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.

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

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

...

"huuuuam..."

9:00 A.M.

dissipated from my body, checking the time, I stretched my back

guess it's about time to wake

at my watch and seeing the time, I knew it was about time to wake up

back into the house, I first took a quick

make Nola

-Creak!

at her little body sleeping soundly with her teddy

it's time to

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

"Hmm...brawder?"

big

I picked her up from her cradle

from having just woken up, Nola leaned on my shoulder and stared at the ground. Smiling,

I gave her a cup of milk

into two ponytails, I brought her towards the

"I'm done!"

"that's great"

decorated with flower patterns, Nola took my hand and followed me out

"Alright, let's go"

"um"

-Clank!

the door behind me, we soon left

...

Park, Nola's eyes immediately started shining

help but

it was a large lake where swans and ducks happily swam on the surface

happily playing in

the children happily screamed as their parents pushed

playground, I bitterly shook

could play with. It had multiple swings, a large slide, and a castle which seemed to be the most

over the vibrant green grass, sitting on large covers, families could be

is that

"...hm?"

the playground with Nola, I suddenly heard someone call my

the sound came from I soon spotted two individuals heading

with dark hair and green eyes smiled as he looked in my direction. On his ears were a couple of earrings, and coupled with

you! How long has it

that I was indeed the person he

youth pointed towards me as he nudged

of

black cap, a relatively muscular and tall individual slowly walked in my

"...who?"

way towards my direction, tilting my head to

Who were they?

perhaps the

friendly they being, I assumed they were...but why did

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

"How are ya doing!"

"I'm doin--"

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

I tell you before to never appear in this

in attitude,

"...What?"

tell me

the long-haired youth strengthened

looks like we might have to teach

was holding my hand, I let out a long breath

"Fuuuu...wait, not here."

long-haired youth smirked and mockingly

you think you