Inside a wide room where a lone middle-aged man sitting around on the work chair, while looking at a certain document, notices a slight vibration in his chest pocket.
Usually, a slight vibrate like that will not distract him from his job. But this time the case is different. Mr.Ito raised his right hand and put it inside his left chest to take his phone. Then when he lit up the screen, on display he saw an incoming new message that said.
{..Done with everything you told me. Honestly, it was your message that helped me in the way of delivering it. So thank you, Mr President. Then, I will take my leave. I will go to my destination, Onward to Kyoto!!}
"..That punk".
Mr. Ito has a sigh. He was glad that he knew that the new guy that recently hired by the Association, had that frivolous and carefree personality. It was the opposite with Soma who is rather a cautious boy around strangers.
The reason he asked the guy who was on their way toward a mission. It was because there were no awakeners around that could help him deliver the ring.
Many of them died from the last incident when the demon showed up. So the Association was in dire need of manpower, especially an awakener.
Mr. Ito slid one of the drawers in his desk office and inside there was a rectangle square frame that had a unique pattern decoration on top of a thick album book. He took the frame, and behind the glass of the frame, there was a picture of a four-smiling figure, a double pair of couples smiling toward the camera while having a battered body.
With a forlorn expression, Mr. Ito touched the frame glass caressing the picture of a couple whose body was battered while holding each other close. The corner of his mouth lifted as he opened his mouth
"Kenji, Xiao Lei. Your son has grown up to become a strong and handsome boy just like you guys wanted".
However, soon his face began to cloud as he remembered the happening from the past. He couldn't forget those days even after nine years they left this world. Unconsciously he clenched his teeth and the hand holding the frame.
"Kenji Xiao Lei. I promise you guys I will protect Soma in your stead".
Those willowing regrets that echoed inside the quiet room soon disappeared. Replaced by a somber atmosphere that remains gnawing at his heart.
***
As the heavy metal door slid to the side Akabane Hina, with her hair tied in a ponytail style walked in. On each side of her ears, there are small pieces of earphones with pink color that connect to her phone in her shoulder via Bluetooth. Wearing a tight sports bra showing her toned abs and tight long pants emphasize her lower curve, entering the sanctuary in the basement inside her house, while also carrying a towel, a small basket filled with isotonic water, and a Bokuto.
The room was bathed by the warm ambient light that cast a soft glow over the many pieces of equipment that lined up in the room.
The floor was covered by the soft red matt that felt good to the feet. In the corner of the room from her right, there stood a treadmill that invited her to begin her exercise.
However, as soon as she wants to go toward the treadmill to do her warm-up. Her phone on her right shoulder vibrated as the ringtone began to play in her ears. Curious as to who in the right mind dared to disrupt her morning routine. Well, she already guessed a couple of suspects.
"..Big sister? What did she want? First thing in the morning?"
Hina sighs before swiping up the screen to answer the call and it automatically connects to the earphone on her ears.
"..Hello?".
"Ah, hello Hina good morning".
"Good morning, Big sister".
The relaxed voice entered her ear and she began to resume her walk approaching the treadmill.
"What happens to you to call me first thing in the morning like this?".
"..Ah, about that thing you asked me yesterday".
"What is it?".
"..Yeah, Um. There is something with him".
Hina's movement halted and her eyes began to knit. The tone her Big sister used was not a relaxed one. But a heavy one showing how grave the situation is. Hina clicked her tongue and opened her mouth.
"..Tch, How was the investigation?".
"Okay, listen briefly. Firstly, I couldn't find any information regarding his background".
"What!?".
Hearing the word that entered her ears made Hina's eyes open wide as she clenched the bokuto on her left hand.
"..Second, it was from this morning when a report from my subordinate came that said, He received an item from a stranger and he also has a Platinum Entry card".
"As I thought..".
Hina's face turned even grimmer. Her mood for exercise took a sudden turn. As her prediction hit the mark. She clenched her teeth to hold back her erupted emotion from her mouth.
