36 Vðlµmê 3, þår† 5: Èßßïñg - The Prelude to Boreas Resurgence.
"Well then, good luck, Julian." Orsted spoke, his eyes glaring, his voice gruff but his tone considerate.
"Hm, thanks." Julian thanked him and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nanahoshi walked up to him.
"Good luck." She mumbled meekly.
"Thanks." He replied, almost immediately. He was about to turn but Nanahoshi tugged at his sleeve. He looked back, matching her gaze as she took out a mask.
"What's this?"
"Didn't you said Julian Greyrat has died?"
"Hm, I did."
"Well then, just change of hair isn't enough. Take this with you." She said and handed the mask out to him. He took it and felt it's texture. It was a plain-white mask with two streams of crimson tears flowing from eyes to the very bottom.
He merely nodded his head and she did the same before stepping back.
He walked away as he stood on a platform. A Teleportation Circle to be exact.
The air around him crackled with energy, and he felt a strange tingling sensation in his gut, making him feel nauseated.
He took a deep breath, trying to quell the unease roiling within him.
This wasn't just any short-distanced teleportation journeys that he had before. This one, in particular stretched over a far-off distance.
This was a journey to the infamous [Strife Zone], a place where endless battles and skirmishes between large nations and invading monsters raged on relentlessly.
With a deep breath, Julian stepped into the glowing circle.
Suddenly, the world around him blurred and twisted, as if reality itself were being torn apart.
He felt disoriented --- subtly, as if he were being pulled apart and reassembled simultaneously.
The sensation was overwhelming, and he could only clutch his stomach as he traversed through a [Void].
He looked around curiously.
In that void, he saw nothing but static white, an abyss devoid of any tangible form or substance. It was as if he were floating in a sea of nothingness, disconnected from time and space.
The overwhelming silence was only interrupted by the incessant buzzing of the static.
The experience was surreal, leaving him with a profound sense of curiosity in the vastness of this plane that precipiced between the realm of existence and non-existence.
As quickly as it began, the disorienting journey ended, and Julian found himself standing on uneven ground a few miles away from the infamous [Strife Zone].
The air here was heavy with the stench of decay, and the sky was an ominous shade of crimson, as if it reflected the ceaseless warfare below.
The land itself seemed to writhe and twist with unseen turmoil, reflecting the horrors that had befallen it.
There were a few kilometers between this spot and the actual Strife Zone. He suddenly remembered his trusty stead, Kalajav, his sole companion throughout his adventuring days when he indulged in every kind of dangerous missions. However, his good friend and companion was no more.
However, it wasn't the time to mourn. He took one simple dash and covered the distance in a matter of a single minute.
Arriving there, without batting an eye, Julian took in the gruesome sight before him. The Strife Zone was a nightmarish landscape, littered with the grotesque and mutilated remains of those who had been unfortunate enough to be teleported here during the [Metastasis Event].
Bones and debris were scattered everywhere, remnants of a perpetual conflict that had no end in sight.
The ground was scorched and cratered from the countless battles that had taken place. Rivers of blood flowed sluggishly, merging with pools of toxic sludge, giving the land an eerie reddish hue.
The vegetation that once thrived here was now twisted and corrupted, growing in strange and unnatural ways, serving as a haunting reminder of the destruction that had befallen this once fertile land.
Or not. This land had been the target of strife for so long that there was no way to tell that it was once fertile or not.
In the distance, Julian could see the remnants of long forgotten civilisation, now reduced to crumbling ruins by the unending warfare.
Broken spires reached for the blood-stained sky like skeletal fingers, casting long shadows over the desolate landscape. The echoes of distant explosions and battle cries filled the air, a constant reminder of the ever-present danger that lurked in this forsaken realm.
"Guess I'll wear it." He spoke to himself, letting the wind caress his face one last time before he lowered his chin and placed the mask over his face. It fitted just perfectly and attached like a leech to his skin. "Hm." He nodded approvingly.
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As Julian ventured further into the [Strife Zone], the grim reality of the place began to envelop him. Grotesque creatures roamed the desolate land, brought here from the twisted chaos of the [Metastasis Event].
