Five days.
Five days since Noritoshi Kamo had been ripped from his world and deposited into this nightmare of politics, racism, and slavery. Oh, and possibly an apocalyptic event waiting on the horizon.
All things considered, things were going surprisingly well.
Oh, the Church clearly wanted Naofumi's head on a platter. The Crown—or at least the King—seemed actively hostile to all of them. The nobles are like hyenas, waiting for an opportunity to chew on the weaker side of this whole confrontation. The usual background radiation of hatred and suspicion.
But aside from that? Swimmingly.
Noritoshi sat at his usual table in the Slumbering Boar, a cup of tea cooling before him as the morning light crept across the common room. His party had not yet descended from their rooms—Welst was probably still tangled in his blankets, Kairn would be sharpening something, Rojeel would emerge exactly when he emerged and not a moment sooner, and Myne...
Myne would appear precisely when she chose to, likely with a smile that promised trouble.
He took a sip of his tea. The faint taste of bitterness calmed his mind.
Welst had proven invaluable. The man's academic background meant he actually understood how to research, how to verify information, how to separate useful knowledge from common rumor. Over countless conversations—during hunts, over meals, in the quiet hours when sleep wouldn't come—Noritoshi had learned more about this world than he'd thought possible.
The Waves, for instance.
They weren't just a Melromarc problem. They struck everywhere. Every nation, every continent, every corner of this world faced the same threat. The sky tearing open with monsters pouring through the crack. People all over the world were forced to struggle and survive it all the same.
It certainly puts things into perspective.
But it was the political situation Welst had explained that truly clarified the scale of the disaster they were caught in.
"The four Cardinal Heroes are supposed to be split between the major nations," Welst had told him, his voice low and serious. They'd been sitting in this very inn, late at night, while the rest of the party slept. "It's been that way for centuries. An agreement older than any living memory."
"Which nation gets which Hero?" Noritoshi had asked.
"Faubrey receives the Spear Hero. They're the most powerful nation on the continent—militarily, economically, diplomatically. The Spear has always been associated with them." Welst had ticked off fingers as he spoke. "Siltvelt receives the Shield Hero. They're a nation populated mainly by demi-humans. They worship the Shield as a deity, a living god sent to protect them."
Noritoshi had nodded, filing that away. Siltvelt. Demi-humans. The Shield Hero was theirs—and he was here, in a human-supremacist kingdom that hated everything Siltvelt stood for.
"Shieldfreeden receives the Sword Hero. They're more balanced—a mix of demi-humans and humans, with a representative republic structure. The Sword suits their more neutral stance."
"And the Bow?"
Welst had met his eyes. "Melromarc. The Bow Hero is supposed to come to Melromarc. That's the agreement. That's always been the agreement."
Noritoshi had blinked. "So I'm the only one who's actually where I'm supposed to be."
"Yes." Welst's voice had dropped even lower. "The Spear should be in Faubrey. The Shield should be in Siltvelt. The Sword should be in Shieldfreeden. Only the Bow belongs here." He'd shaken his head slowly. "Someone in this kingdom decided that the ancient agreement didn't matter. That the diplomatic fallout—the outrage of every other nation on the continent—was worth it to have all four Heroes under one roof. Including the Shield, in a nation that openly hates demi-humans. Including the Spear, stolen from the most powerful nation on the continent. Including the Sword, taken from a neutral republic that trusted us."
Everything seems to fit now.
No wonder the Queen was still in Faubrey. No wonder she hadn't returned, even though almost a week had passed.
She was trapped there.
Faubrey, denied the Spear Hero they'd been promised for centuries. Shieldfreeden, outraged that the Sword was now in hostile hands. And Siltvelt—Siltvelt—furious beyond measure. Their Shield Hero, the living symbol of their faith, delivered to the very nation that had spent generations oppressing demi-humans.
If Noritoshi were in their position, he'd be furious too. Furious enough to consider war.
No wonder she hasn't come back, he thought. The diplomatic fallout must be a nightmare.
The memory of Welst's explanation faded as a soft chime drew Noritoshi's attention to the corner of his vision.
