I dodge an ice javelin aimed at my head. It exploded onto the guy behind me as it pummeled him into the ground.
That would've hurt.
Focus.
What was I doing here again?
Ah, right. I was in a war.
A bloody, brutal war.
The warriors on my side clad in red are Sekigarahan? And we were locked in deadly combat with an army of martial artists in black.
Each side unleashed their full might. Some effective, with some injuring their own in the process.
We were clearly outnumbering them, but we were losing.
I watch as martial artists in red fall one after the other, bodies collapsing one after the other.
All of a sudden, the world turned blue.
We all panic, as some of us crumbled holding their throats, seemingly unable to breathe.
We were underwater?! How??
On the other side stood a single figure with glowing crimson eyes—the source of this endless water.
The Martial Masters converge at his location, hoping to end the drowning, each one using their most powerful techniques... but not one move connected.
He was untouchable.
He moved past attacks like water.
Sekigarahans died at his feet like insects.
Fuck... is that who I think it is?
I started to feel sick... I couldn't breathe.
Wait, those three look familiar...
My sisters?
Why are they here??
I reached out towards them desperately.
They turn to smile at me.
Then they got struck by lightning. My ears rang to the sound of thunder crackling.
They each get beheaded, one by one.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
I scream.
I tried to fight back... to no avail.
My body felt heavier and heavier.
I was still unable to breathe... eventually, unable to move... my vision blurred.
I sank toward the darkness of the abyss... alone.
GASP.
I bolt upright.
My heart pounding, my body drenched in sweat, breathing ragged.
...It was a dream?
That... was Siege of Kandria?
I... me and my sisters will be there?
Why the hell would I let them be there, I know the future!
Why the hell would I ever let them be dragged into a war against Kandria??
We would be against Kane Arrancar and Rui Quarrier himself! Fucking death sentence!
As I calmed down, I finally noticed where I was.
Somehow... I was home in our little hut in Owari.
I looked down at my body.
I feel… fine?
No, better than fine—Stronger, tougher, faster.
I feel energy humming beneath my skin...
This was the famous Zenkai Boost?
I squeezed my hands. Fuck yeah!
What about my tai—
Huh?
My long, beautiful tail was gone. What remained is a short, two-inch nub.
I wiggle what's left of it.
wiggle wiggle
Sigh... it was severed during the battle?
How long will it take to grow back?
Does this mean I can't become monkey anymore?
If so then great! but my balance is fucked for the time being.
Speaking of the battle...
I fucking did it.
Hehe. I won!
I survived against a squire level beast, as a normal human! Err Saiyan!
Wait does that mean my body is technically at squire level at five years old?
Now I really itching to check my power level.
But… more importantly, who saved me?
And that... rage I felt. That terrifying, overwhelming fury at the end. Where the hell did that come from?
I even felt something at the end there... could that have unlocked my ki?
Is that the energy I'm feeling right now? Can I use Ki?
As I sat on my bed, focused on my hands, I heard something crash onto to the floor causing me to jolt.
"Merun, dear, you're awake!"
Mother had dropped the bowl she was holding and rushed to my side, pulling me into a tight embrace.
She broke down. "You're finally awake. We were so worried. We didn't know what we'd do without you."
"Mother… I'm sorry I worried you,"
"You almost died, Merun," she sobs.
Feeling her warmth, her fear, her love, I can't hold my tears back anymore.
I really don't know what to say in these situations...
I mean... I want to promise her it will never happen again.
But I know better.
Who knows? tomorrow I might be fighting some giant red dragon...
Lying would only cheapen the love she's giving me now.
So I just stayed silent and let her cry, listening as she tells me how much she loves me. How precious I am to her.
God knows I feel that way too.
After a while, Mother finally calmed down.
"Still.. you saved your sisters. You fulfilled your promise didn't you?"
Still in her embrace, I couldn't help but cry.
I mean... of course I did.
-
Mother told me I was unconscious for two months.
two whole months.
At first, they were sure I wouldn't survive. I mean, my body had been mangled beyond recognition. It was obvious what would happen.
But somehow when they got me, the bleeding had already stopped, bones were beginning to knit themselves together. And soon muscles followed. Slowly, impossibly, I healed.
The only thing that reassured them was that I snored the entire time.
I guess the jig is up, I'm sure they know I'm more than just a kid with a tail...
"Wait.. what about you mother?" I ask with worry, "That bowl you dropped... are you cooking again?"
She smiled, "Merun, You're not gonna believe it, but, I'm feeling the best I've ever felt in years. I'm cured!"
"What? How!?"
"I'm sorry for being skeptical, mother, but how? What about Father?" I ask. "And my sisters?"
