* * * *

Roughly 10 minutes after the incident before, the four people are now at the grass field. Shou, Takeharu, and Gram was holding their weapon, while Gram’s daughter, Cecil is sitting a bit far away and seems to be enjoying to be the spectator.

“Alright, you guys can come at me together or individually. Whichever you wish, if I deemed you guys to be worthy, I’ll give the permit to join the guild.”

Shou and Takeharu looked towards each other’s eyes and seemed to be agreeing on something.

“Together.” “Alone!” or not…

It’s just that they seems to be agreeing on something but apparently, they had each of their own thoughts.

“…” Gram who had readied his giant sword could only offer a silence towards their dissonance.

“Oi! Take! What are you thinking man?!”

“I choose to do this individually, got any problem?”

“Well I probably could take on him alone but to be honest, I don’t like to take the risk. Let’s take more insurance, just take him on together!”

“I can’t Shou. Sorry, sometimes I need to take the risk. Hence I decided to take on him alone. As a man, there’s something I must settle alone!!”

“Hmm, ah, is that so?” ‘I bet he’s thinking something weird again…’ “Okay then, we’ll face you individually. I’ll go first, no complain right, Take?”

“It’s okay. I will need to take my time to prepare after all.”

Shou then took out his sword, or rather Eltain and readied his stance facing Gram.

“I go first. Here I go Mr. Gram.”

“Hmm, not a bad stance if I say so. Although it looks amateurish, it’s pretty sturdy and seems to be firm. Your stance looks quite good. Are you a ? Is it ‘Swordmaster’? ‘Knight’? Or ‘Rogue’? At least you’re not a ‘Defender’ I dare say.”

Appraising Shou on the first glance, Gram could tell that Shou might still be an amateur but he had a good base.

“Sorry to say, but I’m a .”

“I see, a with some knowledge on sword that explain why you brought a staff with you. You’re better than I expected. Which type? ‘Healer’? ‘Support’? ‘Elemental Wizard’? Or is it ‘Dark Magician’? Whichever you are, feel free to come at me whenever you’re ready!”

Grand Eden Land, was a MMORPG with an almost free customized character avatar such as gender, height, body size, hair style, and many others options to choose yet in this game only have a small range of .

This only included , , and as playable character Class. Despite small range of , each of them has vast variety of Skill Tree that it’s impossible to ‘Master’ all of them no matter how high your level is. Moreover, there are still many unknown skills that haven’t been founded yet.

Another unique system from this game is there’s no ‘Class Limited Item’, can equip Swords or Guns and even Buster Swords or Cannon as their weapon, and can also use Staff or Wands as well and it doesn’t obstruct ‘Skills’ either. The only reason people usually use normal weapon according to their is because the ‘Status’ that didn’t match for the .

Shou’s class is a with support abilities. He also uses sword and staff as his weapon. This is the thing that piqued Gram’s interest. It was because that Shou actually choose to use sword as sidearm besides his magic. Normally, any wouldn’t even mind to train their swordmanship. In fact, in the game can't learn any sword technique or skill. Thus people like Shou was very rare, no, not just rare. He is 'Unique'.

“… well then, Mr. Gram, here I go!”

Shou dashed towards Gram with a frightening speed. Just in a few seconds he closed the distance between them. In an instant, Shou also swung his sword towards Gram.

“Ho, you’re not bad after all. But it’s useless!”

In an even higher speed than Shou’s swing, Gram swung his great sword upwards, deflecting Shou’s sword with sheer power and speed. It was unbelievably heavy and quick deflection that normally anyone would involuntarily let go of their sword. But it was different with Shou. He already roughly speculated about Gram’s strength. He managed to firmly hold his sword for it to not fly away easily.

“Don’t you dare look down on me as a !” Shou retreated for a bit and started his incantation. “The power within, hear my command, awaken your potential and show us your true strength! Bestow me the power to blow away our enemy! !!” Shou used a support spell that gives a small buff to strength. Then, he proceeds to attack Gram once again.

