The Extra's Odyssey

"Do you have the Blood Concealment Potion?"

"Yes"

I took the potion from Tristan and stored it inside my storage ring.

Passing him the Oath for joining, we went to the area where everyone else was resting.

"This is no different from a slave contract…"

I ignored the mumbling and looked around.

We did not have a place to serve as our base as of now. This was why we have been using the Stage-0 Conqueror's Trials.

However, in the long run, it was extremely inefficient.

Putting aside the problem of the Black T-shirt gang visiting it in the near future to extract elixir, this place did not have any facilities to act as a base.

The passageways were dim enough that I had to stare fiercely to see everything properly; the ground was rugged, and these were only the basic necessities.

There was one issue after another in using this place as a base.

'Should I take 'Mother's Embrace?'

'Mother's Embrace' was a moveable Ruin. Ruins were mostly pocket dimensions and had various benefits.

Byzander Island was also a Ruin, and it could raise the Exp gained from Meta-rank beasts. Though it wasn't a pocket dimension, but an island.

Mother's Embrace can be obtained as a prize in Dungeon of Trials.

Next year, a first-year cadet will clear the 4th Trial and choose it as the reward. Later it will become a big help to Leon and the main cast.

Knowing that if I let the kid take the Ruin it will only help Leon, I decided to take it for myself.

Leon was already very strong.

He had awakened his stigma a few months earlier. This would hasten his growth and, as a result, he could challenge tougher enemies and grow even more powerful.

What was worse-cough, the only thing better was that Leon awakened [Raikou].

Just like my art, [Raikou] was a legacy left behind by an ancient hero.

Moreover, it was the legacy of the strongest ancient hero. It was the legacy of Leon himself.

[Raikou] was a growth-type skill that will awaken from its user's emotions.

The emotions were 'Desire' for Lvl.1, 'Denial' for Lvl.2, 'Sorrow' for Lvl.3, 'Wrath' for Lvl.4, and 'Guilt' for Lvl.5.

In the novel, he awakened Lvl.1 in a fight while he was breaking through a siege.

Lvl.2 when Lilith died, Lvl.3 when he accepted that Cadmus had turned evil, Lvl.4 when Susan died, and finally Lvl.5 when he killed Anna.

Although there were more levels, these were the only ones shown in the novel.

The requirement, along with the restriction that only Leon can use the skill, was the reason why I didn't take it.

While I was sorting my thoughts, we reached the door of the boss room. Nerael, Miller, and Merlin were sitting outside.

Nerael was playing with Merlin while Miller was standing away from the two. From his sweaty forehead and clenched fists, it seemed he was still afraid of Nerael.

They turned towards us, and I waved my hand.

"Leader, are you done?"

"Papa!"

This time, having learned from previous occasions, Nerael didn't demolish me with her leap.

I caught her small body and held her in my arms.

'Thinking about it now, how did she get a human form so early?'

"Where are the others?"

I asked about the location of the twins.

Miller was about to answer me when the door of the boss' room opened.

Screeeh-

The two twins stepped outside with unsteady steps.

Their faces were still pale, and their eyes were unfocused. The bigger of the twin turned to me.

"We were late... Sorry for holding you up..."

"We were just talking a little. It's fine."

They weren't making any sense, but I let them off the hook since they looked like they were on the verge of collapse. They probably had some sort of hard time in there.

The two of them went over to Merlin's side and hugged her.

They looked like heavyweight championships with their physique. I almost blurted out that they shouldn't kill Merlin by crushing her.

Suddenly, the two of them started crying and broke down into sobs.

Their snots mixed with tears, and their faces were red as they hugged each other tightly. They didn't even notice that we have been looking at them from a distance for quite some time now.

With their intimidating appearance, no one would ever dare to approach them, let alone try to console them, but Merlin didn't back down.

"Was it difficult?"

Like a motherly figure, Merlin kept speaking to them and patted them.

My gaze met with Tristan and Miller.

Watching their awkward expressions, I could tell that I wasn't the only one who felt that we were disturbing them.

I was about to give them some time when I noticed a little silver head bobbling next to them.

"Don't… cry….don't"

With her sweet, angelic voice, Nerael patted their feet.

The two saw her and their wails got louder.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

'This is going to take time.'

*

We were all sitting on the ground in a circle.

To be honest, it felt more like we were on a picnic than at the first meeting of our crew.

'I'm taking the pocket dimension first thing after returning to Ward.'

It took the twins longer than I anticipated to calm down.

However, if you would look at them now, you would think they were war veterans returning from the war.

Their faces were taut and drawn with fatigue, but their eyes shone with a fierce light as if to say that even though there was no life force left in them, they would still fight again.

Had I not seen them crying earlier, I would've been tricked!

I felt like a fool for thinking that these two were good for challenging the boss!

'Though, even if they cried, the fact still stands that they had the courage to challenge the boss' room.'

Nerael was sitting on my lap. Tristan was on my right and Miller was on my left.

On Miller's left was Merlin, the smaller twin, and the bigger twin, in order.

The twin had several injuries over their bodies.

Although they didn't have any fatal injuries, I gave them an elixir to heal.

Looking at the five people who were going to be the first members of my group, a smile leaked on my face.

However, I quickly wiped it off my face and spoke.

"I'll start by introducing myself. I'm Nathan, an aspirant awakener, and from today…"

This was just the first step among the countless steps I was going to take.

Nevertheless, it didn't diminish that it marked an achievement for me.

"…the person all you will be calling captain."