Landing on a border checkpoint, guards immediately surrounded the carriage. They had been expecting the family’s arrival.

“His majesty awaits your acquaintance, Vetusian representatives.” One kneeled. “Forgive us for any delay. Before you arrived, our city was devastated by black ink dwellbeasts. Ears had spread they were the same monsters that invaded your City of Origins. You have my condolences.”

Yukino gasped. “W-What…!?” Her eyes widened in shock and distress.

She always had a big heart for saving the innocent and vulnerable. She could never tolerate them dying undeservedly. Even when they had never knew or met, she would bawl to no end.

Tears welling up, she panted loudly. A guard stepped in immediately. “No, no… It is fine, little one. No one perished during the assault on our city. We evacuated our citizens to safe havens while our warriors slew them.”

She sniffled and dried her eyes. After a sigh of relief, she smiled and hugged him. “Thank you, sir.” She let go.

The same guard turned to Tokino. “We humbly appreciate your concerns for us. However, I am truly sorry if our news to you had opened some wounds.”

“Fret not, sir,” she bowed with closed eyes. “We’ve held nothing against you and your people. My daughter is merely ever so faint and caring.”

The family had now generally understood the guards. Another walked toward Haruto. “Care for us to escort your family to his majesty’s home? Bare that you need not worry over it. Harald is more patient than an ancient turtle.”

He looked at Tokino. He never was the kind to speak in such ways. She encouraged with a nod.

Awkwardly, he held his chest as he leaned forward. “M-My apologies, good sir. I’d much decline o-overwhelming generosity. My family yearn to tour your i-incandescent city. You need not worry, for I-I’m a man of s-superb strengths. I assure you their s-safety rests on my hands.”

Yukino giggled. “You sound funny, Papa.” She made his cheeks red to their limit.

“Understood,” the guard bowed. “But I insist you and your family learn about our important wireless service. It contains everything you need to know….” He briefly explained about The Every Hub.

After all that, they were now ready to travel around Coelestis. The pegasus carriage flew to the sky.

One guard waved and chuckled. “Man, I don’t know where the hell you guys got that way of talkin’.”

“I just wanted to find out if Vetus folk still had an old-timey way with words. The way that boy struggled says otherwise. Hahahaha! His daughter’s reaction was very precious.” He smiled faintly.

Coelestis. The City of Gods. Pantaiyanilam’s Heart. The World Capital. Peerless Magnum. It was a vast city known by many names.

Its motto was: One must not fight one another as none can thrive without each other. It alluded to the city’s usage of magic and technology. The architecture was a combination of modern and rustic designs. Skyscraper or spire, it was always divisive at first sight.

As the pegasus carriage flew through the city, the family witnessed an intertwined world. Skyscrapers, hotels, shopping malls, casinos, theaters, cinemas, multimedia studios, suburban areas, rivers, lakes, parks, etc. Coelestis had everything down to its last church and strip club. Yet, perplexingly, they all felt close to home.

Public airships flew over the carriage alongside flying cars. Landing platforms for such transport had sprawled everywhere. While citizens used the roads below, said transport tended to land there. All were twenty meters wide. Many stood in awe seeing a pegasus carriage fly past them. It was usually a Vetusian custom.

Still in their ride, Tokino saw the city’s largest shopping mall: “Merchant’s Guild.” Haruto told the driver to go down. Yukino got off first, beaming with joy.

The driver petted his horses. “I’ll tell Harald about your whereabouts. Don’t worry. It’s not my first time being here. I’ll return at sundown, so I hope you don’t wander too far.”

Tokino bowed. “Thank you so much, sir. Don’t worry yourself. We plan on staying until then. Take care.” She waved as the carriage flew.

She followed Haruto, who held Yukino’s hand as she walked on stairs playfully.

On the mall’s third floor, Kenkō stored designer clothing via a storage-based Runic Art technique. All Coelestians learned it for convenience.

Kakunō sat by wall and organized some groceries filled with syringes, scalpels, and food. He stood and lethargically walked behind her. “Dude… we’ve been here for four hours. My feet kills.” He panted.

“I’m not a dude. And shut up, country boy.” She turned and pointed. “Appreciate the exercise. It’s not every day you come out of your glorified tool shed.”

Her notion annoyed Kakunō greatly. “You’re from the boonies too, idiot! Your face is a dead fucking giveaway. Don’t think you can fool me with your fashion sense, you stunted ginger bit— Aaagh!” A syringe greeted his neck.

He slowly pulled it off and knelt on the floor. He carresed it from the pain. Hokori, mouth full with some fast-food paper bags, laughed and insulted his suffering.

He also made fun of Kenkō, but he was inaudible. Then, two-thirds deep, breaking through the shades’ lens, a scalpel pierced his eye. He dropped the bags and howled in pain, mouth still stuffed.

