Ryu's pov

"Ehh? Why though? A whole week?" I asked shocked because the adventurer's guild hardly ever closes as Zerah town is an adventurer-centered town.

Lana sister looked at me with a relieved smile and asked,

"Ryu, how many days had it been since your birthday?"

I thought a bit as only recently did I become an adult according to this world's standards. Today is the 53rd day I guessed and answered,

"It had been 53 days, right Lana, sister?" and she give me a slight thumbs up as she say,

"Remember what event comes 60 days after your birthday?" although she tried sounding cheerful, the hint of sadness in her voice was clear,

"Brightest star festival! Right, but isn't it every year why take a big leave this year?" I asked her, trying to sound cheerful,

"This year the adventurer guild is sponsoring and organizing a carnival in town so they had stopped every adventure activity for 6 days and the 7th day is the festival!!" she replied with a bright smile,

Carnival sounds fun but for me, I had never been allowed to roam around town during the Light festival due to light balls getting brighter whenever one of them come near me, it is just a precaution because we never knew who might know about the incident of our escape from Epnir when I was smaller seeing everyone enjoying on streets and gazing at stars waiting for the formation of the brightest star. When I was smaller, I wished to shout and whine like a kid,

'Let me go out too!! I want to see it too!' but even with childish desires I knew it is for our own best that I was not roaming in town, since Snow left, I have been going to Zerah forest at the brightest star festival night standing alone looking up at the aqua blue colored streak in the sky forming brightest star is an amazing feeling,

'This reminds me Jue insisted to take him with me last year…' I said internally to myself as I felt like frowning as being alone under the star is a different feeling. When I was lost in my thoughts suddenly Lana sister speak,

"Ryu today children at Church school were complaining that you haven't visited in weeks. You should give them visits as much as you can when you have time."

"I will be going there now then, thanks for informing Lana sister!!" I said while feeling happy as I do not have much to do now and was feeling a bit lonely remembering Snow seeing those children will be a nice time pass,

I went to a sweets shop bought some sweets and then go straight towards the Church school but at the entrance, my [Instantaneous detection] rang hard and I jumped to the side and looked at three children who looked around 10 years old got their heads banged in each other they were trying to sneak jump on me again,

"You three never change, do you? You are already 10 now," I said with a frown as I looked down on triplets who got their head banged in each other. They always jump on me whenever I come,

"Big brother!!" the first one said,

"It hurts!!" the second one says while holding his head.

"Fun!! Let's do it again!" the third one said as he smiled.

Is he an M!? at that age, I wondered as I helped them back on their feet and asked them,

"I heard you all were missing me?" I asked with a grin, thinking they would deny it or something, but my expectations were betrayed.

"Yes, big brother!!"

"Where were you for this many days!?"

"That Jue kept trying to bring our interest to knuckles even when he teaches us swords!!"

They all spoke together at the same time and I wanted to shout,

'Take turns while speaking!!' but I held back, then nodding to them without actually getting all of what they said I followed them inside, the church playground had changed a bit in the last few years, especially there were three mud dummies like those at adventurer's guild training ground prepared by Jue using his skills,

"Big brother!? You here," Jue said as he saw me coming inside with sweets,

"I did not have anything to do and was getting bored at home. How's teaching going?" I asked with a curious look as children were looking at me with sparkly eyes for some reason,

"Training is fine… but no one among them is interested in knuckles, also I told him about the time we went to the dungeon" Jue answered casually, but I was stupefied because it was already discussed as it was a secret quest,

'Are you a fool!!' I wanted to shout but held back and calmly ask,

"Jue, what do you tell them about dungeon?" he looked a bit troubled as he say,

"I just tell them about the fight, nothing else… I swear big brother!!"

'Ahh safe,' I thought as I sighed, I distributed sweets to children when Jue told me he had already done that before but sometimes more than once wouldn't hurt right? After everyone was done eating, the children surrounded me and Jue and started demanding,

"Mock fight!!"

"Big brother, show us the moves like the story"

"Jue brother, if you win, I will choose knuckles too!!"

"Mock fight! It had been a while"

Every one of them cheering for a fight and demanding it, which makes me wonder,

'Is this orphanage a barbarian's camp!?'

Jue too was looking with shining eyes, he never misses a chance to have a practice bout with me,

"Okay, but the rules are simple. The one who falls on his back loses?"

"Yes, big brother, but be sure to give it your all" every one of the children sat down at a side waiting for the show to begin. I took a wooden sword from one of them because I cannot use my manifest in front of them. A little girl pretending to be a presenter stood in between Jue and me and spoke,

"Today we will have a fight, Knuckle v/s Sword. Let's see who will win!!"

"3," she said,

"3!!" children followed,

"2," she said,

"2!!" children followed,

Before one Jue changed his position to that of grappling. He is so easy to read, it made me smirk as I give a swirl to the sword and,

"1!!!" she and the children said together and I and Jue started rushing towards each other. He tried grappling my sword but I just kicked his knee,

A punch towards the face, I just move my face aside and slam the sword on his knee but Jue took it head-on.

'As I thought he is using the [Blessing of Valor God-B] this time, I just need to make him fall'

"I won't lose today big brother, [Arm strengthening VIII]!!" he shouted and punched the ground making a crack in it, [Arm strengthening] sure is an amazing skill only if I knew the conditions to get it!!,

I jumped backward as Jue created a wall behind me using [Mud wall] he sure is going all out but I haven't used a single skill, but honestly if not for this being our usual hang out spot, I would've fallen by now due to not knowing the terrain his attacks sure are surprising,

"[Step thrust]!!" I shouted as I rushed towards him. One could actually use skills without saying names but just like chanting saying the name gives a little boost to the skills performance,

Jue dodged as he already heard the skill name,

"[Pouring], [Water ball]" I said skills to name but instead of shooting Jue I just used them on the ground, and Jue looked confused when I shouted,

"This ends this one little one, [Quickening], [Cold touch]" I rushed towards him using quickening I usually would never speak the name of skills much to retain surprise but children seem wide-eyed interested whenever we speak the names of skills,

Jue tried dodging my approaching sword as I touched his neck with my cold hand instead and he jumped back and fall due to this very trick, [Cold touch] could be a menace depending upon the amount of mana poured into it,

"I lose again!!" Jue said with a bit of disappointment in his voice but with a smile.

"You did better than last time Jue, and your habit of always shouting skill name always is changing for good. I was surprised when [Mud wall] appeared behind me suddenly… here," I give him my hand while praising him,

"Thanks, big brother... I will work hard!! So when we leave on adventure…" he said till here, but I had to cut in,

"Jue I will be leaving for it in a few months after taking permission" I had an idea that he might try coming with me once I decide to leave on an adventure but I myself wasn't sure I will be leaving as soon as 15 years old and also, I did not want to disappear while feeding him false hope,

"Big brother, you'll take me with you, right?" Jue's voice was a bit lower than usual. I have to answer, and I knew the answer but the look he is giving me...