- Rudeus Greyrat -
Now let's step back in time to discuss the secret intention of this new kingdom project.
It was during one of my and Orsted meetings. About a few weeks after my family vacation
in Millishion. Our topic, we were discussing if we should unify the Strife Zone by backing one of the kingdoms there.
Adding a kingdom to our allied forces would be a big help in the upcoming battle with Laplace. I was recommending to assist the Markien Mercenary Country. Call it biased but since the Rude Mercenary Company was doing so well under Aisha care, I was thinking they would be a great ally to back up our forces.
I was in deep thought about the subject and Orsted was looking straight at his desk still filing some paperwork when he spoke.
"Have you heard from your friend, Arthur?"
"Huh?" I rose from my own paperwork in a bit of shock.
Hmmm ... He still hasn't learn how to lean into a conversation yet. I should lecture him a bit ... but ... now that I think about it. When was the last time I spoke to Arty?
I would constantly write to him, but the last time I saw him physically was in the Beheiril Kingdom.
I couldn't help but smiled at the fond memory. I was losing in my battle with the 'Fighting God' Badigadi. And like some hero saving a princess at the nick of time.
"It looks like you can use some help Rudy"
His body has seen some better days. It looked like he experienced his own battle somewhere else, he finished up and now he came to my rescue.
I wondered at the moment what he been through before getting here. But that didn't matter at the moment. Right now with Arty with me, I felt invincible.
We tagged teamed in a great battle of swords and magic against a great power. It ended with me charging the King Dragon Sword with the rest of my Mana as I toss it towards Arty to deal the final blow. We later sealed off Badigadi with the 'Fighting God Armor'.
Haaa, memories ... Wait I shouldnt be going down memory lane, I should be wondering about something else right now
"Why the sudden interest?"
If I had to explain the relationship between these two it would be ... Non-existent.
Arty is from the rare and endangered Hakuei Clan. A demon race that has the Dragon Tribe Race in their blood.
Hmmm ... The Dragon Tribe
Orsted, from my experience was not fond of the few remaining members of the Dragon Tribe. And then there Arty himself. I have known him to get along with almost anyone, no matter the race. If you give him 5 minutes by the end, it would be as if you had been good friends for years. I'd say he had charisma that matches Paul when he fights.
But when it came to the Dragon Tribe, let's just say Arty was not a fan as well.
There were times when I tried to get them get along. Like when Orsted offered to teach me 'Dragon Battle Aura' and the
branch skill 'Saint Dragon Battle Aura'.
Arty has always been enthusiastic about learning new skills that could make him stronger and that could better himself. I thought it would be good for him learning something about his roots and technically his heritage.
But when he heard it was from Orsted and a Dragon Tribe skill. He completely shut down and turn down the offer.
I clasps my hands together as I leaned over the desk, in a fashion similar to Orsted himself.
Ok ... Calm down, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Here we have Orsted here, taking the first step. He's growing. I felt like such a proud father.
"He impressed me a while back and I wish to make him my ally"
"Oho!" This was a first. I mean sure he given me and Alec a ultimatum before accepting us as his subordinates. But this was the first time he wanted to seek out a subordinate.
Wait, did he say Arty impressed him. I'm not too surprised since this was Arty we are talking about. I mean he can be a bit timid but he can be very reliable when it counts. I wondered what he did to impress the Dragon God himself. Wait I might be getting ahead of myself. It could just be that Arty could be important in the future with the coming battle with Laplace or even with Hitogami.
"Is he important or was he influenceal in the other timelines?"
Maybe in the future ... If Arty ever said he would beat Laplace himself. I would believe he would be able to completely.
Ugh ... Again I'm getting ahead of myself. Laplace would be resurrected in about a 100 years, more or less. Due to Arty's ... circumstance, he ages like a human. I don't think he would live to see Laplace getting resurrected, even with good health.
Heh But if he did, even as a grandpa I can still see him finding a way to beat him, with him someway getting a hit in himself. That's just the kind of guy Arty is.
