While Zegion was busy with his research, the kids weren't idling either. Jin, now painfully aware of the arrogance that had stemmed from his level, was diligently refining his aura and experimenting with different weapons. Unlike Yuna and Ludwig, who had their own paths to power, Jin's strength relied entirely on his body, weapon, and technique. But without a proper teacher, he was stuck.
He needed guidance—someone to sharpen his raw talent into something lethal. But in this forsaken frontier town, knowledge didn't come free. Asking Zegion for money after everything he had already provided felt like crossing a line.
As he wandered through the alleys, nearing the Adventurers' Association, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, terrifying sight.
Frank.
The lone forest dweller, the man who had single-handedly taken down a Sabretooth Tiger—a creature notorious even among the elites of the Vichitravana Forest.
Sabretooths were beyond dangerous. Unlike normal beasts, they weren't just driven by instinct but by calculated vengeance. These creatures were all Level 150 and beyond, making them some of the deadliest predators in the Vichitravana Forest. Once they locked onto a target, they would hunt them relentlessly, their intelligence bordering on unnatural. There were stories of Sabretooths tracking their hunters for days, their glowing eyes never leaving their prey, waiting for a moment of weakness to strike. Even when mortally wounded, a Sabretooth would ensure mutual destruction, turning its final breath into a death sentence for its killer.
And Frank had captured one alone—while still under Level 100.
The day he returned to town, he was a sight that haunted nightmares. The Sabretooth's lifeless body was draped over his shoulder, its once-glowing eyes now dull, its massive fangs still bared in a final, silent snarl. Blood—its and his—dripped from his clothes, leaving a crimson trail as he walked. His face, already terrifying, bore fresh claw marks that carved into his skin, a brutal reminder of how close the beast had come to taking him with it.
The town fell into a hushed silence as he passed. Even seasoned adventurers stopped what they were doing, their hands tightening around their weapons as if expecting Frank to be something other than human. Some whispered that he shouldn't be alive. Others swore they heard a faint growl still coming from the dead tiger, as if its hatred refused to die.
But Frank? He walked forward, his dead, unfocused eyes staring straight ahead, neither triumphant nor broken—just a man who had walked through hell and come back carrying its corpse.
That was the day "Scary Frank" became more than just a nickname.
The man had stared death in the eye—and walked away.
Jin swallowed hard, his body instinctively tensing.
Maybe asking him for guidance was a bad idea.
Lost in thought, Jin barely noticed the small figure creeping up behind him—until a sharp push sent him stumbling forward.
"Wahh!" Jin yelped, turning around to find Lumine grinning up at him.
The little girl crossed her arms. "What are you doing just standing here?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
Jin huffed, rubbing his back. "Lumine?! Why are you here? Shouldn't you be training?"
Lumine puffed up her cheeks. "Yuna is too strict! All 'focus on your mana flow' this and 'precision before power' that. Boring!" she whined. "So I followed you instead."
Jin sighed. "Of course you did..." Then he frowned. "Wait, why?"
Lumine's grin widened. "I want to see a Beastman! And—" she reached into her small satchel and jingled a pouch of silver coins—"I have money to buy that new sweet everyone's talking about!"
Jin's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?!"
Lumine chuckled proudly. "I healed some adventurers! They gave me extra coins because I did a good job. Brother Zegion was there, so it's fine!"
Before Jin could say anything else, Lumine turned and marched straight toward Frank.
Jin froze. Oh no.
The little girl beamed up at the grizzled hunter. "Hey, Uncle Frank! Want some sweets? I have extra money!" she said, proudly displaying her pouch.
Jin nearly fainted on the spot.
Did she just casually invite Scary Frank to eat sweets?!
Frank turned to look at Lumine, his scarred face unreadable. Then—
He smiled.
Jin almost screamed.
That smile was terrifying.
He bolted forward, instinctively shielding Lumine with his small frame.
"Sh-She didn't mean any trouble! P-Please don't be angry!" Jin stammered, his legs nearly trembling.
Frank and Lumine both blinked in confusion.
"Jin?" Lumine said, tilting her head. "What are you talking about?"
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Boy. I'm not angry."
Jin hesitated. "You're... not?"
"No."
Lumine grabbed Jin's hand. "See? Now come on, let's go!"
Before Jin could protest, she dragged him off toward the shop.
Sweet Victory & A Kinder Monster
By the time they reached the shop, disaster struck.
The sweets were sold out.
Lumine's shoulders slumped. For the first time, Jin saw true despair on her face.
Just as he was about to console her, a familiar voice rumbled behind them. "Here. Take it."
Frank held out a small bag of sweets, the scent of honey-roasted nuts mixed with dried berry glaze wafting from inside.
Lumine's sadness vanished instantly. "For me?!" she gasped, eyes sparkling.
Frank nodded. "Better savor every piece."
Jin watched in utter disbelief as Scary Frank—the man who had hunted monsters beyond his level—handed sweets to a little girl like a doting uncle.
Lumine happily devoured the treats, but after a few bites, she hesitated. "I should save some for the others... I ate too much..." she mumbled, guilt creeping into her voice.
Frank let out a low chuckle. Jin shivered. Even his laughs were terrifying.
As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, Frank walked the children home, his massive presence warding off any potential thieves or troublemakers.
Jin tried to act normal, but he couldn't shake the unease of having Frank so close.
Was he protecting them... or just keeping an eye on them?
As they neared the house, a familiar figure approached—Zegion, returning from the forest, his sack full of mana cores slung over his shoulder.
His eyes flickered between Frank and the kids. "Oh? What's this? Jin and Lumine making new friends?"
