Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: running into trouble… a bounty.

Hercul's p.o.v

'What… it can't be… just how strong is he? And that aura he was releasing, I have never seen so much… darkness in my life, hmmmmm just what is he?' I thought with a shocked expression on my face. As everyone stared at us with their mouth opened and were all too perplexed on the occurrence, in which took everyone by surprise.

"i-impossible." one of the guild members said in astonishment.

"No one has ever beaten hercul in a show of strength before." zura said in amazement but was then dropped to the ground by Tamaki; who too was also impressed and amazed by this.

'w-whoa… I never knew that kami was this strong, to the point that he could pin down big bro hercul… even I at full strength can't even stand a chance with him when he is not serious.' Tamaki thought, as she just stared at kami; whose hand had pinned Hercul's hand, with smoke being emitted by both their hands.

"Well this was unexpected… okay pay up losers hahahahaha, nice one kami. I never lost hope on you one bit." sahal said with a triumphant grin on his face, as he collected his wins.

"Come on"

""

"Seriously" they all grumbled, as they all gave everything to sahal, who then immediately gave it to ruk for more beer… typical

"You were technically regretting on placing your bet on him about 7 minutes ago, so why the sudden change of mind you know what, never mind." Indra face palmed.

"Okay everyone, go back to work and feel free to head to the guild board and get a quest bid, as they are new arrival of quest. Since it seems that someone had finished the last set….. kami.. so have a nice day." Ruk had announced, as everyone went to the board in search of quest bid, while the other just carried on with the rest of their day.

"I don't know what you could possibly mean Indra, well any oh. So kami nice going buddy, you know I can see the start of a beautiful friendship- let me be crazy lady!" sahal was as hit on the head by Tamaki; who just simply walked towards the table, with kami and i still panting hard and were still remaining in that position with hercul hand still pinned by kami's. But then kami retracted his hand and had started to cool down his rapid panting, as i still remained like that and was staring at my steaming hand and had crunched it in a fist.

'Just how strong is he…? It felt like as if…. He was just… playing with me… like as if it wasn't him anymore that I was up against but it was as if I was up against another entity entirely… it was as if I was up against….. Death himself.'

"kami, big bro hercul… are you guys okay?" tamaki asked in a worried tone, as kami just stood up and was shocked to see all the damage that they had cause to the guild hall, but then smiled and had turned towards tamaki; who was still waiting for a response from them.

"oh sorry tamaki didn't see you there, yeah I'm okay but my body is really sore and I have to give it to hercul, you really earned that title... hercul?" kami didn't hear a response from me, as I just closed my eyes and had stood up from my chair; which had crumbled in the process. As I just glared at kami but then vanished instantaneously and had appeared at the guild quest board and took a high difficulty quest that just came in with the other new quest but then vanished out of the guild without making any eye contact with any of my guild comrades and wore a stoic look on my face.

Nobody p.o.v

"Well someone is acting like a sore loser." Sahal muttered while stuffing his face with alcohol and had a blush on his face from all the alcohol he had consumed.

"Well that was a strange response from big bro hercul… he never acts like that." Indra pointed out with a worried expression on his face.

"Hmmmmm or maybe he just want to take his mind of things, you know, relax maybe." Jack suggested but ruk then shakes his head in a no response.

"No, it can't be that. If i know hercul very well, then I know that he only takes high difficulty quest when he is either angry or furious with something, so he takes this type of quest to take his mind of it." Ruk had informed them, as he pointed his hands towards the almost destroyed part of the guild, with his chronicle glowing very bright.

"Or could it be that he is angry at kami?" tamaki had suggested as ruk just sent her a grin with a wink, but then turned towards the destruction.

"Huh, why is he angry at me? It's not like me trying to win was a bad thing… right." Kami asked.

"Hmmmmm maybe it is because you beat him, it does seem logical." Jack had responded to kami's question, while his arms were folded and his eyes were close; with his huge sword at his back.

"While, that is a good guess. I still think that's not it… oh any ho, I guess I need to take care of this mess you and hercul have created. Space art: onward!" ruk casted, as the destruction was reversed to the point that, It was like as if nothing had happened.

"hn you never seize to amaze me ruk." Kami said being impressed by ruk's use of magic.

"Oh I try, and kami, congratulation on your win over hercul. And you will be shocked when you know just how many people cannot pull off that feat that you just did… you really do earn that title, holy shinagami" Ruk said, while unsummoning his chronicle and had started to head back to the bar.

