Why am I in a duel?! (1)
In Moscow, Russia.
The world's best Weapon Smith, Kalben Volkov, was in his office and could be seen looking at a report file about a certain A-rank gate portal finally appearing after five years.
In the report dozens of hunters had already bought the rights for the gate portal to hunt. But two weeks had already passed and not a single hunter from that group had completed nor brought back any loot from that dungeon.
*Tap tap.*
Kalben could be seen impatiently tapping his arm chair as he continued to read the report.
In that dungeon a very rare material only exclusive in that gate portal could be obtained, the material is so valuable and scarce that even the global Hunter market doesn't have any of it left.
What Kalben Volkov is after, Is the hide of a kunabraka.
A portal gate monster that resembles a huge bear, and a fur that's covered in a thick solid ice armor forming around its body. Plus Its teeth and claws could shred through a thick security iron door with ease. And if that isn't enough, its attacks could also give you the status ailment ‘freeze’.
It's overall a troublesome monster for long range hunters, and a nightmare for close melee hunters, because the only weakness known is to accurately shoot its eyes with an arrow or anything that could pass through it, in hopes that would reach its brain and kill it. But of course it wouldn't let you just do that.
That's why you need a skilled tanker to handle the monster, and of course good equipment, if that tanker wants to come back alive.
Now with the news of that gate finally appearing, Kalben Volkov could easily have the gate cleared just by hiring skilled S-rank hunters to get the materials he needed to finally craft that piece of equipment he's been trying to make.
But there's one slight problem.
Kalben's eyebrow burrowed deep, as his gaze fell to the location of where the gate was located.
“Why is it all the way in Japan?...”
Kalben Volkov said to himself quietly.
Ever since the portal gate outbreaks began, this one specific gate had appeared only in Russia. Its last recorded sighting was five years ago, in the city of Mytishchi near Moscow.
So it was rather strange that it would appear in Japan after all those years.
“Looks like there will be a change of plans.”
*Buzz!*
He pressed a button to call for his secretary. Moments later, the secretary arrived.
“Yes, you called?”
“Roman, change of plans. We're going to Japan”
Roman already knew everything just by hearing the word ‘Japan’ and already had everything organized.
“I knew you would say that sir, Everything has been set, and ready to go.”
“I see... Good!”
Kalben Volkov, seemingly pleased with his capable secretary, gave a brief praise.
“Is the young miss also coming with us sir?”
Roman asked if Kalben's daughter, Yuri Volkov, was also coming to Japan.
“Hmm, bringing Yuri might be a good idea.”
Kalben, knowing his daughter's birthday is almost approaching, had an idea of celebrating her birthday in Japan.
Because his daughter adores watching those cartoons from that land, and could always be seen watching something called an anime.
Kalben being the loving, single father he is.
“Alright, let's bring her with us, but keep the birthday celebration a secret. ”
Rome visibly nodded, and then both men broke into mischievous laughter.
Both men could be heard chuckling from the office, amused by the thought of the young miss, surprised expression.
But later in the future, only if he had known sooner he wouldn't have not brought her daughter along.
because that very small decision would later become the beginning of Yuri Volkov's traumatic nightmare.
** * **
Now back in Japan.
Haru was dressed up cutely, yet her overall appearance screamed 'protected species’.
“Mama! I told you I won't bump into things anymore!”
Haru was pleading to her mother, wanting to remove the scooter helmet that she was forced to wear.
Because today, they were going out and paying a visit to her grandparents' house, on her mother's side in Hokkaido.
“Mm… even if you say that sweetie, I still don't really trust that special ability of yours.”
It wasn't that Eiko didn't believe in Haru's special ability. Haru simply hadn't learned how to rely on it yet, at the time when Haru was only three.
It has been three years since then, and Haru is six years old now.
But during those three whole years, Eiko saw to it that Haru would need to wear her scooter helmet at all times.
To the point that if you see Haru around, her scooter helmet wasn't too far behind either.
Because during those three years, Haru could be seen practicing walking with her special ability, but with her condition being partially blind and hasn't yet mastered her unique ability.
furniture and corners became frequent enemies. Thankfully, the house had been thoroughly baby-proofed, and she escaped enemy attack without any serious injuries.
But now with years of practice and experience,
Her special ability had almost, nearly made up for her lack of eyesight, and she no longer bumped into objects nor things, right in front of her.
But her mother isn't so sure as to believe that.
So this left Haru with no other choice but to deploy her deadly weapon.
“Mama~”
With Eiko carrying Haru toward the parked car where her husband waited.
Haru had sweetly called out for her mother.
Her mother slowed her steps slightly and glanced down at her daughter with mild curiosity, wondering what her little one might be up to.
She gave Haru a faintly suspicious look.
In response, Haru wriggled softly in her arms, her small body squirming as if she had something important to say.
Her tiny hands shifted, and she let out a small, impatient sound.
Seeing that adorable struggle,
Eiko's lips curved into a gentle smile, Haru was simply too cute to take seriously.
But unbeknownst to her, Haru had already reached her objective. The devastating attack was about to begin.
** * **
Haru clasped her tiny hands together.
And her cheeks puffed up, round and soft.
She tilted her head just a little.
“Mamaaa~”
Her voice became extremely sweet and soft.
“Haru is twotally amwazing now, yknow~!”
Clasping her hands by her cheek and tilting her head just so, she looked unbelievably adorable.
“Nee~ nee~ can I… not wear my helmet anymore~?”
And just like that, Haru's Korean aegyo was fully unleashed.
** * **
Her mother froze in place.
and her mind seemingly about to collapse.
‘No…’
‘No, no, no—This is way too much!!!’
‘Where did she learn this from?’
‘The words she chose…’
‘Her expression…’
‘Did someone teach her...? No, that's impossible…’
‘But how!!!’
As her mother frantically tried to fortify her heart against the sudden attack, Haru in her little mind had already declared she won.
But Eiko wasn't the only victim of this sudden aegyo assault.
Haru's father, Takeshi Hayashi, was parked nearby and witnessed the whole crime scene.
Seated inside the car, Takeshi waited patiently for his wife and daughter.
And just then he saw the two slowly walking towards the car, his eyes widened at the sight he was seeing.
Getting caught up in Haru's deadly attack, he wasn't safe either.
He was resisting the urges to hug his lovely daughter and pat her head for hours.
But he has to first save his staggering wife from collapsing first.
He breathed a sigh of relief, at least he hadn't been on the receiving end of his daughter's surprise attack.
He could only offer a silent prayer for his wife Eiko, hoping her brain hadn't completely melted from that unprecedented attack.
And so, he hurried out to help his unsteady wife, and he now held Haru in his arms, her tiny face lit up with a triumphant, cheeky smile.
After twenty minutes had passed, the family finally set out for Hokkaido.
Inside the car, Eiko had made her decision at last.
"Alright... fine... you can take off your scooter helmet."
"Yatta!!!"
(Yay!!!)
Haru's mother had finally given her permission to remove the helmet she had been wearing for three long years.
Freed from the cumbersome little helmet, Haru was overjoyed, her tiny face lighting up with pure happiness.
“BUT! The moment you so much as scrape a knee or bump into a wall.. that helmet is going back on, forever!!”
“Hehehe~ yes~!"
That's going to be impossible now, y'know~
I've already mastered my special ability—
Pattern Mapping Recognition!
Bumping into anything is practically impossible now, Mama~
Haru doesn't know it yet, but she would be challenged into a duel by her cousin.
