(Bonus Chapter) Welcome, Old Friend

Note: This Chapter takes place during the events of chapter 33-35 and a little bit afterwards.

(POV: Katsu)

I made it to the castle's front gate before I was stopped by two guards. They kept me at a distance by keeping their lances up and ready. A little hostile to be treating a visitor. It was understandable, however. Inside was the kingdom's leader after all.

"State the reason for your visit. If there is no reason, turn back the way you came."

"My reason for visiting. The king, I'm here to see him." I replied.

"The king hadn't informed us about a visitor." the guards still seemed on guard by my presence, "I am afraid that I cannot let you pass if there is no invention."

They had all the right to turn me away. To them, I seemed like some random man in a knight's helmet, carrying a sack over my shoulder. It was only protocol to them.

"There's a good reason for my visit." I reassured them, hoping they would hear me out. Having a conversation with the king was vital. This was the only way I'd be able to get a lead on the shadow ogre. Being the king, he must have some sort of information. Important matters didn't go unheard of by him, he was well informed about everything.

"A good reason? Why don't you tell me and let me be the judge of that."

Luckily, I was always overprepared for matters like this. I bought a powerful bargain. If they turned me away, the whole kingdom might miss out.

"I have something important to him. Something he's been trying to get ahold of. Tell him Katsu's here, he'll be glad I came."

"And who exactly are you to him? I see no good reason to disturb the king. It's a daily occurrence the someone tries to get a hearing with the king. How is your case different?"

"It's as I explained, I have something he's been looking for. If you turn me away, I hope your happy with explaining to the king why he'll never get the artifacts he's been searching for."

The guards lowered their lances, taking a few moments to process my case. When one of them replied, it was good news.

"Fine. Wait here. I'll go check with the king."

He came back around 10 minutes later. The king had granted my request to see him. A small team of guards escorted me to the upper floors, until we reached the king's room.

I pushed the door open, walking inside.

An all too familiar voice greeted me. The deep, but raspy voice of the king. King Robard. His royal red figure sitting upon a throne.

"Welcome, old friend. It has been a long time since our paths last crossed."

I spared him the pleasantries, getting right to the point.

"I'm here for an important reason." I lowered the sack off my shoulder, tossing it before the throne, "I've heard from the grapevine you've bene trying to get ahold of these."

King Robar's eyes widened as he laid eyes on the items inside. Four separate magic artifacts he's been searching for.

"Where...Where did you find these?"

"I know a guy." I replied.

"I've been searching for half a year and still couldn't get these in my possession." he went on to ask, "Might I ask how you found out that I needed this."

"I know a guy...who knows a guy." I answered.

These artifacts were vital for the kingdom's future. With these, he could make improvements to the 'Future Knight' program. Essentially, it'll be used for experiments to make powerful knights even stronger. II was the one who helped come up with this program to begin with. It's obvious I'd find a way to keep tabs on it, even if it was top-secret.

The king cleared his throat.

Koff...

"Very well, then. I fail to believe you did this out of the goodness of your heart. I know you too well, Katsu. Might I ask what the catch is?"

"The shadow ogre. I need all the information you have."

King Robard sat back in his throne, with a frown.

"Still hunting that old thing, are you?" he shook his head, "We've learned quite a bit since you've left."

"Documents. I'll take documents. Whatever you have. I need it."

Again, King Robard shook his head, "You forget, Katsu. You are no longer working directly with the kingdom. I can't discuss our military's secretive matters with you. If anything is leaked to the public, it might cause wide-spread panic among the citizens."

Secret matters? Last time I worked withing the military, this was common knowledge among the public. Why was it a secret now. Something wasn't right.

"What's so secret about it?" I asked.

"You needn't worry yourself with it. I assure you that we have the best from the monster hunter division working on it."

He avoided my question. I needed to know. Now. This helmet I wore always blocked my expression, but if it wasn't, he'd see I was getting frustrated, despite my monotone voice.

My teeth grinded.

"Then what If I worked for the kingdom again?"

"Oh? So, you'd come back to your division?"

"Temporarily. Just until I deal with the beast"

I hate to shame our king, but he was a greedy one. And sometimes, even corrupt. The grin that formed across his lips was wicked. I could see it in his eyes, he was going to use me for as long as he could.

"Well then, Katsu. Consider yourself back on duty. You're now a monster hunter again, I'm sure all of your old colleagues will be thrilled."

Maybe. But I wasn't. I left for a reason. I'm tired of seeing people I care about end up dead at the hands of monsters. This was the reason why I was fine with being a solo adventurer.

"Documents."

King Robard nodded and chuckled, "I'll get you your documents with all the information we've gathered on your shadow ogre. However, I should remind you. He is a lot stronger now."

I'm sure he was. When the Ogre tore through my village, claiming all those lives, he was only around B-A Rank level. It's been nearly twenty years since then.

King Robard continued, "That Ogre, he's been estimated to be an Emerald-rank threat now. And he's claimed many more lives since then."

It was a scary fact. There was no doubt about it. Still, this was the very monster I've been chasing for years. Emerald-rank, or even Legendary-rank, it was all the same to me. The ogre had to be killed. To avenge all the lives it took, and to present all the lives it has the potential to take. As a kid, it took my home, and as a young adult, it also took my lover. I know how that feels. I wasn't going to let it happen anywhere else at the hands of the shadow ogre.

After receiving my information in the forms of documents, King Robard said one more thing before I left.

"And, Katsu, don't share this information with anyone else. Don't even do as little as mentioned the shadow ogre. We can't have any word spreading around."

"Don't worry. I won't." I lied.

I didn't plan to tell the world anything. Yet, I had to tell Amaya. She was accompanying me on this journey. She had the right to know what the risk level was.