The day was turning to evening. Now all the students had finally returned to the dormitory, as did Kharim and Shion who went home together. Kharim saw Rafaela who had already made friends on the first day of school, Rafaela looked so happy and relaxed talking to some of those girls, as did Shion who saw Rafaela in front of them.
Shion:"(while continuing to look at Rafaela) Hhahh, she made friends so quickly, even though it's still the first day of school. Not like us, we don't know anyone yet except Rafaela."
Kharim:"How could she make friends that fast? I'm sure before the first break that kid was still sticking with just us."
Shion:"Uuuh… that time…"
While Shion was telling about when the two of them were on break, he was also showing it. Rafaela was carrying a tray of food and drinks, when she accidentally bumped into a girl. The girl who bumped into Rafaela was also with 4 other friends.
Shion:"Rafaela accidentally bumped into one of them during the first break. But those people didn't get angry at Rafaela, instead they replaced Rafaela's food because they felt guilty. As a result they even became closer and ended up as friends."
Kharim:"(looking at Shion all this time) Then what about you?"
Shion: "You don't have to ask. I ended up eating alone throughout the break, and left Rafaela because I saw they were having fun together. But a few minutes before the bell rang, the six of them came to me and Rafaela said they were looking for me."
****
Kharim: "Oh yeah? What did they want from you?"
Said Kharim as the two of them walked casually back home. Then the scene briefly showed the meeting between Shion and Rafaela's friends while Shion also told the story.
Shion: "They actually felt guilty toward me, and gave me 200 CORN."
****
Kharim:"(surprised) 200 CORN?! Are you serious?!"
Shion:"I'm serious, brother. (rummaging through his pocket and actually showing the money) Here, if you don't believe me."
Kharim:"Houh… Maybe a rich kid."
Shion:"(while putting the money back into his pocket) I don't care if she's a rich kid. But why should apologizing be done that way, when just saying it would've been easier."
Kharim:"Don't act so high and mighty, Shion. Who wouldn't want money? Everyone will be greedy when the time comes."
Shion:"That may be in your eyes, but it's different in mine. Giving money for a less logical reason feels like belittling me."
Kharim:"Everyone has a different way of apologizing. Your only task is to respect and forgive anyone who apologizes to you, whether that person truly wronged you, or they just feel guilty toward you. The point is to focus on their intention."
Shion:"(silent for a moment) Yeah, maybe you're right, brother…"
Kharim:"Besides, she's a very active person, so it's no wonder she already has friends on the first day."
Shion:"Then what about us? Is it okay that we don't have any friends right now?"
Kharim:"This is still the first day of school, so it's normal if we don't have friends yet. Besides, you didn't come here entirely to look for friends, did you? No need to worry, as long as you take part in activities and don't just sit around doing nothing, friends will come on their own."
Shion:"How do you know that?"
Kharim:"Shion…, as social beings we naturally form connections with others, and those connections are always based on our activities."
Shion and Kharim were almost about to leave the school grounds. But just a few meters ahead of them, there was Jonsen still carrying the book he had brought with him during the break earlier. However, he was seen running past the two of them. Kharim kept staring at Jonsen until Shion grew confused.
Shion:"Why, brother?"
Kharim:"That kid… (thinking for a moment) It's nothing. Let's go."
*As they really began walking again, the voice of a man crying for help could be heard*
"Help… Help… thief!!"
Both of them were immediately shocked and ran toward the source of the voice. The distance wasn't too far, so Shion and Kharim soon found a man. The man was a street vendor selling various fish from his cart.
Shion:"Uncle, what's wrong?! What happened?!"
The man:"(with a panicked expression) A thief… three thieves took my money, the money I earned for the whole day!!"
*Both of them were shocked to hear this*
Shion:"What?! Stolen?!"
Kharim:"Uncle, where did the thieves go?"
The man:"They just passed here (pointing to his left). They haven't been gone long, so chase them if you can!"
Kharim:"Alright. (looking at Shion) You stay here."
Kharim then dashed forward quickly to pursue the thieves, while Shion was shocked and said:
"What?! What are you doing!! Damn it! (looking at the man) Sorry, uncle, I can't stay here. (while running) I'll catch those thieves right away!"
*After Shion and Kharim ran after the thieves, the man turned his cart around and pulled it along to follow after them*
Kharim was running so fast, heading down the sloped road toward the city center. His eyes were sharply scanning for anything suspicious. But since there was nothing suspicious in sight, Kharim dashed toward the rocks and leapt high, diving straight down toward one of the houses below. Meanwhile, Shion, who was still running, saw from a distance as Kharim jumped so high.