He was taking a brisk walk, totally ignoring the people around him as monsters shred them to pieces. He watched a Coyote run past him; a human's intestine stuck between its small jaw. He looked back at the monster and then at its victim who was still on the ground, alive and bleeding out.
The man looked up to him, blood oozing out of his mouth.
The memory of his own self laying on the ground, bleeding out invaded his mind. The next moment he severed his head in the blink of an eye. Before anyone could blink, his sword was back inside his sheath.
Why did he put the man out of his misery?
Because it was convenient than healing or purely because he saw his past self in him and idea of being weak and reeling on the ground repulsed him?
We might never know. The secrets that lied inside the little boy, stayed with him.
Wherever he looked, he saw the same scene.
The attackers----monsters and the victims---mostly humans and weaker monsters, both shared the same appearances --- nightmarish—horrific amalgamations of flesh, metal, and magic.
Limbs twisted at unnatural angles, oozing with acidic mucus, and mismatched eyes glowed with malevolence. Some monsters had elongated tentacles sprouting from their backs, dripping with venom. Others were winged monstrosities, screeching overhead with a bone-chilling resonance.
"What am I supposed to do here?" Julian asked himself, contemplating his options. Orsted didn't give him a definitive mission. He was just asked to come here and do whatever he seemed fit. Over the course of past 2 years, while they didn't talk much, Orsted became increasingly reliant on whatever Julian said.
He trusted his words. But even Orsted wasn't stupid enough to trust Julian completely. While he still trusted him, there was a certain degree of disdain in his eyes.
{You somehow remind me of the Man-God. It makes me want to sap the life out of you.}
This was something the Dragon-God, Orsted said once to him. He knew the boy was on his side since he himself pleaded his allegiance to him, however, he knew there were intricate layers of complexity to Julian. He could handle Man-God, but Julian seemed something even more vile.
He sighed. "Guess I will just look around."
As he stepped forward, a few heads turned towards him. Green, red, yellow---hungry and predatory gazes.
One monster leapt forward at an astonishing speed, resembling a huge fox. It leapt in the air and swung its nails down at him. Julian side stepped simply. The giant fox landed on the ground. However, before it could maneuver around him, Julian stepped on its head.
The skull crushed with a sickening crack as its eyes bulged out and its small-massed brain poured out of its eye sockets.
"Hm? I wasn't using Battle Aura." He mused. According to Orsted, Julian made only a "slight" progress. Seeing from the "strongest's" perspective, his growth was bound to seem negligible. Deciding not to give it much thought, he rubbed his feet off the sand on the ground and continued his journey forward.
"Hunger sure takes their instincts away." Julian commented tiredly as he moved his neck to the side and dodged a beak attack from a vulture. No, it was an eagle. "Air force eagle?" He asked himself, confused for a while what an exclusive Belgaritt Continent monster was doing here but it was likely that it got teleported here.
There were a few more, circling around him in the sky. "They can use wind magic." He noted.
As if on cue, it used Wind Magic and dipped down towards him. Julian didn't unsheathe his sword but instead caugh the monster with his left hand and smacked it on the ground. Placing a foot on its head, he plucked out the wing he had in his hand and examined it closely. "Hm. It can be used to make a quill pen." Julian mused as the monster underneath him writhed in agony.
The others also came down, directing their razor-sharp wings at him while being in tandem with their Wind Magic. "But it'd need some softening." He spoke as he dodged their combined attack and moved away from the injured one.
2 out of the three flocked around the injured one while the last one attacked Julian. He looked in awe at them. "Must be a family." he thought.
To an ordinary observer, this spectacle would have sufficed to warm the cockles of a human heart, evoking feelings of compassion, even for these monsters.
However, Julian's reaction was markedly different as he responded with in an uncanny way, suggesting a hidden depth to his emotions.
He raised his hand.
[Advanced Rank Fire Spell - Exodus Flame]
A fireball the size of his fist fire off from his palm and swallowed the oncoming monster. It didn't stop there and hit the other three, completely pulverizing them. The ball exploded on the impact and swallowed the surrounding monsters as well who were slowly sneaking up to him leaving behind nothing but either charred bones or ashes.
As he gazed upon the smoldering ruins where the eagle family was, Julian's countenance remained inscrutable, betraying no hint of remorse or elation. With a measured step, he distanced himself from there and tucked his hands into his pockets.
