The Author's POV

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.

future, the more I mastered this technique, the more rings I could control. Moreover, the more I mastered the technique, the better the

time to use the [Keiki style]. With the rings protecting me, I could quickly control them to protect

...

"huuuuam..."

9:00 A.M.

body, checking the

time to wake up

watch and seeing the time, I knew it was about

took a quick shower

want to make Nola smell my

-Creak!

cradle. Looking at her little body sleeping soundly with her teddy

Nola, it's time to

to try to wake her up, poking her cheeks a couple

"Hmm...brawder?"

big

picked her up from her cradle and brought her out of her

leaned on my shoulder and stared at the ground. Smiling, I brought

I had to bring her to the park, I gave her a cup of milk for

into two ponytails, I brought her

"I'm done!"

"that's great"

her shoes, wearing a one-piece dress decorated with flower patterns, Nola

"Alright, let's go"

"um"

-Clank!

behind me, we soon

...

eyes immediately

I couldn't help but be impressed by how beautiful

middle of it was a large lake where swans and ducks happily swam on

bunch of children were happily playing in the playground with their friends and

happily screamed as

on the playground, I bitterly shook my head

many different things that children could play with. It had multiple swings, a

playground, spread out over the vibrant green grass, sitting on large covers, families could be seen basking under the

is that you

"...hm?"

towards the playground with Nola, I suddenly heard someone call my

came from I soon spotted two individuals heading in my

On his ears were a couple of earrings, and coupled with his

How long has

around and confirming that I was indeed the person he was looking for, the youth's smile

pointed towards me as he nudged

a hold of this Greg, it's

jeans, a red sweater, and a black cap, a relatively muscular and

"...who?"

their way towards my direction, tilting

Who were they?

they perhaps the old

being, I assumed they were...but why did my heart feel a slight sense

in my heart, hooking his arm around my neck, the longed

"How are ya doing!"

"I'm doin--"

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

Didn't I tell you before to

aback by his sudden change in attitude, I was

"...What?"

me you

else, the long-haired youth strengthened his grip on my

we might

was holding my hand, I let out a long breath before

"Fuuuu...wait, not here."

brow, the long-haired youth

you can decide what we