Chapter 64: Chapter 52. When Trouble Calls
Naruto POV
"We're adventurers now! Does this make you pumped up, Naruto?" Kurama asked, excitement evident in his voice. The fox had only experienced being an adventurer through RPG games, and seeing it come to life made him eager.
Naruto chuckled in agreement. "Yeah… I can't wait to try out these new skills."
He had spent a long time choosing his job since all of them offered unique abilities and powers. Each option was tempting, but here were some of the standouts:
Dark Lord: This job enhanced Naruto's affinity for darkness and his demonic form. It granted terrifying abilities like consuming enemies' souls to absorb their powers. Additionally, his mere presence could weaken enemies, cause widespread fear, and even resurrect fallen foes as undead soldiers.
Doom Bringer: A fire-based role that amplified his ability to wield hellfire—flames from the Seven Hells. The ultimate skill, Doom, Inflicts a curse that dispels an enemy and prevents them from casting spells or healing in any way, while taking damage over time. Burned their body and soul into nothingness.
Hope Bringer: Kurama called this the "Power of Friendship Job." The more people believed in him, the stronger he became. This role granted Guardian of Hope, an ability to inspire courage, heal allies, and bolster morale in a wide radius.
Ashura the Destroyer: This boosted Naruto's raw strength dramatically, especially in a rage. The unique ability, Ashura Wrath, turned his anger into a force capable of leveling battlefields.
Emperor of Shadow: This role allowed Naruto to command shadows, including his enemies'. It reminded him of Shikamaru's shadow jutsu but on a much grander scale.
Lord of Nature: A perfect fit for his Sage Mode. Naruto could connect with nature itself, summon armies of treants, and heal allies using Tranquility, a large-scale nature-based healing skill.
"With all these options… I'm glad I didn't have to pick blind," Naruto muttered, still feeling the weight of his decision.
Satria POV
"Why did you pick that job, puppy? Are you sure about it?" Fatalis, his ever-snarky partner, asked skeptically.
"Why not? It sounds cool," Satria replied nonchalantly, a confident smirk on his face.
Like Naruto, Satria had several powerful and bizarre job options to consider.
Dragon Knight: This job granted him incredible regeneration, unmatched strength, and advanced swordsmanship. What made it truly unique? He could transform into a dragon.
Omni Knight: Essentially a holy warrior—a paladin. He could manipulate light energy to heal allies and weaken dark-element enemies. His ultimate skill, Guardian Angel, made his allies and him immune to physical damage for ten seconds.
Silencer: A nightmare for magic users. Every enemy he killed increased his intelligence and magical power. His ultimate skill, Global Silence, disabled all magic worldwide for five seconds. For someone as fast as Satria, five seconds was an eternity to take down opponents.
Outworld Destroyer: This job transformed intelligence into raw destruction. Using Arcana Energy, Satria could shatter minds, steal mana, and obliterate enemies with Sanity Eclipse—a devastating attack based on the difference in mana reserves.
Invoker: A versatile mage role. Satria gained control over three elements—Fire, Storm, and Ice—and could combine them to create custom spells. The sheer flexibility was its greatest strength.
Grand Magus: Another arcane-based job, but with a twist. It allowed Satria to use telekinesis and boosted his allies' spell power with Arcane Supremacy. The standout ability was skill stealing—he could copy enemy techniques after analyzing their magical essence and make the spell stronger.
Dark Knight: An edgy-sounding choice. It came with advanced sword skills, curses that silenced enemies, and a unique skill that turned damage into healing for both himself and allies. Damn, it's a job for a masochist.
Starfall Archer: This role utilized the moon as a catalyst. Satria could hide in shadows and bombard enemies with beams of moonlight. Its power, however, was strongest at night.
Finally, there was…
Dark Terror: The description was a garbled mess of alien symbols and cryptic text. Satria's curiosity flared at the unknown.
"If the system itself doesn't want me to know... I have to..."
•
After successfully registering at the adventurer's guild, the group began to leave, but Fran lingered behind. She approached the Guildmaster with a determined expression.
"You need something from me, young lady?" the Guildmaster asked, intrigued by her resolve.
"Ehm... I want to sell the materials from the monsters I've slain during my travels," Fran said plainly. "We need money for an inn and food."
The Guildmaster nodded. "I see. Well, show me what you've got."
Fran drop so many materials on the floor from her Dimensional Pocket.
"You are… incredible," he said, awe in his voice. "It's been years since I felt this kind of excitement. You remind me of my youth when I was full of curiosity and ambition."
He paused for a moment, then smiled warmly. "Wait here for a bit. I'll have the materials appraised."
After a short time, guild staff arrived to collect and evaluate the materials. When they finished, the Guildmaster returned with a heavy sack of gold coins.
