Final Farewell & The Shadow Djinn

"And it was your persistence to make a difference that sparked this monumental change in the community," Elysia said with admiration in her voice.

Lord Chadrick nodded in agreement, his guards sharing his approving smile. "Haxks… won't you consider staying in Dusthaven and becoming my personal attendant?" He asked upon resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

The guards exchanged surprised glances.

"Sir Fraunce, my trusted adviser, is about to retire," the lord explained, his tone serious yet hopeful. "Would you be interested in being tutored by him until you can take his place? I couldn't bear the regret of letting such a promising youth slip through my fingers."

Daisuke lowered his gaze, contemplating the man's proposal for a brief moment before he spoke. "As you mentioned, it's only a matter of time before the village's prosperity transforms it into a town, or even a large city. And that rapid growth will undoubtedly attract the attention of other kingdoms."

Lord Chadrick's gaze narrowed at the mention of that.

"And I have a feeling Lunarel will be too tied up with other pressing matters to offer any real aid," Daisuke continued ominously, recalling the peculiar arrangement he had made with the kingdom's princess.

"Right now, my priority is to acquire the power to defend myself and those around me. So, while I truly appreciate your offer, I won't be able to accept it."

The man allowed a rueful smile, his grip on Daisuke's shoulder tightening slightly. "It's tough to give up on someone as smart and resourceful as you, but as a fellow man, I have to respect your decision."

Daisuke allowed a cool smile. "Maybe you should consider Elysia for the role," he suggested openly. "She's pretty clever and resourceful—quite the looker, too," he said with a wink.

Lord Chadrick stumbled back at the bold suggestion, his graceful disposition crumbling like a breaking dam. Elysia cleared her throat as she stepped forward, battling against the treacherous blush attempting to creep into her cheek.

Without a word, the woman crouched in front of the boy, who stood a mere 125 centimeters tall, and held his confident gaze. However, his perfectly schooled mask couldn't fool her sharp feminine intuition. "I know it's incredibly stressful and frustrating right now," she whispered, ensuring only he could hear. "But if you keep forging ahead, I'm almost certain that the right answers and paths will reveal themselves when you need them most.

All you need to do is keep moving forward and you'll know exactly what it is that you need to do. Mistakes are also a part of life, so don't allow them to be a burden—use them as a source of nutrients to grow even stronger."

Daisuke's eyes quivered, the woman's words shaking the concrete walls he had erected around himself. As she spoke, he could clearly remember what both his virtual and biological parents had said to him—their words of wisdom resonated with Elysia's, rekindling the same emotions within the depths of his soul.

Daisuke took a calming breath. When creating a program, he already had a clear vision of the end result. All that remained was to write a string of code with the proper formulas to fulfill the requirements. It was easy and straightforward—once you knew how to code, of course.

However, adulting was an entirely different ballgame, and his social awkwardness certainly wasn't doing him any favors. Life had so many variables, a daunting labyrinth that left him feeling anxious and out of control.

Unlike coding, where he had a clear vision of the end result and the formulas to get there, he faced the uncertainty of life without a roadmap. Yet, unlike code, he had the freedom to make mistakes along the way.

As he continued to weave his own narrative, he clung to the belief that, eventually, he would discover the right path and construct something remarkable from the chaos.

Damn it! he scolded himself inwardly. Haven't I already figured all of this out? I have a plan to amass plenty of gold. Now, I just need to grow stronger. And as for Brek and the others…

"Do you have any idea where the others may have been taken?"

Elysia smiled, noticing the renewed zeal igniting the boy's eyes. "Slave traders are typically very cautious in their movements; even they have to fear bandits and mercenaries. Your best bet is to find a reliable information broker or consult the Merchants' Guild."

"Are you a member of the guild, by any chance?"

Daisuke turned to Lord Chadrick. "The Adventurers' Guild? Yeah."

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but the guild offers a postal service for its members. I can have someone look into the kids for you. If we find anything, I'll let you know right away. In exchange, would you mind sharing what the situation is like in the capital?"

"I'm on the road to figuring that out myself," Daisuke informed.

"When you do, pay a visit to the Merchants' Guild. They collaborate with the government to provide a postal system for dignitaries."

Daisuke raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I guess they're not as conservative as the Adventurers' Guild."

"It's a guild focused on acquiring wealth and natural resources, after all," Elysia explained. "Having strong connections in the government is essentially a golden ticket to financial opportunities."

"Spoken like someone assigned as a lord's adviser would say," Daisuke teased, a playful smirk on his lips as he walked away.

