The dawn finally arrived, pale light filtering through the inn's dusty blinds and painting stripes across the floor. Noritoshi opened his eyes.
For a moment, he just lay there, taking in his own condition. Body: functional. Muscles: sore but healing. Cursed energy reserves: not full, but significantly better than last night. He'd managed maybe six hours of actual sleep—a luxury he hadn't expected. The exhaustion was still there, lurking at the edges, but it no longer threatened to pull him under.
He rose slowly, testing his limbs. Stretches came next—a familiar routine that he practiced thousands of times in his own world. Neck rolls. Shoulder rotations. Torso twists. Leg swings. The works. His body responded, if reluctantly.
There was no bathroom here. Not like he was used to. But the inn did have a small washing room—a bucket of water, a clean towel, a screen for privacy. He made use of it, wiping away the sweat and grime of yesterday. The water was cold. He preferred it that way.
Clean clothes. Tousled hair that would have to do. A final check in the small, cracked mirror.
Ready.
He went downstairs.
The common room of The Slumbering Boar was transformed from the night before. Where chaos had reigned, now there was only the quiet bustle of morning—a few early risers nursing drinks, a servant sweeping the floor, the smell of cooking food drifting from the kitchen. Sunlight streamed through windows that had seemed grimy in the dark but now looked simply... old.
Noritoshi found a table near the wall. A position with sightlines to both doors and the stairs. Old habits.
A serving girl appeared almost immediately—different from the barmaids who'd been clinging to Motoyasu last night. This one was older with an experienced air around her.
"Breakfast?" she asked.
"Yes. Whatever's hot."
She nodded and disappeared.
Noritoshi sat back, letting his eyes drift across the room. His energy was still depleted—maybe forty percent of his usual capacity—but he could function. Fight, if he had to. Run, if fighting was stupid. That was enough.
The food arrived—a plate of eggs, some kind of meat, bread that was probably yesterday's but was toasted to hide it. Noritoshi ate the meal slowly, savoring the flavors and enjoying it as much as he could. He will have a long day after this.
After a moment, Welst came down the stairs too, yawning widely and rubbing his eyes. His hair was disheveled, his clothes slightly rumpled—clearly he'd just rolled out of bed.
Noritoshi glanced at him. "You didn't wash up?"
Welst blinked, still half-asleep. "Hmm? Oh. I usually eat something first before I clean myself." He shuffled toward the table. "That's just how it is for me."
"I see." Noritoshi caught the serving girl's eye and raised two fingers. "Miss, another meal for that one, please."
"Thanks, Noritoshi." Welst slumped into the chair across from him, gratitude clear in his voice despite his drowsy state.
The serving girl nodded and disappeared toward the kitchen.
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence. Welst stared blankly at the table, clearly not fully conscious yet. Noritoshi continued eating, methodical as always.
Around them, the inn continued its slow morning awakening. A few more patrons had trickled in—traders, probably, judging by their plain clothes and tired eyes. The servant had finished sweeping and moved on to wiping tables. Somewhere in the back, pots clanged.
Welst's food arrived. He blinked at it, then at Noritoshi.
"Are you always this… energetic every morning?"
"Energetic? I'm the farthest from that word. I'm just disciplined."
"Right." Welst picked up his fork, examined the eggs, and began eating with considerably less grace than Noritoshi had managed.
They ate in silence while the sun continued to climb.
Soon, they were finished with breakfast. Noritoshi set down his utensils and glanced at Welst.
"Go clean yourself up."
Welst didn't move. He stared at his empty plate for a moment, then looked up at Noritoshi with an expression that was more alert than his earlier drowsiness suggested.
"I think I can wash up a little later." He paused. "Noritoshi, I have to speak with you."
Noritoshi's eyes sharpened slightly. "Yes? What is it?"
Welst hesitated. When he spoke, his voice was quieter than usual.
"As you already know, I'm a noble."
"Yes. That's right."
"And yet here I am, adventuring instead of staying in my mansion living lavishly." Welst's lips twisted—not quite a smile. "By now, you can probably tell what kind of situation I'm in right now, correct?"
Noritoshi studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.
"Yes. I guessed that either you're not the heir of your family's household, or you have some complications with your family."
Welst let out a breath. "The first one is correct." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "My younger brother was chosen to succeed my father. He already did, actually. Became a great leader for the whole region." His voice was carefully neutral, but there was something beneath it—old pain, carefully buried. "I enrolled in the magic academy in hopes I would be able to get enough experience and qualifications to beat him. But it's not enough."