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Julian was walking, his mind an unfathomable void, bereft of coherent thoughts, much like an untouched expanse of a blank parchment. The recent teleportation experience had left him pondering the about the origin of the static white void he had traversed.
Within the confines of his own mind, he found himself questioning if that was the rumored "center" of the world --- an epicenter of this six-faced-world.
However, as he was lost in thought, Julian's pace came to a halt. The pale blue irises suddenly transformed into a hue of pale green. As if awakened from a stupor, he sensed a distinct mana signature in the air—an aura that felt oddly familiar.
"Hm? Maybe I should check it out." Driven by pure curiosity, Julian rushed towards the source of the mana. As he approached, the silhouette of a figure became evident amidst the grotesque scenery.
After narrowing his eyes, he recognized it.
It was Philip---his twin brother's employer.
Yet, the sight that beheld him was as harrowing as it was perplexing. Philip, usually composed and stoic, now appeared desolate and forlorn, hunched over a lifeless body. It was Helda, his beloved wife, whose life had been extinguished, leaving an aura of sorrow lingering in the air.
Julian noted that Philip was missing an arm as he sat on his knees while a pool of crimson blood formed beneath him. He was about to approach him but from the periphery of his vision, he saw that a monstrous apparition loomed large, making its inexorable approach towards the grief-stricken Philip.
This grotesque behemoth, an abomination in both form and nature, bared its fangs and claws with an unholy thirst for carnage. The monstrous visage and unstable mana it exuded foretold certain doom for Philip, who remained oblivious to the impending peril---lost in sorrow.
Just as the creature crawled up to him, Julian's hand moved to his sword's hilt. With a fluid grace, the blade gleamed in the muted light. Like an ominous clatter of death itself, the voice reached the monster's ears but remained elusive to Philip.
He extended his hand towards the monster.
Suddenly, the monster stopped moving and was instantly pulled in towards Julian. He simply extended his sword forward. The monster came closer and closer until its chest was impaled by his sword. The sword went through its heart, killing it then and there.
Julian loosened his grip over the monster, and it plopped on the ground. He made an arc and got rid of the blood splatters from his sword. Sheathing it, he moved towards Philip.
"Excuse me?" He spoke, voice devoid of any visible emotion.
Philip looked back, frantically, his eyes wide open. There were huge bags under his eyes and his skin was deathly pale. The stub that formed around the place where his hand was bitten off was bleeding, blood drops trickling at a rapid rate.
"Who ar--" Before he could talk, his vision doubled, and he fell on the ground splattered with blood and a bile-inducing miasma of poison and monster dung. Julian caught him, looking down at his face that was slowly losing its colour.
"Should I?" Julian asked himself out loud.
RUDEUS GREYRAT
The weight on my heart seems less now. It feels as if there was a colossal creature sitting on my chest and now it has been vanquished. Why did I felt like my heart was being twisted like that?
Ah, yes.
My twin brother, Julian died.
Why did I care so much about him? He left home when he was 5. And I left home when I was 7. We didn't even spend any time worth mentioning together.
Then why as soon as I heard about his death, I felt like the whole world was flipped on me? I think I know.
It wasn't just Roxy who took me out. He did it. He was trying to push me outside the house months before Roxy did. He was the catalyst for my ability to overcome my past trauma and step outside the house. Roxy was just the last push.
Now I know why I had the thought that if I could, I'd have taken his place. He helped me overcome a part of me that I thought I'd never be able to get rid of.
I turned in my bed, my eyes still closed. Wait......
I can't move.
HUH!?
Panicking, I quickly opened my eyes. However, the panic that felt all-consuming withered away like a leaf in full-blown autumn. There were a pair of hands around my neck and legs that tangled around mine, holding me in place.
It was Eris.....
Ah yes, she tried to comfort me. We didn't do anything naughty.
I know, hard to believe coming from me but..... we did kiss. This was my first kiss in both my lives. I feel so happy that it was Eris. My heart felt like it would've exploded last night. As soon as her silky lips touched mine, I felt all my remorse and anguish melt away like butter in a pan.
Hmmm. I think I've fallen for her. For Eris of all people.
