Tortus

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*Brandon POV*

Opening my eyes slowly to have it adjust to the sudden brightness the first thing I see is a massive mural which stretched ten meters long, showing a faintly smiling figure

Whose gender seemed indeterminable, wreathed in a halo, their blonde hair falling freely behind them

Behind them in the background were plains, lakes, and mountains.

The figure had both arms spread wide as if trying to grab hold of all of it.

It was a truly beautiful, aweinspiring work of art. But for some reason,I felt chills run down my spine as i gazed upon it

[So that's ehit huh] I mused to myself seeing it on tv and seeing it face to face really is different tearing my gaze away from it to look in front I'm met with

around thirty or so people standing before the plinth me along with the others were on.

It looked as if they were all praying, their hands crossed about their chests.

They were all clad in white robes decorated with gold embroidery.

At their sides were something resembling a bishop's stave.

The tips of their staves opened up into a fan shape, and instead of rings, several flat discs hung from the ends.

Eventually, one of the priests stepped forward.

He was an old man in his seventies, dressed even more lavishly than his peers, with a richly decorated monk's cap that stood about thirty centimeters tall.

[How could they be so naive I mean honestly this man reeks of contempt u can see it in his eyes he must be thinking something along the lines of *be glad that u were chosen by ehit-sama or something*] while having his inner dialogue about how naive his classmates were the man began speaking

"O chosen heroes, welcome to tortus. I have been awaiting your arrival. I am the pop of the church of saints, Ishtar Lombard. The preparations are done, please follow me." He urged the students

*3RD POV*

They were led to large tables as everyone took a seat with Brandon sitting next to shizuku between her and kaori. Maids entered and started serving drinks and food to everyone at the table with some boys drooling at the sight of real maids while the girls were looking at them with distain

One of the maids try'd to make a move on Brandon as she slid her hand against his and winking while delivering the plate causing shizuku to glare at her while Brandon just broke out a goofy smile 

*Brandon POV*

i just tuned everything out as our teacher started rambling on about sending us back then pop Ishtar leading us outside to prove that this really is another world

Then Kouki standing up to decide on everyone's behalf that we'll join the war being backed up by shizuku, Kaori and the muscle head 

I just kept to myself while watching everything unfold before me I mean I'm not really close enough with any of my classmates to care about them and I'm sure that our edgy hajime will end up saving them later on anyway i mean other than Daisuke and the kid with the hero Well makes syndrome that joined the demons none actually died(A/N correct me if I'm wrong)

TIMESKIP

*3RD POV*

"Mighty heroes I thank you for your cooperation I'm the commander of King Eliheids knights Meld Loggins"the man now known as captain Loggins introduced himself

After his introduction he explained the purpose of their meeting while handing out 12x7 centimeter silver plates 

The purpose of their meeting was basically training and checking out everyone's stats

Having distributed the plates he informed them of their usage which In summary is to 

Serve as a means of identification

Works as a status plate to keep track of their stats

He also mentioned being able to toggle the stats shown as some adventures like to be Loki or if they fall in enemies hands it'll provide them with the kingdoms information which would be pretty stupid 

*Brandons POV*

well makes sense if they weren't able to toggle the information it can easily fall into enemies hands and as they say knowing the enemy is winning half the battle or something like that

Receiving my status plate I took the needle and dripped a little blood in it 

It shinned a purple-blackish color which looked pretty cool anyway my stats looked like

Brandon Miller Age:17 Male Level:1

Job:Sword Saint

Strength:200

Vitality:200

Defense:200

Agility:200

Magic:2000

Magic defense:1500

Skills: Allseeing Strike

Doomed Strike

Evasion

Expert Maneuvers

Focus

Muscle Reaction

Uncanny Dodge

Teleportation 

Telekinesis 

Accelerated Healing 

Sword Proficiency

All elemental aptitude

Elemental Resistance

Physical Resistance 

Superhuman Strength

Armor Proficiency

Foresight

Increased Mana Recovery

Detect Presence

Detect Magic

Limit break

Language Comprehension

(A/N I'll explain the skills when he checks his status)