Mother hesitated before answering.
"Your father is outside right now, gathering firewood. He's been doing that a lot lately." Her voice softens. "You know, He cried by your bedside every night. He blamed himself for what happened to you."
Poor Father. I know how deeply he carries guilt.
Mother held my hand, "But he was also proud of what you've done."
"As for my sickness and your sisters…" Mother exhales. "It's better if I tell you everything that happened that day."
————
Apparently, it wasn't Father who saved us.
It was a hooded man.
He had cleaved the Mother Erymanthian boar clean in half. The same beast that had seemed nearly invincible.
He also saved my sisters from a perverted martial apprentice guarding the village.
Hearing that made my blood boil. Which bastard dared to touch my sisters?
The hooded man brought back everything and everyone to our farm.
The boar's corpse. That degenerate martial artist. All of it, dropped at Father's feet.
Having explained the situation, father was beyond grateful... he told the man why his children went hunting in his stead. He told him about our food situation, about mother.
When he learned of Mother's illness, he left a potion behind.
He seemed to reminisce... he muttered something about children needing their mother.
Father bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the dirt. He even begged to serve the man for the rest of his life in gratitude.
The man refused.
Why?
"Obviously, children need their father as much as they need their mother."
Then he just... disappeared.
Who was he?
What we we do to deserve such kindness?
How powerful did someone have to be to do all that so casually?
Later, Father personally challenged that trash perverted martial apprentice to a duel in the village square and killed him. Swift judgment. Mother said she had never seen Father so furious.
Normally, duels like that required the local lord's approval, a process that could take weeks. Somehow, the approval came in less than a day.
Suspicious...
Anyway, Ringo's injuries were severe. Father had to trade the entire squire-level boar corpse for a potion strong enough to restore her arm. In terms of wealth, we broke even.
In terms of strength though...
During the fight, Sister Ringo broke through and became a Martial Apprentice.
Her martial path revealed itself as Force Reversal, an offense-defense hybrid style focused on redirection. Redirecting a beast the size of a house had ignited something within her. She wanted to see what else she could face.
Counting Father, our Furutsu household now has 3 Martial Apprentices!
She and Mikan have returned to hunting, though they stay close to the farm now, which allowed Father to go tag along. He insisted his injuries aren't an issue as long as they don't stray far.
Eldest Sister Ichigo took the incident the hardest.
She despised herself for blacking out in the middle of battle. As the hunting party's primary offense, she had barely managed to injure the beast at all. It shattered her confidence in her martial path.
She believed it required hundreds of perfected forms before it could truly shine in real combat.
She absolutely hated how powerless she felt.
She wanted to validate her martial path.
After pleading with Father about her decision, he eventually said yes.
After all, Eldest Sister was turning 16 next winter. Still a kid in my eyes... but in this country, already an adult.
After confirming that I was recovering fine, She had left for the city alone to challenge a clan martial artist.
Why would she do that?
Mother explained that us peasants can actually join noble martial clans, though it's near impossible.
There are only three ways:
First, earning massive solo contribution points when conscription for war.
Second, offering a truly valuable martial technique to a clan that can make use of it.
Third, defeating a clan martial artist of the same realm in a sanctioned duel.
Simple in theory. Brutal in practice.
Keep in mind that clan members have access to the clan's training, nutrition, techniques, weapons, guidance. Everything a warrior needs. Peasants like us are already struggling to survive the winter... how can mere peasants be strong enough to defeat nurtured clan martial artists?
Our family is an exception.
Father's foundation as a Martial Apprentice, the constant hunts, Mother's illness, and the failing fields forced my sisters to grow faster than most ever could. It was fuel for their Martial Drive, or the reason they had to walk the path of Martial arts.
Ichigo aimed to join the Kinzoku Clan, famed for their mastery of weapons. It was perfect for her martial path.
We should be hearing from her any day now...
If it's big sister Ichigo, I believe she could do it.
Finally, about her health. Mother she seemed different. Healthier. Livelier... Younger. Her hair, once pale blonde, is now a vibrant shade of yellow. Her wrinkles are gone, her skinny body now all of a sudden back to a healthy weight... it was as if she was never sick in the first place?
She doesn't know why the effects were so good either. After Father administered the potion, she recovered almost instantly. Months of village medicine had only temporarily made her feel well. But one dose from that man's potion cured her completely.
Those bastards from the village... were we being scammed all this time?
No, maybe it was the quality of the potion made the difference?
Just who the hell was that guy?
What did he give her?
Why did he save us?
So many questions...
Sigh.
…Whoever he was, I owe him everything.
If we ever meet again, kind stranger, I'll repay that debt.
No matter the cost.