~ Ayano's Pov ~
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'What, the..?'
Now there was another quest? This time it's about the body? But, why? How much more packed is a single day going to get!?
I looked over at her. 'I guess, I'll just have to listen to what she has to say, not much reason not to...'
"Once again. I should apologize for the things I have done up to this point... It wasn't exactly my intention to do this to you. In fact, you would have already been with your friends if I didn't see what I saw earlier." she explained.
I sighed, mentally exhausted at this point, and really... I was too tired to even care much.
"Sure, I, get that... So, do you mind explaining what you meant a bit ago?"
She slowly nodded at me.
"I suppose it would be best to start from half a millennium ago... Specifically, why this wall was actually built in the first place. Initially it wasn't supposed to be so. In fact, this wall wasn't supposed to even exist... When our great ancestor, Tsumugu Kihara had realized, and studied more about the people of the sea. His research led him to a realization, us."
I was a little curious now, "And, what would that realization of his be?"
"It's the fact that us sea people have a much purer genome compared to normal humans, or land dwellers... To be a bit more precise. We sea people were gifted with longer lifespans, greater lung capacities, healthier and stronger skin, with much greater resistance to the effects of prolonged aging."
...
I took it all in slowly, staring at her, unsure if I was just too drained to process what I was hearing, or if the information really was that surreal.
"So, let me get this straight... You're telling me. You're genetically better than regular people?" I asked, more so to make sure I understood, rather than out of disbelief right now...
She nodded at me. "Not in appearance—at least, not enough for it to matter above the surface. But underneath? In the blood, in the organs, in the bone structure? Then, yes. We were created, or perhaps refined, by the ocean over centuries, at least that's the theory... I am not even sure if you may have already noticed... we don't even wrinkle the same way. We don't fall ill as easily either. And we certainly don't die as quickly."
Something about the way she said it… it wasn't prideful. It was laced with caution instead. Like she wasn't boasting, but warning me. I crossed my arms, still standing where the guards had left me...
"Okay? And what does that have to do with me, exactly?"
"That..." she said slowly, "Is where things get a bit, complicated."
Of course it was.
"When I initially watched the recording of you having to save my daughter; you also showed me feats of incredibly physical prowess; something that was practically considered a myth, genetically speaking of course. I think, you are the possessor of what might be rumored to be a very special type of constitution amongst human beings in general, that being the extreme body."
'The heck is she talking about?'
"The, extreme body?" What does she even mean... Actually, this could explain why I was so powerful in the first place.
I need to listen...
I watched her nod at me, "Yes."
"My ancestor Tsumugu eventually delved deeper into his studies concerning the sea, and it's people, and their genetic material. However, he had also studied the genome of regular humans, and back then during his studies in his off time... He's even claimed to have seen people with physical strength that would completely shatter the common sense of normal people in today's society."
I sighed. "I see..."
"Still... Unfortunately, it doesn't even end there. Rumor has it, you have people with even rarer constitutions than even that. That particular physique, is called the great body. The great body is a supposedly a constitution that is claimed to truly surpass common sense in all areas, even in comparison to the extreme body."
...
This, was definitely a bit of info to take in.
I could tell, this woman. She wasn't talking out of her ass... Apparently there were special constitutions in this reality. I had the feeling that I wasn't so special to begin with, at least ever since I fought that bastard...
Now? I've learned of three of them in a single sitting. Irrespective of all that, what's even the difference between the extreme body, and the great body anyway? Is it just one being better than the other?
I couldn't help but ask it, I was pretty invested in this now. So, I might as well go ahead and commit to it... "Since you know so much... what's so good about the great body then?"
"Well... think of it this way. If the Extreme Body represents the peak of human physical potential, then the Great Body represents the peak of all physical traits across the entire animal kingdom. To put it into better perspective—imagine a crocodile, or an alligator, creatures already known for their immense biting force. Now imagine if they had the capacity to train and enhance that innate strength. If an Extreme Body user trained their bite force and went up against that, they would lose."
'Hrmm...'
Now, I think I'm starting to get where this is going. "Then... Would the great body users also specialize in that area of bite force, unlike the extreme body users?"
"In a simple sense, yes. That is technically the case. They specialize in areas that other creatures would specialize in, and they also have much higher physical limits than even extreme body users... But, even then... Not all extreme body users, and great body users are created equal."
I nodded, kind of getting the run-down of what she was saying... But, I still had my questions.
"Then, the wall... why was it even built in the first place? You never told me that part." I asked.
"I know... It was made to protect the sea people from those who also know of the types of constitutions. Despite the extreme body and great body, they don't have the physical characteristics that sea people have by nature. The longer life span, decease resistance, etc... However, let's just say that what you or most don't don't know of, is that there are those who wish to use us. Even if it means killing people like us in the process... Killing, you."
'Hah...'
The weight of her words sank in, and sank in me fast.
'Use them...'
I stood there, suddenly feeling colder despite the stillness of the room. "You're saying… people like us have been, what..? Hunted? Including your people?"
She nodded, solemnly. "For centuries... The moment someone learns of the truth, they either swear to protect it—or, they try to exploit it. That's the cycle. And while the world outside forgot, or pretended to forget. There are still those who remember. Mad scientists, and private organizations… Most, if not all of them want to harvest us, Ayano... Piece, by piece. Others want to recreate us. Breed us; likely in a pursuit to make something superior. Even if others die in achieving it."
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I didn't know why, but I felt a headache surfacing...
This was just too much for me in one day. I save a girl, and now her mother tells me I'm in danger?
Haha... This is ironic, ain't it? "So that's why you wanted to see me... You wanted to tell me this to warn me, I'm guessing?"
"Yes... At least, that's half of it."
I shook my head.
"What's the other half?"