Kenkō lowered her hand. “What a barbarian.” She continued walking.

Citizens looked at their embarrassing predicaments. “Hey, isn’t that the Peerless Champion…?” one whispered. “Dang… And I thought he was the strongest…” whispered another.

On the first floor, Haruto bought her daughter a pistachio waffle cone. It cost half a Geld, the nation’s currency. Moving along, the family saw an ice rink.

Haruto skated with two left feet, being his first experience. On the other hand, Tokino never missed a step. She helped her husband. Eventually, both helped Yukino skate.

They let her go, and she finally got the hang of it. However, her feet slipped backward.

Tokino gasped and flash-stepped. “Are you okay, honey?” she caught her in time.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “I’m fine.”

“You’re doing great, Yukino. Wanna try again?” Haruto lent a hand.

“Of course, Papa!” She conplied.

With rumors about the Minagawa family’s presence in Coelestis, onlookers stood by. In particular, Tokino was more well known than Haruto here.

“Look, it’s them. I never knew the couple had a kid…” one whispered. “I heard they defeated a bigger version of the ones that attacked our city. No wonder his majesty chose them…” whispered another.

The family noticed the onlookers, who turned away in respect. Tokino giggled. “We’re pretty popular here. Aren’t we, honey?” She smiled at Haruto.

They moved to the second floor and saw the mall’s cinema. To kill time more until sundown, they decided to watch a children’s movie: “The Lovely Barnacle.” It was about an anthropomorphic barnacle so beautiful, even the villains swooned over it. Combined with its tender nature, it was enough to change their hearts in the climax.

It was currently the highest-grossing film for its surprisingly engaging plot, which stemmed from the barnacle’s troubled past. It revealed why the titular character was gorgeous in the first place. Rare for a children’s movie, it showed a parental death scene: the mother.

Tokino cried a lot more than anyone during the screening; Yukino rubbed her back. The movie ended at sundown. The family left the cinema and headed down the first floor. While Yukino was confused over her mother’s sorrow, Haruto was not.

“You miss her a lot. Don’t you?” he asked lightly.

She rubbed her eyes. “Yeah… But we’ll see her again very soon. Don’t worry….”

“Are you talking about grandma?” Yukino looked up.

“Yes, honey. However, the City of Gods gave us a position far more important.”

Their short conversation concerned Haruto over his daughter’s wellbeing. Yukino was without a doubt a powerful mage. However, she was anything but emotionally developed. It was a miracle a child would even have such gifts. No one had seen one since Clovis’ great grandfather.

He recalled the times where his daughter bawled in anguish at the misery of others. He feared she would inevitably feel more pain as their new life began. He recalled again in his reluctance with saying yes to Clovis.

Even with all that, the trust he had for her never diminished. Haruto breathed deeply and looked down. “Yukino, are you prepared for what the future holds for us?”

“Of course I am, Papa…” she looked up.

“What if both of us aren’t there for you? What will you do?”

She wondered via humming. “I’ll fight no matter what, Papa. Even if you’re not there for me, you two will be fine. I know it.”

“Honey… even if we’re absent, you can always count on your new comrades.” Tokino reassured.

“I know, Mama.” She smiled again.

Haruto had cleared his mind of any ill doubt. Yukino skipped gleefully, which made Tokino giggle.

At a railing on the third floor, Hokori squinted. “Hey, Kakunō! Looks like I found ‘em. Whaddaya think?”

He walked closer. “Yup. That’s them, alright. The Minagawas. To think Tokino would be the wife. Do you think she remembers you?”

“Nope…” he shook his head. “I beat her when we first met. Then she got up out of nowhere and turned into something weird—whatever it was. When we crossed paths again, she completely forgot about me. I believe the same applies here.”

Kenkō came in and looked at where the two laid their eyes. “Oh, for crying out loud.” She pointed sharply. “You motherfuckers really love preying on the innocent, don’t you?”

Hokori grinned and chuckled. “Dude… if they were, they wouldn’t be mages.”

She grunted lightly. “Again, I’m not a dude. And what the fuck kind of logic is that!? You think a literal child’s not innocent?” She raised an eyebrow.

He turned around. “Of course! Even a baby mage could kill an orc raider if they’re strong enough, y’know?” He shrugged.

“Baby- what! By the fucking Gods, I can’t even…” she sighed in disgust. “You’re evil, man. Just plain evil.” She walked away.

Kakunō walked to Hokori. “So, how will you mess with the newcomers this time?”

“Same as usual,” he smirked.

“Really? They’ll go to that bar like Clovis?” He raised an eyebrow.

Hokori scratched his nape. “Well… my mind ain’t got no ESP. But they’re goin’ dat way. It’s safe to say they would. The neons of the geezer’s joint is too big and flashy to miss.

“You guys wait here. Gonna give them first impressions.” He went to a nearby liquor store.

