chase the bitter dark away.
What though our eyes with tears be wet?
The sunrise never failed us yet.
-
The blush of dawn may yet restore
Our light and hope and joy once more.
Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget:
That sunrise never failed us yet..."
"...A poem?" Ais asked, surprised that she would ever use the words 'Fuzen' and 'poem' in the same sentence.
"Obviously."
"It was...nice. Where it is from?"
"Nowhere." He shook his head and got up. "I need to go."
"Where?"
"Somewhere. Alya's tutor won't come for another two hours. I'll be back before then."
"Should I...watch her until then?"
"Yes."
"You are...serious. About me, becoming her role model."
"Yes."
"It's...a lot of responsibility."
"Welcome to adulthood." He shrugged as he walked away. "It sucks. But it's about time you learn to think about more than just yourself."
As Fuzen walked away Ais turned to look at the still-sleeping Alya. She was fast asleep, a very peaceful expression on her face.
It both reassured and worried Ais.
She was not...incapable. She could fight, help her comrades, defeat strong Monsters. But...the task at hand, it scared her on a level she had not experienced until now.
And yet, she could see herself so much in the girl. Not just appearance-wise, though Alya was just like a copy of herself.
But also on a relatable level. She too used to be that small once. That energetic, and that full of live. She once used to love every new day, and go to sleep excited for what the next morning would bring with it.
Without realizing it a smile found its way on her lips. She got up and moved closer to the girl, gently lifting her head up and letting it rest on her lap. Softly and with care she stroked the girl's head.
"Are you...having a good dream, I wonder…?"
XXX
Nameless Warrior
One might have wondered why Fuzen decided to put exactly those words on the simple tombstone he paid for in the Adventurer's Graveyard.
The reason was simple: Sakda had killed many Adventurers. If some were to find out the tombstone was his, they might defile the grave in a fit of rage.
Simply writing Nameless Warrior on it would help prevent any such thing from happening.
"...Hey. I'm back." Fuzen said as he looked at the tombstone, almost shaking his head in the process.
It was a dumb thing.
He knew that there was no 'God'. He knew that there was no spirit left behind by the dead. The Deities, after all, did not keep it a secret that mortals were reincarnated upon dying.
Even so, he felt as if he had to do this.
"I killed you. Despite you being the stronger one." Even now, weeks after his victory, Fuzen could still imagine the fight against Sakda with crystal-clear clarity in his mind.
What a fight it had been, indeed...
"And now, for some reason I can use your Reflection, the manifestation of your life's quest. I don't know why."
He truly did not. Whatever happened to him, it was inexplicable. Maybe down the line, in ten or twenty years, once he had become a true Ki Master he could find an answer to this mystery. But in the present, he could not.
"Would you think me a weasel, I wonder? For somehow stealing the thing that made you the most 'you' away? The answer to that question...I don't think I'd ever want to hear."
They had hardly known each other. However, they were both warriors. They both walked the path of power.
And because of that, Fuzen understood Sakda. The Were-Jaguar, too, probably understood Fuzen.
However…
Is it dishonourable to use [Bulwark]?
Or is it not?
Fuzen long pondered on this question. As a swordsman, his duty was to use the strength he himself possessed to cut open the path forward. Using the strength of others was not an option.
However, pondering this thought, he slowly began to branch off and before long another question arose in his mind:
What even was own's own strength?
His body which had never failed him, he got from his mother.
His will to never give up, he got from Hachiman.
The sword style he used had been tried and tested by countless others over the span of hundreds of years.
And his code...his code, he got from his Mistress.
With that in mind, was his strength not just an accumulation of many smaller things he got from others, all fused into one big thing: strength?
…
…
No. That was correct, but not fully.
Others had certainly played a part in his own strength, but...real strength was...to use the power you had to see your goals fulfilled.
No matter the odds.
Others were indeed part of his strength...but he was the one who manifested all of that accumulation.
As such, using Bulwark was...not dishonourable.
By defeating Sakda, he made the Were-Jaguar a part of himself.
And even more than that: why did he lose to Sakda in the first place?
