Chapter 58: Kaijuu Tardigrade Bears

Chapter 58: Kaijuu Tardigrade Bears

His thoughts come rushing in.

My ability works as like this: 

When I touch someone only bits and pieces flow into me starting from the most emotional parts of their lives, If I saw their whole lives my head would not be able to contain all of the information, I feel the highs and the lows too it can get quite intense.

I feel his anger when a woman called Steph betrayed him, I feel his fear as he fled from her guards in the forest. I feel his sense of satisfaction as he figures out how to gain experience from other's work. I feel his sense of superiority as he gains levels he didn't earn as he borrowed people his weapons while remaining the owner thereby giving himself all the experience. I feel his urgency as he first failed to knock out the last guard Shannon in order to save the king's life. I feel his embarrassment as he asks for the female toilet door. I see the wedding interview, when he first saw Roka in that blue dress, when she tripped and they bumped heads, when he lied and ran off. I feel the happiness he felt when he realized she agreed to a date. I feel his excitement when Roka first subtly suggests to him that she wants to have sex. I feel the anger toward Felmina when she insulted Roka. I see the honesty in her eyes as she complained to him after he saved her. I feel his surprise as Felmina bears her soul to him in her interview. I feel his panic as he realizes he may lose Roka, I feel his unrelenting rage toward the guy that took her from him. I feel his despair after remembering the events from that night. I feel the passion as he has sex with Felmina for the first time. I feel his willpower keeping him from taking Roka for the first time by force. I feel his passion as he has sex with her for the first time. I feel his fear as he forces himself to count down 5 minutes waiting for Felmina to arrive. I feel his drive as he warns Nelson Masters to stay away from his family. His self control to hide his pain from Nelson. I feel his panic as the king wants him to go to war all of a sudden. I feel the excitement from his matches with the commanders, his panic when Roka gets hurt, his impression of Felmina as she does her best in battle. His Relief as he realizes he doesn't need to put them in danger. I feel his mixed feelings about allowing Felmina to come along. I feel his lust as he sees her new haircut for the first time. I feel his anxiety as he reads the page from the folder by Management giving him information about me and ordering him to marry me. Management also told him what to do and go through in order to protect his family. I feel it all. 

I can understand him now. I know he feels regret for the pain he caused me, I feel it too. 

I know he trusts me. he couldn't not be asleep right now if that weren't the case. 

I can't feel anymore hate toward this man. 5 months is a long time to spend with someone.

He gets up.

"Kaijuu Bears, This trail is to see how you handle unexpected situations on a mission, do you fold and run away like the ones we sent outside, or do you adapt and reorient your goals. This is what separate the women from the girls and the men from the boys. This is what makes you a Tardigrade, an un-killable creature from my old world. 

First 10 Line up."

He touches my shoulder and leans over.

"Thank you Milly"

My face is getting hot. I grab my cheeks. 

He walks away. Has his back always looked so big.

He picks up his gauntlets and puts them on. The first 10 took their positions on the benches.

"You will now name your Proxies if you have any... David"

"My wife Jeanette and my daughter Rose"

I hear Shizuku writing behind me.

"You don't need to watch the rest of this dear."

The King I mean emperor speaks, I'm still feeling the influence form Ryu's memories. 

Can I even call him that. Will he be mad if I do. 

I collect myself and answer as I get up.

"No, I'll stay."

I bow to the king, I mean Emperor, It's gonna take a while to get used to this.

...

Ryu gives each bear a good 20 seconds before he moves to initiate the next in line. 

...

The first few that cross the line has Shizuku start their clocks, she also assists with the potions. Ryu takes over when he's done.

...

The silence after each chop is deafening.

...

...

...

All 68 of them make it through. 

Ryu has their trust so he has no trouble putting them to sleep when their clocks reach 00:00.

When It's all done. They are all back to their original positions.

"At ease."

They all take wide stance.

"You may now all receive the Absolute Loyalty Seal, once you are shaved and stamped you will feed your mana into the seal. It will hurt, but it's nothing compared to what you all just experienced. After this I will speak to each of you and take ownership of your lives. Once completed you will officially be known as The Kaijuu Tardigrade Bears, Congratulations. 

