Chapter 4: Hidden Opportunity
{Beep}
'...zzzzz'
{Beep}
'...Shu…p…'
{Beep}
'..Shut….up..'
{Beep}
"Would someone please stop that noise!" (Ryo)
"Well, aren't you a lively one." (???)
"Huh?" (Ryo)
Getting a response I honestly wasn't expecting; I sat up and opened my eyes to see myself in a hospital room. White walls, comfy bed, that smell of sterile alcohol, and the machines in the room that were currently making that annoying beeping noise.
Turning my head to the person who spoke, I saw an early middle-aged woman in a doctor's attire looking at me.
She is a slender woman with grey hair and grey eyes. She has a long scar over her left eye, stands at around 162 cm, and she is wearing trousers, a black top, and a white lab coat.
She looked like the strict but caring type; however, a quick Observe with [???] for her name and level told me not to upset her.
'What's going on? The last thing I remember was killing that pig and talking to that ca…..the kitten!'
*Cough! *
Seeing my eyes open in a slight panic, the doctor coughed loudly to get my attention.
She pointed at my legs, and I looked down to see the small black kitten sleeping on my legs.
*Sigh*
Sighing in relief, I picked her up and cradled her small body while she unconsciously rubbed her face on my hand.
The doctor smiled at the scene and spoke up.
"Young man, I'm sure you're confused, so let me say a few things before running some tests to make sure you're going to be ok.
First off, you are in the medical wing at the IGO headquarters, the president went to stop a war between two countries and rushed back with you in his arms.
The stubborn blond idiot wanted to stick around, but I kicked him out so I could do my job, I'll go get him after we are done.
You were at death's door kid; I'm honestly shocked you pulled through even with my treatment." (Doctor)
I gave her my attention while she spoke and listened carefully.
'I'm at the IGO headquarters? How the hell did that happen?!? Wait, the hidden opportunity!'
Looking to the corner of my vision, I saw the missions tab blinking and mentally clicked on it.
[Unique Missions:
[-Unique Opportunity: Survival!
Mission complete!
Reward: Food.]
[Special Opportunity obtained!
Description – President Ichiryu came onto the scene to stop the rampage of Red-Haired Pigs and end the war. He found you with the dead pig and was immediately impressed at the sight.
You have gained his interest, and he wants to make you an offer.
Remark: Congratulations. Many of God's angels lost their bet because you lived!]]
'That's the special opportunity God gave me? Fuck yes! That's the greatest chance I could ever ask for. And what bet? Were those bastards waiting for me to die again!? Wait for me and wash your necks, you damn white pigeons.'
"Oi! Kid, are you listening?!" (Doctor)
I turned my attention back to the doctor, who was looking at me worryingly.
'Oh right, it probably looks weird if I stare off into space rather than respond.'
"*Cough* Yes ma'am, thank you for helping me." (Ryo)
Hearing me respond, she calmed down.
"Good, at least you have some manners. Now let's run a few tests. Oh, and do you have a name?" (Doctor)
I nodded.
"My name is Ryo, miss ….?" (Ryo)
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Takami Sahashi, but you can call me Doc or Takami." (Doc)
My eyes widened for a second.
'No wonder she looks familiar, its Takami from Sekirei. Eh, no need to overthink it.'
"Thank you Doc." (Ryo)
She nodded and smiled before rolling a machine up to my bed and began running some tests.
She gave me a few different shots for different things, but because my body was still weak, she said I would have to get the important ones now and the less urgent ones over the next few weeks.
After all, most shots are small portions of an illness injected into the body so your body could build antibodies to fight against it.
"Good, your body has taken to my treatment exceptionally well. Now we mostly just need to keep pumping you full of nutrients. Thankfully, you're still young, so your body should absorb them quickly, and you should fill out soon, beware that you will need to use the restroom often for a while.
Also, don't move around too much, your leg and a couple of ribs were cracked when you came in." (Doc)
I nodded and looked down at the sleeping kitten in my arms.
"Do you think you could look at her as well Doc?" (Ryo)
I looked back up to see Takami smiling down at me. She rubbed my head fondly and spoke.
