Chapter 9 :

Guts had spent three long years in Wan Shi Tong's library, searching for a way to return home. He had spent many nights studying ancient scrolls, spell books, and grimoires, desperately searching for an answer to his dilemma. But finally, he had found a lead, an ancient legend that told of a magical ritual that could allow him to return home. So he had decided to set out in search of the necessary elements to perform this ritual, hoping to find a way back home.

Before leaving, Guts had taken the time to say goodbye to Wan Shi Tong, the guardian spirit of the library. He was grateful to the owl for giving him a place to study during these three years, but he knew that his time had come to leave. He had gathered all his belongings and had walked slowly towards the exit of the library.

As he stepped out of the library, Guts was blinded by the bright sunlight. He took a deep breath and looked around him. He was in the desert, miles away from any village or town. He had spent so long in the library that he had almost forgotten what the outside world looked like. He knew he had a long way to go before he could find the elements he needed for the ritual, but he was willing to do anything to get back home.

He began his search in the Earth Kingdom, hoping to find clues about the Avatar and the elements he needed to perform the ritual. He traveled across vast stretches of arid land, exploring every hill, valley, cave, and crevice he found along the way.

Despite the intense heat and difficult conditions, Guts continued to push forward, determined to find what he was looking for. He encountered strange creatures, unknown plants, and mysterious places, but he had not yet found what he was looking for. He knew he had to keep searching, even if it meant covering every square inch of the Earth Kingdom.

After several months of searching in the Earth Kingdom, Guts finally came across a badgermole. He had heard that the blood of this animal was an essential ingredient for the ritual he was trying to perform. So he decided to try and coax the animal to obtain its blood.

Guts spent several days observing the badgermole, studying its behavior and habits. He finally decided to try his luck by offering food to the animal. After several hours of waiting, the badgermole finally came out of its burrow and began to eat the food that Guts had left for it.

Guts then gathered his courage and began to approach the badgermole slowly. He used calming techniques to soothe the animal, and eventually, he was able to obtain a few drops of blood from the badgermole using a small syringe.

Although it was only a small amount of blood, Guts was relieved to finally have found one of the ingredients he needed. He thanked the badgermole and promised to leave it alone in the future. Now that he had the badgermole's blood, he resumed his quest to find the other ingredients for the magical ritual.

Guts had traveled many miles since leaving Wan Shi Tong's library. After months of searching in the Earth Kingdom, he had finally found one of the ingredients needed for the magical ritual that would allow him to return home. Now, he needed to take a moment to rest and recharge before continuing his journey.

He had found a small, peaceful inn by the roadside, surrounded by trees and green fields. He had paid the price for a simple but comfortable room and had placed his belongings on the bed. He sat on the chair near the window, looking out at the tranquil landscape.

The sun was setting, painting the sky with pink and orange tones. Birds were singing their last song of the day, and the gentle wind was blowing through the trees, rustling their leaves. Guts closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling soothed by the peaceful beauty of nature.

He suddenly heard a noise in the hallway, and he opened his eyes to see a waiter enter his room, carrying a tray of food. "Good evening, sir. I have brought you your dinner," the waiter said with a smile.

Guts thanked the waiter and took the tray. There was a bowl of hot soup, a slice of fresh bread, and a small piece of grilled meat. He was hungry and began to eat, savoring every bite. The food was simple but delicious, and he appreciated being able to have a hot and satisfying meal.

After finishing his meal, Guts got up from his chair and went to lie down on the bed. He closed his eyes and let his body completely relax, feeling at peace for the first time in months. He still had a long way to go to get home, but for now, he was content to rest and recharge.

Night had fallen, and Guts soon fell asleep, the sound of crickets and frogs filling the air. In this small, peaceful inn, he had found some respite in his journey, and he knew that tomorrow he would be ready to continue his quest.

The next morning, Guts woke up feeling completely refreshed. He had slept like a log, undisturbed by the nightmares that often haunted him. He felt like he had finally been able to put aside the worries of his journey.

However, he quickly remembered that he was running low on money. Travel expenses had depleted his budget, and he didn't have much left. He needed to find a way to earn money quickly.

Guts knew that his experience as a mercenary was his best chance of quickly earning money. He had been one of the best mercenaries in the country before becoming a solitary wanderer. So, he decided to take up his old job again.

He left the inn and headed towards the nearest town. It didn't take long for him to find a mission. A small town had been invaded by bandits, and the residents needed someone to get rid of them.

Guts took the job and set out for the town. He was used to this kind of work and was sure he could handle it without much trouble. He reached the town in a few hours and began searching for the bandits.

It didn't take long for him to find them. They were a small group of about ten people, hiding in an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. Guts had the element of surprise and managed to eliminate them without too much difficulty.

Back in the town, he was greeted with cheers. The residents were happy to finally be rid of the bandits and thanked Guts for his work. They offered him a reward that, although modest, allowed him to cover his travel expenses for the next few days.

The next day, Guts woke up feeling completely refreshed. He had slept soundly, without being plagued by the nightmares that often haunted him. He felt like he had finally been able to set aside the worries of his journey.

However, he quickly remembered that he was running out of money. The travel expenses had depleted his budget and he didn't have much left. He needed to find a way to earn money quickly.

Guts knew that his experience as a mercenary was his best chance of earning money quickly. He had been one of the best mercenaries in the country before becoming a solitary wanderer. So, he decided to take up his old job.

He left the inn and headed towards the nearest town. It didn't take long for him to find a mission. A small town had been invaded by bandits and the inhabitants needed someone to get rid of them.

Guts accepted the job and set off towards the town. He was used to this kind of work and was confident that he could handle it without any problems. He reached the town in a few hours and began searching for the bandits.

It didn't take long for him to find them. They were a small group of about ten people, hiding in an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. Guts had the element of surprise on his side and was able to eliminate them without too much difficulty.

Back in town, he was greeted with cheers. The inhabitants were happy to finally be rid of the bandits and thanked Guts for his work. They offered him a reward that, although modest, allowed him to cover his travel expenses for the next few days.

Guts then resumed his journey, knowing that he could always rely on his mercenary skills to earn money along the way. But for now, he was happy to be able to continue his journey knowing that he had food and lodging for the days to come.