First 10 face down on the benches."

They go to lie down. Shizuku snaps her fingers and 3 people dressed like her melt from the shadows.

They begin the procedures. 

They all start to go through this. 

They all feed their mana into the seal when they are done. Their faces didn't even change. 

As I'm watching this. I hear:

"Milly-chan, Milly-chan over here."

I look around, it's the king, he's gesturing me over. I walk up to him.

He puts his hand up.

"Just so you know Roka and Felmina both have the seal"

"I know." 

The king looks surprised then he gets it.

"You read Ryu's memories didn't you..."

The king softly laughs

"Now's your chance go fall in line."

"But I'm not--"

"Yes you are, I know that look, you're stealing glances at him even now."

"But It's embarrassing, he won't accept me that easily, I've been nothing but cold to him."

"He will, I can guarantee it, go on"

My face feels hot as I feel him pushing me. I grab my cheeks again. I stop halfway. 

Be brave, come on you know it takes courage. 

Walk.

I let go of my face while looking down, then I make my way to the back of the line.

Ryu looks right at me and stops what he's doing.

He taps the guy he's talking to on the shoulder and says something to him. The guy nods. 

Ryu starts walking. 

Oh god he's coming over here, the 4 rows in front of me part like. 

You know when you warmed a butter knife too much with fire magic and you have to use a oven glove and you slice through a block of butter. 

Like that. 

Why am I thinking this. 

He's here.

His look is so intense.

"Does this mean you'll accept me?"

I nod. My fist is in front of my mouth as I look to the side.

"I'll do this properly then."

He gets down on one knee then looks up at me.

"Milinda White, would you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming Milinda Kaijuu?"

I nod again.

"I need to hear you say it."

"Yes"

I barely get the words out.

"Good enough for me."

He gets up and hugs me, then picks me up, I hold on to his neck.

I usually avoid contact with anyone because of my ability so why? 

The choker's effect is working again, he must have turned it back on again at some point. 

He's so strong. I feel safe. 

I notice everyone staring. 

Aaaaah! this so embarrassing.

He puts me down on the bench. 

He takes the tool from the guy and he shaves the back of my head. 

He then takes the Seal and puts it on the shaved area.

"This will hurt a bit, do you want me to make you sleep?"

"No I should be fine."

I mean those guys didn't even flinch, how bad could it be.

"Alright."

I feel the area start to burn, I can endure this it hurts but I remind myself of all I've seen tonight.

...

Soon after the pain fades.

"Take your time with the next part"

He puts his hand on my shoulder.

"More mana more pain. Tell me when you're ready."

He walks around and takes a seat on the bench in front of me. 

I start feeding it my mana. 

This is even worse. 

Endure Endure Endure. 

Remember what you just saw, remember their faces, I shut my eyes.

I take probably like 5 minutes. 

No one moves, how did those guys do it in like 15 seconds? 

This hurts like hell.

"You are done."

I open my eyes. I see him reach for me. 

I close my eyes on reflex.

"Sleep."

I wake up to cheering and whistling. 

I'm still on the bench. He takes my hand and helps me up. 

Shizuku was behind me, how long has she been there?

She takes my hand and leads me away.

"Silence!"

They all go quiet.

He approaches me and puts his hand on my neck. I feel his mana entering the seal.

This doesn't hurt?

"I hate you Milly"

...

He hates me. 

What the hell is this. 

Did I read this wrong.

What did I do? 

What was all this for then. 

I can't think.

...

"Take care of her"

"Understood"

She bows. He turns away and starts walking.

"Let's proceed!"

He starts talking to that guy again. 

I don't get it. I must have missed something.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Shizuku:

"When the seal gets armed, he sets a phrase that he would never ever say in his daily life, If those words ever leave his lips again, you will die instantly."

Wait what the hell does that mean? 

I knew the seal caused instant death and all. 

Why would he use that...

OMG My face is getting hot again.

I remember the happiness he felt as Roka and Felmina tackled him in the hospital.

I cover my face as I realize.

"I-i-i hate you too Ryu" 

He looks over and smiles. 

Oh god did I just say that out loud! 

It's like I can't control myself. 

My head is melting. AAAAARGh!