Chapter 7

The town was a lot more lively today. Having to pass by the central plaza, it was unmistakably the doing of that famed hero knight that Hajikeru talked about.

Hyouketsu:

"That's him right there. He really embodies what a knight should be huh."

Hyouketsu was clearly inspired. Those looks in his eyes, they're resemble the eyes of a child who looks up to their father. I wonder how my family is doing, back in the village? My little sister, my father and my mother... Sigh, I wish I could say I was apart of the family, but I've always felt an odd disconnection. I guess that's why I began to distance myself over recent years and eventually left to become an adventurer when the opportunity struck.

Three years is all it takes for a person to become a graduated fighter. Three years away from them is how I looked at it. I missed them too, but I had grown used to that feeling. But most of all, I just hope my little sister is doing well. She's about 2 years younger than me which makes her 15. I haven't heard a thing from her. But that should come as no surprise.

Hyouketsu:

"He's slain so many beasts, it's unreal!"

Nino:

"He may be famed for slaying beasts, but I'll becone famous for burning many beasts!"

Santos:

"Keep dreaming!"

Effie:

"As a knight myself, I highly value the way Hero Knight Ichi presents himself."

Hyouketsu:

"Especially his fights! He's the best dueler around!"

So the guy's not only the best person for mob slaying- he apparantley kicks ass in dueling too. That's one hell of a reputation. I can't doubt his strength at all. Some say he's a reincarnation of a great King in the past despite not being blood related to the current King.

Legend states that this hero was a great hero valued as the one who ended the Holy War. His abnormal strength brought him victory for his nation and allowed him to unite the world as one. He lived to see three different generation of knights before he passed onto the Realm of the Gods.

Nowadays, we don't know the word peace. The world is disjointed with many creatures going rampant and demons roaming everywhere. In all honesty, I don't know much about the world outside the Kingdom. I don't know it at all. But as an adventurer, I will come to learn more about it. Perhaps I'll even find myself aiming for a new goal.

???:

"Ah... Sounds like something big is going on."

My attention turned to the man who just spoke out of nowhere. His voice was a bit rough and the guy looked anywhere around his 40's. Despite how young he looks, he has that wise attribute to him.

Keshin:

"Oh, some big shot is in town. What was his name?"

Hyouketsu:

"I-chi, Ichi. His name is Ichi."

Hyouketsu put up one finger which would be what ichi means.

???:

"Is that right? Hm, guess I need to keep up with the new trends. Well, if you all are fans of his, why aren't you headed over there?"

Hyouketsu:

"Oh- we have a job to attend to Sir."

???:

"Please, no formalities. Call me Seijitsu."

Nino:

"Seijitsu? That's a cool name. I wonder if I can take it..."

Santos:

"You know it's impossible."

Nino:

"Let me dream!"

Seijitsu:

"Hm... You all look like promising children. Good luck with your work."

Nino:

"Thank you sir! It's nice to have some respect around here."

Effie:

"Nino don't start another fight."

Santos:

"Anyway, we should get going, right leader? Thanks for the encouraging words young sir!"

Seijitsu simply let out a laugh with that comment. I wonder what that encounter was about- but I'm sure that won't be the last we see of him. He did look tough- what with that crazy big sword on his back and that hefty looking chestplate, shoulder plate, arm plates, knee plates and even greaves. He certainly fit the look of a really cool adventurer.

Several minutes passed before we could even arrive at the destination. The plains were large, but since wolves only spawn at night in that area- we had to treach deeper into uncharted territories. Entering a forest- it was shown that this was the location of the wolves.

Hajikeru:

"Are you doing alright?"

Keshin:

"Yeah. It's just the idea that we have to kill about 50 wolves. Think we can do it?"

Hajikeru:

"It shouldn't be too much of an issue."

Nino:

"What're you two talking about?"

Keshin:

"Ah it's nothing. Just some team discussions of fighting."

Nino:

"Oh! Include me pleaase!"

Keshin:

"Heh. Sure thing Nino."

I instinctively patted her head. I realised just what I was doing- but I just couldn't help it. Nino just reminds me of my energetic little sister... Right. She was 11 when we suddenly grew distant.

Nino:

"Wh-what was that about?"

Keshin:

"A-ah. Sorry, force of habit."

Nino is 16, but she certainly has that same energy my little sister had back then. She even has the same hair colour as her. Despite being related, my family all had brown hair, with the exception of me who had black hair. I guess those were the first signs of me thinking that I didn't belong.