Shion:"What the hell are you doing, idiot?! You could die!"
*Kharim, who plunged down, managed to land safely by rolling across the roof of someone's house. Then he kept running, jumping from rooftop to rooftop*
Shion:"(pushing himself harder, in his heart) Eaaahhhkk!! He's way too fast! If that's how it is…"
Then Shion stopped for a moment to gather strength in his legs. As he shouted, he channeled KAITEN into the soles of his feet, propelling himself so fast that he too dove down just like Kharim, but even higher. For a brief moment, it made him thrilled, then instantly he screamed hysterically, his face stretched wide in terror.
Meanwhile, Kharim had already reached the center of Shahrad, though it wasn't all that crowded there. He ran at full speed, passing several people on the street, yet still couldn't spot the thief. At a crossroads where there was a small waterfall, Kharim stopped in the middle and looked around.
Kharim:"Hhhaahh… Hhhaahh… Where's that thief?! No signs, no tracks. (kept thinking until he made a decision) Hhhaahh… Hhhaahh… Heaahh… Whatever, I'll just go anywhere."
Kharim then sprinted to the right side of the crossroads. Meanwhile, Shion dove down and ended up crashing into a marketplace tent. The tent collapsed, and Shion tumbled onto the ground, rolling over and over. As a result, the stall's table broke apart, and the fruits belonging to a man were destroyed and dirtied.
*When Shion stood back up, he was shocked to see the man's shop*
Shion:"Oops…"
The man:"(furious, yelling) YOU BRAT!!! YOU DESTROYED MY FRUITS!!! YOU'RE PAYING FOR THIS!!!"
Shion:"(panicking and running off) Sorry-sorry-sorry uncle…! I didn't mean it…!"
The man:"(chasing after Shion) Don't you run, you fool…!"
Shion:"(panicking even more) EAAAHHH…!!! Brother…!! What do I do…?!!"
Shion was shocked and could only keep running while screaming for a moment until he reached the previous intersection from the left side. Then he went straight to the right, following Kharim's direction. From above the city, the three-way road could be seen. At that moment Kharim appeared, running to the right, while Shion, still shouting, ran to the left, chased by the fruit shop owner.
The man:"I'll chase you no matter where you go, you brat!"
Shion:"(still running, in his heart) If this keeps up, I'll never catch up with brother."
As Shion ran, he accidentally noticed a cart with three big wooden crates in front of it. He dashed up onto the cart, leapt over the three large boxes, then jumped again until he reached the rooftops of the shops nearby. He then ran in the opposite direction from the man. The man was stunned and came to a stop.
The man:"You think you're the only one who can do that?!"
The man froze for a moment, then with a single leap, he was already on top of someone's shop roof, and began chasing Shion again. From above the city, Shion was seen running to the right, and not long after, the man followed behind him.
In a narrow alley between a shop and a building, there were three people dressed in black. They turned out to be the thieves that were being hunted. They were carrying a cloth sack filled with a huge amount of R.O.E currency, and one of them was holding a book that looked similar to the one Jonsen had. The three of them were absolutely delighted with their loot.
Thief(1):"He-he-he…! He-he-he-he…! The money!"
Thief(2):"Hehahaha… How much do you think this is, boss?!"
Thief(1):"It's insane!! 1,300,000 Anair!"
Thief(3):"(shocked) O-one million?! No way, man! That's enough to buy a whole house plus a 10x10 meter plot of land!"
Thief(1):"(laughing loudly) Hahahah… We're rich… We're rich…!"
*The three of them burst out laughing, their voices echoing loudly. Until finally, Thief(2) looked at Thief(3), who was still holding the book*
Thief(2):"Hey, why'd you grab that kid's book too? That thing's worthless."
Thief(3):"Worthless, you say?!"
Thief(3) then flipped through the pages. The writing looked foreign, and the cover's background matched every single page. But Thief(2) clearly didn't understand what it meant*
Thief(3):"You know what this means, right?!"
Thief(2):"No."
Thief(3):"This is a rare book, you blockhead!! This isn't just any book, it's one of the 7 SCRIPTURES. To tell the real Scriptures from fakes, every page matches the book's cover!"
Thief(2):"But can't that be faked? Like, adjusted to make it look like the real one."