Noritoshi stayed silent.
Welst suddenly seemed to realize what he'd said. He straightened, a flush creeping up his cheeks. "Ahhh, I'm sorry, I got a little carried away. Telling you my story was not my intention."
Noritoshi regarded him for another moment. Then he simply shook his head.
"It's no problem. You can continue. I will listen to your story, and I promise I won't judge."
Welst blinked, surprise flickering across his features. Then something in his posture softened—a tension Noritoshi hadn't even noticed seemed to ease.
"Alright." Welst took a breath. "So my brother succeeded my father. He won over me. But the truth is that our relationship isn't bad. We're quite close with each other, actually." A small, genuine smile touched his lips. "Only... our father."
"Hm?"
"Yeah. He's really conservative, all things considered. And really old-fashioned too." Welst's voice hardened slightly. "He saw me as a failure and kicked me out of the house. Being given the chance to join the Legendary Heroes was his last mercy for me—someone who shared the same blood as him."
Noritoshi studied him. "Where are you going with this, Welst?"
Welst met his gaze directly. There was something different in his eyes now—calculation, yes, but also genuine conviction.
"There's a chance I could help more on this whole destroying slavery thing."
Noritoshi's eyebrows rose slightly. "How so?"
"My father might be retired, but he still holds significant influence within the family." Welst leaned forward, his voice dropping. "That's why it's hard for me to use their influence right now. There's no guarantee I could help—that's why I didn't bring it up last night."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
"But in the chance that I could succeed—if I could prove myself, earn some standing—I would be able to obtain information. About the nobles in this country and their factions. The Church. Maybe even the Crown."
Noritoshi said nothing, waiting.
Welst's expression shifted—something almost desperate flickering behind his eyes, quickly masked. When he spoke again, his voice carried an edge of frenzy.
"So let's make a transaction, Bow Hero!" He leaned across the table, intensity radiating from him. "I'll help you, and in turn, you must bring me glory and prestige!"
Noritoshi regarded him calmly. "That's an interesting offer. But Beloukas's information network could do all that on its own."
Welst shook his head quickly. "That's correct. But what they don't have the capability to do is establish proper communication!"
Noritoshi paused. "...That's right."
"Yeah, exactly!" Welst's eyes were bright now, caught up in his own idea. "With my help, if you find out there's a noble who's siding with your views and objectives, you would be able to open communication with them directly. Through me. Through my family's connections."
He sat back, letting the proposal sink in.
"Beloukas can gather intelligence. He can tell you who thinks what, who might be sympathetic. But he can't introduce you. He can't arrange a meeting between the Heroes and a noble who might be willing to help. His people are spies, not diplomats."
Noritoshi was quiet for a long moment, turning it over.
Welst waited, barely breathing.
Finally, Noritoshi spoke. "You want me to make you famous. Successful. Prove to your father that he was wrong to cast you out."
"Yes." No hesitation.
"And in return, you give us access to noble networks we couldn't reach otherwise."
"Yes."
Noritoshi studied him. "That's a fair transaction."
Welst's face lit up.
"On one condition."
The light dimmed slightly. "What condition?"
Noritoshi's voice was quiet but firm. "You do this because you believe in it. Not just because you want glory. The children we're saving—they're not a stepping stone for your ambition. If you're helping us, you're helping them. Understood?"
Welst stared at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded. "Understood."
Noritoshi extended his hand across the table. "Then we have a deal."
Welst took it. His grip was firm.
"Thank you, Noritoshi."
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't forget what I said."
Welst nodded, a new determination settling over his features.
"Now go wash up," Noritoshi added. "Your drool and eye boogers are embarrassingly visible."
Welst laughed—a real laugh, lighter than he ever heard from him—and headed for the stairs.
Myne walked down the stairs, passing by the laughing Welst as he headed up. Her hair was already groomed, her clothes neat—she looked ready for the day, far more put-together than someone who'd just woken up had any right to be.
She slid into the seat Welst had vacated, glancing toward the stairs where he'd disappeared.
"What happened? Why is he so energetic this morning?"
Noritoshi looked up to meet her gaze. "We just made a deal."
Myne's eyes sharpened with interest. "Will you tell me what it is?"
"No." His voice was calm, matter-of-fact. "I don't think I will. Unless Welst shows results, that is."
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Hmm... Well, I guess if you say so."
Noritoshi caught the serving girl's eye. "Miss, another 2 sets of the breakfast menu please."
Myne smiled. "Thank you, Noritoshi."
