"So you're one of my mother's students, Onii-chan," the little girl said, her smile returned.
Delmar chuckled and gently ruffled her messy purple hair. "Well… I was one of her students."
The girl tilted her head. "What do you mean, Onii-chan—"
A deep voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Move, please."
The crowd parted instantly. Two men in white uniforms stepped forward—Marines.
The taller of the two glanced down at the unconscious pirates, then up at Delmar with a skeptical look. "Did you bring down this crew?"
Delmar met his gaze calmly. "Yes."
The Marine frowned, clearly not expecting that answer. These guys were weak, sure, but not that weak. And the boy didn't even have a weapon.
Delmar could see the gears turning in the Marine's head—and so, he made his move.
"I'm the bounty hunter, Delmar Blue."
The shorter Marine blinked. "Bounty hunter?"
"Yeah," Delmar nodded confidently. "Just started out."
Ding!
[You have obtained the title: "Bounty Hunter"!]
Delmar kept his smile neutral, but inside, he was grinning ear to ear. Yes. It worked!
The taller Marine nodded. "Then you should come with us to the nearest branch office. The captain had a bounty—it's yours to claim."
Delmar looked down at the girl beside him, who clutched his sleeve tightly.
"I'll come by later," he said. "Gotta get this little one home first."
The Marines exchanged glances. Then, the older one stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Delmar's shoulder.
"You've got guts, kid. And skills. Ever thought of joining the Marines? We could use talented youngsters like you."
Delmar offered a polite smile. "I'll think about it."
With that, the Marines nodded and moved on, gathering the unconscious pirates and calling over a cart. The villagers began dispersing, their chatter filling the air with newfound relief.
"So, your mother should be at the dojo, right?" Delmar asked, offering the little girl a gentle smile.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, her energy returning with every step. Delmar took her small hand in his and began walking toward the secluded area of the village, the dojo stood.
As they made their way through the village path, the salty breeze brushing past them, Delmar turned his thoughts inward.
Titles.
He brought up the list in his mind.
[Brawl King]
[Rank: C]
[You have defeated a greater number of enemies using only your fists!]
[+100% Combat Talent]
[+50% stats when outnumbered]
'Not bad… really, really not bad,' Delmar thought, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips as he scrolled to the next.
[Proper Fighter]
[Rank: C]
[You have defeated an opponent using a proper fighting style.]
[+100% Combat Talent]
[Strength, Agility, Endurance, Stamina, and Will +30%]
'Oh... oh... my stats are being increased even more?'
[Village Hero]
[Rank: C]
[You have saved an entire village!
[All stats +50% when protecting someone]
'This one's situational, but still… damn useful.'
[Bounty Hunter]
[Rank: D]
[You have become a bounty hunter.]
[+20% to 100% to all stats when fighting against a pirate based on how high their bounty is]
Delmar blinked.
'That's... that's damn OP for me as a future pirate…'
A prompt followed.
[Would you like to equip these titles?]
'Yes,' he responded internally.
Immediately, warmth surged through his limbs. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and a quiet hum vibrated through his bones. He felt alive.
[Status Window]
[Name: Delmar Blue]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Titles: Fledgling of the Fist, Fledgling of the Kick, Empty-Hand King, Brawl King, Proper Fighter, Village Hero, Bounty Hunter]
[Strength: 2.6 (1.5)
Agility: 3.1 (1.8)
Endurance: 3.4 (2)
Stamina: 3.1 (1.8)
Will: 3.4 (2)]
[Skills: N/A]
Delmar grinned as he leaned out the window, then quietly slid it shut, sealing the sounds of the village behind him.
He turned toward the little girl walking beside him. "What's your name?"
"My name?" Her eyes lit up with a wide, innocent smile. "It's Ann!"
"Such a beautiful name…" he murmured, reaching down to ruffle her hair gently. He had always loved children—even in his past life. Their innocence, their innate joy, their purity—it was something unmatched, something sacred.
Before long, they arrived at the dojo.
It was as majestic as he remembered.
A traditional wooden structure framed by tall red torii gates, its tiled roof curving gracefully beneath the sky. The air buzzed with the sharp rhythm of training—the thuds of fists against dummies, the clashing of wooden swords, and the barking of commands from instructors.
Delmar stepped through the main torii gate with quiet confidence.
Dozens of disciples filled the courtyard, training in unison. At the center, two figures stood out.
Dahlia—lean, lightning-quick, with short white hair and a spear.
And Ostrich—tall, broad-shouldered, fists like hammers, a tank of a man.
They were locked in an intense spar, while a woman watched over them from the raised platform. That woman was Sena Lindsey.
She sat with her legs crossed and back straight, an aura of supreme control and elegance enveloping her. Long, flowing purple hair framed her sharp, beautiful face. Her deep violet robe, trimmed with gold, clung to her form with regal allure, accentuating her curvaceous body. Large, amethyst earrings dangled from her ears, swaying slightly as she moved.
[Image Here]
Her gaze, even when relaxed, was sharp as a hawk's.
As soon as Delmar stepped in, whispers started spreading like wildfire.
"What does he want here? He's already been kicked out."
"Is he here to beg Ms. Sena to take him back?"
Sub-instructors muttered among themselves, sneering quietly. But Delmar ignored them all.
He walked with Ann beside him, tall and unbothered. He was stronger than every single one of them, and he knew it.
Ann looked up at him with a nervous smile. Why were they all being so mean to Delmar onii-chan?
"Delmar!" Dahlia's voice rang out, followed by Ostrich's. Both paused their fight the moment they saw him.
"I didn't say you could stop!" Sena's voice cracked like a whip. The sparring duo stiffened immediately—but then, Sena's eyes settled on Delmar, and her tone softened. "What brings you here, Delmar?"
Then her gaze moved downward, catching sight of Ann beside him.
"The village was attacked by pirates," Delmar said simply.
The air shifted instantly. Murmurs erupted. Disciples froze mid-motion.
"What? The village is in danger?" several voices echoed.
"Are you serious, Delmar?" Ostrich asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes…" Delmar's voice was low but firm. Then, after a moment of silence, he added, "And Ann almost got killed."
That was the last straw.
Sena's heel slammed into the wooden platform.
Crack!
The floor splintered beneath her foot, and a sharp jolt of tension rippled through the entire dojo.
"What?!"
Her voice boomed with fury, the air practically trembling with the force of her presence.
To be continued...
***
***
How was this chapter? Liked it?