Jin grumbled. "Not... exactly."
Zegion smirked before turning to Frank. "Hey, Frank, why don't you stay for dinner? I promise it'll be worth it. Besides… I have a small request."
Frank narrowed his eyes. "...What kind of request?"
Zegion took a step back, raising his hands defensively. "N-Nothing crazy! I swear it's not like last time!"
Frank's expression darkened. Last time.
Jin leaned in. "What happened last time?"
Frank sighed. "He asked me to find a type of spider silk strong enough to make lyre strings, saying it was in Vichitravana. I spent three days searching before he casually arrived back from a delivery request and told me it was actually found in the Solaris Empire."
Jin turned to Zegion. "You made him search for three days for something that wasn't even here?!"
Zegion coughed. "I did say I'd pay him back!"
Frank crossed his arms. "It was a child's mistake, so I refused the money."
Frank stared.
Zegion looked away. "...Fine, I'll cook you something nice."
With that, they entered the house, preparing a meal for the guest Jin never expected to see at their table.
Chapter 15: Jin's Training
Night had fallen, and the house was alive with the clatter of bowls and the aroma of freshly cooked food. The kids had worked together to prepare rice, a curry filled with vegetables and meat, and crispy rice papads that added a satisfying crunch to the meal. It wasn't extravagant, but the warmth and effort behind it made every bite richer.
Everyone sat in a circle on the ground, Zegion pouring the first servings before settling back. Conversation hummed as they ate, but most of the children kept their distance from Frank—except for Lumine, who had no such reservations.
Between bites, Zegion turned to Frank. "Hey, Frank, I've got some questions about Aura and its accumulation. Do you mind?"
Frank grunted. "Go ahead."
Zegion leaned forward. "Okay, so for mages like me, mana in the atmosphere is absorbed into the body, where it resonates with the soul and is marked with a unique mana signature. This makes it easier to wield since it becomes distinctly ours. That's how I understand it, at least. But how does it work for Aura users?"
The kids perked up, their chewing slowing as they tried to absorb the conversation. Even if they didn't grasp every detail, the topic was intriguing.
Frank tapped his fingers against his knee. "You've got a decent understanding of mana, kid. But Aura works differently. It's not about resonating with mana and converting it into your own like mages do. It's about shaping and refining the mana already within you. It's fueled by willpower, discipline, and practice."
Jin leaned in, fascinated. He had seen the leader of the noble soldiers wield Aura during the Beastchild incident, but Frank's words painted an entirely new picture.
Frank extended his left hand, and a faint greenish hue enveloped it. Unlike Jin's whitish Aura, this felt denser, more controlled. Slowly, the Aura sharpened, rising like an ethereal blade extending from his fingers. It gleamed momentarily before dissipating.
Jin's breath caught. The control. The precision. It was nothing like the raw bursts of power he had been experimenting with.
Zegion nodded thoughtfully. "So Aura isn't about influencing external mana through a magic circle or intent like mages do. It's completely internal, a refinement of one's own mana."
Frank smirked. "Exactly. My Aura is my mana, shaped by my will. Unlike a mage's spellwork, which manipulates outside mana, an Aura user relies entirely on what's within. No shortcuts."
Zegion rubbed his chin. "Is that why people say Aura users have a harder time regenerating mana?"
Frank nodded. "That's part of it. Mages can passively absorb ambient mana to replenish themselves. But for Aura users, every bit of mana is forged through effort. And some nobles have found ways to cheat the system through cultivation methods, passing them down as closely guarded family secrets. The military has its own standard mana cultivation technique, supposedly effective even for Superhumans and beyond, but they only give it to frontline soldiers fighting in the Demon Wars. And even then, it comes with mana contracts—meaning you're bound to the empire for life."
Jin, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "So if I join the military, I can learn that technique? There's no other way?"
Zegion, who had been silent until now, finally interjected. "Well… about that, you don't have to worry too much, I guess…"
Everyone, even Frank, turned to him in surprise. What was he implying?
Zegion merely smiled. "Time will answer all questions."
Frank scoffed. "Hmph. I think I already know where this is going." His eyes flicked to Jin, who looked momentarily confused before realization struck.
Zegion grinned. "Jin, how about it? Want to learn Aura and weapon arts from Frank? He's a veteran, skilled in multiple weapons, and can guide you better than anyone in this town."
Jin blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden proposal.
Frank, however, was less enthusiastic. "I don't know if he's ready yet, Z. And I won't be around all the time."
Zegion waved a hand dismissively. "That's fine. Teach him when you're free—whenever you're not hunting or venturing into the forest. I'll cover the tuition fees. 10 Silver per session. Sound good?"
The room fell silent.
One Silver Coin could buy a hearty meal, but learning Aura—the very thing warriors risked their lives to master—for just ten Silver? It was absurd.
And yet… Frank didn't immediately refuse.
Jin's eyes darted between them. Zegion, despite his usual aloofness, was offering a considerable amount, especially considering he was already feeding and looking after four kids. Frank remained quiet, then—
A small smirk appeared on his scarred face. "That's a fair price."
The other kids flinched at the expression. Even kindness from Frank was terrifying.
Zegion raised an eyebrow. "Really? I figured you'd ask for more, considering what I'm asking."
Frank shook his head, saying nothing more.
Zegion exhaled in relief. He was already stretching his finances thin—paying for Frank's training meant more extra delivery runs and commissions, but if it meant Jin could grow stronger, it was worth it.
Jin clenched his fists.
Training under Scary Frank…
He gulped.
This was going to be hell.