And I think I've fallen HARD. Not just I have "fallen" hard for her, but I am very "hard" right now. Why, might you ask?
Well, first of all, "MUAHAHAHAHA"
Secondly, of course, you single numskulls won't know what it's like to be in the company of a beauty like Eris! I mean, I don't blame you all, not everyone is blessed with the charisma and luck such as me.
It's hard being the blessed one, I tell ya.
Her arms were around my neck and her fingers were tangle with the back of my head, clutching at my hair with subtle ferocity, even though she was asleep. As for me, well, I was hyperventilating between her "chesticles" or "fun-bags" if you would.
She has her usual faint scent to her. It's like it's her exclusive body odor. I can sniff it from afar.
Yes, just like a dog. Woof!
You know what else "the" dog wants to do right now? There were beads of sweat rolling down Eris' mountains down into the deep valley. It's like seeing an ice ball fall from Mt. Everest into Kali Gandaki---surreal.
AWOOOOH! The wolf inside of me is hungry.
Well then, itadakimasu~
I reached out for the elixir of life---Amrita.
Ah... UMAI!
It barely touched but I could feel the flavors melting on my tong--
I was sent crashing into a wall. Looking up, I saw Eris with a pink tint on her cheeks. Oh boy, she's mad. She stood up on the bed, crossed her arms, spread her legs in a wide stance and lifted her chin, looking down on me.
"Rudeus!" She spoke in her usual loud, defiant voice.
"W-Wha--- I-I am sorry!" I apologised just like any other criminal or a coward would. I prostrated, smacked my head on the floor, put my hands where she could see it and trembled on purpose for maximum chances of getting some forgiveness.
Just please don't break my little guy. He has nothing to do with it. It was "I". I am the sinner.
"D-Don't apologise. I told you..... I- I wanted it too...." her voice trailed off, her eyes looking in a distance.
Eh, well, not in distance. Just at the wall.
"A-Anyways. No touching other than at night, ok?"
Huh.... what do you mean? Other than night? It means I can have my way at night, right? Is that what you mean... huh?
"O-Ok." I replied, my heart jumping in all directions like a "monke" on trampoline.
"By the way.... Eris?" I said as she looked down at me, her bashing demeanor fading away and replaced by the usual defiant one.
"What?"
"I can see your err..."
I mean, she was standing up on the bed with her legs in wide stance.
It took her a while to realise. But when she did...
....she knocked me unconscious with the hilt of her sword.
But eh, it was all worth it in the end.
Just like that, me, a former NEET, got his first girlfriend in this world.
Feels good to not be single. Unless like the ones reading this.
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Paul arrived at the pub where Rudeus was. His eyes darted here and there before landing on Rudy. He was sitting between Ruijerd the Superd and Eris. He laid his head over Eris' shoulder, his eyes closed and a deep frown over his face.
Paul grimaced, his features flashing with an alchemy of emotions as he saw his elder son. Even after all that happened yesterday, here he was, relaxing with his dear student. It pained him to think like that, but after talking to Geese, he had already decided he was going to make up with him.
Seeing the frown over his face, Paul somehow felt calm. He convinced himself, that Rudy was worried. And he was seeking comfort with her because his own father failed to not only provide him with it but in the end became an addition to his misery.
He had suffered a lot as well. A 10-year-old kid stranded on Demon Continent with the responsibility to bring back another person. It wasn't just about being strong. The weight of responsibility and navigating through everything. It wasn't easy for an adult, let alone a kid his age.
Even Paul left home at the age of 12. Now that he was sober and was thinking about it this way, he felt even worse, questioning whether he was worthy of even being called as a father of someone as talented and levelheaded as Rudeus.
He let out a deep breath. 'Ok, I will talk to him and make up with him.' He reassured his objectives to himself, mumbling the same words over and over again----just like how he had practiced.
As he reached the counter of the bar, Paul froze in his place. He felt a pair of eyes looking straight at him. It was Ruijerd's. There was no malicious intent in them, but something about them was off-putting. There was a certain emotion in them.
He knew it at first glance. A rebuttal. He had saw the same look in Zenith's eyes as well when he used to do something that was unbecoming of his role. He was Rudeus' father. And Ruijerd' gaze, despite being silent was laced with rebuke.
