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Chapter 63: Home Tutor (Reborn)
Hearing that Bell was under attack by the Apollo Familia, Tsuna sprinted out of the Loki Familia's home base.
"Hah… Hah…"
Desperate to reach Bell as quickly as possible, Tsuna dashed through the city streets.
"The noise stopped…?"
The explosions he had heard earlier suddenly ceased. Feeling a deep sense of unease, Tsuna maintained his pace, frantically searching for Bell to confirm his safety.
"Found them!!"
After ten minutes of running, Tsuna finally spotted Bell. Standing beside him with grave expressions were Hestia and Welf.
"Tsunayoshi!!"
"Is it true the Apollo Familia attacked you!?"
"Yeah... We're fine... Though we just postponed the problem. More importantly, another issue has popped up."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain everything once we move to a safer location."
.....
Tsuna and the others relocated to the home base of the Miach Familia, a faction on friendly terms with the Hestia Familia. Their own home, the abandoned church, had been completely destroyed by the Apollo Familia during the attack, leaving them homeless.
Meanwhile, stating he had something important to take care of, Welf temporarily parted ways with the group and returned to his own faction, the Hephaestus Familia.
"It's terrible timing, but allow me to introduce you, Tsunayoshi. This is my friend, the God Miach."
"I am Miach. A pleasure to meet you."
Hestia introduced the handsome, blue-haired God standing before her. This was Miach, the patron deity of the Miach Familia. As the God of Medicine, he was exactly as gentle and kind as he looked, deeply beloved by the people. However, his profound compassion was also his biggest flaw—he had a terrible habit of giving away their stock of healing potions for free to those in need.
"And this is his Captain, Naaza."
"Nice to meet you…"
Next, she introduced a cool, short-haired Chienthrope woman. Her name was Naaza Erisuis. She was the Captain of the Miach Familia, and currently its sole member. Naaza was originally a Level 2 adventurer known as the [Míal Hound], but after a monster in the dungeon ripped off her arm, the trauma rendered her completely unable to enter the dungeon. Desperate to help her, Miach purchased a top-of-the-line prosthetic arm for her. However, the prosthetic was so absurdly expensive that the Familia was plunged into massive debt. Unable to bear the financial burden, every other member abandoned the Familia, reducing the once mid-tier faction to near poverty.
Possessing skills as a pharmacist, she now worked tirelessly making potions, blaming herself for her Familia's downfall and striving desperately to pay off the crushing debt. However, because Miach kept giving away their products for free, the debt never seemed to shrink. Furthermore, Naaza was deeply in love with Miach. However, Miach was incredibly dense and completely oblivious to her feelings, and he had a terrible habit of unintentionally charming other women, causing Naaza endless headaches.
"I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi. Please, just call me Tsuna."
"I see. It's a cramped Familia, but please make yourself at home."
"Thank you."
Tsuna politely thanked Miach, grateful that the God had welcomed him so warmly despite never having met him before.
"So, what exactly happened?"
"..."
Bell recounted everything that had occurred after Tsuna left that morning. After Tsuna departed, the Apollo Familia launched a massive, coordinated assault, willingly accepting the Guild's penalties just to forcefully kidnap Bell. Lili, Welf, and members of both the Miach and Takemikazuchi Familias had fought desperately to protect him, but they were vastly overwhelmed by the Apollo Familia's numbers and tactics. Fearing that Bell would be taken if the battle continued, Hestia grabbed Bell, marched straight to the Apollo Familia's estate, and formally challenged Apollo to a War Game to force them to back off.
"But even if we participate in a War Game…"
"Yeah. Winning will be incredibly difficult. But the fact that Apollo accepted the challenge is the only silver lining. The specific rules will be decided at a Denatus assembly by the Gods. Depending on the rules, we might have a tiny sliver of a chance. It's mostly wishful thinking, though."
"I'll participate too. In the War Game."
"You can't, Tsunayoshi!! The War Game is broadcast to all of Orario!!"
"The Goddess is right!! If you do that…"
Hearing the desperate situation, Tsuna immediately resolved to join the War Game. However, if Tsuna fought, his existence and power would be exposed to the entire city. Hestia and Bell frantically tried to stop him.
"I want to win…"
"""Eh?"""
"I absolutely refuse to lose to people who try to steal someone's friends by force… I definitely won't lose to the Apollo Familia!!"
"""!?"""
Tsuna's resolve was unshakable. Because the normally timid Tsuna was asserting himself with such fierce determination, Bell and Hestia were stunned into silence.
"Well said, Tsuna. A Boss who abandons his subordinates has no place in the Vongola."
"Eh… Gah!?"
"Tsuna!?"
"Tsunayoshi!?"
Suddenly, a mysterious voice echoed through the room. A split second later, Tsuna was violently dropkicked across the room by an unseen force. Hestia and Bell recoiled in shock.
"Yo. It's been a while, Dame-Tsuna."
"R-Reborn!?"
Standing before them was Reborn—who was supposed to be back in their original world. Tsuna stared at the infant, completely paralyzed by shock.
"A-A baby is talking..."
"And he's standing perfectly upright…"
"H-How bizarre…"
"What race is he…?"
Seeing an infant standing perfectly on two legs and speaking with the cadence of an adult, Bell, Hestia, Miach, and Naaza were absolutely dumbfounded.
