RE: Chapter 27:New Era

"Why did I accept this stupid job? It's so fucking cold..."

Sighing as the young newbie behind me complained, I turned to the head researcher who wore a tired expression.

"Do we need to keep going further into the cave?"

I received a grumble in reply before he nodded and gestured to the writings on the icy walls.

"The writings suggest that there's something of greatness stored further within this place."

I looked at the markings as he spoke, still finding it hard to believe that we weren't anywhere near Japan—yet the symbols dated back to the Heian Period.

"Any idea what's being stored here?"

The researcher shook his head, then gestured for us to continue forward much to the dismay of the young newbie.

"Nothing we have from the Heian Period mentions anything being sealed in ice. Even if there were records, the writings here suggest this is probably the tomb of a great warrior—or at least a revered one."

I scoffed. "Then how did this 'warrior' end up so far from Japan?"

One of the other researchers trailing behind me spoke up, shivering as they tried to warm themselves.

"W-well, our l-leading theory is that the warrior w-was fighting on a ship..."

Another researcher—one seemingly unaffected by the cold—chimed in.

"It's something that'll change history, I say!"

The others around him sighed, and I did too—at least mentally.

'Of course it'll change history, if there's anything here...'

"A wall?"

I turned and stopped as the head researcher came to a halt before a wall of ice, causing me to frown.

"Explosives?"

The man shook his head.

"If we set off explosives this deep in the cave, it might damage whatever's beyond the wall—and our only way out."

I nodded, then leaned on a nearby wall—only for part of it to shift beneath me.

'Shit.'

We all heard a loud click and everyone held their breath. A moment later, the wall of ice slowly lowered.

The head researcher turned to me with a twitch in his eye.

"Maybe be more careful?"

I nodded and turned to the snickering newbie, who immediately shut up when our eyes met.

"Brat. Up front with me."

He sighed and moved to my side as we resumed walking.

"Uhm..."

I glanced at the kid and caught something strange around him—something that might've been a trick of the eyes.

"What is it, kid?"

He gestured to his face, brows furrowed.

"Is it just me, or is it getting warmer?"

Realizing he was right, I turned to the head researcher to bring it up—but saw he was already ahead of us, standing still. Not just still—frozen in place.

'What's going on?'

I gestured for the newbie and the others to stay back. Drawing my gun, I cautiously walked up to the head researcher.

"Everything… holy shit."

I heard the others approach behind me as both the head researcher and I stared up at an aged man—encapsulated in a massive block of ice.

"Woah..."

'I agree, newbie...'

Shaking off the shock, I turned to the researchers some of whom were jotting notes onto notepads now resting on the frozen ground.

"What's the plan?"

The head researcher turned to me with a look that was very different from the others.

"We have to melt the ice."

I blinked in surprise, the story of the frozen mammoth flashing through my mind.

"That'll kill the man—and destroy any potential data with him!" one of the researchers on the ground shouted.

'That's if he's even alive...'

The head researcher sighed and gestured to the walls around us.

"Did none of you read the writings? The man inside the ice will live. And we'll be able to gather research directly from him. Imagine the stories he could tell."

I felt a tug on my coat and turned, eyes widening as I saw the newbie proudly holding up a stick of dynamite.

"No." I said firmly.

He ignored me and turned to the head researcher, grinning like a fool as he showed off what he held.

'Why did I bring this newbie with me...?'

I could practically feel my hair turning gray as the head researcher nodded at him. Without hesitation, the newbie ran over and placed the explosive a short distance away from the frozen man.

"Explosives are ready!" he shouted. "Also..."

He trailed off, shivering—and for a moment I thought it was just from the cold. But then a chill ran down my own spine.

'Feels like I'm a kid being watched by a pissed off parent.'

I wasn't the only one who noticed. The others exchanged nervous glances, all of them tense.

Trying to shake the feeling, I gestured for the newbie to back away as I prepared to detonate the explosive.

"Cover your ears!"

My voice snapped them out of their daze. Several of them began shouting at me not to go through with it, but I glanced at the head researcher. He gave me a single, firm nod.

I did as told.

BOOM

We all held our breath, waiting for the cold mist and dust to settle.

"L-Look!"

A young researcher pointed toward the shattered ice.

The shape of the man no longer motionless was moving.

Then his eyes opened.

Vibrant. Purple. Enraged.

And they met my own.

'Fuck.'

~Scene Change~

'By god, do I feel old.'

I thought to myself while telling a story to the young cave explorer in front of me.

"T-Then what happened?!"

I smirked, feeling my beard rustle against the black shirt and brown coat my rescuers had given me.

"Then the man and I faced each other with katana in hand and just as we were about to fight for the last time, lightning struck—"

At that moment, the snow vehicle hit a bump, causing it to shake slightly.

"Then?!"

I shrugged, turning away to look at the researcher who was writing down every word I spoke.

"Who knows? I can't seem to remember."

The young man let out an exaggerated sigh and slumped, while the researcher twitched. Our eyes met and before I could say anything, the oldest of the group—who I assumed was the lead researcher—cleared his throat to get my attention.

"Mister—"

I cut him off with a wave.

"Sasaki Ryou."

The writing researcher scribbled it down as the others mouthed my name before nodding.

"Sasaki-san, I'm sure you have many questions. However, I was hoping you'd be willing to answer a few of mine—"

I raised my hand and leaned back, cutting him off.

"Yes, I remember some things from my time before being in an ice cube. And yes, I'll tell you some of them. All I ask in return is to be returned to Yamato."

He looked surprised for a moment before sighing.

"It's no longer called 'Yamato' Sasaki-san. It's now called Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun."

I hummed, trying to piece together when I might be. 'Other than a few here, none have very high Cursed Energy... I wonder what happened.'

"A lot has changed."

I nodded at Kaede's words and responded. "Well, it was probably around a thousand years?"

Before I could continue, the researcher spoke again.

"T-That's correct, Sasaki-san. A little more than a thousand years have passed, according to the records in the caves where you were sealed."

'Writing?'

My confusion must have been obvious because the man nodded.

"The only name that was written repeatedly in the inscriptions was 'Arisawa.' Sasaki-san, do you rec—"

Laughter boomed from me and Kaede let out a light chuckle that resonated in my ears as I heard the name.

"Truly, what a good friend!"

My laugh slowed, turning into a sigh as I finally answered the researcher's question.

"He was a loyal man... A shame I will no longer see him."

In response, the writing researcher quickly wrote down my words.

-

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Author Here,

I am back.. Well mostly.. Anyway! I'll be rewriting a few chapters of this fanfic..

Other work will be on hold until either this fic ends or my other DxD fanfic ends..

Peace out.