The Mecha-Kai Species During Dimensional Travel

"Or perhaps... continue traveling?"

Takuson spoke with great excitement, even listing out training regimens on his own.

Over the many years, Takuson had successfully challenged and cleared the [Virtual Combat Arena] once. He fought his way through it all, reaching the final boss that Xiu Er had set back then—the "Blood Knight Dracole."

At first, Takuson failed against Dracole no fewer than a hundred times, and each time he had to start from the beginning, with every monster growing stronger. There was no need to describe how torturous it was.

Fortunately, on his 364th attempt, he finally succeeded in killing Dracole and cleared the [Virtual Combat Arena] on Easy Mode.

Yes, you read that right—it was "Easy Mode."

In Xiu Er's database, there was still a record of the expression on his face when he learned that he had only passed "Easy Mode," and that he would have to continue challenging "Normal Mode" next, with "Hard" and "Hell" difficulties still waiting.

That look—there was no need to describe how priceless it was, so much so that Xiu Er couldn't help but snap a picture...

Back to the present.

"..."

Xiu Er didn't reply, simply watching him quietly.

But Takuson had long grown accustomed to his teacher's ways. When the teacher didn't respond, it usually meant one of two things:

One, she couldn't be bothered to speak.

Two, she was thinking.

And the way to tell was simply to see if her eyes were glowing.

Right now, for instance, Xiu Er's eyes were faintly shimmering, a few streams of data flowing through them.

"[Reply] There's indeed no rush for training at the moment." She stood up, looking down at Takuson, who was crouched before her.

"Let's go."

"Oh."

He didn't ask where they were headed. Over all these years, Takuson had always been like that.

A few days later—

It was already evening.

This time, Xiu Er didn't let Takuson rest. She simply led him to the entrance of a certain cave.

Takuson followed behind, a look of confusion on his face.

"Teacher, is there something inside here?"

He stared at the pitch-black cave mouth, unable to understand why his teacher had come here.

But Xiu Er didn't answer him. Instead, she asked another question on her own.

"Takuson."

"Hm?"

"Have you... heard the story of the [Hero]?"

Chapter 19: A Growing Heart

Legend has it that in the distant past, during the mythological age when the Goddess had not yet departed, there was a "Holy Sword" personally bestowed by the Goddess.

The Holy Sword was a gift from the Goddess to all living beings.

But this sword could only be drawn by the Hero; no one else could move it even an inch.

When the world faced a calamity of destruction, the Hero who drew this "Holy Sword" would become the one to save the world.

"Oh—I've never heard this legend before."

After listening to Xiu Er's story, Takuson savored its contents, then simply said one thing:

I've never heard it.

"Is that so."

"[Correction] Then you've heard it now."

"That makes sense, I guess. So does this legend have anything to do with where you're headed, Teacher?"

As if he had guessed something, Takuson glanced again at the cave before him.

It was dark inside, and with it being evening, it was even darker, making it impossible to see what was within.

"Don't tell me... the 'Holy Sword' you mentioned, Teacher, is inside here?"

"[Affirmation]."

"So it wasn't just a story?!"

Takuson's voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief.

When he learned that a legendary "Holy Sword" was truly sealed inside this cave, Takuson's mood instantly became excited.

Good heavens, how did the teacher know that Holy Sword was here? Wait, since it was a Holy Sword bestowed by the Goddess, it made sense that the teacher, as the Goddess's Angel, would know about it.

Seeing the admiration in her disciple's eyes deepen once more, Xiu Er, unaware of the situation, felt puzzled. But she didn't dwell on it and simply continued explaining.

"[Inquiry] I happened to detect an unknown special reaction, so I came over. After approaching a certain distance, I identified its true nature."

"[Speculation] That 'Holy Sword' is currently inside this cave."

Takuson didn't actually understand many of the terms his teacher used. But having spent seven years with Xiu Er, he could translate those words into something he could grasp.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go in and take a look." Saying this, he tried to pull Xiu Er inside quickly.

The latter didn't stop him, letting herself be dragged along. To make it easier for him, she kindly floated just above the ground.

