Aoi’s Perspective
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“I’m kinda also using you as a means to my end. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you. You have a family too, don’t you? You’re still a person. And from where I’ve come from, my sister would always tell me to help other people in need. When I do, those people that have helped would help me in return. So don’t worry about a single thing, Vulcan. I’ve got you covered,” I continued.
When I said those words, Vulcan and I stopped for a second while averting our gaze. I might have already crossed the line, but it was far too late for me to take back what I had said. I recalled every word I spoke in our conversation. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself and told Vulcan he was a means to my end, not someone I tr
When Vulcan finished his work, the time outside this portal told us that it was already midnight. As soon as the old man struck the last metal with his hammer, he sat on the chair, legs apart, and wiped off his rivers of sweat from his face. And then he uttered.“I can’t believe it… Akai gave me half a year to do it. I couldn’t finish it at that time and knew it was impossible. But now, look at these,” Vulcan monologised, as he gazed at those one thousand pieces of equipment and tools he made on the table. “One thousand of them were all done within five days. If you told my past self that, he wouldn’t believe this. But here I am in front of my debt. With the help of you, kid. Of course.”As soon as Vulcan finished his sentences, he turned around and faced me. Even though I presently existed inside the smith, I wa
The day finally came. I didn’t sleep as much as I wanted to. But Vulcan told me we would meet Akai later this afternoon, so I mentally prepared myself and unequipped every related item and outfit from my sniper class system. I didn’t have my weapon with me, so that was a big problem. But as long as I could escape using the smoke bombs, maybe we could return for another round to fight Akai and his team. And that wouldn’t be a beautiful sight.Luckily, Vulcan had already told Akai that he would deliver the items to him - alone. We didn’t want other guild members to be involved with our business. Akai shouldn’t want that either. When Akai heard that we would personally transport the requested items to his guild, Vulcan immediately turned his phone off before Akai could say anything. It must have been rude for Akai’s side, but it was what it was. Vulcan made the weapons and
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot about that,” Akai said, and motioned his hand that he would follow Vulcan’s lead. "The trucks you ordered under my name. Yeah, yeah. I get it. Don't worry. I've already taken care of all of them. As long as you give me what I want, that is."Vulcan took the opportunity and led all of us towards the trucks. And when the driver and the staff from the moving van helped us open the truck's door, dozens of swords, shields, and platemail greeted our eyes."I forged each and every one of them, just like you've ordered. You can check it out if you want to.""I will."As Vulcan gave the go signal, Kei and Akai went inside the truck and checked the organised boxes. When Akai ripped the container open, he immediately witnessed countless b
Akai’s Point of View___________________________“Sir Akai, they might be heading towards the Dark Market portal. It’s a portal without monsters residing inside of it any obstacles that could harm living beings. Should we eliminate them or force Vulcan to work with us?” Kei, my right hand and temporary secretary of the Crimson Guild branch in Tokyo, Japan, asked me.I killed thousands of people already, let alone children or elderly. And I did those crimes to save the greatest number of humanity, even if the world and the government would be against me. Plucking two strangers wouldn’t change a thing on this planet. It was a battle of the fittest, and everyone hailed me as the strongest adventurer on the planet. But despite these thoughts sinking inside my head, I let Vulcan and the boy free from my wrath. I was in a good mood. I would receive wonderful news about what would happen in the future. And if I would enter that guild, which was a kilometre away from me, I would learn someth
“Did we lose him?” I asked, as Vulcan and I returned inside the portal Vulcan nodded and opened the door from his shop. As soon as he saw me enter the smith, he shut the doors and covered it with a sign saying that we were close for the time being. I didn’t question everything and went along the flow.When the two of us arrived inside the usual room, the desk that was messy was finally trimmed down. The weapons, shields, and platemails Vulcan made were recently sent to Akai. And those items were the ones that consumed most space inside this place. The scent of metal disappeared, replacing it with a stench of food and the fire crisping over on the oven in front of us. Those burning coals were the only sound that reverberated inside the smith. But it looked like Vulcan had something to say to me.“Sorry, kid, that I got yourself into my mess.”I shook my head and replied, “No biggies, old man. I’m a wanted criminal both by the government and the Crimson Guild. Making enemies along the
As soon as the sun came out - or for my situation, the timer - I immediately got out of my bed, bought some processed food for Vulcan just if he woke up, and rushed outside the portal. I planned on using my sniper and train for today. But before I could do that, I needed to visit Hina. I told her that I’d return in a couple of days or a week. And now that the week kinda arrived, I had nothing else better to do but to tell her I would leave the hospital room for a few more days to train my sniper. If she found out how cool my rifle was, Hina would freak out! She was the only person who knew about my identity and my weapon. So I gotta let her see this. When I exited the portal, I zoomed straight at the streets and finally arrived in front of the hospital. But before I could enter the structure, I stopped by at a convience store and purchase something I knew I would use later. It was Hina's favourite, after all. And when I entered the building, I climbed the stairs, slid the door from Hi
Hina’s Perspective___________________________Just like what my brother had mentioned, he didn’t show up and check on me. If he did, it would be the end of my training session here inside the portal that Doctor Maruki had created. And I was just getting started on the exciting part! It would be a shame if Aoi showed up where my training had finally bore fruit to me.When Doctor Maruki told me to drink the medicine he brewed, my stomach ached and sent me back to bed. Even though I wanted to train some more, the portal only lasted for an hour. And when that hour was exhausted, I was left with no other choice but to rejuvenate all the lost energy inside my body.I trained until my body wore out or the portal disappeared. Doctor Maruki even left me inside the dimension. But since he had a job and patients to take care of, he left me inside the portal to do whatever I could. And when he exited the dimensional, I did nothing but enhance my ability. Fortunately, Doctor Maruki gave me contro
Aoi’s Point of View__________________________When I entered the portal, a sky-scraping wall was the first one that welcomed my eyes. It reached for over a couple of meters, which was even bigger than twelve trucks falling in line. No. The barricade stretched more than those automobiles. And it would be an insult if I compared the panel from automobiles found in our reality.I thought that Doctor Maruki was behind this madness. He created this haven portal, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he could summon a wall out of nothing. It wasn’t unusual to see adventurers having two or more abilities that they could handle. But even so, my thoughts proved me wrong.When I glanced at my sister, Hina had magic circles glowing and twirling on her hand. It didn’t come from the portal or anyone who planned on attacking her. It came to Hina’s hand herself as she summoned those walls.Now that I had remembered it, Hina could materialise walls out of nothing. She told me all about it before. And Hina