Author: Thank you for reading (The recording continues)

This is a chapter I had in mind for a very long while. Enjoy.

~side note~

‘Truth’ strikes again: (It’s not necessary to read this bit unless you want to confirm some things)

I mentioned previously that the area doesn’t have a lot of high grade ores. This is due to a lot of reasons that I will get into when they are found. He will start finding some later, I won't say when as everything will come all in due time. Plus he left managing a lot of things to previous administrators (my way of escaping from writing about a lot of things he had to do to run a city).

He also wove his hybrid armor with tailoring in conjunction with other skills, he lost said skills and has to re-meet the requirements to get them back since his system was reset like Amare said (Minus his stats and skills since that is a quantified representation of his strength and abilities). Right now he doesn't have time to focus on crafting since this are busy. This is why he can't make more right now and experiment with what ‘Truth’ mentioned in his comment. Training? That will be revisited later (What the hell did you just send me 'Truth', the amount of info...>.>).

People worrying about Layla’s future mental situation, better read this chapter first. I also have a few ideas about where it will go, take into account that Kuro has his own idea of what he wants from a family.

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If I were to say what my biggest issue is, it would be handling relationships. I may barely understand people who are lost or are in pain due to the world's cruelty. However, the basic concept of compassion and empathy are rather foreign to me. Such things weren’t a part of my past life,and was found hard to believe in during this one. The feelings I have often received in this life are...difficult for me to comprehend. I can't help wondering whether it is truly how they feel, or if it is some convoluted act to gain my favor.

This changed after I gained the [Connected] trait where emotions are laid bare for me to feel. Usually I can make it so I won't feel their emotions and keep myself focused. However it becomes impossible to do so when their emotions flare to extreme levels. This was often the case with Belle. Yet hers are hard to read and are often conflicted, especially when around me.

Everyone else is usually straightforward with what they feel, even if they don’t show it visually. Beth is a good example of someone trying to stay strong when they are afraid. The same can be said for everyone else. This made it more easier for me to trust them and ease their troubles.

All of them, except for my sister and Belle. Layla, for whatever reason, is impossible to connect with. I can't connect with her like the others, the only exception so far is with this odd connection that didn’t even form a skill or trait. My theory is after I master whatever is making this connection will make the skill appear.

Belle is, to put it simply, a walking enigma. Everything about her thoughts is chaotic and unreadable. It’s one of the reasons I ignored her and simply kept tabs on her activities. It's strange, but she only talks to people whenever she is not training. After some follow ups, her conversations don't seem all that interesting. Merely trying to know the people around the village.

Now, Belle is fighting my sister in a private duel in a remote area between us three that the two set up. I felt conflicted about allowing it since there are so many uncertainties about the two. I want to believe in my sister, but she lacks a lot of experience. Not to mention certain quarks I noted in her personality over the past two weeks. She often acts friendly with everyone I’m close to. But the drastic change with everyone else is something I find odd.

They had nothing to do with her situation back in Birgen, yet she acts as if they are nothing but air. The only people she recognizes in her eyes are the ones I recognize as companions. Her behavior around them alone is a bit concerning as well. The desire for acceptance is something hard to miss and is often something she wants me to clarify. From what I can conclude at the moment, her emotional state may not be as stable as I first perceived.

I can only hope this is nothing but baseless worries caused by my habit to analyze people.

“Are you prepared?” (Layla)

“Let’s just get this over with already.” (Belle)

“Brother, whenever you are ready to start the match.” (Layla)

“...Yea. *Sigh* The match will end when one side is no longer able to fight, or surrenders. Any fatal attacks will end the duel in favor of the other party. Any questions?” (Kuro)

“No problem.” (Layla)

“None.” (Belle)

I gazed at the two who took their individual stances. Belle seemed to prefer fighting with her hands and hated the bow that she learned forcibly by her brother. Layla took a stance that I taught her recently to help her dodge with the least amount of effort. It looked a bit off since she learned it a few days ago but I’m not allowed to correct her. I can only hope her stamina can last long enough to end the fight like she said.

“...Begin.” (Kuro)

At my signal Belle immediately charged toward Layla. Rather than a straight line, she would swerve left and right in random intervals. Layla being able to cast magic isn’t a secret, so this seems to be a simple method to avoid being hit as she moves in. She doesn’t know how far along her magical ability is since she already knows I don't need chants.

