Chapter 171 : The New Possibility (Part 1)

After the raid incident from the night, the village was bustling with rumors.

"I heard an explosion last night! Did you hear that too?"

"Yeah, I heard there's some sort of fight as well."

"Is it the Empire?"

"No way! How can the Empire know the location of our village?"

"But hasn't the Empire been hostile to our Kingdom?"

"That's true, it's making me anxious."

The rumors about the Empire starting their first attack which targeted this village, spread like wildfire.

Rei could hear everything the villagers said from his room at his house.

"....."

*CREAK*

Someone opened the door to his room and approached him from behind.

"It seems you had a good rest~" Ignia spoke as she walked in.

Rei turned around and smiled, "Yeah, it's been so long since I had a good sleep."

"Well that's the point of this trip" Ignia smiled and leaned her back against the wall.

"So...did that bastard say anything?" Rei's expression and the room'a atmosphere changed when he's referring to the prisoner he caught.

Ignia smiled, "Yeah, as soon as he woke up. He spilled everything without holding back. You completely traumatised him."

They were talking about [Cyrus], one of the perpetrators who started the raid towards this village.

"Seriously, your method is right yet it feels wrong." Ignia chuckled as she remembered the prisoner's expression.

"I learned it all from you... the best way to make them spill everything, is by beating them up and plant fear in their mind." Rei explained.

"Of course, but to think he had to taste your [Hell Flame]...I think this time you had gone too far." Ignia stated.

"He had it coming when he decided to raid this village." Rei replied firmly to her statement.

Ignia shrugged while sighing, "That's true, but the power within that flame of yours are far surpassed my [Divine Flame]."

"So it was difficult even for me to negate the pain he suffered." Ignia spoke.

"So next time, try to refrain from using it on prisoners or hostages, unless you want them to die before extracting their information." Ignia stated.

Rei sighed and looked away, "Fine, I'll keep in mind."

"...I'll just break their limbs one by one next time." Then he stated.

Then Ignia clapped her hand, "Good, that's more like it!" As she answered without questioning his absurd statement.

"But let's stop the chit chat and get into the main problem." Ignia proceeded with the topic.

"Go on." Rei replied.

"They didn't come to this village merely to destroy it or to take the village's supplies and valuables but...."

"It was to kidnap the villagers instead." Ignia explained.

"Kidnaping? Instead of stealing?" Rei asked.

"Indeed, when I heard it...it was odd for them to focus on kidnapping them alive."

"But it appears there's a reason why they needed a living human being." Ignia spoke

"Reason?" Rei was confused to hear there's something more to this incident.

Ignia noticed his reaction and nodded, "Yeah, if they wanted to raid this village for supply or money, I wouldn't find it strange."

"Then...what is the reason? is it [The Empire] who planned this?" Rei asked.

"You quite off the mark there, but indeed, he belongs to [The Empire] but....he's also affiliated with a certain group." Ignia replied.

"A certain group...?" Rei's mind drifted towards the tattoo mark on the two perpetrators he fought last night.

"Yeah, it seems he belongs to a group of humans called [Blood Rose], and their master..." When Ignia was about to say the name, Rei said it first

"[The Femme Fatale, Minerva]?"

"Ohh?" Ignia blinked, "You know this human?"

"I heard her once...or rather, I met the monster she created in the past." Rei replied, reminded of the monster that gave him a hard time for the first time.

"Is it the monster that evolved into a [Dragon]?" Ignia stated it.

"Yes...that is correct, I am surprised you know that but....I never once told you about it." Rei replied.

"Your little friend told me here." Ignia spoke while pointed out at Ray which is within him.

'Houston.' Rei muttered his name.

'Sorry, hehe.' Ray replied with an awkward smile.

"But this is remarkable, to think there is a human capable of creating Chimera that could evolve into a Dragon." Ignia spoke while smiling. "How intriguing~"

"It seems she is very capable...to be able to create monsters from mythical age." Ignia stated, "Makes me wonder what kind of a human to have such a title on her~"

"She is...one of the Kings who ruled the [Underworld] or the dark side of the world, and they were known as [The Six Underworld Kings]." Rei replied.

