Chapter 139: 139 Connection 02.

Kenji had short purple hair with the same characteristics as Hiyori, a fox Demi-human. His height was the same as Jin, about 175 cm.

He wore a school uniform that was a bit different from his own, with a white blazer that draped across his knees like a scholarship.

Jin noticed the fox boy retracted his claws and loosened the tension in his body. He also did the same, exhaling in relief that he had avoided any unnecessary conflict.

Kenji walked closer, his amethyst eyes scanned Jin’s appearance from head to toe, rubbing his chin in deep thought.

“I just want to confirm something”.

“Sure, go ahead”. Jin nodded, waiting for the fox boy to open his mouth.

“…Jin Midnight, the Villain, right? Or is it supposed to be?”.

“Correct, I’m supposed to be, but things got a huge twist”.

“I see”.

While the two conversed, Hiyori, who alternated her gaze toward Jin and Kenji, had her pupils swirled in confusion.

“No, it’s impossible, Hiyori couldn’t understand the words they said”.

The boys noticed the swaying girl, and then Kenji looked toward Jin, giving him a brief nod and making way for the brothers and sister to reunite.

“Are you okay, Hiyori? Sorry, I’m leaving you alone”.

“It’s okay, but I’m sorry about what I did”. Hiyori slightly bowed her head.

“You should’ve said that to Mom”.

The girl flinched at the word Mother mentioned.

Hiyori bit her lips as her finger clenched her kimono until it wrinkled.

“Is she mad?”.

Kenji didn’t reply and parted his lips, raising a hand to pat the girl’s head and calm her down.

“Let’s apologize together”.

Hiyori, who gazed down, nodded and, with trembling lips, said.

“Thanks, big bro”.

The big brother took the girl’s hand and grasped it tight, telling her that everything would be alright with him around.

After persuading Hiyori, Kenji glanced at Jin, who kept his mouth stitched from earlier and swung his neck as a gesture.

“Follow me, I believe we have something to talk about”.

“Sure we are”.

Jin nodded and followed the fox boy as he walked through the crowds. He looked around toward the familiar street.

As he drew closer to the building, Jin caught the fishy scent of the takoyaki shop, which had a line forming, unlike the first time he had visited.

“Business blooming, I guess”.

Jin shot a glance forward. Prompting Kenji to look at him and smile.

“Yeah, I had some small ideas and decided to try it”.

“I see, good for you”.

Kenji shrugged and greeted the people who were busy attending to the customer.

“Welcome, young boss”.

Even with the heat that scorched their sweat, the store clerk kept their smile open and vigor that rivaled the flickering flames on the stove.

Jin gulped his saliva as he barely held his twitching nose, inhaling a delicious fragrant that roused his hunger, and the sizzling sound of fried batter made his stomach protest.

“Keep up the good work and if you have time, make my companion here three sets of menu, please, but customer first”.

“Alright”.

After Kenji dropped his command, he led Jin into the shop, which had a straight hallway with a bright interior.

The place had minimal decoration; it was probably prioritized for a shop rather than to receive guests.

Jin’s steps creaked each time he stomped onto the wooden floor that brought him into a spacious room.

Two sofas face each other in the center, with a rectangular table positioned between them. A man and a woman sat calmly on it while holding a piece of paper.

They had the characteristics of foxes with different colors. The man was black, while the woman was purple.

Both ears twitched upon hearing Jin’s footsteps approaching. Kenji pulled Hiyori closer and said.

“Dad, Mom, I met with Hiyori”.

Kenji’s voice echoed within the room; it pounded Hiyori’s figure as she shrunk further, trembling all over with deflated ears and tails.

“…M-Mom, I’m sorry”.

“Hiyori”.

The clear and dignified voice of the woman stirred the still atmosphere within the place, brewing something great, something that even Jin, as an outsider, was aware of.

’I guess every mother was the same’. Jin muttered in the heart.

“Y-Yesh”. Hiyori jolted like a cat, all hair around her body straight.

“Come here, mother wants to talk to you”.

Hiyori lifted her gaze to meet with Kenji, who smiled bitterly and shifted to Jin. He leaned closer and whispered.

“Jin, you can go ahead and use the first room as you ascend the stairs. Wait for me there”.

“Alright”.

Jin nodded and accidentally met the parents’ gaze, who gave him a slight bow. He returned the gesture and went toward the nearby stairs.

’I hope Hiyori is fine’. Jin’s prayer rang in his mind as he heard a gentle scolding fade behind.

He arrived at the second floor; a long corridor greeted him with several doors standing on each side of the walls.

’He said the first’. Jin stood before the mentioned door and twisted its knob, then stepped inside.

The room inside was modest, almost plain, with only the bare necessities piled up. A single bed stood in one corner; its white sheet was clean and shimmered under the light that filtered through the window.

A cabinet and a bookshelve filled with worn-out books, while a desk near the window offered a good view of the street.

There is no gold or fancy ornament—just quiet practicality, giving Jin a glimpse of Kenji’s personality, who values simplicity over wealth.

Jin hesitated as to where he should sit, but then a realization hit him like a hammer. ’Right, I’m used to sitting on a chair or sofa, until neglecting my own roots’.

He knelt and wiped the floor with his finger, noticing that it was spotless clean. Then, Jin flopped his butt with crossed legs.

Alone inside a closed space, Jin pondered what he should do while waiting until he opened his status window to see if there were any changes in it.

“Status”.

A translucent blue panel popped out, showing Jin’s current progression.

#####

[Status Panel]

Name: Jin Midnight (M)

Race: Human

Age: 15

Talent: Magic Swordsman

Parameters:

Vitality: A+

Mind: EX

Strength: A

Agility: S-

Stamina: S

Skill:

String of Fate (Divine), Swordsmanship (EX), Wind Magic (EX), Physical Enhancement/Elemental Enhancement {Derivative Skill}, Jade Eyes (Unique), Mana Manipulation (EX), Mind Sword (Divine), Item Box (Unique), Limit Break (Unique){NEW}, Touch of Divinity (Unique){NEW}

Title:

Apostle of All-Father, Sky Ruler

######

World Quest: Prevent the Tragedy!

Reward: ???

Penalty: Death

Progression rate: -25%

######

Jin scanned through the text and parameters that had grown from the earliest E until he touched S, making him closer to gaining an unparalleled strength to bash away any misfortune that stood in his path.

He looked back at the skills that had helped him on his journey and gained an additional two new ones.

’Let’s look at them later. My problem is’. Jin lowered his gaze, witnessing the progression rate of the World Quest that slumped into minus points.

The boy couldn’t help but wonder; having a minus point in something was equal to failing things, yet the Quest still stayed there as a reminder of his impending fate.

His brows furrowed in deep thought as he was unable to cast aside the foreboding sense that slowly crept up on him, caressing his heart with seductive malice that choked him slowly.

After deep contemplation, Jin didn’t notice the door was clicked upon, which made him flinch in shock, and he saw Kenji appear, holding a silver tray with two glasses.

“Sorry for the wait”.

“No problem”.

Kenji stood before Jin, and with a flick of Kenji’s finger, a round table appeared in between the two, and the fox boy placed the tray on it, sitting opposite Jin.

“Then, where should we start?”. Kenji said, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep