Gift. Astrea familia.

Shichika Yasuri

•STR: G - 214

•END H - 170

•DEX: G - 230

•AGI: G - 222

•MAG: H - 156

•SKILLS: ἀμαρτωλός

 Kyotōryū

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ἀμαρτωλός - multiple curses:

inability to wear equipment

inability to be healed from external sources

0 slots for spells

monsters always know about the presence of the skill owner

complicated leveling

during tension life around dies

a mess of emotions

Inability to replenish strength during sleep

inability to lose consciousness

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Kyotōryū B - Sword fighting style without sword.

The user fights with his body like a perfect sword

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- Hmm....

The red-haired goddess sat thoughtfully on the sofa, here and there bottles of alcohol and various trinkets, like a dagger or wooden figurines, were scattered around the room. To her right was a thin boy with a scab-covered wound on his shoulder, and in his hands was a sheet of characteristics.

- Is there something wrong?

- Ah? Not at all, it's just that the growth of your characteristics is, to put it mildly, impressive. Of course, this is not a unique case, considering how much time you spent there, but... your status says that you should have difficulties in this aspect.1

- This is bad?

- It's not clear yet, I would say that you are one of the mysteries of Hekai, things incomprehensible even to the gods, - the goddess's hand lay on the boy's head and began to quietly ruffle his hair.

- I think we'll finish here, Riveria is at her place now, you can ask her the questions that interest you.

 Loki's characteristic smile blossomed on her face with narrowed eyes.

Before the child of her family left the room, unexpected words sounded after him. 

- Shichika, wait, - Loki's gaze was directed at the boy's wound.

- Given your special situation, I allow you to go into the dungeon at any time, but we need to set rules.

- Rules?

- Yes, and since you are my sword, I order you to stick to them.

Firstly, you should give your mind a break, sometimes it's worth unwinding with other family members or taking a walk around the city.

Secondly, take your time during raids, you still have a lot of time ahead.

Thirdly, I forbid you to fight in the dungeon when one of the adventurers is nearby, I don't need dead people on my conscience. To help someone you must ask permission and wait until they are far enough away.

Fourthly, if someone wants to harm you, don't hold back, any other rules are canceled at such moments, you can kill. I will deal with the consequences. That's all. Have something to say?

- I love you.

- Anything other than this! - Loki staggered in shock.

- No.

- *Sigh* You can go now.

In her room, Riveria nervously checked her documents. The adventurers of the family were preparing for the expedition appointed by the guild. Although expeditions were assigned less frequently due to the situation with Evilus, it was not possible to completely avoid this responsibility.2

*Knock Knock*

- The door is not locked! Two black eyes and hair in the shape of a maple leaf peeked out from around the corner.

- Teacher, after exploring the floors, I had several questions.

- Questions? I'm sure you know all the information perfectly, after all, you passed my test.

- Yes, but on the second floor I found a bird's nest. Is there some kind of monster that could have created it?

The eyes of the elf queen, which had been smoothly running across the sheet of paper until this moment, stopped. The head turned to the boy with slight shock.

- Normally I would say that this is not possible, but on Beginning Floors there is one rare monster called Jack Bird. It looks like a rooster with yellow-green feathers. When one of them is found, a huge crowd of adventurers begins to chase him around the dungeon, and the whole point is the egg that falls out upon his death. Its minimum value is 1 million valis.

- That's not a lot.

- Actually, that's a lot.

- It's a lot.

- Okay, can you remember where you saw the nest? I and the others will periodically check this place, since because of your curse you will not be able to get close to him, and by tying him up in battle you will harm the rest of the adventurers. If we're lucky, we'll divide the proceeds 70 by 30.

- I can draw a map, but provided that the monster's magic stone gets to me, then I'm ready to give up another 10 percent.

- Stone? I don't know why you need it, because its cost is almost no higher than that of ordinary floor monsters. However, if this is what you want, I agree. More questions?

- Why is Loki so surprised when I say that I love her?

- Well... our goddess is very eccentric, - the elf's face began to blush a little.

- Eccentric? What does it mean?

- In her case... *sigh* why should I say this, I'm ashamed... In general, she is a pervert who likes women more than men, and at every opportunity she proves it.

- Then... she won't love me? - for the first time, a discernible emotion of sadness appeared on the boy's stoic face.

- I don't know. I think not everything is lost. Try to give her a gift, something she likes. Then maybe she will warm up to you.

- But I'm not sure what to bring her, do you have any ideas?

- What does she like? - more and more strange thoughts flashed through Riveria's head, which the elf cut off at the root. And yet, a more or less suitable answer was found.

- Alcohol. Bring her a bottle of wine.

- Is it true? Then every time I return from a raid I will bring her a gift. I'll take a walk around the city and be back before midnight.

- Okay, just don't go off..

- The Main roads, I remember that the city is not safe. Thank you for your concern, Riveria. The map will be ready by morning.

After Shichika left, the room returned to its usual silence.

- 400 thousand, this is enough to partially equip the third team.3

Nightlife was in full swing in Orario, the city was illuminated by lamps based on monster stones modified by artisans, merchants quietly beckoned to passing customers, bars were filled with buzzing patrons.

