Chapter 2

???: "Please take care of my son Aethis, I can only trust you with him"

I open my eyes to see an injured women leaning on a tree and . . . a devil crouching beside the woman?

Aethis: "Elizabeth don't talk like that, I can get both you and the kid out of here!!"

Elizabeth: "No. My injuries are severe, and I need to create a distraction for you two so the other demons on't find you."

Hatsu: 'Demons?'

Aethis: "But are you sure you want to me, a devil, to raise your human child."

Elizabeth: "Haha. Says the devil that was raised by a human himself. Aethis, I trust you completely, I wont't be alive for much longer and I want my child to be able to live a life he wants. Tell him who he is and where he comes from when he is grown up. Please Aethis, as his godfather, this is what both Hasta and I would have wanted if this ever happened."

Aethis: "...Alright, I'll take him and I swear that I will raise your child with upmost care and train him so he will be able to defend himself in this world . . . and against them."

My mother then hands me to the devil, Aethis, but not before giving me a motherly smile that I haven't seen in so long and a kiss to the forehead. Instinctively, I raise my small hand towards her, while tears start gathering in the corner of my eye. How could I not be emotional, I am losing another mother and although I barely know her, I can tell from from my current memories of her that she loved and cared for me with all her heart. From what I can know, I am about 8 months old with clothes and a blanket covering my body.

Hatsu: 'Elizabeth, although I've only know you and my father for a short time, I swear I will live on for both of you, just like I did in my previous life for my other mother and father. However, this time, I will find a place I can call home and a group I can call family and protect them with all my might. I love you and Goodbye'

When Aethis has me in his arms and turns toward the direction of the forest, but not before he says something to my mother with his back facing her.

Aethis: "Goodbye."

Aethis then turn to forest behind us and started to sprint towards a the forest, I think I see some tears. He must have cared immensely for my family.

He keeps sprinting deeper into the forest for a while until we stop in front of a cabin that seems to be have about three floors and a tower connected too it.

Taking a moment to look around for any unwanted guest, he continues to enter the cabin. Taking a quick look the best I, I can make out a small kitchen, a living room, and some shelves with books occupying them.

Hatsu: 'I feels nice and comfortable already, what exactly is this cabin?'

Aethis: *Sigh* "I had hoped the next time I visited this place would be with both you and your parents."

He then looks me in the eye and I am greeted by a sad smile.

Aethis: "Hatsu, from now on you will be living with me and during that time, I will do my best to raise you properly like my mother did while also informing you of who you are and where you come from. You don't know me but I hope you will during our time together and that we get along as godfather and godson."

(AN: No idea if the concept exist in this world, but Yolo!)

And thus begins my childhood of being raised by a devil, not that I mind though.

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(9 years later) (Third POV)

In a forest made up of extremely tall and durable tree's, we see a campfire with some meat and fish being cooked within it, a black bag that is not big or small sitting on top of a log, and slim-muscular ash-gray haired boy practicing sword swings with a massive wooden great-sword. (AN: A tiny bit smaller than the demon-slayer sword)

This boy is our MC, Hatsu.

After what seems to be over an hour of practice swings and training in maneuverability with the sword, Hatsu sets the sword into the ground, takes deep, concentrated breaths, and walks over to the meat he cooked to start eating.

That is until he turns his head to a specific direction and soon hears footsteps approaching his campsite.

Hatsu: "Oh he's here."

???: "Jeff is here."

A huge muscular figure comes out of the bushes with some saliva coming from its mouth due to smelling cooked meat, a Forest Vulcan, also known as Jeff.

Hatsu: *sigh* "Hey Jeff welcome back, you come to try and take my food again or did you come here to spar?"

Jeff: "Hehehe, fight me, you give me food if I win!"

Hatsu: "Oh so both then? Alright I don't mind, always good to polish your skills as too not become sloppy."

Both Hatsu and Jeff, the Vulcan, get into position away from the campsite and then face each other. Hatsu with his sword in front while having his right foot out in front and his left foot in behind, both facing forward and parallel to each other. Jeff has both his fist and feet on the ground ready to pounce at any moment.