“You’re pretty good eh kid?” From Gram’s rough looking face, a small smile appeared. His face was like a little kid whose parents got back and gets him some toy.

“It’s an honor to be praised by you.” Shou who accepted Gram’s pleasantries didn’t drop his weapon. In fact, he still struggling to cut down the giant sword that Gram held.

“Then, I shall get a little bit more serious.” As Gram said that, he suddenly disappears from Shou’s line of attack.

He moved sideways and spun away, parrying Shou’s sword and then moved towards, Shou’s back in an instant. It was unfathomable speed from normal human being. But that to be said, Gram is not just some normal human, he was battle expert, veteran adventurer.

Gram swung his sword horizontally. While Shou held his sword with his right hand, Gram’s attack came from the left. It was an attack that impossible to block, but the fact was different.

Shou lifted his left hand to the same level as the sword. The symbol on his left hand, Myste’s symbol shone brightly. “SHIELD!” as he said that, an invisible force held the sword from hitting him. Gram whose sword was blocked opened his eyes in awe.

“Ho, to think that you still had a trump card on your left hand. You really make me surprised kid.”

“I had to use this little ‘cheat’ a little though. You are too strong old man. But it was too bad, you’re not as strong as , I could still defeat you!”

“Hear my song, hear my plea, and hear my command. Let those that hadn’t been sung to be heard by the spirit. Let the unsung to be heard by the world! Shall what I intended to create be created. Shall what I--”

“Too easy! Your enemy won’t wait for you to finish your chant young boy!”

When Gram attacked, Shou parried with his sword and still continue to chant.

“What?!”

Shou won't be able to win againts Gram in the term of sheer power, but he has magic. Not just magic, a parrying stance that was tought by . No matter how big the difference in power, the stance he learnt from truly managed to block the attack.

“--Intended to do to be done. Shall what I wanted to chant be chanted! Let those that hadn’t been chanted be realized. You must--”

Shou didn't just parry, he also begun to initiate attack towards Gram. He didn’t let his chant to be interrupted even when he’s attacking Gram. Neither has it faltered when Gram attacked.

“--heed into my command. Hereby I will proclaim that you must hear what I said, hear my intent, and hear what I commanded even if I didn’t say it. Let me to control all of you! !!”

The spell had completed. What Shou had chanted was a spell to let every spell that he had to be casted without the need to chant. As the spell name said, . There's no need to cast any chant anymore. Every spell will obey his will for a designated period of time.

“! ! ! ! !”

Shou instantly create an earthen lance that later to be coated with thunder and fire. He had a pose to be ready to thrown the lance and pierce through anything on its way.

As a 'Support Mage', there was no outstanding offensive magic. Instead, they were granted many magic to buffs and support.

“Watch out for this Gram!! It’s Show Time!!!” in that instant Shou warned Gram, he also thrown the javelin with all of his strength. Gram managed to avoid by a hair’s breath.

The javelin that missed Gram flew away towards a boulder. When it struck the boulder, it exploded and let of big thunderous electric charge at the boulder and the big boulder was blown into pieces.

itself is a Beginner-Intermediate level offensive magic. What makes his magic to be this outstanding was all the buff that is enchanted to the lance.

grants electric charge to the lance, bestow the projectile a speed into two times faster, bless the lance with fire explosive capabilities and damage. And on top of that, it was enhanced with that multiply the effect of magic and buff or enhancement.

To be honest, 'Support Mage' was once deemed as one of the most useless Magic class of all. But they was wrong, 'Support Mage' is the late bloomer type. While they have no better than low class offensive magic, their support magics are creating a jump. Even basic magic like could be deadly after the right enhancement from support magic.

Moreover, only 'Support Mage' has the and magic. Even though to unlock this magic would need high level, this magic help them go up to other magician class by a notch.

“God! That was crazy! Hey kid, you’re pretty good. I see so the reason why you learnt sword was to cover’s magician weakness when chanting huh?”

