V2 Chapter 9 Ranks Don't Mean *****

Hikaru POV

 

As we blindfolded every villager gathered and led them through the portal. I could help but notice V7 being extremely quiet.

 

Starting to think about it he hasn't spoken a word since we left that river, even as I checked him for wounds he just kept quiet instead of telling me his protection spell was still up.

 

He must be thinking of that mermaid! Wow! I get to experience V7's first crush! Didn't think this stone-hearted guy was capable of it! But then again. .... This is when he's younger. ..... Much younger.

 

As I transport the last girl, I walked up to V7 who was scanning the area to see if anyone was following us, the whole time while I was transporting the villagers.

 

" That was the last one, we are done here."

 

I informed him, and he just nodded his head but continued to watch the forest. I pulled his arm to get him to look at me but I couldn't tell his expression through the helmet. I slip my hand under the helmet and untie the buckle before taking the helmet off his head. He was in such a daze that he didn't even notice. The tips of his hair were covering the top of his right eye.

 

"Thinking about her aren't ya?"

 

I asked him. He slowly looks up at me, pulling himself back to reality, the pupils of his eyes were much bigger than normal. Just like a cat! I suddenly found my heart racing.

 

" W- W what?!No! Who?! It's nothing! You're thinking about someone! "

 

He tells me as he starts to avoid eye contact with me.

 

" It's obviously, not nothing. You're easy to read Shinigami. I can easily tell it had something to do with that mermaid earlier today. Let me guess, you found her cute and it's love at first sight?"

 

V7 gives me a shocked look as his face turns a bright red.

 

" N-nnnn No! It's not that!"

 

God that is so cute! I never knew V7 stutters when's he's nervous!

 

" Oh? Then you must have been thinking of how much cuter you can make her underneath you, all exposed and!"

 

V7's face turns redder as he covers my mouth and stutters even more.

 

" The-th-then- What?! Nnnn-No! I- it! It's not like that!"

 

I just grin at him with a " Are you sure?" expression.

 

" Shut up! It's not like that! Stupid!"

 

I move his hand away from my mouth.

 

" Then would you care to explain?"

 

I asked with a huge grin, finding much amusement, teasing him. V7 sighs as he sits on the ground and rubs his neck awkwardly. I sat down next to him and waited. He would normally think out loud, but since he doesn't trust me yet, he keeps silent for a long time.

 

After a couple of minutes passed, he suddenly notices I was staring at him which gave him a fright.

 

" L-look! I don't really know. ... it's. .. there's something about that song she sang. It was as if she was speaking to my soul telling me that many beings die every day, and the only thing they leave behind is their song... their story that fades throughout time. Why waste your short life in a sad sick world when there's a chance for you to do whatever you can to make it better? There's not enough time in a lifetime to tell you all the heroes who built the path for a better tomorrow. Our tale will be told but will it be something that's lost in the depths of sorrow or would it inspire others to pick up your torch?

I'll keep singing along to remind myself what kind of tale I want to become... It was creepy how it felt like she was looking through my soul... but it pains me to say... she's right. .... What kind of man do I want to be? I used to know but now that I'm seeing everything in a different light. .... I'm not sure anymore. "

 

I guess some things never change.....

He still worries about the small things.

 

" Keep chasing it until you're sure. Until you know it's what you want or not. If it is, then follow it to the end, if it isn't.... find out why and then decide from there. Either way, your heart will tell you sooner or later."

 

V7's eyes suddenly lit back up as he stares at me.

 

" For a Rookie, you're really wise!"

 

"... Aren't you, my Master? You are supposed to be teaching me! Not the other way around!"

 

" Eh...? Come on! Cut me some slack, it's my first day on the job. I am a Master Rookie."

 

V7 cunningly says twisting my earlier excuse and giving it back to me.

 

" Well while I'm at it, I might as well clear things up for you. You just justify that mermaid's song because you wanna bang her and sing a duet together while living under the same roof, growing old together, and all that mushy crap. But ultimately you want her on your bed with legs, underneath you as you rip away!"

 

He immediately stands on his knees to cover my mouth with both his hand.

 

" I TOLD YOU IT WASN'T LIKE THAT!!! IDIOT!!!"

 

He glares down at me with those adorable huge emerald cat-shaped eyes where his right eye is almost hidden behind his shiny black hair, tinted pink blushing face against his beautiful moonlight skin, which sent a shiver down my spine of excitement. OMG! Sooo! Cute!! I have experience V7's adorable side!! I can die happy now. If I knew he had this side of him in the past I would make this my default period each time

I fail and turn back time. Note to self make this my new default setting.

 

" WHY THE HECK ARE YOU HAPPY?!!! DON'T YOU KNOW I'M SCOLDING YOU?!!"

