Kazuki woke up to the chill of the early morning, the remnants of a cold night lingering in the air. Sunlight filtered through the narrow window of his inn room, casting a soft golden hue that barely warmed the room. He sat up, stretching his arms above his head, and felt the familiar stiffness in his muscles from his rigorous training. With determination etched on his features, he began his daily warm-ups, each movement precise and methodical.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of his feet hitting the wooden floor echoed in the stillness as he practiced his strikes and stances. After completing his routine, he reached for his mask, the cold material a stark contrast to the warmth of his skin. As he secured it over his face, he let out a heavy sigh, the sound muffled by the mask.
"This is my last day in Veridonne," he whispered to himself, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. "This city is great, but I don't want to stay here forever. I still need to get stronger for my revenge."
With resolve, Kazuki stepped out of the inn, greeted by the bustling streets of Veridonne. The lively atmosphere was in stark contrast to his internal turmoil. Merchants shouted their wares, children laughed and played, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. But Kazuki's mind was elsewhere, focused on his goals.
As he wandered through the market, a voice broke through the noise, calling out to potential customers. "For the adventurers who need quick transportation, come here and buy a sturdy horse!"
Kazuki paused, contemplating the offer. His journey to Mirkdusk was ahead, and he would need reliable means of travel. The thought of a horse seemed practical, and he made his way to the merchant's stall.
"Ah, a fine choice, my friend!" the merchant exclaimed, his eyes glinting with enthusiasm. "This horse has never failed anyone! Strong and swift, perfect for an adventurer like yourself."
Kazuki examined the horse, a sturdy creature with a glossy coat. As he finalized the purchase, the merchant leaned in, curiosity evident in his voice. "Sir, are you not going to buy a carriage? Surely, as an adventurer, you have a party to transport!"
Kazuki, still masked, replied coolly, "Don't need one."
"But you're an adventurer, aren't you? You must have a party!" the merchant persisted, trying to gauge Kazuki's intentions.
"I don't have one," Kazuki said flatly.
"What if you meet someone in the future? You'll need a way to carry all your party members!" The merchant was persistent, but Kazuki's resolve remained unshaken.
"Don't need one," Kazuki repeated, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.
The merchant shrugged, whispering to himself as Kazuki turned away, "An adventurer without party members, huh? Interesting…"
Kazuki returned to the inn, tying his new horse outside before heading to his room. He spread out a map on the table, tracing the route to Mirkdusk with a gloved finger. Mirkdusk was a city where wearing masks was not uncommon, a place that held the annual "Carnival of the Forgotten Faces," where everyone would remove their masks once a year. The thought intrigued him, but the distant echoes of his revenge quest filled his mind once again.
After a brief search, he found a pharmacy nearby and purchased medicine for his horse, ensuring it would remain healthy for the journey ahead. Satisfied with his errands, he returned to his room, reflecting on his time in Veridonne. Memories of the past few days washed over him—encounters with fellow adventurers, the sights of the city, and the constant reminder of his singular goal.
A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts. He opened it cautiously, surprised to find Selena standing there, her purple hair framing her face, eyes filled with urgency.
"I need your help. Please help me!" she implored, her voice trembling slightly.
Kazuki hesitated, a wave of reluctance washing over him. He tried to close the door, but Selena blocked it with her hand, desperation etched on her features. "Please! You're the only one who can help!"
Before he could respond, her body crumpled to the ground. Instinctively, Kazuki reached out to catch her, feeling the coldness of her skin against his gloved hands. He had no choice but to let her in, lifting her gently and placing her on his bed. He grabbed a chair and sat down, waiting for her to regain consciousness.
After what felt like an eternity, Selena stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Kazuki leaned forward, urgency in his voice. "Why are you here?"
"I need your help, as I said earlier," she replied, her voice steadier now.
"Why do you need my help?" he pressed, curiosity mingling with caution.
"You're the only one that is available," she said, her gaze unwavering.
"What do you mean available?" Kazuki challenged. "And what do you expect me to do?"
"Your name is Kazuki, right? How old are you?" she asked suddenly.
