I locked the door of my dorm room and swiftly made my way out of the dormitory building.
“I have send you the information you asked me for, but,” Salvador said from the other side of the line.
Currently I was on call with my trustee broker, and now partner.
“But what?” I asked.
“But, why all of a sudden do you need information about that guy? Seriously, you give me the most ridiculous of tasks, out of the blue?” Salvador grumbled over the phone, his voice changing. “And about that place also?”
A thin smile tucked up my lips as I exited through the gate of the Hydra building.
“That’s because you are the best guy for these kind of tasks,” I honestly answered. “And I know that gathering information about that guy and that place was a piece of cake for someone like you, Salvador.”
Salvador went silent for a moment. But I quickly reminded him about the previous task I had assigned to him three months ago.
“And how far as the investigation on the Osberns case and that person gone?”
I quickly made my way to the portal house as I stayed on the line with Salvador.
I had left Salvador with the job to find as much information as he could about the Osberns. Because in the last three months, I had also done some digging around myself, but I couldn’t find much on the Osberns. As if someone had tried to erase almost every trace leading to the case itself. So I was now quite intrigued to find out about it. And that case also lead to the reason why I was searching for that person.
“Honestly, I haven’t found much myself even after investigating for three months,” Salvador said. Upon hearing his reply my brows slightly knitted.
“But...”
“But what?” I quickly asked. Curious what he had to say.
“But, the person you told me to find out about, I have finally founded that person's current whereabouts,” Salvador muttered, as my brows slightly jumped in surprise. “But I still don’t have the exact location about where that person is.”
Either way, this much was enough. If Salvador had found out where that person was, then the next phase of my plan could be initiated now. And I had already prepared a good enough deal which would automatically bring that person over to our side.
But Salvador had to do most of the work. Because I had some other stuff to tend to in Japan.
“Alright, good job, Salvador," I muttered.
"I'll be back from Japan in a week, so I will come back to Korea and talk about the details later with you,” I said, as the portal house soon came in my vision.
“Alright.”
Soon Salvador hanged up the call. I placed my phone inside my pocket, and stepped forward.
But upon arrival, I saw a familiar face standing timidly alone a few feet away from the other students standing outside the portal house.
I approached him and greeted the youth.
“Good Morning, how are you Derek?”
He jerked a step back, dumbfounded by my sudden greeting. The boy with ash-brown hair looked at me. His amethyst eyes bore into my mine, as he took a moment to reply.
“G-Good Morning, Jiwoo,” Derek Maer replied as he turned his eyes away from me. His demeanour looked timid. Same with his expression. He looked like a scared dog. Nothing like his past self.
After I had changed classes, I came to find out that Derek was in the same class as me. And I finally came to remember just who actually Derek Maer was, and where I had heard his name before. At first I was a little skeptical about the person I had met in the past, and the Derek now, being the same person. But after getting to know him better, that suspicion completely disappeared.
He was the Executioner. That was the name given to him by the people who witnessed him on the battlefield in my past life. And when I had met Derek in my past life on the battlefield, his current demeanour and timid behaviour now was a far cry to his ferocity and indifference on the battlefield.
Even I was in awe after observing him on the battlefield. His control over the sword was something that even I was awestricken by. And his mana control was also spectacular.
So I never could have thought that he was so timid and awkward in the past. But that was my own image of him. Can’t judge a book by it’s cover, they say.
But something must have happened to him, for Derek to change so much in the past. I still remember those dull eyes which reaped through the entire battlefield, only showing indifference. Not one speck of warmth.
But if I were to recruit someone like Derek in my group, then it would be a pretty good offer for him as well as me. Because Derek in an talented individual, and his strength doesn’t amounts to much right now. But I know that with proper teaching, he can become the same Executioner that he was in the past. In strength wise, not personality. All he needed to do was be a little bit more confident in himself, that’s all. And there is also something that makes me curious about him.
“Who is your partner for the tour?” I asked, as I cocked my head in Derek’s direction, and the youth awkwardly stood a few feet away from me.
He turned his head to look at me, and his amethyst eyes turned up in my direction. “I-Its Han Shu-hui.”
“Oh, so Han is your partner. He’s a pretty decent and interesting guy, so you won’t be bored on the tour,” I said, as I peered through the sea of students standing in front of me. I looked around to find my partner.
After receiving the email about the tour, everyone had received another email, telling them about who they were paired up with during the tour.
Then from the corner of my vision, I saw Jiyoung approach in our direction.
She enchantingly walked toward me and Derek, as the eyes of the students around her drifted in her direction.
She came to stop a few feet away from us, then greeted. “Good Morning.”
