The next day, Akira was in the city doing culinary things and tried the name "junk food". Trying everything he saw from a vendor or a restaurant: cheeseburgers, pizzas, spicy tacos, and a variety of other foods.
His tongue was dancing with delight after discovering his favorite food, Chili Hotdogs. Unfortunately for him, he didn't last long before getting a stomach ache and needing to use the restroom.
_____________________
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
You have obtained poison resistance.
_____________________
"Again?!"
After about twenty minutes in the bathroom, screaming his lungs out as if in a long epic battle, thankfully he was done. He returned to the mission room to see if it had been updated. However, no missions were available. Instead, the system had a message for Akira.
{The king's message}
Inside the king's message wrote an invitation for Akira to enter the king's Castle. Akira's heart was racing and closed his mouth as he screamed. His excitement caused him to run impatiently towards the castle, which was fifty-five miles away as instructed where it was at and later arrived earlier than the expected time.
"Hello, Akira, you did an incredible job, and as a reward, here is my crown and throne for you, and please protect Celesta for me." Akira daydreamed after completing his exclusive mission, and no, it was not going to happen.
Akira entered the building to the fourth floor, where the meeting will be held. As he entered He ran into Kazoru again with his family, before reaching the fourth floor. Akira waved and shouted to catch Kazoru's attention, "Yo, Kazoru!"
Kazoru was overjoyed to see him and approaches him, "Well well well, didn't think we'd meet again, Akira. Pray tell, what're you doing here?" Kazoru inquired why he entered the castle and tapped Akira's shoulders.
"It was the King's message that got me here. Heck, I'm pumped!" Akira answered he was sent by the king to meet him in his place and so he went. "Haha, rejoiced! Seems the king sees you with high expectations!" Kazoru congratulated him and laughed with joy.
"My dear nephew~"
A woman's voice drifted from downstairs, smooth and sweet enough to send a chill racing down Kazoru's spine.
His expression instantly stiffened.
"Akira, hide."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just do it!" Kazoru hissed, visibly panicking as he shoved Akira toward the corner of the room. His nervousness alone was enough to make Akira suspicious. Unfortunately, the brief hesitation cost them.
"There you are!"
The voice grew louder as footsteps echoed up the stairs.
"I've been searching everywhere for you. Isn't it rude to abandon your dear aunty like that, nephew?" she pouted dramatically.
The woman who entered carried an overwhelming presence despite her playful tone. Long black hair flowed down her back like silk, contrasting sharply against the elegant red-and-white miko attire she wore. Crimson markings resembling three whiskers were painted delicately on each cheek, giving her an oddly foxlike charm.
Behind her waist floated a blazing red tail made entirely of fire, swaying lazily in the air as though alive.
Her outfit, while traditional at first glance, was far from modest. The exposed cleavage and tight fit around her figure gave her appearance a dangerously seductive aura that felt strangely at odds with the sacred attire.
Akira could finally understand why Kazoru looked terrified.
"Oh my?" Her crimson eyes landed on Akira almost instantly. "You must be Akira."
A warm smile spread across her face as she approached with graceful steps.
"I've been wanting to meet you and that Shura boy for quite some time now~ My dear nephew talks about you both constantly." She placed a hand against her cheek thoughtfully. "And from what I heard, the three of you performed wonderfully during the Warrior License Exam."
Akira blinked in surprise.
Kazoru had only mentioned him briefly the day before, yet somehow this woman recognized him immediately—as if she had known exactly who he was the moment she entered the room.
"Ah, I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kazoru's aunt," Akira greeted politely with a small smile.
Though inwardly, he was confused.
She looked far too young to be someone's aunt. Her mature figure and graceful demeanor gave off the charm of an older woman, yet her youthful face made her seem closer to an older sister instead. Akira couldn't quite place her age.
What unsettled him more, however, was the scent surrounding her.
His Keen Instinct reacted immediately the moment she entered the room.
It was strong. Sweet. Dizzying.
Almost predatory.
Sniff!
Without warning, Kitsune suddenly leaned closer to him, her fiery tail swaying behind her as she took in his scent like a curious fox.
