NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: SUS
Chapter 19
"Haaa haaa," Yuto laughed, clearly relishing the confusion etched on Yuki's face. After a few moments, his laughter faded, replaced by a soft, affectionate smile. "You might not recognize me, but I'm your father from your previous life," he said, his tone light and playful, though his eyes sparkled with mischievous amusement.
Yuki's mind finally seemed to catch up with what she had just heard, and she turned toward Yuto, her expression morphing into one of shock and disbelief. "FATHER?!" she gasped, her voice rising.
"Yes, a father," the boy nodded, his radiant smile widening. "Though, technically, I'm not your biological parent right now since only your soul came here, not your physical body." He added the last part under his breath, as if it were merely an afterthought.
Yuki's breath quickened, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she struggled to process the whirlwind of events that had unfolded in just a few hours. The truth was too wild to fully grasp. She was from another universe, one that incomprehensible outer beings had destroyed. The dreams she'd been having weren't mere figments of her imagination—they were vivid memories from her previous life, just as the strange woman had claimed. And now, standing before her, was her supposed father from that life, from a parallel universe. Oh, and did she mention that her father was a being superior to the gods? Powerful enough to battle that outer force to a standstill?
"You don't believe me?" Yuto asked, his frown deepening as he crossed his arms.
Yuki inhaled deeply, desperately trying to steady her racing heart. "I tr—" she started to say, only to be cut off as Yuto snapped his fingers, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"Why don't I prove it to you?" he suggested, extending his hand. In an instant, a glowing circle etched with intricate symbols appeared before his fingertip. From the center of the circle, a small flame emerged. The fire, as if alive, twisted and morphed, forming an exact replica of Yuki—every strand of hair, every detail, perfectly captured in the fiery figure.
Yuki's heart raced; the shock of witnessing real magic sent her pulse into overdrive. Her body trembled, and sweat trickled down her skin again. She had partially accepted the truth, but seeing magic in real life was overwhelming. She turned to Yuto, her voice shaky. "I know part of what happened. I remember that world."
Yuto, noticing her reaction, scratched the back of his head sheepishly, flashing an apologetic smile. "I guess that demonstration was unnecessary."
Then, as if remembering something vital, he spoke again, his voice calm yet direct. "Oh, I forgot to mention—I'm Yuto. Your son. The one who disappeared four years ago."
It took several moments for Yuki to process what he had just said. When it finally sank in, she whipped her head toward Yuto, her eyes wide and her mouth gaping in shock. She sat frozen like that for a few seconds, unable to form coherent thoughts, until her mind overloaded from the tumult of revelations. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"I guess that was too rapid, huh?" Yuto mused, scratching the back of his neck as he watched her fall.
(Timeskip: 4 hours)
Yuto and Yuki were now seated in the living room, the golden sunlight streaming through the window, casting a warm glow around them. The television flickered in the background, displaying news about a gruesome murder in Tokyo—a man found dead, his body mutilated in ways that sent chills down Yuki's spine.
"So, what you're saying is that magic exists in this world; there are even gods, devils, and angels," Yuki said, her voice hollow as her worldview shattered and reformed in a matter of hours. "And the top powers here, like major gods of Pantheons or the leaders of races, are capable of destroying continents in mere minutes."
"Oh, I forgot to mention—you are my son, Yuto, who was my father in my previous life," she added monotonously, turning to him. Yuto was staring at the TV, relaxed, as if what he had just said was the most casual of revelations.
"Yes, you've grasped the general idea," he replied without turning his gaze from the screen. "And a little reminder: don't ever speak of outer beings or describe them, because even that might summon them." His carefree smile contrasted sharply with the weight of his words. "Also, don't mention your past life—doing so could very well get you a ticket to a gruesome death or worse."
Yuki gulped, her mind racing with terrifying images of torture and brainwashing. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, forcing her voice steady. Then, attempting to shift the mood, she asked, "So, what would you like for dinner?"
Normally, when she learned he was back, she would have been overjoyed—hugging him tightly, thankful that he had returned safe and sound. But the realization that she was his father, and he is an immensely powerful being, unsettled her, leaving her emotions restrained."
With a radiant smile that conveyed warmth and familial love, Yuto replied, "I would like some Okonomiyaki, Mother."
A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she heard him call her "Mother." What embarrassed her even more was the sudden realization that he was, in fact, her father. "Okay," she replied quickly, trying to hide her flushed, red face, then turned toward the door to leave. Her steps were quick and hurried, as if she were running from something.
