Ao wasn't old enough to fully grasp what Elana meant by an alternative payment, but he wasn't naive either. One thing the Hinote household despised was being in debt. If Shiro had taught him anything, it was to never owe anyone—favors were just another form of shackles. There was no such thing as a free handout in this world.
His expression shifted, his once-feigned childish innocence vanishing like mist under the morning sun. His blue eyes hardened, locked onto Elana's as he dropped the act entirely. "What did you have in mind?" His voice was steady, a stark contrast to the soft-spoken charade from earlier.
Elana's brow arched slightly, impressed by his abrupt shift in demeanor. So, he had decided to cut the game short. She had expected him to cling to the childish pretense a little longer, but instead, he met her gaze with something stern, almost cold. This might be trickier than she initially thought.
She smirked, crossing her arms, rings clicking against the sleeves of her robe. "Spirit potions aren't easy to make. Especially with how rare their ingredients are," she explained, tilting her head slightly. "So, I'll make you an offer. If you can bring me the heart of a high D-rank spirit beast, I'll handle the rest. No charge. But be warned, it won't be easy—especially for someone as young as you."
Ao mulled over her words carefully. A D-rank spirit beast? He wasn't entirely sure what that meant. He understood 'spirit beast' well enough, but ranking was an unfamiliar concept. The only languages he had ever learned were those from books or the ones he frequently heard. Since 'rank' was not a common term in his daily life, he had never encountered it in either context.
"What is… rank?" Ao asked,clearly confused from the word.
Kuro's ears flicked, surprised by the question. He had assumed Ao already understood ranking since Kuro himself was classified somewhere between high E-rank and low D-rank. Still, he chose to remain silent, allowing Elana to explain.
Elana walked to a nearby table, her long robe sweeping against the wooden floor. She retrieved a small, aged parchment chart, unfolding it to show Ao its contents. The paper was filled with intricate illustrations and lines of text in the Demi-human language. The script was clear yet complex, accompanied by depictions of various spirit beasts arranged in a hierarchy. She ran a finger over the bottommost category labeled 'Unranked.'
"This here," she said, tapping on the chart. "Is unranked."
Ao narrowed his eyes at the word. 'Unranked' was another term he had never encountered in writing before. Still, he recognized the individual letters in the Demi-human script and attempted to sound it out. "U-un…ran…ced?"
Elana chuckled,finding Ao's attempt at pronunciation quite cute. "Close. It's pronounced 'unranked.' It means the spirit beast isn't dangerous enough to be classified as a threat. Typically, a low to mid E-ranked hunter could handle them without too much trouble."
Ao blinked, absorbing the information as best he could. It was overwhelming to process a completely new system, but he committed it to memory nonetheless.
"Then, there's low E-rank," Elana continued, moving her finger up a notch on the chart. The next illustration was of a slightly larger beast, fangs bared. "These are trickier. A high E-ranked hunter or a mid D-ranked one would usually be required to take them down. Unless, of course, you've got a strong, low-enchanted weapon to assist you, of course that's only for low E-rank not mid or high."
She let the words hang in the air, watching Ao's expression shift with every piece of information. He was quick to pick things up—quicker than most children his age should be. That alone intrigued her.
"Well, kid? Do you still think you're up for it?" she asked.
Ao leaned against the counter, his small fingers tapping idly as he thought. "Destructively... What could they do? How much damage could the lowest one cause?" His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, it was clear that he wasn't just gonna rush into this. Nanari, thankfully, was too distracted, wandering around the shop and poking at the strange jars lined along the shelves. He didn't need her interrupting his train of thought.
Elana blinked, slightly caught off guard by his question. She had expected a child—no, even a young adult—to ask if they could handle an unranked beast, or how cool they looked not to approach it from a tactical standpoint. She tilted her head, studying the boy more closely. So, he's cautious? That's rare, even for kids twice his age. He's not running in blind, but actually assessing risk? Is he really Shiro's son?
She crossed her arms. "An unranked one? If left unchecked, it could level a small village," she replied, her voice smooth.
Ao frowned slightly, his mind quickly processing the information. A small village? That was already far stronger than he had assumed. If a single unranked beast could cause such destruction, then what about the higher-ranked ones? The gap between ranks had to be substantial. He turned his sharp blue eyes back to her. "How big is the power gap between an unranked and a low E-ranked spirit beast?"
Again, Elana found herself surprised. His questions weren't just thoughtful; they were methodical. He wasn't blindly accepting information—he was analyzing it, measuring it. She exhaled through her nose, intrigued.
"It depends on the type of beast, but generally, a low E-rank spirit beast is anywhere from three to five times stronger than an unranked one," she explained, tapping a finger against her chin. "Think of it like this—if an unranked spirit beast could destroy a small village given enough time, a low E-rank beast could do the same within a fraction of that time. And a high E-rank? It could turn a modestly fortified town into rubble if not stopped quickly."
