(This chapter was uploaded on Monday 10/June/2024 1:00 PM, timezone GMT+3)
('1), ('2), ('3), etc. means that there is some explaining for the thing in the notes at the end of the chapter.
"..." small moment of silence
"Talking"
[Different Language Dialogue] (What language it is: Accent if necessary)
"He-" Someone was interrupted.
'Thinking'
{Skills' names, chanting, spell keys and spells' names}
(PoV)
(Flashback)
Don't shy from commenting on typos and/or inconsistencies. That and/or suggesting a modification to certain things that didn't make sense to you.
I hope you enjoy reading this chapter.
(Line Break)
(3rd person PoV)
(Day 31)
"Cranel-oji-san, why are you covering your eyes? I always see you with that blindfold"
"A case of 8th-grade syndrome, Iwatani-kun. Let's say I have the power to see without my eyes"
"Don't give me that look, young man! I'm not crazy... yet" Nephelont said.
"How did you even... It couldn't be!" Iwatani Naofumi was enlightened at that moment.
"The power of a chuuni! Hahahahaha!" Nephelont laughed, followed by Naofumi. Naofumi took it as a joke as his reactions were expected when hearing those things.
It was left unsaid that Nephelont kept covering his eyes, aside from training his control over light arts, to prevent himself from seeing any form of jewelry in this world. Back home, he had the financial power to purchase any jewel or gemstone he fancied. But here, he did not have that wealth.
(Day 32)
"Cranel-oji-san, my parents want to meet you. They discovered that I was late for home sometimes because I had someone I was meeting without their knowledge... Sorry..." Naofumi fidgeted while looking away.
"Is there something your parents might be pleased with as a gift?" Nephelont asked. From what he knew, first-time guests in this culture brought a gift with them to their host's home, a show of appreciation for being invited.
For funds, he sold some of his scales as he did not have much value for them at the time. There were no monsters, neither any gods to give blessings. He had nothing to fear beside what was called "Nuclear weaponry". Not to mention, his scales grew back over time.
When he finally entered the Iwatani household, he acted with proper etiquette that he was stuffed with, virtue of Takemikazuchi. The sight of a curious tiny Nephelont was all he needed before he started teaching him all there was to learn.
(Day 122)
Nephelont was walking around the park that one fateful evening. He observed the occasional stray cat or dog. Cats and dogs stared at him for a few seconds before making an escape once he took a single step in their general direction.
"I'm really hated by them, huh?" Nephelont scratched the back of his head as he went back to his usual bench.
When Nephelont reached the bench, he saw a depressed boy sitting on it and looking into space. The boy looked visibly stressed and dispirited, tired of his surroundings for more than one reason.
'Haah. Do I need to do this?' Nephelont did not know why but something told him to try and help the boy.
'You must. Your mother will be proud of you' Lo replied to Nephelont. It was a trick that forced Nephelont's thoughts into a process he was not going to object to. Seeing nothing wrong with lending a helping hand to a younger person who clearly needed it, he went and sat beside the boy suddenly, without warning.
The boy uncomfortably shuffled away from Nephelont. He looked uneasy and fearful.
"I know it's presumptuous of me, but I can tell you are depressed. Mind sharing some words with this total stranger? It might help you to talk about your worries with someone" Nephelont said, ignoring how the boy seemed even less likely to talk than before.
The boy, against better judgement, decided to open his mouth to talk to this rude stranger who intruded on his personal space.
"If you knew it was rude, then you shouldn't have tried doing it" The boy scoffed at Nephelont with a scrunched face.
"If you had someone who you could talk to, then I wouldn't have been needed, boy. By the way, I'm Cranel Nephelont" Nephelont felt offended on a personal level when he spelled his name and surname in reverse order. It just felt wrong to him. But whatever would soothe this young boy, even a little further, was on the table.
"... My name is Natsuki Subaru. Happy now?" The boy irritably gave his name to Nephelont.
"Partially, as my needs and wants are not met yet. I want to help if I could" Nephelont honestly gave his take on what Subaru asked.
"Then leave. I don't want to talk to you" Although Subaru acted intolerant of Nephelont, he did not move away from him.