‘Truthfully, when in the game I was a pure mage though.’

“But to be honest, that last part where you said ‘It’s Show Time’ was hilarious. Show Time and your name was Shou was it? I guess you’re a bit strange in the head but that’s what makes it great. Hahaha!”

“......... Please forget about that part. It’s just a bad habit.”

“Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Even Cecil seems to be excited seeing our match.”

Gram’s daughter, who was sitting calmly before, can be seen to be a bit jumpy and full of excitement when seeing the match between Shou and Gram.

“You’re great! You pass, that magic just now was totally rocks! By the way, what if by chance I got hit by that magic? Won’t I die?”

Shou fell silent for a bit.

“… Oh right, I didn’t think of it!” Then he clapped his hands as if to understand it only now. In fact, he really only realize it now.

“You!!”

* * * *

“Then, I shall go next.”

It was Takeharu. It seems like he wasn’t only bluffing that he will fight Gram alone.

Shou who had ended his match, sat down near Gram’s daughter as Gram’s told him to spectate if he wants. To be truthful, Shou was a bit worried about Takeharu’s match. Though, it was more of curiosity rather than worry.

“Nice match, congratulation for you to be able to win against father.”

It was what Gram’s daughter said to Shou when he sat down. It wasn’t Shou who came near her. It was her that approached Shou first so he didn’t actually mind it. She wasn’t interested in romantic ways towards Shou, he only piqued her interest by chance thus she approach Shou. And Shou himself knows about this fact.

“Well, thanks.” He only answered to be polite. He also didn’t show any particular romantic interest in her. Shou was always the type to be faithful towards one partner (girl).

“Your friend…” Gram’s daughter said in a worried tone. “Will he be okay? As far as I could see he didn’t seem to be as experienced as you.”

“Hmm, well what you said is true though, but he might be okay I think? I’m also a bit worried but I guess it’s Takeharu after all, so he will manage somehow.”

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It was true that Takeharu didn’t seem to be as experienced as Shou. But Shou himself has a small faith that his friend might be able to do it. He doesn’t have any good basis, but ever since now, Takeharu was that kind of guy. He will somehow manage to do something at the crucial moment.

As Shou shifted his attention back towards where Takeharu and Gram is standing. The tension he felt was already high even though the two hasn’t start anything.

“Then, kid, let us start the match. I shall judge if you are worthy or not.”

“Sorry, can I ask about something first?”

“Very well, go on.”

“About the permission to join the guild if I win… Can we change it?”

“Huh? What? Are you serious?” This is the first time in his life that someone wanted to throw away the guild permission. Thus, he felt like his ears deceived him.

“Like I said, I want to change it into something else.” Takeharu’s voice didn’t have any hint of hesitation.

“Hmm, well if it’s within my capabilities that very well, why not?”

“Then--” he took a deep breath and closed his eyes a bit. He then opened his eyes and said “Can you give me the permission to take your daughter hand in marriage?”

“… what?” This is the second time that Gram felt like his ears are deceiving him.

“Why are you keeping asking it once again like that? I shall say it once again. I wish for the permission to take your daughter from you and marry her. No at least let me have a relationship with her!!”

“You…” Gram’s whole body was shaking like a great tremor had happened. “You’re dead! I’m going full power right away! Prepare yourself you bastard!”

Gram quickly rushed towards Takeharu in an instant. Meanwhile, in the spectator area, Shou had his face covered with his palm.

“That crazy idiot… Sigh, that’s just so like him.”

Behind the facepalming Shou, Gram’s daughter had her face painted red in embarrassment. Certainly, this is not the first time a male had proposed to her, in fact many of the male wants her hand in marriage but back offs when facing Gram’s intimidating aura. But, this one is really the first time that a guy had openly proposed to her while challenging Gram.

“Ugh, that caught me off guard. Are you sure your friend is going to be okay? Father is probably enraged now.”

