An Old Friend

In the realm of emissaries, power reigns supreme. While you may be hailed as a hero by ordinary folks, you could be deemed worthless in the eyes of fellow emissaries.

Becoming an emissary was just the beginning, but achieving success was like crossing a vast desert.

Dora now awakened to his powers, embarked on a special training regimen, honing his skills from the roots of his abilities to his combat techniques. However, a major obstacle stood in his way.

The village of Sofiya had no emissaries, leaving Dora with no choice but to seek evaluation in the nearest town, despite the Carpers' dire financial situation, Malia remained determined to find a solution.

"I'll reach out to my friend, she was a formidable emissary and can surely help with your evaluation."

During dinner, she made this suggestion. Rudy felt a twinge of uncertainty. As a father, he believed it was his responsibility to ensure the financial stability of the family.

However, when he caught sight of the exorbitant travel fee, he couldn't help but suppress his paternal instincts.

"...well, maybe...until I scrape together enough money to pay for a tutor."

"And how are we going to survive without money, little genius? Besides, emissaries get a lot of money if they're strong enough, so trust me, if you find one kind enough to help the beggars, then he has probably not enough experience! I don't want to send Dora to train with an amateur."

"...why are you berating yourself so much?"

The debate continued between them as Dora watched with amusement. He felt content with his mother's choice, knowing that his synthetic rifts and past experiences made further training unnecessary.

The travel to another town ahead seemed pointless to him, as he already had a clear idea of what his future held.

(I am a Sin Avatar with seven blessings, I possess every class... but still...)

he observed his mother with great curiosity.

(Mom is friends with an emissary? I don't remember that... could this be... no, Elizabeth is supposed to appear much later...)

Dora found himself increasingly disturbed by the peculiar world around him.

Not only were there few similarities to the past, but the differences in this timeline were impossible to ignore.

The presence of Elizabeth, if she were to appear as she had in the past, would only add to the anomaly of it all.

(In the previous world, Elizabeth became Elizabeth thanks to Sloth's blessing... but since I have It... how strong could she be? Would she even become strong?)

These thoughts stirred up his night and prevented him from closing his eyes, and the next day, he dozed off at the bus stop.

The entire family had gathered to greet this enigmatic person, Malia trembling with impatience and Rudy also feeling drowsy. His gaze met Dora's, and they both shared a silent sigh.

"You too son?"

"I'm concerned by what's inside me... You?"

"I'm concerned by what's not inside my wallet."

As they let out a big yawn, Malia had to wake them up by giving their ears a gentle pinch. Just then, a bus pulled up in front of the station.

"Wha...she's here!"

Malia leaped up like a spring and hurried to the door.

"Hey, son, will you start your training now right? No need to go home, right?"

"Dad, I want to sleep too... Uh?!"

In an instant, Dora's weariness disappeared.

"It's so good seeing You, I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Mal, it's good to be back... Oh, is that Wendy? She's already so big..."

The two women embraced tightly, their hearts overflowing with joy and relief. They shared a few heartfelt words, their voices filled with warmth and love.

As they turned toward Rudy and Dora, a wave of shock washed over the young boy's face, leaving him completely speechless. 

"Rudy, Dora, let me introduce you to my childhood friend and best friend: Gloria."

Standing beside Maria, the guest was a woman with luscious golden locks, Dora couldn't help but notice the familiarity in her radiant smile.

It was a smile that held countless memories and a deep connection, one that he knew all too well.

(...The Queen?)

Soon after, the whole group assembled at the Carpers' residence. Gloria and Malia were engaged in lively conversation, as Wendy was in the embrace of the newcomer, a cursed moment for Dora.

"Next time you come with Moonra and Solaria, they should be about Dora's age by now, I'm sure they'll get along well."

Gloria who was rubbing her nose against Wendy's was caught off guard.

"No way, Mal, it's impossible! Do you know how hard it is to leave the capital? Arthur doesn't even know I'm here!"

She looked like she was about to cry as she embraced the baby, seeking solace in its innocent presence. Malia gently rubbed her friend's back in an attempt to lift her spirits.

"I miss being a simple villager...give me back my cows."