Paul gulped audibly, the lump of dry saliva refusing to go down his throat. He was hesitant. He knew Rudeus had been in a perilous situation, barely hanging on to the edge of the cliff and keeping himself and the girl from falling into the deep waters. But at the same time, as much as he was happy to see him in good health, he had lost his other son.
He was conflicted.
"R... Rudy." He spoke, his voice cracking due to how parched his throat was. He grimaced, closing on his eye. There was a nauseating sensation pressing against the back of his throat. He was a heavy drinker, but the multiple days spent doing nothing but drinking and fighting while drunk was slowly catching up to him.
"Haaah? How dare you come here!" Eris spoke as she heard his voice, standing up from her seat as Rudy's fell down the stool. Eris reached out for the sword attached to her waist and pointed its tip towards Paul.
"Oh? So, you're hiding behind girls now, yeah Rudy?" Paul ignored her and looked over his shoulder in Rudeus' direction.
He got up and subtly rubbed his forehead that had crashed against the ground. Looking up he saw Paul. His heart palpitated.
He knew he was in the wrong. It was all his fault. Paul was right about blaming him. The guilt made him look down, not meeting Paul's gaze.
However, Paul had another idea. His heart clenched in sorrow as he thought Rudeus was avoiding his gaze because he was too disappointed in him as a father. It hurt him. Paul had no idea where Zenith, Lilia and Aisha were. Julian was dead and Rudeus was avoiding him.
It was only natural he would feel his spirits break.
"I see. So that is how it is." Paul said and turned around, biting his lip as he lifted his chin up and looked at the ceiling. He wasn't admiring it. The roof was nothing but plain wood. He was clinging on to his pride as a man and a father and not letting his tears drop in front of his son. Not that now he was sober.
"Hey! Come back! How dare you come here, show your face and then go away!" Eris was still shouting at him. Her grip on her hilt tighetened as she readied herself to launch herself at Paul.
"Eris... that is enough." Rudeus spoke from behind, still hanging his head down.
"But he said all those horrible things to you! He blamed you when you were trying your best." Eris kept shouting, even at Rudeus. She looked back at Paul's back, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. It felt as if a wild animal was peering down at him.
Eris was about to leap at Paul, but Ruijerd picked her up like a stray cat and glanced back at Rudy. "We will leave you two alone. Do what you want."
"Hey, Ruijerd! Let me go! We can't let Rudy alone with his man. He will hurt him again. Did you forget how sad he was!?" Eris kept on talking but the [Guard Dog: Ruijerd] carried her away.
As he was crossing Paul who still had his back to the whole commotion, he stopped and placed his hand over his shoulder. "Talk to him. Before it is too late." He spoke in a barely audible whisper.
Paul looked at him with swollen eyes. "But he won't even lo--"
Paul paused as he saw a somber smile on Ruijerd's scarred face. The look was the same as a man who had gone through similar situation. Eyes full of regret. His voice was wavering when he talked to Paul. There were unsaid words that the two men communicated in a matter of a few glances.
Paul cursed himself, cursed his lack of tact and irresponsibility.
He wasn't the kid here. Rudeus was. His responsibility was to look after him. Not to expect Rudeus to look after him.
Paul nodded and Ruijerd smiled before dragging Eris outside, who was still flailing her arms like a wild, unrestrained cat.
Paul made his way to Rudy who was staring blankly at the floor. He was scared.
Scared to look back up at Paul.
He was ashamed. Even though he was in shock, he was enjoying his life with Eris. He couldn't help it.
The room seemed to contract, suffused with an aura of trepidation, as if both father and son were caught in the throes of an emotional storm.
Paul scratched his head before placing his other hand on Rudy's head and ruffled his hair. Rudeus looked up at Paul. Paul had an embarrassed look on his face as she scratched his chin. "Good to see you again, Rudy. I missed you and I am sorr---"
Before he could finish, Rudy threw his arms around Paul and rested his chin on his shoulder. "No, I am sorry." He apologized, earnestly.
Paul sniffled slightly, "Its alright. None of this is your fault. I am proud of you that you made it this far." Paul consoled, tears forming in his eyes.