"Here is your payment, Fran-san," he said, setting the sack on the counter with a loud thud. "1.000,000 gold coins for your materials. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
The entire guild fell silent.
"EHHHHHH!!!" the adventurers erupted in shock. The hall buzzed with whispers about the young Black Cat girl who had just earned a fortune.
Meanwhile, Satria's jaw dropped, and he collapsed to the floor in despair.
"Wait, wait, wait... You can SELL monster parts for that much money?!" Satria groaned. "All those monster corpses I left in the wasteland… I've been walking past literal piles of gold!"
Fran giggled at his reaction, holding the sack of coins close. "Don't worry, Satria. With this money, I'll take good care of you. Just tell me what you want, and I'll buy it for you."
"R-Really? But… it's your money. I can't let you spend it on me." Satria quickly shook his head, trying to act tough. "As a man, it's my duty to take care of good girls like you, not the other way around."
Fran tilted her head, a mischievous smile forming on her lips. "Oh? Don't be shy, my hero. There's no shame in being spoiled a little."
Fatalis, as always, couldn't resist teasing her bearer.
"Oh, how low you've fallen, my boy~ Depending on a young girl to take care of you. What would other say about this?"
Satria's face flushed red. "I-IDIOT! I'm not some hopeless man! Take back what you said, you stupid dragon!"
Fatalis cackled, enjoying his frustration. "Don't worry, this dragon will spoil you too, once I get out of your body. I'll make you the happiest man in the world."
"Ugh! I don't have time for this nonsense," Satria muttered, switching to Indonesian. "Bodo amat. Malas ngomong sama kau."
"Kok marah? Hahaha!" Fatalis replied mockingly.
As the group want left the guild, a gang of thugs blocked their path.
"Hey there," a demi-human with a cat face sneered. "Why don't you hand over that money, little girl? We'll put it to better use than you."
"Yeah!" a man in a magician's robe chimed in, fire flickering in his palm. "A brat like you doesn't deserve that much gold."
Fran's expression darkened. She glared at them fearlessly. "Over my dead body, you trash."
"She's like a knight in shining armor," Fatalis whispered gleefully. "You should take notes, puppy."
Satria, however, noticed something strange. The Guildmaster watched the scene unfold but made no move to intervene. "Is he testing us?" Satria muttered to himself.
One of the thugs, a punk-haired man, pointed a dagger at Fran. "Give us the money, or we'll make you regret it."
"Are you nobles?" another thug, a massive beast-man, growled at Satria. "If you are, lead us to your lodging and hand over everything you've got."
Instead of fear, Satria burst out laughing. "Hahaha. Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious? Out of all the people in this city, you chose me? Guys, take a look at this moron. He's trying to rob me!"
"And I thought Naruto was weird," Kurama muttered.
"Who are you calling weird, you damn furball?!" Naruto snapped.
"You... Die!!!" The thugs, enraged, charged at Satria. The beast-man swung his massive mace, but Satria dodged effortlessly and grabbed him by the arm.
"What the—?!" the thug stammered as he realized Satria had dragged him outside the guild at impossible speed.
Before he knew it, they were standing near a volcano. Lava bubbled ominously below.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Satria said with a grin. "But any last words?"
"Stop! I don't want to die!" the beast-man cried, trembling as he clung to the edge of the volcano. "Please! I'll do anything—just don't do this to me!"
Satria tilted his head, a sinister smile creeping across his face. "Anything, huh? You'll do whatever I say?"
The beast-man frantically nodded, sweat dripping down his brow.
Satria grinned and pulled him back from the edge, letting him collapse onto the ground. The beast-man exhaled in relief, his whole body shaking.
"Good. Now, you'll follow my commands, right?" Satria asked coldly.
"Yes! Anything, boss! Please, spare me!" the beast-man begged, dropping to his knees in submission.
Satria feigned contemplation. "Hmm… let's test that. Say I ask you to kill someone—would you do it? There's a brat in the city who's been annoying me. I want him gone by tomorrow. Simple, right? I don't want to dirty my hand with such a trivial matter after all."
The beast-man's terrified expression melted into a wicked grin. "Just that? Of course, boss. A simple job for someone like me. Give me a name, and I'll make sure the brat gone."
Satria's smirk widened. "Good. Now, here's your first command: jump into that hole." He pointed toward the bubbling lava below.
The beast-man froze. "What…?"
"You heard me. Jump."
"B-But you said—"
"I said you'd do as I command," Satria interrupted, his smile vanishing. His tone turned icy. "Don't forget your place, trash. You're alive because I decided it, and your life is worthless. Why even bother living? You promised to follow my orders, so hurry up. Or would you rather I give you a fate worse than death?"
The beast-man trembled, staring at the molten abyss behind him. "P-Please," he whimpered. "I… I'll do anything else. Just don't make me do this."