Thief(3):"That's where you're wrong. The cover's material is different from the usual kind. And the paper itself is more like the same material as the cover. How often do you see book pages that almost feel like the cover?!"
Thief(2):"Uhm… Yeah… that's true."
Thief(1):"Forget it, we'll find out once we sell it. If someone buys it at a high price, then it's the real thing."
Thief(2):"Fine, do whatever you want."
Thief(1):"Alright then. We've got everything, now let's hea—"
At that moment, a small knife flew straight toward Thief (1)'s face. Luckily, he dodged it with ease. All three of them turned to see who had thrown it. It was Jonsen, panting heavily, glaring at the three of them with anger.
Jonsen:"Hhhaahh... Hhhaahh... Hhhaahh... So here you are."
Thief(3):"Huh? This kid again."
Thief(2):"This brat never gets tired of chasing us."
Jonsen:"Give back... my book!"
Thief(3):"You still dare to bring that up?! It's useless, I'm not giving it back!"
Thief(1):"Hand over the book."
Thief(3):"(shocked, looking at Thief (1)) Brother? What do you mean?"
Thief(1):"Just give it to him. That book is worthless compared to this money."
Thief(3) grew furious at Jonsen, but with great reluctance, he handed the book over to Thief (1). Then Thief(1) walked toward Jonsen. As he approached, he held out the book with a smile and said:
"Take it."
Jonsen looked confused, seeing that he was truly being handed his book back so easily. But just as he was about to take it, Thief (1) suddenly kicked him so hard that he was thrown onto the road, struck by a horse carriage, and landed on the sidewalk across the street. Even the coachman was shocked and scolded Jonsen.
Coachman: "What's wrong with you?! Watch where you're going!"
After the coachman left, the three thieves laughed at Jonsen's misfortune. While they roared with laughter, Jonsen grew so enraged that he stood up and drew his small knife. With a furious expression, he stepped into the alley and lunged at Thief (1) with his kunai. But Thief (1) stepped back slightly and struck downward with his leg, hitting Jonsen's right shoulder and sending him crashing down in pain. Thief (2) and (3) only laughed harder at the sight.
Thief (1):"Come on, get up. You want this lousy book you cherish so much, don't you? Go on then, take it. It's already evening—your mother will come looking for you if you don't go home."
Thief(2):"Hahaha... But Boss, isn't he a Fighter of Magical Steel? His mother shouldn't be fussing over him anymore!"
Thief(3):"Maybe his mother isn't even around anymore, Brother. Hahaha...!"
*Hearing that, Jonsen froze in silence. Rage welled inside him again, but he could do nothing*
Thief(1):"Hahaha... Harsh words, but I like that. (looking at Jonsen) Isn't that right, kid?"
As Jonsen looked, his teeth clenched tightly, rattling from anger. But as their laughter grew louder, a voice suddenly came from behind him Kharim's voice. Kharim saying:
"Ooh, so here you are, weak thieves."
*At that moment, the four of them saw Kharim, his expression flat, walking until he stood beside Jonsen. They were so shocked that Thief (1) even stepped back a few paces*
Thief(3):"B-Brother... isn't that Sibalih Kharim?"
Thief(2):"Why is he here?!"
Kharim:"Why am I here? That's such a pathetic question. (pointing at the cloth pouch) That money, it belongs to someone else, doesn't it? (the three of them were stunned) Return it."
The three of them fell silent, glancing at each other, and then burst into loud, mocking laughter at Kharim's words, laughing for quite a while*
Thief(1):"…HAHAHAHAH… Hhhhaahh… Don't be stupid, boy! Just because you're from the royal family, you think you can order us around so easily?!"
Kharim:"I'm not the type who goes running to my parents over every little thing. That's exactly why, since I'm not that kind of person, you should hand over what you've stolen to me, because facing me is far harder than me tattling to my parents."
Jonsen: "(still staring at Kharim) You…"
Thief (2):"(walking toward Kharim) Heh… You've got guts, huh. Even if you're not a child anymore, that only makes me want to beat you up more!"
Thief(2) said this as he swung a punch at Kharim. For a moment Kharim stood still, then easily dodged the blow. He grabbed Thief(2)'s arm and kicked him in the stomach. In pain, Thief (2) was sent stumbling backward.
Thief(3):"Are you okay?!"
Thief (2):"Boss! Let's just hurt these two brats!"
Thief (1):"Fine, I agree with you."
