After introducing Bell to Ais and taking my leave, I began heading home. As I'd told Bell, today was a workday for me. Since I hadn't been taking clients due to our recent expedition, it was about time I got back to it.
As I walked past the central plaza and down the eastern main street, I spotted someone familiar.
Silver hair and canine ears. Someone I'd fought alongside not long ago, entrusting each other with our lives. Someone who, for some reason, I still couldn't bring myself to like.
It was none other than Bete Loga, the "Ferocious Wolf" of the Loki Familia. He was surveying the passersby, or perhaps searching for someone. Given his limited social circle, it was surprising to see him in an area devoid of adventurers.
I was about to shrug it off and continue home when our eyes met. And then, he started walking toward me.
"Uh…?"
By the time Bete stood before me, his face was the very definition of irritated.
"Finally found ya, snake bastard."
It seemed he had been looking for me.
"Um… is there something you need from me?"
"Why the hell else would I come to this dump?"
Ah, that charming way of speaking, definitely the Bete Loga I know. For a brief moment, I'd entertained the possibility of a lookalike or a long-lost twin.
"And what might your business be?"
"Not here. Follow me."
Without waiting for my response, he spun on his heel and strode off.
As annoyed as I was at his high-handed attitude, refusing to follow felt like conceding defeat somehow, so I reluctantly trailed after him.
….
Bete led me to a warehouse on the outskirts of Orario. It was about the size of one of the rooms in the Dungeon's middle floors.
"Hey, Bete." I said, breaking the silence.
"What?"
"I've been wondering, what's with the whole 'snake bastard' thing?"
Since we'd walked here in silence, I decided to ask about something that had been bugging me. While being nicknamed the "Shadow Devil" wasn't exactly flattering,"snake bastard" felt even more aggravating.
"You give off this snake-like killing intent. Snake bastard suits you."
His answer only confused me further. Snake-like killing intent? Was he referring to the killing intent I'd unleashed during Monsterphilia when I intimidated those thugs? But what exactly made it "snake-like"?
Deciding to shelve the question, I cut to the chase.
"Anyway, what's this about? Why bring me here?"
His response was a swift kick aimed at my head.
In an instant, he closed the five-meter gap between us, delivering a high right kick. Anticipating the move, I ducked and swept my leg to trip him. He leaped over it, but I'd expected that too and countered with an aerial attack. Though it only grazed his armor, it was enough to create some distance between us.
"You can keep up with me." he said, smirking.
"Not so much keeping up as predicting your moves."
"Same difference. Anyway, you're gonna help me train."
"…What?"
His abrupt demand, or was it more like an order?, left me utterly bewildered.
"Hold on. Why me? I'm a low-rank adventurer and not even a member of the Loki Familia. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask someone from your own group?"
"Like hell I'm asking those idiots for help. Besides, you might be weak, but you're not just some random weakling. You survived against that freak during Monsterphilia. You've got some trick up your sleeve, right? Training alone's inefficient, and you're the easiest option."
Let me get this straight. He didn't want his Familia members knowing about this. Training solo wasn't productive enough. So, by process of elimination, I was his chosen target.
What an honor.
…What do you call someone like this? Ah, that's right, "gap moe." …No, that doesn't feel quite right either.
"Alright, I'll do it. But I have my own plans and schedule, so I'd appreciate it if you could consider that."
"Huh?"
"Specifically, "
Thus began the negotiation over my training schedule with Bete. It took some effort to get through to his stubbornness, but we eventually agreed on the following terms: the training would last until Loki Familia's next expedition. On my workdays, training would be paused. And the hours would be from morning to evening.
…To be honest, today is a workday for me as well, but at this point, it can't be helped. I'll just apologize to Lefiya later. I remember hearing from a client that the sweets from a shop on the northern edge of the city are delicious. I'll bring her some of those.
"Lastly…"
"There's more?"
"This is the last thing, I promise."
I issued a final warning to an increasingly exasperated Bete.
"My shadow has a special ability."
I summoned the shadow and let it envelop my body. It was a defensive technique capable of nullifying most attacks.
"That ability is the nullification of 'Arcanum,' the power of the gods. In other words, I can negate a person's [Status]."
For the first time, Bete looked genuinely shocked, both at the ability itself and the fact that I was revealing it to him.
"This means that my shadow's attacks will bypass your endurance stat and deal direct damage. Similarly, this shadow's defense will ignore your strength stat entirely."
"Heh, interesting."
A grin spread across Bete's face at my explanation.
"Looks like picking you as a sparring partner wasn't a mistake after all."
"And I'll be learning all I can from a top-tier adventurer like you."
"Heh, dream on!"
Our mutual excitement began to rise. At the same time, I felt a burning heat emanating from my Status.
The heat grew stronger, as though something was igniting within me, but instead of pain, it brought an invigorating surge of power.
I had a hunch, this was my new skill, Challenger Flux. Its stat enhancements. I wasn't sure how far it would take me, but at least I wouldn't be completely overwhelmed.
"Here I come, snake bastard. Don't you dare croak on me!"
"Then don't forget to hold back a little!"
And with that, the clash began.
…..
Scene Change
"Hehe… that boy has grown stronger again."
In the pristine white tower of Babel, on its highest floor, a silver-haired goddess smiled softly.
"But perhaps he's grown a bit too strong? At this rate, it might hinder the trials I've planned for him."
To the silver-haired goddess, the growth of the white rabbit adventurer was of utmost importance. Her interest in the dark-clad adventurer extended only as far as curiosity.
"Hmm… Hogni, Hedin."
"Yes."
From the shadows, two figures stepped forward, a light elf and a dark elf who stood by Freya's side in place of their absent captain, Ottar.
"Join up with Ottar and arrange a trial for that boy. Just something to slow him down a bit."
"Understood."
The two quietly disappeared, leaving only the sound of the silver-haired goddess's delighted laughter echoing in the room.
---------------------
You can find much more on my Patreon: Patreon.com/Veltoria
There are currently 5 active fanfictions on Patreon, with over 217+ advanced chapters available across them!
From Naruto Onwards, I Control Time — Up to Chapter 203
Haikyuu!!: Rise of Sengoku — Up to Chapter 117
Danmachi: Is It Wrong To Aspire to Be An Adventurer? — Up to Chapter 55
Legend of Hogwarts (Harry Potter x League of Legends) — Up to Chapter 53
I Am Luffy: Partner System Online (One Piece) — Up to Chapter 42