Getting Ready For Some Hero Smashing

"More! More!" Kira shouts as she throws another item into my juggling routine.

In total, it adds up to more than 10 items of various sizes and shapes.

"I didn't know you knew how to juggle," Jade says as she walks in on me juggling.

"I didn't, just learned." I point to the corner of my room. In the corner are a few cards, some well-drawn sketches, and a book. "Learned how to do that stuff too."

"Is that so… Quite remarkable…" Jade says picking up the book and scanning through it.

"Isn't it?!" Kira chips in. "Not only is Akari normal now, but he's even more amazing than I thought!"

"So this is how he acts normally," Jade says seemingly in thought.

I can't help but think as I watch Kira jump around with excitement about the fact that she was Kira! I mean my slime bud was a girl? I didn't even know slimes had genders!

It was quite an interesting conversation when she tried to convince me that she was indeed my slime bud. I mean after she transformed it was hard to refute her.

"Hmm, Akari has been acting weird lately…" Jade says.

"I second that" Elera seconds.

"Well, I think he's perfect" Kira… Thirds?

"Ya that's my bad, I had a whole thing going on. Sorry if I was weird before or something."

"No, not weird, just different. It's kinda odd having a more laid-back Akari is all…" She says, looking away.

Nice. That was settled pleasingly. I'm not sure what she liked about Persistence but sadly for her I probably don't have it. I expect she'll hate me at some point. Kira seems to like how I act though.

I'm sorry Persistence but I fear the harem you made for me may not last…

Speaking of where is that guy? I haven't seen him around lately. Well, I wanted to give him some time but now I feel like it's time for me to see what he's up to.

Shouldn't be that hard, I did practically live there for a few months.

The weird realm he has going on is in fact not that hard for me and him to get in there, I mean that's what it's there for. All I gotta do is…

Ah, there he is. I look around and can't help but notice this dark realm is looking more… Empty than normal? I'm not too sure how a void is supposed to look more or less full but for some reason, I just feel off.

But there he is, the man of the hour standing there, packing up some bags.

Is he moving out or something? He can do that? I walk over to him and put my hand on his shoulder.

"What, you gonna go without saying goodbye?" I ask.

Even though I basically just walked into his house without asking Persistence acts completely normal. "Well, I have been spending the past while packing so it makes sense."

Does he even have anything to pack? What a weird guy.

"Oh is that what you've been doing? I thought you had maybe died or something"

Persistence lets out a little laugh. "It's funny you think I could be killed. No, I won't die but I won't be around either, just heading off to vacation I suppose."

"And why is that? What, fed up with me?" I ask leaning forward.

"No, it's more like my purpose has been fulfilled. I don't think I could stay if I wanted to. You don't seem to be dead or riving in pain so the skill seems to be attached quite nicely to you." He says with a sad smile.

Persistence finishes packing and gets ready to leave. I can see his form slowly start to fade.

"Is that so? Well, I hope you have fun!" Right before he leaves I make sure to add something. "Also, I hope you don't mind me dating your girl."

Perstance turns to face me looking quite confused but also a bit flushed? Before he is able to say anything his body disappears.

I make sure to do a little stretch and return to everybody else. This little thing should have only taken a few seconds for everyone else.

And why is it that when I come back Ren is in the room with us holding something? Something that I can't exactly wrap my brain around.

"Ren, what's that?" I ask her.

"Huh? Well, it's nice to meet you too. In any case, this right here." She holsters the object. "Is my new and improved gun!"

Gun? A gun?! In MY fantasy world? What on earth does she think she's doing with that? She's running the whole vibe!

I'm almost tempted to break the thing right here and now but of course, I don't. Just because she's ruining my esthetic doesn't mean I get to act all crazy over some gun…

I might though, if she mass-produced it.

"Anyway," Ren says, putting the thing down. "We are going to be heading out now, they say they found the heroes. This shouldn't take long. Let's not waste too much time. I don't wanna stay here for too long." She says nonchalantly.

It seems Ren is talking about this revolutionary group idea for us to get rid of the heroes for them. With them gone this country's biggest players are off the table. This should back them into a corner for a bit.

Apparently, they put a lot into getting the heroes here. Some say they even messed up the first time and had to do it twice…

Now neither I nor Ren is being forced to do much of anything. This group's cause feels good enough. Now I would like to hear both sides first before doing anything too drastic.

"All right let's go then," I say picking up my sword

And so with me and Ren in our cool-looking outfits, we get ready to fight some second-grade heroes.