They both sat in silence as the sun descended just above the horizon. Nephelont patiently awaited Subaru's emotions to burst out and for him to start talking if he felt like it. He did not push it, as that might backfire heavily.
"Your offer, do you still want to listen?" Subaru's eyes looked tired, and he looked more lifeless than before.
"Whenever you feel like it, Natsuki-san" Nephelont said softly to ease Subaru into talking to him openly.
After opening up for the first time in his life, Subaru felt somewhat lighter, as if a load was dropped off his shoulders. It was a small load, part of a whole, but it felt a little better.
"Natsuki-san, I won't say that you need to stop to aspire to be like your father. It is admirable to strive for something like that. It also paints a clear picture of how great your father is and how you look up to him. But remember, always ask yourself this. Do you really need to be the exact same?" Nephelont asked Subaru. The way he said it emphasized the need to be different in some way than the object of admiration.
"What do you mean?" Subaru looked at Nephelont with confusion clear in his eyes.
"Like I said, it's commendable to look up to your father. That's fine to do. But let me tell you about my son. That may be of more help than my ramblings" Nephelont suggested and lent back on the bench.
"You have a son?" Subaru looked more confused. Nephelont looked too young to have a son. But the boy did not know that Nephelont was older than he looked by a lot.
"Oh, yeah, I do. I have 7 sons and 2 daughters, in fact" Nephelont looked at Subaru only to see the ogling eyes of a fish slapped on Subaru's face.
"How many? No! How old are you!?" Subaru's outburst was something he acknowledged by clamping his mouth shut and sheepishly looking away.
"39 years old. Pretty old, right?" Nephelont laughed heartily to diffuse the tension that Subaru might be feeling at that moment. It worked, as Subaru slowly started losing tension.
"Sorry about that age question" Subaru, a starter otaku, knew that it was a taboo to ask a woman of any age how old she was. He was glad Nephelont took it in stride.
"I mean, girls and women care a great deal about their age. But, you see, I'm neither a girl nor a woman. I'm a man, Natsuki-san" For the nth time, Nephelont saw someone in disbelief when hearing what his gender was. "I was just unlucky to be born looking this cute and pretty despite being biologically and psychologically male"
"So, about that son..." Subaru ended his dialogue with a suggestive silence.
"Right, we were about to mention that. My second son's name is Augustus. He is 15 now. For a time, Augustus looked up to me too much. But even then, he still chose to be his own person, deviating from my personality. He took after me in a few things but was comfortable with only admiring the other things without forcing himself to be another me. Others' expectations? That'll just be exhausting yourself trying to catch up with a moving train. Remember this, Natsuki-san. You are a different person from your father. You two are simply 2 different people. A father and his son, there is no denying that. But that does not mean you should live in your father's shadow. Be different. Live life from your perspective" Nephelont said while fondly and playfully swinging his legs and looking at the sun.
'Ha! I won this round! Sun!' His blindfold reduced the effects his mortal enemy had on his eyes, thus not harming them.
"So you say. But what now? If I don't become like him, then what?" Subaru's depression kicked in again. He looked down and sighed heavily.
"Maybe be open with your parents? From how you described them, they would be more than happy to hear you out. And it's actually gonna feel much better when you are open with your parents than it felt with being open with a stranger like me" Nephelont stood up from the bench.
"Where are you going?" Subaru quickly noticed how his question might sound intrusive of Nephelont's privacy. He looked abashed by what got out of his mouth.
"I'm gonna go find dinner!" Nephelont said as he stretched his limbs.
"Find? Not buy?" Subaru was confused for the 3rd time this evening.
Nephelont said nothing as he put an illusion to hide his form from everyone, undressed, then revealed himself already in dragon form, only to Subaru.
"You were talking to a dragon, Natsuki-san. And you are the first person that knows about my secret identity. I ask of you to keep it a secret between us, a sign of our newly formed friendship" Nephelont did not wait for Subaru's answer as he flew away and into the ocean again, hidden from everyone's sights.
"Whooahh! How cool!" Subaru was awestruck with what he said. He sprinted back home. But halfway through, he recalled what Nephelont advised him to do.
