V3 Chapter 73

“…Unfair as it is, she is now with me. I will protect her, even if it means fighting against you!”

Rain’s expression turned even colder as his aura gradually rose. The air around him sizzled and as if whirled by a strong gust the wind and plants around them swayed in motion.

Jonathan stared at Rain for a while, then finally he let out a sigh. He then took a step back, his expression somewhat complicated. However, the fighting spirit around him had vanished.

“..Fine, you have a point, so I’ll forget about this for now. However, there’s something that bothers me… saying about the law in this place, you talk as if you live here,”

Seeing Jonathan losing his fighting spirit, Rain’s expression eased, and he replied. “...I do live here. Though, not here exactly…just quite far from here.”

Rain look at Jonathan in a new light. At least, he’s reasonable. Though, that’s unexpected. He had expected for Jonathan to also see him as an enemy and attack them. He had already prepared himself, and even though he knows he cannot win, he can still protect Cyan and last for a few minutes before Lafetti and the others could rush here. He doesn’t know the extent of Jonathan’s strength, but at the very least, he was confident he can stall for time using all his powers.

Though, that’s the last resort. If he calls them, and learned that a Human had attack him, they would surely get angry. Worst, they would surely see the humans as enemies again. That is something he doesn’t want to happen. Not to mention, he had already felt the tension between the Lamians and Leticia’s group. A small spark would surely resulted into a huge fire.

For the sake of coexistence he dreamed of…and for the sake of his freedom in the future, he wanted to avoid a conflict between them and the humans from happening.

Fortunately, Jonathan was reasonable enough to back down, making him relieved. Though he truly feels that Jonathan is really a good person. That is why, deep in his heart, he really doesn't want to fight him.

While Rain was feeling relieve, Jonathan, on the other hand, was feeling shock and felt the world suddenly turned strange.

The Desolate Cave is considered one of the Forbidden Lands that is said to be a place of no return to most people. It’s a dangerous place that not even the highest-level rankers would dare walk in casually.

As a place classified as S-rank Forbidden Zone, it's a land filled with horrifying monsters, one that can only be seen in legends and myths. Thus, completely inhabitable for a human being.

But to think the black-haired boy in front of him would suddenly say that he lives in this kind of place…

Jonathan didn’t know if he should believe such a thing or not, despite feeling that Rain is certainly not someone who would lie. He tried to say something but he just can’t think of anything to say. In the end, he can only stare at Rain in doubt.

Rain didn’t seem to care what he thinks and turned his attention back to Cyan. The Slime Girl was slowly recovering. Though, she look a little smaller and slender compared to before. But can’t be helped, she did lost a huge chunk of mass from having her parts severed.

Though, it didn’t hurt her, recovering those lost parts (using the moisture and magic power in the air) would still take time. She cannot reattach those severed part, unless she managed to absorb them back into her body. But those parts had already turned into slimy puddles in the area, and were scattered all over the place.

“… you fought well,” Rain said, praising the slime girl while patting her head. She was kneeling in front of him- though, rather than kneeling, her lower body had long melted into a gooey puddle and she could now hardly maintain her humanoid form, clearly her mana running out after that intense battle. Even her chest and shoulders, arms and face were caving in, seemly dripping and melting.

Rain immediately channeled some of his mana into her, helping her recover quickly. Cyan immediately smiled, feeling the comforting mana flowing through her body and into her core. It’s as if her slime core was being washed with warm water, she felt so relaxed that her face slacked.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“… …!!”

Cyan nodded her head. It seems like she can use telepathy with her low mana. Though, he can still understand her clearly. He should try leveling up his [Tamer] Class and even [Familiar Telepathy] so that he can easily talk with his familiars without consuming mana. It’ll be much more convenient.

Thinking about the battle, Cyan indeed had done her best. And he believed that Cyan had learned a lot from that exchange. She might not understand them now or realized it, but that fight had surely been engraved in her spirit. And she would be able to recall them the more she grows up.