While Belle grew ever closer, Layla began doing a quick chant as she hurled thin blades with dull tips in order to delay her advance. Since she hasn’t mastered casting magic without chants, she needs to use such methods to buy time. Fortunately she already shortened her chants by a large margin since before we met so the disadvantage isn’t too large. Even so this can be what costs her her win if all she does is rely on magic.

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Layla’s POV

How surprising, it seems I have underestimated Belle a bit. I originally thought she was an archer, based on what I’ve seen from before. She mentioned not liking the bow, but I never saw her fight since the day she met my brother. Quite an annoying turn of events.

It doesn’t matter, as long as I can keep my distance and get my spells off she won't stand a chance. She dared to scorn the one who saved us, he showed me the world and that it still has some value to live in. No matter how small the view was or all the trouble he faced, it was still beautiful to see everyone happy around him.

Whatever reason she has doesn’t matter to me. The cold place I was in...I won't go back, I will keep finding new amazing things. The opportunity my brother gave me...I won't waste it the way she has.

Since she refuses to see the opportunity in front of her, I will be the one to educate her since my brother won't. First, I will rip out all of her secrets and find what it is that makes her so foolish. After that I can, no, I need to focus. If I let my thoughts drift in this direction I might insight the curse that is still dormant. Last time it almost came out…*Shiver*...no, I’m ok now. It can't get me as long as I keep my mind calm.

I won't become like the others of my kind. There is no way I will allow myself to stop being me, not when I finally became able to smile and have fun. Right now I just need to get rid of the one person causing trouble in my new paradise. The place I always longed for. My brother couldn’t have done a better job making such a cozy place. Ahh, such nice people.

“Hyah!” (Belle)

*Crash*

Tch, so annoying, to disrupt such pleasant thoughts. These blades can't seem to hold her back at all, if I didn’t learn this dodging maneuver from my brother that would have hit. If only we were allowed to kill in this fight. Oh well, best to be happy I can fight her without being stopped by the others.

“*************[Dark Mist].” (Layla)

Hahaha, how will you fight me now that I have taken your ability to see. Unlike the others, you haven't learned any strategies to overcome such obstacles since you refuse to learn from my brother. I would laugh openly, but then you would know where I went.

“Stop wasting my time and just lose already!” (Belle)

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Kuro’s POV

The fight has finally went into full swing it seems. Layla seemed a bit distracted, but she pulled off her first spell and has already begun her second chant.

In a but a few moments, as Belle struggles to find Layla, she casts some basic dark spells focused on immobilization. As time goes on, Belle becomes more and more hard pressed to turn the tables. I was initially worried about my sister being able to win. But the moment Belle was unable to reach her made things far more easier for her.

Though, Belle should have a ton more experience fighting others. This doesn’t seem right.

Just to be sure I'll take a peek at her emotional state to see if what I’m seeing isn’t just a ruse on Belle’s part.

...Hmm, from what I could sense, Belle seems quite aggravated. However, there is a subtle calmness lingering around that usually isn’t present in her mental state. As I observe further, it is practically taking hold of her entire emotional spectrum as time progresses. I have a bad feeling about whatever is going on with her. I'll step in if that calmness brings more trouble than what's allowed.

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Layla’s POV

Tch, what is she a walking rock. Just fall already and spill everything you're hiding!

“*******[Blood Rend]!” (Layla)

*Heavy Panting*

T-That spells...costs...too much to cast. Hmph, try enduring the spell left behind by generations of my people. It’s one of the few spells created solely for our use that I received that targets the enemy's blood and makes it attack them from within. The only problem is that the target can't move too much and needs to already be injured for it to be successful. Using it is also very taxing and took everything I had, I can't even move anymore.

“Gaaaaahhhh!” (Belle)

“I held back to keep you from dying, but with this, you're finished. Concede the match.” (Layla)

“Gahah…” (Belle)

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Kuro’s POV

I really don't like the feeling I’m getting.

“I call the match in Layla’s favor. Both side will halt any further actions against each other and abide by the terms of the duel.” (Kuro)

At my signal the seal that formed when they formed a contract between them activated on both Layla and Belle. Layla’s simply disappeared, but Belle’s continued to glow slightly as her face contorted in pain.