I greeted back and so did Derek; awkwardly.
I felt some eyes turn to look at me, most of them guys, and some girls. For some reason the few girls looking at me were observing me with a keen eye.
But I ignored it.
“So who are you teamed up with?” I asked Jiyoung, Looking around.
Her face remained passive, as she exclaimed. “Claire Heartman.”
I think I had heard that name some where before. Oh right, she was the top seventh ranked in Lock, among the first years. Claire Heartman.
Her Father—Joshua Heartman—is a renowned hunter, who works for the famous guild in England. And her Father is on the position of Vice-Guild Master. The Dexus Guild, the second strongest guild situated in England.
I had investigated about almost all of the top ten in the Lock, and a few other individuals whom I deemed necessary. Other than that, I didn’t care.
Then from the side, I saw two Instructor stand in front of all of the students.
It was Adam and Instructor Jasmine.
The Instructor looked to be in her early twenties. Her long blonde hair were tied into a proper braid, and she was wearing a suit which adorned her beauty, while making an air of sensuality around her. Her milky skin and red lips just made her look more beautiful.
Many of the boys among the students had their eyes fixed in Instructor Jasmine’s direction ogling at her.
Seriously, adolescent kids and their hormones doing their thing. I inwardly sighed looking at their lust-full eyes.
“Alright, enter the portal house in a proper line and then make your way to the portal room mentioned in the email you all received.” Jasmine said as her crisp voice reverberated.
Soon the sea of the students began to enter the portal house in a proper line, and finally my partner arrived.
He stopped in front of us, and Amelia was beside him.
“Finally, you’re here,” I said as I crossed my arms. Looking at Ryuya finally arrive. “Then shall we all hurry up.”
Then all of us made our way inside the portal house.
***
After saying our goodbyes—for now—to the others, me and Ryuya made our way to the portal room mentioned in the email we received—Portal room-39.
Another pair was entering right now, and the next in line were me and Ryuya.
But Ryuya’s face looked a little crestfallen for some reason. I cocked my head in his direction and asked.
“What? Why the long face?”
Ryuya turned to look at me and replied. "No, its just that, its been a while since I went back home so I am kind of nervous."
“Sorry for not being Amelia,” I muttered, as I ascended the flight of stairs alongside Ryuya.
A dumbfounded expression flashed over his sharp face, as he looked at me with his brows weirdly knitted. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryuya asked.
“Well, if Amelia would have been here she would have consoled you, and then you both would have been able to go on a date hand-in-hand, so sorry for interfering.”
Ryuya glared at me as we stood a few feet away from the portal frame. “What did I do to you to deserve such teasing?” Ryuya asked as I observed the oily surface of the portal.
“Because, you flirt with her almost all of the time, and she likes you.” I commented.
Ryuya jumped a step hearing my reply. His ears perked up as he seemed completely flummoxed as he blankly looked at me. The expression of confusion over his face widened as each second passed.
“We are not like—, I don’t flirt with Amelia,” Ryuya hurriedly grumbled, like an abashed teenage maiden being told about her love life. “And Amelia doesn’t like me, we are just friends.”
I inwardly sighed as I looked Mr. Blockhead.
Seriously, I have seen people who were much worst and couldn’t catch a single signal, but I have to say, this guy is the king of thickheads. I pity Amelia. She had to chose him out of all the guys out there. Well, I would still cheer on for her.
A wide grin flashed across my face, as I looked above my shoulder, taking a single step inside the portal, then spoke as my figure began to disappear through the greenish surface. “Yeah, yeah, I believe you.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Jiwoo,” Ryuya grumbled with his eyes sharp, as he followed me from behind.
Soon my body lost its touch with its sense and I was blinded by a bright light momentarily, as I crossed through, Ryuya right behind me.
We exited through the portal, and descended the flight of stairs, sequentially exiting the portal room and making our way out of the portal house.
There we saw the others standing outside. We quickly approached them and I peered through the scenery around us.
From the far side, I saw a big cherry tree growing. Its pink petals looked beautiful and calming. The rich and thick branches of the cherry tree lightly swayed with the breeze. A sense of warmth and far-longing began to shroud my heart as I looked around me.
There were a few cars on the main road, but not much noise. The pedestrians kept on moving along the pavement, to their destinations. Everything looked peaceful, unlike in the past.
I was finally home. This is the place where I had spent and called home almost all of my youth, living with Master and Fujimoto. Tokyo, Japan. The place I called home, and lived in my past life.
Where I had been abandoned by my own birth Mother, whom I didn’t remember anything about, not even her face. And where I rolled and aimlessly walked, having no house—home—which I could call my own.
