"Hey there, Mister, you seem to be a new face round'ere," said The Goddess with a cheerful tone to the young man in a suit after he finished his meal.
"Uhhh... I guess you could say that Miss Goddess," Kagami said awkwardly while being wary of the goddess.
Soon after, an Elf with green hair comes over to their table...
"I am very sorry for that. Did our goddess bother you in any way?" said the green-haired elf woman, sensing the awkward tension between the young man and her goddess.
"Oh, she didn't bother us that much, so it is fine Miss Elf," Kagami replied to the elven woman.
"Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Riveria Ljos Alf, and this is my Goddess Loki, and over there are my companions," Riveria said to the young man in a suit.
"The Loki Familia... Oh, one of the leading familias in the city. Well, it's an honor to meet such distinguished people in this establishment." Kagami replied to Riveria.
"Oh, then allow me to introduce myself as well. My name is Yotsuyu Kagami currently unemployed. A pleasure to meet you too Ms. Alf and Goddess Loki," Kagami replied to Riveria with a polite tone.
"A Far Eastern name, are you by chance an adventurer or a former one Mr. Yotsuyu?" Riveria asked Kagami while looking at the visible scars outside of his suit.
"Close but not quite, Ms. Alf, the place where I hail from works more on a contractual basis," said Kagami.
"Oh, would you mind explaining it then?" Riveria asked.
"Of course, but can we move away from Mr. Pachebell and his family. I do want to give them some space for a bit," said Kagami while signaling Mr. Pachebell about their talks.
Kagami then moves to the table of the Loki Familia along with Riveria and Loki...
"So who's the fancy lad?" asked the Dwarf.
"His name is Yotsuyu Kagami," Riveria replied to the Dwarf.
"Oh, it seems that Lady Loki and Riveria brought someone interesting," said the Blonde Pallum.
"My name is Finn Deimne, the Captain of the Familia, the Dwarf over there is Gareth, the young girl here is Ais, and this werewolf is Bete," said the Blonde Pallum, introducing his familia to Kagami.
"Pleased to meet everyone as well," Kagami replied to Finn.
"So what's your level, and which Familia are you affiliated with lad?" immediately asked Gareth.
"I... do not have a falna, therefore I am not affiliated with any Familia or Gods," Kagami replied shortly after.
The Familia looked at their goddess, trying to confirm something. Kagami knew that the Gods could see through lies, as per his encounter with Ouranos in the Guild so he thought that there was no need to lie.
"No Lies, He's telling the truth," Loki said to her Familia.
"Well then, shall we continue with the topic, Mr. Yotsuyu?" said Riveria, returning to their topic.
"Ok, so if I could think about it. Think of me as a much more professional mercenary, or the term they coined as a Fixer," Kagami replied.
"Why are they called Fixers, though? It's not like they fix things, are they?" asked Gareth.
"I do not know, all I know is that they have a variety of specialties when doing their jobs, just like the Familias or Adventurers here with their own specialty," replied Kagami.
"Also, every contract or commission a fixer takes is paid by either associations or clients requesting it, whether it's mundane tasks like retrieval to contract killing, though it has to pass through the Association for review before being approved," Kagami replied with a serious tone to the elf.
"I've risen through rankings by my naive thinking that life would be easier, but I was met with more responsibility and work," Kagami followed up, sighing.
"Then what are those rankings for?" asked by the intrigued Riveria, while the other members listened.
"By Grades, which starts from Nine to One, with One being the highest and a Color being above that. Though it is only given to special Individuals who have achieved a feat worthy of it," replied Kagami.
"What are the classifications for those Grades? Are they something like Levels or something?" Finn asked Kagami.
"Not quite like the levels you get from Falnas, they are more of an indicator of how good you are at doing your job. The Hana Association will promote you to a higher grade once you have completed sufficient commissions and contracts," Kagami answered.
"I see, then would you mind telling us what Grade you have managed to reach?" asked Finn to Kagami.
"That is confidential for now, but I do work for the higher echelon of the industry, that is all," Kagami then replied.
"Added that, if one does not take the commissions or contracts assigned by an association, they would be met with troublesome meetings, paperwork, and even the risk of demotion," Kagami said.
"As for me, not that I hate paperwork, but the amount of it given to me is just too much, and the higher-ups will keep on going on about it as well." Kagami ranted with a gloomy tone as if he were reminded of his past work.
"Hey, hey, let's not get a bit too gloomy here, why don't we enjoy the food and booze now?" said the goddess, breaking the tension.
"You're right, Goddess Loki, forgive me," Kagami replied, giving a small nod before returning to his relaxed self.
Soon Mia went and took their orders one by one. Noticing Kagami is with them as they asked him questions. After that the Familia returns to the questions for Kagami. Since he knows he is outside the boundaries of The City, Kagami has no qualms of giving information about The City and it's inner workings.
"So, Mr. Yotsuyu, are you planning on joining a Familia?" Finn asked Kagami.
"I have no plans of joining a Familia for now, but I am currently applying to the guild, but only as a part-timer," Kagami replied to Finn.
"Ah wait, you must be the currently talked-about 'Intern' applying for the guild. I thought it was just an exaggeration, but you do look up the part," Finn said to Kagami with a praising tone.
"Oh, so that's what I have been hearing about and why some of the female adventurers are trying to strike up a conversation with me on the way," Kagami sighed as he had to deal with unwanted attention.
"Hahaha, the lad bound to break a few hearts in this city," said Gareth while laughing.
"Are you strong Mr. Yotsuyu?" Ais asked out of nowhere.
"Sorry, Young Lady, but I am afraid I cannot answer that for now," Kagami replied to Ais with a gentle tone.