Rain didn’t interfere immediately because he wanted to let Cyan learn through fighting. He believed that only in a desperate fight can someone explode their limits and grow. Though the fight lasted for a very short time, he was certain that this battle would leave an unforgettable lesson in her mind, and she would surely grow without limits. A shock therapy as one calls it.

Fighting a strong opponent for the first time would let her learn many things. And he was not disappointed. Cyan had fought excellently in that battle. Though she was defeated, it’s not a shameful defeat.

Cyan wiggled and raised her arms, embracing his neck. Fortunately, she didn’t kiss him, and only burrow her head against his neck like a spoiled child, or else, even Rain would not even imagine what Jonathan would think if he saw them in such an intimate behavior. Would he think of him as an indecent shameless fucker who would even do it with a Slime?

Though he didn’t care about his opinion, Rain still felt embarrassed doing intimate things in front of someone else. Especially if they are strangers.

He can do it in front of the other Lamians, but that is because of who they are, and he had also gotten used to it. But in front of a stranger, much less, a man like himself, he still feels as if his innocent girl-like friendless naive mind resurfaces. Even kissing would be a bit embarrassing.

“…you sure are close with that Slime. Is it your tamed monster?”

Jonathan stared at Rain and Cyan and couldn’t help but ask, seeing their close relationship. Rain slowly stood up and faced him, now with a faint smile on his face. The reasonable attitude of Jonathan gave him a bit more good impression.

“Something like that,” that’s not a lie, though, since right now, Cyan is truly registered as his Tamed Monster, through the Taming Skill. “However, I like to call it ‘Friendship’…or perhaps, ‘Family Member’? Either way, she’s more than a Tamed beast for me. She’s an irreplaceable friend.”

“I see…if that’s the case, it does make sense for you to protect her. Still, I didn’t expect for you to a Tamer?” Jonathan nodded his head. He then looks at Rain with a weird expression. Just by one look at Rain, Jonathan could see that his physical body is very strong. So strong that he would make even those trained young knights he had seen felt very inferior. And you’re telling me, he’s not a physical-combat-related Class? Fighter, or even a Knight? But a Tamer?

Tamers are very weak, both physical and magically. All their skills- both passive and active are centered around taming monsters and enhancing those said monsters. That is why they are often look down upon by others. Well, at least, that’s what he knows.

Though, he doesn’t like looking down on anyone, still, he did feel that Monster Tamers are kinda… a very weak profession.

Most of those with the Tamer Professions he had seen don’t amount to anything and even those few that managed to contract good monsters are only so-so. They are not very strong, though they can’t be said to be weak as well… only just slightly above average. And all of them always depend on their tamed monsters. So they are fragile weaklings themselves.

But the boy in front of him, who claimed to be a Tamer, actually has a physical body that is comparable to those specially trained knights is very surprising. Even if one disregards his class and trains his physical body to the limit might not reach this kind of level. This boy was exuding power just by standing in front of him. And he doesn’t seem to be even aware of it.

There’s that aura of a veteran fighter, a warrior that had undergone numerous battles, oozing from him. How interesting…!

“… you’re practicing some sort of Martial Cultivation, right? Which school are you from?”

Why does this sound like a Xianxia script?

Rain find it comical when he suddenly heard Jonathan’s strange question. He thought for a moment and answered; “Yes, I am practicing it. But I don’t belong to any school… I just found an opportunity and tried practicing it myself… But is Martial Cultivation common?”

Well, truthfully, before he had found the Cultivation Manual inside the Dungeon, he had never even heard of Martial Art Cultivation before. Even the Lamians didn’t know about it. Especially Drova who should have known of it, considering her strange fixation against many forms of combat techniques and skills.

Strangely, they only knew of Combat Arts, apart from magic arts. And though there is a flavor of martial arts, Combat Arts still depend on magic skills, and not purely Martial Arts.

But this man, the way he moves and attacks is like watching a martial arts movie. Though, compared to true martial arts of Earth, even compared with his self-taught martial arts, it’s still lacking- still, it truly is genuine Martial Arts, like how Bruc* L*e and *p Man fight. Not to mention, his fighting techniques seemed to have some resemblance to the movements of the Baguazhang Martial Art.