He glanced at her. "Hmm? I was having seconds. And maybe third. It's not for you, you know."
She pouted—an exaggerated, almost theatrical expression of hurt.
Noritoshi's lips twitched. "I was just teasing. I'm sorry."
Myne's pout transformed into a smirk. "You're terrible. But two can play at that game."
The serving girl returned a moment later with two plates of eggs, meat, and toast. She set it in front of Myne and departed.
Noritoshi began eating his second fill, but after a minute, he noticed something. Myne wasn't eating. She was pushing the eggs around with her fork, moving the meat from one side of the plate to the other, cutting the toast into smaller and smaller pieces without actually putting any in her mouth.
He watched for another moment. Then another.
Still not eating.
"Why aren't you eating?" he asked finally.
Myne looked up, startled. "What? Oh, I—" She glanced down at her plate, then back at him. "I'm just... not very hungry, I suppose."
Noritoshi said nothing. Just looked at her.
The silence continued.
Myne's fork moved again—another piece of egg relocated, another toast square subdivided. She wasn't looking at the food. She was looking anywhere but the food.
"You should eat," Noritoshi said. "We have a long day."
She hesitated. Then, slowly, she lifted a small piece of egg to her mouth and chewed. Her expression flickered—something complicated—before smoothing back to neutral.
She ate another piece. Then another. Each bite seemed to require conscious effort.
Noritoshi observed quietly.
By the time she'd finished half the plate, he'd reached a conclusion.
She wasn't used to eating these foods.
Not just the quality—though this was certainly rougher fare than what someone of obvious privilege would be accustomed to. It was the type of food. The preparation. The presentation. She handled her utensils like someone who'd been taught proper etiquette, but approached the actual contents of the plate like she wasn't familiar with it.
She'd learned how nobles eat. She hadn't learned how commoners eat.
Noritoshi filed that away.
Myne finished her plate eventually. Slowly. Deliberately. Like she was conquering something.
"See?" she said, setting down her fork. "I ate."
"You did."
"Are you going to watch me eat every meal now?"
"Do you want me to?"
She laughed while covering her mouth. "A maiden might misunderstand if you say such a thing, you know?"
He allowed himself a small, quiet smile and a hum of contentment at the banter.
The morning light began to creep across the floor as the sun began to climb higher and higher, painting the sky in a warm golden light and shades of blue. The tavern also began to return to life as both adventurers and heroes alike descended the creaking stairs, their armor freshly donned and weapons securely at their hips. The common room, so peaceful just an hour ago, quickly transformed into a hub of purposeful activity. The clinking of cutlery mixed with low conversation as the various hero parties claimed their tables, ordering hearty breakfasts and discussing the day's hunting grounds over plates of eggs and toast.
The first to rise were Ren and his party. Still clad in his leather armor from yesterday, wiped his mouth and stood, his party following suit. He gave a curt, respectful nod to the room. "Everyone, we'll be heading out first. I wish you all the best of luck with your training today."
Noritoshi looked at Ren and returned the nod. "Thank you Ren. I wish you the best of luck too."
His sentiment was echoed in a soft murmur by several others in the tavern. Motoyasu, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin, waved a hand. "Thanks, Ren. You be careful out there. And hey, if social interaction gets too hard, don't just run off without saying anything, alright?"
The room let out a few quiet chuckles at the spear hero's jab.
Ren simply raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Your attempts at jokes have become stale. I'd suggest finding some new material, Motoyasu." His gaze shifted to the Shield Hero, who had been quietly eating at his own table. "And thank you, Naofumi."
Naofumi gave a short, simple nod. "You too."
They filed out, the door swinging shut behind Ren's party.
Not long after, Motoyasu rose, immediately surrounded by his usual gaggle of adoring female companions. He stretched leisurely before flashing a grin toward Noritoshi and Naofumi's table. "Alright, we're off too! Try to keep up, everyone!" His companions giggled and waved enthusiastically as they trailed after him, their chatter and laughter fading as they exited into the street.
Then it was Naofumi's turn. The Shield Hero pushed back from his table and glanced at the large, cloaked figure sitting across from him. "Bara, c'mon, we gotta go now. There's a lot I have to do today."
The figure, Bara, rose with a quiet nod, their movements surprisingly graceful for their size. "Of course, Master Naofumi."
Naofumi sighed, a familiar, weary expression on his face. "Just call me Naofumi. We went through this already yesterday. Now lead the way."
As they made their way toward the door, both Naofumi and Bara paused. They turned and offered warm, genuine smiles to Noritoshi and his party, raising their hands in a small wave.
