20 Virol Greets

I woke up only to find Aunt Arc's heavenly valley in front of me. If we weren't relatives I would've probably did something indecent already, but even if I think about doing those kinds of things with my Aunt, I felt myself drastically unwell instead. Was that how blood ties worked? Seeing her breathing softly, I slowly got away from her to not wake her up.

"Morning. I hope you like this boar that I caught."

Kirllia greeted me by throwing a fat wild boar on the front of my tent. It's already dead and its blood drained.

"Morning. How do you want it cooked?"

"Just like last night."

I told her to gather a few herbs and the correct mushrooms in the area and I started to cut up the boar into various parts. I'm not a butcher but it's a skill we really need to be able to find food on our own at this place so I watched Grandfather butcher a few animals at the farm, where I got how to prepare meat.

Kirllia got back and she brought exactly the things that I sent her for. She's really good at this. Maybe I could teach her how to cook this one too?

She watched me closely as I did the usual stuff when cooking, then suddenly asked.

"I can see you're really just a child, but why do you know all of these stuff?"

"Oh, just things I picked up at my Grandfather's place," I made an all-around excuse just enough for anyone to believe, which is partially true anyway. After that she kept silent and I continued whatever I was doing.

***

The soup was done cooking and Aunt woke up from the scent of food. Seeing Kirllia next to me she frowned the immediately and sat next to my other side. Things don't look good but it's not bad either. I just hope they get along when beasts attack us on the way.

"Say Kirllia, what's your age?" I asked.

"I'm a--- about eighteen."

"About eighteen? What age is that? Just say seventeen or nineteen or so. By the way, I'm only twenty Kaff."

"Oh, you look mature for your age. Oh, you told me to say the exact meaning. I mean you look like thirty, if that's what you mean."

"Tch. Just eat!" These two sure like to bicker. "What's your town called by the way?"

"It's near Labbi."

"NEAR LABBI!?" A few of Aunt's soup spilled on the ground, and seeing that made her frown and took more from the pot instead.

What? Why was that so surprising?

"Ah... I shouldn't have told it. So you know about Labbi."

"Somewhere north ha! That's really true then."

After that, they went silent and I can't help but be curious.

"Where's Labbi?"

"It's the most northern part of this world, where the end is only ice, frozen winds, and a lot of beasts that live in cold climates. Barely any humans live there. Labbi only exists because there's an indestructible barrier that shields out from the cold."

"You forgot to mention that that's where the demons live." Aunt Arc followed up with indifference, and then continued to eat.

"Demons? The Void Demon?"

"Not only her. Even the Void Emperor. A Demon at the God-level. The three other Grandmaster-level demons reside there. As for Legend-levels... Not sure if they even exist."

"Then the war..."

"Yes, it's going to occur between Phione and Labbi, somewhere around the cold regions there's a large bridge that spanned for two hundred meters, and the two sides already made forts respectively."

"The war? Then Dad..."

"Right! He must be there somewhere! At least now we won't have to go finding him inside Phione."

"Wait, you two are going to war? No, to find someone in the war?"

"You don't know this, but his dad is the Fastest Sword User in the West Region. I'm his sister by the way."

Seeing the girl stunned for a while, it probably means she knows about Dad. The war must have made him that popular if his name even reached some place remote near Labbi. That's the only explanation I could see as of now.

This girl started to murmur for a bit again to herself, and even Aunt Arc got irritated and just finished her food and went back to wear her full armor. Meanwhile I packed our things to get ready on the road.

***

It took us a longer time to go to the next town, only to find out that the city gates were closed shut, and visitors weren't accepted. The guards were even confused why we came from Illa as the road was blocked, but I just used the same excuse that we were summoned by Virol to draft in the war to get inside. By this point I wouldn't even be surprised if we'll make it to Phione after a month more.

Seeing that people were also quite cautious, we didn't try to talk that much to people since it was eerily silent. We just went to the Merchants Union, sold fly swatters, beast cores, then replenished our items.

As this was a capital city, a lot of Vates and Civil Corps patrolled over the place and people were also fewer in number. Most of them kept to themselves in their houses, only going out when necessary. There were even a few that asked our business, and since Kirllia added this information that the war was going to occur at the fort, we added that as an excuse besides from being sent by Virol.

It doesn't look like they're agitated, but from the look on their faces, a few had eyebags and their cheekbones slightly protruded. Looks like they're all at high alert. Do they not have enough people to guard this place for them to be this tired from patrols?

After half a day we finally found an inn and left our not so important things for a while. Kirllia insisted us to buy a Flame Orb for each of us, and Aunt agreed without any problem. What's a Flame Orb anyway?

We searched for an hour and no sign of a Flame Orb appeared, and most of the shops that sold them told us that the Merchants Union bought their every stack of Flame Orb for the incoming war, depleting everything. But I didn't lose hope and still looked a bit more since there was still a bit more time before night.

We decided to split and return in the Merchants Union's front gate if we still haven't found anything within the day, before going back to the inn.

Unfortunately, night came and we still haven't found a single Flame Orb, so I headed back to the agreed spot ahead of time as I was also feeling hungry.