"Underworld Kings? Such an absurd title they gave themselves!" Ignia commented.

"Yeah, but despite that...they're skills are real because I fought against two of them before." Rei spoke.

"Hmm yes, I heard from Houston that you fought against a strong bandit in the past." Ignia spoke.

"Right, he is the [King of Bandits, Banzana]...the first one who I fought when I tried to save a village during my journey." Rei spoke.

"A mere bandit called themselves as King. Hah! Humans in this era really know how to flatter themselves." Ignia commented again as her eyes shifted towards him.

He didn't find it odd though, because he himself was given a title as [Knight of Wrath] and [God of Destruction] during his stay in this world.

"Then? Is the second one....the one who killed you?" Ignia guessed.

Rei reacted by her words, but remain calm, "Yeah...the one who took me down."

"Aahhhh~ now you mention it,...I did met him once when I was retrieving you. Was it...[King of Destruction]? To think there's a human capable of exerting [Dragon's Power] in this era~"

Ignia looked away for a moment before looking at him, "Although the comparison between him and the current you....had become quite wide~"

Rei didn't respond to her comment, but instead he asked about something else. "So, why is someone who doesn't belong to the Empire are working with them?"

Despite Rei's unamused reaction, she continued with an answer, "Apparently, these so-called Kings had joined hands with the Empire in an alliance."

'Joined hands? Even though they were just criminals who controlled things in the shadows?' Ray came out to join their conversation.

'That's strange...this isn't in the future that I know.' Ray stated.

"What do you mean...Houston?" Rei asked.

'The Empire did waged a war with the Kingdom in the future, but I never heard or knew that the [Six Underworld Kings] had joined in.' Ray replied.

"Of course it's not strange, the future has changed." Ignia butted into their conversation.

"And the one who changed it...were you both.' Ignia pointed her finger at them.

'Us?' Ray replied.

"Of course...if you consider the scale of our action...we did change the fate for some people." Rei spoke.

"From saving our village, the fight with the bandits..." Rei recalled all the events that happened.

'...saving the Saintess, defeating Jormugand in the Elf Kingdom...' Ray recalled together.

"And finally...saving the North and defeating [The Three Great Evil].'

"Which causes a butterfly effect and creates a new future." Rei explained.

Things finally clicked in Ray's head, 'I see, when you put it that way. It makes perfect sense.'

"However, the problem is not the past or the future; we must focus on what is in front of us." Ignia spoke.

"With your strength, I don't think I needed to worry about it." Ignia commented.

Rei looked at his own hand, then shook his head, "No...I should be prepared. I haven't finished creating the rest of the [Legendary] grade weapons." Then he summoned his black sword from his [Inventory].

The black sword was clearly not in good shape, it had several dents on the edges, scratches and cracks all over the blade.

"Even with [Adamantite] which is known to be the strongest metal in this world, it won't be enough.'

"I needed a new sword, a sword that could withstand my current strength." Rei muttered.

"A sword that can endure my flame." Rei raised his other hand, and a white flame kindled on top of it.

[The True Flame].

"I will begin my preparation and research to find suitable material that could endure [The True Flame]."

"So, Master, I have a favor to ask." Rei then shifted his gaze towards her, but before he could say it Ignia finished it for him.

"You want me to train those kids and guide them right?" Ignia smiled, "You don't even need to ask, remember? I can hear your thoughts clearly."

"Thank you, Master." Rei smiled.

Ignia giggled, "Fufufu~ Come on! I am your Master. I am not that shameless to ignore my disciple's request. Especially since he had done so much for the North."

Rei felt reassured with her words, "I appreciated this, Master."

Then when Rei walked away to his door and grabbed knob, he stopped in for a moment.

"But before that...what happened to that guy?" Rei muttered without taking a glance at her and facing the door.

Ignia smiled sweetly towards him, "Dead~"

"I see." Rei replied without turning back and finally, he walked out the room.