"Good luck today," Naofumi said simply.
"May your path be fruitful," Bara added, their voice soft.
Noritoshi returned the smile and the wave, watching them go before turning back to his own companions, ready to begin their day.
Noritoshi turned to face his assembled party, offering them a small, respectful bow of his head. "Well, I will be under your care from now on. So please take care of me."
Kairn let out a snort, though her voice carried an unmistakable warmth. "As if you needed any caring. I'm sure you'd be able to figure things out even if you weren't summoned as the Bow Hero and were just dropped here."
Before Noritoshi could respond, Myne leaned forward with a sly grin, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Now, now, c'mon Kairn. That attitude is one reason why men don't want you, you know." She fluttered her eyelashes dramatically toward Noritoshi. "Even strong men like Noritoshi likes to be taken care of, isn't that right?"
Kairn's eye twitched, her jaw tightening as visible irritation crept across her features.
Shooting a sharp glare at Myne, she clicked her tongue.
Noritoshi lightly chuckled at that. "Hahah… I wouldn't know about that." He cleared his throat, eager to steer the conversation away from dangerous waters. "Anyway, do you guys have any plan where we should move to gather experience?"
"Well, the plan originally was to have you hunt monsters in the plain near the town castle," Welst said, gesturing vaguely eastward. "But after knowing your combat capability, it would be better for us to move towards the east. There's a forest nearby—about an hour's walk. The monster density is higher there, and the variety should provide ample experience for all of us."
Kairn nodded approvingly, her spear resting against her shoulder. "Makes sense. Those plains monsters won't give you anything worthwhile anymore."
Myne twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "Ooh, the forest sounds exciting! Maybe if we're we'll find something rare~"
The massive figure of Rojeel simply stood in the corner, arms crossed over his enormous battle axe. His stoic, intimidating expression hadn't changed since they sat down, though a keen observer might notice his eyes occasionally drifting toward the remaining pastries on the table.
Noritoshi considered Welst's words for a moment, then nodded. "I'm trusting your judgement. You know this area better than I do." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "But before that, let's go to the market first. I want to buy some monster parts—things I can feed into this Bow." He glanced down at the ornate weapon at his side. "The sooner I can begin to work on the strengthening methods, the better prepared we'll be."
"Sure," Kairn said, her earlier irritation seemingly forgotten. "The market opens early. We can stop by on our way out of town."
Welst nodded. "I know a few reliable vendors. They won't try to overcharge the new hero."
Rojeel uncrossed his arms and took a step forward, his massive frame suddenly looming. Everyone paused, expecting some profound observation or strategic input. Instead, he pointed a thick finger at the table.
"...Are you going to finish that?" he asked, his voice a low rumble, eyes fixed on the half-eaten plate of bread.
Myne burst out laughing. Kairn sighed while Welst covered his mouth.
Noritoshi blinked, then chuckled warmly. "Go ahead, Rojeel. We'll head out after you're done."
The huge man nodded seriously and sat down, carefully—almost delicately—reaching for the remaining bread.
With that settled, they finally stepped out of the inn and into the morning sun. The market was already bustling, just as lively as it had been yesterday. Vendors called out their wares, customers haggled over prices, and the smell of fresh bread and grilled meat mingled in the air.
Welst took the lead, navigating the crowded stalls with the ease of someone who knew the market well. Kairn handled the negotiations, her sharp tongue and sharper glare ensuring they got fair prices. Meanwhile, Noritoshi and Rojeel flanked the group, their presence alone enough to discourage any would-be swindlers from trying anything. Between the Bow Hero's noble bearing and Rojeel's massive, axe-wielding frame, most merchants suddenly became very honest about their prices.
In the end, they managed to buy a large quantity of Balloon monster skins for quite a cheap price. The rubbery, flexible leather was apparently common in the area but useful for various purposes. They also picked up several other monster parts—claws, fangs, and hardened scales—that Noritoshi hoped might yield something useful when fed to his Bow.
They decided to head somewhere quieter to feed Noritoshi's bow. Soon, in the relative quiet of an alley away from the main crowd, Noritoshi unslung his Bow and placed a hand against its surface. He focused, willing the weapon to accept the materials they had gathered. One by one, the monster parts dissolved into motes of light, absorbed into the ornate weapon.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Red Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Agility
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Blue Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Green Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Agility
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Yellow Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Agility
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Purple Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Evasion
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Orange Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Pink Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Charisma
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Black Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Stealth
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [White Balloon Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Magic Defense
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Bow] [Poor]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Bow] [Poor]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Defense
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Claw Bow] [Poor]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Noritoshi blinked as the notifications faded. Then, suddenly, a new wave of information crashed into him—warmer, more intense than before.