Jeff starts off by charging Hatsu and sending a right hook towards Hatsu's face. However, before the moment of impact, Hatsu sidesteps to his left then ducks under a straight left punch Jeff sent after missing his hook. Hatsu then goes after his ribs planning to take a swing at them, but then puts his sword up too block the incoming kick delivered by Jeff.

After sliding across a few feet from Jeff, Hatsu reagins himself too see Jeff with a smug smirk on his face. Tick marks and an annoyed smile appears on Hatsu face before breathing in and out to remain calm. Hatsu then boost himself in front of Jeff, surprising the Vulcan, who raised his guard seeing Hatsu raise his sword above his head indicating a strike from above.

However, Jeff. then feels flying towards a tree with massive pain in his core and realizes's he's been feinted. Hatsu faked his attack from above and performs a full body rotation before delivering a strong-heavy swing towards Jeff's stomach, sending the Vulcan flying towards one of the trees.

Jeff body makes an impact with the tree, making a small dent, and is then knocked unconscious from the pain of the sword and impacting the tree.

Hatsu steps back, takes a moment to control his breathing and adrenaline.

Hatsu; "Man, it's nice too see I'm not the only one improving."

After a few moments, he walks toward his bag, sets down his sword, and takes out what seem to be some sort of ointment in a jar and bandages, then approaches the now unconscious Jeff.

(Hatsu POV)

After using some of my homemade ointment and bandaging up the big guy I pick him up, place him down on one of the logs, and go back to eating my dinner.

Now you may be wondering why I am going through the trouble for my man Jeff.

Well he's my friend, and I know how Vulcans naturally behave, but he's very different from them.

We met when I was about 5 years old, both of us were really young, and he became my first friend pretty fast, probably due to the friendly/comforting aura Aethis says I give off. While his speech hasn't changed his mind is very different from other Vulcans.

I named him Jeff half jokingly, but almost died, for the second time, of laughter when he said, and I quote, "My name Jeff."

And that's the story on how I met Jeff the Vulcan.

What? You expected more plot about me? Nah that'll be for later.

Anyway

Finishing up the last of my dinner, which consisted a lot of fish, beef, and vegetable since I need protein and nutrients, I got up to do some stretches until I heard Jeff waking up.

Vulcan: *grunt* "Ugh"

In full honesty I expected him to come here, regardless of the reason, so I had some extra meat and vegetable prepared for him.

Making a large kebab, I walk over to the now conscious Jeff.

Hatsu: "Good to see you're awake Jeff, as thanks for the spar and for also getting stronger yourself, here's your share."

Jeff grunts with an annoyed face for most likely being defeated once again, but is soon replaced with joy after tasting my cooking, making me chuckle a bit.

I swear this guy really is amusing.

After eating, we say our goodbyes since its the end of the summer.

Hatsu: *Inhale-exhale* "Well my time in the woods is done, I should get back home and tell Aethis I survived this summer."

I pack up all my stuff in my bag, sheath my sword to my back, put out the fire and begin to walk back to the house my and Aethis have been living in.

For those wondering why I am in the woods all by my lonesome, well you can say it's part of my training. When I turned 4 years old I started training my body muscles the best I can for my age, while also trying to control my ridiculous strength. It was hard since I never experienced such strenuous physical training, but also exciting since I had the opportunity to actually experience what I couldn't before.

Besides, it's not like I knew nothing of physiology since I did extensive research of the subject during my last life, the purpose being for my writing and my education.

Thankfully, through a year of sheer determination, hard work, and some help from Aethis, I was able to have gain moderate control over my muscle strength, while getting quite fit for my age.

Then when I turned 5 years old, Aethis and I also agreed on me learning to adapt and survive in my environment by letting me camp out into the woods throughout the summer season each year.

We started with baby steps though, he would watch over me in secret in case I ever needed assistance. During the second summer, he decided to put his trust in me in surviving on my own when he saw I was adapting at a good pace. I also started training my swordsmanship with the help of Aethis and another source I'll mention later.

