Six months flew by, and I dedicated most of that ti to training. Many events unfolded outside the confined world I occupied. Rumors circulated of the Dark Sword Clan attacking and obliterating Organization X, resulting in the deaths of the clan head, elders, and others. Fortunately, my father survived despite sustaining injuries.
While I couldn't say I knew all the details, I knew my uncle well enough to doubt his involvent. His pursuit of power was his defining trait. What struck as suspicious was the convenient demise of those who opposed Delia's ascension as the next clan leader.
Officially, the incident was portrayed as retaliation against Organization X's attack on . However, it was evident that Delia had orchestrated a revolution, using the attack as a pretext to justify the losses. Well, whatever it was, it had nothing to do with .
I lay on the roof of my modest wooden hut, basking in the warm embrace of the sun and the delightful scent of grass carried by a gentle breeze. For the first ti in a long while, even in my previous life, I couldn't recall feeling such serenity.
Was I to bla for leading Delia down this path? Part of acknowledged my responsibility and felt remorse. However, that part belonged to the original inhabitant of this body. The Dark Sword Clan's ambition was growing unchecked, and it was inevitable that sothing like this would happen.
If it had co to pass that they followed the sa path as before and faced extermination at the hands of one of the four great clans, I might not have intervened and allowed it to transpire. Nonetheless, I would have endeavored to safeguard the innocent parties involved.
{Perfect }
Na: Kon
Master 65.9%
Creator 20.7%
Blaster 9.3%
Warrior 4.1%
Strength 65 75/81
Stamina 60 99/102
Agility 54 93/99
Description: A transmigrated individual, a reasonably talented youth who accelerated his own aging, and an exceptionally skilled Elite Exorcist. Through his unique ability, he has acquired diverse knowledge and versatility. He stands at the brink of his limits. Danger Rating: (S-)
My stats had improved and nearly reached their peak. Carpy remained a high-class demon without any signs of further growth. I had reached the pinnacle of my natural developnt, and any further enhancents would be minimal. Unless Carpy underwent evolution, my strength couldn't increase any further.
Less than six months until the contracts expiration; a part of dreaded that day. It was getting uncomfortably close to the ti limit, and the evolution to the ultimate class wasn't instantaneous either. It would take at least two months, leaving with only about four months left.
In a month or two, that boat should arrive, which would confirm the existence of Avalon. The island of dreams and imagination, a place where ti had no aning, where past, present, and future would collide.
Among the people going there, I was probably the best equipped to handle it. However, at the sa ti, I was also the most capable of ssing it up. The Avalon Arc would be the catalyst for Agon, the protagonist, undergoing the biggest change in his character, serving as the introduction to the wider outside world.
My hands shook, and my heart felt like it was about to burst with anticipation.
No, I needed to be patient. I had co this far, I had survived everything that this world had thrown at . I wasn't going to ss it up at the last step.
"Hey! Weeb Exorcist!" soone called out to . It was Princess Wis, waving with a relaxed smile.
During these months, we had grown closer, and she had beco a good friend. After months of relentless teasing, she had finally embraced her cringe side around . I could no longer hurt her with my words.
I hopped off the roof and stood in front of her. "Hey there, chuuni princess."
She blushed at that. Maybe she hadnt grown entirely immune to my teasing, but it was in good humor and she quickly got over it.
She pouted as she declared, "One day, I will have my vengeance! Bakayaro!"
Oh? It seed that her vocabulary had grown!
"What's with that look?" She huffed annoyedly. She had gotten good at telling when I was thinking ridiculous thoughts about her.
"Nothing bad, I assure you. I was just thinking about how far away I'll be from you, and I wasn't sure if my heart could handle it," I chuckled.
She blushed but regained her composure in a second and narrowed her eyes. "I have a fianc! I'm practically married, so you're flirting with soone's wife! Scumbag!"
I had been maintaining my Nok persona for so long that I didn't know how to reveal my true identity. How would I even broach it? Would I just blurt outHey, um, I know that this is six months late, but that fianc of yours? Yeah, thats .
