Chapter 5

I got up from my bed I looked around me {hmm did I return after I died} as I looked around this is clearly my room from back on earth as I heard a sound I didn't hear for years now {hey Michael it's time for breakfast you will be late for school} hmm school not college I looked at my clothes but it's the same plain clothes that I always wear (I don't really have any taste for clothes) I don't know if I went back in time or is this some kind of trauma but I'm as tall as I can remember but I stopped getting taller as I was at middle school I was as tall as a college student by that time already so I don't really know how old I'm now so I went toward the mirror but nothing is out of the ordinary but my left arm I can't move it {hmm it appears that it's a dream and Raphael is still healing or can't heal my left arm} and someone hit the back of my head I looked back and I saw my mom who looked angry {hey now get dressed already you are getting late} but I didn't move from my place I don't know why but I feel sad just looking at her I now remember this is the day that they will die at from car accident I got closer and mom moved few steps back as she got the magazine at her hand like a weapon {hey don't think you can just try to hit me just because you get a bit taller}as she hit my head I hugged her tightly with my right arm with tears coming down {h-hey what are you doing that's harassment stop it} but I didn't budge as I put more pressure at her as not to leave her {sorry mom but can I stay like that a little longer} she looked a bit annoyed but she then stopped pushing me {okay just a little longer okay} but then someone came from behind me and hugged the two of us together {hey don't forget me} as my father hugged the two of us together mom started to hit his shoulders as to leave us I remember the two funny people I lived with the first seventeen years of my life and tomorrow is my eighteen's birthday we left the hug party after few seconds {so what happened to you today are you ill or something} as dad said that I was eating my breakfast {yep nothing is better than mom's home cooking} since I have been living on a takeaway since her death I tried to learn how to cook but my food always doesn't feel right it's either under cooked or over cooked I still am trying to get used to it but some days I can't just have the time to cook as I said that mom looked embarrassed but father gave me a thump up {you got that right you brat and don't ever forget it} yeah I won't as I finished my dish {now can you tell us what is wrong with you today} as she hit the table I might get hit hard if I don't answer she is the boss of the house anyway even dad have to answer her right away if she asked like that but I wasn't afraid at all as I smiled at her and looked down {I had a very long bad dream that you two are dead and I was all alone at it I'm just glad I had the time to see you two again} they tilted their head as they didn't understand I got up as I was about to tell them about the accident I was shoved right away into reality as I saw a ceiling made of dark wood I looked around me I saw it's the hospital {I returned here huh} I then looked at my left hand and I saw Raphael holding my left hand tightly as he was sleeping soundly (so it was you) I used my right hand and hit him hard that he fell down from the pain as I retracted my left hand once again I started to open and close it again and again for the blood to rush toward it {why did you hit my head} I looked at him {can I ask why have you been clinking to my left arm like that} he got up cleaned his rope of dust {it's a skill of mine that I have to have a body contact with the part that need to be healed} I then clinched my fist again {do you want to have another one} he went back few steps {o-okay sorry I just was worried about you sorry for being close friend to you sheesh} I got up and found I'm not wearing anything other than pants but my clothes is nearby so I went and wore them {hey you still need some rest} as I wore my clothes {I don't know about you but I don't like being at hospital It get some bad memories back so I will rest at the inn} as I remembered my mother going to the surgery and the body of my father without a head and a huge pipe stuck at the chest I shook my head {yeah I don't want to stay here any longer} as I moved away I headed straight toward the inn the people were looking toward me whenever I headed to though (hmm seems like the rumors really travel fast) even though I don't know how long I have been sleeping for there weren't anyone to witness my fighting but it might be Dalf and the others saying anything to heighten my standing well that would be welcomed but I looked at the sword I conjured at my hand I was inside of my room {I need to start increasing their level they might not be able to help me in time and I don't want their help I must be strong enough to help them} as I went to the guild the next day with all the people still looking for me all the way as I entered the branch I saw the yggdrsil tree showing some light here and there and I heard someone shouting {he is here start it} as a loud magic hit the ceiling but nothing happened to the tree itself as all the people from the branch gathered around me with their drinks as they all started to talk about how I have withstood a ruler all on my own and prevented it from killing my teammate until the wolf tripe leader came on I left them on their own after few minutes though (I don't like noisy places) as I headed outside of the branch Raphael went after me {I knew that you will come the next day what happened to you staying at the inn until you are fully healed} with that smile I doubt he is worrying about me and just want to prove he is right {don't worry I just came to ask something to the receptionist} he tilted his head {and what was the great defender wanted to know about} as he smiled even more {you are enjoying yourself right} he nodded {yeah a lot so what did you want} I conjured my sword at the air {this I need my weapons to be much stronger they break too easily} he looked at his staff as he asked {why don't you ask the blacksmith} I looked at him {hmm how will the blacksmith help me with that} he went to the right road and I went after him as he asked a shop keeper for some candies {well you