[Currency Bow — Equip Bonus Unlocked]
He blinked, pulling up the weapon's status. Finally. This one had taken some work—absorbing every denomination of Melromarc currency until the system finally acknowledged completion.
[CURRENCY BOW] — [RARE]
Equip Bonus (Unlocked): +1 MAG | [BANK]
Ore Equip — Legendary Bow Method
Slots Available: [2/6]
Ores Equipped: [None]
Item Enchantment — Legendary Bow Method
Current Enchantments: [None]
Smelting — Legendary Spear Method
Current Smelting Level: +0
Spirit Enchantment — Legendary Spear Method
Available Spirit Enchantments: [None]
Status Enchantment — Legendary Spear Method
Available Status Enchantments: [None]
Mastery — Legendary Sword Method
Current Mastery: 40%
Mastery Bonus: +2 ATK (at 100%)
Energy Transfer — Legendary Sword Method
Current Energy Pool: 0
Rarity Up — Legendary Sword Method
Current Rarity: Rare (R)
Next Rarity: Super Rare (SR)
Upgrade Chance: 65%
[Bank], an ability that lets him store and retrieve money from his Bow. It meant he no longer needed to carry pouches or worry about pickpockets. Very convenient. Noritoshi dismissed the menu and instead switched the Bow into another form.
[Map Bow Equipped]
Immediately, a translucent overlay of the environment bloomed on the corner of his vision. A Minimap showing the crisp and clear layout of the inn they were in and the surrounding streets.
The Map Bow was Rare quality, unlocked after absorbing enough cartography materials—maps, compasses, surveying tools. The [Minimap] function alone was invaluable, but the Party Tracking Ability took it further. He could see every member of his party, their relative position, their movement speed. If they wandered too far, he'd know instantly. If they got into trouble, he could find them.
But the equip bonus wasn't unlocked yet.
He pulled up the full status, watching the progress bar tick slowly upward.
[MAP BOW] — [RARE]
Equip Bonus (Locked): +2 ATK | [Minimap], Party Tracking Ability
Time remaining to unlock: 3 hours 47 minutes
Ore Equip — Legendary Bow Method
Slots Available: [2/2]
Ores Equipped: [None]
Item Enchantment — Legendary Bow Method
Current Enchantments: [None]
Smelting — Legendary Spear Method
Current Smelting Level: +0
Spirit Enchantment — Legendary Spear Method
Available Spirit Enchantments: [None]
Status Enchantment — Legendary Spear Method
Available Status Enchantments: [None]
Mastery — Legendary Sword Method
Current Mastery: 12%
Mastery Bonus: +0 ATK
Energy Transfer — Legendary Sword Method
Current Energy Pool: 0
Rarity Up — Legendary Sword Method
Current Rarity: Rare (R)
Next Rarity: Super Rare (SR)
Upgrade Chance: 15%
He already had the day planned. After the Map Bow's equip bonus unlocked, he'd switch to the Rope Recurve Bow next—[Binding Shot] would be useful for crowd control. Then maybe the Butcher Bow for its damage bonuses against wounded targets. After that, Cloth Bow and Bandage Bow for their utility effects. He'd been methodically working through his arsenal based on the practical value of each form's special equip bonus.
He dismissed the menu.
The minimap in the corner of his vision showed movement upstairs. Welst's dot was moving toward the stairs with unusual energy—the man was normally half-asleep until he'd had his tea. Kairn's dot followed more slowly, and Rojeel's brought up the rear at his usual deliberate pace.
They appeared moments later, Welst actually looking awake for once.
"You're in a good mood," Noritoshi observed.
"Finally got some people to bite on my bait." Welst slid onto the bench, practically bouncing. "I'll explain during hunting."
Kairn dropped onto the bench beside him with a grunt. "He's been like this since dawn. It's exhausting."
Rojeel settled in last, massive and silent as always. He caught the serving girl's eye and raised three fingers—his usual order.
They ordered breakfast. The conversation flowed around Noritoshi as he kept one eye on the minimap.
Myne's dot was moving.
But not from her room.
It was coming from Naofumi's room.