'Maybe be open with your parents? From how you described them, they would be more than happy to hear you out. And it's actually gonna feel much better when you are open with your parents than it felt with being open with a stranger like me' What Nephelont said made Subaru have a talk with his parents, a talk he would not have had otherwise.
Subaru opened the door to their house and stepped inside. Once they were done with dinner, Subaru held both of his parents back and told them of his meeting with Nephelont and what transpired, of what he felt being the unappealing son of such a charismatic father, of the heavy expectations of others that weighed on his shoulders, of how crushing it all felt, and he was promptly cut off before he said anymore. His mother could not see her son so hurt and not be by his side, helping him. His father was also on the same page as her. That night was a night the entire Natsuki household will never forget.
The next day, Natsuki Kenichi and Natsuki Naoko, Subaru's parents, came and thanked Nephelont for the favor he did for them. It was the beginning of a long relationship with the Natsuki household.
(Day 487)
'What should I eat for today's seafood buffet?' As Nephelont flew over the Japanese shore, he was debating what kind of fish he should be eating today. But out of the blue, he heard the sound of continuous explosions approaching.
He took a look behind him. What he saw made him dreadful. It was a missile and a fighter jet behind it. Nephelont was discovered and being hidden made them attack with the assumption that they are fighting an invading plane of an enemy nation.
'I should have been more careful of their radars!' Nephelont thought. He battered the outer shell of the missile with blasts of wind pressure, and it eventually exploded. He eluded the jet by diving into the water, disappearing from the pilot's range of operation. They wouldn't be able to reach him there.
'I'll dive deeper! Deeper!' Nephelont knew the modern world did not have the power to fight him. But getting caught in a power struggle between countries would see him destroying all of their governments, something he did not want to do.
"Shimada-san, we lost track of the entity after it dived into the waters below. It has been confirmed that the entity is not an enemy invasion. I repeat, we lost track of the entity after it dived into the waters below" The jet's pilot made her report before going back to base.
It has been a little over a year since they knew that an entity entered their country's atmosphere without permission. They had a meeting and decided to contact the entity. One after another, their attempts at peace talks were unsuccessful as the entity could not be contacted via radio.
They finally decided to fight this unknown. They managed to come by the entity but also failed when the missile exploded prematurely for unknown reasons. What was more mind-boggling was the fact that the entity is an enormous one. If their radars were to be trusted, this entity would be the size of more than 5 people. It also did not make sense when the entity opted to peacefully disappear in the water, something jets and planes could not achieve using current technology.
(Day 521)
'Finally! I made my first contact!' Nephelont was mentally firing firework rockets in celebration. His grueling efforts finally paid off and he could now talk to birds.
At first, he tested it by talking to the common gecko. It was a success. Then, he also noticed that he occasionally could hear what sounded like words in the birds' calls. He listened in, carefully deconstructing their language. He slowly understood what they said. And today, he finally made contact with a bird. He made his first avian friend by enticing the bird with berries.
"You can bewitch birds with your beauty? Now that's some really amazing chuuni power!" Naofumi said as he walked closer. The bird flew off into its nest, leaving Nephelont disgruntled.
"Come here! You naughty child!" Nephelont chased a laughing Naofumi. Nephelont eventually caught him, giving Naofumi a knuckle atop his head. They kept talking for some time afterwards.
Later that day, Naofumi invited Nephelont to a library that had a very certain type of books.
(5 years after Nephelont's arrival at modern day earth (Current time))
Nephelont was chatting with his now-old friend bird of 4 years. He helped this particular bird father many hatchlings, which was a hassle. But it helped bring them closer.
After they were almost done, a loathsome thing happened. A person intervened in their conversation.
"Nephelont-oji-san, how many birds are you gonna bewitch with your beauty?" A much older Iwatani Naofumi jested.
"You little daredevil" Nephelont smiled softly as he sent his avian friends away, a whole flock of them.
For the duration of 4 years, Nephelont used his {Reptilian Tongue EX} development ability to converse with a few species of birds. He did that to play or share food among other things. It alleviated some of his mental stress.