“Is it supposed to be a painful experience.” (Kuro)

“Uh, not normally, it could be because she is resisting.” (Layla)

“I see…” (Kuro)

“Gaaaaah!...You have to stop them! The ones who ruined everything! They are here!” (Belle)

Whatever seems to be going on with Belle, seems to be a lot more complicated than I thought.

I peered into her emotional state and saw something unexpected. Her usual chaotic emotions is trying to fend off that ominous calmness I detected before. Isn’t it her own mental state, like a battle sense? Why fight it?

Forget it, such questions don't matter. Using my [Connected] trait, I entered into her soul like I did Abra. If she is fighting something, I will help her out and get answers. That statement she made leaves too many things to worry about if whatever this is causes her death.

…

This...this is, Belle?

When I entered Abra soul, I found her in a memory of her past, unable to wake up from a reoccurring nightmare. It took some effort, but I managed to pull her out after helping her defeat the things binder her. Due to her not being a fighting I had to use different methods to help her win, but she eventually prevailed and came out extremely confident to boot.

Amare told me that these situations need to be handled by them as if I take care of it myself, the results may not be what I want. I suspect Abra would have lost what made her who she is if I pulled her out myself. Thankfully, I didn’t have to.

Finding a separate world within Abra was odd, but I figured it was like a representation of the soul's state made up by my skill.

But Belle...She is chained down on her knees crying as some corporeal freak is moving a wooden puppet of her around in front of her. She looks like she’s fading too, while the puppet becomes more defined in details. Everything else...is just shrouded in darkness.

Isn’t this something else entirely than a made up world? No...That doesn’t matter right now. This bastard is doing something to Belle and it's obviously not good.

“Hey!” (Kuro)

In one quick motion I drew that things attention making it's face turn precisely into the fist I thrust out with as much strength I can muster. As it flew into the distance, I turned toward Belles transparent figure and grabbed hold of the chains binding her to the floor.

“Rather than sit around crying, Fight! Or was my impression of you when we met wrong!” (Kuro)

“...K-Kuro...How?” (Belle)

“Graaaah!” (Kuro)

As I used my strength to server these chains, massive amounts of pain fills me as an unknown entity tries to enter me threw it's attack.

*Ding*

Mental attack suppressed.

Since when! When did Belle encounter whoever caused this!

“Damn chains...BREAK!” (Kuro)

*Crack!**Crumble*

“Rraaawwwr!!!” (Disgusting entity)

Damn, I thought I hit it farther. I can kill it myself but that would leave Belle’s soul in a questionable state. She needs to overcome whatever that is with her own strength.

“Belle!” (Kuro)

As I try to reach Belle who hasn’t removed her shocked expression as I carry her away from the entity. The thing gives chase as it tries to strike me.

“K-Kuro, your-” (Belle)

“Here, yes, now snap out of it and kill that thing.” (Kuro)

As my words enter her ears, her faded image slowly fills in and becomes impossible to see through anymore.

“Set me down.” (Belle)

Seeing the resolution that fills her eyes I set her down as she walks toward the creature that has halted its advancement.

“This...IS MY LIFE!” (Belle)

As if the darkness became an unwelcome guest. The area within Belle's soul blossoms with light as a cottage within a forest shapes into the surroundings.

Blow for blow she exchanges attacks with the creature. Relentlessly trying to kill her captor. I made sure to funnel her with mana in a steady pace as it’s one of the few things I can do since my real body is currently holding her.

With her strength finding no limit, the strange entity is pushed back until it could no longer resist. In one swift motion, Belle breaks its neck with a roundhouse kick directly into it's cranium.

Light shrouds her body as the puppet that was left on the floor in the distance crumbles into nothing.

…

I open my eyes and stare down at Belle who is no longer in pain.

“We don't have a lot of time. We need to stop what's about to come before it's too late...I’m sorry I didn’t believe in you. I-I will explain everything on the way back.” (Belle)

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A/N: I was holding this chapter in for a while. Belle is a tsundere (not the really annoying kind though), but there was a lot more going on than what was first perceived (I have a habit for hidden agendas, I’m sorry).

Also, Belle isn’t that weak, just wait a bit. (Or figure it out yourselves since I hinted on the answer so much.)

Post any errors you find for me to fix, thank you.