HERA
I carefully check the map one more time, before gently putting it away
"Why did they give me such a shitty map" I say as I continue to climb the mountain
As I continued my climb I felt the soles of my Leather Boots come loose
"Are you serious! I just bought these shoes last month" I yell to no one in particular
Sigh
Whose ever even heard of sending a Platinum ranked adventurer on a fucking Reconnaissance mission
I should be hunting cultists, slaying Ogres, wrestling a Minotaur!
But no, here I am in the middle of bum fuck nowhere searching for a demonic ruin that may or may not exist!
All because it was a request from the church!
They aren't even paying well!
If it wasn't because I owed the guild master a favor I'd never have taken such a job.
And the map they gave me is useless!
I've been out here two weeks already, I don't even know if I'm going in the right direction because everytime I pull out that ancient map I risk ripping the damn thing!
As I continue complaining in my mind I fail to see the sharp decline in front of me, leading to a embarrassing fall a 8th Stage Transcendent Swordmaster like me should have easily been able to avoid
My body tumbles down the hillside, arms flailing as I desperately try to regain my footing. The soft earth gives way beneath me, and I slide uncontrollably down the slope. Small rocks and debris rain down around me as I roll. The fall lasts several seconds before I finally come to a stop at the bottom, covered in dirt and leaves.
As I sit up slightly blushing I quickly look around making sure no one saw that
I then remember the nearest village is 137 miles away
As I sit there questioning my own intelligence I spot a opening in the mountain with two Stone Gargoyles
Standing guard
They spot me as well
Swiftly standing straight and drawing my Greatsword, covering it in my Shining Mana Blade, I face my enemies
The Gargoyles charge me but they are no match
In a swift movement I cut the left Gargoyle in half, before destroying the right Gargoyle's head with a strike of my Sword Pommel
Bracing my Greatsword over my right shoulder, and pompously brushing my hair aside with my left hand I gloat to myself
Your much too weak to face Hera Seus the mighty dragon slayer ( ùᗜú)
Finished with my gloating I look towards the Mountain opening
If this isn't the Demonic Ruin I swear I'm going to break Mary's legs
Though I'm hopeful as 6th Tier monsters aren't exactly common
Gathering Mana in my left hand, which begins to emit a blinding light I enter the opening
And so I walk forward bursting with confidence
And I walk
And walk
And walk
——————————
Five Hours Later
Damn it! Who designed such a place,
I feel like I've been walking for half a day already! ⁽⁽(੭ꐦ •̀Д•́ )੭*⁾⁾
Come on at least give me some change!
It seems like Lumen must have heard my pleas as a flight of stairs descending deeper into the darkness appeared before me
"Thank you oh God of Light" I mutter
Hopefully I won't have to travel much further, I'm practically walking barefoot at this point
Thankfully I soon see light ahead of me
Embracing the light I enter a open hall that just so happened to be full of Death Knights
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ Nothings ever easy huh!
I thought 6th Tier monsters weren't common!
Gathering Mana into my Greatsword I release a Blinding mana slash that decimates the Death Knights in front of me
Assured of my victory I strut confidently forward
Imagine my surprise when I was suddenly slashed across my back
Collapseing on all fours, my face turns pale
"A-Are you serious? T-This outfit was a gift" I say aggrieved (╥﹏╥)
Shaking I reach back with my left hand and feel the massive Cut in my Fancy Blue Gambeson
It seems the outcome I was hoping to avoid has become reality
With Dead Eyes I look at the culprit
A Confused? Skeleton in Black Armor
I Quietly stand up and face the monster
The Death Knight swings its Sword once more
Catching its sword with my left hand was a simple task
Crushing its skull with my right, even simpler
Gazing blankly at my fallen Arch-Enemy I once again curse my overconfidence
Looking around the Destroyed Open Hall I soon spot a smallSarcophagus with a Black book on top of it
I move closer, pick the book up and open it
"Yup this is definitely written in the Demonic Language" I say to myself as I put the book into my Satchel
Like any self-respecting Adventurer I move to open the Sarcophagus, hoping to find some loot
"Huh, what a beautiful baby." I mutter as I look at the child in the Sarcophagus
Wait Baby! (°ㅁ°) !!
Examining the Child in front of me, my eyes turn dark as I quickly Draw my dagger ready to end this foul creature's existence
For no creature besides a being of the Mythical Demon race would have such crimson eyes, and budding horns
As I brought my dagger down ready to free this child from its existence, I found myself freezing
"No don't look at me with those eyes, it makes things…. I don't know, Awkward." I mutter to the child
God why does killing a child have to be so difficult? I mean it's a demon for Light's sake! A embodiment of Evil and sin!
"Um ok…I can't really do this if you're staring at me like that. So I'm going to close your eyes ok….Don't worry I'll make it quick." I say to the child in the most comforting voice I could muster
As I reach out to close the child's eyes, my hand is stopped
Looking at the tiny hands grabbing onto mine
I move my eyes to the child's once more
What greets me are Bright red eyes full of the Innocence only a child could have
My eyes begin to shake as I question the choice I'm about to make
But this….this is my duty as a Transcendent and a human being
What if this child is the key to a Great War The likes Donum hasn't seen since the Mythical Age
Alas my new found resolve completely shatters as the child gifts me the brightest and most beautiful smile I had ever seen in my 27 years of life
Sheathing my dagger, I pick the child up
As I helplessly begin to play with the child I Sigh
"Fuck, what am I supposed to do now?" I ask the child, secretly hoping for a answer I know won't come
"I mean I guess I'll have to take care of you, to like prevent you from becoming evil and shit but-" That sounds really inconvenient, maybe I should kill it after all?
Shaking away such bad thoughts I say "Maybe if you become evil, I guess I can power through for now"
"By the way what's your name?" I ask expecting a answer, forgeting for a second you were talking to a literal fucking child
"I guess I'll have to name you huh?" I mutter helplessly
"How about Marshal…Nah, Michael….but You don't look like a Michael, Alex….but I know a Alex and he's a prick, How about Jesse! It was my grandmother's name….but you seem to be a boy….Fuck it you're name is Jesse from now on" I say Smugly, Confident in my choice ( • ̀ω•́ )✧
As I begin to walk out of whatever the hell this ruined hall was supposed to be, Lighting my way with my left hand and carrying Jesse with my right. I begin to wonder how I'll hide his horns, or his eyes, and what if he grows wings and a tail, aren't demons supposed to have those as well, plus don't Demons have Demonic Energy instead of Mana…..
As I begin to have a small existential crisis, I hit myself with my Left hand
"What am I worrying about, If I don't know how to deal with a problem the best thing to do is to put it off until the last minute!" I say loudly with my returning confidence
Sometimes my powerful wisdom frightens even me ( • ̀ω•́ )✧
As I finally exit the Mountain, a question I probably should have already asked enters my mind
"But…how exactly does one raise a Child?"