At that, the three of them drew their swords and rushed toward Kharim. Just as Kharim prepared to stand his ground, Jonsen suddenly rose and charged forward ahead of him, shocking Kharim. Jonsen drew his two small knife. When Thief(2) slashed at him, Jonsen dodged and leapt onto Thief(1)'s arm, then slashed Thief(1)'s neck with his kunai, landing behind the three thieves. Thief(2) and (3) were stunned, shocked to see Thief(1) injured.
Together:"Boss/Brother…!! Are you all right?!"
Jonsen:"How dare you insult my mother. (glaring at the three with a cold expression) Don't you have any dignity at all, to stoop so low as to mock my parent?"
The two thieves glared at Jonsen with clear displeasure. But Thief(1), startled, shoved them back. At that same moment, Kharim had already closed in on Thief(1) and struck his face, sending him crashing to the ground. The two others gasped in shock at the sight of their leader.
Together:"BROTHER/BOSS…!!!"
Thief(1):"(rising again in anger) Stop screaming like that!"
Thief(2):"Forgive us!"
Thief(1):"Leave these two brats unchecked and they'll only get bolder. (glaring at them both) BARTILE(Thief(2)), LITO(Thief(3)), use your power."
Silence fell for a moment, and then the aura of Shell radiated thickly from both of them, causing Kharim and Jonsen to widen their eyes in shock.
Jonsen: "That's… Shell Aura?!"
At once, Kharim dashed forward, a kunai clutched in his left hand. But before he could close in, Bartile also charged, intercepting Kharim's strike with ease. In that instant, Bartile had an opening to attack Kharim from behind. But then, Kharim unleashed his power.
Kharim: "INVISIBLE KAITEN!!"
In an instant, Kharim vanished from sight. But that didn't mean Bartile had lost track of him. Turning sharply, Bartile summoned several GENSEEKI at once, locking Kharim completely in their grip. Kharim's eyes widened at the sudden trap. With a sharp grin, Bartile drove his blade into his own GENSEEKI, piercing through as if stabbing Kharim himself. A small chuckle escaped him as he withdrew the sword, fresh drops of blood trailing down the steel.
Bartile:"Not bad, boy. But you should know once, we too were Fighters. Maybe not of professional rank, but Fighters nonetheless."
Kharim, his face returning to an unreadable calm, caused Bartile's Genseeki to tremble violently, until finally they shattered completely under the force of Kharim's KAITEN. As Kharim readied himself once more for battle, he said:
"So that means I'm the lucky one, because even as a student, I'll be able to surpass you."
Bartile:"(grinning wickedly) Just try…"
*In that moment, another GENSEEKI appeared in Bartile's left hand, and he unleashed his power*
Bartile:"GENSEEKI… BRIGOO!!!"
A massive surge of GENSEEKI erupted, piling high like a mountain that stretched across the street, towering even higher than the small buildings nearby. Shocked, Kharim kept leaping backward, bounding across Bartile's towering GENSEEKI.
Suddenly, Bartile was above him, driving a kick down toward Kharim. Kharim spotted the strike and managed to evade. When they faced each other again, Bartile's sword flashed at an overwhelming speed, forcing Kharim into desperate dodges. Then, without warning, Bartile ducked low and swung upward. Kharim quickly parried, but the force still sent him flying into the air.
Bartile immediately thrust out his left hand, conjuring another GENSEEKI that slammed Kharim into the mass of his conjured crystals. The gigantic Genseeki now completely blocked the street, and passersby gathered, startled at the battle unfolding before them.
"Hey, how are we supposed to get through here?!"
"Maybe call the police."
"Ah, good idea. (runs off to find a payphone)"
Meanwhile Jonsen. When Lito charged at him, Jonsen drew both his small knife at once. Their blades clashed as Lito struck with his sword, forcing Jonsen backward until he braced himself against a wall, straining to hold back Lito's overwhelming strength.
Lito:"You're the one who wounded Brother earlier… Then I'll pay you back a hundredfold for what you did to him!"
*With that, Lito wrenched his sword free and swung again at Jonsen. Jonsen narrowly dodged, just before Lito unleashed a powerful Kaiten slash that shattered the wall itself*
As Jonsen dodged left, Lito pursued, pressing forward with relentless strikes. Jonsen kept giving ground, parrying and slipping aside, until finally one of his kunai was knocked high into the air, tumbling far behind Lito. He avoided another blow, barely, but then failed to dodge a KAITEN strike that sent him crashing to the ground. In that instant, Lito drove a kick up into Jonsen's chin, stunning him.