"I knew it~ You're adorable!" she giggled, covering her lips with one hand while her crimson eyes narrowed in satisfaction.
"Auntie Kitsune, please refrain from bothering him." Kazoru abruptly stepped between them, blocking her path toward Akira. Sweat visibly formed on his forehead.
"H-He's not interested in girls!"
Akira blinked. "What?"
"Yes! Exactly!" Kazoru nodded desperately while pointing elsewhere. "Go bother your older brother instead!"
For reasons Akira couldn't possibly understand, Kazoru looked like a man trying to prevent a natural disaster.
"Aww… what a shame." Kitsune sighed dramatically, her brows furrowing in disappointment. "He's very cute too."
"Hold on, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?" Akira frowned. "Why are you acting so weird?"
"Shut up, idiot!" Kazoru whispered harshly through clenched teeth. "I'm trying to save your life here!"
Akira stared at him in complete confusion.
Meanwhile, Kitsune watched the two with amusement dancing in her eyes. A soft, melodic laugh escaped her lips.
"Fufufu… you two are hilarious."
Then her gaze slowly returned to Akira.
There was something strangely dangerous behind her smile now—something foxlike and hungry.
"Akira…" she purred as she stepped closer again, her fiery tail flickering brighter behind her. "Would you mind if I… ate you?" The way she said it sent a strange chill down his spine as she looked at Akira lasciviously.
The whole place went silent...
"Oh no… here we go again."
Kazoru dragged a hand down his face in complete resignation. Trying to stop Kitsune once she got interested in someone was like trying to stop a wildfire with a bucket of water.
Worse, she was absurdly stronger than him.
"U-Umm… what?" Akira blinked repeatedly, utterly caught off guard. "Eat what? Eat… me?"
Confusion filled his voice.
Even though Akira knew he was immortal, the sudden idea of being eaten still disturbed him deeply. He had survived being devoured before—by beasts, monsters, even wild animals during his brutal training years.
Unfortunately, those memories were not pleasant.
The sensation of fangs tearing through skin… flesh being ripped apart while still conscious… the helpless agony of wolves feasting on him alive—those experiences remained burned into his mind more vividly than any scar.
So when Kitsune spoke of "eating" him, Akira immediately interpreted it literally.
In his head, she had already transformed into some terrifying human-eating beast disguised as a beautiful woman.
Meanwhile, Kitsune simply stared at him with growing amusement as she was only teasing him.
"Yes~" she purred softly as she stepped closer, her fiery tail swaying lazily behind her. "That delicious, delicate body of yours…"
Her crimson eyes slowly traveled from his face down to his shoulders before returning upward again.
"It makes me want to eat you alive."
Akira stiffened instantly.
She sounded completely serious.
A cold sweat ran down his neck as his survival instincts screamed at him. Meanwhile, Kazoru looked seconds away from dying of embarrassment.
"I-I'm not tasty, miss," Akira said cautiously, taking another step back. "Kazoru never told me his aunt was a cannibal…"
Kazoru immediately covered his face with both hands.
"This is hopeless…" he groaned.
Growing up isolated in the wilderness had left Akira strangely immune to many cruel and immoral things, yet completely innocent toward others. Without ever touching the internet or interacting much with society, he genuinely misunderstood what Kitsune meant.
Meanwhile, Kitsune stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! Not that kind of eating, silly boy!" she giggled, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Her fiery tail swayed wildly behind her in amusement.
Still smiling, she slowly leaned closer.
"Well~ putting that aside…" Her crimson eyes narrowed teasingly. "Do you have any interest in women, hm?"
With deliberate slowness, her fingers tugged lightly at the front of her outfit, revealing more of her cleavage. The motion was graceful, almost hypnotic, and the playful delight in her expression only intensified.
Akira instantly choked on his own spit.
"Cough—!?"
His face turned bright red in seconds.
"H-Haha…" he laughed awkwardly, though internally his thoughts were in complete chaos. Every instinct in his body screamed danger, but not the kind he was used to facing in battle.
Kitsune only smiled wider after seeing his reaction.