"Don't worry Ryo; I already treated her while you were asleep. You were out for a few days, and the little one refused to leave your side. I gave her a few shots and cleaned her up after I finished with you." (Doc)
I felt warm inside at that. I gently rubbed her soft fur, and she purred at my touch.
'Thank you.'
"Thank you Doc." (Ryo)
"No worries, it was my pleasure. Now rest up, I'll go and get the president. He wanted to talk to you when you woke up." (Doc)
I nodded while she walked out and looked out the window to see a few buildings before the ocean's backdrop.
'If my memory is right, the IGO headquarters is a man-made square island in the ocean. It's where the president, Ichiryu, works from, and all the core staff members work.
I can't believe I'm actually here.
I focused all my attention on surviving that night that I honestly didn't consider my long term plans.
I knew I wanted to be a gourmet hunter and freely explore the world, but how was kind of skipped over.
Even if I lived, I would have to struggle to find a way to get healed first before I could begin training, and even then, with no teachers and no resources, it would be an uphill battle.
Not to mention, I would have to make some crazy monumental achievement as an average human to even be considered to get the chance for a Gourmet Cell injection.
The IGO and the Gourmet Corp are the only two organizations I know of where its possible to get it, and the Gourmet Corp is not a place I'm very interested in. Their main goal is mostly just to please their boss above all else. It's like joining Orochimaru in the Naruto world.
But now, I'm at the IGO! If I can get the opportunity to join them, I would honestly be relieved. In all anime worlds, the IGO is probably one of the safest places to get training without treating you like a tool. They are more likely to treat me as a trainee before I grow into an employee who is free to make my own choices.
Well, that's if the world follows the anime and manga.'
Just then, I was broken out of my thoughts at the sound of the door opening.
Stepping inside was a large man with golden blonde hair and mustache with a big smile and a slightly aged face.
'Woah, it's really Ichiryu.'
Hearing you're going to meet him and seeing him in person looking exactly like he did in the anime is a different story.
"Haha! Glad to see you're up brat! You're looking much better than you did a few days ago." (Ichiryu)
I nodded and bowed my head to him.
"Thank you for saving me, sir." (Ryo)
Ichiryu smiled and pulled up a chair next to my bed.
"None of that sir crap, just call me Ichiryu. Takami tells me your name is Ryo, right?" (Ichiryu)
I nodded.
"Well, Ryo, can you tell me what happened that night? I have a pretty good idea, but I want to hear it from your perspective." (Ichiryu)
'He could probably tell if I lie, I'll just be honest and mix the truth up a bit to cover the system part. Just because I know he's a good guy doesn't mean I have to open up about everything to someone I know from a story. Honestly, how can characters in fanfiction just say, 'Oh, I was transmigrated by a god into your world. Your world is a story in my world. All your women are used in hentai.'.
Yeah, I'm going to keep a few things to myself.'
So that's what I did, starting from the time I woke up, I told him an edited version of the story and how I just wanted to survive.
Ichiryu POV:
'I can tell he's not telling the whole truth, but what the hell? What kind of eight-year-old can calmly explain this? Climbing a tower after hearing a sound in the distance? Seeing the pigs coming and choosing to conserve energy rather than try and run to someone for help? Saving a random kitten and running to the location with the best chance to survive by trapping and killing the beast?
This kid is a genius! His calm and intelligent eyes and mature mindset with strong instincts and a caring heart for animals.
It's not wrong to abandon others to survive on your own. In the wild, you have to rely on yourself first and foremost. You should only help others if you can first help yourself. That's the way of the world, self-sacrificing fools without strength are the first to die.
But he's not heartless, rescuing the kitten is proof of that.
I considered getting myself an apprentice, and shortly after, I discover a kid with terrifying talent; it's almost like divine intervention, haha!'
The kid finished telling me his story, and I decided to ask him a question before making my offer.
"Ryo, let me ask you something. Do you have a dream?" (Ichiryu)
Ryo POV:
"Ryo, let me ask you something. Do you have a dream?" (Ichiryu)
I just finished telling my story and watched Ichiryu rub his mustache and think before he asked me that question.