Ao absorbed this information in silence, his hand resting under his chin. The way she described it, it wasn't just about raw power but efficiency. Unranked beasts took time to cause destruction, while even the lowest ranked ones were exponentially more dangerous.
If the power gap is that significant, then moving up the ranks must be an even bigger leap. That means a D-rank beast… He narrowed his eyes. "And what about a low D-rank? If a high E-rank can take out a town, what can a low D-rank do?"
Elana smirked. "A well-established city."
Ao stiffened slightly. That's a terrifying jump. His mind raced, already adjusting his understanding of how dangerous this world truly was. If he was going to fight a D-rank beast, he needed to be prepared. Properly prepared.
Elana watched him with hidden amusement. Most kids—most adults—would have reacted with fear or disbelief. But Ao? He was processing, strategizing. She was beginning to see it more clearly now. He wasn't just a strong-willed child. He was a boy who thought several steps ahead, and that made him all the more of a rare treasure than she initially thought.
Ao analyzed the situation. The sheer magnitude of what Elana was asking was staggering. Taking on a high D-rank spirit beast? That was practically suicide. He was strong for someone his age, but not that strong—not yet. He had to consider everything, every angle, every advantage he could muster before making a decision. His eyes narrowed.
"Do I have to take this mission alone?" he asked, his tone measured. "And if not, can I bring others with me?"
Elana's lips curled into a smirk. She was enjoying this—watching him think, process and try to find ways around the deal. It was rare for someone his age to display such restraint instead of blindly charging forward. But she had anticipated this question. If she allowed him to bring just anyone, he could simply find Shiro, and that would make this entire task meaningless. Shiro could wipe out a D-rank beast without breaking a sweat.
"You can bring others," she admitted, tilting her head slightly, "but only those who are around your level of strength. Kuro, for example—he's clearly stronger, but not overwhelmingly so."
Ao clicked his tongue. Either she had seen right through his plan, or she had already accounted for it long before this conversation. Smart. He sighed inwardly, already assessing his next move. Even with Kuro's help, taking down a D-rank spirit beast was a monumental challenge. Which led to his next question.
"Will you provide me with the necessary equipment? And how long do I have to complete this mission?"
Elana chuckled, leaning casually against a nearby shelf. She was thoroughly enjoying this exchange. He was sharp—analyzing every facet of the deal before even considering agreeing. That kind of awareness made this all the more fun for her.
"Take as much time as you need," she said smoothly, watching him closely. "It's for your mother, isn't it? I doubt you have that long. My offer will always be on the table. As for equipment..." She gestured toward the shelves lined with weapons and potions. "I'll let you choose whatever you need from my shop. But nothing beyond what your body can handle. And to sweeten the deal—I'll even cover the cost of a weapon from the village's forger. That is, if you accept."
Ao considered her offer carefully. On the surface, it seemed generous. Weapons, potions, Kuro's assistance, and unlimited time. But once he peeled back the layers, the reality was far less appealing. Weapons and potions would only be helpful if he was already close in strength to the spirit beast. Otherwise, they were meaningless. And time? Time wasn't truly unlimited—his mother's condition would only deteriorate the longer he waited. His treatments could only prolong her condition from getting worse for so long—three years at most. And that was assuming nothing happened in said time.
"No point in taking it," Ao murmured under his breath.
Elana raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're turning me down?" she asked, clearly amused from his refusal, she wasn't expecting him to outright reject it, even an older villager would have taken such a deal.
Ao exhaled slowly. "Why should I take it?" he countered. "I can't beat a beast that strong. Kuro's help or not, weapons and potions won't bridge the gap between me and a D-rank spirit beast. And the longer it takes, the worse my mom's condition will get. It's a lose-lose situation when I can just wait for Kori to give me the book in a year for me to find out how to cure her."
He turned toward Kuro, preparing to mount him. He had already made up his mind so much so that any further conversation would just be wasting time he could be spending treating Koi.
Elana, however, wasn't done with him just yet.
He's sharp... really sharp. Her smirk deepened. He had broken down the flaws in her deal so quickly. He knew his own limitations and recognized alternative solutions. She had planned to test him, see if he would take the bait, but instead, he had flipped the situation entirely.
Still, she wasn't about to let him walk away without trying to reel him in further.
"Alright, how about this?" she proposed. "I'll get smaller, cheaper spirit potions to help your mother over time. You spend the time training, getting stronger, and if I ever need your help gathering materials, you'll do it. Nothing life-threatening—just a way for me to see what you're capable of. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. And anything valuable you find on those trips... Well, let's just say we can split the spoils. Fair?"
Ao paused, considering her words carefully. This deal was different. It wasn't a death sentence—it was an investment. One that could provide real, tangible help to his mother now, not years from now. And in return, all he had to do was collect materials? There had to be more to it.
He turned to face her fully, his blue eyes scrutinizing her expression, searching for any hidden agenda but she had that same expression as always, making reading her almost like finding a needle in a haystack.