"Well since that is over, me and Indra are going for a quest that I got earlier from the board. Come on Indra let's go, oh and congratulation on winning kami." Tamaki and Indra had run out the door in haste, leaving only me.

'AND ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO YOU….. UNGRATEFUL FOOL.'

'Or are you just jealous old ma-."

'COMPLETE THAT SENTENCE AND YOU'RE GOING TO PERISH!' death warned proteus; which sent chills down his spine.

"why are people just congratulating me on beating hercul in an ordinary arm-wrestling game I need to check if there are any high difficulty quest I can go for… at least if I can complete that, then I will be able to pay off my family rent for the next 10 years." Kami started to head towards the guild board, where he found a certain quest bid and had noticed that the difficulty level was low… but was estimated to be important.

'THIS IS STRANGE, WHY A LOW LEVEL QUEST WOULD BE PART OF THE HIGH DIFFICULTY QUEST…. IS QUIET UNUSAL.' death was perplexed by this occurrence.

'Well you're not wrong there, that's for sure.' Proteus had agreed to death's response, as he was confused as well.

'Hmmmmm if this quest bid was really important then why hasn't it been answered yet… maybe I should check this out.' Kami responded to death, as he took the bid and had vanished out of thin air and had immediately gone for the quest.

Iris p.o.v

"WHAT!" I shouted in shock and disbelieve, as even my parents were surprised by this.

"Shocked are we? Trust me even I didn't expect it to work." Uncle Suzoku admitted and grinning in a boastful way.

"Wait! But how did you do it uncle suzoku? How did I get a spot in the entrance examination? I-I haven't even send any of my applications of participation… unless no you didn't" I then realized on what had occur and due to my new found speed thinking, I was then able to understand the whole situation quiet quickly.

"how were you able to get a spot for iris, even when she has not submitted her applications?" my dad asked in awe, on how he was able to achieve this feat, as it is not easy to accomplish and even though I had submitted the applications, they would have still be a slight chance that I would have entered… what I'm I thinking, it would have still been impossible to accomplish. As in my case, my chances of participating in the competition are little to no way.

"well it wasn't easy but, one of my good friends were able to help, as he was promoted in his guild and now he was chosen to recommend participants for the competition… so I pulled a few strings and then boom, I was actually able to add you to his list of recommendations." He finished with a proud smile, as I was so excited and happy.

'I can't believe it's happening, my dreams are coming to past.' I thought in pure bliss.

"Wow suzoku, I don't know how I can ever thank you enough." My dad had noted with a very satisfied smile on his face, but my uncle had just closed his eyes and had waved his hands in a stop motion.

"You don't need to brother, its fine besides after everything that you have gone through for me and what you have gone through is enough okay big brother, besides if things work out well then maybe things might as well get better from here on out." He said while resting his back on the chair.

"I hope so suzoku." My mom responded with a smile.

"Well then, I guess that I need to start training harder the-." I was interrupted by uncle suzuko; who then stood up from his seat and was heading towards the door.

"The carriage will be arriving by dawn to pick you up, so I suggest that you wake up well earl-." I interrupted him, as I wore a grim look on my face… this early.

"Wait a minute… so I have no more time to prepare for it, just when it is starting anyway." I mentioned with anxiety lingering in my voice.

"Hmmmmm so it seems that you are unaware of it occurrence it is going to commerce on the next week end…. Meaning that it's on-." He was cut off by me, as I was even more worried.

"But then that means that it is starting on Saturday….." I trailed off, being lost in deep thought.

"So it's going to start by the day after tomorrow then." My mom said with panic in her tone.

"...fine, I will get ready." I went to my room to start packing, as my parent had worried looks on their faces, but then I noticed that Dante's room was open…. Hmmmmm I thought that he wasn't around.

"h-hey dante….. Are you there?" I stood just outside his room, as I called for him making sure that he was there by receiving a response, but it never came, until.

"Yeah, I am… is something wrong iris." He asked me, as I saw that he was indeed here and was on his bed, reading one of his study books. I was so happy that he was around and as usual safe, as I just ran up to him and gave him a heartwarming hug. I started to sob on him, but then, I started to feel him pet my head while returning the hug, as he started to comfort me in the process.

