Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2608 - 2609: Harumiʼs Gratitude

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As Elfina and her friends asked Matsuoʼs father about what to do with Eriant, Ariant, and Brunhild regarding their double lives, he had a quick response.

”Hmmm… For now itʼs better to keep this a secret from them, yes… I understand that theyʼre your close friends and all, but donʼt get them involved if possible. Things might change if they have innate powers though. We might have to investigate them further later on.” Matsuoʼs father said, crossing his arms.

”Powers?” Elfina wondered. ”Well, do they have? We had no idea we had this old elf bloodline ourselves…”

”Your name is literally ”Elfina”, and you had no idea? Have you tried talking with your parents? Maybe theyʼre hiding something from you,” Erika glared at Elfina, she had already finished her bowl of rice and her meat.

”T-They arenʼt hiding anything…” Elfina sighed. ”Perhaps it is something more ancient they had no idea about…”

”Hm, regarding what you said, if all three of you ended having powers, it wouldnʼt be weird if the other three had something,” Matsuoʼs father said. ”I am not saying they one hundred percent have it, but it doesnʼt hurt to check them out later on. Perhaps your own hidden abilities drew you together as a group of friends.”

”Y-You think so?” Elfina wondered. ”Ah well… Iʼve known them since I was a kid… At least Fiere and Sol. Brunhild a bit later, and the twins at school. We clicked pretty quickly. Like, sometimes it felt like we knew each other from a past life or something, hahah…”

”Past life? Are you crazy or something?” Erika wondered, biting on a dog bone snack, which she often brought along to chew on.

”Stop being so mean…” Harumi sighed, patting Erikaʼs head. ”Maybe that could have something to do with your powers? Who knows? This world is big and it has a lot of amazing things, things we havenʼt even seen ourselves…”

”Hmm, maybe?” Elfina giggled a bit. ”Though…”

She suddenly fell silent, as the image of another young lady at her class appeared in her mind.

Her dazzling, long purple hair, and those sharp red eyes made her…

Recall someone she once knew.

It gave her a similar feeling that her friends gave to her too, but…

For some reason, she felt so distant, she could never truly talk with her.

Despite both being young ladies from rich families, she felt much higher… and difficult to reach.

”Whatʼs wrong?” Frank asked.

”A-Ah! Nothing, donʼt worry Frank…” Elfina said.

”Hm, can you guys still summon your weapons?” Matsuo wondered as he finished his meal. ”Thank you for the meal.”

”Summon our weapons? No…” Fiere said. ”Thatʼs not something weʼve been able to figure out yet.”

”I… think I can feel something inside of my soul… Iʼm just starting to feel it after practicing with eh wooden swords for a while,” said Sol. ”Thereʼs… something, a big sword. But I have no idea how to even pull it out of there.”

”I see… it is very interesting how your powers have developed,” said Matsuoʼs father. ”It seems all three of you can summon Soul-Bound Relics.”

”Soul-Bound Relics?” Harumi asked.

”Theyʼre special Legendary Items that sometimes unique individuals are born with, powerful weapons, armor, or other things that theyʼre born with a bond, usually, theyʼre the inheritance of an ancient lineage or an ancestor,” explained Matsuoʼs father. ”Itʼs amazing how all three of you have it though! I am sure that youʼll become great members of the clan in the future, Elfina, Fiere, Sol!”

”T-Thanks…” Elfina was still nervous and confused. ”I wish I knew how to get them out though, maybe then I would be more useful…”

”Ah, donʼt worry, your training is just starting with Hinata!” Matsuoʼs mother said.

”Yeah, weʼll figure out something, young lady,” Fiere nodded, trying to cheer her up. ”I will work my hardest.”

”Count me in as well,” Sol nodded.

”Sol, Fiere… thanks,” Elfina smiled cutely, feeling slightly more relieved.

And like that, amidst a lot of talking and eating, everyone had their lunch and moved on with their daily lives.

Frank decided to return back home, and Fiere, Elfina, and Sol decided to accompany him, eventually, his friends did so as well, just to be sure they would get back home safely.

”About your weapons… I wanted to tell you something, guys,” Frank said, while they walked through the streets of Tokyo. ”I have a power to trace weapons, so I traced all your equipment before it was unsummoned. If you want, I could let you have these copies so you can like, get a feel of them. Maybe that way it could become easier to summon them.”

”Y-You can do that, Frank? Thatʼs amazing!” Elfina said. ”I-I would be really grateful if you let us do that…”

”Yeah! I had no idea that was even a superpower people could have…” Sol said. ”You just replicate an entire weapon? Just with magic?”

”Ah yeah,” Frank said. ”Itʼs called Tracing Magic. Itʼs a bit complicated though, you also need Projection Magic to bring the weapon to reality and all, itʼs not the easiest.”

”Heʼs very talented,” Matsuo said. ”So such an impossibly hard magic became easy for him somehow.”

”I have to admit, thatʼs incredible, indeed,” Fiere nodded. ”I would gladly take that offer.”

”Alright then! We can begin training tomorrow,” Frank said with a gentle smile. ”And here I am, sweet home… I think everyoneʼs home by now.”

Frank walked to his house as he waved his hand at his friends.

”Thanks for everything, guys, see you tomorrow!”

”Yeah!” Erika said with a wave. ”See ya.”

”Take care! Donʼt exercise too much and just rest for now, okay?” Matsuo said.

”Frank, wait…” Harumi ran to his side, as she looked at him with a slightly concerned expression.

”Harumi?” He wondered.

”A-Are you sure itʼs fine? To go back so quickly? You donʼt need to if you donʼt want to… donʼt force yourself,” Harumi muttered, worried about him.

”Iʼm fine, donʼt worry,” Frank smiled gently. ”Thank you for worrying, Harumi… it means a lot.”

”Hm…” Harumi remained in silence, as she grew redder. ”C-Can you get closer?”

”Huh? Why?” Frank stepped forward, as Harumi quickly moved, approaching her lips to his face.

And giving him a little kiss on his cheek.

”Eh?” Frank blushed slightly.

”Take care,” Harumi smiled, with perhaps the most beautiful smile Frank had ever seen, before walking away.

”A-Ah… Yeah, you too.”

Frank stayed there for a good minute, touching his face.

”Harumi…”

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