Weapon Tree Completed: [Balloon Bow Line]
All nine colored Balloon Bow variants unlocked.
Perk Acquired: [Balloon Affinity]
Unlock time for all Balloon-type Bows decreased by 50%.
New Weapon Form Unlocked: [Rainbow Balloon Bow] [Rare]
A bow formed from mastering all colors of Balloon monsters. The fused materials create a lightweight but surprisingly durable weapon with a distinct, colorful pattern.
Equip Bonus: Sticky Shot (Unlocked at Mastery) - Arrows fired from this bow have a chance to lightly adhere to targets, briefly slowing their movement. | +2 Attack, +1 Agility, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Noritoshi stared at the Bow, genuinely surprised. "That's... unexpected."
"What is it?" Kairn asked, stepping closer with curiosity evident in her voice.
"Completely unlocking a weapon tree unlocked something new in my status. And it's quite good too." He glanced up at his party, a small smile forming. "Seems like buying in bulk paid off."
They finally headed out.
The walk to the eastern forest took about an hour. The path gradually shifted from worn dirt road to something wilder, less traveled. As they approached, the trees rose, covering most of the sunlight. The air grew cooler, carrying the earthy scent of moss and damp soil. Ferns clustered at the bases of trees.
The sound of a stream nearby reached their ears as they entered deep. He found its constant sound to be somewhat soothing. The wildflowers dotted the clearings—patches of white and purple that swayed gently to the breeze.
"Here we are," Welst announced, gesturing at their surroundings. "The monsters here tend to be more aggressive than the plains, but the experience gain is worth it."
Noritoshi surveyed the area, his senses already stretching outward. He could feel them—faint presences scattered throughout the forest. Monsters going about their business, unaware.
"Alright," he said quietly, unslinging his Bow. "I'll handle the hunting. You all can just focus on collecting."
Feet apart. Spine straight. Breath steady.
In Kyūdō, there were stages to a single shot. Standing. Readying. Drawing. Waiting. Loosing. He had practiced them thousands of times in the dojo, under his father's critical eye. The form mattered as much as the result. Maybe even more. But that was back in that accursed place that is the Kamo clan with it's inhuman expectation.
But here, now, the form served the result.
He nocked an arrow—standard tip, he decided. The Bow hummed softly as it materialized the shaft. He drew, the motion fluid and controlled. His breath slowed. His vision narrowed. The monster ahead—a Blue Balloon floating lazily between two trees—became the only thing in the world.
Release.
The arrow flew true. The monster dropped.
Noritoshi lowered his Bow slightly, observing. The arrow had pierced clean through. Effective, but perhaps not the most efficient. Balloon monsters had rubbery hides; a sharper tip might penetrate better.
He moved forward, already reaching for his next arrow. This time, when he willed the Bow to form it, he focused on the tip. Sharper. Narrower. Like a needle.
The arrow that materialized was different—slightly longer, with a thin, piercing point. He tested its weight briefly, then found his next target. A Green Balloon, partially hidden behind foliage.
Draw. Breathe. Release.
The needle-tip arrow sliced through the air and punched through the Balloon's hide with almost no resistance. The monster deflated instantly.
He continued forward, his party trailing behind. They seemed content to let him work, and he appreciated that. With no distractions or interference, he could clearly feel his rhythm coming back. As if he was back home again, walking the garden full of cursed spirits, shooting anything that dared to even come close.
Next target: a Fanged Rabbit, low to the ground, quick on its feet. Standard arrow might miss. He focused on the tip again. Wider. Barbed. Something that won't slip out.
The new arrowhead was broader, with wicked curved blades—a broadhead tip. Designed not just to penetrate, but to tear. To cause bleeding. And once it sank in, it wouldn't easily come out.
He drew, led the rabbit's movement, and released.
The arrow caught the rabbit in the flank. The broadhead tore through flesh and muscle, the barbs catching, holding. The creature dropped instantly, unable to flee with that kind of damage.
Good for fast-moving prey. The bleeding stops them before adrenaline can carry them far.
A Scale Hound emerged from behind a rock, growling. He had maybe two seconds before it charged. He willed a different tip—something with stopping power. The arrow that formed had a narrow, needle-point head—a bodkin tip. Designed specifically to pierce armor and dense hide.