"Hina?".
The worried sound that came out from the other side calmed down her emotions for a bit. She exhaled all the pent-up resentment she had and opened her mouth.
"..Thank you, Big sister, for your help".
"..No problem. I will contact you again if there is any update about the boy".
"Please do".
"Okay, bye Hina".
"Goodbye, Big sister".
The phone got called off as Hina who stood there motionlessly began to affirm her resolve to unravel the truth behind Soma approaching her family.
"Just wait, I will definitely find out your hidden motive by approaching my family".
***
As Soma ventures deeper inside, the cavern expands into a vast long straight chamber, its walls adorned with stone, on the walls there is a green moss that emits a pale green light that gives an ephemeral feeling to those who stare at it. Shadows travel across the uneven terrain, creating an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue.
He could see a relaxed atmosphere even in this dark dim place. A group of five men with a haggard expression on their faces just passed before Soma as their destination was probably the outside world.
Soma, who still didn't let go of his guard, kept walking ahead. The sound of his footsteps echoes off the walls of stone as he dives further into the depths of the abyss trying to swallow his entire being.
"A branch?".
After walking for about a minute in a straight line. In front of him, there are two junctions that stretch to the right and left. Soma knitted his brows before he chose to resume his walk toward the right side.
Soma resumes his walk cautiously as he soon finds a wide dome-shaped room with another three junctions.
"What the?".
Soma again using his feelings began to walk straight. He found another junction, then again, and it was repeated three times as he kept trusting his ambiguous instinct.
"Shit, this was never-ending".
Those words echoed inside the wide dome-shaped room as Soma was now face to face with another two junctions. His back began to be drenched with cold sweat because of how bad the situation he was in.
Thankfully he remembers the way he came here. But he thought the way he did things was just getting him in the wrong categories.
Firstly, Soma thought that exploring a dungeon was easy enough since he always read in the novel how easily they found their target. Then kill it, gaining experience points for leveling up, and if they are lucky enough they will encounter a treasure that is filled with hope and glittering money. However, reality hits hard. He just stood there while covering his mouth and soon decided he should do something for him first.
"Status".
[Status window]
Name: Soma (M)
Race: Human (Half-Devil)
Age: 14
Class: Martial Saint
Level: 5
Exp: 50/120
SP: 130
Statistics:
Physique: 13
Soul: 13
Luck: 1
Extra point: 25
Skill: Adapt(Unique), Mental Enhancement 7
Title: Martial Saint Inheritor, Soul Pact contractor
Blessings: -
Curse: Slow Growth
"..If things like choices keep appearing in your ways. Go for Luck".
[Luck: 1 (+9)]
[Do you wish to raise your luck stats to the max state?]
[Yes or No?]
"Yes, wait max stats? So luck could only grow to ten points, huh".
[Warning! Having a luck stats MAXED will not only let the user have great fortune in their life, But also a misfortune will come for the user]
"What? It gives me a warning!".
The translucent window warns him of the consequence of maxing his luck stats. Soma submerged in his own mind and found the explanation quite logical for him.
Having max stats on luck, probably makes you the most lucky person in the world. Wherever and whenever you go, fortune will always keep smiling at you.
However, it is also related to the misfortune that will be encountered along the way, with the person who has a high stat in luck. So it was a good thing to keep everything in balance.
"What should I do?".
Soma hesitated as he cast his attention toward the status. After pondering it for a bit he decided to raise his luck stats.
[Luck stats have been raised (+8)]
[Luck: 9]
"This should do".
Closed the status window before him. Soma is now facing another choice. He turned his attention toward both paths, before deciding to go to the left side.
The place was still the same long rocky uneven path illuminated by the green moss that splattered across the rocky wall, giving solace for the lost traveler that ventured on this dark path.
Soma's eyes began to become accustomed themselves in the darkness and he spotted a wide space that had a dome shape before him but there was another being there. It stood with a hunched back while holding a bat in his right hand.
"Is that?".