Afterwards, he began to secluded himself within his family workshop for a week.

******

But 2 weeks had passed.

The training Ignia had been assigned to was almost over.

The kids who were left by Rei to be trained by her, were currently lying on the ground with their bodies covered in bruises.

James was the only one kneeling while holding his wooden sword.

"Ohhhh, you have quite the guts kid." Ignia praised him, "I can see your potential as a [Swordsman]."

James panted heavily, "Hah....this is nothing, compared to Aniki." As he tried to get up.

"Don't compare yourself with that monster. He's a training freak who won't stop training even when his body reaches his limit." Ignia replied.

"That's exactly what I want." James replied confidently, but his legs were visibly trembling as he tried to get up.

*BAM*

Ignia kicked his leg, causing James to fall on the ground.

"Ugh—?!"

"Don't force yourself, kid." Ignia sighed as she threw each of them a bottle of potion.

"Drink this and rest, I don't want to get blamed by my own disciple if you all ended up dead." Ignia waved dismissively and left the area.

James laid on his back and looked up to the sky, "Hans....Bob...you still alive?"

"Y-yeah...somehow, Boss." Bob managed to stutter out a reply.

While Hans were still trying to catch his breath, "This is rougher...than I thought.".

James sighed while looking at his own arms, covered in bruises and scratches due to the training.

"To think Aniki have been training like this for 7 years." James muttered.

Hans and Bob looked at each other.

"But Boss! You also trained like crazy under uncle Nel's guidance!" Hans praised him.

"Yes Boss!" Bob praised as well.

But James shook his head, "No, it wasn't enough...compared to him." As he reminded of 2 weeks ago.

He was reminded of the recorded video Emily showed them from the orb so they could observe what happened on that night.

They were speechless by the fact Rei could easily kill all of those monsters. They might seem easy to defeat but that's because their opponent was Rei himself.

'I was so full of myself thinking that I could defeat any monster coming to this village...but seeing Aniki have been fighting those kinds of monsters for so long…'

'I...am so weak.' James was deep in his thoughts, knowing all the effort he made all these years wasn't able to reach Rei—his older brother figure.

"Indeed, you are weak." A voice came up in front of them

"You are...." James, along with others, shifted their gaze to the man who approached them.

It was Doldain.

"But that doesn't mean you can't become stronger." Doldain spoke to them.

"What do you...." James was confused by his words, but at the same time he somewhat understood what he's trying to say.

"Then....when can I be stronger?" James asked him.

"Do you even need to question that?" Doldain replied, "What you need is not to rush yourself."

"What you need is to learn how to have patience and experience, by taking a slow path to become stronger." Doldain spoke.

"There's no shortcut for those who want to become stronger." Doldain stated clearly.

"But..." James began to compare himself towards Rei again.

"Do not compare yourself to him, just like my King said." Doldain knew what he's currently thinking.

"But why?" James insisted.

"Because...there's always a price to pay for those who want to become stronger quickly." Doldain spoke.

James was interested in his words, then got up quickly, "Did Aniki...."

"Though, I cannot share his secret to others, because....I respect his wish. But if you are eager to know all about it…."

"You need to talk to him." Doldain spoke in finality before James could press further.

The three of them stared at each other, curious towards the [price] that Rei made to become stronger.

Until...

"Are you guys talking about me?" Rei appeared behind them, which took James and the others y surprise

"Speak of the devil, I guess you finished your preparation then." Doldain spoke to Rei.

"Yeah, I already finished most of the preparation and for the last I already know where I need to go now." Rei replied.

"Aniki, are you going already?" James asked.

Rei looked at him, "Yeah...but Master really didn't hold back on you guys, huh?" He commented on their state.

"Ahh this? I asked her to do the kind of training you have gone through." James grinned as he scratched the back of his head.

"But well…when I think about it, it seems she is pretty much holding back on you." Rei spoke.

"W-wait...you mean this whole time, she had been holding back?" Hans asked.