"How is Haru? Has spring come to him yet?" Nephelont was addressing Naofumi's younger brother. During his visits to the Iwatani household, he came to be friends with them. And although he did not interfere in how they raised their children directly, he often asked about their wellbeing.
"He is still reeling from getting rejected after his first confession a few days ago" Naofumi sighed. After all the effort they put together to help Haru leave the lifestyle of a delinquent behind, he was still rejected. "The poor boy confessed to a girl who happened to have accepted someone else's love confession just the day before"
"Poor child... sigh..." They made a silent prayer for Haru's spring to come, no matter how late.
"On a tangent, you know where Subaru is? I didn't see him around outside" Nephelont spoke of another of their acquaintances.
"Ah, Subaru? I remember he found a new game to hole himself in. I hate it when he plays any strategic game with a character called Flugel; he always wins if he does that" Naofumi frowned. The memories of playing a strategic game against a kid younger than him by 2 years and always losing made him ashamed. "Anyway, I'm gonna visit the library. Want to come with me?" Naofumi invited Nephelont to go read with him, not the first time. Nephelont had nothing better to do so he just stood up and agreed to accompany Naofumi.
Nephelont and Naofumi reached the library soon after. They talked about the news of some anime along the way, with Nephelont pointing out how stupid some points are from his viewpoint. Naofumi often felt weirded out by that, as the novels and manga were fantasy to the young Japanese.
"So, we go to the fantasy isle and search for a book like usual?" Nephelont asked as he knew of Naofumi's taste in comics and manga.
"You know my taste well, Nephelont-oji-san" Naofumi elbowed Nephelont lightly as they made their way. Naofumi knew that Nephelont was older than him and respected him simply for that alone. But the way Nephelont treated their relationship made Naofumi more at ease treating him like a friend the same age.
A book suddenly fell on Naofumi's head. It was an old and tattered book with no QR code to read on the library's records.
"Strange. I don't see a place where this goes on the shelf" Naofumi narrowed his eyes as he looked intensely at the bookshelves around him.
'The Record of the Four Holy Weapons?! What does this blasted book have to do here?! I thought an artifact like this would only have one copy through the multiverse?... Unless?!! Does it summon more than one hero for that world?!!' Nephelont had an uneasy feeling. Upon remembering what the higher being told him, he confirmed his theory.
'This is bad! The shield was also missing its side of the story! Much like Augustus's sword!' Nephelont made his choice. He was to warn Naofumi of the consequences of opening this book. When he looked at Naofumi, he saw him about to open the thing and have a look at its contents.
"Stop!" Nephelont got a scolding by the librarian for the ruckus he made while snatching the book out of Naofumi's hands.
"What made you so agitated?" Naofumi raised an eyebrow at him. He never saw Nephelont truly lose his composure like this in the 5 years they knew each other.
"This book will take you to another world, as one of the heroes. It took my son as the sword 5 years ago, and the shield was the only remaining spot in there. With my son's help, if this book didn't lead to an alternate reality where Augustus didn't exist, you will be able to return here once you finish your heroic adventure. Weigh your options wisely, Naofumi. And be absolutely wary of any bitch with red hair that might want to join you in the first few days of the adventure" Nephelont looked as Naofumi's face twisted in held-back-laughter.
"Surely! You jest! ....!" Naofumi was almost breaking into loud laughter in the middle of the library. That was until Nephelont manifested a ball of light over his open palm. He dismissed it before anyone noticed.
"Now, go and rent the book if you could. Go tell your parents before opening it alone" Nephelont said as he noticed a glint of anticipation in Naofumi's green eyes.
"Come with me. I have something I want you to give to my children if and when you meet them" Nephelont walked into a secluded place with Naofumi.
"Why did we come here, Nephelont-oji-san?" Naofumi was relaxed. Although this seemed dubious, Nephelont never put himself in a situation where his intentions were doubted for the time they knew each other. He trusted that Nephelont did not mean him ill will.
"Wait there" Nephelont stepped back and turned invisible to take his clothes off then transform. He took on his dragon form before becoming visible again.
"What?! Who are you? No! What are you?!" Naofumi scrambled back, having his back hit a tree.
