[21]

The morning sun cast a warm glow over Kyoroch as Dante stepped out of his temporary lodging. Dante wandered through the quiet streets, the air filled with a mysterious tranquility. The cobblestone pathways seemed to lead him to the outskirts of the village, where a grassy field awaited.

In the early light, Dante found a secluded spot for his training. Gintoki's Bokutō felt familiar in his hands, and he began his routine, the rhythmic sound of the wooden katana slicing through the morning air. The village was waking up, and Dante couldn't shake the sense of being observed.

A rustle in the nearby foliage caught his attention. Alert, Dante turned to see a woman emerging from the shadows—a stranger with long golden blonde hair and garnet-ruby red eyes, her enigmatic presence causing him to be a bit on guard.

"Morning, traveler. Impressive swordsmanship," she said, her voice carrying a melodic tone.

Dante eyed her cautiously. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

The woman introduced herself as Celica Arfonia, a wanderer drawn by the energies she sensed. Dante, still wary, didn't reveal his name quite yet. Not to mention, her introduction was rather strange, and the fact that she apparently sensed some type of energy nearby, to the point that she followed it, weirded him out even more.

"You seem attuned to your blade. A connection of sorts," Celica observed, her red eyes reflecting curiosity.

Dante remained guarded. "I don't know you, and you know nothing about me or my sword. What are you after?"

Celica smiled, acknowledging his skepticism. "I seek knowledge and stories, young swordsman. The tales woven by blades often hold truths untold."

Dante had to hold himself back from rolling his eyes at that last statement. Not fully trusting her words, he kept Gintoki's Bokutō at his side. It was then that she appeared to ease into an unusual stance, causing his eyebrows to furrow in confusion. That's when, before he could truly comprehend what was going on, a flame engulfed both of the blonde-haired woman's hands before she launched them in his direction.

Eyes widening, the boy hastily leaped out of the way, the twin balls of fire flying past him as he quickly rose back up, preparing himself for a fight. Celica, however, stayed back and continued to send out more and more magically-conjured fire. Realizing that his current weapon was made of wood of all things, he didn't feel very confident in defending himself against the one thing that was known to fuck up that material, but he essentially had no choice.

Planting his feet in the ground, Dante nervously exhaled through his mouth before he urgently raised his wooden katana in front of him in a defensive manner, gritting his teeth as he felt a flash of heat impact against his weapon and rob him of the surrounding air, which was originally clean and fresh rather than burnt and too hot to inhale.

Dante's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly maneuvered through the onslaught of fiery projectiles. The air crackled with heat as Celica continued her relentless assault, her eyes glowing with a mysterious intensity. Dante, though cautious, couldn't help but be impressed by her control over the elemental force.

With each swing of Gintoki's Bokutō, Dante deflected the incoming flames, the wooden blade surprisingly resilient against the magical assault. As he parried and dodged, he observed Celica's movements, searching for any patterns or vulnerabilities.

The morning tranquility had given way to a fiery dance between the two warriors, the clash of wood and flame echoing through the outskirts of Kyoroch. Dante decided to take the initiative, closing the distance between them in a swift dash. With a well-timed spin, he swung the wooden katana, which was now covered in a sheen of blue energy, aiming not at Celica but at the flames she conjured.

The impact sent a burst of embers into the air as the Bokutō almost seemed to clash against a solid object, momentarily disrupting the rhythm of her magical attacks. Dante seized the opportunity to press his advantage, his movements fluid and controlled. He feinted left and then lunged right, attempting to catch Celica off guard.

However, the golden-haired woman proved to be a skilled evader. She gracefully sidestepped Dante's attack, her form almost dancing amidst the flickering flames. In response, she conjured a larger, more concentrated fireball, sending it hurtling toward Dante.

Thinking on his feet, Dante used the wooden katana to channel his own energy once again, not entirely sure how he was even doing it in the first place. With a focused strike, he directed a wave of invisible force to collide with the approaching fireball. The collision created a dazzling display of embers, and for a moment, it seemed like the two opposing forces were evenly matched.

Their eyes locked in a silent exchange of determination and amusement, Dante and Celica stood at a temporary impasse. The flames flickered around them, casting shadows on the grassy field.

"I see you're not just a sword swinger," Celica remarked, a hint of mirth in her eyes.

