Chapter 12: Return Home

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Arthur Leywin:

As I waited for Ryuu to exit the Guild, I started thinking about what had happened since the Juggernaut incident two months ago.

Ouranos didn't summon me again, but my core progressed to solid yellow. The Astrea Familia also helped me by selling more Magic Stones. When Sylvie stopped eating all the stones from the Middle Floors, I had more to sell, and they did it for me. While Ouranos and Fels knew about my strength, the rest of the Guild didn't.

I began thinking about joining a familia. However, while my magic is at a level that only a few could compete in this world, the problem is my body. Even with my assimilated body as I go down the dungeon, it's hard to fight without always relying on augmenting with mana.

The blessing could help me improve my body to save mana during combat and allow me to use techniques like Burst Step.

Burst Step is a technique that combines Mirage Walk with a burst of speed created by artificially activating the muscles needed to take a quick step. This technique results in an almost instant, short-ranged movement that is mostly undetectable. But the problem is that human bodies cannot handle the burden this technique places on the body resulting in permanent damage to the legs, and overuse will cause me to become crippled. However, with the help of the falna, I should be able to use it at some point without this happening.

"Art, let's go!"

The voice of Ryuu snapped me out, and as I looked up, I saw her walking out of the Guild. Sylvie seeing this jumped out of my head, and jumped to her.

I couldn't help but sigh at Sylvie's behavior. Last week when I was invited for dinner by the Astrea Familia, she decided it would be a great idea to steal Lady Astrea's food.

Thankfully Lady Astrea thought her behavior was cute and gave her more food. Ryuu especially warmed up to Sylvie and always gave her extra food, so she became Sylvie's favorite.

It also confirmed that after you see Sylvie, the effects of her mysterious hiding power fade.

"Yes, coming."

I answered as we started walking to the Stardust Garden.

Some would wonder why we are currently together; the answer is simple she wanted to see me fight against normal monsters. But, knowing her personality because of my past life, I knew I could trust her, so I didn't see a problem with it.

"Kyu."

'Maybe you shouldn't trust people because of your past knowledge, papa.'

Sylvie said, and I started thinking about it. She was right that I can't completely trust what I know. A good example could be my interactions with Syr when I visit the Hostess of Fertility.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Lady Astrea, and we gathered at the table where we would discuss any future expedition I would participate in.

But before I do that, I need to learn how to fight with the other members. While I could fight well alone, fighting with others is different. That will also be useful in the future when Bella becomes an adventurer, and we will go to the dungeon together.

Speaking of Bella, her birthday will be in two days, so I'm going to return to the village.

What should I buy for her? A weapon? But what kind would fit her best? Originally Bell would use a dagger, but Bella doesn't want to use one.

Me being in this world changed a few things, like the fact that Bella wanted to learn how to use a sword because she saw me using it.

A Short Sword is small, lightweight, and easy to wield. Short Swords are also good when fighting in confined spaces, being more easily wielded for thrusting and swinging. It should be a good start, and she can change her weapon later.

It's decided. I'm going to buy her a Short Sword tomorrow.

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I was again standing in front of The Married Blades. Even if the owner is crazy, but the swords he sells are good quality.

Taking a deep breath, I went inside.

"Hello, Customer. How can I help you?"

The same crazy guy welcomed me. But wait, why isn't he crazy anymore? Is that the same guy? Looking closely, he seems the same, excluding the craziness. Maybe a twin brother?

"Ah, I'm here to buy a sword." I decided to say, ignoring my thoughts.

He just nodded, so I went to look at the different Short Swords.

After some time looking, a sword caught my eye. The grip is wrapped in black leather and silver wire with a matching sheath. Picking it up, I did some test swings. The sword was tough, sturdy, and sharper than other low-class weapons, though it was also heavier than other Short Swords.

Taking the sword, I placed it on the counter where the owner was.

"I will buy this one."