 

He grabs the collar of my armor and shakes me.

 

" Eh? I'm not allowed to be happy for my Master, finding love?"

 

" For the 100th time!! I don't love her!! I don't even know her!!"

 

" Hmm... Crush then?"

 

V7 hits me hard on the head with his gauntlet.

 

" OW!! What was that for?!"

 

" Either get your brain out of the toilet!! Or flush it down!! We have a village to save!"

 

He angrily says as he gets up and climbs onto his Caravan.

 

" Work before love huh? Wonder if your wife will be able to endure it."

 

"Keep talking like that and you can walk back."

 

" I'm so sorry Master Rookie! Please accept this humble apology from this toilet brain student!"

 

" Hm! You're lucky it's still your first day! Hurry up before I change my mind!"

 

I immediately took my seat next to him as soon as I was on, he signaled the horses.

 

" What's the plan now?"

 

" We should have captured that mermaid."

 

"..."

 

I just stared at him, utterly speechless.

 

" W-What?..... She would have made good bait!.... For the plan! I mean!"

 

" Why are you so coy about your feelings? If you miss her or want to see her again, then just say so. There's no need to make up terrible excuses. I would help you look for her if you just said so."

 

" S-Shut THE HELL UP! IF I SAID IT ISNT LIKE THAT THEN IT ISNT LIKE THAT!!"

 

" ... Oooookay... So what's the plan now?"

 

" We go to every Guild here, collect all the quest on nearby demons then draw out a strategy for tomorrow."

 

" Good plan, this village only has an adventurer guild. So that should make things easier."

 

" Great! Hopefully, we can start finding those girls soon."

 

We reached back to the village and immediately headed for the Guild. Hopefully, the heat from earlier has died down...

 

" This place stinks of booze. "

 

V7 whined as he frowned.

 

" Most Guilds are equipped with a tavern and an inn."

 

" Convenient, hopefully, their rooms don't stink as bad as this."

 

V7 enters the Guild which was bursting with life as the Guild members cheer at two members who were having an arm-wrestling match.

 

V7 walks up to the notice board and starts scanning for the quests.

 

Having a close look at those two people. ... isn't that the ruby brute from earlier? Looks like he's having a hard time.... his opponent has a very unique helmet on... must be a Paladin.

 

" There's zero demon quests here....."

 

" Really? Better ask the front desk."

 

I suggested absent-mindedly, V7 nodded at me and went to the front desk,

I followed along but I was more focused on the Paladin. I noticed the shine from his tag...

A Bronze Rank Paladin? Fooling around with a Ruby Rank muscle brain... they must be from the same party.

 

" Yes?"

 

A different guild worker looked up as soon as she noticed V7 in front of her.

 

" There have been complaints on demon activities in this village but there aren't any demon quests. Why?"

 

V7 asked her as he leaned over her desk, examining the hole I punched into the desk earlier.

 

" That's because it was a Good-paid quest. Good paid Quests are normally the first to be finished. Porcelain rank like yourself should maybe take a lower tier quest, demons are too strong for you anyway."

 

She suggested as she pulled out another quest request and showed him. From the looks of the shield must be one of those Asil Crusaders... I thought as I stared at the Paladin.

 

" Thanks for the tip, I would also like a room for two people."

 

V7 waves the quest away, pays the worker and takes the key.

 

" The inn room key doesn't fit the style of the Guild."

 

V7 then turns to me as he looks at the key.

But then he noticed my constant stare at the Paladin.

 

" What's wrong, Rookie?"

 

" It's that Paladin...."

 

"Hmm?"

 

V7 turns to look at the Paladin.

 

"Asil Crusaders.... weird aren't those Crusaders all woman?"

 

" Right! They are! No wonder I felt so weird!!"

 

" Didn't I give the order that all females in the village were to gather and meet me at dusk?"

 

V7 demanded as he walked over to their table.

 

" HEY! YOU DO YOU THINK YOU ARE NEW BLOOD?! Go home to your mummy! Greenhorn! And leave this to the real men!"

 

The ruby-ranked brute yelled back at V7 with a pointed finger.

 

"...If you are this so-called 'real man' then please stop this match and let this lady go. She's in grave danger and we must get her to safety."

 

V7 nicely says as he gestures toward the paladin.

 

"Greenhorn! You blind under that thick helmet or something? She's a Paladin! She doesn't need a thumb-sucking baby to be protecting her and bossing her around!"

 

The rude knight yelled again, getting on my nerves. He was just a low-rank knight and yet he dared to talk as if he owned the place.

 

" YEAH!!"

 

The crowd within the guild yelled, agreeing with the idiot.

 

" Boys! Don't be mean. The little chick just hasn't grown the brain capacity to acknowledge that not all women are damsels in distress."

