[Okay, this is the new chapter. I will try to speed up things in the current world. That's all, Happy reading :)]
After sealing the deal with Hephaestus, Hestia and Haruhime walked from the kitchen bringing the breakfast. The breakfast was harmonious and enjoyable for him. Especially, seeing the joyful smile blossoming on Haruhime's face, he felt at ease. It seemed that she and Hestia already became friends and quite familiar with each other.
Seeing how Hestia behave and gorged the food, Prana couldn't help to ask Hephaestus how she was behaving in Heaven, "Is she also like this in God's realm?"
Hephaestus could only smile. Her friend was really too easy to read. But she thought that it was a good thing, at least she didn't have any machinations inside her mind.
From what Prana could infer, she was likely a naive goddess. He could imagine that she must drove away every Gods or goddess who had insincere toward her. However, by seeing her exchange before and at the moment, she trusted her friends.
The breakfast time ended, both of the Goddesses back to where they belong. And Prana also promised her to officially join her at noon in the Guild HQ.
…
Not much was happening before and after the ceremony, it just that his Goddess was too shocked reading his status. Even though she already prepared, she was still surprised. A bonafide Lv. 5 adventurer who could steamroll any adventurer in the Level. Especially his skills, his lightning affinity, and Dr. Blythe, from its description the more she read the weirder her expression. He could control lightning at his will, the other skill was very useful in long-term fighting.
Hephaestus was glad, her decision to employ (blackmail) him was correct.
After the ceremony, Hephaestus began to bring Prana to register for the tournament. As Hephaestus Familia was quite reputable, Prana was exempted from the pre-eliminates stage, and directly join the elimination in the best sixteen.
From the time being Prana didn't have anything to do. He began inspecting his status and allocating his points.
[ Prana Takeda, 17 Years Old
Hp : 100%
Mp : 100%
Str : 1.478
Agi : 2.556
Dex : 1.278 (0.5 x Agi,) [There won't be any Endurance, since I thought a person endurance was directly linked to their willpower, thus HP will stay at percentage]
Skills:
Active : Instant Strike (A), Backstab (C), Dr. Blythe (SS), Defensive Blade (B), Appraisal (D)
Passive : Lightning Manipulation (S+), Camouflage (C).
Occular Power : Three Tomoe Sharingan (Evolution is impossible)
Reactor : Thunder Core (Rare)
Equipment : Poisonous Flying Dagger (SSR), Guardian Necklace (SR), Hassan's Cloak Replica (SR)
Points/Stats : 210872/2000
Inventory : Power Stone Fragmentx1, Harry Potter…., Gigai]
'Allocate one thousand for Agility, six hundred for Strength, and the rest put it at my Dexterity'
In the past, whenever Prana played a game in his teen, he would always pick any character that specializes in speed. He thought that it was really cool to move 'swish' 'swosh' and your opponent was being dazzled by it. Since he could see his own status of course he would be heavily invested in his speed.
'So many points but I don't know if it's enough to win the tournament.'
---
While Prana was walked aimlessly, he managed to catch a sight of Lililuca Arde being dragged to an alley. He knew that she must be being bullied.
Prana jumps toward the roof and watching the scene unfold before his eyes. He just watched it silently, without any intention to help. Yep, it was kind of fucked up, watching someone getting bullied without helping her a hand. But what can he do? He just wanted to leave this place sooner, if he tangled up again in this mess, he might reluctant to leave later. Again, he wasn't a hero. The case with Haruhime was just an accident where he was still being optimistic, that his mindset still 'help if you can'. Thus, Prana could only watch the scene unfold.
The bullying was the usual case when the weak were being exhorted and beaten. Fortunately, the bullies didn't use any heavy-handed method. The girl was lying weakly with some bruises on her face and limbs, she was crying.
Somehow, she began to hate this world and ask heaven, "Why?"
Why the Gods descend to the mortal world and give mortal chances to become stronger? Why her God was so indifferent toward his children's behavior, unlike other Gods? Why was she in the bottom of the rung like this?
She was crying so miserably.
Prana who was watching from above finally decided to help to jump down and approach her. He pitied the girl. A little girl was subjected to this abuse and live in this kind of world.
She heard a thud in the alley, and steps were approaching. She just lay weakly and didn't have any intention to stand up.