Watching her walk away, a mischievous smile crept across Yuto's face as he thought, "I'll tell her the truth in a week or two". He then turned back to the TV, enjoying the show, relishing the mundane moment after so much time spent away.
(After a late breakfast)
Yuto and Yuki stood inside a spacious, abandoned building just outside the city. The two-story structure was a shell of its former self, with peeling paint and empty rooms, the toilets and windows long removed. Because it lay several kilometers from the city center, it was rarely visited by beggars or gang members, especially during the daytime.
Yuto stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, wearing a wise expression akin to that of an ancient sage. Yuki sat on a chair, her nervousness palpable as she fidgeted with her fingers.
"Mana is a form of energy that exists within all living beings, including humans," Yuto began, his tone patient and clear, tailored for Yuki's understanding. "Most ordinary humans are unaware of it and cannot harness its power unless they undergo specific training or obtain a supernatural item." His voice was steady, guiding her through this new reality as she listened with rapt attention.
"Unlike supernatural races who are capable of magic from birth, humans have to train to learn. There are exceptions, of course, like those born with exceptional talent, but even then, they are limited to manipulating mana or enhancing themselves. It's a far cry from what one could achieve with enough knowledge and experience. So first up, we won't be doing any flashy magic; for the first few months, we'll focus on manipulating mana and gaining knowledge."
A question bubbled up within Yuki, and she raised her hand hesitantly. "Ummmmm, do you mean by knowledge, some words or incantations that wizards in books chant?"
"Half right, half wrong," Yuto replied, extending one arm to conjure a magic formula that glimmered in the dim light. "While incantation and chant are part of it, to assume they consist only of words is incorrect." He created another magic circle with his other hand, an intricate design that shimmered with power. "You could say, for human magic, calculations and formulas are the foundation, while incantations are a helpful enhancement," he explained before beginning to chant.
"Flame of fury, heed my call,
From my hands, a fireball!
Ignite and strike with blazing might,
Illuminate the dark of night!"
As he finished, a fireball roughly 50 centimeters in diameter appeared in his right hand, while a smaller 30-centimeter fireball manifested in his left. He turned to Yuki, a proud smile on his face. "I infused both with the same amount of mana, but because I used an incantation, the one on the right is larger and hotter."
With a flourish, he waved his hand in the air, and a few thick books materialized. "Read this book first; it contains beginner knowledge," he instructed. "We'll start getting you to feel mana in a week or two."
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A beautiful girl sat in a steaming hot spring, the warm water enveloping her like a gentle embrace. A soft white towel was draped loosely over her, the only covering on her otherwise bare form. Her body relaxed as she leaned back against the smooth stone edge, eyes half-closed in quiet contentment. The tranquil scene was interrupted as a glowing symbol suddenly appeared on her wrist, its bright green light cutting through the haze of steam.
Startled, she sat upright, the towel slipping slightly as she glanced down at the symbol, which pulsed with a soft, rhythmic glow. Without hesitation, she rose to her feet, letting the towel fall away entirely, her elegant form silhouetted by the warm mist of the spring. She traced her fingers over the glowing mark thoughtfully, and with a subtle shift in her magic, she established a connection.
"I thought you would've contacted me sooner," she said, a playful tease in her voice.
On the other end of the connection, a playful, childlike voice replied, teasingly. "Funny, I thought I'd contact you much later."
She laughed softly, sinking back into the water, letting the warm water caress her. "I guess we were both wrong," she said, her tone lighthearted and teasing. 'So how are you, what have you been doing ?, Have you done something interesting, recently?'
"No, not from my knowledge, ever since that day, the only thing I've been doing is training or learning." Yuto's voice came through casually.
A mischievous smile played on her lips. "Liar. I know you're hiding something. Saying you've done 'nothing' is too obvious a lie, don't you think?"
Yuto's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean by that?"
She leaned back lazily, inspecting her nails. "I'm saying that you, Arcana Anomaly, have made quite a name for yourself."
Yuto's curiosity piqued, but he kept his tone neutral. "What kind of fame?"
"The kind that comes from killing an Ultimate-class being—on your own. And not just any Ultimate-class, but a seasoned veteran," she remarked casually, glancing at the pulsing symbol on her wrist.
"Alone?" Yuto stood up from where he was sitting, his expression shifting from curiosity to confusion.