Noritoshi's attention sharpened. He watched the dot crawl down the stairs at a pace that made him frown. Slow. Hesitant. Nothing like her usual graceful descent.
Then she appeared.
And Noritoshi forgot about the minimap entirely.
She looked destroyed.
Dark circles carved deep beneath her eyes, darker than yesterday. Her hair—usually pristine, usually perfect—looked like it hadn't been touched by a brush since she'd woken. Tangled. Flat. Uncared for. Her clothes were wrinkled, hastily thrown on, nothing like the immaculate presentation she managed even at dawn.
She moved slowly. Heavily. Each step down required visible effort, her hand gripping the railing like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
When she reached the bottom and turned toward their table, their eyes met.
Exhaustion. That was all Noritoshi could see. None of the usual seductive allure she deliberately put on. Neither charm nor calculation could be seen, only the look of someone running on empty fuel.
Then she smiled—the same smile, the one she always used—and slid into the seat beside him.
"Good morning." Her voice was rough, scraped raw from hours of soothing whispers.
The table went quiet.
And Noritoshi's mind went back.
Two days ago. Raphtalia's first night at the inn.
The scream had torn through the building past midnight—bloodcurdling, terrified, the kind of sound that made your heart stop before your brain caught up. Noritoshi had been out of bed and moving before he was fully awake, arrows materializing in his hand as he hit the corridor.
Half the inn had done the same. Doors creaked open. Sleepy, alarmed faces peered out. Voices called questions into the dark.
Naofumi's door was already open.
Inside, Raphtalia was screaming.
She thrashed in her sleep, tears streaming down her face, her tiny body rigid with terror. Trapped in whatever horrors her mind had conjured from Lurolona—the Wave, the slavers, the cage, the crest that punished her for speaking.
Naofumi was beside her, desperate and helpless, holding her to make sure she didn't accidentally hurt herself as she thrashed wildly.
He looked exhausted. His clothes were rumpled, the same ones he'd worn yesterday. Running an empire—even a criminal one undergoing reform—clearly hadn't left him time for basics like laundry or sleep. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to gentle Raphtalia's thrashing.
"Raphtalia. Raphtalia, please. You're safe. Calm down. You're safe."
It didn't work. His voice cracked with the effort, with the pain of watching her suffer and being unable to reach her. Everyone stood frozen in the doorway, watching, useless.
Everyone except Myne.
Noritoshi remembered it clearly—the way she'd been standing in the crowd like everyone else, her face unreadable. Then, slowly, she'd taken a step forward.
Hesitation. Visible tremor in her hands. Like she was fighting something inside herself, some fear or uncertainty that made every step an effort.
Another step. Another.
The crowd parted for her without anyone consciously deciding to move. She reached the bed, stood over the thrashing child for a single, agonizing moment—
And then she sat down, gathered Raphtalia into her arms, and held on.
"Shh, shh, little one." Her voice was rough, uncertain at first. But she kept going. "You're all right. You're here. You're safe. No one can hurt you. I've got you. I've got you."
The screaming faded to sobs. The sobs to hiccups. And then, slowly, Raphtalia went still in Myne's arms, her tiny hands clutching at the older girl's shirt like it was the only solid thing in a world that kept trying to swallow her.
Naofumi stood there, his eyes bright, unable to speak.
It took another hour for Raphtalia to fall back into sleep. Myne didn't move the entire time—just held her, rocked her, murmured soft reassurances. When it was clear the girl was truly under, she looked up at Naofumi.
"I'll stay with her tonight. She needs someone close."
Naofumi started to protest, but Myne cut him off with a look Noritoshi hadn't seen on her face before. Firmness.
"You need sleep too. You can't protect her if you're exhausted. Go. I'll call if she wakes again."
Naofumi hesitated, then nodded. He gathered a few things and knocked on Noritoshi's door fifteen minutes later.
They lay in the darkness for a long time, neither speaking. Finally, Naofumi's voice came out of the dark—quiet, rough, wondering.
"She didn't hesitate. Didn't even think about it. Just... walked in and grabbed her."
