The Author's POV

Chapter 77: Homecoming [4]

After waking up, I headed downstairs to the kitchen.

The first thing I saw as soon as I entered the kitchen was a small note left on the table.

Picking it up, I read through the contents.

===

Ren, if you're reading this your mom and dad have already gone to work.

Once you wake up, bring Nola to the park outside and enjoy your weekend. I've already sent you some money to your account for when you go out.

At around 12:00 P.M. you should come down to the guild with Nola. After we are done sorting out some stuff we will bring you guys to lunch.

See you soon.

Love mom and dad

===

They're already at work huh…

I guess with everything that was going on in the guild, it wasn't strange for them to work on weekends too.

Neatly folding the small note, I headed towards the dining table where warm dishes covered in a thin plastic film were already prepared.

As I sat on the table, lifting the plastic film, the fragrance of the bacon and the eggs on the plate instantly invaded my nostrils.

Without skipping a beat, I devoured everything that was on the plate.

"Delicious"

After eating my fill, patting my now bloated belly, I checked the time on my watch.

6:45 A.M.

It was still very early in the morning, and looking outside the window I could see the sun slowly brightening up the surroundings. Since I had nothing to do, I decided to train for a couple of hours before waking Nola up and bringing her to the park.

-Clank!

Sliding the glass doors that led to the garden, the morning breeze instantly cooled my body.

Walking in the garden, feeling the lush green grass tingling at my naked feet, I took a deep breath and took out my sword from my dimensional space.

"Fuuuu…"

Releasing a long breath, a white glow slowly started emanating from my body. Following which, with my sword, I drew three circles in the air.

-Voom!

As I drew the circles, after each full circulation, a translucent ring wobbled in the air. After the first ring formed, closing my eyes I drew a second and a third.

-Voom!

Right after the third ring formed, I once again closed my eyes and concentrated my mind. As I did, the circles slowly started revolving around my body.

-Swooosh!

Pointing towards my right side, one of the rings flew in the direction of where I pointed. With my left hand, I pointed upwards and another ring flew upwards. In the direction of where I pointed.

Like that, for half an hour, I continuously moved the rings around me.

-Swooosh! -Swooosh! -Swooosh!

After two minutes, whenever a ring would dissipate in the air, I would quickly create a new one and continue with what I was doing.

After the Hollberg incident, I didn't stop training.

In fact, as a way to get my mind off of things, I trained even harder than before. And because of that, my second sword art [Ring of vindication] reached the minor realm of mastery.

With the sword art reaching the minor realm of mastery, I could now freely control the rings I created. If I wanted to, I could make them revolve around me for as long as the ring could last.

Even better, the rings could now withstand the full impact of ranked individuals without breaking. Even ranks would now have a hard time breaking the rings that I made, creating a perfect defense system.

As far as rings went, as of right now I could comfortably control three. I could do four, but that would strain my head too much due to my lack of control over my mana.

…in the future, the more I mastered this technique, the more rings I could control. Moreover, the more I mastered the technique, the better the rings would get with gravitational pull and elemental discharge being effects I could add to the rings.

This was a massive improvement in my strength as now I wouldn't have to worry about needing to waste time to use the [Keiki style]. With the rings protecting me, I could quickly control them to protect me whenever I was readying myself to execute a movement from my main sword art.

…

"huuuuam…"

9:00 A.M.

As white steam dissipated from my body, checking the time, I stretched my back and yawned.

"I guess it's about time to wake up Nola"

I had been training non-stop for about two hours. Looking at my watch and seeing the time, I knew it was about time to wake up Nola.

Heading back into the house, I first took a quick shower before entering Nola's room.

Wouldn't want to make Nola smell my sweat.

-Creak!

Opening the door of Nola's room, I tiptoed towards her cradle. Looking at her little body sleeping soundly with her teddy in her arms, I whispered lightly

"Hey Nola, it's time to wake up"

After whispering a couple of more times to try to wake her up, poking her cheeks a couple of times, Nola's eyelids slowly opened

"Hmm…brawder?"

"Yes, it's big brother Ren"

Smiling, I picked her up from her cradle and brought her out of her room.

Still groggy from having just woken up, Nola leaned on my shoulder and stared at the ground. Smiling, I brought her to the kitchen.

Since I had to bring her to the park, I gave her a cup of milk for breakfast before dressing her up.

After styling Nola's hair into two ponytails, I brought her towards the entrance of the house.

"I'm done!"

"that's great"

Putting on her shoes, wearing a one-piece dress decorated with flower patterns, Nola took my hand and followed me out of the house.

"Alright, let's go"

"um"

-Clank!

Closing the door behind me, we soon left for the park.

…

Arriving at the Park, Nola's eyes immediately started shining with excitement.

Looking at the Park, I couldn't help but be impressed by how beautiful it was.

