"Then let's start from the beginning… from the day I met Touch Me."
Shalltear's lips parted slightly, anticipation shining in her gaze. The flickering firelight painted her expression in reverent awe, as though she were about to hear the first lines of a divine scripture that had been lost to time.
"I was in the World Championship," I said quietly, my gaze unfocused, lost somewhere in the horizon of memory. "Back then, the world trembled beneath the feet of those who sought power. The strongest gathered not for fame or glory… but for proof. Proof that they existed above all others."
Shalltear didn't move, didn't blink. She was completely silent, the sound of the fire and the distant wind filling the spaces between my words.
"I didn't join for rewards or recognition," I continued. "I joined because I was bored. No opponent in any realm could stand before me for long. Every spell, every strike, every strategy—they all felt predictable, empty. I wanted a challenge that could make my blood stir again."
Her eyes widened slightly at that, and I smiled faintly, remembering. "And I found him. My final opponent in the championship… Touch Me."
I paused there, watching the flames dance, recalling that moment vividly. "He was different. Noble, composed, strong beyond belief—but more than that, he carried something rare: conviction. His power wasn't just born from skill or equipment. It came from a heart that never faltered. Even when I struck him down, even when the world itself trembled, he never lost that light."
Shalltear's voice was a whisper. "So, you defeated him?"
"Yes," I said simply. "But it wasn't an easy victory. That battle was one of the few that pushed me to my limit. The shockwaves of our clash tore through entire fields, the air rippled with power, and for the first time in centuries, I felt… alive."
For a brief moment, silence reigned again. The crackle of fire seemed distant now, overshadowed by the gravity of the tale. Shalltear was leaning slightly forward, like a worshipper drawn toward divine truth.
"Two weeks after the championship ended," I continued, "I received a message. I still remember it clearly. It was from Touch Me."
Shalltear blinked, her curiosity deepening. "He reached out to you?"
"Yes." I gave a small smile. "He congratulated me on the victory—and then asked if I would be interested in joining a clan he was forming. He called it 'Nine's Ooal Gown'. At that time, there were eight members already, and I was to be the ninth."
Her hands tightened slightly in her lap. "And you accepted immediately?"
I chuckled softly. "Of course I did. I didn't need to think twice. I wasn't searching for a purpose then—but something in his words intrigued me. The moment I agreed, I was pulled into a world of chaos and brilliance. That was when I met the others."
Her voice was filled with awe. "The Founding Members…"
I nodded. "Ulbert Alain Odle—the Lord of Fire and Darkness. His magic alone could burn through dimensions. Then there was Nishikienrai—the Shadow Blade. He was so fast that even light itself seemed to struggle to catch him. Wish III, the Silent Seer, Warrior Takemikazuchi—his blade could split mountains before the swing even landed. And Flatfoot—his control of artifacts was unmatched, a master of crafting miracles."
Shalltear listened in utter silence, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. She looked like a scholar hearing the origin of the universe for the first time.
"With them," I went on, "I fought through countless realms. We cleared quests that no one dared to approach. We conquered dungeons thought to be impossible. We battled beings that made even the strongest of adventurers crumble to dust. Together, we carved our name into the world itself."
I smiled faintly. "Before we knew it, we had grown from nine to twenty-seven. Our name spread across every corner of existence. We were no longer just a clan—we were a force, a legend that no one could challenge. That was when Touch Me gathered us all and said, 'It's time. Let's become something greater.' And that was the day Nine's Ooal Gown became a guild."
Shalltear exhaled slowly, her voice trembling slightly. "To think… those words, that day… it all started with you among them."
I looked at her with a small grin. "Well, every story starts somewhere, Shalltear. Ours just happened to start in a battlefield surrounded by the strongest."
Her gaze softened, reverence and wonder mixing in her tone. "The way you describe it… it feels like more than a tale. It feels like a myth. As if the Supreme Beings walked the heavens themselves."
I didn't deny it. To her and the others, the Supreme Beings were never mortals—they were creators, eternal entities who shaped worlds. And I saw no reason to ruin that image.
Instead, I poked at the fire again and said lightly, "Maybe we did. Maybe we didn't. Who knows?"
She smiled faintly, still in awe. "Even so, my lord… hearing your voice tell the story—it feels like touching a forgotten relic. Like hearing the heartbeat of Nazarick itself."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I said nothing. The fire crackled, the scent of roasted meat thickened, and the storm above us rumbled faintly.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed movement. I turned my head slightly and saw Kate stirring weakly where she lay under the blanket, her fingers twitching, her breathing deepening.
I blinked once, then smiled faintly. "Looks like our guest is waking up."
Shalltear turned as well, her expression curious but calm.
"Well," I said, standing up slowly and stretching my arms, "it seems I'll have to leave the rest of the story for another time."
Shalltear's expression fell just slightly, like a child being told her favorite tale would pause halfway. But she nodded respectfully. "Of course, my lord. I will wait… no matter how long it takes."
~~~
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