After the dangerous battle this afternoon, Reiji immediately checked the notifications he received from the guide while Diether was heading towards the village

[ Hero Part I ] ​​

[ Use your abilities to save the people. You need to complete it three times to be called a hero and complete the mission!

Progress: 1/3

Reward: 60 SP ]

"I guess, helping the villagers avoid certain destruction counts as saving them…"

Reiji muttered after seeing the 1 out of 3 progress he made. He then checked the second notification he got.

He was sure that it wasn't related to his other missions, the Duel Victory II or Beast Duel Victory II. He was aware that he hadn't dueled at all. He fought together with other Hunters and he didn't encounter a strong beast that exceeded the strength of the three-eyed viper.

As soon as he read the notification, he realized that he was correct…

[ You have been bathed with an incredible amount of toxic blood! It can affect your durability if Cleanse wasn't used. ]

Reiji immediately used his Cleanse skill and cleaned himself. He wasn't really feeling uncomfortable so it was a good thing the guide was warning him.

The activation of Cleanse quickly removed the blood from him.

[ Durability: 141/150 ]

"So my durability already decreased this much…"

Reiji wasn't checking his durability during Diether's training as he doesn't have the habit to do so. He was only being reminded to check it whenever they fought a battle against the beasts.

"Diether should start learning how to repair me by now… However, I don't even know how to do it. How can he learn this?"

He already learned from the guide that only the wielder can do the "repair" on their Arcana. Unfortunately, Reiji wasn't sure whether it was a complicated thing or just a simple method.

At the very least, Reiji was sure that just pouring mana on him wouldn't help at all since this is what Diether has been doing whenever he wanted to use a powerful strike. Pouring mana will only strengthen the shinai during that moment…

Reiji cleared his mind as it wasn't the last notification he got. There was another one that made him tremble!

[ Due to your constant thirst for blood, a special mission was made. ]

[ You have unlocked the Blood Bath mission! ]

[ Have a bath from the blood of strong creatures. The amount of reward will depend on how much blood the user was drenched with. You can now choose to activate this Blood Bath on your own desire!

Chant "Blood Bath" to activate blood consumption and complete the mission.

Reward: 1-?? SP ]

"W-what?'

Reiji exclaimed after seeing the mission.

"What do you mean constant thirst for blood?!"

He felt wronged after being evaluated like that. It wasn't his desire to be bathed from the blood of those beasts.

Sigh~

"Anyway, it seems that it is bound for me to get this mission…"

Reiji realized that he will get drenched with blood at some point in time due to the existence of the beasts. As long as he gets stronger, it's natural that he would encounter them during his journey.

"Well, the most interesting is that the SP reward was a question mark… Does it mean that if I get bathed from the blood of a really powerful being, I could get as much SP as I could?"

The previous SPs he got from blood-related missions were limited, however, now that there was no limit, Diether and Reiji have to ensure that they will get the best possible blood when completing this mission.

Not only that, the fact that he can now control which blood he'll use to bathe, he didn't have to hurry or avoid getting touch by other drops of blood during his journey. It is even more convenient now!

Reiji grinned, or what he felt he did, after learning about this. In truth, he was now targeting another skill… Something that will not only greatly help him, but also his wielder.

Unfortunately, it was a bit expensive so he had to save his current SPs.

"Haa~ I'll have to work hard…"

Tap! Tap! Tap!

It was the light sounds of footsteps and even if the others couldn't hear it, Reiji could hear it very clearly.

"Hmm? Assassin? Why is it heading here?"

Reiji thought as such since it's two in the morning right now. No one should be visiting at this hour!

A creaking noise was suddenly heard after the cloaked figure tried to open the window from Diether's room.

Then, Reiji heightened his senses and remained silent. He would surely attack and use his Overload to defeat this person as soon as he found an opportunity.

Reiji can't wake up Diether right now as the latter placed him on the pillow which was on the table. The Sense Link wouldn't work if he was not touching the body of his wielder.

'Will I be able to communicate with Diether if I increase its level… Ah, no! I should save this. I still have many skills I can use to protect him secretly. If really necessary, I can even purchase the cheap Stealth right now…'

He calmed himself and observed the situation…

Reiji was readying for his lethal sneak attack while the figure approaches Diether and as soon as he thought that a chance came, he saw the figure remove her hooded cloak!

'Oh! So it was Diether's sister… That was a close call… I guess that he won't be able to easily escape this time.'

"Hey! Wake up…"

Aria tapped his little brother. She missed him so much but she had to act tough at this moment or he wouldn't learn from his mistakes!

After she tried a couple more times, Diether hazily opened his eyes only to see his sister standing in front of him.

"Ah! Oh! S-sister!"

"Hmph!"

"H-how did you get here?!"

"Is that important now?" Aria asked seriously which made Diether flinch.

"Err… I'm sorry, for leaving you and mom… B-but…"

Diether wasn't ready to meet his sister like this. However, since she was already here, he might as well face it like an adult he wanted to be. He clenched his fist as he prepared to explain himself.

However, his words were cut off by Aria's statement.

"You're not a bother or a nuisance… You never will…"

Aria smiled after saying this as if she was aware of what his little brother was about to say.

"I…"

Diether couldn't help but feel ashamed and happy with his sister's words. Ashamed that he left his family without their consent and happy that his sister has never changed to him.

That night, the two siblings talked with each other until the sun rises. They were unaware that a shinai was listening to them the whole time.