Moving fast, Lito grabbed Jonsen by the shirt and hurled him. But faster than the throw itself, Lito was already there, arriving first, and slammed a kick into Jonsen's stomach, dragging him across the dirt until he landed beside Thief(1).
*Lito strode forward slowly, swinging his sword behind him in a cruel rhythm*
Thief(1):"You're finished, boy. Lito is far too strong for you."
Jonsen:"Is that so?"
He moved his left hand, twitching his fingers. Thief (1) frowned at him suspiciously, then his eyes widened as realization struck. Turning sharply toward Lito, he said:
Thief(1):"Lito, watch your back!"
It turned out that the finger movements Jonsen made were controlling a nearly invisible thread attached to the small knife he had thrown. The small knife suddenly shot toward Lito's back. Lito noticed its movement in time, glancing over and preparing to deflect it. But to his shock, the small small knife veered sharply to his right.
Jonsen:"Did you really think this small knife was meant to strike you?"
The thread from Jonsen's small knife coiled tightly around Lito, binding him so that he could no longer move. Lito's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Jonsen. But just as Jonsen prepared to unleash his power, the thread was sliced apart with ease by Thief (1), who had drawn his sword.
Startled, Jonsen's eyes went wide as Thief (1) discarded his sword and drove his fist straight into Jonsen's face, pummeling him until his face was bruised and swollen. With swift precision, Thief (1) then caught Jonsen's book as it flew from his grasp.
Thief(1):"I'm still standing and you thought you could so easily fight at my side? Truly naïve, boy."
*Even battered and bloodied, Jonsen managed to rise again. His fighting spirit still burned, and he gripped both kunai tightly in his hands*
Jonsen:"No matter what it takes, I will take back what is mine… And I will never let you… (his voice rang out) TAKE IT FROM ME!!!"
For a moment, the two of them locked eyes. Then Thief (1) deliberately dropped Jonsen's book at his feet before sprinting forward with his sword, shouting:
Thief(1):"Then come and take your book, before I kill you!"
Elsewhere, Bartile was still hammering Kharim. But he suddenly realized that his strikes had never truly landed. Looking closer, he saw Kharim continuously channeling his Kaiten, straining to withstand the assault.
Bartile:"(thinking) Wait… did he actually take my hits?"
*At the breaking point of his strength, Kharim pushed himself further, pouring everything into his Kaiten. His effort paid off: Bartile's attack shattered to pieces under the force*
Bartile:"(staggered) So you weren't actually struck by my blade at all!"
*Bartile was forced back by the pressure of Kharim's Kaiten. In that instant, Kharim appeared directly before him. Bartile swung his sword with speed, but Kharim struck his chest with unleashed power*
Kharim:"KAITEN, FUYUKI E IMO!!"
A sphere of wind took shape in Kharim's hand, edged on the outside like a spinning shuriken. He thrust it forward, striking Bartile. The attack released a violent tremor, with blue dust filling the air and clouding Bartile's vision. The impact hurled him into the alley, smashing through two buildings and leaving them in ruins.
Meanwhile, as Thief(1) charged Jonsen, Bartile's body slammed into him, and Lito was dragged along as well. The collision unleashed a furious gust that split the ground, while Bartile's colossal Genseeki shattered to fragments under the surge of Kharim's Kaiten. The street cleared once more, though townsfolk peered nervously into the alley where the battle still raged. Kharim staggered toward Jonsen, drenched in sweat, exhausted, but still standing beside him.
Kharim:"Hhhaahh… Hhhaahh… You all right?"
Jonsen:"(looking at Kharim) Yeah… thanks for helping me. (rising to his feet)"
Kharim:"I wasn't just helping you. I was helping the others whose money was stolen."
Jonsen:"I see. So you had your own reason to fight."
Kharim:"(glancing at him briefly) You… aren't you from Magical Steel Academy?"
Jonsen:"Yeah. Even though this is the first time we've spoken, I knew you were in my class."
Kharim:"Right. And earlier you passed me and Shion in the hall."
Jonsen:"I know. So where's your younger?"
Kharim:"Who knows. Forget about him. Let's focus on these three."
Jonsen:"But just so you know… I wasn't fighting to help you. I only fought to get my book back. If I'd recovered it sooner, I would have left you behind."