Dante, catching his breath, responded with an irritated scoff. "You're not just a fire thrower either, I can tell. But you still haven't answered my question—what do you want?"

In an unexpected turn of events, she gave a reply that he hadn't imagined would come out of her mouth. Meanwhile, Celica's gaze held a glint of mystery as she spoke. "Honestly? I would like for you to allow me into that little party of yours, you know, with the old man. I noticed your arrival yesterday, just like most of the people that inhabit the village of Kyoroch."

Dante remained skeptical but intrigued, and eventually took a step back, but at the same time, he also never allowed the strange woman to leave his sight.

As they conversed, Dante's guard gradually eased. Celica spoke of her travels, carefully choosing words that revealed a little more about herself.

"We live in a world where every encounter holds a fragment of a story. Yours intrigues me," Celica had remarked before they eventually parted ways for the day. Dante, still reluctant to reveal too much about himself, simply acknowledged her words with a nod, and continued to remain uncertain of his decision surrounding her desire to join him and Toshizou on their journey.

----------

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting Kyoroch into a mysterious twilight. Dante, having completed his rigorous training, felt a sense of accomplishment as he sheathed Gintoki's Bokutō. The wooden katana now glowed with a faint blue aura, a testament to the strange energy Dante had unwittingly channeled through it during the day's events.

Deciding to explore more of the village, Dante ventured into the heart of Kyoroch as the evening shadows danced along the cobblestone streets. The air seemed to thicken with an otherworldly presence, and the dimly lit lanterns that lined the pathways emitted an ethereal glow.

As Dante strolled through the enchanting village, he noticed peculiarities that defied the ordinary. Whispers of unseen spirits brushed against his senses, and the architecture seemed to hold ancient secrets within its walls. The villagers, clad in attire reminiscent of a bygone era, moved with an eerie grace that hinted at a connection to the mystical.

He found himself drawn to a quaint tea house nestled between two ancient sakura trees. The aroma of exotic teas wafted through the air, inviting him inside. The interior was adorned with traditional tapestries depicting scenes from a time long past. The patrons, though engaged in hushed conversations, fell silent as Dante entered, their eyes lingering on him with a mix of curiosity.

Choosing a secluded corner, Dante sat down and ordered a cup of tea. The tea, brewed with herbs that seemed to have been plucked from the realms of the fantastical, carried a subtle magical essence. As he sipped the soothing liquid, Dante couldn't shake the feeling that the village itself held a deeper, supernatural connection.

A mysterious figure approached his table—a wise-looking elder with a long white beard and a robe adorned with celestial patterns. The wrinkles on his face spoke of countless years.

"Greetings, young traveler. What brings you to our humble tea house?" the elder asked with a warm smile.

Dante, ever cautious, regarded the elder with a nod. "Just passing through. At a glance, this place seemed to bear a unique charm, so I decided to check it out."

The elder chuckled. "Enjoy your tea, my friend."

Shortly after he left him to relax, the tea house door creaked open, and Toshizou entered. Having somehow tracked Dante down, the old man took a seat next to him, acknowledging the elder standing off to the side with a nod.

"Dante, my boy, seems like you've stirred quite the commotion. A wanderer like you attracts more than just the living," Toshizou remarked, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

Dante, slightly taken aback by Toshizou's timely appearance, replied, "Yeah, it seems this village has some rather peculiar residents. I had a little run-in with a fiery stranger earlier."

As the two engaged in conversation, the tea house buzzed with a mix of ordinary chatter and an undercurrent of supernatural energy. The moonlit clearing and its mystical atmosphere became a backdrop to the unfolding dialogue between Dante and Toshizou.

----------

The next morning, Dante decided to explore a different area for his training. He began jogging through a dense forest, the rhythmic pattern of his footsteps echoing in the quiet solitude. The trees formed a natural canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

As Dante weaved through the foliage, he stumbled upon a hidden gem—an awe-inspiring waterfall nestled within the heart of the forest. The cascading waters sparkled in the sunlight, and the air was filled with the soothing sounds of nature. Intrigued, he approached the edge of the pool beneath the waterfall, taking in the serenity of the scene.

However, rather than giving in to the obvious of jumping in, his tranquility was purposefully shattered as the sky overhead transformed into a deep, ominous shade of blood red. Dante, undeterred, calmly exhaled through his nose, a determined glint in his eyes. The forest seemed to respond to his unspoken challenge as shadowy entities with glowing red eyes emerged from the surroundings.