Until...
I was picked up from the streets by Master and then brought back to his house, which I soon began to call my own.
I took in a deep slow breath looking at the familiar scenery that I vidvidly remembered.
“You like the scenery?” Jiyoung asked from my side. She also looked around at the beautiful scenery and tranquil environment.
I nodded my head as my eyes softened, and the unforgettable memories of my past began to reminisce inside my head. A weak smile crept up my lips, as my eyes began to display a subtle sadness.
Master, Fujimoto. I said inwardly.
“Alright, now line up and let’s get going to the Inn lodging, where we all will be staying for the next one week of the tour,” Instructor Jasmine said as she stepped to the side.
I turned my head to my left and saw buses parked in the parking lot a few meters away. There were twelve buses big enough to fit all of the first year students.
Then we quickly made our way toward the buses.
***
“Your ranking number has been written over the doors of your room, and the floor on which your room is on, was already mentioned in the email, ” Jasmine said standing in front of the Inn entrance. “And as mentioned in the email, you all have the entire day to yourself, so enjoy yourself, without causing any trouble, okay?”
Jasmine turned to the side and added. “And be back before eight in the evening.”
Soon the sea of students began to enter the Inn one-by-one through it’s wide gate. The gate was made of thick red-wood, and had deep spiralling patters engraved in its surface. There was a roof like structure over the gate's wooden walls, which gave it a traditional vibe on a typical Japanese Inn.
But the entrance was no-less tranquil than the outside. The small pavement which let to the entrance of the Inn, to the big pounds on the side, in which fish of many kinds swam. Alongside the pounds were maple trees, and on the other side were cherry blossom trees. Which made the environment calm and tranquil to the eyes.
The Inn we were staying in was owned by the Aogiri Clan, and was a traditional Japanese Inn.
I walked up to the entrance together with Ryuya, Jiyoung, Amelia, Han and Derek.
The wide lobby had wooden floors, and there was a reception desk right in front of the lobby. And a wide stairway which led to the upper floors.
Then me and Ryuya made our way to the second floor of the Inn—to our room.
Walking through the wide halls of the Inn, the wooden floor creaked with each step I took. Soon we came to a stop in front of the room which had our names mentioned.
I slid the door open, and entered the room.
The appearance of the room was like any traditional Japanese room. The tatami style. The floor was covered with tatami mats, and there was an intersection of the room which opened up to a balcony. There was a table placed in the middle of the room, and a closet on the side, with a watch which was hung on the east side of the room.
Ryuya withdrew his luggage from inside his dimensional ring, and placed the suitcase on the side. I did the same and withdrew mine from the system inventory.
“So what are you going to do now?” Ryuya asked.
“Hmm... might as well spend the day sightseeing,” I replied. “And there are a few place I want visit.”
“Then I can be your guide,” Ryuya muttered, taking a step closer to the door.
“Alright.”
Then both of us exited the room and made our way out of the Inn.
“So where do you want to go first?” Ryuya asked from my side.
I thought for a moment, before replying. “I guess, I want try the Japanese cuisine first. Then visit the famous Shinto shrine here—the Yasukuni Shrine.”
“Alright let me lead the way then,” Ryuya said as we stepped forward.
Well, I already knew about all the place but going around and sightseeing for a change won’t hurt. But I really wanted to rush to that place.
Like the saying goes: you become more impatient when the target you seek comes in sight.
By now it was a nine in the morning, so we had a lot of time on our hand. And there were also some stuff I needed to take care of here in Japan. So this was the perfect opportunity for me.
But just as I took another step forward, a black car came to halt in front of us.
Then the driver exited the car and quickly opened the door of the passenger seat.
A woman stepped out of the car. She was wearing a beautiful azure kimono, and her hair were tied into a braid which fell over her shoulder. She looked young, her delicate face and azure eyes displaying a motherly warmth, but her long midnight blue hair reminded me of someone.
Wait...
I turned my head toward Ryuya then back at the woman. I observed the similarity between the two.
Ryuya respectfully bowed his head whilst addressing the woman as mother.
“Mother, It has been a while.”
The woman nodded as her crisp voice reverberated inside my ears. “You don’t need to be so formal with your own mother, do you, Ryuya-chan?”
Ryuya-chan. I thought.
“And he is?”
I slightly bowed my head whilst introducing myself to Ryuya’s mother. “I am Seo Jiwoo, Ma’am. Ryuya’s friend.”
“I see. I am Aogiri Sayako, Ryuya’s mother. Nice to meet you, Jiwoo.”