see using the skills isn't enough to level it up} as he went toward the orphanage and went inside of it the kids came running toward him as he gave the candies one at a time {every skill need a specific action to increase it's level but to breakthrough to the next level you need to do another thing like my skill to say I need to do something to breakthrough to the next level when I reach a bottleneck that's what I do} I thought for a moment and yeah I get it now if leveling up skills would be that easy many people would have increased their low level skills already {yeah thanks I will go right now} but as I was about to leave I saw the kids looking at me I thought for a moment {can you play with them a little bit there are crazy rumors about you lately} as the owner of the orphanage came {okay sure I need to have a peace of mind too} as I conjured some small swords I made sure to cover them with their sheath and I made the swords move into the air while moving down every now and there as the kids are trying to catch them I stayed at the side looking for them and after about an hour the kids went to sleep and I left with Raphael as he thanked the orphanage for her help it would be the other way around normally but he get more help from her so it's understandable we went to the blacksmith with the smell of metal going around the place {yeah he is professional blacksmith for sure} as we entered the blacksmith we saw the crow with a Katana coming outside of the shop as he looked around before he left the place we entered the place with a rat faced blacksmith looking at us I was freaked out but still remained at my place while Raphael just got closer to him {hello mister we need to ask you for something} he heard that and left us right away as he started to hit the metal and ignored us {h-hey mister} but then he extended his hammer into the sign what's wrote was {no buying no advices} this guy know how to do business but I'm looking for a good weapon right now anyway {okay then can you show us a good blunt weapon that won't break easily} he looked at us then extended his right hand to the right side {he don't like to talk a lot right} I nodded to what he said and the two of us went to the right side I saw many weapons there but the prices were crazy one handed mace is for a piece of gold and thirty silver I got it and moved it around it's amazing but still that much for it is a bit too high {can't you lower the price a little} as I said that he shook his head {if you can't pay then get the materials and I will cut half of the price as I make it if not then scram} Raphael stood holding a mace as he swung it around {what's so good with these weapons any way they are a bit better than the rest average but that's all} the rat faced blacksmith looked at Raphael with anger searing from his body {only a little better you can't see how amazing this weapon is} Raphael looked at the mace and the hammer at the rat's hand {can you explain so this lowly demon can understand} the rat looked at the hammer at his hand {this hammer for a person like you is a normal weapon but it's different from other weapons it's the result of a middle level blacksmithing ability and high level materials someone like you won't understand even if I engrave the details inside the small brain you have} hmm I tilted my head {how did you get achieve the middle level at blacksmithing anyway} he smirked as he hit his chest {it's a secret of the trade I promised my master that I won't tell anyone unless he can make magical weapon in front of my eyes no less} I looked at Raphael with a as smile at my face { that's easy} as I conjured a weapon at my hand it's a normal sword but since my skill name is Magical weapons but since my level at the skill is too low I can only make normal weapons and with low durability but that much was enough to let the rat faced blacksmith believe us {m-magic sword you just made it like that without consuming your Mana fully} I tilted my head {what do you mean I can make several at the same time well for now I can make up to at least eighty sword but they are useless weapons since they break easily} but I don't really know the concept of Mana I just feel how much Mana I have by feeling I don't know if it's high or low but from what he said just now it seems like my Mana pool is huge one but my skills just consume too much of it that I thought that it was a small one {so is that enough for you} as Raphael said that the rat nodded heavily toward me {y-yes It's enough I will tell you right away how to increase your level} he pleaded to let me increase my skill level I tilted my head something isn't right {what does that let you gain I don't think a selfish person like you will just let us pass like that} he gasped seems like I hit the bulls eye back there {w-well you see I'm just doing it since it was my master's last wish before he died before my eyes as a child} as he said that I winked to Raphael and the two of us was leaving the place but then the rat rushed and closed the door [w-wait please wait I will tell you the truth} (I knew it he is hiding something and it's very important if he is that desperate) I folded my hand {I'm hearing but any nonsense and I will be leaving} he nodded heavily like his life depend on it {it's like that to increase my level to the high level at blacksmithing I need someone with the magic weapon creation to at least be at the middle level to help me it's essential one} {is that the truth} he was very scared from my refusal that Raphael looked at me with a nod he said {okay what does he need to increase his abilities level to the mid level} the rat charged into the small room at the side and a very huge noise started coming from there (just how huge is that room) Raphael raised his shoulders as he didn't understand what is happening as well but then the rat came back with a bag with materials at it as he put them at the table after he threw everything at it and the bag was full of stones I was about to touch them but he slapped my hand away {ten gold pieces} I looked at him {huh but you need me to be at the middle level as well it's a give and take} he shook his head {that is that and this is this these materials aren't at any other place they are rare at the demon region and there aren't other than two people who know of their