As the sun brightly lit the park, In the middle of it was a large lake where swans and ducks happily swam on the surface of the water.

Near the lake, a bunch of children were happily playing in the playground with their friends and parents.

Whizzing through the air, the children happily screamed as their parents pushed them from behind.

Glancing at Nola whose eyes were glued on the playground, I bitterly shook my head and headed in that direction.

The playground had many different things that children could play with. It had multiple swings, a large slide, and a castle which seemed to be the most popular attraction in the playground.

Near the playground, spread out over the vibrant green grass, sitting on large covers, families could be seen basking under the sun and happily chatting with each other.

"Wow, is that you Ren?"

"…hm?"

As I was walking towards the playground with Nola, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

Turning my head in the direction of where the sound came from I soon spotted two individuals heading in my direction.

On the left, a guy with dark hair and green eyes smiled as he looked in my direction. On his ears were a couple of earrings, and coupled with his white designer T-shirt and tight black pants, I could immediately tell that whoever he was, he came from a relatively prominent family.

"haha, it is you! How long has it been!"

Seeing me turn around and confirming that I was indeed the person he was looking for, the youth's smile deepened.

Glancing next to him, the long-haired youth pointed towards me as he nudged his friend with his elbow.

"Get a hold of this Greg, it's Ren!"

Indifferently nodding, wearing long jeans, a red sweater, and a black cap, a relatively muscular and tall individual slowly walked in my direction.

"…who?"

Staring at the two individuals making their way towards my direction, tilting my head to the side I frowned.

Who were they?

Were they perhaps the old Ren's friends?

Judging from how friendly they being, I assumed they were…but why did my heart feel a slight sense of repulsion and disgust?

Just as I was pondering over the feeling I was having in my heart, hooking his arm around my neck, the longed hair youth happily said

"How are ya doing!"

"I'm doin--"

Right before I could finish my sentence, exerting the strength equivalent to a ranked individual, the long-haired youth whispered in my ear

"Listen carefully little sh*t. Didn't I tell you before to never appear in this area again!"

Taken aback by his sudden change in attitude, I was left speechless for a second

"…What?"

"Don't tell me you forgot?"

Staring at my reaction and misunderstanding it for something else, the long-haired youth strengthened his grip on my neck before saying.

"…well, it looks like we might have to teach you a lesson"

Looking at Nola who was holding my hand, I let out a long breath before saying

"Fuuuu…wait, not here."

Raising his brow, the long-haired youth smirked and mockingly said

"What makes you think you can decide what we do?"

Glaring at him, I looked at Nola and reminded them that I wasn't alone.

"Can't you see I'm with my little sister?

Noticing my sister, clicking his tongue, the long-haired youth removed his hand from my neck before smirking

"I see…you don't want to look bad in front of your sister right? We sure hope nothing happens to her hahaha"

Ignoring his last words, bending down towards Nola, I looked at her in the eyes before saying

"Nola, can you do me a favor?"

Curiously looking at the two people that had come, Nola looked back at me and nodded her head

"Um"

Seeing her nod her little head, I smiled and took out my phone. Pointing towards a nearby bench I said

"Here, take my phone and go sit on that bench over there"

Looking at the phone, Nola shook her head

"Nana wants to be with big bwader"

"How about this, after I come back I will buy you whatever ice cream or candy you want!"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"um!"

Nodding her head enthusiastically, Nola ran to the bench I previously pointed at and sat down.

Seeing how enthusiastic and obedient she became as soon as I bribed her, I couldn't help but bitterly smile.

Kids were sure easy…

"Alright let's go…"

After making sure Nola was fine, I looked at my two 'friends' and smiled.

"hehehe, it's been a while since we haven't seen each other. Don't worry for the sake of your sister we will make this short"

Once again hooking his arm around my neck, the black-haired youth nudged his friend, Greg, to follow him.

Walking towards a more secluded area of the park, whilst still making sure that Nola was in my sights, the smile on my face slowly faded away.

…it's been a while since I had been this pissed.

To think I was now being picked on by a bunch of extras that didn't even appear in the story.

It was understandable if it was the lock, but this wasn't. I didn't need to hide my strength here. Especially if it was against some extras that never appeared in the story.

…in fact. I was tired of remaining passive.

If this was the lock, things may have been different…but now.

-Vuam!

"khh…what?"

"…how?"

Right after making sure no one was looking, releasing my ranked pressure, both individuals felt a massive pressure envelop them.

-Bam! -Bam!

"kuuhh…"

"kukhaah!"

Heavily punching them both in the stomach, kneeling down, a green acidic substance escaped from both of their mouths as their faces became white as paper.

The only reason they even made it this far was because I let them. Judging from how they knew me, this was a good chance for me to find more about what the old Ren's life used to be like.

However, since they pissed me off, it was about time I let them know their place.

Cracking my neck, I bent down and looked at them in the eyes.

"Let's make this quick…"