“Either way, if you were back, why didn’t you come back home? Everyone was eagerly waiting for you back at home.” Sayako began to nag at Ryuya like any typical mother would at their child.
“But mother, I am with my friend right now, and—"
But Sayako cut Ryuya off, and continued. “Then your friend can also come with us. If he doesn’t mind, that is?”
She turned to look at me and her azure eyes intently bore into mine. Not giving me an inch to back off.
I shrugged then replied. “Alright, I don’t mind.” Mostly sighing.
“Then shall we,” Sayako enthusiastically said, as she entered the car. And soon us to.
Soon the car began to disappear into the busy streets. Ryuya took the seat beside his mother and I took the seat next to the driver.
“Sorry for my mother inviting you out of the blue,” Ryuya whispered, as he pulled forward in his seat.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“What are you both whispering about?” Sayako asked.
“Nothing,” Ryuya answered as he leaned back into his seat.
Ryuya and Sayako started a conversation catching up with each other. I took my phone out, looking through the information that Salvador had sent me.
Honestly, he had done a great job. No wonder he became the world’s greatest broker. He had given me an in-depth file containing information about that “man” and that “place”.
“How is my Ryuya like in the Lock, Jiwoo?” Sayako asked.
“Well, honestly, he is a pretty diligent and talented guy, and every girl in Lock is head over heels for him.”
“Oh my, is that true, Ryuya-chan?” Sayako said as her brows jumped, she covered her mouth with her hand, making a surprised expression.
Ryuya shot me a quick glare before replying. “No, its not true, and Jiwoo’s just joking.”
“Why? Isn’t my son handsome? He could attract any female he wanted.” Sayako said with a wide certain smirk.
A chuckle escaped me as I straightened in my seat.
“Same with you, Jiwoo. Don’t you have a girlfriend yourself?”
“Actually, no, I don’t,” I bluntly answered with a smile over my face.
Her delicate brows knit momentarily as she opened her mouth to speak. “You both are allowing your good looks to go to waste. I read that boys your age are already in a relationship.”
Another thin chuckle escaped me as I looked above my shoulder.
“Mother, that might be the case for most, but I am currently more interested in developing my strength than a relationship. Right Jiwoo?” Ryuya rebutted Sayako, as he snapped his head toward me.
“Why are you asking me?” I said with squinted eyes.
“Just like your Father.” Ryuya’s mother followed with a sigh.
But I was kind of sad for Amelia for liking a blockhead like him. I just hope she is able to convey her feeling to his guy.
Soon the car came to sudden halt, and all three of us exited.
In front of us stood a big mansion.
Sayako gestured for me to follow her from behind. Ryuya beside me.
We entered through the wide gate, and made pur way inside the mansion. The inside left me awestricken. If the Inn looked expensive and beautiful, then this place was hundred times better than that Inn.
Wide gardens, big pounds, lush trees, and beautiful artistic designs on the concrete ground.
We quickly made our way inside the mansion.
Sayako entered, as both of us followed her from behind.
“Welcome back, Mistress! Welcome back, Young Master!”
There I saw maids and butlers lined up in front of us. Wearing Japanese style maid/butler uniforms. Then after greeting them they lifted their head and three of the maids among the rest approached us and placed a pair of slippers each in front of us.
I took my shoes off, and placed them to the side. Ryuya did the same and both us wore the slippers on.
“Ryuya-chan, why don’t you take your friend to your room first, then go meet your father. He is expecting you.” Sayako said as she soon went inside the mansion.
She nodded at me, and I returned the gesture.
Ryuya nodded at his mother and he gestured for me to follow him. We took the stairs and ascended to the second floor. He then quickly made his way to the furthest edge of the corridor—where I suppose his room was.
“Go ahead and wait inside, I'll quickly come back after greeting my father.”
I nodded, then slid the door of his room, sequentially entering.
Ryuya’s room had a similarity to the room in the Inn, but there was a wide bookshelf to the west side of his room. Other than that, the wide room was quite simple. Only a bed, a closet on the side, and a writing desk with a chair placed near it.
I walked up to the bookshelf and took a random book.
“This is...” I looked at the cover of the book, and was surprised to learn that Ryuya liked to read novels.
I read through a few pages, then put the book back, then pulled another one out. This book only had a few pages. This book’s title was, “The cries of the powerless”.
I read through a few pages and was quite intrigued with the story. The short story went as; women were chosen to be presented as sacrifices by some village folks, to present to the eight headed snake which made havoc around the villages. So to ease his hunger and destruction, they sacrificed the young virgins of the village. But having seen enough, the heavens bestow the power to slay that snake to a youth who then fought the vicious and ferocious beast, till her last breath.
