Parting Ways

"This will be a post-war meeting discussing what we will do next. The war has finally ended, and we have received our reward from the statue," the vice-captain began the meeting.

"I have Steam Strider now, no, 30 people that stayed still until the quest gets it, well they also get the exp if they have System, but at this point, I believe everyone that has it," Mika said.

"And each of us was given a fragment. Should we just combine them?" Airi continued.

The captain looked at everyone and said, "Does anyone disagree? Soldiers, you can speak up if you have an opinion."

The soldiers avoided Maya's gaze.

"They're just traumatized by the recent event. Don't worry about them," Orion said.

"Alright then, you may put your fragments on the table," the vice-captain said.

'Each fragment is as small as a micro SIM card. I wonder what we could make,' Mika thought to himself.

"Uh, vice-captain, I don't think we can just put them all in together and hope they'll shine and become something," Orion said.

"I guess you're right. Mika, assemble them," the vice-captain said.

"What a hassle," Mika muttered to himself as he picked up all of the fragments and tried to put them together.

'Is he doing this all by himself? Should I help him? I don't think those fragments can even form something,' Hiro, the highest-ranked soldier, thought to himself.

Hiro raised his hand and asked, "Vice-captain, can I hel-"

"And done," Mika said, cutting Hiro off.

"Wah, it looks like a key," Airi said, amazed.

'Pardon the fuck? He assembled it in mere seconds,' Hiro continued his inner monologue.

"But what would the key be for? Maybe a storage?" the vice-captain asked.

"Deus Ex Machina," Orion said with a low voice.

"God from machinery?" Mika asked.

"Far to the west..." Orion started.

"Outside of Yggdrasil..."

"Across the sea..."

"Beyond the ocean..."

"There is a land where the ancient device lies. Deus Ex Machina, a machine that can grant any wish, but there's a requirement."

"First, you need to be on the third Breakthrough stage, which I myself am not even on the first stage."

"Second, you need the key."

"And lastly, you need a way to sustain yourself through the journey. My master and I once tried to go to that land without thinking much, and I almost ate my own hand because of the hunger."

"That's it."

"Level third Breakthrough stage? What even happens when we reach the first one?" Airi asked.

"Nobody knows. Once they reach it, no one can contact them," Orion said.

"Hmm, I was going to Yggdrasil in the first place, but I need to reach level 50 first," Mika said.

"Say, Orion, what's your level currently?" Maya asked.

"I'm still far from the first Breakthrough stage, at 583, halfway through 584. Level doesn't determine strength, it's just about experience. What about yours?" Orion said.

"I'm at level 934, still one-third from 935. I don't really use System since I already have my eyes," Maya said.

"How do you guys gain Exp so quickly?" Mika asked.

Maya and Orion stared at Mika, looking confused.

"What do you mean? Anything you do will give you Exp: cooking, killing, meditating," Orion said.

"Is it true that praying to the statue is the fastest way to gain Exp?" Mika asked.

"Well, there's some truth to that, but the fastest way to gain Exp points is..." Maya said.

"I see, so that's the fastest way," Mika replied.

"Alright, enough chitchat. Who should keep the key?" Vice-captain asked, prompting everyone in the meeting room to stare at Maya.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" Maya asked, puzzled.

"Well, you're currently the highest level among us. It should be obvious," Orion said.

"I see. Those who disagree, raise your hand," Vice-captain said.

Airi raised her hand and asked, "My father has reached the third stage of Breakthrough. Can I give it to him?"

"Oh, I just remembered that you're the daughter of Alaric," Orion said.

"I thought his daughter's name was Aureliana Ignatia Regina Imperius... Wait," Vice-captain said, puzzled.

"If you use the first letter of every word, it becomes Airi," Maya interjected.

"Ah, there you go," Airi said, smiling.

"Well, how do you call him?" Vice-captain asked.

"Daddy!" Airi shouted.

"Yes?" Alaric and Mika said in unison.

"Wha-" Everyone's jaw dropped as the air trembled and splintered, creating a kaleidoscope effect like a broken glass prism.