Akira slowly backed away from her one step at a time… then suddenly turned around and bolted upstairs at full speed.
By the time Kitsune's question left her mouth, Akira had already disappeared toward the fourth floor like a frightened prey escaping a predator.
Kitsune watched him flee before letting out another soft laugh.
"My~ how adorable."
"I can't wait to tease him more later~ or I'll **** him later... Or perhaps I'll **** him senseless yes... Maybe I should **** him until he ****..." Kitsune giggled to herself, licking her lips playfully as faint steam escaped from her mouth. "Perhaps I'll spoil him until he can't even think straight anymore…"
The fiery tail behind her swayed excitedly while her eyes gleamed with dangerous amusement. Teasing younger men had always been one of her favorite hobbies—though thankfully, she still understood where to draw the line.
Well… most of the time.
"I can't believe you just said that out loud…" Kazoru groaned, staring at her in disbelief. "You've been spending way too much time with Aunt Selena. That woman completely corrupted your brain."
At the mention of Selena, Kitsune only hummed proudly instead of denying it.
"And shouldn't you still be under house arrest?" Kazoru continued, pointing accusingly at her. "Stop terrifying innocent people with your disgusting imagination before I seriously call the police! Akira's basically the same age as me!"
"Hmph." Kitsune crossed her arms beneath her chest and puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Age doesn't matter when there's a cute young man standing right in front of me."
Her eyes drifted upstairs toward where Akira had fled.
"How could I possibly resist?" she sighed dreamily. "He's like irresistible eye candy~"
"You belong in prison…" Kazoru muttered flatly.
Kitsune gasped dramatically and placed a hand over her chest as though deeply wounded.
"How rude! I'm simply appreciating beauty."
"That's exactly what makes it worse."
Akira finally reached the fourth floor, slightly out of breath from sprinting up the stairs. The moment he stepped into the hallway, he noticed someone already waiting for him.
A man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit stood calmly beneath the chandelier lights. His polished shoes reflected against the marble floor, and a pair of sleek glasses rested neatly on his face, giving him a sharp and intelligent appearance.
"Ah, Akira. I've been waiting for you."
The man approached with composed steps, his posture refined enough to resemble a noble rather than a servant.
Akira's eyes instantly lit up.
"Are you the king?!"
The sudden question caught the assistant off guard for a second.
"You look really neat… and I can't sense much from you either," Akira continued while staring intensely at him. "So you must be hiding your power really well!"
The assistant adjusted his glasses with a tired sigh, as though this was not the first strange conversation he had dealt with today.
"First, sadly, no—I am not the king." He raised one finger. "Second, I'm neither a warrior nor royalty." Another finger. "Third…" His expression sharpened slightly. "His Majesty has personally taken interest in you."
Akira blinked.
"The king… noticed me?"
"Save your questions for later," the assistant replied before turning around. "Please follow me."
Curiosity immediately overwhelmed Akira as he followed behind. His Keen Instinct quietly spread throughout the area while his eyes wandered around the luxurious surroundings.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the hallways. Paintings decorated the walls while expensive ornaments and polished statues lined the corridors. Even the air smelled refined.
Yet despite all of that… Akira sensed nothing.
No overwhelming aura.
No intimidating presence.
Nothing that screamed "king."
"So… where is the king?" Akira finally asked while glancing around suspiciously. "I thought someone that important would feel… scarier."
"You'll meet him soon enough," the assistant answered calmly.
"But why not now?"
The assistant smiled faintly without slowing his pace.
"Because His Majesty is busy."
He gestured toward the endless stacks of documents carried by passing workers.
"A king's responsibilities never end."
Akira quietly nodded, though he still looked unconvinced.
After nearly two minutes of walking through the grand hallways, the assistant finally stopped before a pair of enormous doors engraved with intricate golden markings.
"We're here."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Even before entering, Akira could feel an indescribable pressure lingering behind the doors.
The moment Akira stepped into the office, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Stacks of paper towered across every corner of the room like unstable mountains waiting to collapse. Shelves overflowing with books lined the walls from floor to ceiling, while loose documents were scattered chaotically across tables, chairs, and even the floor itself.
