I was soon standing outside a majestic old dojo.
The air around the area felt peaceful, yet charged.
Like a powder keg that could blow at any time.
I approached the large doors and knocked.
There wasn’t really a response, but I could hear something inside that vaguely sounded like someone saying, “Come in.” Well.
It was advertised.
I hoped the owner didn’t get mad.
I began to push the door open.
It barely budged.
Jesus, this was heavy!
Why would a door be so heavy?
Was it a test?
[Sensing multiple high-level humans in the area.] [They show no hostility, but caution is advised.] Lovely.
The dojo I chose by chance was apparently full of human natural disasters.
CREAKKK.
SCRAPEEEE.
The door opened just enough for me to slip inside.
— Inside, the dojo was impressive.
Beautiful, too.
There was a large field meant for practicing martial arts, though calling it a field felt strange when it was inside a building.
A middle-aged man was drinking sake with a furrowed brow while looking directly at me.
Let’s ignore that.
He looked annoyed.
To my right, a man was carving a Buddha statue.
Very well done.
I couldn’t help but comment.
“You managed to carve the clothing so it looks beautifully flowing.” “Thank you, young man,” the carving artist said without looking away from his work.
Suddenly, a shuriken cut through the air and severed the Buddha statue’s head.
A small Chinese man hopped away from the attack.
“Oh?
There is a baby dragon here?!” the short man said before vanishing.
Before I knew it, he was next to me, patting me down and holding my wallet.
“Bad.” A deadpan voice similar to Koneko’s rang out.
A beautiful young woman stepped out of the living quarters, her black hair tied in a ponytail.
She wore a short kimono and glared at the smaller man, who was currently looking through my wallet.
“Give me your camera, Ma Kensei,” she demanded.
I say demanded, but her face hardly changed.
Her aura, however, certainly did.
These people were all scary.
Especially the nice sculptor, who had been silently glaring at the other two the entire time.
I wanted to go home.
I think.
Suddenly, a gentle yet powerful force tapped my shoulder.
“You have good balance, poor habits, no killing intent, and something sleeping in your soul.” A kind, elderly voice rang out.
I blinked rapidly and jerked my head toward the man.
When did he get here?!
[Host, be careful.
This man is in the ranks of combat deities.] Oh great.
A living god.
“Why are you here, little dragon?” the elder asked kindly, as he watched the others in the room start fighting with each other.
It was…
Amazing.
“I’m not a dragon,” I clarified.
“Though I have deep ties with them.” The elder grunted in acknowledgment and motioned for me to follow him.
He seemed to be the boss here.
And even I could tell he was the strongest person in the room.
We sat beneath a large bonsai tree.
I honestly didn’t even know they could get this large.
“It’s almost one thousand years old,” the elder said proudly when he noticed me looking at the tree.
“One thousand years…” The elder chuckled.
“It’s not as long as you may think.” ?!
Before I could ask, the man turned to me.
His aura swelled, creating a heavy, formless pressure in the area around us.
It was heavy.
But gentle.
He had complete control over this pressure.
A single thought from him would crush me.
“You are lost, little one,” he said.
“What is it you seek within our walls?
Why do you wish to cultivate more power?” My breath hitched.
“I can see the Mana Core in your chest.” Oh.
That was bad.
“Why are you not being taught by the dragon brood?
Or your family?
Your current display has barely been acceptable for a seventeen-year-old dragon-blessed child.” “I…
don’t have a family,” I muttered.
It should have hurt more than it did, but honestly, I just felt tired.
I wished I had a family to fall back on.
I could vaguely feel the baby dragon in my soul awkwardly trying to console me.
What a cutie.
“I seek power, not to dominate,” I said, looking him in the eyes.
“But to survive.” The elder studied me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“That is enough.” The pressure around us eased.
“You said you have no family?” “No, sir.
I’ve been alone as long as I can remember.” I winced slightly.
For a moment, I vaguely remembered a blonde woman who would appear at the church near my home occasionally.
I thought she was a Sister there.
She would make me food, I think.
The elder didn’t say anything, but he seemed to notice my discomfort.
“Would you like to see the dojo?” he asked peacefully.
“If you would like to become a student, we can talk about that as well.” He turned his head.
“My granddaughter will show you around.” His voice carried through the dojo.
“Miu!” —