Nino:

"Hey... What's with that look on your face?"

Keshin:

"Don't worry about it. Make sure you back me up today, alright?"

Nino:

"... Okay!"

Hajikeru:

"... I'll do my best too."

I went walking ahead to catch up with Santos, Effie and Hyouketsu. I tried avoiding thoughts about my family, I didn't realise how homesick I really am.

Nino:

"You seem to be getting closer to us."

Hajikeru:

"Y-yeah. Sorry about being so quiet all the time."

Nino:

"Don't be. I think you should take your time. I don't know much about you, but I think it'd be a great time to get to know you."

Hajikeru:

"... Yeah. I feel the same. Since we're both backing up the newbie, how about we come up with some combo-attacks?"

Nino:

"Combo-attacks?! I'm game for it!"

Hajikeru:

"Y-yeah.. They should be way more powerful than normal attacks."

Hyouketsu:

"First wolf spotted!"

Without a moments hesitation, I thrusted my sword into its body. I don't know if that was the smartest move, but I had to test this sucker out eventually. I feel like I can't concentrate. My thoughts are taking me elsewhere.

Keshin:

"Switch Hyou!"

Hyouketsu:

"Coming in! Sword Art, Vorpal Glacier!"

S-straight in with a unique attack? I've never heard of such an attack before. The air around Hyouketsu's ice blade suddenly froze. It was a shock to me- I knew mana blades existed but I never saw one up close. In a thrusting motion- ice shards flew through his sword and into the wolf- and upon impact, each shard of ice detonated the wolf- exploding like an actual explosion- but it was just ice.

Keshin:

"Wh-what was that..?"

Hyouketsu:

"Like it? I named it Vorpal Glacier, it was tough coming up with it- let alone creating the skill."

Effie:

"Hmmm.. No fair. I wanted in."

Santos:

"Hey look! We got all three items on the first try!"

Keshin:

"I'll be damned... This blade really works wonders..."

Hyouketsu:

"What was that? I didn't hear you Keshin."

Keshin:

"O-oh nothing."

I probably shouldn't spill the beans. But what are we going to do about this left over ice?

Hyouketsu:

"What do you think? Pretty cool huh."

I looked inside to which I could see the frozen wolf. It was killed instantly- probably because Hyouketsu's level is pretty high for this area.

Keshin:

"What was that?"

Hyouketsu:

"It's called a Secret Art. Familiar with it?"

Keshin:

"A Secret Art... I've heard of Sword Art and Sacred Arts- but this is a first for Secret Arts."

Hyouketsu:

"The name implies it's a secret but it really isn't. The basic idea is that Secret Arts are manifestation of your real power. They tap into your imagination- but I like to think it's more like it taps into the will of a person's soul."

Keshin:

"I'm not sure I follow."

Hyouketsu:

"Hm. It's hard to explain, but if you really dedicate yourself into believing that you can do something and put in enough effort to achieve it- you can make that imagination become a reality."

Keshin:

"Now it's starting to sound like some kind of fantasy thing."

Nino:

"Hey! We still have wolves to kill, let's get a move on!"

Looks like our conversation ends here. Secret Arts... they have to have something written about it in the Grand Library. I guess I should check it out when I have the time. I looked over to Hyouketsu who diminished the ice into thin air with a single touch.

Hyouketsu:

"Secret Art Keshin. Don't forget it."

Keshin:

"How did you make the ice disappear?"

Hyouketsu:

"Ahck- I should've been clearer. Well what I meant to say was that I just made it disappear thanks to my Secret Art. Since it's my power, I know for a fact that I can remove it at will. I just have to use mana for it, but that comes naturally when using anything like a Sword Art and Sacred Art. Secret Arts may be powerful, but they require more mana to use. They're your ace in the hole, so be careful when you learn them."

The grind was successful. Taking out a grand total of 25 wolves. This sword has an incredible luck boost and all I had to do was land one hit. Nino ended up getting a few with one hit which is why we ended up killing more than intended, but it adds to the exp we gain.

LEVEL UP!!

Lv 10+1 Hyouketsu

Lv 11+1 Effie

Lv 9 +1 Santos

Lv 10+1 Nino

Lv 20 Hajikeru

Lv 6 +1 Keshin

Reward Total:

30,000 sbc

5000 exp.