Elysia pushed herself to her feet with a playful pout, but when Daisuke thanked her and began waving his goodbye, her expression melted into a warm smile. Unable to resist the gesture, she waved back, the warmth of the moment brightening her demeanor as she watched him go.

"I'll reach out as soon as I learn anything," Daisuke said to Lord Chadrick.

The man nodded firmly, his curiosity piqued not only by Lunarel's current state of affairs but also by the prospect of witnessing the youth's growth after several years.

The village folk watched Daisuke intently throughout his entire exchange with Elysia and Lord Chadrick, their eyes tracking his every move as if he were some sort of deity. When he began to depart, a chorus of voices rose up, calling his name with a mixture of admiration and reverence.

"Thanks for all you've done!"

"Please stay safe!"

"May Goddess Seraphina bless you!"

"You're our guardian angel! Please come back soon!"

"You're the reason my little boy is still alive!"

Words of genuine gratitude and praise filled the air, creating a sweet symphony that resonated in Daisuke's heart. His spirit quivered as he listened, a stark contrast to the loneliness and depression that had once been his only companions after losing his parents.

Neglected by his relatives and abandoned to a grim fate, he had grown accustomed to despair. Yet now, in this new world far removed from his own, he found himself loved and appreciated by these people.

Unsure of how to respond to such warmth, he kept his head down and continued running, letting their words echo in his soul.

***

Time was of the essence. Daisuke knew the longer it took for him to find a trail, the harder the overall search was going to become for the kids.

A part of him yearned for a Gate that could teleport him to Wonderelle, but alas, Dusthaven needed to develop into a full-fledged city to possess such a convenient and invaluable resource.

Before passing through the western gate, Daisuke paused at the solitary hill that held his virtual mother's grave. Zephyr watched quietly as his companion knelt beside the tombstone, carefully replacing the snacks that the local rodent-like monsters had likely pilfered.

"Hi mom," Daisuke began, his expression not as somber as before. "Sorry about earlier; I wasn't really sure what to say. But after a bit of thinking, I've decided what it is that I'd like to do."

***

After speaking his mind, Daisuke brushed a leaf from atop the crude tombstone and pushed to his feet, his eyes whispering one final goodbye. But before he could make his way down the slope, both his and Zephyr's radar began picking up a disturbance.

"Grr," the pup growled, his hackles raised.

Daisuke summoned the Lipanthyer's Fang, his eyes flitting from left to right as he focused his senses on the vibrations underground. It can't be! Don't tell me that damned Ekimmu had a vengeful twin brother or something?!

All of a sudden, the quaking stopped. But rather than dropping his guard, Daisuke tightened his grip around his dagger.

BOOOOM!

The earth exploded, and out came a small fiend in the form of a mole-like creature. Daisuke's body dipped low in pure battle-readiness while Zephyr's maw went aglow with a raging flame. But before the elements of destruction could converge on the monster—

"Meow~"

Daisuke stilled in his tracks as the mole transformed into a familiar feline. "M-Midnight?"

DING!

[Are you sure «Midnight» is the name you would like to assign to the Shadow Djinn?]

Before Daisuke could even formulate a coherent thought—

DING!

[The Shadow Djinn delightfully accepts the name «Midnight»!]

DING!

[A master-familiar contract has been forged between you and the Shadow Djinn!]

DING!

[The Shadow Djinn «Midnight» has joined your party!]

DING!

[The title «Master of Djinn» has been acquired!]

DING!

[The active skill «Shadow Veil» has been acquired!]

DING!

[The Stealth stat has been acquired!]

Daisuke righted his stance and dismissed his weapon, his expression blank. "Okay, so I guess from the very start, I had no say in the matter—wait!" He froze, recalling the feline's previous mole-like appearance and how it correlated with Elysia's description. "Are you the Guardian Spirit that discovered the water vein?"

With an endearing "meow", Midnight daintily made his way atop Daisuke's shoulder, olive-green eyes drifting close as he tenderly rubbed his cheek against his master's.

Daisuke chuckled softly, running his fingers through the purring feline's velvety fur. Meanwhile, Zephyr looked on with clear discontent, appalled by the newcomer's audacity to claim what he considered his rightful throne.

With an accusing growl, Zephyr bristled up and deftly made his way atop Daisuke's left shoulder, glowering at the infuriating nuisance. Midnight didn't take kindly to the canine's bitter attitude, especially when he was more deserving considering he met their master first.

With a hiss, Midnight bristled up to mirror his new rival, his fangs bear.

"Guys! Guys!"

Before Daisuke could deflate the tension, his face was caught in a violent cloud of claws and fangs. Moments later, while he managed to settle the dispute, his hair was a mess, his clothes disheveled, and his face covered in scars.