It was as if the space in front of them had shattered into countless fragments, each reflecting a distorted image of Alaric's face.

Alaric, on the other hand, was also surprised. "What?" he stared at Mika.

"Well, this is awkward," Mika said.

Airi beamed at her father, clutching a small key in her hand.

"Daddy! We have a key to Des Ex Mahiha," she exclaimed. "Daddy can access it since daddy is already on the 3rd Breakthrough stage."

Alaric's expression shifted, his voice tinged with regret.

"Airi, my dear. Each person is limited to one wish, and I already made that wish," he replied solemnly.

Curiosity etched on her face, Airi asked, "What did you wish for?"

Alaric hesitated, his mind racing.

"Erm... It's complicated. It's better to discuss when you're old enough," he said evasively.

"I will never visit Daddy again if daddy doesn't tell me," Airi pouted, crossing her arms.

Alaric's gaze bore into her, his voice stern. "Hey-hey, don't be like that."

Airi's eyes narrowed, but before she could speak, Alaric sighed.

"Alright fine, I made the demon queen my wife," he said nonchalantly.

Orion and most of the soldiers whistled, amused by the revelation.

"That explains why you, a human, have a daughter of a demon," Mika said with a chuckle.

Alaric pointed his index finger at Mika.

"You're next," he said with a menacing tone.

Both of them turned their attention to Airi, staring at her with a sinister look.

Rubbing their hands together, they seemed like a pair of villains plotting a heinous crime.

"Hey! What are you two doing?" Airi asked, feeling confused and a little scared.

"Enough. Do we agree to give the key to the captain?" Vice-captain asked, breaking the mood.

Everyone in the room replied with either a nod or a "yes."

"Well then, Airi, Daddy's going to sit on the throne while looking at the ceiling," Alaric said, as the space returned to normal.

With that, the meeting came to an end.

As Mika and Airi walked back to the hostel, Airi held up a small cube in her hand.

"Do you know how to use the Steam Strider?" she asked.

"If it's like an ordinary wind glider, I could easily figure it out," Mika replied.

Suddenly, they heard a voice from a distance.

"Learn to fly like the wind with these three easy steps!" an old man shouted as he held up a sign on his chest.

"To fly or not to fly, that is the question," a child chimed in, holding up a sign above his head.

Mika narrowed his eyes.

"Isn't that the old man who scammed me out of 40 gold coins back in Marcellia?" he muttered.

"Hmm?" Airi looked at him with confusion.

"Old man! Give me back my 40 gold coins!" Mika shouted.

"Eek! Pochi, go back to the tent, we should move to another town." The old man said, pushing the child towards the tent.

"Isn't that the guy you have been stalking?" The child said.

"Shh. Just go back there," the old man replied.

"Hey, hey, HEY!" Mika shouted as he approached the old man.

"C-customer, are you here to learn about wind gliders? I will give you a discount for it," the old man said nervously.

"What was your name again? Orochi? Give me my gold coins back. I gave you 40 gold coins in Marcellia and they said I should only give 10 silver coins," Mika complained.

"S-sorry, I don't recognize you," the old man said, sweating and avoiding eye contact, resting one leg, gulping visibly, and excessively fidgeting.

It was clear to Mika that he was lying.

"Oh, really?" Mika said as he brought her face very close to the old man's.

"W-well, how about this? I teach you how to use a wind glider, and we call it even," the old man said.

Mika sighed as he felt empathy toward the old man.

"Alright, fine. Teach Airi too," Mika said.

"Hey, I already have wings!" Airi protested.

...

After just three hours of training, they learned how to use the wind glider.

...

"Come back again, customer!" the child shouted.

As they walked out of the tent, Mika checked his belongings.

"Now we can travel to the next land much faster!" Airi exclaimed.

"Huh? Did I leave one of my pouches in there?" Mika asked, patting his waist.

"I'll be back. You go to the hostel first," Mika said, turning his head around.

But when he looked back, the tent was nowhere to be seen.

Mika kneeled in despair and shouted.

"THAT DAMN GEEZER!"