Lord of Avalon : Lost in Another World

The air around them became eerily quiet.

The sounds of birds and rustling leaves had vanished, leaving only the soft lapping of water against the shore. Ardi held his omniblade, but an uneasy feeling settled over him.

Then—

Rustle.

A small disturbance in the water.

In an instant, the shinobi moved, forming a protective line around Ardi, Yui, and the two fishermen.

Ardi kept his voice calm. "Yui. Scan the area."

Still perched on his shoulder, Yui closed her eyes and activated the scanning function of his Nexus Garb. A soft pulse of mana spread outward, detecting movement.

A moment later, she opened her eyes. "Three large heat signatures. Underwater."

Ardi followed her gaze toward the center of the river.

Bubbles started rising.

A faint ripple spread outward.

Then—

Three figures broke through the surface.

Three Kappa—humanoid river spirits with reptilian features and bowl-shaped depressions on their heads—rose from the depths.

The one in the center was older, its scaly skin marked with ancient patterns. The two younger ones stood beside him, watchful but not aggressive.

Before anyone could react, the elder Kappa bowed slightly and raised a webbed hand in greeting.

"Greetings, young Lord of Minori," he spoke in a deep but refined voice. "I am Kawamitsu, guardian of these waters. We have been watching you."

Ardi didn't sense hostility, but the idea of being watched unsettled him.

Beside him, Ren tensed. "My Lord, should we—"

Ardi raised a hand, signaling him to wait.

He met the Kappa's gaze. "Watching me? That sounds a little ominous."

Kawamitsu let out a deep chuckle, the water in his head-dish rippling slightly.

"Do not misunderstand, young Lord. We are not spies, but caretakers of balance. We have seen many rulers—some who not respect the nature, poisoning the rivers and destroying life cycle. But your people…" Kawamitsu gestured to the village. "They take only what is needed. They respect the land. That is… unusual."

Ardi crossed his arms. "So, you've been watching just to see if we'd mess up?"

Kawamitsu smiled. "Caution is wisdom, young Lord."

Yui shrugged beside him, as if saying, You just attract all kinds of attention.

Kawamitsu's tone turned serious.

"We come with an offer."

Ardi raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

The elder Kappa's yellow eyes gleamed under the afternoon sun.

"We are willing to join your village—to lend our strength, our knowledge of the rivers, and our protection."

Ardi narrowed his eyes. "And what's the catch?"

Kawamitsu's expression remained calm. "Two conditions."

First, you must prove that you can protect us. We do not serve those who cannot defend their own. If you fail to protect this land and its balance, our trust in you will be broken.

Second, you must master the power within you.

At this, Ardi stiffened slightly.

"The energy inside you…" Kawamitsu continued, studying him closely. "It is not just human. There is something else—something darker. More primal."

He traced the air with his fingers, forming a faint wave of mana.

"You do not belong solely to the race of Hyuma," he said. "There is something… related to the Ancinet demons on your body, young lord."

Silence followed his words.

Ardi exhaled slowly, immediately understanding what the Kappa meant.

Void Energy.

Even though he had barely begun to control it, the Kappa had sensed it right away.

For a moment, he considered denying it—but that would be pointless.

"…I see," Ardi said, meeting Kawamitsu's gaze. "You want me to control my power—so I don't become a danger to you."

Kawamitsu nodded. "Exactly. An uncontrolled force is more dangerous than an enemy. If you wish for our allegiance, we must be certain you will never lose control."

Ardi thought for a moment, then gave a firm nod. "Fine. I accept your terms."

Kawamitsu smiled. "Then we shall watch and wait. When you are ready, we will come."

With that, the elder Kappa stepped back toward the river, the other two following.

Just before he submerged, Kawamitsu left Ardi with one last warning.

"Your people need not fear us. We do not harm without reason. But if the balance is ever disturbed… we will act."

Ardi nodded. "Understood."

Kawamitsu gave him one final, approving glance—then, with a ripple of water, they vanished beneath the surface.

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Then—

"Well…" Yui stretched her arms with an exaggerated sigh. "That was intense."

Ardi chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… Seems like I keep attracting all sorts of attention."

Yui smirked. "Anata, at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if a dragon showed up next week demanding to talk to you."

Ardi groaned. "Please don't jinx it."

Noboru and Tomo, who had been completely silent, finally let out long sighs.

"My Lord…" Noboru hesitated. "How… many more creatures are going to show up like this?"

Ardi shrugged. "At this rate? Probably a lot."

Tomo shook his head. "Minori Village sure is turning into something special…"

Ardi chuckled, looking at the gentle ripples in the water.

Kappa, huh?

A new challenge had just appeared.

And Ardi never backed down from a challenge.

After tidying up their fishing gear, Ardi and his group began their journey back toward Minori Village.

Ardi decided to part ways with Tomo and Noboru, sending two shinobi to escort them safely home. Meanwhile, Ren, Shiro, and Miyu remained by his side.

The golden afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the vast grasslands as Ardi and Yui continued their exploration.

With Ren, Shiro, and Miyu shadowing them from a distance, Ardi and Yui walked leisurely through the plains, enjoying the fresh air and open sky.

"Anata, don't you think it's peaceful here?" Yui mused, her silver hair swaying in the breeze as she hovered just above Ardi's shoulder in her fairy form.

