Chapter 24: negotiation at dinner
After dropping Nina off at home, I headed to mine, it was about six in the evening, but due to the summer it was still relatively bright, The sun had already set but the sky was already a blueish orange color, so it would soon be night.
The snow crunched under my feet on my way home, my idea was already in my head, I wanted to go out and explore the world but first I would have to ask my parents' opinion.
It took me about thirty minutes to get home, it was already night, the outside lamps were already on and dad was probably already home.
"I'm back," I announced as I polished my shoes at the entrance.
"Oh, dear, make yourself comfortable, dinner is ready" my mother said while serving food to my father.
My father was sitting at the table as he watched mom serve dinner, I sat to his right and mom served me food as well
Dinner went by without a hitch, I waited until at least my father finished his meal to talk.
"Dad...can I make a selfish request?" I muttered.
Both my father and my father looked at me strangely.
"...what kind of request?" He asked as he crossed his arms and stared at me.
"Well...I want to ask you something first..." I muttered as I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair.
"Dad, have you spent your entire life in the sacred land of the sword?" I murmured, something I had never asked before.
My dad squinted and scratched his chin with a finger.
"No, I was born in Millbots, a city in the Neris district in one of the three magical nations" he Said.
I nodded at this, unable to hide my surprise, although I had already expected it. There was no need to ask Mom, since she and Gull were born here.
"I see...but...did you ever travel around the world, father?" I murmured, choosing the words i used carefully.
My father raised an eyebrow at that as he looked at me, though I guess he already got the idea of what I meant.
"Yes, in my youth I roamed all over the central continent before settling here" he said while looking at me
I tried to speak but he raised his hand stopping me.
"I see where this is going and my answer is no" he said firmly.
I could only frown in response but kept silent as he was right.
"First of all, you are too young, you haven't even turned your second birthday yet, yes, you are strong, in fact you are much stronger than most of the people in the dojo, But that doesn't cover the fact that you're still a child, plus I won't leave your training halfway" he stated firmly.
I looked at my mother but she nodded with an apologetic smile indicating that she agreed with dad.
Even though I knew this could happen it's still frustrating...
"Don't make that face, you're still young but once you grow up enough you'll be allowed to travel the world as you please" my dad said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair
"...how long are we talking about?..." I muttered.
"hmm...when you turn 12, since that's when I left home" he said in a serious tone
Twelve years...the same as Paul's time fleeing the Nottos area...
My mother seemed unhappy with that answer but with a sideways glance from my father, she remained silent...
"But Gino dear...why this sudden desire to leave?..." My mother said with concern.
Oh no, here we go...
"W-well...I've spent my whole life here, and I want to see more than this..." I muttered.
"...I see" she murmured sadly.
Oh shit...now she's using emotional manipulation....
"Ah! B-but it would only be temporary! Just a couple of months and I would return home as usual!" I said in panic.
"No...I understand, it's just that you caught me off guard...sometimes I forget that you're already a sword saint..." Mom murmured.
I gave him a weak smile and we continued eating.
...
I Continue the awkward dinner without saying another word...at least I tried you know!!
Although it is somewhat boring to be in the same place for years, this world is too vast for me to spend my whole life here.
After dinner, I locked myself in the bathroom and immersed myself in water that was magically heated.
"haaaaa....." I let out a sigh as I looked at the wooden ceiling.
I felt my muscles relax with the warm water, I submerged myself up to my nose with my eyes closed.
Now what do I do now?...no...in fact I already know, it's just my own anxiety that makes me act.
Who guarantees me that Hitogami isn't cheating on me? Who guarantees me that he's not using my lust to manipulate me?!.
I really haven't learned anything?!, Rudeus from the future, Gesse, Luneana, Laplace...
All people manipulated by Laplace and led to ruin...
What guarantees me that Hitogami won't cheat on me and that I won't look stupid trying to seduce Roxy?!...
Ah...I thought I was smarter...
I got out of the bathtub as best I could and fell face down onto the bed.
Fatigue overcame me and I fell asleep.
...
