A year has passed.
That was how long I'd been living in what I could only describe as a very strange mix of a boot camp, a circus rehearsal, and a midlife crisis.
Cards flying everywhere.
Water barriers exploding in my face.
Wind dashes sending me headfirst into walls.
And Helior watching it all with the calm disappointment of a man who'd seen too much and expected nothing.
I was standing in the training hall, panting, twelve cards hovering shakily in front of me like drunk butterflies.
"Your control is stable," Helior said. "Your stamina is not."
"I feel personally attacked," I muttered, letting the cards fall.
They clattered to the floor like overpriced poker chips.
He tapped his cane against the ground once.
"You need real combat experience."
My spine straightened.
"…Are you finally letting me fight monsters?"
"No."
My spine bent again.
"We'll go on a picnic."
"…I'm sorry?"
"A family picnic. In the forest."
I stared at him.
"Is this one of those ancient warrior metaphors where someone almost dies?"
"No."
"Are you trying to emotionally prepare me for death?"
"No."
"Then why does this feel like a trap?"
He turned and walked away.
"You'll understand and don't you forget tomorrow is joshua birthday."
The next morning, the Morvain estate looked like we were about to film a wholesome commercial.
My mother had packed enough food to survive three apocalypses.
David was checking something on his phone like a dad about to embarrass his son in public.
Joshua was vibrating with excitement, running in circles with a wooden sword.
And me?
I was standing there in a tracksuit, holding my deck of black-and-gold cards, wondering if this was how my isekai arc ended.
David cleared his throat.
"Julien."
He held out a small box.
I opened it.
Inside was an analog wristwatch.
Black frame.
Blue markings.
Minimalist design.
"…It's cool," I said honestly.
"Try pressing the crown."
I did.
Click.
The watch face shimmered.
And a black handle with blue wave-like patterns slid out of thin air into my palm.
"…Oh."
"…OH."
Dual-handed kama.
Sleek. Balanced. Curved blades with faint azure veins pulsing under the metal.
I looked up slowly.
"…Dad."
He smiled awkwardly.
"You kept stealing kitchen knives to practice."
"…That was ONE TIME."
"And you cut a watermelon in half midair."
"…It deserved it."
He rubbed his neck.
"It's spatially stored inside the watch. Linked only to your mana signature."
I stared at the weapon.
Then at him.
Then back at the weapon.
"…This is the coolest thing anyone has ever given me."
Joshua gasped.
"Brother got a ninja weapon?!"
Helior snorted.
"It's a farmer's tool and it's kind a late but Happy birthday joshua."
I pointed at him.
"Do not ruin this for me."
We reached the forest by noon.
Sunlight filtered through tall trees.
The air smelled like pine and wet earth.
Birds chirped.
This was… nice.
Which immediately made me suspicious.
We laid out blankets near a clearing.
Maria started unpacking food like she was summoning snacks from another dimension.
Joshua ran off to chase butterflies.
Helior tossed me a wooden training kama.
"Show me."
I sighed.
Then moved.
Wind under my feet.
A quick dash.
Cards flicking into formation behind me.
Slash.
Spin.
Block.
Barrier.
Water vapor condensed into a thin shimmering layer that cracked under the impact of my own blade.
Helior nodded.
"Better."
"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Don't get used to it."
We trained for nearly an hour.
Then I heard it.
Silence.
No rustling.
No childish yelling.
No Joshua noises.
I froze.
"…Joshua?"
No answer.
I lowered my kama.
"…Joshua?"
My stomach dropped.
I turned toward the deeper forest.
'Don't panic. Don't activate Happy Face. Be normal. Be a responsible older brother.'
I started walking.
Then jogging.
Then running.
"Joshua!"
Branches scraped my arms.
My cards hovered nervously around me.
Then—
I saw a small shoe.
Half-buried in dirt.
"…Nope. Nope. Don't like that."
I rushed forward.
And that's when I heard it.
A low growl.