Ardi nodded, scanning the rolling fields. "Yeah. It's a good place. The air is fresh, the land is fertile… and look." He pointed at a small group of rabbits hopping in the distance, their silvery fur glistening under the sunlight.

Yui's eyes sparkled. "Moon Rabbits! I didn't think they'd be this close to the village."

Ardi smirked. "I guess even magical creatures enjoy a nice picnic spot."

Yui giggled, landing softly on his shoulder. "Speaking of which, did you bring a carrot for them?"

Ardi chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't exactly pack for feeding rabbits today."

"They're fast," he observed as he watched them bound effortlessly across the terrain. "Way faster than normal rabbits."

Yui nodded. "Of course! They live off mana-rich plants, so they're naturally more agile."

As they walked, Ardi noticed an unusual patch of grass. Its deep green blades swayed differently from the rest of the field.

That looks… interesting.

He activated Appraisal, and a familiar panel materialized before his eyes.

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[Appraisal Panel Result]

Name: Susanoo Weeds

Rarity: Uncommon

Type: Tough Grass

Description: A hardy plant known for its incredible durability. Often used by hunters and craftsmen to weave strong ropes and construct sturdy traps.

Benefits: High tensile strength, ideal for durable rope production. Resistant to moisture and decay, lasting longer than regular fibers. Can be woven into reinforced netting or trap mechanisms.

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Ardi grinned, bending down to pluck a handful of the weeds.

"This could be useful for the villagers," he mused, twirling a blade of grass between his fingers. "We can use it for rope-making and maybe even net traps."

Yui nodded approvingly. "Good thinking, Anata. It's way better than just stuffing random plants into your inventory."

Ardi rolled his eyes, stuffing the Susanoo Weeds into his inventory. "Hey, experimentation is part of discovery."

Yui smirked, resting her chin on her tiny hands. "Experimentation, huh? Sounds more like your habit of hoarding random junk to me."

Ardi gave her an exaggeratedly offended look. "I prefer the term 'resourceful.'"

She burst into laughter, her wings fluttering. "Sure, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night."

Hours passed as they continued their exploration, collecting more plant samples and observing the local wildlife.

When the sun reached its peak, they decided to rest at the edge of the forest, where the trees provided shade.

Ardi pulled out a bento box, carefully wrapped in cloth—one of Megumi's meals.

He unwrapped it, revealing a beautifully arranged meal: perfectly cooked rice, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, and tamagoyaki.

Yui's eyes sparkled. "Megumi really outdid herself this time!"

Ardi chuckled, picking up his chopsticks. "Yeah. I feel like she's been spoiling me more ever since she moved into the manor."

Yui grinned mischievously. "Maybe she's trying to win your heart?"

Ardi paused mid-bite. "Hah?"

Yui giggled. "Her food is amazing. Maybe she's hoping you'll fall in love with her cooking first~."

Ardi gave her a flat stare, chewing slowly. "...Is this another one of your pranks, or do you actually think that?"

She smirked. "Who knows?"

Before Ardi could respond, his ears twitched.

A faint sound echoed through the trees.

A weak, pitiful whimper.

Yui's playful demeanor vanished in an instant. "Ardi… did you hear that?"

Ardi nodded, already setting his bento aside. "It's close."

Without hesitation, they stood up, scanning the treeline.

Another whimper, clearer this time. A sound of pain.

Ardi exchanged a glance with Ren, who nodded. "We'll cover you, My Lord."

Ardi and Yui quickly moved toward the source of the sound, pushing past thick foliage and gnarled tree roots.

And then—

They saw it.

Big silver wolf lay collapsed in a small clearing, trembling with exhaustion. A thick branch from a fallen tree pinned her back. She struggled to breathe, each gasp a fight against the crushing pressure.

Beside her, six tiny wolf pups huddled close to their mother, their small whimpers filling the air. Their tiny bodies pressed against her for warmth.

Ardi's eyes darkened. "She's starving…"

Yui floated closer, concern etched on her delicate features. "And so are her pups."

Ardi crouched slowly, careful not to startle the weakened mother. "Hey there… you're in bad shape, huh?"

The wolf's ears twitched weakly, but her eyes barely opened.

Yui placed a gentle hand on Ardi's shoulder. "What should we do?"

Ardi sighed deeply, looking at the trembling pups.

He already knew the answer.

"We're helping them," he said firmly.

Yui smiled softly, squeezing his shoulder. "Of course."

Ren and the other shinobi arrived silently, their expressions unreadable.

Shiro, normally stoic, glanced at the struggling wolf family. "...My Lord. Are you planning to take them back to the village?"

Ardi nodded. "They won't survive out here much longer."

Miyu, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Then we should act fast. They need food, and we need to gain the mother's trust first."

Ardi reached into his pouch, pulling out a grilled fish from Megumi's bento. He placed it gently on the ground within the mother wolf's reach.

The wolf's nose twitched faintly, and after a moment, she weakly reached forward, taking the fish into her mouth.

"...Good girl," Ardi murmured, watching as she slowly chewed.

Yui's eyes softened. "She's not afraid of you."

Ardi sighed in relief, his gaze moving to the hungry pups. He said. "Let's get them somewhere safe."