"Come on, your new life is better, and it's not nice to say that when you have a family."

"...What? Who said anything bad? I love my family! I'm just saying I'd like to keep the same lifestyle as before, that's all!"

Malia couldn't help but giggle, causing Gloria to let out a groan, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

"Well, I'll ask Arthur to come here on vacation next time, I might say something like he doesn't respect my background. It would be great if our kids became friends. Oh, speaking of which, you want me to rate your... boy? By the way, is he really a..."

"Yes."

Gloria glanced at Malia for a brief moment, but her friend maintained a chilling smile, signaling that she was serious.

"Dear lord... don't let his hair grow long or you will have a lot of budding sons-in-law. Now let's see..."

As her gaze shifted towards Dora, her eyes lit up with a radiant glow. Dora couldn't help but flinch, as this sight triggered painful memories from the past. However, he reminded himself that

Gloria was not the same as before, and there was no reason to be afraid, except when it came to her children.

He turned his attention towards her, locking his gaze on her, encouraging him to divert his eyes.

Surprisingly, she found amusement in his reaction, causing a playful smile to grace her lips.

"Very beautiful eyes...you say he was eight?"

Malia and Rudy looked at each other, and then Rudy replied.

"Well, yes, it's a long story but Dora lost his memory. He only remembers his age."

"...Interesting, if this kid is really that age, then I'd say there's nothing left for him to do. He's a good catch."

Gloria suddenly heard a loud crash, she looked up to see both parents standing in front of her, their faces filled with excitement. Without wasting a moment, she pulled Wendy away from them.

"So he's really amazing? Is that what you're saying, Ria?"

"Our son is talented, isn't he? He can be the best, right???"

"Calm down, show moderation in front of the children... Well, I wouldn't say he's that strong, his body is well shaped for a child of that age, but not yet that impressive though..."

She shifted her gaze back to Dora.

"I've gotten to the age where I can tell when someone is truly special just by looking at them. This kid isn't strong but I don't sense the presence of a sheep."

With a contented smile, she shut her eyes, relishing in her own evaluation.

The parents remained motionless at her feet, seemingly anticipating her permission to burst with excitement.

Sensing the tension, Gloria rose to her feet and cautiously retreated, shielding Wendy securely in her embrace.

"Well, in conclusion, Dora is either a sleeping genius or a child with a sad childhood."

Dora's heart soared as he once again experienced the exhilarating sensation of being launched into the air with incredible speed. This time, however, there was no painful crash awaiting him upon landing.

"My son is a genius!"

Rudy spun around, swirling Dora in his grasp, while Malia embraced Gloria tightly, nearly lifting her off the ground.

The family had grown accustomed to these joyous moments, with Dora's potential shining brightly.

Gloria, however, was against investing everything in his training, despite the promising future ahead.

"Are you crazy? You can't put that much pressure on a child!"

Rudy proudly inflated his chest and gestured towards himself.

"This is where I come into the game, ladies. I'll work three shifts and earn enough money to buy the best tutors for Dora, as well as weapons! He needs weapons...I wonder which one though... but I'll get there, let me do it... Uh? Why are you looking at me like that?"

The pair of women shot him an exasperated glance, while Dora nestled in his embrace, letting out a deep, prolonged sigh.

(...Give up, Dad...There is no one in this kingdom better than her for this task..)

Rudy stood alone, his determination unwavering. Malia and Gloria reprimanded him, forcing him to swallow his pride.

In Dora's situation, having a tutor wasn't something he desired, but circumstances had changed.

Once the catalyst for the Twilight of the Gods, the first Sin Avatar, she now stood as a mere emissary. Dora's gaze remained fixed on her, mirroring the intensity with his mother's.

(I knew she would be there but... it's unbelievable. In this world, she's a childhood friend of mom's? Since when? How did they meet?)

The boy's mind raced as he witnessed his father being scolded by his mother, and the sight of the former queen was truly remarkable. This solidified Dora's training schedule.

Gloria was set to leave for the capital that day, but she assured she would be back soon to oversee Dora's progress.

With training as his alibi, the boy could now conveniently vanish to work on his artificial rifts.

Four years remained until the debut of a team guided by a certain hero.