"Hmmm ... No, in fact I have no recollection of him in any of my previous loops. The Hakuei Clan should have gone extinct awhile ago. Actually, about a year or so before the 'Displacement Incident' if I recall. I believe similar to the Surperd Tribe, your introvention caused him and maybe some other survivors to occur"
Huh ... My introvention?
I know I am a anomaly in this world, so of course any actions I do have a big ripple effect in this timeline.
But ... But
What could I have done to keep Arty alive? Was he suppose to die in the previous loops?
I first met him was when me and Eris was transported to the Demon Continent during the 'Displacement Incident'. He was already traveling with Ruijerd at the time, for a while actually. Ruijerd said ... about a year. So according to Orsted memories it matches with the timeline of when the Hakuei Clan goes extinct.
So what could I have done? If the timing is correct, I should have been still be tutoring Eris in the 'Citadel of Roa'. The only thing I could think of would be some of my figures I sold into circulation in the marketplace. Could it be the kidnapping attempt I stopped with Eris? But again how would that affect Arty who was in the Demon Continent at the time. What a minute, that's not the issue right now.
"He impressed you?" I know what you mean, Arty can be very reliable when it counts. "How did he do that? I would love to hear the story"
Orsted looked away as he was a bit conflicted.
Huh ... Is he flustered right now? ... This is a first
"I ... can't say, ... He made me promised not to tell. I suppose I own him so I will keep my word"
Whoa ... Leave it to Arty to twist the Dragon God's arm
"So why don't you ask him then?"
He looked grim as he looked away again. "I did but he turned me down"
Ah ... There it is. He's bumped out because he got turned down. What is he a high schooler who gets rejected and now he is sulking.
"Wait, when did you ask him?"
"I can't say"
Hmmm ... So does that mean it's around the same time. Hmm. Now I really want to know what this is about.
Actually, I never heard of him after that final battle. The last I saw of him was when he was recoperating in the Surperd village. I left early as I left the village reconstruction to Aisha and the others.
"Wait, does he die from the same disease Ruijerd and the Superd Tribe died from?"
"No, I never knewn him and I don't recall him traveling with Ruijerd either. At first I just assumed he had a weak fate ... but I don't think that is the case exactly"
So that means it was from way back. Seriously what could I have done to change Arty's fate.
Ruijerd told me he started traveling with Arty for only about a year. He was such a sweet boy, well you wouldn't think that as he looked a bit more monsterious.
I remember my adorable disguise I made for him whenever we reach a populated area. For Ruijerd it was simple, we just had to shave his head and hide his 'third eye' jewel on his forehead with our headband.
But for Arty it was a bit more difficult. First we had to get him to walk on two legs. He didn't want to at first but then I convinced him by offering to teach him some chantless magic.
Once that was done, we clothed him with heavy robes to cover his scales. To put the icing on the cake, Ruijerd hunted down and cleaned out a small monster skull which he used as a mask and hood to cover his one remaining horn and the hard scales on his face.
By the end of it, he actually looked a bit intimidating to everyone around us. But I couldn't see it. I kept thinking he looked like a certain scavenger race from a galaxy far far away.
"Ummm ... Rudy ... This is really hot"
And of course the intimation factor completely melts when he lifts the skull mask, revealing his adorable face in the rugged clothes. The contrast made his face even more innocent.
Wait. I was getting off track again.
His past. Arty was ever the talker during our travels. Asking questions, mimicking our speech, voicing his wonder. He was almost like a little duckling, well a deadly little duckling. Eris would always get jealous whenever he would fellow me around instead of her.
Another adorable behavior he had was that he would always latch onto Ruijerd's back. He was like a little monkey.
Eris was trying, to great extent, to get Arty to exhibit the same behavior to her. It seemed she liked the role of a big sister and she viewed Arty as somewhat as a little brother.
It could be because her own little brother was taken away from her when he was born. So she never got the chance to act like a big sister.
She was trying everything she can think of to get him to latch onto her back. You can imagine her frustration when Arty latched onto my back first at the time.
Ugh ... I'm getting of tract again. Ahem ... His past. Whenever I would ask about his past, before he met Ruijerd, he would instantly shut down and then kept to himself for a while.