"What do you wish, little girl?" the sound rang out softly above her head.
The little girl just kept crying and ignored him.
"I can grant your wish. What do you wish? Revenge? Freedom? Wealth? Power?"
Prana was bullshitting. Of course, he could grant some of them, but Power? Heh. Prana, himself didn't have the confidence to win the tournament between the first-class adventurer. Wealth? As if he was having any excess valuable.
"I.." The little girl finally responded. 'what does she wish for?' she wanted to get out of her current Familia, she was fed up with the constant bullying. But was that what she truly wishes?
"I want a Family"
Yes, she wanted a Family. A true Family where she has someone to be called as her close relative. Like the florist from before, they treated her like their family.
Meanwhile, Prana was taken aback by her request. How could he make a Family for her?
"You don't want revenge on those that bullied you? Or having freedom so you can do anything as you please?"
She was silent again. If she truly had a chance to have a new Family, it might be possible that those guys would disturb her life again, like what they did to the old couple florist from before. If that happened, the accident before would be repeated. She didn't want that to happen.
"I don't know, …hiks… I want a Family who treats me like their own. …hiks… But I also need my freedom to realize that. Also, I need the power to protect my family." She kept crying while she realized how weak she was. The weak didn't have many choices, only dream.
She began to sit and facing where the sounds were. Then, she saw a black-robed man with a rabbit mask on his face. She didn't know why but her intuition told her that the man was smiling right now.
Prana was smiling hearing her wish, 'she is smart, she knows what her situation. I can grant her wish, but what should I take for the payment as a devil?'
"I can grant those wishes. But what can you give me as your payment, little girl?"
"I.. I.." She didn't know what kind of payment that could satisfy him.
"Limbs? Eyes? Organs? Or Soul?"
His chilling voice with the conditions mentioned made her shiver, and the conditions given made her pale face even whiter. "I... I can give you my soul" If I lose other parts of my body, I will become a burden for others. "For the soul, when it will be collected?"
"Don't worry, it is at the end of your life"
"Fuh" She relaxed slightly.
The deal has been made. Prana directly gives something to her. It was a dagger with a Z-weird curve and a note.
"Go to that person, that name will become your hint. He will appear tomorrow at the tournament"
Lily picked the note and the dagger, the content of the note was only a single name "Prana". While the curved dagger looked like a magic tool, but she couldn't find any trace of magic inside. 'This is my chance'
"Don't worry, that dagger can't be passed and seen by anyone except him"
The curved dagger was a magic tool used by a woman titled Witch of Betrayal. It is famous for able to negate any kind of magic and rules. This dagger was bought by Prana from the system store for ten thousand points, and it even has a condition of fucking one-time use, unless he bought the supposed skill for the dagger. Fortunately, if he managed to complete the last objective, the mission would complete and completely offset the expenditure.
The next day, Prana slept soundly until noon. He forgot about the tournament. If not for that someone was knocked on his door loudly, he might be still asleep.
"Hello!" A man's voice was heard from outside while he was banging his door.
He rubbed his eyes while opening the door, and asked impatiently, "What?" He didn't even confirm who the other party was.
"Hephaestus-sama was searching for you" The man was wearing a black windbreaker and a slack for his pants, his face was quite friendly, and his hair was colorful as always. Every person Prana met always had different hair color. This one was red, almost the same as Hephaestus.
"Why Hephaestus was searching for me?" Prana still didn't register the situation.
The man in red hair was infuriated, the Goddess she always admired, and he dared to casually said her name without honorifics. But he held back since his Goddess said he was her fighter for First-Class Adventurer Group.
"The tournament already begun, Hephaestus-sama wanted you to meet her and bring you around"
Hearing the word 'tournament', he instantly awake. 'Dang, he forgot his deal. Hopefully, the chibi still watching the tournament.'
Prana didn't care about Hephaestus for now, his fight still the third day anyway.
"Okay, let me clean up first"
---
"Hey what's your name?" Prana decided to ask him a question. The atmosphere was quite tense between them. It seemed as if that both of them were enemies.
"Welf Crozzo" He answered curtly. "Hey, you aren't our Familia member, how come Hephaestus-sama choose you as our representative?"
"Mercenary, does it ring a bell?"