At the center of the disaster sat a large desk buried beneath endless paperwork.
Akira stared at the horrifying scene for several seconds before slowly turning toward the assistant.
"Don't tell me…" his face stiffened, "this is math."
The assistant blinked. "What?"
"Because I'm terrible at math," Akira admitted with complete seriousness. "I hated it ever since Sora tried teaching me."
The assistant suddenly laughed, the sound echoing through the paper-filled room.
"No, not mathematics." He adjusted his glasses while smiling faintly. "This mess exists because someone out there keeps causing trouble for us."
Akira tilted his head. "Who?"
"We don't know."
The assistant's expression sharpened slightly as he folded his hands together atop the desk.
"That's exactly why His Majesty issued you this assignment."
He pulled out a neatly folded letter from beneath one of the stacks and handed it over.
"Read it."
Akira carefully unfolded the paper and scanned through its contents.
Mission Assignment:
Investigate Sylvan's Garden, west of Celesta.
Akira blinked twice.
"That's it?"
He looked genuinely confused.
"I thought missions were supposed to involve fighting monsters or dangerous enemies."
"Not every mission requires combat," the assistant explained calmly. "Some are far more dangerous precisely because you don't know what you're dealing with."
Akira reread the letter in silence.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had simply assumed every warrior mission revolved around battle.
"…I see."
The assistant nodded approvingly before continuing.
"You won't be handling this alone, however. Your companions will accompany you."
Akira immediately frowned.
"I'd rather go solo."
"No."
The answer came so quickly and firmly that Akira froze.
"You're inexperienced," the assistant stated bluntly. "Talented, yes. But also naive, reckless, and stubborn. Sending a newly licensed warrior alone into an investigation mission would be irresponsible."
Akira looked away with annoyance.
"…You really don't sugarcoat things."
"That's because reality doesn't sugarcoat consequences."
The room fell quiet for a moment before Akira finally sighed in defeat.
"Fine. I'll cooperate."
"Good."
The assistant leaned back in his chair before raising his voice toward the door.
"Come in, Kazoru and Celine."
Akira turned toward the newcomers and noticed Kazoru standing beside an unfamiliar girl.
She had long blonde hair that flowed neatly past her shoulders, with a small purple flower ornament attached delicately near her bangs. Her uniform resembled Kazoru's almost exactly, suggesting they belonged to the same division or academy.
Compared to Kazoru's relaxed demeanor, however, she looked far more reserved.
The assistant briefly introduced her before informing Akira that the three of them would now form a team for the mission. After that, he dismissed them without another word.
The trio soon left the office and began descending the enormous staircase of the palace.
"Wow…" Kazoru stretched his arms behind his head with a grin. "Didn't expect we'd end up teaming together again this soon."
There was clear excitement in his voice.
"Yeah." Akira smiled lightly. "It'll be good working with you again."
He then turned politely toward the blonde girl.
"And it's a pleasure to meet you too, Celine."
"Likewise," Celine replied softly while giving a small nod.
As they continued walking downstairs, Akira's curiosity naturally kicked in. Since they were now teammates, understanding each other's abilities was important.
"So what's your main ability?" he asked.
Celine hesitated for a moment before answering quietly.
"Flower magic… I'm more of a support-type warrior."
The moment she finished speaking, Akira casually rubbed the back of his head and responded,
"Oh, then you probably don't need to waste mana healing me."
"…Eh?"
Celine blinked in confusion.
"Why not?"
A faint uneasiness crept into her expression almost immediately afterward. She misunderstood Akira's words entirely.
Because she specialized in support rather than combat, she had often feared becoming a burden to others. Akira refusing her healing made her wonder if he already considered her useless.
Kazoru instantly realized what was happening.
Having spoken with Shura about Akira's strange abilities before, he already knew the explanation.
Akira noticed Celine's worried face and hurriedly waved his hands.
"No, no, that's not what I meant!"
"Huh?"
"I can heal myself," Akira explained casually. "So using your mana on me would just be inefficient."