I wondered what could of happen to him and how was I the cause to his fate being changed.
As I was deeply going down memory lane. Orsted got me out of my reminiscing when he suddenly asked a odd question.
"Is he married?"
"Huh! Where is this coming from?"
I clasped my hands together again as I leaned forward.
Seriously I'm getting serious deja vu with the conversation about Norn.
"Why do you ask?"
This can't be the same reasoning as with Norn. According to Orsted, Arty shouldn't exist right now so he should have no involvement in the future or the other failed loops. So what can be the reason.
"If he said no, then I was wondering if I can get his descendants to join me"
Ok. Maybe it is about the same thing with Norn. He wants to set some groundwork. Hmm would you call it ground work if you don't know the outcome exactly. Man I wanna know what Arty did to have Orsted so down bad right now. Orsted seems dead set on having Arty join him in someway.
This could be somewhat of a reverse of what he told me about Luicelia, Ruijerd and Norn's daughter. How she was the last member of the Superd Tribe. When you look at the situation, it seems that Arty here is in the same predicament as Luicelia would be in the previous loop. Arty as I know is the last remaining member of the Hakuei Clan right now.
And here I was beginning to think Orsted wanted to preserve the Dragon Tribe Race in some way ... But I guess not.
Hmmm ... Arty's love life. Also non-existent. I was a little worried for Arty in this regard. Let's just say he can be easily influenced, it was a similar way how Eris would imitate her grandfather or Ghislane when she was younger. But he does have a good head on his shoulders though.
As for his appeal to the opposite sex. Yea, I think that was there. When we were traveling I was beginning to wonder if he might be gay by the way he clung to me or Ruijerd all the time. But it seemed he was just a late bloomer. There was this one time while we were traveling . . .
* * * * *
- Rudeus Greyrat -
We were preparing to leave the Shirone Kingdom when we split up to gather supplies for the trip to the Asura Kingdom. Ruijerd and Eris went to secure our ride while me and Arthur were out for groceries.
"Ok that should be everything for the trip, let meet up with others in the inn ... Arthur?"
Sigh ... You picked that name so the least you can do is answer when someone calls you that.
Originally as a place holder. I decided to call him Ryuu since well he looked like a dragon. Eris seemed to really like it but Arthur ... Not so much. Basically the name didn't stick to him, when we called him that he didn't put together that we were addressing him.
But after the situation with Lilia, Aisha, and the Prince of this nation was resolved. He started preaching that he chose the name Arthur as his own.
"Rudy, Eris, Ruijerd ... I'm Arthur ... Please call me Arthur from now on"
Arthur? ... Wasn't that the same story I told him a while back about the peasant Arthur Pendragon and how he became the king of Camelot. It was a standard underdog, zero to hero story I knew about.
Eris thought it was cool. Ruijerd seemed interested in it. But Arthur ... Oh boy it really stuck to him for some reason.
He has a determined look on his face saying he will take no objections.
I tilted my head at the name as it was obvious where he got it. Eris liked Ryuu better as it suited him more. Ruijerd seemed happy that he picked something for himself.
But what is the point of it if he still doesn't answer to his new found name
"Arthur?"
I looked back from where I just walked from as I saw Arty took notice of someplace.
Hmm ... What could have his attention so much?
I walked up next to him as I face the building he was looking at.
It was a brothel.
Ohh ... I pounded my fist in pride on my chest ... Ry-ArthurI'm so proud of you
I looked around to see if the coast is clear. "Cough cough ... Are you curious? ... Do you want to go in?"
It's not my fault ... My friend is just curious ... He needs that education, he a growing boy. Yup nothing wrong here ...Hehehehe
". . . . ."
I was ignored as he just stared blankly at the building. He removed his mask to get a better look.
"A-Arthur?"
I went to peek at his face as I was in a bit of shock and he was making a expression I've never seen him make. He looked pained, depressed, but mostly confused.
This was awkward.
"Come on Arthur"
I took his hand as I guided him away from the place. This place seems to upset and bum him out.
As we left the area his head turned back as his eyes never left the building. And then ...