"Yeah, she clearly avoid any spot that could lead fatal injuries, if she didn't...you guys would either have broken bones and near death experience." Rei replied casually.

Which made them visibly tremble.

"But, Aniki, where are you going?" James decided to change the topic once he recovered from his words.

"Well, it is a place far from here but...I need to go somewhere else first." Rei spoke.

"Somewhere else?" James repeated.

"Yeah...it's time to get my [Adventurer License] renewed." Rei answered.

The three of them got up immediately and stared at him with sparkly eyes, "Woah! [Adventurer License]!?" And they got more excited than usual.

"But...can we come?" James asked.

"Of course, what do you think I have been preparing for the past 2 weeks?" Rei answered.

"We're going?!" And that made them even more excited, like a bunch of children going for a picnic or given a new toy.

"Yeah, but you need permission from Uncle Nel and your parents, because this isn't a picnic or anything you've been through." Rei reminded.

"Yes sir!" They replied simultaneously, then left immediately to get their permission.

"Look how they recovered fast." Rei muttered while watching them left.

Doldain who watched them on the side, bursted out laughing, "Hahaha! It feels like you're babysitting three kids." He teased.

Rei sighed, "Well they are pretty much kids to me."

"So, when are you be going?" Doldain stood beside him.

"Probably now, sooner the better." Rei replied.

"Because I don't have much time now...I need to start forging a suitable weapon for my current self." Rei muttered.

"Even with that strength, are you still afraid?" Doldain asked.

"....yes." Rei replied then he turned towards him.

"Doldain...humans are really fragile beings, they are easily tempted, blame each other, and kill for petty things."

"And most of all....they are weak and easily killed." Rei spoke.

"That is why...I am still afraid, afraid of them die without me knowing....died because I couldn't protect them when I'm not around." Rei muttered.

"That's true, I understand of what you meant." Doldain replied, "Since for me who have lived longer than you...I see quite many of them...the death and suffering that human causes."

"I hated human for their greed, the war they cause, the massacre of the innocents."

"Until...I met a certain human." Doldain then looked at him and grinned widely.

"He was a human who is more hard-headed than most dwarves, a human who never gives up in the face of adversity, and a human who is both strong and weak on the inside."

"He wasn't a hero, a warrior or a mage."

Doldain looked up to the sky, "He was just a brat who desperately wanted to safeguard everything while pursuing his own dream."

*TAP*

"....?!"

Doldain then tapped his back, giving him a push. "And, he is also my foolish disciple."

"Doldain..."

Rei felt touched by his words, after his training for the past 7 years, he finally heard his praise for the first time.

Rei then laughed after so long, "Hahaha! This isn't like you to say something like that." His expression somehow mellowed for a moment.

Doldain laughed, "Hahaha! Right? This is my century's worth of wisdom! In a situation like this, it can be useful!"

Despite having just had a serious conversation a moment ago, the two guys laughed at each other's statements as if they were old buddies in the past.

After the quite laugh they had, Doldain looked at him.

"Now off you go, make sure to come back safely. I will safeguard your family and village here." Doldain spoke.

Rei who had been feeling pressured due the short time he had and felt that he was about to reach his limit.

Finally....he felt reassured, relieved, and incredibly grateful for all of Doldain's and Ignia's help.

So, before he left his side, Rei stood in front of him.

Then he knelt and bowed his head down.

Showing him how much gratitude he had felt over the past years they taught him.

"Thank you, for your teaching! I will never forget this, for the rest of my life!"

Rei thanked him sincerely with the face full of gratefulness.

Rei who was stranded in this world alone when Ray fell into deep slumber.

Doldain, who was his teacher and the father figure who taught him not just how to fight but also taught him how important emotions are.

That's how Rei remembered him.

Doldain looked at Rei who bowed his head down, "You don't have to thank me, thank the fate who allowed us to meet, my foolish disciple." Then tapped his shoulder.

"Now get up! And bring me some good alcohol, so we can have a feast together!" Doldain spoke.

Rei stood up straight and grinned widely with bright smile, "Yes!"