"I heard your younger sister is getting married too," I changed the topic of the conversation to her sister's rising influence in the race for the throne.
However, I doubted Princess Wis cared much about it. She preferred a reclusive life, embracing her wealth modestly and indulging in junk food at ho. Her financial stability allowed her to live her otaku lifestyle to the fullest.
"Ugh, don't remind ," Wis winced. "Did you know she was planning to visit ? I had to fabricate a whole bunch of lies..."
"Did you involve in any way?" I asked cautiously.
"Maybe..." she admitted sheepishly, but then glanced at with a mischievous smile. "Regardless, I'm grateful for these peaceful months you've given . I can roam the city without a bodyguard and do as I please."
"Don't worry about it. You're my favorite otaku princess," I reassured her. "Alsoroam the city? The only place youve been roaming lately is your house."
"Please, stop calling otaku princess. Unlike soone I know, I still have so semblance of dignity."
"Of course, my chunni weeb otaku shut-in princess," I teased with a bow.
"Nevermind; on second thought, otaku princess works just fine."
As we walked out of my unchanged yard, Wis paused in front of Bets' grave, gazing at the statue. "I never asked, why do you have this statue here? Were you into bodybuilding?"
"No, this is where my best friend Bets is buried," I explained solemnly.
Her expression turned awkward. "Ah, I'm sorry..."
***
Ahhhh! I ruined it! Wis thought to herself, overwheld with regret. She couldn't believe she had spoiled such a good atmosphere by speaking without thinking things through.
"He died in the war against Shuten Doji," Nok said somberly, approaching the statue with a fond smile
"Was he a close friend?" she cautiously inquired.
"Oh, he was the best. We hardly ever argued," Nok's smile widened. "I know it may seem strange to smile at his statue. But the truth is, even if I wanted to cry, I never would. It would dishonor him and the cherished mories we shared."
Wis's thoughts raced in a thousand different directions. She felt suddenly ill-equipped to handle a situation like this, so she awkwardly placed her hand on his shoulder.
Despite Nok's relentless teasing, he was a good person, and she felt sympathy for him. It was a pity that she already had a fianc...
Nok sighed. "You know, he died saving . I often wonder if, in his final monts, he had any regrets for doing that."
"If he cared enough about you to save your life, I don't think he would have any regrets," Wis reassured him. This was a side of her friend she had never seen before. He always appeared so cheerful, as if he had never experienced a sad day in his life.
Now, Wis lanted even more at bringing up such a painful mory. Although they often joked about it, she was grateful for what he had done for her. Nok had saved her life, accommodated her needs, and never once complained. Most people would have given up and walked away long ago.
That was why, despite Yara's insistence, Wis had never attempted to dig up information about Nok's true identity. She had bragged before, pretending she knew, but instead secretly intending to uncover it in her own ti. But now, having befriended him, she respected his privacy, and the least she could do was allow him this small asure of trust. Wis suspected that Yara might have conducted her own investigation, but she had no interest in hearing the details.
"Do you know about special abilities?" he asked, and she nodded. Being a mber of the royal family, she was well aware of them.
"Well, if I hadn't intervened, Bets would have developed an armor ability. So nights, I wonder if he had his armor, he would have-" Nok's words were interrupted as Wis stopped him and embraced him from behind.
"What are you doing?" he asked, puzzled.
"I don't know! I just saw this in an ani!" she confessed, feeling a mix of embarrassnt and spontaneity.
He chuckled. "Well, now is as good a ti as any. So of my friends from the academy are coming to visit soon, and I wanted to ask if you would like to join us for an adventure?"
"Huh?"
A thousand thoughts raced through Wis' mind. Tales of princesses and dragons, a young gallant knight to the rescue. Then, he would taunt her with derogatory nas like 'weeb princess' or 'shut-in princess.'
She shook her head, dispelling those frivolous thoughts. "No! Yate! Stop!"
When she opened her eyes, she saw Nok staring at her with a blank expression. If she had a tanto, she would have committed seppuku out of sheer embarrassnt!
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