He drew and fired in one motion. The bodkin tip slammed into the Hound's skull, concentrating all the force into a single penetrating point. It punched through bone like paper. The creature crumpled.
Bodkin for armored or bony targets. Piercing. Penetration.
He paused, considering. There was another option he hadn't tried yet—a true blunt tip, like a small club at the end of the shaft. He had once used it on the rare occasion where his father could spend time to be with him. He remembered his father's words. Used for hunting small game when you didn't want to ruin the pelt. Stunning instead of killing.
Not useful against monsters, he decided. They need to stay down.
The next hour passed in what felt like an instant. Arrow flying true, hitting their targets. And the targets falling as corpses that need to be picked up. Noritoshi advanced through the forest with almost uncanny perception. Aware of everything, his eyes are constantly roaming and scanning the surroundings. Every few steps, he would pause, aim, and fire. Another monster fell. By the sixteenth time this happened, nobody bothered to react anymore.
He experimented constantly. Barbed tips that hooked into flesh. Forked tips that could strike two targets close together. Serrated edges that sawed through tougher hide. Arrowheads that's sharp and yet good at piercing through tough hide. The potential of this Bow is simply... amazing. Truly a weapon deserving of its destiny. To save a world.
At some point, he became aware of his party moving behind him, gathering the fallen creatures. A Fanged Rabbit dropped mid-hop. He heard Kairn sigh as she went to retrieve it.
Three rapid shots in succession. Two Orange Balloons and a stray Scale Hound. Behind him, Myne clapped slowly.
"He's not even trying, is he?"
"Shut up and help carry," Kairn muttered.
Welst, ever the professional, simply nodded approvingly and began cataloging their growing pile of corpses. "At this rate, we'll have enough materials for another unlock session by midday."
Noritoshi glanced back at them, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I heard all of that."
Myne grinned unrepentantly. "Was meant to be heard."
He nocked another arrow, scanning for his next target, but kept talking. "You're my porters for now. Only for now," he clarified, seeing Kairn's eyebrow shoot up. "These enemies pose no threat. None of them have gotten within thirty paces of us. There's no point in training or planning for coordinating using these monsters—you wouldn't learn nor gain anything."
Rojeel, emerging from the underbrush with another Balloon corpse, considered this. "So we for now have to just carry?"
"Exactly." Noritoshi loosed another arrow; another monster fell. "When we face something worth your steel, I'll step back. But for these?" He nudged a rabbit corpse that had fallen near him. "This is way more efficient than the alternative. I clear the path, you gather the materials. That way, we all benefit."
Welst adjusted the bag containing his catch and looked at Kairn."His logic is sound, you know. Why waste our energy when he can handle it with minimal effort?"
Kairn grumbled but picked up another corpse. "Fine."
Noritoshi chuckled softly.
He turned back to the hunt, the rhythm of draw and release settling over him once more. Behind him, his party worked in comfortable silence, gathering the fruits of his labor. It wasn't glamorous work for them, but it was necessary.
And he appreciated them for it.
By the time the sun had climbed higher, painting the forest in golden light, Noritoshi finally lowered his Bow. He turned to survey the clearing behind him. A respectable pile of monster corpses had accumulated.
His party stood among them, variously amused, impressed, or simply resigned.
"That should be enough for now," he said. Then, because it was proper, he bowed down and said, "Good work, everyone."
Kairn stared at him, then at the pile, then back at him. "We didn't do anything."
"Are those things you fetched over there," Noritoshi pointed at the corpses, "not that important? Just accept my thanks, ok? You guys are plenty important."
Rojeel, carrying three monsters under one arm like groceries, nodded solemnly. "Of course. Kairn. Stop sulking. You're being childish."
Myne's body trembled as she held in her laugh. Welst cracked a smile. Even Noritoshi allowed himself a small grin.
"Why do I feel like everyone is picking on me ever since we arrived at this forest?" Kairn muttered, crossing her arms.
"That is just your feeling, Kairn," Noritoshi said smoothly.
"We're definitely not picking on you." Myne's voice was dripping with false innocence. "Of course not, right everyone?"
Rojeel tilted his head, the very picture of confusion. "I do not understand. Kairn is surprisingly cute when she sulks like this. Why would that be picking on her?"
Kairn's face turned a little red. "I—that's—" She sputtered, then took a breath, visibly composing herself. After a moment, she admitted quietly, "...Fine. Maybe I was sulking a little."
Noritoshi raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. "That's surprisingly self-aware of you, Kairn."