Because he was not prepared to face people with other specializations. Sakda's [Bulwark], and his immense pool of Ki, had been an unknown to Fuzen.
However…
He closed his eyes and linked his senses to that of Raiju, a moment later seeing Mikoto down below on the wall running as best as she could, her form already showing how tired she was.
He had an Apprentice now: Mikoto.
And she did not need to go through the same first-hand experience he had experienced, and lost to it like he did.
It was his duty to prepare her.
As such, it was his duty towards the girl to become better, stronger, and when her training ended, to face her.
As a Swordsman.
As an Adventurer.
And as Sakda.
But...I have an apprentice now." He finally voiced, looking at the words on the tombstone.
"And to help her grow, I will use [Bulwark] to the fullest. I don't know you. I barely know your name. But you were a warrior I respected. And so, I vow this to you: I'll keep your legacy alive. This body of mine...I'll make it even stronger than yours. I'll never be brought down again, just like you desired of yourself. And this…"
He pulled his cloth to the side and revealed the tattoo he had gotten a while ago: the side profile of a Jaguar on the left side of his chest, which started at his shoulder, and its open jaw which looked ready to bite his heart out of his chest.
"...is proof of that oath. You made me shit my pants. This...will force me to remember that, no matter how much I try to forget."
Fuzen covered his chest again, taking one more look at the tombstone. "So keep an eye out, okay? I'm gonna be great. And through me, you are going to be part of that. Goodbye...brother."
With that said he bowed ever so slightly and was back on his way.
One more year…
In one year, he would be either great or be known as the world's greatest fool.
But, there was still time until then.
And there was much to do until then.
Train Mikoto, keep an eye on Alya, increase his own training, increase his knowledge, and get used to Sakda's Bulwark and how far he could take that ability…
'...I'm going to need the help of a heavy-hitter for that last one...Haaaa…'
"...Alright. Let's go."
XXX
Origin, unknown.
Family, unknown.
Past, unknown.
True strength, unknown.
Limits, unknown...
What a bundle of mysteries he truly is…
The robed, thin figure thought to himself as he watched the boy leave the Graveyard from afar.
As if by luck, he was keeping an eye on the Xenos when the first meeting happened between Kenshi and their group.
He had feared for the worst: the boy had gained quite the reputation as a cold-hearted individual. No surprise, given his actions against Altena.
Yet the worst did not come to pass.
Funnily, he had tried to simply squeeze away from the Xenos's hidden village, perhaps wishing to pretend as if he had seen nothing.
Gros was the first to react, flying over to the crevice and pulling Fuzen's arm. Suffice to say, he had been planted head-first into the ground faster than even the robed figure could react to.
Tense moments followed as the two groups, the Adventurer and the Xenos, stared at each other. But it did not go any further than that.
'You two...are the ones who helped me, a while back…' He had felt relief when the boy uttered those words while looking at Ray and Lyd, the two he had tasked with helping Fuzen Katsumi.
And indeed, they had carried him and the Were-Jaguar to safety when he passed out cold. He thought the boy would not remember: apparently, he was wrong. He had remembered.
He had bowed his head towards the two, as well, thanking them for their help.
Next he stated he owned them two debts, once for him and once for the Were-Jaguar, whose body he was able to bury only thanks to the Xenos.
For the first time in a long time, a peaceful Xenos-Human conversation took place. The boy either had a good poker face, or he was truly undisturbed by the fact some Monsters were sentient.
They had conversed for a long time after that, a conversation he and Ouranos had listened to with great focus.
And truly, what a fascinating individual Fuzen Katsumi was. Younger than most, yet smarter with his words than many.
He had listened to the Xenos's story, to their dream of of living on the surface.
'You sure about that?' He had asked bluntly, followed by a lengthy explanation on how things worked on the surface.
The betrayals, the backstabbing, the hate and the ignorance.
He was not wrong: in fact, he spoke from experience, that is the impression the robed figure got from listening to him.
Finally, after some time had passed, Kenshi decided it was time for him to go. Yet, he left with the promise of meeting again.
He had met the Xenos. Listened to their story, listened to their dream. And during it all, he did not once showed disdain on his face towards them.
