Words: 2,119

...

[James Ironwood POV]

My good mood slowly faded as the Atlas Council targeted me for criticism and bureaucratic scrutiny for every inappropriate negligence of Atlas like the terrorists taking over his technology and even one of the Airships.

Furthermore, Jacques Schnee joined the conflict because he saw a chance to damage my reputation.

The very same Jacques Schnee with whom he had a normal conversation about the upcoming festival a month ago.

However, I wasn't surprised to see him here.

I was still dealing with bureaucracy and constant reprimands from the council even though my body was alive and breathing again.

I would have happily fired them if I could.

But...It wasn't possible.

"The cured soldiers have already been briefed on Atlas's latest technologies, which you keep secret, and they have signed non-disclosure agreements."

Winter informed me.

"Thank you, Winter. "

I thanked her, and my mind went to the strange person—the one who seemed to know a lot and really be able to use magic.

According to Ozpin, there is no longer any existence in this world except for the forces of Light and Salem.

A group of such people could be dangerous, but my intuition told me that discussion was possible with them, and that was important.

Anthony Luthor was a young man in his twenties, and it was hard to say for sure.

However, his behavior and understanding made him a complicated person even though I liked him a lot.

After he cured my people, even myself and the iron prison, I was ready to hug him for some reason.

I hadn't seen such a "miracle" from anyone for thousands of years.

When I talked to him, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was talking to Ozpin, or maybe he was.

Anthony was exceptionally skilled with his abilities, and he wasn't going to do anything stupid especially since he didn't see any reason to.

There was no information about them, and they had only helped so far.

"Is Cinder awake?"

"Yes, and she's already tried to escape, but she couldn't. Her fire... it's like it's absorbed into the walls."

Winter explained somewhat uncertainly.

"Let's go, we need to talk to her and try to find out who she's working for... although I can guess, but still."

I took my key card with his hand and headed for the door of the office.

Anthony had hinted several times that he knew about Salem and that she was the mastermind.

Ozpin hadn't told me anything, but I believed that there was a reason for that and if Ozpin was really her husband, then everything took a wrong turn.

I sincerely believed that Ozpin was standing against her. I could see it in his face and actions, but maybe he just didn't want to fight to the end?

It's hard to say, but maybe a conversation with this young man will reveal some things.

...

[Anthony's POV]

"This little... is not responding."

Weiss restrained herself from being sarcastic as she nervously held the scroll in her hands.

When Weiss learned that I could genuinely help her friend, she immediately decided to see it through.

We were already in the air heading west toward Patch Island, which is west of Vale.

"Perhaps she hasn't fully come to her senses yet."

I said it in a gentle tone.

Rias and Hermione were sitting a little farther away from me and talking about how their magic was different.

Hermione was very impressed by Rias not needing a wand and only her imagination to use magic.

She had seen me manipulate earth magic before, but this demonstration from Rias made her... more thoughtful.

"Most likely, I just got excited."

Weiss closed her eyes momentarily.

"After the terrorist attack and the Grimm on Beacon... I don't even know what to think."

Weiss sighed.

"And Blake was behaving suspiciously nervously even too much... and now she's completely disappeared!"

"Blake, is she one of your friends?"

"Yes..."

Weiss muttered somewhat gloomily and fell silent while immersed in not the most cheerful thoughts about the twists of fate.

The flight was a little long, but we arrived at Patch Island in twenty minutes.

"So, this is it?"

Hermione asked as we exited the vehicle.

"Yep, lovely, isn't it?"

Shinoa nodded.

"And can you conjure something tasty?"

Shinoa turned to Hermione.

"I can't transfigure food. I can make it look like food, but it still won't be edible."

Hermione's slightly lecturing voice broke through.

"Hey, what the hell?"

A rugged man exclaimed while stepping out of the house with a sword on his shoulder.

"Who the hell brought you here this time? Schnee? My damn luck..."

He muttered.

"Where's Yang?"

Weiss immediately went on the offensive and stepped forward ahead of all of us.

"You're from her team, right?"

He slightly hardened as he heard his niece's name.

"She... she's still not okay."

"No wonder she's not okay."

Rias crossed her arms over her chest immediately drawing the man's attention, who couldn't help but glance at her figure recognizing her.

"Oh, you're here too. You're the Hunters who came out of nowhere, right?"

He asked and looked over each of us while paying more attention to me.

He clearly said he wouldn't mind having a "friendly" chat right now...or maybe even more than that.

"Yes, I helped James with some things and healed him and other people who were seriously injured during the battle. Weiss asked for help for her friend with her little problem."

I spoke up, and then a familiar black and red tuft emerged from the house.

"Uncle Qrow, who's there? Tony?!"

Ruby's eyes widened in recognition, and she found herself next to me in a moment.

"How did you know where I live?! Did you come with your team?"

Ruby began asking in ordinary red clothes.

"Hey, Ruby."

I grinned, and I couldn't resist grabbing her and starting to hug her.

"H-Hey!"

Ruby exclaimed with wide eyes and began blushing deeply.

"S-Stop it, T-Tony!"

Ruby protested.

"Heh-heh, okay, sorry, I couldn't help myself."

I reluctantly let her go with great reluctance. Ruby herself immediately hid behind her overwhelmed relative.

"Another one?"

Shinoa said it with a strange tone of voice.

"You're the girl with the scythe, right..."

Shinoa said this while pulling out her huge scythe.

"Woah."

Ruby's eyes widened in some shock, and... joy.

Then, she "exploded" into rose petals for a couple of seconds and extended her large scythe.

Now, two petite girls stood opposite each other with huge scythes and huge braids while examining the weapons before them.

At that moment...

"Fuck... not a good person!"