He had meant it as a light tease, a continuation of the gentle ribbing. But Kairn simply nodded, accepting his words at face value.
"Of course I am. I'm an adventurer. Knowing your own weaknesses is part of the job."
Noritoshi blinked, then smiled warmly. "Then I suppose I'm fortunate to have such a self-aware and capable party member."
Kairn puffed up slightly at the praise, seemingly missing the teasing undertone entirely.
Myne finally let her laugh escape, doubling over. Rojeel looked pleased, though it was hard to tell beneath his usual stoic expression. Welst simply shook his head, still smiling.
Noritoshi surveyed the pile of monster corpses, then glanced at the sky. The sun had reached its zenith, casting short shadows beneath the trees. "I suppose a break is in order. I need time to feed all of these to my Bow anyway."
The party needed no further encouragement. They settled in a relatively clear spot near the stream, where the ground was flat and the light filtered pleasantly through the canopy above.
What followed was something between work and education.
Kairn produced a small knife from her belt and knelt beside the nearest corpse—a Fanged Rabbit. With practiced efficiency, she began her work. "Alright, first thing's first—you need to know where to cut." She gestured at the rabbit's head. "Eyes first. They're delicate and easy to damage if you're not careful. Slip the knife behind the socket, like this."
Noritoshi watched carefully, then knelt beside her. "Show me."
She did. The eye came free in her palm, glistening and intact. "Now you try."
He took the knife and moved to the next corpse. His first attempt was clumsy—the blade slipped and ruptured the eye. Kairn sighed but didn't mock him.
"Firmer grip. Less force. Let the blade do the work."
He tried again. Better. By the third attempt, he had extracted a perfect Fanged Rabbit eye.
"Good," Kairn said, sounding genuinely pleased. "Now the liver. Deeper cut, follow the ribcage—"
As he worked, Welst's voice drifted over from where he sat examining a Scale Hound corpse. "You know, Fanged Rabbits store concentrated life essence in their livers. It's why they're so fast—the organ works like a secondary heart, pumping enhanced vitality through their system. In terms of your Bow, that liver should unlock something focused on agility or attack speed."
Noritoshi filed that information away as he carefully extracted the organ.
Myne wandered over, holding up a pair of Fanged Rabbit ears. "Oh! These little things? They can hear a predator from two hundred paces. The cartilage structure is fascinating—layered in a spiral that captures even the faintest sound." She twirled them between her fingers. "Perception boost, definitely. Maybe even a slight evasion bonus."
Rojeel loomed nearby, already working through a Scale Hound with methodical precision. His massive hands moved with surprising delicacy as he peeled back hide and muscle. "Teeth first," he rumbled, holding up a gleaming fang. "Hardest part to damage. Good for attack. Then claws—same." He extracted a claw, then began cutting deeper. "Heart next. Tougher to reach. Need patience."
Noritoshi absorbed every lesson. Kairn guided his hands through each extraction—showing him how to slip between ribs for the heart, how to separate the kidneys from surrounding tissue, how to remove the tongue without cutting it in half. Rojeel demonstrated the proper angle for extracting spines and the best technique for preserving scale integrity.
Meanwhile, Welst provided running commentary on each organ's function. "The spleen filters impurities from the blood. In monsters like these, it often accumulates trace elemental energy. That could translate to a minor magic bonus in the right weapon form. Probably. Don't take my word for it please." And: "Scale Hounds have a secondary olfactory gland behind the nasal cavity. It's small, easy to miss, but valuable for tracking-based enhancements."
Myne, for her part, kept up a steady stream of practical observations. "If the liver is too green, it means the monster was sick—don't bother feeding that one. And see how this heart is darker? That's from repeated exposure to fire magic. This particular Hound must have lived near a fire-aspected area."
By the time Noritoshi had a respectable pile of extracted materials, he understood his prey in ways a simple kill could never teach. He knew where each organ sat, what it did, what it might offer his Bow.
Finally, he began the feeding.
The first offering—a Fanged Rabbit eye—pressed against his weapon. The Bow glowed softly.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Eye Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Next, the liver Kairn had helped him extract.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Liver Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Agility
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
The ears Myne had examined.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Ear Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Evasion
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Heart. Tongue. Kidneys. Lungs. Nose. Fur. Claws. Teeth. Each part, carefully extracted, unlocked a new weapon.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Heart Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Vitality
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Tongue Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Kidney Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Constitution
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Lung Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Stamina
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Nose Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Tracking
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Fur Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Stealth
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Claw Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Attack Speed
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Tooth Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Piercing Damage
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
The pattern held for the Scale Hounds.
