Tch! I can’t find the Mokanas or Mizuki anywhere….I wonder where they have gone? I can’t keep them waiting any longer either….they must be waiting for me…

***

Since Sora had left Crayford’s party to make preparations to leave – no progress had been made. Instead, a grand story was being woven. Crayford was enlightening his disciples of the mighty feats of Sora….

“….and then the greedy party betrayed him, killing him for the treasured sword. Sensei, would have given them the treasured heavenly sword if they had asked for it. After all, his profession as an inn keeper would not allow him to wield any weapon. But those idiots didn’t know that his profession was ‘inn keeper’. So they killed him and stole the weapon….” Crayford paused to take a breath.

“And then?” Claire asked with her eyes wide open as she was glued to her spot. Even the other three warriors were keenly listening – forgetting that they were right now in the middle of a dungeon.

“Did he avenge himself?” Boze asked.

“Alas, before Sensei could avenge himself, the beta trials ended and the game went live…..” Crayford paused, would they understand these words? “…..basically the world reset. Sensei along with everyone else was resurrected once again but now Sensei didn’t know who killed him. This is because he only knew the names and faces of the traitors. Since the world reset, the traitors changed their body features and names, much like adventurers coming to this world. With their appearances and names completely changed, Sensei had no way of knowing who his enemies were…”

“Eh, so did he give up?” Tulda asked with a smirk.

Crayford gave a blank look to Tulda which expressed – are you stupid.

“Give up? Sensei never gives up! Once he sets his mind on to something, he will keep at it till he achieves it. He spent several weeks searching for his murderers. I cannot describe the monumental efforts he spent searching for them. The walls of his room were covered from top to bottom with newspaper clippings, charts, theories, pictures. Books and empty bowls lay strewn all over the floor.….when I saw his room, I thought I walked into the room of a madman. He would sleep, breath, live for revenge. If you tried speaking to him, he would not respond because he was continuously thinking about vengeance….”

Another pause.

“And then?” Claire asked excitedly, the suspense was killing her. “Did he find them?”

Crayford nodded. “He did but after four months…but unfortunately, by the time he could uncover their identities, they had already assumed positions of great power. They had become so powerful, that they were untouchable. One was a Game mod...”

Perplexed looks spread across the face of the four disciples.

Seeing their confused faces, Crayford quickly added, “Think of Game Mod the same as God’s messiah. Their job is to make sure that everyone follows the rules and the world order is not disturbed.”

The four nodded as they now understood.

“Several became leaders of a powerful guild and two became chief advisors to the king.”

“No way…” Claire spoke with a bitter expression – why do the evil always win? She was totally engrossed in the story.

“Yes…most people would have stopped here and given up at the thought of revenge…but not Sensei. Unfortunately, I died before I could see Sensei get his revenge, so sharing the details would be impossible. However, he did share his plans with me…and I can say this much – it was frightening. To get his revenge, he would plunge the entire continent into chaos and have two kingdoms dancing to his every tune like puppets. His plan was so frightfully detailed and well planned, that the two kingdoms wouldn’t even realize someone was pulling their strings. It was a revenge, where Sensei would not lift one finger but his enemies would be destroyed. It was that day I realized Sensei was a very terrifying person. Remember you four, you must never cross paths with him. Even if you think you can get away, he is a monster who will search for you for a thousand years and drag your soul from the depths of hell if it is necessary for him to get his revenge….”

Crayford stopped speaking – the faces of the four disciples suddenly turned pale.

[He is standing behind me, isn’t he?] Crayford asked via telepathy.

The four nodded slightly.

Crayford turned around to see the skeleton-warrior Sensei standing behind him.

“Go on…” Sora said in a playful manner, “drag whose soul from the depths of hell?”

“Ah…hehe…Sensei, I was just telling my disciples of your glorious feats in Royal Road…” Crayford meekly replied as he turned white in colour as well. “I was telling them about your glorious plan to destroy Kingdom of Haven. Did you ever get about to completing it?” Crayford asked as he hoped to change the mood.

“Eh? You don’t know?” Sora asked with a surprise.

“Unfortunately, Sensei I died in our world shortly after we stole Helain’s grail. Therefore, I never got to see the entire scheme go through…” Crayfored answered – somewhat dejected.

“Oh…so you died then…well that was just the beginning, after that lots of things happened and the wheels of war were finally set into motion.” Sora happily replied as he recollected the happy memories. “As we speak, Kallamore Kingdom is steadily advancing through Kingdom of Haven…and my enemies are being slaughtered.”

“So it finally happened, huh.” Crayford spoke in a dazed manner – if Sora said that the wheels of war had been set in motion then there was nothing that could upset his plans. Sora was completely confident his plans would go off without a hitch – without him being present. Crayford’s sensei complex reached new levels and the respect and expectations he had for his Sensei grew a hundred times.

“Of course, it had to happen…otherwise I would never come here..” Sora gleefully nodded as Crayford stared at him with admiration.

If Sora had cheeks and could smile, he would be smiling till his cheeks hurt with all the praise he was receiving.

“….I can’t even imagine how you convinced Ray Bard, the biggest git (or *sshole) in Royal Road to cooperate with you….you really are a terrifying person."

"Hohoho...you are praising me too much!" Sora replied, with both his hands on his waist - as he arrogantly laughed on with all the admiration he was receiving.

"I am glad you are on our side.”