Before he ran and after the final blow was struck and Ei's head rolled on the ground, Kaizen stood silently, catching his breath. The crimson marks of battle had dried across his clothes and the forest floor reeked of blood. Then, like a whisper in his mind, the system rang out.
Ding! You have successfully completed the mission. You gained 20,000 EXP.
Kaizen didn't celebrate. Instead, he wiped the blood off his hands and began his long journey back to the Land of Fire. A week passed. He didn't stop except to eat, relieve himself, and rest briefly. The thoughts of Kuina, Hakiko, and the mission echoed in his mind. His pace was steady, fueled not just by endurance, but by a new sense of responsibility.
Finally, he arrived at the town near the borders of the Fire Nation.
As Kaizen entered the now-familiar district, he saw Hakiko waiting outside a tea stall. Her face lit up in a mix of surprise and frustration.
"Kaizen, where have you been?" Hakiko crossed her arms. "You child are so mischievous, disappearing without saying anything!"
Kaizen lowered his head with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Ms. Hakiko. I just wanted to look at the scenery. There are so many places to visit."
Hakiko's eyes narrowed, but her voice softened. "I know... but right now, sightseeing isn't our priority. Anyway... since Kuina isn't here anymore, I closed the shop."
Kaizen looked up in surprise.
Hakiko continued, her voice carrying a quiet sorrow. "Kuina's family never liked her being a merchant. They didn't even want the shop or her assets. So, I sold what I could. The money I got... I want to give half to you, okay?"
Kaizen blinked. "Why? That's yours."
"Because Kuina helped you. And she would have wanted it this way," Hakiko said with a gentle smile, though her eyes shimmered with sadness. "It's not much, but maybe it can help you get started."
Kaizen clenched his fists, unable to voice his gratitude. Hakiko placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Kaizen... where will you go from here?"
"I don't know yet. I want to become stronger... maybe find my place."
"Then take this," she said, handing him a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "These are Kuina's personal scrolls. She wanted to become a medical expert. Maybe they can help you learn something. I hope that after a few years, I can still see you alive and well. I'm sorry I can't help more... I'm not well-off either."
Kaizen held the bundle tightly.
"If you don't have a place to go," Hakiko pointed to a building across the street, "there's an orphanage. The matron there is kind. You can stay if you need."
Kaizen looked down, then back up. "Thank you, Miss Hakiko. For everything."
"You don't have to thank me. Just stay alive."
You received:
[Ways of Medicine]
[Introduction of Medicine Formulas]
[Advanced Medicine Alchemy]
[20,000 Ryo]
That night, Kaizen sat alone in a rented room at a cheap inn, scrolls laid out before him. He opened the first scroll.
You have successfully learned [Ways of Medicine].
You gained a new subclass: Pharmacist.
Pharmacist (Level 1): Knows how to diagnose what medicine a person needs.
You have learned a new skill: [Check-Up].
Check-Up: Allows you to assess someone's health status, internal injuries, or abnormalities.
Kaizen touched his chest, activating the skill on himself. Information flowed in:
Minor fatigue
Healing scars on shoulder and abdomen
Chakra circulation normal
He nodded to himself. It was basic, but useful.
He opened the next scroll.
You have successfully learned [Introduction of Medicine Formulas].
You gained a new subclass: Alchemist.
You have learned a new skill: [Alchemy].
Alchemy: Allows creation of basic medicines using herbs and ingredients.
Kaizen blinked as another prompt appeared.
You already have the subclass: Pharmacist. Combining Pharmacist and Alchemist...
Deleting Pharmacist and Alchemist.
Deleting skill Check-up and Alchemy
You gained a new subclass: Doctor.
Doctor: You can diagnose, treat, and prepare medicinal remedies with greater effectiveness.
You have learned a new skill: [Pillcraft].
You gained a new talent: [Assessment]
Assessment: Evaluate the full condition of a target. Displays physical health, hidden injuries, poison status, internal damage, chakra flow, and mental state.
Pillcraft: Create pills that act as healing boosts, status cures, or poisons depending on the ingredients used.
Kaizen leaned back, breathing in the moment. From a hunted boy to a warrior, now stepping into the role of a healer. His heart still bore scars from the battles and losses, but with each step forward, he forged something new.
He held the scrolls tightly before rolling them back up and storing them in his pouch.
"I won't waste what you gave me, Kuina... Hakiko. I promise."