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Eye Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Ear Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Hearing
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Nose Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Scent Tracking
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Heart Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Vitality
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Liver Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Poison Resistance
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Lung Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Breath Control
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Scale Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Defense
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Claw Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Attack Speed
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Tooth Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Piercing Damage
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Tail Bow] [Common]
Equip Bonus: None | +1 Attack, +1 Balance
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
As the last Scale Hound part vanished into his Bow, a warmth spread through the weapon—then a surge of information.
Weapon Tree Completed: [Fanged Rabbit Bow Line]
All Fanged Rabbit organ and feature variants unlocked.
Perk Acquired: [Rabbit's Instinct]
Slightly increased awareness of nearby predators and ambushes.
New Weapon Form Unlocked: [Fanged Rabbit Unity Bow] [Uncommon]
A bow forged from every part of the Fanged Rabbit—eyes, ears, nose, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, fur, claws, teeth. The complete essence of the species, unified into a single weapon.
Equip Bonus: Hare's Leap (Unlocked at Mastery) - Brief burst of speed after dodging. | +2 Attack, +1 Agility, +1 Perception, +1 Evasion
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Weapon Tree Completed: [Scale Hound Bow Line]
All Scale Hound organ and feature variants unlocked.
Perk Acquired: [Hound's Persistence]
Slightly improved stamina regeneration while tracking a target.
New Weapon Form Unlocked: [Scale Hound Unity Bow] [Uncommon]
A bow formed from scales, claws, teeth, organs, and tail—every aspect of the Scale Hound working in harmony.
Equip Bonus: Relentless Tracker (Unlocked at Mastery) - Movement speed increases the longer you pursue a single target. | +2 Attack, +2 Defense, +1 Perception
Ores Equipped: [0]
Status: [LOCKED]
Noritoshi sat back, letting out a long breath. His head swam with notifications, but beneath the information overload was a deep satisfaction. He understood now—not just the mechanics of his Bow, but the monsters themselves. What they were, how they lived, what made them strong.
He looked at his party. Kairn was cleaning her knife, watching him with approval. Rojeel had finished his own butchering and sat patiently, awaiting further instruction. Welst was scribbling furiously in his journal, documenting everything. Myne lounged against a tree, but her eyes were sharp, interested.
"I couldn't have done this without you," Noritoshi said. "The lessons, the guidance—thank you."
Kairn shrugged, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You're a fast learner. For a noble."
"I only needed help because I'm unfamiliar with this world's animals."
"Stop trying to show off."
Noritoshi laughed as the easy sound escaped him. "Hahaha, alright, you got me."
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Hey everyone, Author here.
Currently still on this research vessel, waiting for samples to finish processing. The sea is endless, the sky is gray, and I'm so fuckin bored. Please send help.
Met some interesting people though. Like there's a lot of marine biologists who can name every fish we've pulled up and there's one guy who keeps trying to explain the ship's engine to me like I'll ever need that information. Nice guy. Very passionate. I retain approximately zero percent of what he says.
Anyway.
I need to get something off my chest.
I HATE JOHN WERRY.
IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM. IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT MAN.
Most of the Jujutsu Kaisen misconceptions floating around in the western fandom? Directly traceable to his translations. I'm not even exaggerating. There's so much context, so much nuance, so much intentional meaning that just got flattened because this man looked at Gege's text and said "yeah this is fine" and moved on.
Like, did you know there's an actual mechanical difference between how Cursed Energy and Positive Energy work? Cursed Energy rotates forward. Positive Energy rotates it backwards. Like bro, that's not just flavor text. Like it's an actual fundamental mechanical distinction that explains so much about how techniques interact, why certain things work the way they do, the entire logic of the power system. And it's just... missing. Gone. Because the translation decided it wasn't important.
There's so much more. Character motivations that seem confusing because the dialogue got smoothed over. Power explanations that read like gibberish because the technical terms got swapped around. Relationships that feel flat because the subtext got translated as text (or worse, got deleted entirely). Glaring example of this would be in the latest English volume of Jujutsu Kaisen where the translation said GOJO SATORU COULDN'T PERFORM BLACK FLASH BECAUSE OF HIS SIX EYES. OH MY GOD, I HATE THAT MAN SO MUCH AGHHHHH.
I swear. Never let that man touch a manga again. Ever. Please.
Anyway.
Rant over.
Back to staring at the ocean.
Hope you're all enjoying the story. Drop a comment if you want. I read them when the wifi actually works out here.
That's it. You can stop reading now.
Your author, bored at sea.