Ouranos did not even need to order him: the robed figure immediately set out to find out everything he could on the boy.
Fuzen Katsumi, Loki Familia
Came to Orario almost two years ago.
Joined his current Familia about a week later.
Roughly twelve years of age.
Highly proficient with the sword. A genius, some might even say…
Defeated many Monsters way above his Level, among which were Monster Rexes: an abnormal boy in his own right.
Possesses an undisputed amount of strength. His current limits, to our knowledge, is unknown.
Also possesses a keen intellect: the Gods still regularly talk about the smokes and mirrors he used to infiltrate Altena and destroy their capital.
Most importantly, he is the first individual in an era to be granted a sentient-type Magic…
When the dragon first manifested above Orario, the robed figure had almost lost his marbles, something he himself admitted. As one well-versed in the magic arts himself, he would have never in his wildest dreams imagined such a type of Magic was a possibility.
Following his victory in Altena he came back to Orario, where he used the vast amount of money he received to establish a foothold in the East District, buying off businesses and solidifying his own influence.
Caused multiple Familia causing damage to the East District to disband and leave Orario, freeing the oppressed people and once again showing his keen intellect in planning and dealing with the situation directly.
The people of the East District themselves adore him, and bad-mouthing their "Young Master" in their presence is known to cause a physical confrontation…
So much we know about him, and yet so little…
The robed figure thought back to a couple hundred years ago.
Back then, sailors from the Far East coming to Orario spoke with great reverence of a certain unblessed woman who was said to be so skilled with the sword, a recently descended God of War at the time bowed down to her feet and begged her to allow him the honour of granting her his Falna.
A woman who was later said to reach the true peak of swordsmanship, one strike of her sword able to cut the very sea in two.
Over the many years, following that woman's death, the legends had become myths, and the myths had become whispers. Eventually, those whispers were lost to the wind. But…
The Lighting Sword Style...is it really the same as the one the boy is using…? In retrospect, I should have paid more attention to it at the time…
The figure moved forward, keeping a very safe distance from the boy but still holding him in his sight.
Be that as it may be, Fuzen Katsumi could prove to be the sturdiest bridge for the Xenos to see their dream achieved…
Now, how to go about approaching him…?
XXX
So you read this far, huh?
Kept up with my shitty-ass fanfic for this long, huh?
You okay up there, bruh?
XD
Jokes asides tho, I just want to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who has been a part of the Kenshi journey for so long.
I think when I first uploaded the original version of Kenshi (which I deleted) on Fanfiction, it was like...June 2021 or something.
A long ass time ago, anyway.
So to both the new readers, who picked up on the "RE-UPLOAD" and to the original readers who were part of the journey from day one (looking at you, DoctorSurgeon and my main man, D) …
Thank You.
The support really does mean a lot, and despite my own hate for my own OC or story which I have at times, I want to let you all know I am still having a blast writing this fic.
As for the stuff I said in the AN at the start, you can think of this Chapter as the start of multiple time-skips.
Moving forward, until we reach the one year mark during which Fuzen will do "something", I will be writing smaller mini-Arcs of 1-3 Chapters, and all of them will be after time-skips.
For example, Chapter 51-53 will happen "XX months later" after Chapter 50.
Chapter 54-XX will happen "XX months/weeks later" after the previous mini-Arc, and so on.
It's not exactly that I am rushing to get somewhere, but right now I feel like I have written mostly everything I could: friendships, betrayals, character development, epic fights, etc.
I could of course just continue with a slow, everyday POV of simply life in Orario, but I do want to get deeper into Fuzen's development, and to get to the "thing" he will do in one year, as well.
However, the mini-Arcs won't be just boring filler, either, so don't get your hopes down.
Obviously, just because my boi is set on grinding for a year doesn't mean other "parties" of the lore will just stand idly by, either.
So yes, a lot of stuff will happen, some of which can be summarized with the words "Shit hit the fan...HARD"
But that's about all from me.
I hope you had a good read so far, and will continue to be part of the Kenshi journey in the future.
Peace out, bros and sisses.