Satria crossed his arms. "Fine. I'll give you until the count of ten. After that, I'll handle you myself. Ten…"
The beast-man fell to his knees, sobbing. "Please! Spare me!"
"Nine… Eight… Seven…"
"I'll change! I'll be a better person! Just don't do this!"
"Six… Five…"
The beast-man's pleas grew more desperate.
"Four… Three…"
Finally, his fear morphed into rage. "Screw you, bastard!" he roared, lunging at Satria in a last-ditch attack.
"Zero."
With a flicker of movement, Satria stepped forward, delivering a perfectly timed punch to the beast-man's vital point. The force of the blow rendered him unconscious instantly.
Sighing, Satria grabbed the limp body by the collar and dragged him back to Alessa City.
Back in Alessa, Satria stood in the middle of the bustling streets, holding the beast-man in one hand. Onlookers gathered, whispering among themselves, curious about the scene unfolding.
Satria smirked and activated his ability. A faint glow enveloped the beast-man, his body stiffening unnaturally. In an instant, his fur vanished, leaving him completely naked, and his form twisted into a weird pose. His eyes remained open, alive but unable to move.
"Perfect," Satria said, stepping back to admire his work.
The beast-man was now a living statue—his body frozen, but his senses and mind fully intact. He could feel the wind against his skin, the stares of passersby, and the biting humiliation of his fate.
"Is that… Bogota?" a woman asked, squinting at the bizarre figure.
"What's he doing here? And why is he naked?" another murmured, her face twisting in disgust.
"Is he okay?" someone else said, cautiously waving a hand in front of the beast-man's eyes. The beast-man's gaze followed the movement, confirming his horrifying condition.
"Oh, he's alive," the person said, stepping back nervously.
"Wonderful," another voice said mockingly. A stone flew through the air, striking the beast-man's frozen form.
"Did you enjoy that, huh?!" the stone-thrower shouted. "Consider that payment for what you did to me!"
Laughter erupted from the growing crowd. Children pointed and jeered, adults shook their heads in disdain, and some even enjoyed the spectacle.
The beast-man could do nothing but endure it all.
Satria smirked from the shadows, watching his handiwork. "That's what you get if you are messing with Black Flash," he muttered.
•
The silence in the adventurer's guild was broken by one of the remaining thugs frantically searching the room. "Where's Bogota? And where's that white-haired guy?"
The cat demi-human thug turned his attention to Fran, his frustration spilling over into anger. "You bastard! Where did you hide him, you filthy black cat?!" He pointed his sword at Fran.
Before he could make another move, Fran dashed forward with lightning speed, her great sword cutting cleanly through his leg.
"N-No way! My leg! My leg is gone!" the cat demi-human cried out, collapsing to the floor. Blood pooled beneath him as he writhed in pain.
"What? Since when?!" Fran's sword was stunned, sensing an ominous black aura radiating from her.
Fran's eyes narrowed, her voice cold as steel. "Don't you dare insult black cats. And you're next." She raised her sword, her intent clear: to finish off the remaining thugs.
Before she could strike, Naruto appeared behind her, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly.
"That's enough, Fran-chan," he said, his voice calm but tinged with concern. Fran hesitated, her grip on the sword faltering as she glanced at him.
Naruto's expression was serious, his eyes glowing a deep red like blood. "You've made your point. Don't take it too far."
The thugs, now terrified, scrambled to retreat. "Y-Y-Yes! We'll leave! Let's get out of this damned place!" They picked up their injured companion, fleeing the guild with their tails between their legs.
As the dust settled, a voice rang out from behind them. "You guys done?"
Fran and Naruto both turned sharply, instinctively taking a defensive stance, only to relax slightly when they saw Satria casually strolling toward them.
"Satria."
The sword sighed. "Whoa! You startled me there, idiot."
Naruto frowned, his tone sharp. "Where did you go?"
Satria gave an exaggerated shrug. "Nothing important. I just went to grab a drink and, oh, delivered the big guy to his… 'utopia.' After all, I'm a hero—helping those in need and giving others a chance to redeem themselves." He flashed a thumbs-up, his smile beaming with mock innocence.
Naruto raised an eyebrow but decided not to press further. "Sure. Whatever you say."
The guildmaster clapped his hands, drawing their attention. "You three are certainly something special."
Naruto's face darkened as he turned toward the guildmaster. "Why didn't you step in? Are you the type to turn a blind eye when something like this happens in your guild?"
The guildmaster met his gaze calmly. "Not blind—just trusting. I believed you three could handle it. And frankly, those thugs had it coming. They've been a problem here for too long."
He tossed a hefty bag of gold coins toward Satria and Naruto.
"What's this for?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"Consider it an investment," the guildmaster said with a knowing smile. "You've got potential, and I like to support promising adventurers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do." He turned on his heel and disappeared into his office.
