Brian helps around the temporary camp while the hunters deal with the kobold. Kuro rested as he gained EXP from Niji hunts.
[Niji has killed a kobold. You have gained EXP.]
[Niji has killed a kobold. You have gained EXP.]
[You have leveled up]
[Niji has killed a kobold. You have gained EXP.]
…
[You have leveled up]
..
Kuro leveled up 4 times and he is still receiving EXP even when he only received a portion of the EXP from Niji kills.
[Niji has been killed.]
Just as Kuro was basking in the free EXP, he received the notification that Niji was killed. He immediately uses his mana to revive Niji to learn what happened.
Just as Niji was about to rise, he commanded Niji to stay in the shadows since he didn't want people in the tent to know his connection to Niji.
"Niji, what happened?" Kuro telepathically asks Niji.
"Niji. Don't know. Redhead. Big bust. One strike. Got killed."
Kuro frowns at Niji's words. He understood how powerful Niji was. Even he couldn't beat Niji in a frontal assault. It just goes to show how lucky he was to be able to kill the Root shinobi which he got Niji shadow from.
Based on his understanding, Niji should be as strong as special Jonin or even Jonin level.
If someone was able to kill Niji that easily, then it means he has to be careful. He came to the tower to get stronger, not to get killed on the first floor.
As Kuro was thinking, Brian walked toward him.
"The Fairy Trail Guild has arrived and settled the dungeon break. We can head back to the Academy. By the way, I forgot to ask your name, boy."
"My name is Kuro. My parents name me based on their power."
Brian raises his eyebrow hearing Kuro's parents have power. "So your parents were also hunters." Brian nodded his head and finally understood. Hunters live in luxury but they also have a high mortality rate. "Kuro is a great name. Once again, nice to meet you Kuro. Your grandpa is happy. Now let's head back to the Academy." Brian extends his hand toward Kuro, wanting Kuro to grab a hold of him so as to prevent Kuro from getting lost among the chaotic crowds in the tents.
Kuro looked at the extended hand and decided to play along. He would act as a kid until he learned more about Prime Earth. Especially a redhead with a big bust that can kill Niji in one hit.
Kuro followed Brian while holding his 'grandpa' hand. He looked around at the chaos that was calming down.
After a while, Kuro and Brian arrived at a station with a big portal.
Brian went up to the counter and showed his ID. The staff looked at it and nodded her head before giving the ID back.
They then walk toward the portal. Kuro looks at the portal with fascination. It seems Brian felt Kuro's curiosity.
"This is a portal that will take us to the Academy." Brian explained. "You can put in the coordinates of the portal at your desired destinations to go there. Currently, the portal is coordinated to the Academy portal."
Kuro stares in awe, looking at the portal.
"Quit staring. We don't have all day." Brian stated and took Kuro toward the portal.
The guard near the portal nodded at Brian seeing the Academy insignia on Brian. Kuro doesn't even know how that insignia got there since it wasn't there before.
With that, Brian and Kuro walk into the portal.
Kuro felt a little dizzy, as if the space around him were turning upside down and sideways simultaneously. After a few seconds, the feeling disappears and open his eyes to a lounge area.
"Welcome to the academy!" Brian spread his arm. "So how is it?"
Kuro looks at the kids who are wearing some kind of uniform and the staff that are looking at Brian with an annoyed look.
"I think it looks great, other than the stares." Kuro stated and Brian rubbed the back of his head, feeling embarrassed.
"Well, it's been a hectic day so let's head back to my house. You would also be staying there from now on so it would be our house."
Kuro nodded and followed Brian. Brian was no longer holding his hand anymore since the Academy does not feel crowded.
The guard at the entrance did not stop Brian and Kuro when they saw the insignia on Brian. While walking toward the house, Kuro releases the Shadow Bird in a shaded area. He hopes to get the layout of the Academy.
After walking for around 10 minutes, they arrive at a small house.
"This here is the housing area for the professors. Continue walking and you will arrive at the Center Garden where you can head to the other parts of the Academy." Brian introduced the area. He then took out a key and opened the front door of the little house.
Click
"Welcome to my humble abode!" Brian walked in and introduced Kuro to the place he will be living from now on. "So how is it, Kuro?"
Kuro stepped inside, taking in the modest yet cozy surroundings. The house was simple, with a warm atmosphere. It wasn't grand by any means, but there was something comfortable about it. Wooden floors, a fireplace in the corner, and large windows letting in the soft light of the afternoon. There was a small kitchen area, a living room with mismatched furniture, and a staircase leading up to the second floor.
"Not bad," Kuro said, his eyes scanning the space. It felt peaceful, the kind of place where you could relax and recharge after a long day.
Brian chuckled at that. "Not bad? It seems like you have some standard, boy. But look. You have everything you need for a house."
Brian gestured toward the staircase. "There's a room for you upstairs. It's got a bed, desk, and some storage space. You can make it your own."
Kuro followed Brian up the stairs and into a small but comfortable room. A bed with dark blue linens sat against one wall, a wooden desk, and a wardrobe. It was nothing special, but it would serve him well for now.
"I'll leave you to settle in," Brian said with a slight grin. "I need to take care of some things downstairs. If you need anything, just holler."
"Got it gramp," Kuro replied.
Once Brian left, Kuro took a deep breath and glanced out the window, noticing how the sun was starting to set.
He then looks at the room and wonders why Brian has a room prepared when they just recently met. Kuro has gone along with the ride since he did not feel any hostility from Brian. 'It seems that Brian 'adopted' me not out of his good will but for a reason.'
And yet, despite the unease gnawing at him, Kuro had to admit: Brian hadn't acted maliciously. He could have left Kuro out there to figure things out on his own, but instead, he offered him a place to stay and took him in.
Still, Kuro wasn't one to be so easily swayed. His short year of living in the shinobi world has taught him to be distrustful of those around him. And it seems that there is more to Brian than meets the eyes.
'It seems that there are dungeons in this world. Meaning I don't need dungeon keys from the system to be able to grow stronger.' Kuro remembers the people at the tent talking about a dungeon break and also the kobolds. 'I need to somehow let Brian accidentally find out that I have power.'
Kuro decided on a plan moving forward. His plan was to let Brian find him training in the yard and accidentally witness him awakening his power to control shadows and be able to manipulate shadow, nothing else.
He doesn't know how people of this world awaken their power but from all the novels he has read from Earth, this was a common way used when someone awakened their power other than using some sort of artifacts.
He was not in a rush to ascend the Tower of Heavens because of the time ratio. He has the time to take it slow and easy to grow stronger. As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race.
One thing he wasn't certain of is his growth speed of his body. He doesn't know if his body growth depends on how much time passes outside the tower or how much time passes inside the tower. He can only wait and see.