'A dream?'
I thought back to the moment I woke up in this world and understood my situation before looking directly into Ichiryu's eyes and spoke with genuine honesty and conviction.
"My dream is to be free." (Ryo)
Ichiryu seemed taken back.
"Free? Can you explain a bit?" (Ichiryu)
"I want to be free, to go where I want, and not be bound by anything. I want to be strong, strong enough that nothing can take away my freedom. I want to be a gourmet hunter; I never want to feel the feeling of starvation again, not having a purpose of living beside the aching pain in my stomach. I want to explore the world, be strong enough to go where I want, help who I want, eat as much as I want, and be the freest person in the world! I never want to feel so hopeless and stuck as I have for my entire life!
I want to be strong so that I can be free." (Ryo)
I started in a quiet voice but got a bit heated toward the end. My memories of not just this body's first few years of life but my bottled emotions from my last life poured out when I thought of my dream.
Even living a normal life, it was so….chained, so repressed, so pressured by society and the 'rules' of that world. Without a supernatural source, humanity is its own worst enemy. We tie each other down, repress each other, and indoctrinate everyone from birth with 'how things are supposed to be.'
Well, I've had enough! This is a new world and a new life! I refuse to be chained like that again! I want to explore this world and be strong enough to follow my own will! I WON'T BE REPRESSED AGAIN! I WILL TAKE MY LIFE INTO MY OWN HANDS!
Without knowing it, I wasn't even looking at Ichiryu anymore, but my eyes shined with all the will and conviction I could convey, and he saw it all.
Also, without my knowledge, a certain kitten had woken up and heard everything I just said as well.
Ichiryu POV:
To say I was shocked by his words was an understatement.
'What will! What a conviction! This boy, no, I can hardly look at him as a boy right now.
How terrifying.
And how saddening.
A real Gourmet Hunter needs conviction like this, but for such a young child to have eyes like that? Just what have you seen young one? The dark side of humanity is a real abyss for one to stare into. Very few can walk away with the will to improve rather than be sucked into it.
I think I have found the apprentice I was looking for.'
Ryo POV:
"Ryo." (Ichiryu)
Ichiryu's voice broke me out of my thoughts.
I looked up to see him looking at me with a serious expression.
"I'm not one to play word games, so I'll be direct with you. Do you want to be my apprentice?" (Ichiryu)
My eyes widened at that.
'His apprentice?! Wasn't that supposed to be the four kings? I thought he would just let me join the IGO and get training.
I don't know what year it is or how old Toriko and the others are, but I can't pass up on this chance.'
Ichiryu let me have a moment to think about it before I nodded.
"Thank you for accepting me, teacher." (Ryo)
I tried to bow my head lower in thanks, but Ichiryu's hand stopped me.
I looked up at his smiling face.
"None of that respect crap kid and I don't think you understand the whole picture yet.
If you accept, I will be adopting you so you will be my apprentice and my son. If you genuinely want to fulfill your dream, I'll damn well be sure to put you through hell and back to make you the strongest gourmet hunter around, after me of course, haha!" (Ichiryu)
'His son?'
That honestly surprised me.
I remember my father from my last life. We weren't exactly close, but we were always civil with each other. He was a parent when he needed to be, and I'm sure he loved me, but we never really connected as friends and drifted apart.
I knew Ichiryu from the story, and if this world follows the same line, I knew that he was honestly one of the greatest fathers a kid could ever ask for.
I smiled up at him and nodded.
"I would like that, old man." (Ryo)
Ha, his eyebrow twitched!
"Oi! How did you go from respectfully calling me teacher to this old man crap! Show some respect for your father!" (Ichiryu)
Despite his words, he was smiling and rubbed my head with his large hand.
Really, his hand could easily grasp my head.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." (Ryo)
I gave him a calm reply. I found that while I'm not emotionless, I don't exactly show emotion easily. I still smiled at him though, and I think he understood.
"Uhu, of course you don't. Fine, I'll just have to show you how cool your 'old man' really is. You will be singing my praises soon enough, haha! For now, rest up and recover, son. I'll be busy dealing with a few things until then, do you have any requests for now?" (Ichiryu)
I thought about that and remembered that Doc said I'd be here for another week before I could be released in a wheelchair for another week. Then I should be ready to walk and start light exercises.