Is it just a coincidence…?

Or not.

Perhaps the transmigrated people from the past to present have shared the same skill with the native of this world?

Well, judging from how skillful this man is, it must be the past transmigrators.

Still, Cultivation, huh?

It seems like even something like that is real. And this cultivation involves modern martial arts…

“It can’t really be called common.” Jonathan said, “Martial Cultivation is just one of many Extra skills that can be learned. It appeared one day, circulated swiftly, no one knows where it originated from, and was only spread to a selective few. In this era, only a few families know of it, treating it as something like a Clan’s Secret Combat Arts. Most Cultivation Arts didn’t have flashy skills, but it’s still a good method for cultivating and strengthening the physical body. And most of all, as long as one has an aptitude for it, it bypasses the Class restrictions. That’s why those who knew these skills called it, the [Extra-Arts]. Even Mages and non-combat classes can practice it, giving them more offensive power by strengthening their fragile physiques.”

As he said this, Jonathan was confused.

Why am I telling him this?

…and even more strange is that-

Why did I immediately back down when this boy said that he would fight him to protect the Persona Slime.

He cannot understand. Though he accepted the reason the boy gave him, the woman devoured by the Slime is still one of his loyal subordinates. With his character, he would still need an explanation. Especially, just against a small slime. He needed to take back the body, to honor the dead.

But now it was eaten with nothing left behind, is it not a shameful thing?

But why did he easily back down?

This is completely illogical…

No, rather out of character for me.

Jonathan felt something strange going on here.

“Now my turn to the question, boy… who are you? Are you really living in this place? If you do, are you alone? Or do you have someone else with you here?”

He's frank...not that I dislike it.

“My name is Rain Revert. And yes, I do live here. I'm not alone, I have my family here… and that includes Cyan. Though, the place where I live is far from here… I’m here in this region for a different matter,”

Rain answered as he regarded him better than before, a faint smile hanging on his face.

“…that is really hard to believe,” Jonathan said with a strangely amazed expression on his face.

“Really…?”

“Of course. You do know what’s this place is, do you?”

Though he had heard it before, truthfully, Jonathan didn’t believe it. Or rather, he couldn’t.

Can someone really live in this kind of place?

It’s really hard to believe it.

“I can’t even believe someone is living in this place,”

Jonathan shook his head and said with a doubtful voice. Though, Rain doesn’t seem to be lying. Nor he does look like a liar. But is there any human who would choose to live in this kind of place?

At least, no sane human would do so.

This is a world not fit for humans. Rather, it’s the very definition of Hell.

“As long as it's not inhabitable, a human can live wherever it is,” Rain said without saying much. He shrugged his shoulder and said, “Though, whether you believe it or not, is up to you. I only said the truth.”

He turned around and started walking back to the place where he was meditating a while ago, and sat down. Of course, Cyan followed closely, though, she’s casting vigilant glances at Jonathan.

But seeing that he doesn’t seem to be an enemy to her or Rain, she didn’t do anything, and the grievances of being almost killed by him somewhat slowly faded in her mind. What was important for her was Rain.

Jonathan followed him with his eyes as if trying to see something out of him.

“Glib child, but there’s always an exception. And this place is one of them. There’s a reason why it’s called one of the forbidden land.”

“Even still…hm?”

Rain was about to answer when his eyes swept past Jonathan. The latter also seemed to feel them as well and he turned around, only to see three people, two men, and one woman rushing out from the bushes.

One was wearing shiny, full-body armor with a wave-like zigzag emblem parallel to each other on its chest, a red-robed middle-aged man, and lastly a beautiful middle-aged woman.

Seeing the woman, Rain can’t help but look at her in shock…though it was only momentary and he let out a wry smile.

I’m an idiot, she can’t be here, he mused.

“Master, are you okay?!”

“Master, we finally found you! Please don’t suddenly storm off like that alone!”

“Band Members?”