"Nephelont. Who else?" Nephelont said as he casually ripped off another scale. He used his sharp talons to carve out a message for Augustus. It read, "Gust, the carrier of this scale's Iwatani Naofumi. He's my friend. Help him when you can. More importantly, how are the 4 of you? I have been well, aside from longing for my Clea for these 5 years we spent apart". During the making of this message, a pair of human ears were lost for the cause. The reason of death was the jarring, sharp and very high-pitch scraping noise caused by Nephelont's crystal talons scrape-carving again the crystal scale.
Nephelont wrote his message knowing that a time paradox has occurred for the book to try summoning the shield only now and not 5 years ago.
"Here. This scale itself would have been proof. But I needed to give them a message. My second son would feel unsettled when he receives a scale with no message" Nephelont scratched the back of his head. "... It could be worse if my first son got the empty scale. You know what, give it to this one, with the blue eyes" Nephelont said before materializing an image of Augustus with light arts.
"Okay..." Naofumi was still staring at Nephelont. He was in disbelief that the Nephelont he knew came from a fantasy world and was a dragon. Now, it all made sense, why he always nitpicked on the smallest things fantasy stories made "wrong".
"I will go find Subaru while you decide if you even want to go there" Nephelont walked away as a thumb was pointed at the book.
"See you later, damn otaku" What many may have understood as an insult was mirthful between the 2 of them.
"Look who is talking. It's the real-life trap, a legitimate one at that" It was a long while before they met again.
In many an alternate reality, Naofumi would have disappeared without his family having a clue. This time, however nonsensical his claim was, he disappeared into the book before their very eyes. To the dismay of his parents, the otaku nature that rubbed off of Naofumi and into Haru made him cling to his brother, thus getting pulled in as well.
(Later in the day, with Nephelont and Subaru)
"Oji-san, feel like going for a drink?" Subaru suggested while making a hand gesture as if he was drinking.
"Nah. I'm too young to do that" Nephelont shot back, striking where it hurt, or so it would have been had it not been a running joke whenever Subaru wanted to share a drink of soda. "I feel like eating some chips, though"
"Mom, dad, I will be gone to the convenience store with Nephelont-oji-san! I'm out!" Subaru announced as he put on his shoes and opened the door.
"Take care! And don't fall for Nephelont's charms!" Natsuki Kenichi said, only to receive a frying pan on the back of his head. He was knocked out cold.
"Thank you for being our son's friend, Nephelont-san. Thank you for everything" Naoko dragged her husband deeper into the house, his fate unknown.
"Your mother is scary, Starlight" Nephelont called Subaru by a nickname they shared strictly between the 2 of them only.
"He deserved it! I heard its metallic sound reverberating through the door before I closed it!" Subaru was snickering at his father's undoing.
Kenichi had a price to pay if he wanted to perform his self-imposed duty as a father, that being to embarrass his son. The price was the wrath of the son's mother. Kenichi did not and will never learn that lesson.
On their way to the convenience store, Nephelont's mind raced around the meaning of Naoko's words. The way she said it made it feel as if she knew they would be separated and not see each other for a while.
'What is it this time? I don't like how a mother's intuition's accurate, not in these kinds of situations!' Nephelont mentally complained. He was dreading what was going to happen soon, whatever it was.
Nephelont was absentminded through their time in the store. He was then vigilant as he felt it. It happened quickly, much faster than what he could react to. A number of shadowy limbs came out of nowhere as Subaru was rubbing away sleep from a few days of continuous playing late into the night.
"Starlight! Watch out!" Nephelont lunged forward.
'Lo, Ariel and Gwyn! Cooperate to carve a message over the living room's wall inside the Natsuki household! Make it sound like I had written it myself!' Nephelont said in his panic.
'It will cost a lot of mind' The 3 of them said.
'Forget the cost and start carving before it's too late!' Nephelont grasped at Subaru's clothes as he failed to catch Subaru himself. That was of no use to him, as the shadowy limbs took him as well.
(A moment earlier, at the Natsuki household)
The couple were talking about things and how Subaru will need to attend college soon. They were formulating a plan to help him pay for his studies using his own efforts, with as few difficulties as possible.
While talking, a sudden wind picked up, destroying the room's organization. In the process, the winds picked up small sharp objects and carved the message with them in haste.
