Return of the Fallen Volume 7 Chapter 14
Kazuki explained everything. From the moment he had reunited with Tilly in Glacious’s tiny world to the moment she died. He was completely honest and talked about how obsessed old Tilly had become when it came to Glacious’s Golem technology as well as the Magic core that powered them. In the end, it was this obsession that led her to steal one of these magic cores directly from a golem and run out of the tiny world and into the clutches of Reya and other Azirian’s.
Kazuki held nothing back and even came out about his actual identity. After all, if it weren’t for who he was and who he was related to Tilly would never have been caught and used as a hostage to threaten him in the first place. Even though Tilly stole the magic core, Kazuki still felt partially responsible for her demise.
Sid broke down listening to this story. He cried like a child and his small frame seemed even smaller as he sunk into his chair. He seemed to age by at least ten years in a single moment and he seemed hollow thin as if the slightest breeze would carry him away until he faded to dust.
After Kazuki finished speaking, an awkwardness mixed with sadness lingered in the air for quite a while, and only after almost 20 minutes did old Sid’s tears finally dry before he spoke.
“So your name is actually Kazuki and all of this is because of you and the ugly relationship you share with your sister?”
Kazuki sighed inwardly but he didn’t deny Sid’s accusation.
“I can’t deny it. If I never met Tilly, the fate she met would not have played out the way it did. She would have never been involved with me and if she wasn’t connected to me then she would have never ended up in front of an Azirian. The fault lies with
“Stop!”
Sid quickly interrupted Kazuki before he said another word. Wiping his face he lowered his head for a moment in thought.
“Kazuki was it? Forget what I said. I… I don’t blame you. No, the things we do, the things we strive for, our ambitions…Tilly was always obsessed with crafting, even more so than I, and my craft is my business. She should have never stolen anything from Glacious. Who in their right mind would steal from an actual dragon. It was clear she wasn’t thinking logically. When Tilly got something on her mind, she could be the most stubborn old mule you’d ever come across. This…this isn’t your fault. Instead, it’s those damn Azirian’s. Those nasty monsters, they’ve already killed so many. To learn they also killed my best friend…DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM ALL TO THE 7TH REALM OF HELL!”
As he said this, old Sid gripped the armrest so hard that the wooden frame began to creak. Even being so small, Sid seemed to contain a fair amount of strength for his size.
Sid could see Kazuki giving him a strange look and looked at the arm rest he was squeezing. Calming down he let it go and breathed deeply before a teasing smile formed on his face.
“What’s wrong Kazuki, afraid of my might, hehe.”
Kazuki chuckled slightly.
“No, merely I was a little surprised by your strength but I guess I shouldn’t be after all most giants should have at least that much strength.”
The two shared a laugh before Sid tossed Tilly’s ring back to Kazuki.
“Keep that. Tilly won’t be needing it anymore and I’m sure she’d be happy a friend held onto it.”
Kazuki gave a side-eye.
“You were her friend as well. Shouldn’t you keep it or maybe even her son. I was going to see him earlier and tell him about his mother but a little incident got in the way. Still, one of you should have it instead of me.”
Sid scoffed.
“Hmph, that bastard son of hers. He’s never been filial to Tilly. All his life he’s used her. From her reputation to her wealth, he’s tried to squeeze whatever he could from her to rise up. Jool, that dog may be the city lord but he’s never been a true son to Tilly or showed her the respect or love she deserves. I don’t care about keeping the ring or who has it but that comes with the exception of Jool. I’d rather see Tilly’s storage ring smelted or thrown away than given to that unloyal piece of shit.”
Kazuki sat back in his chair, surprised. From what he remembered he knew Tilly didn’t have much respect for her son but he didn’t know the reverse was true as well. Not only that, at least from what Sid said, it seemed there was no love lost between mother and son whatsoever.
Kazuki still wasn’t sure what to make of things until Sid began to recount dozens of snippets and stories involving the strained relationship between mother and son. From the story of when Jool sold Tilly’s projects to several merchants to the time he tried to steal her house from her. The stories against Jool simply stacked up until the bad was as high as a mountain.
Kazuki wasn’t sure about all of this. After all, this was only one side of the story. For now, he decided to keep the ring but he would still speak with Jool at some point. After having a conversation, he would ascertain the man and decided at that time.
“Well, I guess I’ll hang on to it for now. I guess it wouldn’t be bad to have a bit of money.”
“Hmm, are you having money problems? Someone with your strength. You could have your own kingdom with that power, why are you so poor?”
Kazuki then went on to explain how he was forced into the abyssal trench. He left out most of the details and kept it brief. The point was, that now he came out of such a place with very little in his possession. Well except the two-story block of orichalcum in his own ring.
Sid nodded along.
“Coming out of such a place is hard to believe. I’ve heard of that trench long ago. Things that go in, never come out but you managed it. Such a harrowing experience, it’s no wonder you look so weird now.”
Sid was referring to Kazuki’s clothes. He still had the clothes he received from King Oren and that was an interesting sight.
Kazuki didn’t mention how he came about these odd-looking clothes but they definitely made him seem to be on the poorer side of things.
“Right, I’ve known Tilly for more than 6 decades. That old crow had acquired and spent many fortunes depending on what she was working on. Knowing her, she died either flat broke or as rich as a fat merchant. I suppose you’ll need someone to open up that ring for you. My skills are second to none.”
Kazuki gave Sid a curious look. He had already managed to access Tilly’s ring but that was because he had both the power, as well as the knowledge from Glacious’s memories. This is what allowed him to both erase and change the many inscriptions on Tilly’s ring and open it up.
“From my understanding, one can not simply access someone else’s magic storage ring, yet you can. Do you care to tell me how you can do such a thing? From my eyes, I can see you’re at the 3rd stage. No offense but that’s hardly enough power to get into someone’s storage ring.”
Sid chuckled.
*Heh*
“I am not some simple-minded fool. I know you need dozens of 3rd stage mages working nonstop to open a storage ring but who are they and who am I. This is the question you need to ask yourself. I am Sid the giant, Sid the dragon slayer. This task is something easy for me. Follow me.”
Sid pressed the side of his armrest and the sound barrier faded away. After that, he got up and walked with proud yet short strides.
Sid didn’t answer his question but Kazuki was curious and followed after him.
The two came out of the back office and walked even further into the shop. Walking through a large door, Kazuki’s answer was right in front of him.
A long golden table with thousands of inscriptions sat in the center of this back room. Kazuki remembered this table. He had seen it a few times. Once was here, when Sid helped remove Limiter tattoos from Tsura. Another time was in a workshop in Glacious tiny world. The one other time was from long ago. Both he and his older brother Kai were chained down by his sister Fera and their accursed adoptive mother.
These memories were just as fresh as they were more than a decade ago. The moment Kazuki saw this table, he felt his rage boil up to the surface. However not even a second later he buried those feelings.
(In time everything will come around. I just need more time.)
Sid didn’t even notice Kazuki’s flip in expression as it was as brief as a flicker of light. Sid told Kazuki to wait there for a moment. He ran out of the room and barely a minute later he came back with a box of some sort. Unlocking the box, Sid reached inside and pulled out a glove. This glove though was anything but ordinary.
As soon as Kazuki saw it his eyes lit up as he recognized it.
(A Sozo Glove!)
Comment (0)