Kharim: "Suit yourself. Even if you're selfish, I don't care in the slightest."
*At that moment, the three thieves rose again. Thief (1), standing in the middle, glared at Jonsen and Kharim, fury burning in his eyes*
Thief:"(immediately drawing his sword) You damned brat!! I will not forgive you!! You have truly insulted me!! Fine. I will kill both of you right now!!"
*At that moment Thief(1)'s Shell aura appeared and grew denser. Both of their eyes even widened as they felt his Shell aura. The two of them were rendered unable to move, which made Thief(1) smile wickedly*
Thief(1):"Look. You guys can't even move when faced with my Shell aura... (Surprised)"
Although at first the two of them could not match Thief(1)'s Shell aura, they were now able to release their own Shell aura. albeit not as dense, but if their Shell auras were combined, they could startle the three thieves.
Bartile:"Boss... they can release their Shells too."
Thief(1):"Having a Shell aura alone doesn't necessarily mean they're strong!"
*When Thief(1) began to move to attack, Shion's shout was suddenly heard. Not only Jonsen and Kharim, but Lito and Bartile were also shocked to hear Shion's voice growing louder*
Kharim:"That voice."
Bartile:"Lito. Do you hear that sound?"
Lito:"Yes. It's getting clearer."
It turned out Shion appeared by diving down and landed on Thief(1)'s body. The four of them were shocked to see Shion's arrival. Adding to it: Shion stood on someone's body with her legs held close together, both arms stretched wide, head slightly bowed, eyes closed, and a small smile that enhanced the elegance of her landing*
Jonsen:"She... Shion."
Kharim:"(smiling slightly at Shion) You fool, what are you doing here?!"
Shion:"Sorry I'm late, O strong young men. (Opens her eyes) I had some business for a moment. (realizes) Hey wait, I'm the one who should be asking! Why did you leave me back there?! I wanted to join in too!"
Kharim:"No you can't, you idiot! You were supposed to guard that merchant!"
Shion:"Hey... I was the one who wanted to save that uncle first!"
Kharim:"Liar.."
Shion:"(annoyed in a comical way) I'm not lying. You ugly!"
Kharim:"(annoyed comical way) Who are you calling ugly?!"
Shion:"You are!"
Thief(1):"You just yap on and on, monkeys! Get off my body, idiots!!"
*At that moment, Shion leapt in front of Jonsen and Kharim just as Thief(1) had regained his footing. Then Shion turned his back, shielding the three thieves behind him*
Lito:"Brother... that's the brat, Shion."
Thief(1):"Good. That means we can kill both of them!!"
*Thief(1) raised his sword and charged straight at Shion. Shion glanced over his shoulder at Kharim*
Shion:"Brother, may I strike him?"
Kharim:"Do it. Honestly, I think he's weaker than his two companions. His strength lies only in his Shell aura."
Thief(1):"Never underestimate me, fool!"
He shouted while drawing his sword back and swinging it forward. Shion's eyes sharpened as he caught the movement. Planting his foot firmly, Shion launched a punch infused with KAITEN, blasting Thief(1) backward. Yet the thief refused to yield. He charged again, this time even faster. Shion was caught off guard for a moment as Thief(1) appeared before him, striking down from above. The impact scattered the three of them apart.
Focused solely on Shion, Thief(1) swung his blade directly at him. Shion spun aside in a low crouch to evade, then countered with a strike at his opponent's leg. But Thief(1) vanished, reappearing farther away, leaving Shion exposed in a vulnerable stance.
Shion: "Not good...!"
At that moment, Thief(1) summoned two elements, MISSUI and HUOOZAI. Fire flared to his left, water to his right. He fused them together, unleashing a combined assault that surged toward Shion. Shion could only gape in shock as the attack tore through three buildings in a single blast.
Kharim: "Shion...!"
Amid the chaos, Jonsen spotted an opening—the stolen money and his book lay abandoned on the ground. He dashed forward, hurling two kunai already bound with threads. Bartile and Lito quickly noticed the strike and swatted it aside with ease.
Still, the chance was his. Jonsen reached for his book, but silent realizing it was a trap. He yanked his hand back just as Bartile's thin GENSEEKI shot upward like a jagged spear. He barely escaped, but in evading it, he found himself surrounded by Bartile and Lito.
*Jonsen silent in panic, staring at the two closing in*
Bartile:"Hehahaha...! You're finished, brat! Let's see how you escape now!"
Just then, Kharim rushed in to aid Jonsen. Drawing another kunai, he leapt behind Lito. Sensing him, Lito swung his blade backward, channeling KAITEN. Kharim matched it with his own KAITEN, and the clash forced them both to stagger apart. In that moment, Jonsen seized his chance. With swift precision, he looped his threads from the earlier kunai around the two thieves, binding them. He then leapt back, landing beside Kharim.
Jonsen:"I take back what I said earlier. For now, the next strike is yours."
Kharim:"Understood...!"
*Summoning his strength once more, Kharim raised his left hand. A powerful surge of KAITEN roared forth, gathering with his full force as he unleashed his power*
Kharim: "KAITEN FUYUKI E IMO!!!"
At once, a spinning sphere infused with shuriken-like force materialized. Kharim dashed forward again. Bartile and Lito were stunned by his attack. Until finally, Kharim's strike landed cleanly on both of them.
A thick blue dust filled the area, spreading even further. The gusts generated by Kharim pushed against the shop walls behind Bartile and Lito. Yet the two of them were thrown down, writhing in pain from the strike.
Meanwhile, Thief(1) was also caught within the blue haze. When the dust at last cleared, Thief(1) was shocked to see that Shion was gone. Growing more agitated, he glanced left and right but could not find him.
Thief(1):"You wretched brat! Where is he?!"
*Then Thief(1) silent as a voice echoed from above him. It was the fruit shop owner, the very man whose shop Shion had destroyed arriving to pull Shion up by his clothes*
Shion:"(breathing with relief, smiling at the man) Thank you, Uncle!"
The Man:"(glaring at Shion, still angry) Huh?! You still have business with me, fool!"
Shion:"(to himself) Damn it... I still haven't settled things with him...!"
The man leapt down, landing squarely in front of the thief. Without hesitation, he charged directly at Thief(1). The thief swung his sword, channeling a long surge of MISSUI, shouting.
Thief(1):"What now, huh?! You're going to attack me?!"
He slashed with his watery blade, but the man brushed it aside with a bare hand. Thief(1) was shocked and moved to strike again only to find the man already before him, smashing his fist into the thief's face. The blow left Thief(1) dazed, stumbling erratically. Seizing the chance, the man called out to Kharim and Jonsen.
The Man:"You're that brat's friends, right?! Pull those two out of the alley and grab the stolen goods! We're leaving, now!"
Hearing his command, Jonsen reeled back his thread-bound small knife with Kharim's help. Together, they dragged Bartile and Lito out into the open street, where the townsfolk had been watching all along. Meanwhile, the man kicked Thief(1) away before vaulting onto the rooftops.
Jonsen snatched up his book, and Kharim retrieved the stolen money. Both of them leapt building to building until they regrouped with the man. Once together, he led them swiftly away from the scene. At the very same time, the person who had called the police was even more astonished.
Police(1):"(startled, seeing the three thieves) Wait a second, that's the gang we've been after?!"
Police(2):"Your report said someone was fighting and disturbing public order. Why are the actual thieves here?!"
The Woman:"Yes, the ones disturbing the peace are the very thieves you mentioned."
Police(3):"Then luck is on our side! Move out!"
*The officers rushed over. The three thieves, still half-unconscious, were captured at last by the R.O.E police. One officer turned to the witnesses nearby*
The Police:"Why are these three beaten so badly?"
"Just now, three kids and a man fought against them."
"But really, it was those two boys who did the most."
The Police: "I see. So where are they now?"
"About that... looks like they've already gone, who knows where."
The Police:"I understand..."
The evening kept passing by. In another part of the city center, Kharim, Shion, and the man were at the edge of the city center leading up the slope toward the school where Shion and Kharim studied. The fish seller from earlier was also there.
Kharim handed a cloth pouch filled with money to the merchant. The merchant accepted it and was so relieved that he breathed out in joy. He became even more relieved when he saw that its contents were completely intact.
Merchant:"Hhaah… Thank goodness, not a single coin is missing. (Looking at them) Thank you… Thank you… Thank you so much…! Thank you so much, you asaved my money."
Shion:"(grinning to himself) He doesn't have to repeat it over and over though…"
The man: "I'm glad your money is safe."
Merchant: "Yes, thank you."
The Man:"And also..."
*The man suddenly locked Shion's neck with his arm, catching Shion off guard and hurting him*
Shion: "Adedededededehhh…!!"
The man:"…how do you plan to pay for the damage?!!"
Shion:"Come on, Uncle…! I already apologized, I didn't mean to do it."
The man:"(tightening his hold) (Shion: "Aaaadededehhh…!! It hurts!!!") Do you think you can make up for my ruined fruit stall with just an apology?! If I still had money, maybe I could forgive you, but I really don't have any left!!"
Kharim: "(looking at the man) What exactly did Shion do, Uncle?"
The man: "(looking at Kharim) He jumped down from above and landed on my stall. Because of his foolishness, he smashed a lot of my fruits."
Shion: "But it wasn't on purpose… I swear!"
Kharim: "You really are something, Shion. If it's like this, we'll have to ask Father to pay for the damages."
Shion: "Don't do that, Brother! (Smiling pleadingly) H-how about you use your money first? You've got plenty saved up."
Kharim: "Idiot. My money's not enough if the damage is that big."
Shion: "I'll add mine to it. How about that?"
Kharim:"(looking at the man) How much do we need to pay, Uncle?"
The man: "Hold on… If I calculate… (looking up, thinking) 250,000 Anair. Can you manage that?"
Kharim:"(shocked) I can't even manage 50,000 Anair."
Shion: "(face panicked and ridiculously sad) Then how do I get free, Brother?!"
*The merchant saw Shion in distress, and his heart was moved to help. He set aside some of his money, then handed it over to the man. The three of them stared at the merchant*
Merchant:"Take this money."
The man:"What do you mean?"
Merchant:"I'll take responsibility for this child's damage. That way, you can be at ease, right?"
The man:"(hesitant) W-well… if you really want to help him, fine, I'll take it."
*After receiving the money, the man quickly counted it and was a bit surprised*
The man:"This is 300,000 Anair."
Merchant:"Just take 50,000 Anair of it. I'm giving it willingly."
The man:"Tch, you're too kind. (Looking at Shion) You got lucky this time, brat!"
*The man left the three of them. Shion, dumbfounded because he had been saved, burst into silly tears and spoke loudly to the merchant*
Shion: "Uncle… Thank you… Thank you so much, Uncle!! You saved my life!"
Merchant: "Ahahaha… Don't worry about it. You all worked hard to get my money back too."
Kharim:"I'll repay the 50,000 Anair, Uncle. What's your name? So I can come to your house."
Merchant:"(laughing briefly) KUGIAMA, my name is Kugiama. You don't need to repay it, I give it sincerely."
Kharim:"Don't say that, Uncle. 50,000 is too much."
Mr. Kugiama:"It's fine. Think of it as my charity. By the way, I know you two aren't real brothers. Why are you so eager to take responsibility for Shion's mistake?"
*Kharim fell silent for a moment, then answered seriously*
Kharim:"Because he is my responsibility. I swore to myself that I must always stand by Shion. So if it's Shion's problem, then it's also mine."
Mr. Kugiama:"Even if it burdens you?"
Kharim:"It's not a burden if Shion also looks for a way out. As long as Shion can become King, I will remain by his side."
Shion:"Come on, Brother, you're making me cringe…"
Mr. Kugiama chuckled slowly, then burst into hearty laughter. As he ended his laugh, he placed his hand on Kharim's shoulder and said:
"Your life's goal is rather silly. But your silliness truly shows your loyalty. (Looking at Shion) Shion, I hope you become King like your father. If you fail to become King, it means you've also failed Kharim's place here."
Shion:"(eyes shining with determination) Of course, Mr. Kugiama! That's already Shion's vow, something I've made my own!"
Mr. Kugiama:"Then keep your spirits up, both of you. (Looking at Kharim) Especially you, Kharim. I'll always remember your vow, and both of you as well. (Lifting his cart) Well then, I'll be going. It's almost night. Thank you again."
*Mr. Kugiama finally left for real, leaving the two of them behind. Meanwhile, Shion and Kharim watched him go*
Shion: "(waving his hand) Ah. Thank you too, Uncle!"
*Kharim remained silent, still remembering Mr. Kugiama's words*
Meanwhile, Jonsen was almost at the dormitory building. Holding his book, for some reason he grew angry, clenching his fists tightly as if trying to contain his emotions.
Now, after school, Shion and Kharim faced a new problem. Mr. Kugiama's money had been stolen. Alongside Jonsen, whose book had also been taken, the three of them managed to recover their belongings, though Shion end