Chapter 23: A New Beginning
Sigh, how did things turn out like this?
My plans of doing my last job and then F*cking off from here quietly... What happened to that?
Shit... I don't like light...
"Haa..." Massaging his forehead, Shiro looked at the cheerful people in front of him.
Annoyance...
Sigh, I don't like surprises...
"Hmh? Young man, it's your birthday! You're not leaving till you're knocked up with some beer." Said the muscular man with enthusiasm.
That's old man Dong for ya...
When Mornil witnessed all the amazing talents Shiro possessed, he invited a few of his friends to be his teacher.
This man known as Dong Lin, was his martial arts teacher.
Dong Lin was a man of principles and discipline, but he was also an eternal lover of intoxicants.
Shiro who was seated on the chair sheepishly accepted the wooden mug filled with beer but didn't drink it in instead placed it on the table
"Here." Mornil appeared in front of Shiro with a bright burning fire torch.
???
"What will that be used for?"
"To blow on it of course."
"..."
Silence.
"Don't you think small flames of matchstick are much suited for this job?"
"Young man. You're blowing all your bad luck, they aren't flames, they are misfortune. Blow on them as hard as you can."
"Haa, but look at them..."
Giving another sigh, similar to that of Mornil Shiro gave up the arguments he prepared when he saw the expectant face of the old thing.
He took a long breath.
Fuuuuuu!
Fuuuuuu!
Fuuuuuu!
"Fuck, you old thing. Do you wanna deprive me of air?"
Fuuuuuu!
Finally, after almost exhausting himself, Shiro managed to extinguish the bright flames.
All the men and women had great chuckles before they geld their plates and mugs enjoying their food and drinks.
Two hours passed by instantly.
"Gift session!"
"Here's a dagger for ya." Dong straightforwardly said while simultaneously placing a sharp dagger on the table.
"I'll take it."
"A pair of nice suits to appear like a gentleman while dancing and playing instruments."
"They look expensive mam."
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. I can at least do this much for my dear student right?"
"Here's a geographical map. It's actually a map of hidden islands. Exclusive knowledge."
"Aww, thank you, professor."
"Here." Next was another woman who wore decent clothes looking like a teacher. She handed him a book.
[101 ways to write a good story.]
The final one to give him a gift was a goofy-looking man. He was a historian but also a mystically enthusiastic man.
"You couldn't find anything better than this old rusty ancient monocle?"
"Don't want it? Then you can hand it to me back."
"Nah, you've spent such a great amount of effort preparing a gift for me."
'Are you kidding? Heck no, I will never return this, even if you beat me up you walking skeleton!'
Shiro was no fool. He could tell that there was something special about this monocle.
The feeling, the urge to not return it increased 100 times when he saw the system notification.
[Mystic Artifact]
[Name: Somewhat Broken]
[Mystic Ability: Allows the user to see an additional distance of 200 meters]
'I have a gut feeling that it'd be useful, very useful since I'm going to leave this place and wander for a long time.'
"Everyone..."
All eyes were on Shiro.
"Thank you... Thank you all for everything... For these past few years, for everything you have taught me, and especially you old thing. You... You were like a father to me."
There was a silence. Silence broken instantly by Dong Lin.
"Hahaha, looks like the Brat we knew has grown up, now that he turned sixteen he has become a real adult."
"I have to say, sometimes your attitude is shit, but you managed to touch all your hearts in these past years."
"Agreed!"
"Once again, happy birthday our dear student." While they all were cheering Shiro, his gaze was still fixated on Mornil. Mornil Swaggers, whose head was hung low, not meeting Shiro's eyes.
'Looks like the old thing still feels guilty. Sigh,' Shiro once again sighed before talking to everyone else.
Soon more hours passed by. It appeared as though the sun would wake up in 2 to 3 hours.
"Well, it was nice meeting you again Shiro, can't believe that little Brat has grown into such a fine young man. Take care."
After giving their final well wishes all of them left, all of them except Mornil.
"Mornil..." Shiro who was squirming on his chair, finally stood up and looked at Mornil, the man who had taken care of him for the past 10 years.
"I know, I know," Mornil said in annoyance.
"Aww, are you sad?"
"Nah, the opposite."
"Old man, you always rub your cheeks when you lie."
"Really? Your point."
"You're doing that right now."
"..."
"Anyways, here." He handed Shiro a bag.
"I packed all those gifts, additionally I paced many medicines and useful items within it."
"The bag looks like this will burst any second."
"It won't. It's made of special material." Shiro sheepishly nodded as he grabbed the bag.
"Old thing..." He suddenly grabbed Mornil's hand and tied a red thread to his wrist.
"Don't ever forget me... I will come back, and... Take care of you old man..."
Mornil didn't realize when Shiro sprang to his legs and hugged him. All he could do was reciprocate.
"That day... It wasn't your fault old man... It wasn't your fault..."
Mornil's lips trembled.
"Don't die out there Young man, I am becoming old. I need you to take care of me."
"Sure thing. Live life to the fullest, it really wasn't your fault."
'Because... It was mine...'
...
The tides surged. Looking at them from the seashore, Shiro felt that his mind was at peace.
This was the place... This was the place where those two were buried...
Eh? An illusion?
He rubbed his eyes and looked again. A small figure made of mist...
Sera?
The extremely thin veil of mist which was very difficult to notice seemed to converge into many more figures, small kids running behind her. Small kids that followed her.
Behind those kids was a motherly figure... Monitoring them...
There was also a nonchalant kid lying somewhere nearby.
Pffft. Is that me?
Haa...
This is the place... We used to love...
The sun slowly started rising.
The beginning of a new day, also the beginning of a new legend.
My adventure starts from here...