I opened my eyes and woke up in the same white void...
"son of a bitch now what do you want..." I murmured
"Oh?...and that coldness?!, not even a hug?..." He murmured with a malevolent smile
"Shut the fuck up, what do you want?" I said disdainfully.
Hitogami's smile disappeared as he crossed his arms.
"Rudeus Greyrat, Eris Boreas Greyrat, and Ruigerd Superdia, the three of them are gathered in the north of Biegoya on the Demon Continent" he Said.
"ok...that's good, and what about Rudeus' family?" I said
"Paul Greyrat and Norn Greyrat are in Roa, Lilia and Aisha Greyrat are south of the Shirone kingdom and Zenith Greyrat is in Begarit" he said crossing his arms
Ok...everything is the same.
"Ok...that's fine, there's nothing out of the ordinary, but then why are you here?" I said frowning.
"tch, I came here to give you some advice" he said seriously.
"No, don't give me that shit, all I want from you is some advice!" I said in an accusatory tone.
Hitogami stared at me while crossing his arms
"...I've started pulling the strings, Roxy Migurdia is currently heading towards Roa" He said with disdain.
"And what does your "advice" have to do with that?" I muttered making quotation marks with my fingers.
"Nothing! In your current state Roxy Migurdia would only see you as a very strong child but nothing more, you must wait years to have a chance to seduce her!" He said with a smile
I frowned at this.
"You think I don't know?! If you're just going to tell me that then go to hell!" I said, giving him the middle finger.
Hitogami made a sadistic smile at this.
"Oh?...I can help you with your progress and you know it!" He declared.
I raised an eyebrow at this.
"How can you help me? You can't make direct contact with this world!" I said angrily.
"That's not true, remember that I've seen all the previous Sword Gods and I've seen how they have perfected their techniques!" He said.
"Yeah, and then, how could that help me?" I accused him.
"Don't worry! In your current state I can perfectly see that you are close to being a Sword King!" He declared with a smile.
I remained silent at this, although I could feel it, I had to not allow myself to let my guard down around Hitogami, that would be a mistake that would cost me dearly.
"Hmm? You want to know how? Well, here's my analysis! Listen carefully! Your grip on your sword is stronger on your right arm, which slows down your long sword of light, You tend to lean slightly to your right when attacking, which does not allow you to take full advantage of your speed, Furthermore, you are still unable to embellish your sword with Touki, a characteristic that would make you more deadly." Hitogami explained all this with a smile and I could only watch him in silence.
"Why are you telling me all this?" I murmured.
"Hmmm! I just want you to be stronger so that the day you meet Roxy Migurdia she will be captivated by you!" He declared, crossing his arms.
"Do you really want me to separate her from Rudeus?..." I muttered.
"I would kill her if I could!" He screamed with a rage that made me shudder.
"Hey...the day you discovered me...what did you mean by me changing destiny?..." I murmured.
"Hmmm? Ah yes, your very existence drastically changed the fate of the people around you. With your parents it's not much, but with Nina and Gull Farion it's drastic changes" he muttered while scratching his cheek.
"What kind of changes?" I muttered.
"Nina Farion, her potential has increased somehow, she is now a sword saint when in other realities it would still take her three years, ah this step will be a sword empress before she turned twenty" he said
"And with Gull Farion, as you grow stronger and close the gap between you two, he'll start to doubt himself, sooner now than usual," he continued.
"..." I didn't know what to respond to this, on the one hand it was a good thing with Nina, I was a kind of motivation for her, but with Gull, I knew how mentally unstable he would become and could fall easily into Hitogami's clutches...
"Hey! Calm down, we already have a deal, right? I even consider it a favor, I'm doing you a favor!" Hitogami murmured with a smile that gave me chills.
"Okay...I'll put into practice what you told me...just don't bother anyone..." I muttered and Hitogami's smile grew so big that it made me uncomfortable.
"I promise, now be strong for me, will you?" He murmured and I felt the same force pushing me back, waking up instantly.
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*inserts comment begging for power stones and positive comments*
Also, Merry Christmas my friends!!