Kazuki narrowed his eyes. "How did you know my name? And why would I tell you my age?"
"Just answer the question," she insisted.
"Fine! I'm seventeen," he replied, irritation creeping into his tone.
Selena's eyes widened slightly, and a blush crept to her cheeks. "So young, huh?"
Kazuki furrowed his brow, his patience wearing thin. "Answer my damn question now! What do you want me to do?"
Selena hesitated, biting her lip, and then took a deep breath. "I… I need you to marry me."
Kazuki's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Why do I need to marry you? And even if I did, what benefits would I gain?"
"I need you to marry me so that my mother and father will accept me again and to have a strong grandchild with lightning magic!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and desperation.
"What benefits will I gain? How do you know my magic attributes?" Kazuki asked, crossing his arms.
Selena fell silent, her expression unreadable.
"And what are you? Some kind of royal princess or noble?" Kazuki pressed, curious yet skeptical.
"I have divine blood!" she declared, her tone firm.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "What the hell is 'divine blood'?"
Selena looked taken aback. "I'm the daughter of a god and a goddess!"
Kazuki's face remained impassive. "You're telling me this like it's supposed to surprise me," he said flatly.
Selena looked perplexed. "How are you not surprised?"
"Why would I be? I've seen my fair share of strange things," he replied.
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I told you because you're going to be my husband," she said, a smile breaking through her previous anxiety.
Kazuki shook his head, his voice low and firm. "I didn't agree to marry you, and you still haven't answered my question. What will I gain from this?"
Selena leaned forward, her eyes intense. "What are your goals?"
Kazuki hesitated. "I want to be stronger and have my revenge."
Selena's expression shifted, surprise evident on her face. "I can give you information about them! I could also help you! Just marry me!"
Kazuki considered her words, feeling the weight of her desperation. "Why is she so desperate?" he thought.
He leaned back in his chair, contemplating. "I'll think about it, but don't expect anything," he finally said, his tone final.
Selena nodded slowly, understanding washing over her. As she turned to leave, Kazuki felt a twinge of something—a flicker of doubt or perhaps curiosity.
Once she was gone, he blew out the flame from the candle, plunging the room into dimness. He lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts racing.
"She will help me, huh?" he mused. "But what will I do after I'm done with my revenge? That's the only thing that keeps me motivated every day. To get revenge!"
His mind wrestled with the idea of a future beyond his singular focus, a life that could be devoid of purpose. "I think I will have a boring life here after my revenge, so I might agree," he admitted to himself, feeling an unexpected weight settle in his chest.
"But why does she sound so desperate? I know she isn't going to stop asking me."
Kazuki closed his eyes, surrendering to the pull of sleep, contemplating the swirling thoughts in his mind. As darkness enveloped him, he whispered softly to himself, "I've made up my mind…"
And with that, he drifted off into a restless slumber, the shadows of his past and the uncertainty of his future entwining in a delicate dance.
The sun peeked over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the landscape as Kazuki woke up early that morning. He saddled his horse and set off in search of the merchant who had sold him a cursed item. When he finally found the merchant's stall, he dismounted with determination.
"I'm returning this," Kazuki declared, his voice steady.
The merchant's eyes widened in surprise. "Why? I'm not offering you any refunds!"
"I didn't ask for a refund," Kazuki replied, tying the horse outside the merchant's shop. "Do what you want with it. I won't need any of that."
With that, he turned away and headed toward the guild. Inside, he enjoyed a simple breakfast, savoring the warmth of the food. Once he finished, he made his way to the inn, climbing the stairs to his room. To his surprise, he found Selena waiting for him, arms crossed and an expectant look on her face.
"So, what's your answer?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kazuki sighed, contemplating the weight of his decision. "I'll do it, but I'll only marry you after I get my revenge. And when the child is born, I'll be leaving. I don't want to be part of this gods and goddesses crap!"
Selena tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Where will you go?"
"That's none of your business," he replied curtly, moving toward the door.
"Wait!" Selena called after him. "I'll agree to your deal, but can I come with you? I want to help you get stronger and assist you in your quest for revenge."