Taiyang Xiao Long exclaimed who decided to rush out of the house at a fairly high speed and charge at me with a punch to the stomach.

"What the hell?"

I exclaimed as this Taiyang crashed into the suddenly appearing stone wall, but continued, and the fist continued flying towards my stomach.

I had to block the blow and throw Taiyang through myself.

"This... this means nothing!"

Taiyang suddenly exclaimed while rolling over and getting up.

"Dad!"

Ruby exclaimed when noticing the man.

"I saw what you did to my precious Ruby! And I won't hand over my dear little daughter to some bastard!

Taiyang exclaimed and quite professionally attacked.

"Dad! Stop it! Tony is my friend!"

Ruby exclaimed and tried to stand between us, but he cleverly turned around Ruby and tried to kick me in the face... So I caught that leg with my hand.

"Wh-what..."

Taiyang tried to back away, but I moved forward and quickly saw him. I grabbed him by the collar and threw him again toward a tree.

He'll be safe because of his aura.

"I'll be angry at you if you make another move!"

Ruby declared with a "stern" expression once Taiyang came to his senses and stood up.

"B-But, sweetheart..."

"No! You attacked my friend!"

Ruby accused him while pointing a finger.

"And you ruined the impression of me to his group... and to this cool girl with the scythe! With the scythe!"

Ruby repeated it to emphasize its importance.

"So, this is your father?"

I said this while approaching her.

"Y-yes."

Ruby suddenly became guilty and lowered her gaze as I approached her.

"Aw, come on, Ruby, don't worry. Your father is doing the right thing by protecting such a cutie from any bastards."

I reassured her and patted her head...

"Like you?"

Shinoa interjected into the conversation while raising an eyebrow. Rias just stood there trying to contain her laughter.

"Exactly."

I said it confidently and perhaps a little proudly.

"But we've strayed from the topic a bit..."

"Exactly!"

Weiss stomped her foot and moved away from them.

"You're all getting in the way and not letting us get to the main point! To Yang."

"Weiss!"

Ruby rushed to Weiss and tried to hug her.

"Stay out of this! We have important business, and we want to help Yang."

Weiss spoke while holding up her hands in a "stop" gesture.

"And you should have noticed me before anyone else, hmmm."

Weiss couldn't help but smirk at the end.

"Yang... she... she... I was trying to cheer her up."

Ruby lowered her head while clenching her fist and even lowering her scythe.

"We're here precisely to help."

Weiss repeated more slowly and deliberately while looking at Ruby in the eye and then glancing at her father.

"Did you create the prosthesis I requested so quickly?"

Taiyang asked slightly.

"No."

Weiss shook her head.

"Tony has... suitable Semblance."

She found something to say without mentioning "Magic" because that's too unusual for them even though they can do things far beyond normality.

Weiss almost never mentioned that it was magic.

"What?"

Taiyang suddenly became serious as a hunter.

"Let's go inside. There's no need to stand on the street, and you can tell us there. There's one guess though."

Taiyang waved his hand.

"A guest?"

Weiss asked.

"Oh! Blake came to visit Yang!'

Ruby exclaimed as if remembering something.

"Ruby..."

Weiss eyed Ruby.

"These things are usually discussed beforehand."

Weiss didn't scold her leader too much... just a tiny bit.

As I walked into the house, I saw Qrow and Taiyang looking at each other several times.

By the way, I could sense some magic from the Qrow. As far as I remember, he can transform into a crow, which is a gift given to him by Ozpin.

The house felt good and even felt like home when they entered.

"Blake!"

Weiss spotted Blake, who seemed awkward as all attention suddenly focused on her.

However, she was genuinely glad to see her friend.

"Hey, Weiss."

Blake awkwardly waved.

"You took off your bow."

Weiss noted.

"I... decided not to hide anymore."

Blake's gaze shifted momentarily, but she firmly met her friend's eyes after a deep breath.

"You have a lot of company..."

Blake noticed them.

"Alright, glad for your reunion, but let's get back to the topic. You were talking about helping Yang."

Qrow immediately got down to business.

"Weiss asked me to help her friend restore her arm."

I said, and the house suddenly fell silent... until a moment later.

"Woof!"

A bark was heard, and Ruby yelled.

"Zwei!"

The fluffy loaf landed in Ruby's arms, and Blake took a step back while looking wary.

"Restore?"

Taiyang asked.

"Uh, I'm Taiyang, Yang and Ruby's dad."

Taiyang introduced himself just in case.

"Is this a joke? Or what?"

"No, and I was trying to tell you that."

Weiss noticed that everyone had returned to the main topic of conversation.

"Tony has already helped General Ironwood; as my sister said he really can heal."

She explained it as if to children.

"Really?"

Ruby appeared next to me and grabbed my hand.

"Can you help my sister with her arm?"

"Of course. Anything for you."

I smiled at her and patted her head.

"Then let's go!"

Ruby said, still holding my hand while dragging me toward Yang's room.

"W-Wait! Ruby!"

Taiyang didn't like Ruby dragging me somewhere by hand!

"Uh, Administrator-kun, as always."

Shinoa seemed to enjoy what was happening.

Erin was glaring at the stove...

Hermione was trying to keep a low profile.

After all, it's another world, and she might break some rules...She hadn't finished reading Vale's laws yet.

Rias was thoughtfully watching Blake, who reminded her of Koneko.

"What do you mean as always?"

Taiyang's gaze fell on the small girl.

"He's quite the heart-stealer."

Shinoa said with a deadpan expression, and...

"Ruby!"

Then Taiyang rushed after them.

"Insane... Well, sit down, please."

Qrow finally decided to speak up.

"Redhead, care to tell us where you're from?"

Qrow decided to get some information out of her.

...

patreon.com/Sothisq

You can find up to 20 advance chapters on my patreon.