Celine's eyes widened in surprise.
"You can regenerate on your own?"
"Pretty much."
"That's amazing…" she murmured in genuine awe. "Then doesn't that make you some kind of support-type warrior too?"
Akira tilted his head thoughtfully.
"…I never thought about it like that."
Kazoru chuckled quietly while the two continued talking.
But the peaceful atmosphere lasted only until they reached the second floor.
The instant Akira looked ahead—
"Eek!?"
His entire body stiffened in horror.
Leaning casually against the hallway wall with a playful smile was Kitsune.
And judging by the mischievous glint in her crimson eyes…
She had clearly been waiting for him.
"Oh dear~ So this is your very first mission together?" Kitsune clasped her hands together excitedly, her fiery tail swaying behind her. "I'm already looking forward to hearing about your great accomplishments."
Her playful eyes slowly drifted toward Akira again, causing him to instinctively stiffen.
Kazoru noticed immediately.
"Oh no…" he muttered under his breath.
Kitsune first wrapped Kazoru in a tight hug despite his visible annoyance, then gently patted Celine's head with surprising affection.
But when she stopped in front of Akira—
He froze.
Without warning, Kitsune leaned forward and planted a soft kiss against his forehead.
Akira's entire face instantly turned bright red. Steam practically threatened to burst from his ears.
"L-Lady Kitsune!?"
She giggled softly at his reaction before leaning close enough for her warm breath to brush against his ear.
"Let's meet again sometime~" she whispered seductively. "And maybe next time, I'll let you handle my soft bags personally."
Akira's soul nearly left his body.
The heated whisper sent chills through his spine while his brain completely failed to process what she meant.
At that moment, Akira finally realized something terrifying.
Women could be scarier than monsters.
Kitsune stepped back with a satisfied smile before waving cheerfully at the group.
"Good luck on your mission~ Try not to die."
"Please stop traumatizing my teammates," Kazoru sighed as he pulled Akira away before Kitsune could say anything worse.
Not long after, the trio departed west of Celesta disguised as ordinary civilians to avoid attracting attention. The city itself was lively and crowded, filled with merchants, workers, and travelers moving through the busy streets.
To gather information more efficiently, they split up and searched separately for anything suspicious.
Four hours passed.
The sun had already begun setting when Akira finally noticed something strange.
A man dressed in dark clothing cautiously glanced left and right several times before quickly approaching an old brick wall hidden within a narrow alleyway.
Then—
He walked straight through it.
Akira's eyes widened.
"…What?"
For a brief moment, he wondered if exhaustion had started affecting his vision. But after confirming what he saw, he immediately rushed to regroup with Kazoru and Celine.
The three returned to the alley shortly afterward.
Akira pointed toward the wall while explaining everything he had witnessed. Kazoru carefully stretched a finger toward the bricks.
His finger passed straight through the surface like water.
"It's an illusion barrier," Celine whispered nervously.
Akira volunteered to enter first and carefully stepped through the wall.
The moment he crossed over, the atmosphere completely changed.
Darkness swallowed the passage ahead.
A long underground trail stretched before him like the entrance to some hidden mine. Rough stone walls surrounded the narrow pathway while the faint smell of metal and chemicals lingered in the cold air.
After confirming it was safe enough, Akira signaled for the others to follow.
The deeper they walked, the louder the strange mechanical noises became.
Then they finally arrived.
A massive underground chamber opened before their eyes.
It resembled a laboratory far more than a hideout.
Rows of unknown machines hummed loudly while enormous generators roared in the background, their deafening vibrations echoing throughout the room. Strange gadgets covered countless tables, papers were scattered everywhere, and large tubes filled with mysterious creatures lined the walls.
Inside the laboratory stood twenty-two scientists, all busy working without noticing the intruders.
Akira slowly narrowed his eyes.
Whatever this place was…
It was far worse than they originally imagined.
One of the scientists stood before a massive glass tube filled with glowing green liquid, proudly presenting the creature suspended inside it.
"We've decided to name this specimen the Incomplete Metamorian."