"i-I'm so glad that your back… y-you see I don't know what to do." I stuttered in the process of talking.

"Come on iris, stop crying okay…. What could be the problem that is bothering you… please tell me" he whispered in my ear in a caring and comforting voice. As I then let go of the hug and had wiped my tear, with a smile on my face.

"hehehe look who is being the big baby right now huh- hey that hurt you know " I bumped him on the head for calling me cry baby but then he started to pout, while facing away from me… so cute.

"Awwwwn sooo cute, I really miss this." I said as I hugged him so tie not wanting to let go, but then he started to push me away while blushing.

"Hey hey, hands of iris are you trying to kill me or something so what made you so sad all of a sudden, because I know that is not how you are." He said as I just hugged him again until he was making a choking sound.

"Ohhhh I have such a caring little brother I'm so blessed." I continued to hug him, until I started to hear his choking voice and then came to realize that I was choking him.

"a—a-a-hg-g-fg- i-ir-s-is-a-a-g-h" he struggle but was then released from my hold, as he was holding his neck; while trying to catch his breath.

"Hehehe sorry again Dante, I just haven't seen you for a while and… i-I'm worried." I said with a low tone as this made Dante to stare at me with a humble smile on his face. He poked my head suddenly, having a corky grin on his face.

"Well this is something new, I can't believe that my big sis is actually worry, sheesh have I being transported to another world." He continued as I was getting too shy.

"h-hey I'm just worried that I won't pass the exam…. uncle suzuko came." I informed Dante, as he just jumped out of the bed, while cracking his knuckles and wore a pissed off look on his face.

"I knew I smelt alcohol and shame from somewhere, why that perverted ape, if I get my hands on him, I will-." I stopped Dante before he blew a fuse and go all commando on our uncle… they can't really get along.

"no he didn't do any, in fact he actually did something good today." I told dante, as his facial feature had relaxed and had turned to a confused look of some kind.

"wait, you mean that uncle suzuko… our uncle suzuko did something good… okay it seems that I have actually being transported to another world I knew I shouldn't have try using reality altering spel-."

"I'm going to the academy admission competition… uncle suzuko actually managed to secure a spot for me in the competition… but I'm afraid on the outcome of it… he said that I don't have any time left and that there will be lots and lots of powerful mage, knights and aurora warriors, and I'm just… worried that I may not… pass." I finished what I wanted to tell him and waited for his response but then he pressed his fore head on mine and just smiled.

"Then just remember one thing iris… your family gotcha back, so go and blow the competition away." He said with a corky grin of his and that was just what I needed.

"Good bye Dante… and thank you so much."

"hahahaha I should be thanking you…. Big sister."

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Dante p.o.v

"good bye iris." I said with tears brimming at the edge of my eyes.

' such a beautiful scene… right death?' proteus asked death while still sobbing.

'I LACK ALL EMOTIONS' death responded in a stoic tone.

'shut up!' proteus shouted at him while still sobbing.

"we are here…..." I informed them, as we were already at the site of the mission.

"wait, isn't there supposed to be a village nearb-." I stopped in silence, as I started to spring away from the site.

'Hmmmmm this is strange, it seems like somebody is following me… how didn't I noticed this sooner?' I was surprised by this, as I had continued to spring, increasing my speed in hopes to get rid of my stalker… but it's not working, instead its feels like the person is also picking up he/her pace.

'SO YOU'RE FEELING IT TOO HUH… BE ALERT SAGE, THIS FOE'S POWER LEVEL IS VERY HIGH, JUST MAYBE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BE A THREAT TO US.' Death warned me, but still I just can't get rid of the person of my tail.

"The person's mana presence is well concealed… but why can't I pinpoint his location… it's like as if… the person's mana is scattered…. unless" I suddenly turned my attention towards my right side, as a torrent of flame was heading my way and the heat from it was so immerse, that it was able to scorch the very ground into molten magma. The attack was so sudden, that I wasn't even able to prepare to block the attack, and with that, I had to prevent myself somehow from getting hit by the attack.

'IT SEEMS THAT YOU NEED TO NEUTRALIZE THAT ATTACK, MAYBE A WATER SPELL PREHAPS.' Death had suggested.

'oh no… I don't have any water or ice base art, I can't master them since that I don't have enough mana too.'

'I'm out, see ya' proteus immediately went silent… coward

'….. WELL YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN-_-' death retreated.