Upon nearing the scene, I saw that no one was there yet, so I took my time walking...only to be greeted by a flashing red light from the highest building of the Merchants Union. The familiar speed, the familiar silhouette and the sensation I feel from my belly, it was an extremely familiar person.

The crimson light fluctuated and gathered on the top of its head, turning into a feather and merged into the forehead like a third eye. The very subject of my lie just suddenly popped up and here I am.

"A few of the guards I sent told me that someone is using my name to get inside. From their description saying it's a child, I was correct to think that it's really you. How have you been after these years, Kaff?" A smile formed on Virol's face, as if seeing an old friend.

"Sorry for using your name. There's a very important person that I need to find."

"You do believe that I know about you already, right? Meltor's son?"

I could only smile in response, but I felt a chill behind my back once he mentioned my father. He sure is fast with these kinds of things.

"I don't believe a child can do something to help with this war, so I suggest you turn back already---"

After he finished his sentence, I charged up Origin on my hand, and gathered to form a barrier---

*pssss*

I heard a fast hissing sound and the barrier I made was instantly broken. With that I also erected another barrier with more Origin, and I saw Virol watching me charge up with his eyes and mouth slanted in joy. His thin eyes remind me of that character I've seen in a movie before, and it's quite scary. It only made me put up more of Origin instead, and finally stabilized into a barrier.

"What a barrier. Too bad..."

Another hissing sound appeared and my barrier sounded with a bonk, before it finally crashed and an impact was left on the ground where Virol broke it.

"Is that your all?" I can see his smile getting wider, and it only gave me the creeps.

He went quiet before disappearing and I couldn't feel him anywhere. I just felt my back turn cold before jumping to the side with all my might as I also erected a barrier which also just got destroyed in an instant.

"Why do you keep making barriers? That's boring."

"Ah... It's just, I don't want to harm you."

His eyes widened and even protruded his head towards me closely, and broke to a laugh with his hands to his stomach. It lasted for a while before he continued speaking. Looks like I've made trouble.....

"Me? Harm? Hahahahaha..... Aren't you insulting me with those words?" The surroundings turned hot and I found it difficult to breath. He's putting pressure on me clearly, so I charged up Origin within my body once again.

"C'mon. Give me your all, and let's see if you could put even a scratch on me. If not....."

This. Killing intent. All over the place. I feel hotter and hotter, as if he's trying to boil my blood just from sheer pressure. A few guards on the side already noticed us but they didn't dare go near as soon as they recognize Virol. We gathered quite the attention and I could even see a few flying persons on the peripheral of my vision, yet I couldn't bother to check up on them as Virol started to step forward.

"Come. Give me your best shot."

"If you say so then..."

I charged up every Origin I kept until now.

Azure light grew to an orb within my hands, and I also formed four other orbs of Origin behind me, up, left, down, right. Four directions, just to make sure that I'm focusing this attack straight at him. An improved V cannon, but now I'll call it Cardinal Cannon.

No V was needed anymore, and if I'm correct, just slamming these four orbs will be enough to control where the blast radius will hit. I hope no one gets injured from this one, as Virol really is a strong opponent, I didn't dare underestimate him since the start but my words... Ugh, I just made the wrong choice of words this time!

Three, I wonder if you're still here?

The azure vortex already grew as big as I am, but strangely it shrank to a more smaller vortex and turned golden after. I saw Virol after the vortex shrank and he was also preparing himself. A single feather was floating on top of his forehead as he slowly floated upwards, then it shined with a brilliant red light that looked like the sun, and a flow of red light could be seen around his body, circulating around his waistline. His whole body turned red and he stopped floating and held his arms wide open, as if ready to receive my attack.

"Come. Don't hold back!"

I continued to pour azure light until I felt a slight headache. This is probably my limit.

The red vortex didn't grew any further.

I controlled the four orbs behind me and made it spin slowly, until I made it fast. Controlling a lot of these Origin really makes my head hurt now, so I just slammed the four orbs forward into the red vortex without further delay-----

*BOOOOOOOOM*

A loud explosion crackled like thunder resounded the whole area, and I also got blown away for a few steps. My eyes involuntarily squinted as I tried to look over the spectacle I made but the light still didn't fade out for a few more seconds.

After who knows how much time have passed, I opened my eyes and I saw Virol standing there, still unharmed. In front of him though, a massive crack was formed, a deep crater followed the cracks, and the gates of the Merchants Union were already missing. The walls were unexpectedly intact though, and I could see the edge of the cracks that extended towards the wall stop.

"Splendid. Here are two Flame Orbs, your aunt is also with you right? I couldn't find another one for your other friend but I hope this would do."

"You... You aren't mad?"

"Why would I be mad? You gave me quite the show! Instead of being mad, I'd like to be your friend instead! Only few fellows are as strong as you are now, but don't be lenient and get killed by something weaker than me. It's quite lonely at my level so I hope we meet again."

"This... I don't know how I can thank you for these." I just accepted the Flame Orbs as he went near me. He insistedly placed it on both my arms so I just took them. Rejecting grace isn't good after all.

"You just have to pay for the damages you made next time after you let me check your body." With a grin, he covered himself in red light and disappeared towards the top of the building of the Merchants Union.

I could only stand there in a daze and feel cold sweat with his last words.

Does he secretly likes small children?