The grotesque being floated motionlessly within the fluid, its distorted body twitching unnaturally from time to time. Veins pulsed beneath grayish skin while fragments of armor-like flesh slowly shifted and evolved across its limbs as though the creature itself couldn't stabilize its own form.
"Our ultimate objective," the scientist continued, adjusting his glasses, "is the destruction of Celesta. Once evolution is complete, the designation 'Incomplete' will naturally be discarded."
Akira's expression darkened.
Even Celine quietly covered her mouth after seeing the creature's horrifying appearance.
The group remained hidden in silence, carefully observing the laboratory while waiting for the perfect chance to move. The deafening noise of the generators helped conceal their breathing, but tension still hung heavily in the air.
Then suddenly—
Clack.
The sound of a door opening echoed throughout the chamber.
Every scientist immediately straightened their posture.
Someone important had arrived.
Kazoru instinctively narrowed his eyes toward the entrance… then froze.
The man who entered looked painfully familiar.
Messy black hair fell over his tired eyes while crude stitches covered parts of his body, stretching across his neck, arms, and even portions of his face. Old burn marks and scars layered his hands as though he had survived countless experiments or battles.
The moment Kazoru saw him, a strange sense of unease crawled through his chest.
"I know that person…" he whispered under his breath.
But no matter how hard he tried to remember—
The name refused to surface in his mind.
"You finished?"
The man's cold voice echoed throughout the laboratory as his sharp gaze locked onto the scientists before him.
Instantly, the atmosphere turned suffocating.
The researchers who had once spoken proudly now stood frozen in fear, sweat dripping from their faces under the monstrous pressure radiating from him. His presence alone felt unnatural—like standing near something deeply wrong.
"N-Not yet, sir…" one of the scientists stammered nervously. "We'll need at least three more weeks before the stabilization process is fi—"
Before he could finish—
The man suddenly grabbed him by the throat.
"Ghk—!"
The scientist's feet lifted off the ground as panic immediately spread through the room.
"I'm tired of waiting," the man growled, his stitched face twisting with irritation. "Can't you shorten the time?"
"W-We're sorry, sir…" he choked out painfully. "But it's impossible to speed it up that much… Mutating DNA and forcing evolution takes time… Even with all of us working nonstop…" Tears welled in the man's eyes as he desperately tried to appease him.
"Is that your excuse, I heard? If I'm not mistaken, quantities enhance timing." His voice grew cold, "Twenty-two of you here and can't even amplify a simple formula I gave you to shorten the time?"
"If the work can't go on any faster according to my tempo," A faint black glow began spreading across his palm. "I can make your death much faster!" The man's burning hand slowly seared into his neck. Flesh began to char beneath the heat while the smell of burning skin spread through the room
"PLEASE! PLEASE, I'LL WORK HARDER!" he cried desperately. "TWICE AS HARD—NO, TEN TIMES! JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CHAN—!"
The scientist was in a desperate state, pleaded for mercy but was fallen on death ears.
At first, his screams echoed violently throughout the laboratory as he collapsed onto the floor, desperately rolling left and right in a futile attempt to extinguish the fire consuming him.
But it was useless.
The flames clung to him unnaturally, burning hotter and hotter until flesh blackened, skin peeled away, and his body slowly crumbled into ash before everyone's eyes. A quick death would have been merciful.
"Trash," the man spat coldly while crushing the pile of ashes beneath his boot. "Completely worthless."
"Listen up!" The man yelled.
"My patience for incompetent garbage like him is running thin." Several scientists trembled uncontrollably while lowering their heads, terrified of accidentally making eye contact.
I suggest all of you start working both harder and smarter if you wish to survive. What I say goes!"
"Make one word about me to ease your frustration, I'll burn this place and turn you filthy monkeys into nothing but ashes. Got that?" Stomping the scientist's ashes, the man struck fear into their hearts.
"Y-YES SIR!"
They all obeyed without a single one daring to disobey and started working with nervous looks. After the scientist was burned, the three were shocked and frightened as he would burn his henchmen. And so, they canceled their attacks, left the lair, and went back to the castle to report it.