“Hmm, well he should be. Even though he is a bit weird but I will trust him. After all he seems to be determined to propose to you. The last time I saw him like that, he managed to do the impossible.”

‘Ahahaha! Master’s friend sure is weird.’ Myste’s voice resounded deep from Shou’s mind. He only brushes it off with ‘Well, I’m well aware of it.’

“He does that often?” Of course Gram’s daughter was asking about whether if Takeharu often ask a girl out or not, and Shou understood it.

“Well, he is a bit crazy after all. And yeah, he does ask a girl out pretty often. I don’t know how many girls had fall into his victim though.”

“Unbelievable, to think that I was shaken by such a guy…” Gram’s daughter’s face was still painted in red blush. Even though she seems a bit shaken up by the fact that Takeharu is a playboy, it seems his deep impact still hasn’t gone from her heart.

When Shou shifted back his attention to the field, Takeharu was pushed back overwhelmingly by Gram’s sheer power. He managed to block Gram’s attack with his shield just in the nick of time.

Just by looking, Shou understand that Gram was even more serious than before. His attack was very swift, even more than before. But, there’s something off from the match.

“Ah I see! I get it now.” Shou now understand what was off from Gram’s movement. It lacks strategies. When facing Shou, Gram was a very tactical man. He would use feint, complex movement, changing target. But in Takeharu’s match, he didn’t do any of it. He just swung his sword to attack Takeharu with sheer power and speed. It seems like Takeharu totally piss him off that he was blinded by rage.

Gram bashed Takeharu’s shield many times over and over. Despite being cornered by Gram’s strength, Takeharu is still smiling with confidence. He knew that Gram was raged. Thus that’s why his movement didn’t have much thought on it. He only focused on hitting as hard as he can. Strategically, he could win, but if it was measured by pure strength, Gram’s strength had been multiplied at least by 2 fold.

‘Whew, I’m glad that I didn’t use my initial equipment.’

His initial equipment would be a wok as a shield and a wooden sword. It sure certainly would be scary to face Gram with a wok and wooden sword. The wok wouldn’t even stand a hit. In fact it would probably be cut in half right away. And the wooden sword, I Gram wouldn’t even feel a hit.

“Wait now that if you think about it, why are we not using training or wooden equipment?!”

“Of course, wooden sword or training sword wouldn’t be able to cut you in half!!”

“So I was the reason?!”

That moment, Gram swung his sword with all of his strength. Takeharu who tried to block it with his shield got blown away. He couldn’t withstand the impact from Gram’s attack. He had blown away and rolled a few times on the ground just from that attack.

“Surrender kid, you will not succeed in defeating me like this.”

“--ce more…” He seemed to be trying to stand up once again “Once more. Let me do it once more time.”

Gram who saw this got taken aback. Even though it seems to be impossible to match him, Takeharu’s eyes didn’t lose it gleams of hope. It was still full of confidence and ambition.

“Okay… Very well, show me your resolve.”

“Yeah!” Once again, Takeharu picks up his shield and sword.

After that, he got blown away many times. He kept standing up once again, over and over. His eyes didn’t lose any of its shine. In fact it grew stronger and stronger every time.

“… Your friend… he’s pretty strong. Sorry if it sounds a bit rude but, I don’t know why, but I feel… more inspired than when I saw your fight.”

“Of course, Takeharu is stronger than me in other aspect. You might see my performance was better against Gram, but that’s why his battle is giving more tension. I was clearly quite strong to match up with Gram, that’s why it’s either I will lose or win. But Take is certainly weaker than Gram now. But he never gives up. He had always been very tenacious since long ago. He lost, but he will stand up again and again. That’s what makes his match is interesting. He is weaker than Gram and certainly will lose, but he will stand up again and again, and he will come up with some other technique to make up for his lost before until he win.”

It was certainly as what Shou had said. Little by little, Shou pushed Gram back with his lost. He lost, and then he came up with a solution or stands stronger than before. Little by little, he will catch up and win against Gram.