"As you may know, Chisaki is my daughter... We, have a bit of a... rough relationship; but I love her with all my heart, and soul. Which means, I have to be stern and strict with her, so that she can at least learn to protect herself..."
Not seeing where this is going, I pressed a little further. "And...?"
She sighed... "I also wanted her to live a normal life... Free from this position that I currently hold, but, life isn't so simple. We all have a duty to protect our people, our lineage. Just like our ancestors before us had. Unfortunately, because of our current predicament, it requires us to wed those who are qualified to continue the lineage..."
You have to be kidding me... No wonder those rumors when she came started popping up... they, were right.
"And, as a mother... I wanted her to fall in love with someone like any normal person should... But, it isn't safe in this world. I can't just continue to leave her to her own devices, and worry if one day she will never come back home to me... But, that's where you can come in..."
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~ Third Person Pov ~
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Sekai paced nervously near the stone path, her arms folded tightly across her chest as the ocean breeze stirred the fabric of her school jacket. Katsura stood a little further back, her back to the wall, eyes fixed on the forested path that led deeper into the compound...
Renji had crouched himself beside a rock near the brush, absentmindedly poking the dirt with a stick to pass time—but even he kept glancing up every few or so seconds, clearly restless, even if he was pretending not to be.
"Ayano's been gone for nearly an hour already..." Sekai mumbled, her voice was taut with concern. "Do you guys think he's okay?"
"He said he'd only be a minute." Katsura quickly replied, her tone calm but still laced with a little worry.
Seeing this, Renji stepped up. "He's probably just being a dumb-bun." he reassured them as best as he could, though his slight fidgeting was betrayed his words. "Still... He should've come back by now."
Then, the bushes behind them rustled.
Renji was the first to turn around, and Sekai nearly jumped at the sudden sound. A shape pushed through the foliage, slowly. The leaves parted way—and then, Ayano stepped out into the fading light of early evening, brushing twigs off his sleeve.
...
"Sorry guys..." he said simply, voice low but still calm. "I'm back."
Sekai blinked. "Wait—from the bushes? Where the hell were you?!"
Ayano didn't answer right away. He just glanced behind him, as if double-checking that no one had followed. Then he looked back at them...
"I was just exploring a bit, that's all... Though... did all of you guys wait here for me?"
Renji stood up from his crouch, brushing dirt from his hands. "Well yeah, what did you expect? You just dipped into the woods without saying anything."
Katsura gave a faint nod, her arms still folded. "We weren't about to leave without knowing where you went."
Sekai took a step closer, her eyes scanning his face carefully. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale... Have you seen something..."
Ayano hesitated, then shook his head with a slight, tired smile. "Nah. I Just got a little caught up looking around... Place is a whole lot bigger than it seems, that's for sure."
Renji scoffed. "You say that like you didn't just come out of some weird secret back exit... You certain you weren't being chased by some ghost maidens, or something?"
Ayano smirked faintly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "If I was, I'd have definitelybrought one back for you."
All the built up tension broke a little with that one line, though Sekai kept staring down at him, not buying it, with clear concern lingering in her eyes. "Well… whatever, ok. Let's, just not split up again, alright?"
He nodded, "Sure..." But, when he said that, both Katsura and Sekai instantly grabbed his arms, firmly.
"Ah, hey! What the!? What are you guys doing all of a sudden!?" He said.
He was practically being dragged towards the sea... Ayano looked towards his friend for help. Renji just blinked as he watched the girls tug Ayano forward, not bothering to help him as his feet slid awkwardly over the path. "Guess that's what you get for making people worry..." he muttered while looking away.
Ayano struggled lightly, glancing between Katsura and Sekai as they marched him toward the shore. "Okay, seriously, what the heck is this?! I said I was fine!"
"That's not the point!" Katsura said without even looking at him, her grip like a vice.
"You're not getting away that easy again." Sekai added, her voice sharper than usual. "You think just saying 'sure' is enough after vanishing into the nowhere like that?"
The ocean breeze picked up as they neared the coastline, that familiar scent of salt brushing against their skin. The crashing waves ahead shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, but Ayano barely noticed—too busy trying not to trip as he was half-dragged down a slope of packed sand and grass.
"Okay, okay! I get it!" he finally barked, yanking himself back a little.
"I get it, alright?! I won't go off alone again, so can both of you please let go of me already!?"
Both Sekai and Katsura exchanged a brief look towards each other, before they finally released him at the edge of the beach.
Ayano stumbled a step forward, brushing the sand off his sleeves. "Seriously… You guys are terrifying."
"Oh, really...?" Sekai, said, in a sinister tone.
She then glanced at Katsura with a dark smile, who also did the same, scaring him further. Before he could say anything, the both of them pushed him forwards with their body weight, falling with him...
Sploosh!~
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"And that's what you ge—" Sekai started smugly, but her words abruptly died in her throat.
Katsura, who had followed him in, and resurfaced moments later, froze mid-blink. She looked, just as stunned.
Ayano sat up, coughing seawater and brushing his drenched bangs from his face. "Great! Now I'm completely soaked…" he mumbled, wringing out his sleeves. But when he glanced at the two girls, he frowned.
"...G-Guys?"
They didn't even answer...
Sekai's cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, and her wide eyes were locked on him like she was looking at something she shouldn't be.
Katsura looked no different—lips slightly parted, with one hand unconsciously pressed to her chest...
Ayano tilted his head. "Uhh... W-What's with those faces?" When he looked behind them, he saw Renji pointing towards his chest...
Confused, he quickly looked down. And realized his already-soaked shirt had clung tightly to his chest, outlining every last cut of his torso.
"What? I thought there was something on me..."
As if in unison, both Sekai and Katsura shouted, "Ayano-Kun! You pervert!!!!!"
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END