In total, I have spent about 368 days in the woods with this being the end of my fourth summer. Even I am surprised I managed this long, but thanks to the body I wished for and me reading survival guides in my last life for the sake of my semi-realistic fiction novels, I was able to train my swordsmanship and my body to a good degree.

After reminiscing a bit, I decided to pass the time walking back home by practicing a technique.

I close my eyes while taking concentrated breathes while trying to sense my surroundings. Soon, through my closed vision, I start seeing shapes of what should be my surroundings.

Ki-sensing, a technique capable of sensing the Ki of living beings and/or objects in motion around you. Right now, I'm practicing my efficiency of using Ki-sensing by making sure I don't bump into anything and lose my balance. I started doing this when I was 6 years old after learning the process.

Our cabin is surrounded by trees meaning there's no straight path. I've used Ki-sensing before when sprinting and jumping from branch to branch around the woods to gain some practice in agility and maneuverability. Multiple attempts at first lead to me crashing into trunks and branches, but I soon got the hang of it. I'm able to use Ki-sensing in and out of battle but I'm not a complete master in it yet.

Simply walking back home carefully avoiding much shorter trees while Ki-sensing is a breeze.

Anyway, I notice I'm home since I sense anymore trees me and open my eyes to see the cabin Aethis and have been living in for most of my life. I was finally able to get a better look of it after learning how to walk.

The cabin consist of a rectangular base with a triangular rooftop attached to a three story tower, some windows on the side and front, a chimney, and of course a sturdy wooden door in front.

Living in there is very cozy, especially since I live with a family member and have books from my parents. The information they left behind are the main reason why I am capable with a sword, survival, and Ki-sensing, along with Aethis helping me.

Hatsu: 'I wonder if Aethis is out patrolling again?'

He does it everyday to make sure that we're not in danger. From what? My best guess is demons since they've more prosperous in this era, or rather made more of an appearance since the end of the dragon festival a few months ago, although a tiny one.

What? Have I not sated this yet?

Oh well, for those curious, I am currently living in the year of X387

Crazy right!! But I don't mind, this just gives me some opportunities I'll explain later.

Hatsu: 'Huh, guess he's back.'

I turn my head after sensing a certain Ki heading this way. Soon a dark figure with a white face and hair fly's in landing a few feet in front of me. Aethis, my anti-magic devil godfather/uncle, a being whose presence I've appreciated for a long time. He's taken care of me since that day, trained me, and told me of my family and origins

When his eyes lands on me, he gives his classical sharp tooth smile.

Aethis: "Hatsu, it's good to see you back from summer, how'd it go?"

Hatsu: "All in all is was great. I went deeper into the woods again this year, the animals I hunted for food were tougher but I managed to adapt, had my usual spars with Jeff who is getting better, and I managed to refine my use in Ki-sensing in and out of battle. I'm also excited since now we can do the transfer like you promised."

Aethis: "Right right, I'm a devil of my word, so you want to inherit it now?"

Hatsu: "Nah, it's better if its tomorrow, so that way I'll be fully energized to accept it instead of me in this tired state. Plus, I miss my bed."

Aethis: "Kekeke. Alright let's head inside and rest, I'm a bit tired to from patrol."

Hatsu: "Find any demons lurking around?"

Aethis: "A couple of low level demons who, as usual,'desire the kill of humans' and all that crap, nothing relating to us so don't worry."

He smiles as he ruffles my hair a bit.

Hatsu: "Well alright then, Imma take shower and head to bed, night Aethis."

Aethis: "Night kid."

After taking a nice, relaxing after that long summer, I hit the sack and think of tomorrow.

Hatsu: 'Tomorrow is the day I inherit anti-magic, and the start of my journey. Auntie Irene, we'll be there soon so hang in there.'

(Third POV)

In a dark, gloomy cell in the middle of the night, a woman with scarlet red hair and some dragon scales breaching her face is seen lying sideways on a hey bed on the ground.

Soon, the women's eyes flutter open as she feels a warm, comforting feeling surround her body.

Irene: "It can't be, Elizabeth?"

However, her eyes are soon shut due to physical and mental exhaustion.

To be Continued...