Satria inspected the bag, his grin widening. "Real gold. Gotta say, he's a weird guy, but I don't mind this kind of generosity."
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Let's not get too comfortable. We still need to find an inn to stay at."
The group wandered through the bustling streets of Alessa, searching for a good inn and some equipment for Fran. As they walked, Satria naturally drew the attention of the women in town, who seemed enchanted by his looks and aura.
Before long, a small crowd of admirers gathered around him, some bold enough to flirt openly.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you an adventurer? Would you like me to show you around the city?"
"Such a handsome man! Are you single?"
Fran's ears twitched in annoyance, and her grip on Satria's hand tightened like a vice. "Go away! Don't come closer to him!" she hissed, glaring at the women with the ferocity of a lioness protecting her pride.
One of the women smirked, unfazed. "What a grumpy little kitten. Aren't you too young for him, brat? Why don't you let the older girls take care of business?"
Satria, sensing the brewing storm, acted swiftly. Without hesitation, he scooped Fran into his arms, holding her protectively.
"Sorry, ladies," he said with a charming smile. "But I'm hers today. Please, let us enjoy our day in peace, okay?"
The women groaned in disappointment, reluctantly backing off as Satria carried Fran away from the crowd.
Fran's cheeks burned as she processed his words. 'I'm his? He said I'm his! Hehe... then that means he's mine too!' Her mind spun with new, unfamiliar emotions, and something dark—almost predatory—stirred within her. 'Should I put those thieving cats in their place? They dared to claim what's mine...'
A chilling aura briefly radiated from Fran, though Satria didn't seem to notice.
Fatalis, however, was less than impressed. "Idiot... Does he even realize what he just said? This is definitely going to cause problems later."
"Don't worry, there's always another day for us to try again," one of the lingering admirers whispered longingly.
A bold blonde elf woman added slyly, "If you ever want someone to warm your bed at night, you know where to find me, stud."
Satria sighed, choosing to ignore the comments.
The sword, however, wasn't about to stay silent. "This bastard harem protagonist! If it were me, I'd have accepted them all, especially that elf. But no, you just had to keep flirting with my wielder!"
Fran's eye twitched, her annoyance palpable. "Shisho, would you shut up already?"
Satria smirked, clearly enjoying the sword's irritation. "You're a terrible guardian, you know that? Poor Fran. I bet you'd chase away every guy who tried to get close to her. And coming from a pervert like you, your opinion doesn't hold much weight."
"I am not a pervert!" the sword retorted indignantly.
"Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."
As their banter escalated, a sudden chill filled the air. Both Satria and the sword immediately shut up when Fran shot them a sharp look.
"You two... stop it, or I will be the one to discipline you," she warned, her voice low and threatening.
Both of them froze, nodding silently.
Fatalis chuckled in amusement. "Looks like the kitten's claws are out."
As the group strolled through the city, Naruto suddenly narrowed his eyes, his senses sharp. "Someone's following us," he warned, glancing subtly over his shoulder.
Fran's ears perked up in agreement, and she instinctively placed a hand on her sword.
Satria, however, shrugged with a grin. "I know. Let him follow us! Maybe he just wants to witness my awesomeness firsthand."
The sword groaned in exasperation. "This moron takes everything as a joke. Please, someone give this idiot a lesson in self-awareness. I'm begging every god who'll listen."
Fran ignored the sword's commentary and focused her gaze on a specific spot in the shadows. Her voice was calm but firm. "Who are you? Show yourself."
A low chuckle came from the direction she was staring. Stepping out of the shadows was an old dwarf with a rugged beard and a heavy smithing hammer slung over his shoulder.
"Haha, sharp senses for such a young one," the dwarf said, his deep voice carrying both respect and good humor. He gave a polite bow. "My name is Granzel, a humble and honored blacksmith. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Fran studied him warily but didn't sense any ill intent. "What do you want?"
Granzel chuckled again, scratching his beard. "I couldn't help but notice your swordsmanship back at the guild. It's rare to see such skill in someone so young. And that sword of yours... quite the peculiar partner, isn't it?"
The sword huffed. "Of course, I'm peculiar! I'm one of a kind, and you couldn't forge anything close to me if you tried, old man!"
"Shisho!" Fran scolded, shaking her head.
Granzel wasn't offended and instead gave a hearty laugh. "No need to get defensive, friend. I was only curious. If you're willing, I'd love to examine it—professionally, of course. And perhaps... I can be of service to your group as well."
Naruto exchanged a glance with Satria, silently gauging his reaction.
Satria shrugged casually. "Well, you don't seem like a bad guy, but we don't really know you yet. How about you tell us what you're really after?"
Granzel smiled knowingly. "Fair enough. Let's just say that I have a feeling about you lot. You're not ordinary adventurers, and I think we may be able to help each other. But let's save the rest of the talk for when we're somewhere more comfortable."
To be continued...