 

Paladin stands from her seat and walks towards V7 in a sexy way while she took off her helmet revealing her sexy ruby lips... stunning brown eyes and milky chocolate hair.... the smell of her perfume hits me... such a sweet smell. .....

 

" It is not that I don't acknowledge your strength, I do but we are up against an opponent we know nothing about. It is extremely dangerous since no one is able to detect it. Rookie, wait ten minutes then escort her to the others. I'll scout out the area."

 

V7 explains as he gestured toward me and gave me my orders. I nodded at V7 and offered her a seat.

 

" What this? A little chick ordering around a Gold Rank? Aren't you just too much?"

 

She exclaimed with a scoff when she noticed my rank tag.

 

" YEAH! Who do you think you are?!!"

 

A random person in the crowd yelled out.

 

" And such a talented man following orders? What's wrong? Lost your balls?"

 

She asks as she grips my balls. I didn't give her any reaction.

 

" Madam, please. We are doing this for your own safety."

 

I sternly inform her, doing my best not to punch her in the face and allow the situation to spiral out of hand.

 

" Oh? Looks like we have a eunuch! Boys!"

 

She announced and the crowd went wild.

 

" Ha! Should have known!! He came in crying about greenhorns begin slaughtered by weak goblins!"

 

That annoying ruby-ranked knight added.

 

" Maybe you should say that after a night moaning like a bi**** in heat under him. I bet he'll give you triples and you wouldn't know what to do with so much man shoved up you."

 

V7 says with a stern tone as he grabs her hand off me and pushes her back.

 

" Looks like the little chick isn't all yellow. Let mummy show you, how yellow you will be when your feathers come in."

 

She throws a punch at V7, he dodges and kicks her knees which made her fall onto her knees in front of me.

 

" What's wrong? Rather swallow it down than have it shoved up?"

 

The Paladin growls at V7 but before she could do anything he does a dropkick to her head which knocked her out.

 

" Anyone else has a problem?!"

 

V7 yelled at the crowd. The whole crowd glared at V7 and started to pull out their weapons. Whole guild vs V7 and me, hmm... I like those odds.

 

" Oh... guess that's everyone. Bring it on then! We don't got all night!"

 

V7 challenged as he gestured for all of them to attack.

 

*Bang!*

 

A strong wind blew through the door slamming them wide open and blowing out every lit candle. I immediately grabbed the Paladin and drew my sword. V7 immediately stands in front of me. There was much commotion coming from the other members.

 

* Sounds of things falling*

*Eerie Silence*

 

" Ahrg!"

 

V7 yelled out in pain, but since it was dark I couldn't see what had happened.

 

" Mitch Rich I-Ike! Retonga!"

 

A voice yelled out in the dark, casting a spell.

 

*Bang*

 

The sound of the doors slamming closed and the candles suddenly lit back up. The Paladin was still unconscious in my arms, V7 was still standing in front of me but everyone else was laying on the ground asleep.

 

" What the heck happened?!"

 

I asked in utter shock.

 

" I'm. ... not sure. ."

 

V7 says as he covers his arm with his cloak. They all slowly started getting up, even the Paladin.

 

" Ha! Should have known!! He came in crying about greenhorns begin slaughtered by weak goblins!"

 

The rudy-ranked idiot yelled at me.

 

" What is this?! Eunuch! Trying to prove you're, not one?"

 

The paladin asks as she pushes herself out of my grip.

They're acting as if nothing happened!!"

 

" Memory wipe... "

 

V7 muttered to himself and he watched everyone's reaction.

 

" Sango! Sango has disappeared!!"

 

A man shouts as he stands from his table.

 

" Wasn't she a Bronze ranked?! You sure she isn't in the bathroom?"

 

The rudy-ranked idiot asked.

 

" She was here, sitting in front of me commenting on the greenhorn a second ago! And now she's gone!!"

 

The man explained as he pointed at the empty seat in front of him. The whole Guild fell into an awkward silence.

 

" 3 minutes memory wipe on at least 40 people. With just 4 words. This is very bad..... if we are using your ranking system..... This kind of being and level... This situation is more dangerous than I thought..."

 

V7 muttered to himself as he grinned.

 

"Wonderful"

 

V7 whispers to himself in a creepy manner. I have never seen an unhinged V7 before and something tells me it would be better if I didn't find out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ICW V2

 

V2" Today's guest, V4.1! So rat face, how does it feel killing off another character and taking his place just to show the world your birth isn't a mistake?"

 

V4.1" Ah, you never run out of warm welcomes. Do you, teacher? Well for starters, I don't really care whether you accept me as a real version or not and I'm not going to entertain you, who**."

 

V2" Hmm should have smashed some manners into that huge mistake of a brain. I'll do it later."

______________________________________________