existence at the demon region as well and one of them is in front of you} he got us there if he is right then I might not be able to get around this one {I don't have that much so can you tell us to do something to pay for you} he answered right away {well there is one material that I can't seem to find at the market get it and we will be even} (this bastard he was waiting for me to say that) and it not being at the market that it's either hard to find or at dangerous spot I sighed {okay where is it} he extended his hand to the nearby mountain {at the top} I looked there with my eyes clear at despair {you gotta be kidding me there is a fucking dragon living there} as Raphael said that I remembered what they kept saying as a warning for me whenever we studied at the palace is to never go to the top of the mountain there have never been a person who won against a dragon the strongest person who was able to go back from fighting a dragon was disabled after the fight for the rest of his life and he said that he was only able to only scratch under it's skin {sorry but the final ingredients the demonic stone only reside where the dragons live so I can't change it with something else} I looked at all the money I have and in total of what I gathered from hunting for the past until now with the money we got from fighting the ruler we have a bag that is full of silver coins since golden coins aren't that around and they are hard to exchange using them I have a total of four golden coins {looks like I will give up this skill} as I moved away Raphael stopped me {wait we will go up to the mountain} I hit his face not hard enough to let him hit the ground just to stop him from talking {don't even joke around about fighting a dragon} as I moved forward {if I got my food and inn together I will only need up to five silvers a month with our income if we got a regular missions we might be able to reach the ten gold within a year and half get it into two halves and I will need three years to get them and if get our rank up it will be much easier later on} but then Raphael jumped at my back and the two of us started to beat me up {but can you really stop training your main skill all that time for just that much risk ouch} as I kicked him away and stopped him from going up before hitting his chest using my leg he kept flipping around and got up {our life is more important than a mere skill I can get used to the sword and learn how to fight better without it our party will get stronger by the time we reach the level to be able to get that much money I will just pay him up for the materials} he got and the two of us went and hit each other at the face as the people started to gather around the two of us I then saw Dalf looking at us as he was laughing the two of us stopped as I was squeezing his cheeks and Raphael was pulling my ears {sorry for the wait the prize is here for telling us the spot of the ruler} we looked at him {didn't we get it already for participating at the raid with you} as I got up Raphael hit my sides with his elbow {well that was from the yggdrsil branch not from the wolf tripe you contributed greatly and didn't let a single person die since we killed the ruler faster than we expected} as Dalf said that I finally remembered that Raphael said that the platoon would most likely face a big losses at each expedition but they more likely only got tired but no one died at it but that is that and this fight between the two of us didn't stop as I returned the elbow {and for that every person that participated gave a portion of their earning for you} as the two of us stopped from hitting each other and looked at him he smiled as he saw us stopping well we are fighting because we lack money {here take it} as he threw a bag I caught it the coins inside weren't much I can tell even though it's not even open at least six coins within it but I doubt that Dalf one of the alliance would just come to look for me to give me a couple of coins even though the wolf tripe is known for them keeping their promises and depts. Until they die and even their kids will take on that burden after them until their depts. Are fully paid so I opened the bag and I found sex coins that are purely made of gold I looked at the golden coins the same look was at Raphael's face as we looked at Dalf who was laughing at us {that's it my work end here see you later} and he left us as I looked at the bags I have the fully ten golden coins that I need right now we smiled at each other and clapped our hands as the crowd got bored and left us as we went back to that rat's blacksmith and gave him the ten golden coins he looked at them without saying anything at all {here are the money now can we get the skill upgrade right} he nodded lightly it seems like his body will fall down faster than I think but then he stopped and with a smile he gave me the materials right away (I feel something off here) {okay then here they are thanks for your purchase} damn it he is leaving {wait won't you teach us how to increase the skill level} as Raphael said that the rat looked at us with a smirk {I never said anything about teaching you how to do it ah and so that you know if you do it wrongly the materials will break} damn this filthy rat I'm about to go and kill him but before I did something huge appeared from behind me {I thought something like this will happen you are just like your master} as I looked at my back I saw Dalf standing there {m-master Dalf how can I help you} the rat was smiling with sweat coming down from his forehead like a waterfall they clearly know each other and Dalf is superior for sure at that {cut to the chase and teach him the skill already or I might by mistake howl and destroy the whole place} that's one funny way to threaten but it seems effective as the rat rushed and taught me how to do it it's pretty easy actually I conjured eight swords and got them around the table as the materials at the middle and the materials started to get into the swords on themselves but then a big red aura started to go around the materials as a dark round sword with signs all around it was standing atop of the swords and I feel like this sword is calling for me but before I did anything it disappeared and I could feel my ability's level increasing with my Mana pool rushing to another level with it