Chapter 10

[Third Person's PoV] 

After close to an hour, Futarou started to wake up and began stretching before turning towards Erza. "I feel like we can leave now. I just need to activate my ability again. Are you ready?"

Erza nodded, but before they could continue, Futarou noticed a ball of silver light coming towards them at a quick speed.

"It doesn't appear to be hostile towards us," Puck informed them. They decided to wait and see what it wanted before they left.

When the ball of silver light appeared, it started dancing around Erza while buzzing around her.

"It said it wants to form a contract with you," Futarou said in surprise.

"Did you understand what it was saying?" Erza asked in surprise, as all she was hearing were buzzing noises.

"Yeah, it's thanks to my affinity with spirits. It said that it's a sword spirit and since you have great talent with the sword, it wants to form a contract with you," Futarou translated once again.

Erza pointed to herself in surprise, "Shouldn't they be attracted to you?"

The sword spirit buzzed for a few seconds. "It said that yes, it's attracted to me, but we don't have any compatibility. It said that since I train in the way of the spear, I just don't match its standards. It says that you are different, that it can detect you are dedicated to the way of the sword and wants to form a contract with you."

"I see, but what does a sword spirit even do?" Erza wondered.

Puck was the one to answer, "Sword spirits are said to train and aid their contractors, helping them grow stronger. In return, they will grow stronger alongside them."

Futarou decided to appraise it upon hearing that.

[Name: N/A]

[Age: 10]

[Type: Low-Level Sword Spirit]

[Info: Helps its wielder by amplifying their focus and concentration during combat, aiding in the mastery of sword techniques, and even infusing the blade with elemental powers or special abilities once it evolves, such as the ability to cut through barriers or deflect incoming attacks. Furthermore, it could act as a guide, leading its wielder to hidden treasures or legendary weapons, and providing insights into the history and secrets of the sword's lineage.]

Erza nodded her head in understanding upon hearing that and looked at the sword spirit that was flying around her.

"Alright, I'll be happy to form a contract with you," Erza said, holding out her hand for the spirit to land on.

The silver spirit glowed as Erza uttered those words before it flew towards her side and merged with her, causing her sword to appear sharper and with a more silver shine to it.

Erza pulled her sword and started examining it before performing a series of slashes. She nodded her head before putting it back at her side.

She turned towards Futarou and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you."

Futarou was confused and expressed as such, "What? Why are you thanking me?"

"Because of you, I was able to experience a whole new world and gain something that would help me grow stronger."

Futarou simply waved it off, "Ah, don't worry about it. So shall we go?"

Erza nodded as Futarou activated his ability, and Puck sat on Futarou's head as a white magic circle appeared underneath them.

After flashing a blinding light, they all disappeared from the spirit world, reappearing back where they first left.

"Well then, I better be on my way. It was nice meeting you, Futarou Uesugi," Erza said, but before she could leave, Futarou stopped her.

"Hey, wait, let me get your phone number…" He asked with a very faint blush.

"Why?"

"I mean, after what we just experienced, I would at least consider us friends, no?"

Erza smiled and nodded before taking out her phone, exchanging numbers, and finally leaving, leaving Futarou alone in the mountain with Puck watching the interaction with a smirk.

"You like her, don't you?" He teased.

"…"

"Come on, don't be shy now. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Futarou simply rolled his eyes before noticing he had a system notification.

[Quest: Travel to a different realm]

[Reward: +5 SP, 5 silver tickets, Map Function]

[Quest: Tame a high-level spirit by yourself]

[Reward: +5 SP, 3 silver tickets, 5 bronze tickets]

'I can unlock system functions? Now I'm wondering what else I could unlock. Accept all rewards,' Futarou thought to himself before seeing a map in the corner of his vision, which went away when he ignored it but reappeared when he focused on it.

It showed his location, and when he expanded it, he was able to see a green dot walking away from where he was. 'That's probably Erza,' Futarou thought before nodding his head in appreciation of the map function.

Checking the map and noticing no one was in the vicinity, Futarou reached into his inventory and pulled out an F-rank Dungeon key.

"What is that?" Puck asked, looking at the key in his hands.

"It's a Dungeon key that opens up a portal where it would take us to a place inhabited by monsters."

"Why would you want to open that up!?" Puck asked perplexed.

"Let's just say the more monsters I kill, the stronger I become."

"So like a Divine Protection?" Puck asked.

"Sure, let's go with that."

"But are you sure it's alright to go after all it hasn't been that long since your fight with Orion and your energy hasn't fully recovered."

'Hmm, he's right. Thanks to Orion and the nap I just took, I'm only like halfway back to full health and MP. I could use a Senzu Bean, but I only have 19 left, and it would be a waste to use them or any healing items I have at the moment as I could just wait it out and recover naturally.'

"You're right, Puck. I'll first wait until I recover fully before going back in," Futarou said before taking hold of Puck from his head and jumping towards the trees, where he put Puck on his lap and started petting him with his eyes closed.

Close to two hours later…

Futarou jumped down and started stretching. "Ready, Puck?" He asked Puck, who was sitting comfortably on top of him.

"Aye aye."

Futarou smiled before pulling out the F-rank key and thrusting it in the air before turning it. The space in front of them started to then twist and crackle with power as a blue glowing portal appeared before them.

Once the portal stabilized, Futarou entered without hesitation. As he stepped out the other end, he looked around and quickly realized they were in what appeared to be a large cave system with different paths.

Futarou's hand blurred as they passed in front of him in a quick motion. He looked at the object in his hand confused before realizing it was an arrow.

He looked towards the direction the arrow flew from and saw a goblin reaching for an arrow on the quiver on its back.

But before the goblin had a chance to take proper aim, Futarou took the arrow and threw it back towards the goblin, causing the arrow to fly right through its head.

[50 exp]

"That was a nice welcome," Futarou snarled, before shaking his head. "So it's a Goblin Cave, huh? Well, it's F-rank. What else did I expect?"