Chapter 65: The King's First Step

"..."- Akira sat in the garden, eating silently while focusing his senses on the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yukino-senpai whom he had to save.

"I found you," Akira mumbled as he sensed someone entering his vicinity.

Akira vanished from the garden and reappeared on a relatively high electricity pole.

"If only she would allow it, I could relax in her club," Akira muttered upon recognizing Yukinoshita Yukino, the girl he admired.

Yukino was a very serious person and the president of the Service Club. If Akira, like her, was a nocturnal hero of justice who protected people, he might have a chance to join the Service Club and enjoy some leisure time.

"..."- Akira sat on the electric pole, silently observing Yukino while enjoying a burger.

_

Yukino was an exemplary student who never refused to help others. Instead, she preferred to teach them how to do things themselves, so they could learn and become self-sufficient.

As she often said, it was better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish.

At that moment, Yukino felt frustrated because she had to go out at that late hour to buy food. She had been busy helping her teachers, even though classes hadn't started yet, and as a result, she had stayed up late without eating or drinking.

By the time she finished her work, she was exhausted and headed home, dragging her tired body. As soon as she arrived, she fell asleep and forgot to buy ingredients for dinner.

When she woke up, hunger struck, but she found nothing to eat. With no other option, she ventured out at that hour to buy something from the small store near her apartment.

"Hmm, what's that?" Yukino asked, peering into a dark alley where she noticed something moving.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she cautiously entered the alley to get a better look. The darkness made it difficult to see clearly.

"Kiaa!" Yukino exclaimed in horror upon witnessing a creature with an open head feeding on the corpse of another person.

"Human..." the creature mumbled incoherently and attacked Yukino with one of its tentacles that ended in a sharp knife.

"..." Yukino stared in horror at the approaching blade, attempting to run away, but her body seemed frozen, refusing to move.

Just as Yukino awaited the impending strike, someone suddenly appeared in front of her.

"I didn't expect to find a parasite here," said the person, swiftly cutting off the parasite's tentacle with a sword in hand.

_

"..." Akira looked at the repulsive parasite in front of him, a mix of disgust and curiosity in his expression.

Although Akira had watched anime, he wasn't aware of the origin of these parasites, making him curious about their backstory.

"Dangerous... This human is dangerous," the parasite muttered incoherence while attempting to attack Akira with its remaining tentacles.

"Are you alright?" Akira asked Yukino, who was lying on the ground behind him.

"Y-yes," Yukino nodded, seeing Akira as her savior, fighting off the tentacled creatures he called "parasites."

"I have to... inform... the others," muttered the parasite, desperately trying to flee, unable to match Akira's strength.

"Goodbye," Akira said, swiftly slicing the parasite's body into thousands of pieces in a single motion.

*Ting!*

A clear sound echoed as Akira's sword shattered into numerous fragments, scattering onto the ground.

Unconcerned, Akira discarded the sword since it was a low-level weapon he obtained in Aincrad.

"Can you move?" Akira asked, looking atYukino, who was still trembling with fear.

"..." Yukino shook her head, silently crying.

Despite her cold and serious demeanor, Yukino was just a 17-year-old girl who naturally felt fear when faced with something terrifying.

"Hold on tight," Akira said, lifting Yukino gently and embracing her like a princess.

"W-what?!" Yukino exclaimed in surprise at the sudden movement.

"Calm down, or you might bite your tongue," Akira said with a smile, leaping across buildings and returning to the previous garden.

Upon reaching the park, Akira placed Yukino on a bench and sat beside her.

Yukino continued to cry silently, the image of the sharp tentacle still haunting her mind.

"Have you calmed down now?" Akira asked, handing Yukino a bottle of mineral water.

"Thank you," Yukino expressed her gratitude, accepting the water as she needed to replenish her fluids after crying for a while. "I feel much better now."

"That's good," Akira nodded, falling silent without saying anything further.

"Thank you very much for saving my life," Yukino said, bowing sincerely towards Akira.

"Don't worry about it," Akira waved his hand generously, knowing that he had helped her because he desired a laid-back school life.

"Can I know your name?" Yukino asked shyly, recalling the earlier princess-like embrace. "I'm Yukinoshita Yukino, a second-year student at Seimei High School."

"I'm Nifuji Akira, a first-year student at Seimei Art High School," Akira introduced himself with a slight smile. "Nice to meet you, Yukinoshita-senpai."

"Kouhai..." Yukino mumbled in amazement, realizing that Akira was actually a year below her. However, something more important struck her mind. "Can you please explain what just happened, Nifuji-kun?"

"It was a parasite," Akira said, not hesitating to reveal the existence of the supernatural world.

Akira proceeded to explain about parasites without concealing any information, as they were akin to children in a world filled with hidden supernatural beings among humans.

"Does that mean there are supernatural beings like demons, angels, vampires, and other creatures that appear in stories and anime?" Yukino asked in shock, as it surpassed her wildest imagination.

"That's right," Akira nodded, pointing at himself. "Take me as an example. I am a half-spirit."

"Really?" Yukino asked skeptically, as she had always pictured spirits as cute, elemental beings from stories and folklore.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you," Akira shrugged, unconcerned, and retrieved a necklace from the Babel Gate, tossing it to Yukino. "This necklace has a guardian spirit and a protective barrier that will keep you safe in times of danger."

"With this, you'll be safeguarded from most supernatural threats," Akira explained, indicating the necklace in Yukino's hand.

"T-thank you," Yukino expressed her gratitude, hastily putting on the necklace. She then asked, "Is there anything I can do to repay you for your help?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you repay me," Akira said, not hiding his desire for something in return. "Tell me, would you like the strength to protect yourself instead of relying on others?"

"Is that even possible?" Yukino asked, genuine bewilderment in her eyes. "I'm just a normal human."

"Who said that a person can't become strong?" Akira remarked, unaware of why people often underestimated themselves. "You should know that in any world, no matter the era, itis the individuals who rise up and achieve what even gods and mythical creatures cannot. They claim to possess the totality of knowledge and power."

Yukino was taken aback by Akira's words, her worldview shifting 180 degrees.

"Although there are false and fabricated legends, 90% of them are true," Akira continued, generously revealing a wealth of information.

Overwhelmed by the revelation, Yukino mustered her courage and asked, "So, what do you want in exchange for granting me strength?"

"Loyalty," Akira proclaimed, surrounded by an aura befitting a king. A golden throne materialized behind him, upon which he casually sat, resting his cheek on his hand. "What I desire is a knight loyal to my majesty."

Yukino's eyes widened in astonishment, feeling an intense urge to kneel before His Majesty Akira.

"You need not answer immediately," Akira sighed, noticing Yukino's frozen state. "Take three days to contemplate my offer. If you choose to accept, come here at midnight in three days' time."

With that, Akira and his throne vanished, leaving Yukino sitting there in stunned silence, still fixated on the spot where Akira's throne had been.

...

To get +30 chapters please visit my patreon

p@treon.com/Akasaki_Ryujin