“!!” it was Gram’s technique which blew Takeharu off the ground. Upon the swing Takeharu took the initiative to do something against it.

“!!” it was the same technique. Takeharu used the same technique as Gram.

While Shou’s cheat was ‘Assimilation’ that let him to get someone’s skill and abilities. In term of game, he could take someone’s magic/skill along with his status parameter to add to his own.

On the other hand, Takeharu’s cheat ‘Quick Growth’ wasn’t only a cheat to make him level up faster. He could also learn someone’s skill, although it would take time to learn, it was considerably quicker than normal. The reason as for Takeharu wish to fight Gram later was for him to watch his skills. Other than strategy planning, he was also hoping to learn his skill.

Attacked by the same technique, Gram was caught off guard and his sword faltered a little. As result, Takeharu’s sword managed to hit Gram. Different than how Gram hit him, Takeharu could only stagger Gram a little, but that’s all he need.

“!!”

It was a katana skill he managed to get while traveling with Selia. , it holds the meaning to cut the moon. While means halfmoon. And what happened was exactly as the skill name said. Takeharu swung his katana powerfully in straight vertical line. By a chance, Gram managed to avoid it. But the tree that was 3 meters away from then got cut in half cleanly. Not just the tree, even there's a mark of cut on the ground.

Gram who somehow manages to avoid it could only sigh in relief. “God, you guys are really crazy. What kind of technique is that? I have never seen it before.”

“Well thanks to you I got a bit stronger. Yesterday it only reached for about 2 meters away. I’m the type to grow stronger the more I battle after all.” ‘Though, it was thanks to a cheat.’

This world is not a game. You didn't just receive experience by defeating enemy, you can even get it by battling or getting defeated by someone.

“Hahaha, you guys are truly amusing! Very well, you manage to catch me off guard before, so I shall give you a passing grade.”

“Eh really?! You will give me your approval?!”

“Of course! Hmm wait… Shit, I forgot that what you want wasn’t guild permission! No! That’s a big no! If you want my daughter, then get her over my dead body!! !!”

“As you wish! !!”

And like so, the battle continues for a bit longer. Shou who was watching, laughed off really hard. He then calmed himself down and talk to Gram’s daughter.

“Sigh, as expected of Take, he really is amazing. Fall down as many times as he can and stand up once again to be stronger. Lose against someone, lose again and again but still persist and until one day you rise triumphantly. Isn’t that what makes our heart tremble with excitement?”

“Um, yeah. I guess so.” She said in trance.

Without anyone else noticing, Gram’s Daughter’s face already flushed red. Shou who suddenly realized this didn’t get surprised even a bit. He already expects that some time later she will be attracted towards Takeharu. Since long ago, Takeharu was that kind of guy. He can attract the attention of almost any kind of girls. Shou always thinks that if the fictional characters that Takeharu loved was real and interact with him, maybe he would one day win their heart.

Takeharu was a great person. Even though, he sometimes seems to be a bit of a weirdo, he is a nice person. He is caring and friendly, he’s kind of outgoing and humorous, he’s also a person with unfaltering resolution, even though he act dumb, he’s actually very intellectual person, and also he’s athletic. His personality is sometimes childish yet at the right time, he is mature mature, he’s a loyal guy, and he also values his friends in high regards. He could be said as a person with multi talent since the start. He has the charisma of a leader sometimes but he is also very democratic. He’s also very observant. In fact he usually gives the right person to the right job.

Usually Shou was the one who becomes the leader of the team, but when he didn’t the role was given to Takeharu as he’s the second who held the most capable leadership capability.

It was pretty understandable that such a guy is attractive. If not for his hobby, Takeharu would already be a full-fledged ‘Riajuu’, a person who leads a fulfilling life in socials and probably many others aspect as well. Even with his hobby, Takeharu was quite popular guy before. The treatment towards Shou was softening because of Takeharu as well.

“Really, Take, you are a great friend and an amazing guy. I truly respect you.”

* * * *