A boy walking past a busy northern street looked around in fascination. Periodically approaching food stalls, he asked where he could buy a bottle of wine and took one serving of food to try.

- A drink for Loki? She's a well-known drunkard throughout the city, give her some booze and she'll be happy.

- I have one option. I will give you this most beautiful Soma wine for only 90 thousand, - the bearded man took out a jug of alcohol and put it on the counter. Without saying a word, the boy moved on. - S-stop! 85, no 75 thousand!

- Wine as a gift? I think among the streets of the North-East there is a shop where you can find what you need. I just don't recommend going there at night; more and more people have been disappearing lately.

Traders recommended many different places, including bars and cafes and buildings that directly produced alcoholic beverages. But due to the prices and proximity of the location, Shichika decided to walk deeper into the neighboring area from Twilight Manor.

Unlike the well-lit main streets, the narrow alleys were immersed in the darkness of night, sometimes cut through by the light emanating from lanterns on the corners of houses or in front of an entrances to the shops of sellers who did not have enough money for a place in a more crowded environment. Or their business had legal or moral problems.

Following the path described by the traders, Shichika soon came to a suspiciously dark intersection of paths. The light sources hanging in this place were broken by someone, and shards of glass were still lying on the road. It was the crunching sound that alerted the boy and helped him react to his exposed leg, engulfed in black flames.

- This boy is not a joke! - as if on cue, the footsteps of many approaching people began to sound from around the corners.

- Indeed, and look at his face! The upstarts from the nobility will pay dearly for it, - a crowd of about 10 people gathered around.

Realizing that the matter would not end with an ordinary conversation, Shichika tensed and took a stance. This time he looked like a sprinter getting ready to start.

- Are you planning to run away? - the circle of slave traders has closed.

- Why are you so tense? In such darkness, even if he runs away, we won't have any problems, he can't see a damn thing.

- Actually, I remember each of you, - if members of Loki's family were present nearby, then everyone would pretend that they didn't know the boy.

- Crap! Even if he's lying, we can't risk it. Don't let him get away, in extreme cases you can kill him, - the bandits grabbed their weapons from sheaths.

At the same time, the half-naked figure rushed forward with almost imperceptible speed. A mountain of weapons rained down on her from all sides; most of them seemed to have found their target. Fortunately, it was only an illusion created by one of the techniques of the Kyotōryū school.

- STAND STILL! x 2, - before the chest of one of the bandits was pierced, loud women's voices sounded along the street.

The voices seemed familiar to the criminals, because they began to fuss and whisper. Shichika stopped as ordered, the fingers of his right hand left a hole in the armor of one of the enemies.

- Damn, these are Astrea's girls, everyone run! - Thugs rushed in all directions, breaking some lamps along the way, eliminating the possibility of their capture.

An Elf with long blond hair and blue eyes and her red-haired friend jumped onto the crime scene. As the youngest of them prepared to give chase, the captain of her family stopped her.

- Lion, we can't catch everyone, we'd better take care of the boy, - approaching the frozen victim, the girl bowed and introduced herself and the elf.

- My name is Alice Lovell, this is Ryuu Lion, although you have heard of it, we are from the Astraea family. We bring justice to the streets of Orario. And who are you?

- Yasuri Shichika, Loki's family.

- Loki's family? I've heard about the doll princess, but I don't have a single piece of information about you in my head. Shichika, can you imagine what could have happened if we had not appeared here?

- Yes.

- And what did you understand? - Alice, who did not know the boy, talked to him as if he were an ordinary child.

- I would have killed them all, most likely I would have been seriously injured, - the soul-freezing words made the girls sweat.4

- Wha-what?! Do you understand what you are saying?

- Not really. But Loki said that in case of a crisis, I must do everything to survive. She will deal with the consequences.

- This... is not normal, - the girls frowned, - I think it's worth telling the goddess, she will sort out the situation. Shichika, we will take you back to your family.

- No, I need to buy a gift.

- You'll buy it later.

- No, it's not far from the shop, I'll buy a gift and then we can go.

- *Sigh* Okay, let's go.

- And why are you all sighing?

After the boy was taken home with a jug of Dionysus wine, Ryuu and Alice returned home. At a family meeting, information about the strange young man was shared in the presence of everyone.

- By the way, did you find out his name? - pink-haired pallum Lyra decided to ask her question.

- A? We didn't say? He introduced himself as Yasuri Shichika.

The clang of a fallen katana was heard in the room, Gojouno Kaguya dropped her weapon, hatred burning in her eyes. Astraea's face took on a thoughtful expression.

- Kaguya, what happened? - Alice expressed her concern.

- The boy is dangerous, too dangerous.

- He is 9 years old, and he became an adventurer a maximum of a week ago.

- That's why we have to hurry. I met him 3 years ago, in the Far East. Even then, he was capable of killing on orders. Armed men, women and children, it doesn't matter. He grew up like a weapon from birth. Everything is at will of his master.

- I'll talk to Loki, but for now I ask you not to judge him. It's not fair.