I said, still looking at him, wondering if he really didn't have a crazy twin. The last time I was scared, he would jump me to get another marble, but this time he looked normal.

He looked at the weapon before smiling.

"You seem to have a good eye. It will cost you 20.000 Valis." He said.

Hmmm... Considering the quality of this weapon, it's relatively cheap. So why would he sell this at such a low price?

Deciding to ignore this for now, I paid for the weapon and left.

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Two days have passed, and I'm currently running with Wind Mana, surrounding me to increase my speed with Mana Rotation refiling my core.

Now with my core level, I can easily run between the village and Orario in just a few hours without stopping.

After just another twenty minutes, I could see the village, so I started slowing down and walking normally. Observing the village, I could see the adults working in the fields while the kids played around with each other.

Walking at a normal pace, it didn't take long before I arrived near the house, where I saw Bella training with a wooden sword.

Seeing my arrival, she dropped the sword in her hand as she dashed toward me.

"Big Brother!" She said, still energetic, while giving me a hug.

I promised to visit often, but almost half a year had passed since I left for Orario, and this was my first visit. Sighing, I patted her head as we went inside the house where grandpa was preparing food.

After some time, we sat at the table, and Bella wanted to hear everything about my adventures in the dungeon, so I started telling them about everything that had happened. When it came to the Juggernaut and Evilus, I didn't directly specify what the monster was, only that it was powerful, and I completely skipped the part about Evilus.

It was so Bella wouldn't find out about it, but grandpa probably figured it out based on what I said.

"Wow, big brother is so strong!"

Bella said as she listened to all the stories I told.

"Not only strong, but he also started making his harem." Grandpa said as he nodded sagely.

Did he seriously take this out of the whole thing? I seriously hope this is his act.

"Don't listen to him, Bella. When you become an adventurer, be smart and don't do anything I would."

I said so she doesn't start trying to do stupid things in the dungeon, or worse, pick up boys in the dungeon. I wouldn't let that happen, and if some boy disappeared in the dungeon, it would be just the dungeon doing its job, nothing else...

"Yes, big brother." She said

We continued talking about other things like the upcoming expedition I'm joining and Bella's training. This should be an excellent time to give her my present.

"You have been training hard, so I decided to get you this."

I said, giving her the Short Sword I bought.

She quickly took the Short Sword from my hands and looked at it.

"Thank You, Big Brother!"

She said with stars shining from her eyes as she was about to run out and start training again, but I stopped her before she could.

"You can train tomorrow. The sword won't leave." I said as she stopped and started rubbing the back of her head.

We spent the rest of the day with me, telling them other stories and showing more of my magic. My magic has improved a lot since I left. Now instead of just augmenting my body or sword with the element, I could use some spells I developed.

The best part was that they could still affect gods in their sealed state. Seeing Zeus, the God of Lightning, be affected by a lightning spell was the funniest thing I've seen. Though he seemed depressed afterward.

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Sidestepping Bella's attack, I tripped her, and she fell face-first on the ground.

"Owww... Can you stop doing that?"

She asked, annoyed for tasting the ground for the fifth time today.

"You should be ready for everything in the dungeon, not only the monster but the adventurers. They can sometimes be worse." I said.

Well, considering I did the opposite by saving the Astrea Familia without thinking, I don't know if I should be saying this. But hey, if they did something, Sylvie would help me.

Standing up, she was ready to start again, so we continued the training until she couldn't continue anymore. While I had my Mana Core and assimilated body, so I had more strength than normal people, she was still an ordinary mortal without a blessing.

This also led me to think more about the changes in this world. Could she still be the reincarnation of the Argonaut, and will she still get the Liaris Freese skill?

Our training continued for the rest of the week before I decided to return to Orario.

It would give Sylvie access to better-quality Magic Stones and help me progress my core faster.

While I had used the ambient mana to help me purify my core in the past, using a Magic Stone that contracted lots of mana would speed up the process of me becoming a White Core Mage. Especially now that the progress started slowing down.

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Authors Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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