"[Inquiry] Takuson, do you want to obtain this 'Holy Sword'?"

"Eh, Teacher, what kind of question is that?"

Walking ahead on the path, Takuson led the way since the cave had only one route, so Xiu Er didn't need to guide from the front. The light orb summoned by "Illumination Magic" hovered between them, illuminating the stone walls and the path ahead.

Facing Xiu Er's question, Takuson turned his head to look at his teacher. "I'm a proper man, you know. Things like 'Hero,' 'Holy Sword,' 'saving the world'—how could I stay calm about that? It's cool, alright."

The sparkle in his eyes showed that every word came from the heart.

Indeed, this child's temperament in recent years had completely become fitting for his age. How strange. Was it because he was around the person he trusted most?

Having this doubt, Xiu Er didn't hold it in and asked directly. "[Doubt] The you from before wasn't like this."

"Eh, like what?"

"[Answer] You only wanted to train, fight, and grow stronger, with no interest in anything else. Because of the hatred in your heart and your resolve for revenge, the you of the past was merely an 'Avenger'..." Xiu Er's golden eyes met Takuson's violet ones. "[Supplement] Completely different from the you now."

Not to mention a child's dreams.

In Xiu Er's view, the Takuson of that time had only blind vengeance in his heart, wanting to exterminate all Demons for the sake of his lost family and friends. To that end, he would even harm his own body to train—though Xiu Er stopped him every time. She had originally thought this child would be controlled by that emotion for the rest of his life. That was another reason she hadn't wanted to bring him along back then.

Although she knew people grew up and childhood thoughts changed with age, according to the results Xiu Er deduced from her database, such a "change" shouldn't happen this quickly. Based on this child's experiences, it would take at least until his twenties before signs of improvement appeared.

Takuson looked at Xiu Er's golden eyes staring back at him. Though still cold, he could feel the confusion within them. Then he suddenly smiled.

"Teacher, you're not 'human,' are you."

Huh?

No, you rebellious disciple, why are you cursing me out?

That sudden "not human" caught Xiu Er off guard.

"'Human' is actually the shortest-lived race, compared to Demons, Elves, and Dwarves." I know that, but why are you suddenly bringing this up, kid?

"Teacher, you must be someone who has lived for who knows how many years, so naturally you can't understand the emotions of us short-lived beings."

No, no, I was originally a pure human at first, so I do understand such things.

Silently complaining about every word her disciple said, Xiu Er still kept her usual calm expression on the surface.

"That's right—back then, I was incredibly immature. All I wanted was to get stronger, to avenge my parents and friends, to slaughter every last Demon..."

Lost in some memory, Takuson actually started reflecting on his life.

Immature or not, you're only fifteen right now. That line just now sounded like some old man in his forties reminiscing.

No, wait—what's going on?

I only asked one question, and you're already like this?

"I've never abandoned my resolve to 'slaughter every Demon,' and I've never forgotten those 'blood debts.'"

As he spoke, Takuson stopped walking and turned around to face Xiu Er, who was following behind.

"At first, I was indeed impatient. But later, under your guidance, Teacher, I came to understand that impatience achieves nothing. Rushing for results won't get you anything—in fact, it might even backfire."

"Back then, the me who only saw 'getting stronger' and 'revenge' as everything was nothing but a fool."

"It's also thanks to you not abandoning me back then, always teaching me to fight and train, that I was able to improve so quickly."

Ahaha... back then, I actually did have thoughts of ditching you.

"And if you hadn't saved me back then, I might not have made it past that year..." At this point, Takuson pursed his lips, as if recalling something painful.

"In a way, without you, there would be no me today."

Realizing the topic was drifting into strange territory, Xiu Er didn't know what to say, so she just kept her poker face.

But based on her disciple's confession, she got the answer to her earlier confusion.

What's this? This kid's mentality is nothing like what a fifteen-year-old should have.

"I understand."

Not bothering with why the topic had shifted to gratitude, Xiu Er simply nodded in response, calm and indifferent.

Takuson was long used to his teacher's personality. Sure enough, nothing could ever move her.