Wait a second!! Isn't Reborn the name of someone from Tsunayoshi's world!?
Don't tell me this baby is Tsuna's comrade!?
Shocked by the talking infant, they had momentarily forgotten, but Hestia and Bell suddenly recalled that Tsuna had mumbled the name 'Reborn' when they first met him. They instantly realized that Reborn was from Tsuna's world.
"Reborn!? What are you doing here!?"
"Isn't it obvious? I came to Orario to be your home tutor, obviously."
"Eh…!?"
Does that mean…
No way…
Hearing Reborn's words, Tsuna, Hestia, and Bell realized the truth: Reborn had intentionally traveled to this world using some unknown method.
"Are you Bell and Hestia?"
"H-How do you know our names…!?"
"Simple. I heard Tsuna was staying with you. Plus, the whole city is currently gossiping about the Hestia and Apollo Familias fighting a War Game over Bell."
"You already found out about that?"
"So? Do you have any chance of winning?"
"It depends entirely on the rules. But to be perfectly honest, our chances are abysmally low. Even if it was just a one-on-one duel between Bell and their Captain, Bell fought him earlier today and was completely outclassed."
"Then how about I train Bell?"
"Eh!?"
"Y-You will!?"
Oh, this is bad…
Never in a million years did Bell and Hestia expect Reborn to offer such a thing. They were thrilled, but Tsuna's face instantly drained of all color.
"I heard you took care of Tsuna. Consider this my thanks. So, what'll it be? Are you in?"
"U-Umm…"
"Bell!! You absolutely shouldn't do it!! You'll definitely regret it!!"
"I wasn't asking you."
"Guh!?"
Despite offering Bell the choice, Reborn mercilessly kicked Tsuna in the face for interrupting.
"I'm the one who made Tsuna as strong as he is."
"Eh!?"
"If you undergo my training, I guarantee you'll become stronger than you are now. Assuming you have the resolve, that is."
"My resolve…?"
"If you have Tsuna attack the Apollo Familia right now, he can definitely crush them. If he did that, your safety would be guaranteed. If you're fine with that, I won't say another word. However, I have absolutely no intention of training a coward. But, if you're willing to throw away guaranteed safety because you still want to win with your own hands… I'll train you. What's your answer?"
"..."
Reborn deliberately offered a tempting out, testing Bell's resolve with a carrot and a stick. Bell fell silent, staring down at the floor as he thought.
"I'll do it."
"Good answer. Well said, Bell."
Ah… This is going to be a disaster…
Hearing Bell's response, Reborn flashed an incredibly sinister, excited smirk. Seeing that smile, Tsuna felt a profound sense of impending doom.
"Alright then, we're leaving for your training immediately."
"Immediately!?"
"Yeah. Hurry up and get ready."
"U-Understood…"
"So, that's the deal. I'm taking this guy out of Orario. Got it?"
"I don't mind, but… Are you planning on leaving the city?"
Since Bell had made the decision himself, Hestia didn't intervene and accepted Reborn's request.
"Yeah. We could train here, but exposing him to a variety of harsh environments is the fastest way to force growth. Also, do you have a detailed map of the areas outside Orario?"
"We can provide that for you. Naaza."
"Yes, Lord Miach."
Hearing Reborn needed a map, Miach instructed Naaza to fetch one. Naaza nodded and headed into the back of the clinic.
"Also, Bell. Take off your armor."
"Eh?"
"It's pointless to have it. Just bring your weapons."
"Y-Yes sir…"
Completely baffled by Reborn's logic, Bell reluctantly unequipped his armor. Because they were originally planning to go to the dungeon, he had been fully geared up.
"Here is the map."
"Thanks."
Naaza returned and handed the map to Reborn. Reborn quickly scanned it.
"I see. I've got the gist of it."
"You can read Koine at your age?"
"I memorized it just now."
"Eh…?"
Miach was impressed that such a young child could read the common language, but Reborn's casual response left him blinking in confusion.
"Do you know when the War Game will be held?"
"The Gods will decide that at the assembly shortly. I'll do everything in my power to buy you as much time as possible to train."
"How much time can you buy?"
"One week."
"That's more than enough. Tsuna."
"W-What is this...!?"
Reborn casually tossed something to Tsuna. Tsuna caught it and stared at the object in absolute disbelief. It was a smartphone.
"Once the War Game schedule is finalized, use that to contact me. I've modified it so it works in this world."
"R-Right…"
"Let's go, Bell. We don't have a second to waste."
"Y-Yes sir!!"
"Leave things here to us, Bell. Just focus entirely on your training."
"Yes!! I'm off!!"
With that, Bell and Reborn left the Miach Familia and headed out of Orario.
"I'm sorry, Hestia… I'm apologizing in advance…"
"Apologizing? For what?"
"About Bell… H-He might actually die before the War Game even starts…"
"B-Bell might die!? W-What are you talking about!?"
"Reborn's training is completely insane… I've almost died during it more times than I can count… He's gentle with girls, but when it comes to guys, he has absolutely zero mercy…"
"..."
Seeing the sheer, traumatized terror in Tsuna's eyes, Hestia realized he wasn't joking. She was struck completely speechless.
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