The Mentor and The Ten Heroes

Chapter 6

Using his bicycle, Paul leaves his house, to carry out his duties; looking for ten people who want to be used as a place to rest the spirits in the form of fireflies, which are currently in a jar, and the jars are kept in the pillion area.

Even from the start, Paul was aware that getting ten people was not as easy as finding cats roaming the streets. Because what he will face is a human, who has reason and mind. They couldn't possibly say 'okay, I do it' when offered by Paul, because humans are not that stupid, who freely give their bodies to stranger. That's very, very impossible.

For this reason, Paul had to carefully plan who and where the people were most suitable to serve as vessels for the spirits he brought. But, Paul also shouldn't choose people arbitrarily, because the person he will choose will carry out an even tougher task, namely to become a hero, that's what he heard from Roswel. But Paul also doesn't really understand what's so good about being a hero in this modern era, where it looks peaceful and prosperous, even if there's a crime, it's not that dangerous.

While thinking about all that, Paul kept pedaling his bicycle, he took shortcuts to the narrow alleys between tall buildings, instead of having to cycle on the highway. The reason may be because Paul did not want to stand out in public. However, Paul actually still hasn't decided where to go now, he's still confused.

Until finally, Paul decided to stop briefly at a tavern to fill his rumbling stomach. The shop stands on the side of the road, which allows its customers to enjoy views of the bustling city. After ordering a burger and hot chocolate milk from a waiter, Paul waited for his order at a table that had two empty chairs facing each other. Paul's presence at the shop attracted the attention of other customers, because he was carrying a jar filled with colorful fireflies, which made anyone want to see them.

"Your order has arrived, one burger and one glass of hot chocolate milk, correct?"

A young man waiter with short dark blue hair, came to the table where Paul was staying, delivering the food he ordered. Then, the maid placed the food and drink on the table that Paul was occupying, very carefully. Finished doing his job, the maid smiled at Paul.

"Please enjoy."

Hearing that, Paul just nodded, then he immediately touched his burger to be devoured immediately. However, oddly enough, the waiter was still standing in front of Paul's desk, never leaving his presence. The waiter instead kept smiling his friendly smile at Paul.

"What?”

Feeling uncomfortable, Paul finally said it to the waiter to get the person out of his presence. But unfortunately, the waiter didn't seem to hear Paul's order, the person still stood in front of him, responding, "You look like you brought something very beautiful, I was so amazed to see it."

"Huh?" Paul furrowed his brows, until he realized that what had kept the waiter from leaving was because he was attracted to the jar. "You better go, because I really hate being stared while I'm eating."

"Ah, sorry for my impoliteness, I'm really sorry."

Then, the dark blue-haired young man waiter bowed and left Paul's presence.

After eating his food, Paul went to the counter to pay, and then he left the shop to continue his journey. However, just as Paul was about to get on his bike, he realized something.

"The jar!"

Paul immediately ran fast, entered the store again to pick up the jar that was left on the table he was occupying. And when Paul came to the table he had been sitting on, the jar that he should have kept there, was missing. Not only that, the table was clean again, which meant that some of the waiter must have cleared the table. Which means they must have taken Paul's jar into the dishwasher thinking it was part of the store property.

After thinking about that, Paul went straight to where the tavern waiter were working. Paul's arrival into the room made the waiter who were busy working at the same time surprised. They were shocked because someone who was not part of them came inside.

Ignoring all the shocked looks from the waiter, Paul immediately shouted at them all, "Did any of you take the jar of fireflies on table number three!?"

And simultaneously, after hearing that, the maids exchanged glances with their co-workers at the sides, until they finally shook their heads together. Against expectations, Paul shouted again with more specific words.

"Then where is the dishwasher!? Take me there!"

"You better stay here, boy!" One of the female waitress who was in her forties responded to Paul's words. "Just let me look for the jar in the wash room."

Paul understood and agreed to wait, and a few minutes later, the waitress returned with nothing in her hands.

"Where's my jar!?"

"I've searched everywhere but still can't find the jar you mean! Are you sure you left your jar in our shop? Maybe you--"

Disappointed, Paul sighed, then he asked again with a more firm question. "Where's the young waiter with short dark blue hair!? I'm sure! He must have taken my jar!"

"What do you mean?" Surprisingly, the person Paul was referring to suddenly stood behind him, with a cold voice.

Paul turned around to face the man. "So, where are you taking my jar, dammit!"

"A jar? Wait a minute, hmm... Oh! A jar filled with fireflies, huh?" The dark blue haired young man began to understand what Paul meant. "Don't worry, I've kept the jar in a safe place! But I freed the fireflies, that's okay, right? Because they look miserable in a jar, I couldn't bear it, so I just opened the jar outside the shop and finally they flew high in all directions! I'm happy to see them free! But it seems like one of them flew through my chest, and I felt something strange inside my body until now!"

Hearing the explanation from the dark blue-haired waiter made Paul's eyes widen in shock. "You get them out of the jar!? And there's a firefly going inside in your body!?"

Paul stuttered to say it, he was very annoyed at the behavior of the dark blue haired waiter. That person casually took out the firefly that Paul was guarding, from the jar he was carrying. Paul really wanted to punch that person in the face, but he was also stunned to hear about one of the fireflies entering the waiter’s body.

"I know you must be mad at me for freeing your pet fireflies from the jar, but come on! They need freedom just like humans! Let them live freely! So don't be mad at me!"

The other waiter who witnessed Paul arguing with one of their co-workers, made the atmosphere in the kitchen where they worked became rowdy and noisy. Since it wasn't a suitable place to argue, Paul pulled the dark blue haired waiter's right arm out of the kitchen, going to a more suitable place so as not to disturb others.

Several customers who were eating their food were surprised to see Paul coming out of the kitchen by pulling the arm of a waiter towards the exit, this became the topic of discussion for several customers.

“Hey!? Why did you bring me here!?” asked the blue-haired waiter with a disgusted face after he was led by Paul to the parking lot.

"Shut up!" Paul snapped angrily. "Now answer! You told me earlier that your body felt something strange after being entered by one of the fireflies, so, what was that strange thing!? Tell me!"

"Oh! You were curious about that, weren't you!" The waiter smiled wryly at Paul. "So you see, now my body feels lighter and lighter than usual! But I wonder, why are you more curious about that? It could just be my hallucination, because how could an animal penetrate my chest! Hahaha!"

"What's your name! Hurry up! Tell me!"

Paul seemed to be in a hurry as he spoke, making the waiter stare at his behavior in astonishment. "Eh? Why suddenly you--"

"JUST SAY IT!"

"Okay!" said the waiter, then started answering Paul's questions. "Hercolin. That's my name. But I'm always called Colin by a lot of people. But my parents prefer to call me by--"

"I'm Paul! From now on! I will be your mentor! Colin!"

Hearing Paul say that, made Colin silent for a few seconds until he finally tilted his head, confused. "My mentor?"

Right now, what was on Paul's mind was; he had already found a human chosen by one of the ten fireflies. Besides, about the other fireflies that had flown free, Paul didn't think much of it. Because he wanted to focus on Colin first.

"Hey? What does it mean to be my mentor?" asked Colin, looking seriously into Paul's face.