"Yeah, can I have a few books to read up on history and such things? If I can't train my body, I can at least train my mind, right?" (Ryo)
Ichiryu laughed and smiled with pride.
"That you can son, I'll have someone bring it over shortly. Work hard son; if you truly want to fulfill your dream, you're going to have to work harder than anyone else. And if you can prove to me that you are willing to go far, I will help you as best as I can."
I felt warm inside.
'He really is a charismatic guy.'
His next words surprised and excited me.
"If you can reach a certain level, I'll give you an exclusive opportunity son. To be a real Gourmet Hunter, you need Gourmet Cells, but the risk is incredibly high. Even with our best medical technology, it has a 50% chance of success and failure…..means death.
If you are truly determined, I want you to train as if your life depends on it. You need a strong body just to get that 50% chance of success, and the younger you merge with them, the higher your potential will be.
It's unfortunate, but taking it now would give you under 20% of succeeding." (Ichiryu)
It didn't even take me more than a few seconds to think about it.
'I need Gourmet Cells! There's no other way in this world. Who cares about the risks! This is my chance!'
I nodded and looked Ichiryu in the eyes.
"I'll succeed. Give me two years old man! I'll prove to you that I can make it." (Ryo)
He smiled once more with pride and stood up.
"Haha, good! A man should follow his dream with everything he's got. Never waver my son, and even if you do, I'll be there to kick your ass and set you straight, hahaha!" (Ichiryu)
He started walking out, but he paused at the door and turned back.
"Oh, and Ryo, take care of that kitten. I have seen thousands upon thousands of beasts in this world, and yet, I don't know what species she is. And most importantly, once you make an animal companion, its for life. Never tarnish that bond." (Ichiryu)
I nodded, and he must have seen something because he smiled and nodded before walking out of the room.
I slumped back against the bed and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"*Whew* What a weird day." (Ryo)
'Or at least, a day from my perspective. I died, got transmigrated at night, fought monster pigs, and passed out before waking up here in the morning days later.
So yeah, less than a day from my perspective.'
*Meow*
"Hm?"
I looked down to see the little kitten awake and looking at me with its amber eyes.
I smiled and rubbed her head while she rubbed her head on it before walking up to my head and licking my face.
"Haha, I'm glad to see you to girl. Thanks for watching over me."
*Meow*
I took the time to look at her and notice that my original guess wasn't wrong. She does have intelligence behind those eyes of hers.
"You really do understand me, huh?"
*Meow*
I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of an adorable kitten nodding its head to my questions.
"You know, I never did pick a name for you."
Her ears pointed up, and she gave an intense 'cat stare.'
I melted at the sight and hugged her.
*Meow*
"Yeah, yeah, let's see, how about Kuro?"
*Hiss*
{Stab}
"Ow, how does a young kitten have claws? That's just wrong, but anyway, I guess I should put more thought into this."
'What name makes me think of a female black cat? It would have to be Kuroka from DxD and Yoruichi from Bleach.
I loved both women, but they are quite different in personality.
I honestly prefer Yoruichi more; she fits me more as well.'
Looking down at the kitten, I smiled and spoke.
"How about Yoru? I always thought of a cat-woman named Yoruichi as my dream woman, and her name is meant to be called 'Night one.' So, you will be 'Night,' my partner, and my shadow."
The kitten kept staring at me with intensity for a moment before nodding imperiously.
Her image was ruined when I lost control and hugged her again.
"How are you so adorable? You're going to give me diabetes, little Yoru."
*Meow*
We messed around for a little before I had to settle back down because of my injuries. I looked out the window and smiled at the beautiful scenery.
'A new life, a new family, a new partner, and a bright future. Even if I just barely qualified, thank you, God, for this gift, I refuse to waste it.'
[Profile:
[Name: Ryo]
[Age: 8]
[Level: 0]
[Condition: Recovering]
[Remarks: You have a chance, make the most of it.]
Chapter end.