"She hesitated," Noritoshi corrected quietly. "I saw her. She was scared."
"Scared of what?"
"I don't know. But she did it anyway."
The next morning, Noritoshi had asked if she was capable of hunting. If she was exhausted. Things like that.
She'd said she was fine.
So they'd gone hunting. She'd fought beside them all day, smiling, laughing, playing her role. No one would have known she'd barely slept.
Then last night, it happened again.
And now she looked like this.
Noritoshi spoke first.
"You look terrible."
It came out softer than he intended. Gentler. Almost like concern.
Myne's smile flickered, something real breaking through the performance for just a second. "Thanks. You really know how to make a girl feel special."
"How is she?"
The question hung in the air. Everyone at the table knew what he was asking.
Myne's composure wavered. For a moment—just a moment—she looked like she might actually cry. Then she pulled herself together with visible effort.
"She's okay. Sleeping now. I think... I think she just needs someone to hold on to." A pause. "She kept calling for her parents. In her sleep. Over and over."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Kairn's voice, when it came, was unusually gentle. "You stayed with her again?"
Myne nodded.
Welst slowly pushed his tea toward her. "Drink this. You look like you need it."
"I'm fine—"
"No." Noritoshi's voice was quiet but firm. "You're not. Drink the tea. Eat something. Then you're going back to bed."
Myne blinked at him. "I can't just—"
"You can. You're not hunting today. Not like this." He met her eyes, letting her see that he meant it. "In the first place, it was my fault. I should've firmly asked you to stay behind yesterday to rest. Not whether or not you're fine to go hunting. I apologize."
Myne stared at him. For a long moment.
Then, slowly, she picked up the tea and took a sip.
"Okay," she whispered.
The stairs creaked again. Naofumi descended, Raphtalia tucked against his side. The little girl's eyes were clearer today—still haunted, but present. Aware.
She looked at Myne and a complicated expression—bashful, ashamed, scared, grateful—appeared on her young face. Naofumi gently patted her head, then let her down. She walked over to Myne on unsteady legs, stopping just in front of her.
"T-thank you, b-big sis." Raphtalia's voice was tiny, barely a whisper. "A-and I'm also sorry... for troubling you."
Myne's exhausted face softened into something Noritoshi had never seen before. Without a word, she scooped Raphtalia up and settled her on her lap, wrapping both arms around the small girl.
"Don't worry about it, okay?" She patted Raphtalia's head gently, then pressed a kiss to her hair. "Don't worry about it at all."
Raphtalia buried her face in Myne's chest, her small shoulders shaking slightly.
Noritoshi's eyes met Naofumi's across the room. The Shield Hero was openly smiling—a genuine, warm expression that transformed his usually guarded face.
He also looked even more exhausted than yesterday.
Naofumi approached the table, moving with the heavy tread of someone carrying too much weight. "Noritoshi." He pulled out a chair and dropped into it like his legs had given out. "Sorry. I don't think I can attend this daily meeting tonight. Nor the next one."
Noritoshi was silent for a moment, studying his friend's haggard face.
"I see. You must be really busy now, huh?"
"Yeah."
A pause. Then Noritoshi spoke again, quieter than before.
"... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. For pushing this kind of burden towards you."
Naofumi waved a hand dismissively, though the gesture was weak. "No, no. I'd rather be useful and get exhausted like this than be a burden to you." A tired smirk crossed his face. "I know you're not the type to get really guilty over this anyway."
Noritoshi felt his lips twitch. "...Heh. Just what kind of human being do you think I am? I am capable of feeling guilt, you know."
Naofumi's laugh was rough with exhaustion but genuine. "Hahahaha. Could've fooled me."
A beat of silence passed.
Then Noritoshi reached for his tea. "Get some rest when you can. We'll manage without you."
"Yeah." Naofumi pushed himself up, swaying slightly. "Thanks."
He paused, already half-turned toward where Myne sat with Raphtalia. Then he stopped and looked back at Noritoshi.
"Wait. About the meetings—"
"Actually." Noritoshi set his tea down, an idea crystallizing. "Instead of us meeting here, what if we all just come to that place?"