"Huh?"
"It's almost liked an assassin, but mercenary sometimes refers to what a bodyguard do" Prana decided to answer it blindly.
"Ohh. It means that you are being paid to do this right? Then why you choose to accept it?" He asked a question again.
"I owe her" He snorted, 'Tch if she isn't holding my weakness, I don't want to do this either'
"Na, Welf, why she urgently needs me right now? If I remember, my fight should be tomorrow or the day after?"
With a surprised expression, Welf answered, "What? You don't know?"
'Should I know?' Prana mused, "Ah" He nodded and urging him to explain.
"You see, Hephaestus Familia is one of the sponsors of this activity right now. Thus, the EO needs our Familia to send her strongest adventurer to do an exhibition match against a monster"
"Tch, troublesome."
As both of them walking, they arrived at the site. There were deafening cheers, and passionate comments sounded from the audiences and commentator.
Welf began leading the way to the Hephaestus' seat. Prana could see a womanly familiar figure was having a conversation with a woman.
"Hephaestus-sama! The task is complete" Welf shouted proudly. He was behaving as if it was a great task to fetch Prana.
'He lacks a tail and ears' Prana laughed inwardly.
"Ohh. Welf, Prana, you finally come at last. If you don't. I don't know what to do" Hephaestus smiled teasingly and threateningly.
Prana just maintains his silence; his gaze indirectly prompts her to continue talking about the reason she called him.
"What a stoned man!" The flat-chested woman beside Hephaestus took a jab at his attitude.
However, Prana just ignores the remark, and just continue staring at Hephaestus.
"Okay, Okay. I want you to help her"
"No. I don't know her" Prana rejected it firmly.
"Then let me introduce myself. I am Loki." The woman said it proudly and patted her chest.
"Nice to meet you. But I still refuse"
Prana could only stare at the two women and sigh, [what an absurd situation, and what with that proud expression as if 'you should know me right now']
"Then?"
"I need you to find a person for me."
He wanted to reject it, but two quests were formed before he could open his mouth.
[Sports Event is Great for Your Body: Let's stretch up more!!!
1. Follow all the events and games
2. Win the competition and became the champion of the First Group
Rewards:
1. 1000 Free Stats, and 9999 Points
No penalty
2. 5000 Free Stats. S-Rank Skill Book, and 49000 Points
Failure : Judgment of Lightning. ]
'Damn, this quest is basically asking me to lose right. How could I put myself to win against the undisputable No. 1 adventurer? If he is only at Lv. 6; I might stand a chance, but Ottar is at Lv. 7. Even if he was only recently made a breakthrough, the power system in this world said that anyone who advances to Lv. 7 or will get a respective skill from their race/spirit. And this skill was the one that made him acknowledged by many.'
Prana was in dilemma. The rewards for the second condition were too great. S-rank Skill and 5000 Stats. But he couldn't win, there is two levels gap between the two of them. Injure him? Possible. Defeat him? Unlikely.
Fortunately, the punishment was quite advantageous for him. Lightning, that was what he feared the least, and it might be possible to upgrade his Thunder core by absorbing some lightning.
He sighed loudly, so Hephaestus and the woman beside her could hear his reluctance.
[Find Zeus
Loki Familia one of the Familia that takes part in exiling Zeus Familia needs something for Zeus. But she didn't know his whereabouts.
Find him and persuade him to meet her
Reward: A one-way ticket to another world x1
Yes/No]
'This quest is hard. In history, both of the Familia seemed to have grudges against each other. Besides, I don't know where to search for him. Should I reject it? Since I don't need the reward anyway. I could go to the next world for free after going through the objectives. Besides, I could buy 'that' to travel.'
From both of the Goddesses' view, Prana seemed quite conflicted, but later on, it seemed that he would agree since he was constantly nodded his head.
"Okay, I decided"
"Really, you will help me find him?" Loki was surprised, she didn't even talk about his reward but he already agreeing.
"Nonono, who said I was going to agree. I firmly reject the request. You can find him yourself"
Hephaestus was surprised. Even though it didn't concern her, it still left a bad taste in her heart if he was agreeing to Loki's request. "Why?"
"You see, I am alone. Even a big guild like Loki Familia didn't manage to find him. What could you expect from me a lone adventurer?"