"Hey Rudy ... What is that place called?" He looked at me with pleading eyes.
Ack! Arthur please. You shouldn't ask that question with that adorable face of yours. Don't tell me I'm a shotacon as well.
"Ummm ... It's a special place that boys use to relief some stress"
"B-But ... What's it called?"
I don't want to get blamed for tainting his innocent mind.
"Um ... Its called a Brothel"
"I ... I see" He looked back at the building one last time. Before shaking his head as he began to walk normally next to me again.
* * * * *
- Rudeus Greyrat -
I was also beginning to think he was scared of women. But as we grew I found out that was not the case.
I mean, he had female friends. I heard he liked to hang out with Eris and her sword training friends, Nina and Isolte, when he and her were training in the Sword Sanctum.
When you saw him interact with them, it was like a little brother hanging out with his big sister's friends.
He also got along with my other wives, Sylphy and Roxy. Especially Roxy since she would teach him some magic when he would ask.
And then there's my little sisters.
He seems to get along well with Norn. When I asked her about it, she said when she talks to him, he doesn't compare her to me or he keeps me out of the topic of the conversation. Basically she says he gives her a ear to listen to her complaints.
Ack. Norn. That hurts your big brother you know. Who's comparing me to you, your big brother will take care of anybody you need. I can also give you a ear too.
And then there's Aisha. . . . . . I guess there relationship is ... Ok. I noticed Arty would like to hang out on the tree that is by the garden that Aisha would tend to the plants. That is where most of their conversation happened. Whenever I asked Aisha about it, she was always so dismissive about it. Like saying "oh we talked about this and that" and stuff like "oh he tells odd stories, Big brother did you really go here and there back then". When I confirmed the stories Arty told her she would just give a "ohh" or "I see" as she simply returned to her maid work.
Huh did she think he was lying or something. Sorry Aisha, the last thing Arty would do is lie. It's not that he is pure or anything. He just believes it's a waste of time since he's just horrible at it. You can read him like a book when he tries to lie.
Hmmm. Now that I thing about, all of his female friends are with relation to me. Does he have any that I don't know about? I'm not too sure.
I got out of my deep thoughts as I address Orsted.
"Sadly, I think that Arty has no marriage prospects"
Well marriage is not for everyone. I always viewed Arty as a free spirit, he is probably traveling around the world like a free bird right about now. Happiness takes different form for everyone I guess.
"I see ... How disappointing" Orsted sighed as it looked like he just reached a dead end.
I began to get back to our paperwork. Well at least me. Whenever he would write and try to get back to the work in front of him, he would stop what he was doing as he clasp his hands and lean forward in a very Orsted like way. He was looking in my direction when he was thinking, well not me exactly but my bracelet he gave me all so long ago.
"Do you think he would be open to marriage if it comes from you?"
"Huh? You want me to set him up?"
Ok, what's going on here. The Orsted Cooperation isn't running a match making or dating service. What a minute now that I think about it ... Maybe we were. A lot of missions for Orsted is basically setting people up to make sure the people Orsted needs are born in the future.
I was starting to think that Orsted was just a shipper. I didn't take him for that kind of guy.
Wait a moment. What is even Arty type? He gets flustered by so few women. It's hard to tell.
The last person I saw him get flustered with would be Isolte. Too bad, Arty. Doga beat you to the punch. The early bird gets the worm as people say.
Sigh ... Between Ariel trying to hook up our children and now Orsted trying to hook up my good friends. I feel like I'm beginning to get desensitized to this whole political marriage concept.
"Orsted. I'm not into this political marriage thing. If you want Arty to join you, maybe you should apologize and ask nicely for him to join you"
"Hmmm. He seems very reluctant about it. Maybe if it's from you?"
What is this? When has the Dragon God become such a tsundere.
Wait .. this could be the perfect opportunity.
"Actually"
What they need is a project where they could work in the same room with each other.
Hmm, with the way Orsted is right now, I think I can successfully pitch my idea with this coming project.
"I think I might have a idea ..."
Orsted gave a look when he saw the wide grin I had on my face.