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 rings would get with gravitational pull and elemental discharge being effects I could

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

...

"huuuuam..."

9:00 A.M.

checking the time, I stretched my back

about time to wake

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

I first took

want to make Nola smell my

-Creak!

I tiptoed towards her cradle. Looking at her little

it's time to

times to try to wake her up,

"Hmm...brawder?"

it's big

her cradle and brought her

woken up, Nola leaned on my shoulder and stared at the ground. Smiling, I

her to the park, I gave

I brought her towards the

"I'm done!"

"that's great"

with flower patterns, Nola took my hand and followed

"Alright, let's go"

"um"

-Clank!

door behind me, we soon left for the

...

Park, Nola's eyes immediately

Park, I couldn't help but be

middle of it was a large lake where swans

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

through the air, the children happily screamed as their parents

eyes were glued on the playground, I bitterly shook my head

multiple swings, a large slide, and a

sitting on large covers, families could be seen basking under the sun

that

"...hm?"

I was walking towards the playground with Nola,

in the direction of where the sound came from I soon spotted

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

it is you! How long

and confirming that I was indeed the person he was looking for, the

towards me as he

hold of this Greg,

sweater, and a black cap, a relatively muscular and tall individual slowly walked

"...who?"

the two individuals making their way towards my direction, tilting my head

Who were they?

they perhaps the

why did my heart feel a slight sense

over the feeling I was having in my heart, hooking his arm around my neck, the longed hair

"How are ya doing!"

"I'm doin--"

before 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 never appear

his sudden change in attitude, I was left

"...What?"

tell me

it for something else, the long-haired youth strengthened his grip on

like we might have to teach you a

who was holding my hand, I let out a

"Fuuuu...wait, not here."

the long-haired

you can decide what