"And if I say no to a request?" he asked.
Elana chuckled. "Then you say no. I'm not your master, little flame." She folded her arms, watching him closely. "But I have a feeling you won't say no when the time comes."
Ao exhaled through his nose, his fingers tightening around Kuro's fur since he was mid-motion mounting the spirit beast.
"...fine, I'll accept the terms of this.. deal."
"Wonderful~" Elana's smile widened slightly as Ao accepted her offer. She turned on her heel, walking towards one of the shelves that lined her shop. Bottles of various shapes and colors rested neatly upon them, each containing a different elixir, shimmering under the dim lighting. Her fingers skimmed over the glass, as she analyzed each label before plucking two particular bottles from their resting places—one filled with a light blue liquid, the other clear as mountain spring water.
She turned back to Ao, holding the bottles delicately between her fingers. "A spirit potion and an enhancement potion," she said, her voice carrying an almost playful tone that made Ao all the more skeptical of what she grabbed. "Consider this a gesture of goodwill between us."
Ao's eyes widened slightly at the generous offer, his small hands reaching forward to accept them. Just as his fingers were about to close around the bottles, Elana pulled them back slightly, a knowing smirk dancing on her lips.
"Have her drink this bottle just once a month," she instructed, her tone was surprisingly more serious when she said this. "That's how long the potion's effects will last. And you—spend the next two years training. I want to see you ready to handle the mission I have in store for you, understood? As for the future bottles, just come to my shop. They'll be waiting for you on the stand."
Ao tilted his head slightly at her words, her calculated demeanor making it clear that she had a much larger plan in mind. He had already resolved himself to train, but now, with her words, it was obvious that something significant awaited him down the line. Still, he nodded, taking the bottles into his grasp. "Thank you."
Elana then shifted her gaze to Kuro. "And you," she said smoothly. "I need a word with you. Stay here for a bit, yeah?"
Kuro blinked, tilting his head slightly. He had no idea what she wanted, but there was something in her tone that made it clear she wasn't asking. With a sigh, he shrugged and walked toward her. "Fine. I'll catch up later, Ao. You go ahead."
Ao nodded. "Gotcha. I'll see you at the house then."
Nanari had already slipped out while Ao and Elana were talking, leaving Ao alone as he made his way through the village streets. He glanced down at the bottles in his hands, a small sigh escaping his lips. That's one problem solved for now. It's not much, but it's something.
He allowed himself a brief moment to relax. The weight of responsibility still sat on his shoulders, but at least, for now, he had secured a way to slow his mother's worsening condition.
Then, suddenly—
BAM.
Ao stumbled back, his body jerking forward as he collided with something—or rather, someone. He barely managed to steady himself, his grip tightening instinctively around the bottles to keep from dropping them.
"Oh, sorry, sir. I didn't mean to bump into you," Ao apologized quickly, looking up at the person he had accidentally run into.
The man he faced was tall—towering over Ao at well over six feet. His frame was lean but rough, his worn-out clothing suggesting he had seen better days. Light brown hair fell in uneven strands over his shadowed face, and his dark brown eyes locked onto Ao with an eerie intensity.
His lips curled into a snarl. "Watch where yo—" His voice cut off mid-sentence as his gaze landed on the bottles in Ao's hands.
For a long second, there was silence. Then, in an instant, the man's expression changed—deepening into a smirk.
Before Ao could react, the man suddenly shifted his stance, his eyes darting around as if ensuring no wandering villagers were watching. Then, without warning, a swift kick landed squarely against Ao's stomach.
The force sent Ao stumbling backward, his small body skidding across the dirt. He nearly lost his grip on the bottles, but his instincts kicked in at the last second, his fingers clamping down tightly around them. A sharp pain throbbed in his gut as he pushed himself up, coughing slightly as he tried to regain his breath.
"What the hell…?" Ao grunted, forcing himself onto his feet. His eyes snapped up toward the man.
The man let out a low chuckle, stepping forward casually as if what he had just done was nothing out of the ordinary. "Sorry, kid," he said, voice carrying an almost apologetic tone. "But those bottles you've got there? They're worth quite a bit." He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he took another step closer. "And I couldn't exactly risk the villagers seeing me rob a child."
Ao's eyes narrowed. What kind of person kicks a two-year-old just for bumping into them? His stomach ached, but he felt harder blows from Kuro, so he could take it without much worry.
The man reached into his pocket, pulling out a small but sharp blade, its edge glinting under the sunlight. He lifted it slightly, his free hand stretching outward. "Let's not make this difficult, kid. Just hand over the bottles, and I won't have to hurt you."He said while spitting onto the ground. "I just need to feed my family, that's all."
Ao eyes darkened slightly. Trying to rob a child? You're absolutely disgusting.. Ao pulled back, putting both of them into his left hand, which was his less dominant side while in his right, he opened his palm, just enough to relax his fingers while scoffing.
You're the worst kind of trash.