Rain teased as he heard them anxiously calling out to Jonathan. They look like they are really worried, so it’s best to assume that this man held not so little position in the society. And what’s that zigzag pattern on their chests? They seemed to have it, even Jonathan- an emblem? But why does it look so familiar for some reason?

Where have I seen it before?

“I’m fine,” the blue-robed man said toward the worried subordinates. “I was just strolling around, and found an interesting child,”

When he said that, three pairs of eyes immediately turned towards Rain, curiosity, and interest laded their eyes like a veil.

Why is a young boy in this kind of place?

Immediately they shared the same thought.

This is not an amusement park where anyone, much less, a kid could just walk around. Anyone who is found loitering around this kind of place is either a lunatic or a monster in human form. And now, they actually saw a young boy appearing in this kind of place?

He doesn’t seem to be a lunatic. Even if he was, how can a young lunatic be in this kind of place? And so, he can only be a beast in human skin. Immediately, their hearts tightened in suspicion.

Rain was certainly not among the group that went ahead first. They haven’t seen someone like him before. And the Knights would never employ someone so young. So it’s safe to assume that he was not a member of the expedition team that went ahead first in this place. Then, who was he? And what is a boy like doing in this kind of place?

They stared at Rian with an unfriendly gaze full of doubt and suspicion.

“Hello,”

Rain greeted them politely.

But it turned awkward since the three of them didn’t return the greeting. Instead, even more, suspicions appeared in their eyes. It’s as if they are prepared to draw their weapons and attack him at a moment's notice.

Seeing this, Rain smiled wryly. But then shrugged, not caring about it. It would be weird if they acted so casually with him. However, someone didn’t seem to share the same thoughts, as Jonathan frowned and glared at them.

“Be polite,” he muttered coldly.

The three people jerked from the cold tone of their master, and they immediately realized that their Master was angry.

“H, hello,”

“H, hi…”

Each of them immediately greeted back, and Rain chuckled in amusement.

It seems like they are scared of Jonathan. But the awkward atmosphere didn’t stop there, rather intensified even more, as when the three people saw Cyan, their faces instantly changed and their hands turned to their weapons.

Immediately, Rain’s face turned cold. His brows furrowed, and his nerves prepared to make a move the moment he feels danger. His hand hovered above the hilt of his sword. Unlike Jonathan, he felt that these three would not be so forgiving, nor be so reasonable. That is why he prepared himself for a fight.

Cyan seemed to have perceived their killing intents as well, and her body bolted upright. Her expression turned fierce.

“It’s okay,”

Rain muttered gently as his hand landed on her head, and started stroking her smooth, slimy hair, calming her down. Though, he pulled her closer so that he can protect her immediately the moment someone make a move.

“Calm down, they are not enemies,” Jonathan looks towards the three people behind him.

“But Master, that slime…”

Jonathan shook his head, prompting the man in shiny knight armor to stop talking. The armored man, though, unreconcilable could only follow. He and the other two also calm down, though they still retained their vigilance, looking at Rain and Cyan warily.

“I hope you do not take offense to this, little brother. But Shila is a dear comrade to us…though, what happened to her is a sorrowful matter. But at least, we wanted to take her body with us back, if possible,”

Jonathan said with a helpless sigh.

“I know,” Rain nodded. He can at least, understand this. If he was in their shoes, he would also do the same. Perhaps, he would be even more unreasonable than them. Only, he was on the other side of this situation. And he knows whom side he would take on so he can only apologize.

“I can understand the hostility. But unfortunately, I can’t do anything about it but apologize. Since this little girl is now on my care, I can’t possibly give her to you, and let it be killed,”

“… It’s fine.” Jonathan smiled wryly. “I’m not going to do anything anymore. And I understand the situation. Though it pains me, there’s no other choice. I can only think of it as misfortune.”

Rain bowed his head in appreciation and gratitude. “Thank you for your understanding,”

“No problem.” Jonathan nodded his head. He gave Rain a profound look, and within that gaze could be seen doting indulgence and kindness. "It's a small matter,"