Kazuki paused at the door, weighing her words. "I won't held you back, I promise," she added, her voice firm.
"Fine," Kazuki said reluctantly. "But no crossing each other's personal boundaries or digging into each other's lives."
Selena nodded, a determined smile spreading across her face as she fell in step beside him.
As they walked outside the inn, Kazuki felt an unfamiliar emotion bubbling within him—a sense of joy or happiness that he hadn't experienced in a long time. Together, they made their way to the guild.
Upon entering, murmurs filled the air. "It's that guy again!" someone hissed. "Get rid of the mask already! And he has a girl following him!"
Selena leaned closer to Kazuki and whispered, "Do you hear this every time you enter the guild? What are we doing here?"
"Since you're following me, become an adventurer so we can earn more money," he suggested, gesturing toward the counter.
They settled down at the bar, waiting for the guild master. Just then, Kazuki heard a familiar voice.
"Damn, this is the guild in Veridonne?"
Kazuki turned to see Aiko and Yuki approaching. He chose to ignore them and ordered, "Bartender, give us two drinks and please call the guild master."
As the bartender served their drinks, Selena mused aloud, "Is he nervous?"
Before Kazuki could respond, another voice cut through the chatter. "Oi, Ryuhie, come drink with me!"
Kazuki turned to see Ryuhie and Jiro, old acquaintances he had hoped to avoid. Memories of their past friendship flashed through his mind, mingling with the bitterness of betrayal.
Selena stiffened, recalling the day the Arcane Heroes had tried to stop her. Jiro locked eyes with her and sneered. "It's you again! The girl we stopped days ago!"
"Don't start another fight, Jiro," Ryuhie interjected, placing a calming hand on Jiro's shoulder.
"But she still didn't apologize for disrespecting us!" Jiro shot back, frustration bubbling over.
Selena merely took a sip of her drink, ignoring him.
"Ignoring us, huh?" Jiro shot back, rising from his seat.
Ryuhie squeezed his shoulder, urging him to calm down. "Remember, we must control our temper as Arcane Knights!"
"Yeah, I know," Jiro grumbled, brushing Ryuhie's hand away. "But she's still disrespecting us!"
At that moment, Kazuki felt a surge of anger welling up inside him. Jiro stood to confront Selena, grabbing her shoulders with force.
"Apologize to us!" he demanded.
"Please let go of me!" Selena protested, panic creeping into her voice.
Jiro sneered, "What if you apologize to us first?"
"Why would I? You're the one who got offended. It's not my fault!" Selena retorted defiantly.
Kazuki's heart raced as he witnessed the confrontation. Memories of their past friendship flickered through his mind—happy moments overshadowed by Jiro's betrayal. In a flash, he stood up and punched Jiro squarely in the face.
The force of the blow sent Jiro to the floor, blood trickling from his nose and eye. As he struggled to stand, he glared at Kazuki, bewildered. "Who are you?! Why are you wearing that weird mask? Are you some kind of her protector or boyfriend? That won't be enough for me!"
Kazuki, fueled by anger, replied, "I'm no one you need to concern yourself with."
Jiro, undeterred, began to chant a spell. "Leaf bla—"
Kazuki, quick as lightning, activated his magic, coating his feet in energy. He dashed forward, grabbing Jiro's arm and delivering a powerful kick.
Yuki jumped to her feet, raising her hand in protest. "Stop! Or I will force you to stop!"
Ignoring her, Kazuki stepped back to the bar, watching as Jiro collapsed unconscious. Ryuhie sighed, shaking his head at the mess.
"Sorry about the damages," he said to the bartender before ushering Jiro out.
Moments later, the guild master emerged from his office, eyeing Kazuki and Selena. "What do you want?"
"I want to become an adventurer," Selena stated firmly.
The guild master handed her a registration card. "Fill this out," he instructed.
After she completed the form, the guild master smiled, handing her the adventurer card. "Welcome, newbie!"
With a new purpose, Kazuki and Selena stepped out of the guild, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.