The message read: "Dear Natsuki Kenichi and Natsuki Naoko, this is Nephelont. I wanted to inform you that I used some of my magical powers to send you a message in hurry. Sorry for the state of your living room and the destruction caused to your wall.
Moving to the truly important point, which forced me to reveal my powers to you two. While walking out of the convenience store with Subaru-kun, an otherworldly entity tried to teleport him to another world. I tried to stop it but failed. I promise you that I will take you to him when I get the chance.
Farewell."
(In the space between worlds)
"Again, you came here. Did you miss me that much?" The higher being was flabbergasted. This time, Nephelont's visit came faster than the last one.
"Surely, you jest. I do appreciate the welcoming air in your presence, though" Nephelont looked awkward. He wanted to be sent with Subaru, but he did not know if that was possible.
"So, what is the situation this time? Are we going to the same world this time?" Although it should be fine to leave Subaru be, he was one proud neet, a powerless one. If he was left alone, he would doom himself. Most of his personality was healed by now, but that was also to be factored into how fast he would ruin his life if he thought it was a story of his heroism he was enacting in a different world.
"No. But aside from that, I have you an offer. Are you willing to listen to the contents of the offer?" The higher being asked.
"I'm all ears" Nephelont said.
"By resetting your physical growth and abilities, which includes removing your falna, you get an extra wish every other time you do this" The higher being said.
"That's... a heavy choice..." Nephelont said.
"Would that be a problem for you?" The higher being asked.
"It may be. One never knows if they will be born with or without parents. And without the dungeon's interference, I'll be born an infant, weak and devoid of most of what made me able to live amongst monsters" Nephelont said.
"Fair argument" The higher being said then remained silent. He waited for Nephelont to weigh his options, of which there were 2.
"I'll accept it. But that means I'll have to accept another pair of parents, wouldn't it?" Nephelont dreaded the thought.
"To relieve you of that worry, you will hatch from an egg. Your parents will be absent for one reason or another in most cases" The higher being said.
"Then I will accept. As for this time's wish, I wish for all the abilities I will gain to be accessible for Clea and all of our descendants. That includes regaining my older abilities as I grow up again" Nephelont said.
"You are greedy" The higher being said. He knew that if left as is, falna's skills would be translated to abilities for the entire race if Nephelont was the one gaining them.
"Such is man's nature!" Nephelont exclaimed as he chuckled.
"Such is man's nature; a nature certain dragons came to have" The higher being agreed. It was in the nature of humans to want more. He also reminded Nephelont that he no longer is a human.
"Cruel!" Nephelont did not get to say anything more as a crack in the barrier between worlds sucked him and an unconscious Subaru and sent them in their ways.
"He did not know it, did he? Between the young man who attracts the affection of beasts and the young man who attracts spirits, he met both in one life" The higher being wondered aloud as he glared into the void.
"Now, we have a talk we must go through, young lady" The higher being turned around as a crack in the barrier was made.
"I have no time! Leave me be!"
"Your husband will become a child again while keeping his memories. Will you accompany him on that?" The higher being asked.
"Anything to meet him again!" And that became the last thing Eucleia said as she passed through the barrier.
"Desperation can break people, man and god alike" The higher being pitied them both, Nephelont and Eucleia. "I was waiting for him to ask. About the conditions he needs to fulfill to return to the lower realm, to his specific alternate reality of the lower realm. But Nephelont never asked. He may have instinctively known about that impossibility. Don't you think?"
"I think that needs more observation before we judge it, sir" The higher being's assistant said.
(End of Chapter)
Hello there, everyone.
So, this chapter was a big time skip. You did not come here to read about Nephelont being stranded alone in this world while his family was frozen in time inside another world. Now, did you? So, We will skip that and see the start of his next journey through the next chapter.
What do you think about Eucleia's actions?
Do you want me to show you a small section at the foot of every chapter showing you some of the adventures Naofumi and Haru will accompany Nephelont and Eucleia's children through?
Do you want me to write a chapter that talks about what happened with Eucleia before she appeared here? Without their younger children at that?
See you later, ladies and gentlemen.