With swift grace, Dante unsheathed Gintoki's Bokutō, the wooden katana now resonating with a vibrant blue energy. The first entity lunged at him, and Dante met it with a precise strike, the clash resonating through the forest. As more shadowy adversaries joined the fray, Dante moved with a combination of speed and finesse, each swing of his blade a dance against the encroaching darkness.

The air crackled with energy as the battle unfolded. The entities, though elusive, couldn't evade Dante's relentless assault. His movements were a blur as he parried attacks, countered with decisive strikes, and seamlessly transitioned between opponents. The forest echoed with grunts of exertion, the clash of wood against shadow creating a symphony of battle.

Amidst the chaotic dance, Dante's focus remained unwavering. As the last entity dissolved into ethereal tendrils, a mysterious chest popped into existence not too far away. Dante, catching his breath, approached it. The chest emanated a subtle glow, and as he opened it, he watched as a couple of translucent screens immediately appeared and hovered in front of his face.

The red hue of the sky gradually faded, returning the forest to its serene state. Dante, briefly pushing the system's notifications to the side, couldn't help but grunt in pain as he approached the nearby pool of water before stowing his clothes into his inventory and stumbling into it with a sigh of relief.

For the miniscule amount of time that he's been in the dungeons since he arrived to this world, the boy thought that he had performing quite well under the circumstances. However, those evil-looking mobs were still easily capable of landing hits on him, which is why his visits to that dimension usually ended with a bunch of cuts and bruises all across his body.

He vaguely noticed the water around him turning red, but tuned it out completely once his entire body was submerged and slowly descending towards the bottom. It relaxed him quite a bit in the process, as well as allowed his mind a break from all of what just happened.

Eventually, he rose back up and resurfaced, tiredly combing a hand through his hair before he finally returned his sights to the system and it's awaiting notifications.

Congratulations! You have been rewarded...

[2,500 LP] - [Truth Serum]

Nodding in acknowledgement, even though nobody else was around, he reflected on his purchase of Gintoki's Bokutō. Due to it's cost at the time, which was around thirty-two thousand, he had made the decision to get rid of his flawless coordination skill, which sold for like forty-three thousand or something along those lines. The fact that the wooden katana seemed to contain memories of an experienced swordsman made up for that, however, so the boy wasn't all that bothered by it.

He checked his current balance, and couldn't help but smile as his eyes landed on twenty-three thousand and a bit of change. If he wasn't mistaken, he had acquired somewhere around twelve thousand and something up until the point where his village had been destroyed.

Letting out a sigh, Dante briefly dunked under the water a second time before he eventually got out, and shortly after that, made his way back to the inn.

----------

The sun had long set, casting a soft glow over Kyoroch as Dante returned to the inn. The day's events had left him both physically and mentally weary, but a sense of accomplishment lingered in the air. He made his way to Toshizou's room, where the old man awaited, seated in a corner with a contemplative expression.

Entering the room, Dante took a moment to catch his breath before settling down. The wooden katana, Gintoki's Bokutō, leaned against the wall, still resonating with a faint blue aura. Toshizou regarded him with a knowing look, the lines on his face telling tales of wisdom and experience.

"Dante, my boy, you've certainly brought some excitement to this humble village." Toshizou remarked with a chuckle.

Dante smirked. "Yeah, I guess so. On another note, that tea house was pretty damn cozy, and while I was in the forest... well, let's just say I stumbled upon something interesting."

Toshizou raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Pray tell, what did you find in the forest?"

Dante hesitated for a moment, obviously deciding not to disclose any details about his grinding session. "Just a hidden waterfall, a peaceful spot. But there's more to this village than meets the eye, that's for sure..."

"Anyway, what do you think, old man? How long do you reckon we stay around here?"

Toshizou stroked his beard in contemplation. "I'm inclined to agree with your instincts. There's an air of mystery here, indeed. Let's explore a bit more, and if this 'Celica' woman truly wishes to join, we'll see how that plays out. Just remember, not everything is as it seems."

Dante nodded, appreciating the old man's wisdom. "You're right. We'll stay a bit longer, explore the village, and see what else it has to offer. As for Celica... well, I'll just play it by ear."