[72] There's always something IV

"Forgive me!" A woman, breathless and filled with anxiety, bowed deeply before Levi, her hands trembling as she clutched her child's arm.

Levi shook his head slightly, his face showing a calmness that contrasted sharply with the situation that had just occurred. "It's alright," he said in a calm voice, trying to reassure the woman and the still-frightened child. "We're the ones who should be apologising."

As the incident concluded, the mysterious man who had previously attacked Levi simply stood behind with his arms crossed, his eyes betraying confusion. Levi's humble demeanour was so different from what he had expected, as though Levi was entirely unaffected by the earlier conflict.

"And now," Levi began speaking again as he resumed his steps towards the inn, followed by the young man, "I hope you can explain why you attacked me." His voice was flat, yet there was an undeniable firmness in his tone.

The young man, now walking alongside him, smiled slightly, more relaxed. "Ah~ I was just curious about the rumours and wanted to test your abilities," he replied casually, whistling softly as if the earlier fight had been of no real consequence.

Levi glanced sharply at the man from the corner of his eye. "You... You were at the guild, weren't you?"

The man stopped whistling and looked at Levi with slight surprise. "Heh, you noticed?"

Levi nodded slightly. "It was easy. Among the many people at the guild, you were the only one who remained calm throughout," he said without breaking his stride.

Hearing this, the young man suddenly burst into laughter, as if Levi had just told an incredibly funny joke. He patted his belly as he laughed, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "Fuhahaha~ That's good! You've got sharp eyes!" he continued enthusiastically. "Also, you're very skilled in the Water God Style, although I don't recall any offensive moves as most of its techniques focus more on defence and counter-attacks!" he added with genuine admiration.

"That's right," Levi replied indifferently, not wanting to prolong the conversation.

"Oh, how about we become friends?" the man asked with an enthusiastic tone, seeming sincere in his desire.

"Friends?" Levi paused for a moment, looking at the man with slight surprise.

"Yes! For some reason, I find you more interesting than most people, and I've got a good feeling about you!" he said with a wide smile. "My name is Aleksander Ryback, but most people call me Kalman III! Nice to meet you, Levi!"

"Ho~, so you're the son of the Northern God? Interesting. There could be some benefits to us being friends, but it's too much trouble, so I refuse," Levi said in a flat tone, his expression remaining unflappable.

"Hey! At least I'm being friendly, right? Most people wouldn't refuse to be friends with someone like me!" Alex said in a surprised tone, stopping for a moment to watch Levi's retreating back.

Levi paused briefly, then slowly turned slightly, just enough to glance back at Aleksander Ryback. "Yes, most people, but I'm not most people," he said curtly before continuing on his way.

Alex's eyebrow twitched; rarely did anyone dare ignore him like this. "Hey! Wait for me!" Nonetheless, it was this very trait that made Levi even more intriguing in his eyes.

---

One week later, in East Port.

In front of the guild's notice board, Levi stood, scrutinising the list of quests posted there. His gaze was serious, focused as he carefully selected a suitable job. However, that focus was soon disrupted when Alex suddenly wrapped an arm around his neck. Alex casually picked up an A-ranked quest, which involved eliminating the Coral Serpents that were disrupting trade routes on the high seas.

"Hey, let's take this one!" Alex said excitedly, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his actions were rather intrusive.

Levi glanced sharply at Alex, his face showing clear impatience. "You... You've been pestering me for a whole week. Don't you have other things to do?" he asked, his tone clearly showing his exhaustion.

Alex, with a wide smile and without a hint of guilt, avoided Levi's sharp gaze. "Hmm~ Not really?" he answered innocently, though his expression was easily readable.

'His expression is so easy to read,' Levi thought, his flat eyes staring directly at Alex, who was trying to avoid his lie. As the son of the Northern God, of course, Alex had duties and responsibilities. The headquarters of the Northern God was located in the Dragon Kingdom, not far from East Port, just five days' journey from there. But instead of fulfilling his duties, Alex had run off on some 'personal' matter that sounded absurd.

"Well, let's go and slay these Coral Serpents together!" Alex tried to change the subject with a cheerful tone.

Levi let out a long sigh, tired of Alex's antics. "Hah, whatever," he finally said in a resigned tone. He then walked towards the receptionist desk to confirm the quest he had chosen—but it wasn't the A-ranked quest in Alex's hand. Levi opted for a C-ranked quest, which he thought would be simpler and easier to complete.

