Chapter 10: Fully Commit

I picked up the newspaper. It was what I had feared.

Strange Monster Warning

This warning is issued to all residents of Itone. Strange monsters have been appearing all over the country for as long as 3 years according to some residents. In this original case, the monsters were stopped by a boy that looked about 8 years old. However, in later cases, these monsters seem to be invincible to all magic and steel. Even members of the Border Control Unit 36 have been unable to put a scratch on these monsters.

There have been a variety of different, almost other-worldly, monsters that have appeared. They range from a tall bird-like creature, to a human-looking fur covered monster.

If you see any monsters that look other-worldly in any way, report them to the nearest Soldier or Border Control Unit Member.

They are finally picking up on the monsters, tracking the attacks down, and recording them.

If you didn’t notice before, it’s been 3 years since my first adventure with Redrae’s party. In that time, I’ve adventured mostly by myself, except for a couple of one-offs with Redrae’s party.

In those 3 years, I’ve grown stronger, and can truly live pretty well with the money I’m making. However, the threat of Akafwhan monsters has been looming over me ever since I first started seeing them.

The problem with Akafwan monsters is that I’m the only one who can defeat them, since I am the only one who has access to Akafwan magic.

So if someone were to defeat them outside of me, then it would mean that there was someone else from Akafwhuwa, which isn’t entirely implausible. Since ---- did it.

I did it again. Every time I think about her it just reminds me of the burden I put on this world. Every person I meet may eventually die due to me.

Just like back then. It seems like an eternity ago that I felt my first reconstruction and created Akafwhuwa.

I passed by a small shop. It sold a variety of jewelry that had magical effects. Ranging from, “Magic Blockers”' Which is a type of jewelry crafted from a gemstone that can block certain magic attacks. Reaching all the way to, “Summoning Necklaces” Which are used by adventurers to tame monsters. When you put a Summoning Necklace on a monster, they are sealed inside the necklace, and can be summoned when the necklace is put on.

“Do you happen to have any Level 8 or above Magic blockers?” I asked the attendant at the counter.

“Of course. We have Magic Blockers ranging from Level 8 to Level 12. May I interest you in this ring?” The attendant lifted up one red ring, it’s sparkle was undeniably beautiful. Even to someone who didn’t know much about magic items and jewelry. “This ring is Level 12, and while hard to use due to it’s high level, it is completely worth it! It can block attacks from even a low level Unidentifieds!” Unidentifieds? That could be well worth it.

“And the price?” I asked,

“2 Gold Coins. A relative bargain considering prices at other shops like ours.” 2 Gold is quite expensive… But I really wanted to buy one for Redrae, who’s birthday was coming up.

I gave the shop attendant 2 gold coins exactly, and walked towards the dungeon.

I could see the mountain in which the dungeon was under on the horizon. It’s peak was covered in the brightest snow I had ever seen.

I was still passing shops, some of them trying to sell me merchandise related to the mountain and dungeon. Even in another universe, people are still trying to milk tourists for their money’s worth.

Sometimes I forget I’m in another universe. But sometimes it’s so plainly obvious, for all the wrong reasons.

Like the next shop I passed. It was trying to sell slaves to those rich enough to purchase them. I’m financially stable enough to purchase one, but it’s definitely not up to my moral standards.

I watched the eyes of the people being sold. Their eyes were crying for help, yet I couldn’t do much.

Until I saw 2 pairs of eyes I recognized.

“Emi? Uoun?” I sort of yelled and whispered at the same time.

“Iro? I…” Emi said, remembering the terms we left on.

Seeing their deep eyes, their quivering bodies, and the way they spoke, I felt a sort of hatred I had never before experienced.

In the distance, I saw a slave being yelled at, told to walk over to their new owner, who was putting on a smug face.

I remembered. I remembered what I had endured on earth.

“Say something! Tell them I’m right!” I remembered.

I give up.

I’ll fight for these people.

Because.

They are my friends.

I drenched the salesman in water with magic, pulled out my sword, and cut the chains around Emi and Uoun.

I then melted the chains around the other slaves with my fire magic.

“Emi, Uoun, let's get out of here!” I said.

Emi, Uoun, and I ran together, away from the dungeon, towards the inn I was staying at.

We ran through the front doors, and dashed up the stairs. All to get back to the room.

“Why… Why did you do that?!” Emi yelled. She was probably right. I shouldn’t have broken them out.

My perfect life is over. It’s game time now.

“Because it’s not right. I don’t know what’s havppened in the last 3 years, but no matter what, I know you 2 don’t deserve to be in slavery.” I said calmly, still trying to address what had happened myself.

“But not in place of yourself! The government is going to have everyone and everything looking for you now!” Uoun yelled, “And besides that, now we’re even more in debt to you!”

“For the last time! You’re not in debt to me! I’ve helped you because I wanted to! If I wanted something I would have told you before I broke you out!” I started yelling as well.

“Can we put this aside for now? What’s really important is… What are you going to do Iro?” Emi said, now calmed down.

“The only thing I can do. Fully commit.”

“Fully commit?” Emi repeated.

“Yeah. Right now, I pledge to save this planet. Save it from the ways they’ve called normal.” I said confidently.

“Are you sure?” Uoun asked.

“Yes I’m sure. All I need is a little bit of time. If I can get that, then I can do it.

Emi and Uoun looked at each other, and shrugged slightly.

I went outside. Although it was putting my life on the line, I needed to master this technique.

“Dark magic, I call upon you, to unleash, Seal!” I yelled passionately. I watched the tree I was targeting, as a couple of branches fell into the black hole.

It was just like when I learned magic with my left arm. I needed to re-perfect my Akafwhan magic.

“Dark magic! I call upon you, to unleash Seal!” I watched as more and more of the tree fell into the hole. Piece by piece, I will learn to control my Akafwhan magic.

This is my final test. Finally one that is difficult for me.

“Dark magic! I call upon you… To unleash… SEAL!” I called out. Finally, the tree fell into the hole. I got it.

“Dark magic! I call upon you… To unleash… SEAL!” I repeated over, and over. I watched the dark hole grow and grow. It became more and more powerful.

“Iro!” I heard someone call over my shoulder. It sounded like Redrae. Was she watching me practice? If so, I wanted to go talk to her, and show her the gift I got her. In this world, it’s customary to give the presents the night before someone’s birthday.

But Redrae wasn’t just simply watching me practice.

Redrae was being held by 2 soldiers.