She looked at her reflection in the water, her lips curling into a smirk. "Stop acting clueless. One of the Thunder Horn Guild's leaders let it slip. There's even a recording of you fighting that guy—though the start and finish were not there."
Yuto's face darkened. He already knew who might have leaked that information. "Damn old man," he muttered, more to himself than to her. Though he wasn't sure why that old man had done this, the attention was far from welcome.
(Elsewhere…)
Ray was walking down a hallway when a massive sneeze burst from him. "ACHOO!" He rubbed his nose, glancing out the window at the clear sky. "Must be someone talking about me—probably admiring my charm and my honest character" he mused, a satisfied grin on his face as he continued on his way.
Back in the hot spring, Yuto's mind raced. "How far has this spread?"
"Pretty much everywhere. From yokai to devils, everyone's buzzing about it. You've even got a few bounties on your head now. I used to think I was overestimating you by placing you at the peak of high class, but it turns out I was underestimating the 'Arcana Anomaly,' the 12-year-old Ultimate class" she said, resting her arms on the edge of the spring with a knowing smirk.
Yuto scoffed at the title of "Ultimate-class." While he could fight at that level, he knew it was a stretch to call himself one. His real power lay in his feral combat style and his ultimate class skills and Limitbreaker skill, which allowed him to push his body beyond its natural limits—but at a steep cost . He could sustain such power only briefly before exhaustion overwhelmed him. Without relying on Limitbreaker, his mana reserves were comparable to an peak of early High-class being, and his physical durability was closer to peak mid-High-class. His style was unpredictable, but unsustainable over long battles.
He dismissed the thought with a sigh; worrying wouldn't change anything. Turning his focus back to the matter at hand, he shifted the conversation to what he originally intended: Shadow Veil. I shouldn't have turned off the notifications, he thought, even if they were annoying.
"What happened to Shadow Veil after we left?"
She tilted her head slightly. "Why would I investigate them ?"
"Ikumi"
She chuckled. "Ok, ok, in basic summery Shadow Veil is in an intense standoff with the Thunder Horn Guild and the Phamos family. Thanks to you killing one of Shadow Veil's heads and saving that guild leader, they're now in a near-even battle. Shadow Veil has more mid-rank soldiers, but they're losing their grip on the high-end combat power, Ultimate-class."
She adjusted herself in the spring, her voice dropping slightly as she asked, "I wanna ask something, do you want revenge?"
She turns towards her head to her hand. 'If you don't want to, or feel like you are not ready, pretend that I did not say anything'
Yuto leaned forward, his tone serious. 'Continue what you were saying, i am listening'
kumi smiled, her eyes narrowing. "When they learned they kidnapped me, my clan wanted revenge, but due to the political situation, in Kyoto, they couldn't act directly. So, in a few months, they plan to send mercenaries and supplies to either the Thunder Horn Guild or the Phamos family. So, we'll be… 'lending' some help. What do you say?"
Yuto considered her offer for a moment before giving a curt nod. "I'll think about it," he said, cutting the connection. The glowing symbol on her wrist faded, leaving only the quiet of the hot spring.
"At least say goodbye!" she pouted, her cheeks puffin in annoyance.
()
Yuto sat on the couch, a frown on his face as he debated whether to go with them or keep a low profile. If he went, there was a chance they'd betray him. While Ikumi likely wouldn't, he couldn't say the same for her clan. Even if they didn't betray him, the information could still leak, and he might end up getting ambushed by devils, church, or whoever interested in him. But there were pros to going, too—he'd gain valuable resources and the knowledge he desperately needed, as his own knowledge only reached the peak of high-class abilities. Using the system to upgrade merely taught him combat techniques and spells, leaving his fundamentals severely lacking compared to learning naturally.
Yuto turned to the window, gazing at the clear sky dotted with countless stars. "It's as if the system wants me to become dependent on it," he thought. He shook his head, dispelling the random thought that crept in. Nevertheless, whether he goes or not, he won't go together with them.
Author's Note: Expect Yuto's strength to grow more slowly as he progresses. While humans have lower peak potential compared to other races, they also tend to grow stronger much faster in the earlier stages. It wouldn't make sense for devils who have lived for centuries to be only at low or mid-class strength, while humans, who live just 40 to 50 years, could similarly reach low to mid-class in strength.
But his strength will also not be too slow, because he has system.
PS: Some Devil civilians live over a thousand years.