*Brandon POV*

"well that's a little to much if I do say so myself "scratching my head awkwardly I look at hajimes who looks like he's whole world just came crashing down after learning that 10 was average stats and hearing Kouki having 100 stats with multiple skills

[So should I toggle my stats or show it as is] I muse to myself while lost in thought I suddenly hear meld calling my name

Deciding on showing my stats as is meld along with everyone is surprised about the fact that I have double the heroes stats with a shitload of skills I just smile warily then moved to stand at the back once done

"Mr sword saint my I have your time"

Hearing a familiar teasing voice I look to my right to see shizuku standing there with her hands behind her back while leaning her upper body forward

"Why ofcourse princess a knight is meant to protect his princess no?" I question while dramatically bending on my knee taking shizuku's left hand and placing a kiss on it

Looking up I see shizuku being a blushing mess while dodging her eyes unable to look at me

I let out a triumph smirk as I always win during our little teasing game and like that 2 weeks pass 

*2 Weeks Later*

*3RD POV*

brandon and hajimes could be seen in the library reading through books while making small talk every now and then

*Brandon POV*

Well I decided on getting to know hajimes a little more he's a good guy I guess I decided to spend time with him as we'll basically be living together for months down in the labyrinth and I also seem capped at 200 which is a little weird as I wished for a perfect body that should include limitless talent not that I care that much anyway if training won't fix it monster meat will

Suddenly hearing a chair shifting in place I look up to see hajime standing up

"It's time for training so I'll be seeing you later Brandon" 

" Alright cool I guess" I responded

*Hakime POV*

Realizing that it was time for training 

I stood up greeted Brandon who suddenly started acting friendly with me as of late for whatever reason not that I really care.

The place I trained was only a short distance from the library to the palace, but the bustle of the capital

could be seen even in such a short trek.

The voices of merchants hawking their wares mingled with the happy laughter of playing children and the angry scolding of their parents.

The capital was a quaint, peaceful city.

Since it doesn't look like a war's going to break out anytime soon, maybe I can just

convince them to send me back… I realized I dreamed of the impossible as i walked back to the palace.

I just wanted to avoid thinking about the despair that awaited me once I arrived.

When i arrived at the training grounds, I found a few other students already there, chatting with each other or getting some early practice in.

It looked like he had arrived surprisingly early. Hajime decided to pass the time doing a bit of practice of

his own, so he took out the slender longsword he'd been given.

As he did, he felt a sudden impact hit him square in the back and he stumbled a few steps forward.

He managed to avoid falling, but chills ran down his spine as he saw how close he had been to impaling himself on a drawn sword.

He frowned as he turned back and saw the usual group of four all wearing the same obnoxious expression.

As always, Daisuke Hiyama was standing behind him, together with the rest of the Petty Four, as Hajime liked to call them.

Ever since they'd started training, the four ofthem had taken every opportunity they could to bully Hajime.

They were half the reason he found training so depressing, with the other half being how pathetic his stats were.

"Yo, Nagumo. What are you doing? You know that sword's totally useless in your hands anyway, right? I mean, come on, you're a total weakling!"

"Hey man, that's going too far. I mean, you're totally right though, Hiyama… Gyahaha!"

"Why do you even bother coming to training every day? I'd be way too embarrassed if I were you!"

"Hey, Daisuke. He's just so pitiful… Don't you think we should help him out with his

training a little?" Hiyama and the others laughed hysterically, as if Shinji had actually said something funny.

"Huh? Come on, Shinji, don't you think you're being a bit too nice to him? Well, I'm a nice guy too, so I guess I don't mind helping out."

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. I'm also a super nice guy, so I'll pitch in. Man, you better thank us, Nagumo. We're taking out some of our precious time to help out a

weakling like you." They put their arms around Hajime's shoulders in a false gesture

of kindness and dragged him away to an inconspicuous location.

Most of his classmates noticed, but they pretended not to see anything.

But before daisuke and the petty four could do anything drastic or before I could even try to think of a way out a sudden voice was heard

"What do you think you're doing!?"

Hiyama and the others paled when they heard that voice. It was only natural. After all,

it belonged to the girl they were all smitten with, Kaori. And not just her. Shizuku,

Kouki, and Ryutarou were all with her.

"Umm, please don't misunderstand anything. We were just going to help Hajime with his

training…"

"Nagumo-kun!"

Kaori ignored Hiyama's excuses and ran over to Hajime Hiyama and the others had ceased to matter at all to Kaori when

she saw Hajime

"Training, huh? Wouldn't you have beaten him black and blue had Brandon not told us about you dragging Hajime away"

Shizuku uttered those words in an icy tone

"Th-Thank you, Shirasaki-san. You saved me."

Hajime smiled and said to Kaori who just shook her head at his words, her eyes filled with tears.

"Do they always do things like that to you? If so, I'll…" Kaori glared angrily in the

direction Hiyama and the others ran off to, but Hajime hurriedly stopped her.

"No, no, it's not always! I'm fine, really, so please don't mind me!"

"Nagumo-kun, if anything ever happens, please, for Kaori's sake too, tell us right away."

Shizuku said that with a sidelong glance at Kaori, a strained expression on her face all the while. 

Before Kouki could say anything as well hajime thanked them once again then turned around and walked away

*Timeskip to later that night*

*Brandons POV*

Laying on my bed while gazing at the ceiling struggling to sleep as tomorrow would be the day I couldn't help but overthink a little on all the possible things that could go wrong 

I was brought out of my thoughts by a sudden knock on the door

[Is it Kaori is she here to warn be about not going to the labyrinth because of her dream seeing as I plan to fall with Hajime tomorrow] walking to the door while thinking 

I open it to find Shizuku at the door dressed scantily as she wore nothing but a see through blous with her black underwear being fully visible 

Shifting my gaze from her twin mountains I look at her to see her blushing from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears which looked really cute in my opinion 

Stepping aside to make way for her to enter I look outside to see Kaori standing by hajimes door as our rooms are in the same corridor not far from each other actually 

Shaking my head I walk inside to see shizuku siting on the edge of my bed while being a blushing mess I suddenly felt the urge to tease her

Walking towards her I grabbed both her wrists and pinned her against my bed while whispering in her ear

"My my shizuku I didn't know we've progressed this far already to actually come to my room in the middle of the night dressed so scantily" I could feel her body trembling under me with her wriggling her body trying to break free

I suddenly left wet kisses on her neck I could feel her body freeze up followed by her breathing heavily I decided to stop as to much could easily escalate the situation 

Not that I'm afraid it's just taking her first time then "dying" the next day might be to much for shizuku I wouldn't want her to go insane now would I 

Releasing her I stood up straight staring at her with her blurry eyes staring back at mine I could see the desire burning in her eyes if it wasn't for our peculiar situation I wouldn't have hesitated to claim her now

"Shizuku" I called out to her softly

That's seemed to have been enough as her eyes gain clarity once again but her blush only entesifying I redirected my gaze at staring at her to long might just break my fragile determination 

Walking towards the desktop I poured her a glass of water to calm down

"Ahh B-brandon don't m-misunderstand the r-reason I am here is to ask if you could not follow us into the dungeon tomorrow" 

[As expected] I thought to myself but decided to play dumb 

"And why would that be shizuku" 

"Well I-i had a dream where you would fall into eternal darkness and i couldn't reach out no matter how hard I tried" she said while calming down as she continued talking

"Well that wouldn't be possible now would it I mean I am the strongest even stronger than our 'hero' " I said trying to crack a joke towards the end

But seeing her serious expression I decided to stop gently grabbing her cheeks I brought my face forward until our foreheads were touching

"Nothing will happen to me I promise I mean I have u to look after my back don't I" I kinda felt bad lying to her as I know I'll be falling with Hajime tomorrow

"But if anything happens just know that I'll be back I promise" I suddenly said just as an insurance so she has something to believe in while I'm gone

"Alright you better keep your promise" she said as she stood up ready to take her leave 

I escorted her to the door and steeled my resolve on going down with Hajime