Naofumi blinked. "... Beloukas's tent? Seriously?"
"Yeah. Super serious." Noritoshi met his eyes steadily. "It's about time the other adventurers in Ren's and Motoyasu's party know the truth after all."
Naofumi's exhaustion seemed to momentarily lift as concern replaced it. "Is that safe? I think people with power already know by now that I own a slave empire. But they still don't know our plan." He glanced toward where Myne sat with Raphtalia, then back at Noritoshi. "The situation is different. Unlike with Myne, you can't always be near them and monitor them."
"I have my ways."
Naofumi's eyebrows rose. "Really? What is it?"
Noritoshi allowed himself a small, sharp smile.
"Something called a Binding Vow."
Naofumi departed after Noritoshi explained there would be no security risk, with Raphtalia looking decidedly not fond of the idea of leaving Myne behind. The little girl kept glancing back, her small hand reaching out as if to bridge the distance.
"She has to rest, remember?" Naofumi coaxed gently, his voice soft despite his exhaustion. "Myne needs sleep. You'll see her later."
Raphtalia's lower lip trembled, but she nodded reluctantly. Even so, she kept waving at Myne until she was halfway down the streets.
Noritoshi watched the exchange, then turned to Myne.
"You're good with kids."
Myne blinked, still staring at the street where Raphtalia had disappeared. "I too had no idea I was good with kids." Her voice was quiet, almost wondering.
"Well, go get some rest now, alright?" Noritoshi reached out and patted her shoulder—a brief, awkward gesture, but genuine.
Myne yawned in response, the sound escaping before she could stop it. She covered her mouth, looking almost embarrassed.
Then she nodded and headed for the stairs.
After Myne finally disappeared into her room, they waited.
Ren's party arrived first—Tersia immediately commandeering a chair, Farrie sliding in beside him, Welt already pulling out his notebook, Bakta settling like a mountain. Ren himself looked mildly curious about being asked to wait.
"Motoyasu's party should be down soon," Noritoshi told them. "Wait until they arrive."
They did.
When Motoyasu finally descended with his usual entourage, Noritoshi studied them carefully. The Spear Hero's... members. Harem might be more accurate, based on how they clustered around him. Three women, all attractive, all armed, all watching their surroundings with varying degrees of awareness.
Elena—the brown-haired swordswoman with sharp eyes who'd confronted Tersia days ago. Rino, an adventurer mage with no ties to power or nobility. But one other stood out.
Lesti Orsini.
According to Welst, her family were hardcore traditionalists—even more so than his own. They operated by money, honor, and influence. And there were rumors—only rumors, but persistent ones—that they viewed their own children as investments rather than people. Tools to be deployed, marriages to be arranged, futures to be leveraged.
Conservative in the worst way. The kind of family that would see Naofumi's reforms as a threat to everything they believed in.
Noritoshi filed that away and waited until everyone was seated.
Then he stood.
"Thank you for waiting." His voice carried clearly across the table, cutting through the murmur of conversation. "I will tell all of you a secret. One that could shake the very foundations of this world if our plan—the Heroes' plan—were to proceed as intended."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across each face.
"Of course, there is a vow of secrecy you must take if you wish to hear this. A binding vow, sworn upon your very being. If you do not wish to take it, you may withdraw from your Hero's party now. There will be no shame in it, no recrimination." Another pause. "And if you wish to withdraw after hearing this secret, you are free to do so. But know this—the vow of secrecy is real. It will bind you whether you remain with us or not."
He let the weight of his words settle.
"So. With that understanding—does anyone wish to leave now?"
Noritoshi allowed the silence to stretch for one breath, two, before continuing.
"The vow of secrecy I'm offering is not a mere promise or a magical contract of the kind you might be familiar with. It is something far older. Far more absolute." He paused, choosing his words with care. "In my world, we call it a Binding Vow. An oath sworn not to another person, not to a deity, but to the very fabric of existence itself."
He met each of their eyes in turn.
"The conditions are simple. You will swear never to reveal what you learn here today—the Heroes' plans, our true objectives, the nature of our operations—to anyone outside this circle. Not to family. Not to friends. Not to lovers. Not under duress, not under torture, not even if your life depends on speaking. The vow binds you absolutely."