After that, he left to prepare for his journey again.

******

Finally, everyone in the village gathered together to see Rei off for his journey again.

Rei's parents, Adam and Sheila cried when they saw him wearing his armor and standing in front of the gate.

"Waaaaa!!! Our son!! He grew up so fast!!" Adam cried.

"Waaaaa!!! My baby boy is going to leave us again!!!" Sheila cried.

Rei, who stood there with Ignia and the others, felt embarrassed for the first time having such doting parents like them.

But it put a smile on his face

"Are you ready for the journey?" Rei asked towards James and the others.

James wore a black armor set that was given by Rei, he had the same design of light armor he once wore during his first journey.

"Yes, aniki!" James replied while holding a black sword, the same [The Corrosion Black Sword] he once used.

Bob wore a bulk of brown armor with mane all over his neck, to show how big and menacing he was, with shield and club on his back that was made from the [Mountain King Boar] skins, tusks and bones.

"I feel strong!" Bob spoke while showing his muscular arms.

Hans wore a black robe all over his body and a staff with red crystal orb on top of it to make him look mysterious. This was made with [Blood Raven Emperor] feathers and core.

"This makes me look like a [Black Mage]." Hans commented.

Finally...

Emily joined as well.

"Thank you for waiting! Onii-chan!"

Emily was quite stubborn as she wanted to follow Rei in his journey.

She's allowed to come after she threw a tantrum for the first time.

Emily wore a brown coat with a medical outfit which matched her hair color. The material used for this was [The Sandworm Dragon] skin, along with her bag.

'To think Emily found her job.' Ray spoke.

'Yeah, I never thought she'd get [Apothecary] job.' Rei replied.

'It's a [Support Job] that specializes in both [Healing] and [Alchemy], basically she has both [Priest] and [Alchemist] skills.' Ray explained.

'Ohhh, such a rare [Job] your sister has.' Fafnir butted into the conversation.

'A [Blacksmith] capable of wielding multiple weapons and achieving two enlightenments, now a sister who had [Apothecary] job that can be found in one in a millions of chances.' Fafnir praised.

'I must say, your family has produced amazing heirs.' Fafnir stated.

'Yeah....' Rei glanced at Emily.

'If this is one of the changes that we cause, we will gladly accept and will continue to protect no matter what.' Rei spoke.

"Now then! Shall we go!"

But before they could start their journey, an uninvited guest joined them and stood right beside him.

"Master..." Rei glanced at her.

Ignia joined in the journey together, "What? Even if you bid farewell to Doldain, it doesn't mean you are leaving without me!"

Rei glanced at Doldain quietly asking for his assistance.

But Doldain just shrugged it off, 'Good luck.' As he left the most problematic person to him.

'Doldain–?!' Rei felt betrayed, despite their emotional farewell.

But in the end, Rei accepted his fate to take care of not four but five children.

So, before Rei left the gate, he went to his parents together with Emily on his side.

"We're going...Dad, Mom." Rei muttered with a smile.

"We will be back!" Emily spoke with a bright smile.

Adam and Sheila tried not to cry again and embraced them in their arms for the last time.

"Be safe...you two." Adam muttered while sniffling.

"And remember...we'll always love you." Sheila muttered as her tears started falling already.

"Yes....we will." Rei replied with a sincere smile, feeling the warmth of their embrace.

Then finally, Rei and the others left the village.

Ignia then stood in front of them.

"Stay back, kids!" Ignia stated as her body was clad in fire, flashing the whole village.

In the next second, she emerged in her true form as [The King of Dragons] while carrying Rei and the others on her back.

"W-woah!!" James, Bob, Hans and Emily were surprised when they were carried by her at the back.

Rei used his [Telekinesis] to make them stay still on her back, then created [Barrier] around them to keep them from flying around.

*"Make sure to hold onto yourself!!"* Ignia shouted.

*SWOOSH*

As she spread her wings.

After that, Ignia flew away from the village to start their journey.

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1 month, until the war begin.

To be continued…