"Please," Levi said as he handed the quest paper to the receptionist. However, before the receptionist could take it, Alex swiftly replaced it with the A-ranked quest. "Hey!" Levi exclaimed, annoyed.

"You won't grow by just taking C-ranked quests," Alex said in a more serious tone, this time without his usual playful smile. "I promise, after this, I won't bother you again."

Levi sighed even deeper, feeling helpless against Alex's stubbornness. "Haaah... Fine, but just this once," he said, reluctantly giving in.

Meanwhile, Alex's mood brightened as he carried out the quest registration procedure and received more detailed information.

---

On a merchant ship.

Levi sat on the ship's deck, his eyes tightly shut, his brows slightly furrowed, indicating that he was deep in concentration. The gentle sea breeze did not disturb his focus, and the sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull seemed to fade into the background as he meditated. Calmly, Levi was attempting to sense the presence of the sea monsters that were their targets, using his senses and spiritual energy to detect any signs of danger in the waters they were approaching.

Meanwhile, Alex, who sat not far from Levi, couldn't suppress the curiosity that was building within him. He observed Levi closely, noting every subtle movement and the serious expression that was rare to see on his friend's face. Unlike Levi, who was focused, Alex was growing impatient, and a bit of boredom began to creep in.

"What are you doing, Levi?" Alex finally asked, unable to hold back his question. He moved closer, sitting next to Levi, hoping for an explanation that would satisfy his curiosity.

Levi did not answer immediately. He remained silent, his breathing steady, indicating that he was still deeply immersed in his concentration. After a while, Levi slowly opened his eyes, as though returning from another world.

"I'm trying to sense the presence of sea monsters around us," Levi replied calmly, without fully opening his eyes. "This is one of the techniques Ash taught me. By calming the mind and focusing energy, we can detect the movement of large creatures in the sea before they approach the ship."

Alex was stunned, slightly impressed. "So, you can sense if danger is approaching even before we see it?" he asked, this time his tone was more serious, devoid of his usual playfulness.

Levi merely nodded in response, closing his eyes again, resuming his meditation and his observation of the vast and endless sea. Meanwhile, Alex, usually restless and full of energy, found himself quiet for a moment. His curiosity piqued, making him realise that Levi, despite his simple appearance, had depths he hadn't fully understood. There was much more to learn from his friend than he had previously thought.

"Even though I'm an expert in the Northern God style," Alex began to speak in a reflective tone, "my current rank is King. But I can only prepare and sense the presence of a monster when they're near—whether it's a monster, human, or other creatures. The ability to sense presence does exist, but it's very limited. Perhaps my father, as the Northern God, can sense a presence on a wide scale. But that's more due to his long experience as a seasoned warrior, not just about technique." His tone now turned serious, showing that he was genuinely considering what Levi had just said. "But what you're talking about, Levi, is that there's a special technique for this?"

Levi opened his eyes slightly, momentarily gazing at Alex with a look of wisdom, despite his young age. "That's right," he replied calmly. "As a warrior, being aware of unseen threats is essential. The technique I just used is called 'Observation Aura.'"

Alex frowned, clearly intrigued but still somewhat sceptical. "Observation Aura? That sounds different from anything I've been taught in the Northern God style. What makes it so special?"

Levi nodded once more, then explained, "Observation Aura is a technique that requires one to fully harmonise with the energy around them. It's not just about noticing physical signs, but about sensing the energy fluctuations that occur in your environment. With proper training, you can detect threats long before they physically appear. It's not just about instinct—it's a combination of meditation, concentration, and using your aura to extend your senses."

Alex fell silent for a moment, pondering Levi's words. Although he had a strong background in martial arts and combat techniques, what Levi described was

 something beyond his own experiences. It was a new way of thinking, and it intrigued him.

"I see," Alex finally responded, his voice filled with admiration. "That explains why you're always so calm, even in dangerous situations. You're always one step ahead."

Levi didn't respond immediately but instead resumed his meditative posture, closing his eyes once more. Alex, meanwhile, sat beside him, no longer restless but instead filled with a sense of respect and curiosity towards Levi that he hadn't felt before.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the waves, the two continued their silent vigil, waiting for the next challenge that the sea would bring.