"Oh..." Ais replied, returning to her usual quiet demeanor.
"Well, he's probably strong at one point, but is washed up or something, probably why he's applying for the guild," Bete said mockingly.
"Oi, you brat," said Gareth to Bete.
"Forgive that young lad,although he's new here, he's got a rough past, so he acts that way," said Gareth, apologizing to Kagami.
"Alright, but do note to correct his rather rough behavior, people might get the wrong ide-" Kagami said, seemingly cut off by Heath, who walked into the table to call Kagami.
"Big Brother is strong though, and he's got like super cool po-" Heath said before he got his mouth covered by his mother.
"Heath, what did I say about cutting into adults' conversations?" said Mrs. Pachebell in a scolding manner.
"Sorry Mom, but the wolf guy is talking badly about big brother," said Heath as he apologized.
"We are so sorry about Heath, he's still a young child," Mrs. Pachebell apologized to the Loki Familia members.
"It's alright Ma'am, we understand," Finn replied.
"But... would you like to demonstrate your skills, Mr. Yotsuyu?" said Finn as he tried to dig deeper into Kagami.
"Forgive me, but I have to refuse Mr. Deimne. I don't want to deal with more attention than I have now," Kagami said to Finn with a slightly serious tone.
"Ah, forgive me for prying too deeply into you Mr. Yotsuyu," Finn apologized.
"I'd rather not show off my skills, I just want to live the way I want for now, I hope you can understand," Kagami replied to Finn
"Although, if you wanted to, I could set a Non-Disclosure Agreement if someone were to try to spar with me, we would need a private ground away from prying eyes as well," Kagami followed.
"It will not be cheap though, since I am still gauging out the currency of Valis to my previous place, and also the reason for the NDA is for my privacy, as I do not want such attention on me for now." Kagami followed once more.
"Is that so then I'll contact you for your time, and I do hope we see each other in the guild often once you become an employee then," Finn said to Kagami.
"Indeed Mr. Finn, well, looking at the time it seems like I'll have to take my leave then. I have to rest for now, if you'll excuse me," Kagami said after pulling up his sleeve, revealing a wristwatch.
"Alright then, farewell Mr. Yotsuyu, I sure do hope you get the job," Finn said while giving his farewell along with some members of his Familia and the Pachebell Family to Kagami.
Kagami heads out of the pub. Soon after the doors behind him closed, the Loki Famlia executives discussed their encounter with the fellow.
"What do you think Finn?" Loki said to her child.
"He's strong, I feel like if I were to fight him in a head-on duel, I'd be prepared to lose a limb or more, and that is him without a falna, plus I think he's still hiding his cards under his sleeve," Finn said as his thumb shook from imagining what would've happened if the two fought.
"Also, not only monsters but fellow mortals. He likely killed a lot with no hint of hesitation by the look in his murky eyes. And, those scars of his probably run deep under his suit, " Gareth followed up to his captain.
"Indeed so, Gareth. He's got experience like us veterans," Finn replied to Gareth.
"But seeing as the old man under the guild lets him roam the streets means that he's not a threat to the city for now," Loki said to her children.
"Even so, whoever gets him in their Familia is very fortunate, if he decides to join one anyway," Finn said to his goddess.
"Shame, but you're right," Loki replied to her child.
"And if Freya finds out about him, she'll do anything to recruit him," Loki followed up to her reply.
"Lady Freya getting her hands on him will disrupt our balance as the top familias," Finn said to his goddess.
"That's for sure, Finn," said Loki, concerned about what would happen if that child were to fall into the hands of Freya.
As Kagami heads off outside the pub before paying his bill, he feels as if someone is trailing him secretly, but he pretends not to notice it. He heads over to a nearby alley to confront his stalker. But to his surprise, the figure suddenly vanished. After that, he heads off to the nearby inn to rest for the day and catch up on his studies for employment at the guild.
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In the Distant Past...
[Research Log: 01 Date: XX/XX/XXXX]
[Subject D-06-17]
Distortion-06-17, also known as Subject D-06-17, dubbed "Wailing Shards". Our branch along with the [REDACTED] Syndicate Researchers found the subject hunched over in a residential area in District [REDACTED]. From our reports, the subject was found in a room with its presumed deceased parents, upon closer inspection, had their bodies twisted to such a degree that their flesh and bones looked like a towel being squeezed to remove the excess water, or in this case blood.
They were killed by another distortion called "Twisting Ballerino" which was hunted and eliminated by the Seven Association along with a handful of Grade 4 and 3 Fixers, according to the information we managed to source from the public record. Although no hostile actions of D-06 have been observed, it seemed that crystalline shards were growing out of the subject's body and near its proximity the more it wailed. The Subject is kept and contained within our facilities until further indication of change has been observed.
- [REDACTED] Corp, Distortion Department Head Researcher.
Author's Note:
Still busy with college stuff, but will try to write more. Also, for his strength equivalent, I was thinking of making him a High Level 6, but that is too much with his kit of Shin (Attack Amplification), Mirrored E.G.O (Mirrors Abnormality E.G.Os to his held item), Full E.G.O, and Identities (Mirror World Counterparts). So I made him a High Level 5 in strength to at least nerf him down a bit, although he's able to take down a few High WAWs(Which could probably decimate a small city without Qlipoth deterrance or drugging) or a Low ALEPH (Which can lay waste into an entire district and some of which are nigh unkillable and even instantly kill someone) Abnormality. I updated the sheet so he is the only one to access the identity system since the Mirror Technology embedded inside him is a part of his body that melded with his E.G.O.