An employee bowed. “Welcome to ‘Distilled Ambrosia,’ my good man. What’d you like for today?”

Hokori grinned. “I want the cheapest shit ya got.”

He leaned forward. “Sir, our ‘cheapest shit’ costs two hundred Geld. But if you insist, red or white?”

He hummed and carresed his chin. “Eh… I’m feelin’ red right now, fam.” He shrugged, eyes closed.

“Excellent choice….”

Hokori waited by the counter. The employee heard chuckle as he looked around the place.

“Oh, um… Pardon me for wondering, but I believe this is for a special occasion. A date, perhaps?”

“Nah,” he shook his head. “I just wanna mess with this family here.”

“I beg your pardon?” The employee raised an eyebrow.

“I’m tellin’ ya, fam. It’s a family thing. You know how it is.”

“I see….” The confused employee handed him the bottle.

Walking out, Hokori jumped down to the first floor. No one had noticed. He used his tremendous speed, agility, and perception to sneak up on the family at the right spot. He morphed his body shape and even his complexion. He drank the bottle half empty and acted like a complete drunkard at them.

“Hey! Watch where ya goin’, asshole!” He spat at Haruto, which hit his nape.

He cringed at the cold and looked back at Hokori. His eyes narrowed a little as he walked with heavy steps. However, Tokino held his right. “Leave him be, honey. He’s not worth it.”

Haruto complied, and his family left the mall exactly where Hokori intended.

He leaped back to the second floor. “Aight, let’s go there before they do.” He spoke in Japanese.

Kenkō shook her head. “No… you two go over there. I’m going home.” She pointed. “I won’t be part of your schemes ever—”

In a flash, Hokori dragged her by the suit collar. Along the way, she screamed in terror in tears. Kakunō tailed behind his blinding pace.

Hokori jumped down from a balcony, two stories high. The three arrived at Dwarf Haven, a popular bar outside the mall. Trembling and panting on the ground, Kenkō’s life flashed before her eyes as the g-force hit her.

“Aight, guys. We’re here!” He smiled with raised arms. “Ugh!” His groin felt the full force of her shoe. His life also flashed before his eyes during the ordeal; ‘Ave Maria’ came to mind. He trembled on the ground with hands between his legs.

She pointed below. “You insensitive prick! Do you have any idea how much I wanna throw up! Ohm…” She covered her mouth but the inevitable occurred.

“Hey, guys! What’d I miss?” Kakunō landed next to her.

She wiped her mouth and clutched her belly. “Shut the fuck up, country boy. Now, pick up your idol.” She went inside the bar.

He lifted Hokori from the floor. “You okay, dude?”

He panted. “N-No worries, fam… My cajones regenerate quickly.” He gave a thumbs-up.

Inside, the bartender and their longtime friends greeted the three. “Hey, it’s him! ‘Sup, Hokori!” waved Sakusei Buki (武器 作成), one of Harald’s imperial mage guards. “Kakunō! Wanna spar later up there?”

“Sure thing, man,” he shrugged. “But that’ll have to wait. Hokori’s got something to tell y’all.” He pointed with a thumb.

Hokori stood at the center and clasped his hands. “Boys! We got another in our hands. Let’s rehearse it, right now.” He showed a gleeful smile and glare.

Alongside Sakusei, the announcement excited two more of his gang on the table: Bernard Potts and Rosado Floración. Like him, both were royal guards.

A fed-up Kenkō sat at the bar table beside Don Pérignon, the bartender and owner. “Give me a whole bottle of scotch. I’m gonna slip into a coma.”

He stood confused at the newcomer. “Mademoiselle… You must know it’s illegal to serve liquor to—”

She banged the table, which startled him. “I’m twenty-two, dickhead! Give me the fucking bottle. Now!!” She pointed sharply.

He hastily gave her one of his vintage products. As she drank in one go, he sighed and wiped his sweat. “Pour l'amour de Dieu….”

“Not enough… More….” She hiccuped numerous more times.

He raised his hands. “M-Mademoiselle! If I do, they’ll sue me for—”

“Just… give it to me… you damn geezer…!” She quickly drank another bottle given to her.

Outside the mall, the Minagawas stood where their driver had left. Unusually, he was nowhere. After some long waiting, Haruto saw a massive neon sign from afar. Unlike on Earth, the sloshed elf moved like a smooth cartoon.

Tokino looked as well. “But honey, this is a bar. I don’t think they allow children. In fact, we shouldn’t.”

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to the owner. We need a place to stay until he comes back. Besides, I don’t see any hotels nearby.” He looked around the distance.

After briefly thinking about it, she sighed and agreed. “I guess it can’t be helped….”

Surprisingly, Yukino was excited to go inside. She went so far as to shout about it. With all that, she held their hands together.

As this story went, Haruto and Tokino went into a bar, along with their Yukino. There, they saw a savage Hokori.