I pulled through page after page, for some reason this story seemed interesting to me. It was short and simple, not having many loop holes or stretched storylines.
Simple from the start to the end. That some girl obtain some power in order to end some tyranny.
But...
For some reason this story lined up perfectly with the circumstances of our world. Or how I remembered it from the past. No one cared about the other, and was ready to betray anyone at anytime. Even I had faced many betrayals in the past.
My face went solemn for a moment. But I eased my expression.
But suddenly the door of the room slid open, and I heard a feminine voice reverberate inside the wide room.
“Oh, Ryuya, you're finally back.” Turning my head in the direction of where the voice had came from, I saw a young girl—maybe fourteen or fifteen years of age—standing outside the room. She wore casual clothes—a shirt with a skirt.
Her long mousy brown hair were let loose, and her emerald eyes shined just like someone I knew of. She had fair skin, her frame was timid and her face looked nonetheless cute for someone her age.
She looked at me for a moment, then hurriedly slid the door shut. I shut the book in my hand and placed it over the desk.
Then I heard some low voice coming from the other side of the door.
“Why and what is that hot guy doing inside your room, Ryuya?”
“He is my friend from the academy so don’t bother him while he is here,” Ryuya sternly said as he opened the door and entered inside.
“Sorry to make you wait.”
The girl from before entered alongside him.
“Ayane, I told you not to bother us,” Ryuya sternly said.
“Well, I am not. I am only hear to take a book from you collection.” The girl—Ayane—rolled her eyes looking at Ryuya, then made her way to the bookshelf.
But Ayane’s eyes drifted in my direction for some reason.
“Hello, I am Seo Jiwoo,” I gave her a quick greeting.
She turned in my direction and replied. “I am Aogiri Ayane, Ryuya’s little sister.”
Then she looked at the book placed on the desk, and picked it up. “Did you read this book?”
I nodded my head in response. And she rained over me a barrage of questions.
Did you like it? How was it? What did you like about it in particular?
“Well, the way it portrays the human nature and greed, as well as the desperation the main character has to go through to fight against the antagonists to protect the people she cared about, and to slay the eight headed snake. But most of all, the way how the emotions were described was fascinating.”
“I see,” Ayane's cheeks reddened as a bright smile flashed across her face. She pulled the book close to her face, to hide her slightly reddened face.
“Either way, please enjoy your stay here,” Ayane said with a bright smile as she took a step back, then made her way to the door of the room.
“Are you really that jerk sister of mine?” Ryuya whispered with a wide grin over his face. But I was nonetheless able to hear him with my heightened senses.
Ayane rolled her eyes away from him, and exited the room with the door closed.
“Sorry about Ayane,” Ryuya apologised.
“Its fine, I didn’t mind,” for some reason, Ayane reminded me of Jihye.
In the past I didn’t know a lot about having siblings, but now I kind of understood how people with siblings felt.
“Jiwoo can you wait for a little bit more, my bother called me, telling me he has something to talk about?”
“Nah, its fine. But I think I should get going. I think you should spend some time with your family, after a while, don’t you?” I said as I walked up to the door.
“And I will come back to the Inn, before eight, so you can go back without me.”
"I am sorry for dragging you here."
"Don’t worry about it." Then I exited his room.
I walked down the stairs to make my way to the entrance of the mansion.
But my eyes shot open, as I felt a fiery sensation coming from a feet away. I fastened my pace and saw a man standing at the end of the wide corridor.
The man had mousy brow hair, and his emerald eyes glowed with a subtle maturity. His stature was refined and well-built. Something build over the course of many battles and experiences. He was wearing an kimono with his jawline covered with a beard. He turned his head in my direction and looked at me for a moment. Observing me.
“You must be Ryuya’s friend, I presume?” The man’s voice rang in my ears, as I nodded and greeted him.
“Yes, I am Seo Jiwoo, nice to meet you.”
Aogiri Ryunosuke nodded his head and then walked away in the wide corridors.
Aogiri Ryunosuke, the man whom I had witnessed on the battlefield myself. His current strength was the same as in the past. And his current ranking was . But he was a few steps away from reaching the borderline of the
But the most terrifying thing about him was not his latent strength, but the sword art which he utilised, which had been passed down in the Aogiri family. I didn’t knew its name, but I had witnessed its devastating power. It followed the basics of absolute stance, which generated an unimaginable strength in each swing.
He was the man who held complete dominion over Japan. Be it in power and money.
Afterwards, I exited the mansion, and made my way to that familiar place.