The dam around Rudy broke as well as he too, bursted into tears. "I missed you too, father." He spoke between muffled sobs and buried his face in his shoulder.
JULIAN GREYRAT
"So? How did you get here?" I asked with my mask on. My voice was much different than the last time I met Philip. I have also grown a lot, thanks to the better constitution of this body. Although, I was much leaner than before, it was nigh impossible for Phillip to recognise me.
"Hm? Oh yeah. First of all, allow me to express my deepest gratitude for saving me earlier. I do not know what state I would've ended up in if not for your timely rescue." He dipped his head while placing his hand on his knees. He was sitting on an earthen platform I had conjured for him.
"You're welcome." I replied, as a stranger would.
"Oh, you asked how I got here." He followed up, ready to answer my question after thanking me. The usual light in Philip's eyes was gone. After all, his wife was mutilated by monsters right in front of his eyes. It was already commendable enough that they managed to survive all this time here. Hilda's remains were in a pot beside him that I gave him.
"You can answer when you feel alright." I replied, sitting straight.
"I am alright now. Allow me to first introduce myself." He spoke, sighing heavily, as if even breathing was laborious for him. "My name is Philip Boreas Greyrat." He introduced himself, "I am the Mayor of Roa. Or perhaps, I was. I failed to protect my people and even ended up here myself and got killed if it wasn't for you."
"Hm? Isn't it a natural disaster? Why do you think you would be blamed for it?" I asked him, crossing my legs.
"Be it natural or not, the process usually doesn't matter. It is the end results that people consider the most. It is how the world and life is, especially in the grand schemes of nobles." He spoke with a bittersweet look on his face, as if reminiscing something.
"Is it ok for you to introduce yourself like that? I can kill you if I want."
Philip let out a chuckle. "You can kill me if you want. There is almost nothing left going on for me. My household suffered the same fate as me. They'd either die in zones like this or be killed either way if they still managed to reach back home."
I looked straight at him. "So, have you lost all hope?" I asked. If he was going to be like this, there was no use for him. I will kill him right now, right here.
Philip stayed silent; his eyes focused on the crackling fire between us. "Hope is lost, yes indeed." He spoke as I reached out for my sword. I have no need for a lost cause. If he thinks hope is lost and he can't make himself useful, then there is no need for his head to remain on his shoulders.
"But a man can dream. You know this is how humans are. Selfish and self-centered. Even if there is no hope, a person keeps that hope alive until the end. Sometimes with delusions, sometimes with a constant rat-chase via hard work. If he still fails in the end, he looks up and prays to whatever God there is, for a miracle. So, hope maybe lost, but call me delusional, I haven't lost hope."
My fingers, mere inches away from the hilt slowly receded back. This would suffice.
I can use him. He might look like he has turned into a hollow husk of a man, but there is a light in his eyes.
"By the way mister.... can I at least know your name?" Philip asked as I looked down at him.
A name..... huh?
I'd certainly need one. Memories of Nanahoshi bringing up the same topic resurfaced in my mind.
"You have to think of another name for yourself."
"I know."
"How about using your Japanese name? What is it?"
"I don't feel comfortable saying it."
"Ugh.... then how about Kiyotaka? That is the guy who died and was also a member of ANHS when I was transported here."
"Hm."
"Don't "hm" me. Tell me, how is it?"
"I'll think about it."
"You're boring."
The conversation played in my mind like a fresh memory, like it had taken place just a few moments ago.
"My name.... is Kiyotaka."
2 years ago, my life as Julian Greyrat came to an end by the hands of Dragon-God, Orsted. Now, 2 years later, due to the Dragon-God, I was able to to overcome the ceiling I had hit in my swordsmanship technique and now, my life as Kiyotaka had started. This time, in a new world.
As much as I liked myself as Julian Greyrat, until I confirm the life and death state of my whole family, I have decided to become what I was.
An identity that is a part of me. Something, I can't run away from. I will revert back to the way I was, until I track down each and every member of my family.
Yes, I have decided. Along with Orsted's objectives that align with my own goals.
I'll sink the whole continent beneath rubble if I have to.
"Ah, Kiyotaka. That is an odd name. But it has a nice ring to it. Who named you?" Philip asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Hm? My mom." I replied.