A murmur rippled through the gathered adventurers.
"Breaking this vow carries consequences. Not from me. Not from the Heroes." Noritoshi's voice dropped, taking on a gravity that silenced the murmurs instantly. "This Binding Vow is monitored by the universe itself. The punishment for breaking it is not something I can control or predict. It is... random. But it is guaranteed to bring you the greatest possible disadvantage in whatever moment it strikes."
He let that sink in.
"It could be something as small as sudden unluckiness at a critical moment. A misfired spell. A slipped footing. A moment of distraction that costs you everything." A pause. "Or it could be a disaster. A monster appearing at exactly the wrong time. An ally turning on you. Your own body betraying you when you need it most. The universe has... imagination."
The table went silent.
Not the silence of polite consideration. The silence of shock. Of people suddenly realizing the weight of what was being offered.
But something was wrong.
Noritoshi studied their faces. They weren't looking at him anymore. Their eyes had gone distant, slightly unfocused—the unmistakable sign of someone reading their status window.
Why would they—?
"Oh my god."
Welst's voice cut through the silence, high with shock and wonder. His eyes were wide behind his spectacles, fixed on empty air.
"What?" Noritoshi asked sharply.
"The status window..." Welst lowered his hands, staring at Noritoshi with an expression of pure amazement. "It showed the contract. Perfectly. It describes all the things you just mentioned—the conditions, the rules, the punishment." He shook his head slowly. "It really is real. This contract is monitored by the world itself."
He took a breath, visibly gathering himself.
"There have been many scholars studying what the magic of the status window truly is, you see. And the results of their studies suggest there are not many things that can affect the windows. Class Ups. The Dragon Hourglass. Things equally as ancient as that." He met Noritoshi's eyes. "This Binding Vow of yours... it just proved itself to be in that category."
After hearing that, slowly but surely, everyone agreed.
One by one, they nodded. Some with hesitation. Some with visible nervousness. But all of them accepted the Binding Vow.
Noritoshi watched the status windows flicker in their unfocused gazes, felt the subtle shift in the air as each vow took hold. The universe acknowledging their choice.
Then he told them everything.
Beloukas. The battle slaves. The transfer of ownership to Naofumi. The four standards for reform—only true criminals, humane conditions, education and job training, buyer vetting. The long game: dismantling the entire slave system from within, piece by piece, until nothing remained.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Then Lesti Orsini spoke.
"You're insane."
Her voice was cold. Precise. The kind of cold that came from generations of noble breeding, from a family that viewed emotion as weakness.
Noritoshi met her gaze evenly. "Explain."
"You want to destroy slavery." Lesti's eyes bored into his. "Do you have any conception of what that would do to this kingdom? To this continent?"
"I have some idea."
"No." She shook her head sharply. "You don't. Slavery isn't just something you can say is mere cruelty. It's the whole infrastructure and foundation of this world.
It's the foundation of entire industries. Agriculture. Mining. Textiles. Domestic service. The noble houses you've met, the merchants you've bought from, the very food on your table—all of it relies on slave labor in ways you can't begin to understand."
She leaned forward, her voice dropping.
"Slavery is one of the biggest factors of economic growth in Melromarc. No—in the entire world. If you really did this..." She left the words unsaid, but the weight of them hung in the air.
Noritoshi understood.
Destabilizing the economy of a single kingdom was one thing. Destabilizing the entire world was another entirely. The ripple effects would be catastrophic. Famine. Riots. War. Millions dead.
But he had already considered this.
"I don't care."
Lesti blinked. "What?"
"Even if the world ended up broken, I just need to fix it." Noritoshi's voice was calm, steady, utterly certain. "We—the Heroes—have the power to do that. Levels. Stats. Abilities that no one in this world possesses. We can fight monsters that would destroy armies. We can go places no one else can reach. We can protect people, provide for them, rebuild what collapses."
He met her eyes directly.
"The world survived before slavery. It can survive after. And if it breaks along the way? We'll be there to put it back together."