With a sigh, he looked from Zephyr to Midnight with a poker face, clutching them by the scruff. "If you two can't behave and get along, you're both going to have a time out."

Midnight pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck his tongue out tauntingly. A vein bulged on Zephyr's forehead, and he retaliated with an Emberstorm, intent on burning the pest into a crisp.

In the nick of time, Midnight partially turned his body into a dark mist, effortlessly phasing out of Daisuke's hand and slipping into the shadow at his feet before he could be hit.

Daisuke watched as the cheeky feline did backstrokes in his shadow as though it were in a pool of water, all while sticking out a pink tongue at a growling Zephyr.

Daisuke sighed inwardly. I need to remind myself never to have kids.

When Midnight submerged, evidently having his fill of mischief, Daisuke brought Zephyr to his face with a displeased gaze. "Dude, you seriously need to take a chill pill; I can understand Midnight, but aren't you supposed to be a dignified Divine Beast? You know better!"

Zephyr whined repentantly, but flashed a triumphant grin when he took his rightful place atop Daisuke's head; a throne he wasn't willing to share.

"Okay, let's take a look at Midnight's stats," Daisuke said as he navigated the digital menu.

[Name: Midnight

Level: 30 | EXP: 42,976/140,625 (30.56%)

Race: Shadow Djinn

Current Species: Cat

HP: 3500/3500

Little is known about Djinn, except that they are warm, peaceful entities with a strong affinity for nature and the world's natural elements.

On rare occasions, they manifest before those they favor, bestowing guidance or blessings upon them. However, unlike Companions, Djinn do not engage in combat. If a Djinn is slain, it is said to revive within seven days. Due to their mysterious nature, there are no known potions or remedies capable of resuscitating or empowering them.]

Daisuke stroked his chin. Well, being a noncombatant pretty much explains the nonexistent stats—and its HP is significantly lower than Zephyr's. I guess Divine Beasts are of a much higher class than a Djinn. Still, I'm curious to see what kind of perks I'll get going forward. Are the three new skills I got blessings from Midnight? Let's see…

[Master of Djinn]

[Rank: Unique

The Elementals, or Djinn, are as mysterious as they are fickle. They are known to gravitate toward individuals who possess unique traits or captivating personalities.

However, those who are chosen often find themselves abandoned for reasons unknown. Despite this, forming a contract with a Djinn is a rare and remarkable accomplishment, and their blessings are highly coveted.

Title Effect:

▪︎ Elemental-based attacks deal 25% more damage.

▪︎ Attack Power for weapons imbued with elemental properties is increased by 15%.

▪︎ Magic Defense +11%

▪︎ Magic Resistance +9%.]

Daisuke's expression suddenly became lethargic. Despite the Djinn being bound by an official contract, he couldn't help but remember when the feline abandoned him as a child. Man, it'd be painful if Midnight just up and left and took back all these awesome perks—a 25% increase in elemental attacks? Magic and resistance and defense? That's amazing!

[Shadow Veil]

[Rank: Epic

Classification: Active Skill

Lvl: 1

Proficiency: 0%

Allows the user to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, moving with the silence of a whisper and the swiftness of a shadow. When activated, the user becomes nearly invisible to the naked eye, their presence masked by an aura that distorts light and muffles sound. Footsteps become inaudible, breaths are hushed, and even the sharpest eyes struggle to detect them.

Skill Effect:

▪︎ Reduces enemy detection range by 25%.

▪︎ Increases Movement Speed by 12% while stealthed.

▪︎ Attacks made from stealth have a 10% increased Critical Hit Chance.

▪︎ Physical Attack and Evasion Rate are increased by 15% within dark places.

Mana Cost: 45

Skill Duration: 3 Minutes

Skill Cooldown: 20 Minutes]

[Stealth]

[Reduces visibility and sound, making detection by enemies significantly harder. While applying stealth, you can easily bypass foes and traps, set ambushes, or launch surprise attacks without warning.

▪︎ Higher values increase effectiveness.

▪︎ Stat Points cannot be manually allocated.]

Hell yeah! Daisuke exclaimed internally. This new skill and stat are amazing! Aside from concealing criminal status, these new abilities have everything the Phantom Cloak offered, and more. He smirked to himself. I was worried about losing my stealth capabilities when I upgraded my gear—but as long as I keep these perks, I won't have to worry about that anymore!

"Anyway," he said aloud, reaching up to stroke Zephyr's head. "Are you ready to head out, boy?"

"Kyuu~"

"Alright. Next stop—the Merchants' Guild."