"Ah, she must really love you for going out of her way to select such a unique name."
"Not really." I replied, flatly, as a matter-of-factly.
"I am sorry if that brought back any memory." Philip answered. He was a shrewd man.
"It's ok. I do not mind." I replied, waving my hand dismissively.
"By the way, Sir Kiyotaka, can I ask you of a favour?" Philip asked.
Ah, I know what he means.
"Everything comes at a price. I can take you back until its appealing." I replied with a shrug. Money was crucial. I needed money if I wanted to travel across the world.
"Of course. I will make sure you get a hefty sum." He replied, looking down.
"It's not just money." I spoke.
"Then?"
"Boreas Greyrats. How is the state of affairs with Darius Silva?" I asked as his expression hardened. Swallowing a hard lump, he adjusted himself and bent forward and started speaking.
"As you know........"
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RUDEUS GREYRAT
I summarized the events I had discussed with Paul.
"Eris, it seems that our home town doesn't exist anymore."
"Right."
"It seems that Philip-sama and Sauros-sama still haven't been found either."
"It can't be helped, huh?"
"We basically don't know Ghyslaine's whereabouts either, and it's possible that..."
"You know, Rudeus..." Eris crossed her arms, raised her chin and looked at me. "I've already prepared myself for that much." There was no hesitation in Eris' eyes. They were eyes that as usual, held great strength, arrogance, and not a single doubt about her future.
It's not that she had forgotten, but that she had prepared herself. That's what she had said.
"Though I think Ghyslaine is alive somewhere, it wouldn't be strange if Otou-sama and Ojii-sama are dead, huh?" She said with a snort.
In other words, because it was tough for her when she had been teleported to the Magic Continent, she had already anticipated that others might have died. The situation should be something like that, huh?
No, she might be putting on a tough front.
Seeing her so brave and gallant like this almost makes me not believe all that had happened a few nights ago. It almost makes my heart go doki~ doki~.
Although, this new side of her's is really adorable. Normally if I looked at her chest or anywhere, she'd scowl or punch me in the gut. But now, if I size her up or look at her lips, she still makes an angry face but for the most part, she just blushes and looks the other way.
"In a week's time, we plan to leave town," Ruijerd said, his concern evident. "But are you okay with that?"
At any rate, we were discussing our plans to leave town in about a week. The question struck a nerve with me, as Ruijerd pointed out that once we begin their journey, there's a possibility of never seeing my father again.
This somber thought shifted the tone of the conversation and my mental train, making it more serious than our usual exchanges.
However, I explained to Ruijerd that our journey was driven by the need to find our lost family members, and that was our priority. So, our main focus would be on gathering information about the teleported people, especially those who might have traveled between Milis and Asura—the world's Silk Road, bustling with travelers and merchants.
During this time, we planned to stay in each town for about a week, dedicating our efforts to gathering information rather than earning money. Our goal was to uncover something our predecessors might have missed, something that could lead us to our missing loved ones.
But there was a complication.
Ruijerd revealed a letter from an acquaintance of his, Gouache Brush, and explained that he seemed to be an important person, perhaps even a noble, judging by the number of subordinates he had.
The thought of handing over the letter worried me, as it might cause problems with the customs house or others if Gouache's standing turned out to be less than ideal.
Nonetheless, I couldn't ignore the joy on Ruijerd's face when he produced the letter. So, I decided to let him take the lead in this matter, trying not to dwell on the potential risks.As we discussed our plans further, we touched on the significance of crossing the seas in this world.
It held a special meaning, unlike traveling by land, and could be quite challenging, especially for a Superd like Ruijerd. I wondered how we would manage the voyage fee and navigate through any potential complications.
Deep in thought, I remembered the playful remark Eris made, expressing her eagerness to leave even tomorrow. It brought a smile to my face. Of course, this meant that I can't be getting lovey-dovey with my cute Eris, but a man can handle himself.
After all, patience is highly rewarded.
And well, I can always cuddle a bit at night, ehehehe.
So, our strategy meeting concluded, and we set our minds on the path ahead—gathering information, searching for our missing family members, and uncovering the mysteries that lay along the Silk Road.
Just wait for me, Mom, Aisha and Lilia. I will save you all.
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Author's Note---
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