Silence.
Lesti stared at him for a long, searching moment. Her expression was unreadable—the careful mask of someone trained from birth to reveal nothing.
Then, slowly, something shifted in her eyes.
"That," she said quietly, "was a test."
Noritoshi raised an eyebrow. "A test?"
"I needed to know if you were doing this out of blind naivety—some childish fantasy of 'slavery bad, free good' without understanding the consequences." She sat back, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Or if you had actually thought it through."
"And?"
"And you passed." A faint, grudging respect crept into her voice. "You understand the stakes. You've considered the fallout. You have a plan—not just for destruction, but for reconstruction." She paused. "I don't agree with everything. My family... my family would disown me if they knew I was even hearing this. But I'll follow. For now."
The others exchanged glances. If Lesti—the most conservative, the most traditional, the one with the most to lose—was on board, what argument did they have?
One by one, they nodded.
Kairn caught Noritoshi's eye from across the table, a small smirk playing at her lips. "Told you they'd come around."
"You said no such thing."
"I thought it really loud."
Welst cracked a smile at that.
Later, after the meeting had broken up and the adventurers were filtering out, Kairn pulled Noritoshi aside.
"So. That Binding Vow thing." She crossed her arms. "Why didn't you do that with us? Back when we first started this whole mess?"
Noritoshi was quiet for a moment.
"Because I hadn't figured out how yet."
Kairn blinked. "Figured out how?"
"The Binding Vow requires a specific combination of energies. Mana and something else." He paused. "Cursed energy. An energy from my world. It took me days to understand how to weave them together well enough to create a vow that would hold."
Kairn frowned. "Cursed energy?"
"From my world." Noritoshi shook his head. "That's all you need to know for now."
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough. You told us when you could. That's what matters."
Noritoshi nodded.
But his mind was elsewhere.
This mixed energy—this fusion of cursed energy and mana—was remarkably compatible. When used as fuel for his cursed techniques, the results were extraordinary. Piercing Blood had reached speeds and power levels that should have been impossible. His control over blood manipulation had sharpened to a degree he'd never thought achievable. The synergy was undeniable.
But when it came to other applications of jujutsu...
He'd tried to create simple barriers using only the mixed energy. The results had been strange. Unstable. As if the two energies, so harmonious when channeled through his innate technique, became awkward and discordant when asked to do anything else. Binding Vows had been even worse—the first few attempts had simply... failed. Dissipated into nothing.
As if something was incomplete.
He'd eventually succeeded, of course. After enough experimentation, enough adjustments, he'd found a way to make the mixed energy work for vows. But it had required careful calibration—using the cursed energy as the framework, the structure, and the mana as the key to interface with this world's magical systems.
The theory he'd settled on was this: mana alone couldn't interact with cursed energy at all. They were separate systems, separate rules, separate realities. But when used to fuel his cursed technique—when channeled through the specific pathways of Blood Manipulation—the mana became something else. Something that could touch cursed energy without being consumed by it.
For Binding Vows, he needed that touch. Needed the mana to act as a bridge between his jujutsu and this world's magic. Without it, the vow would exist only in his world's framework—meaningless here. With it, the vow became something that both worlds recognized.
It was inelegant. Imperfect. But it worked.
That was why he didn't do it to any of his party members. He simply hadn't figured it out yet. By the time he had, they already knew everything—had been there from the start, had proven their trust through action rather than oath. A vow would have been redundant.
[Map Bow — Equip Bonus Unlocked]
Perfect, he thought to himself with a faint smirk on his face. Just in time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hey guys. I'm finally back from the sea. Yaaayyy. Busy days still await me though.
Anyway, you may have questions about why the menu for the weapon forms is a lot more detailed now, so I'll just answer it straight up. Noritoshi has now perfectly understood all the strengthening methods, and it's kinda categorized itself according to his preconceived notions.
And I have a question. Right, so most people who have read up to this chapter must've realized that this fanfiction's pacing goes day by day. Sure, there will be time skips too. But the important question: should I add a slice of life tag? This could be said to be a really slow story after all. What do you all think?