After a brief moment of grief and respite, a new path had opened for Tuziku.
Faced with the difficult responsibilities of a Captain and protecting the lives of his comrades, Tuziku accepted his role, determined to carry out his new goal.
"Kutcher!"
"Prīora...!"
They turned toward Tuziku.
"I'm fully prepared to shoulder the burden of being Captain!"
Tuziku's expression was filled with courage and determination.
...
Suddenly—
Juziō burst out laughing.
"That's it, Tuziku! That's exactly how a Captain should look!"
He raised his thumb in approval.
"Thank you... for everything, Juziō," Tuziku said gratefully.
"I'm sorry about how all of this turned out... Juziō... Mika..." Tuziku lowered his head.
"It's alright, kiddo. Mika and I will be fine," Juziō replied.
"Maybe it's you young folks who'll bring about a change to this world someday..."
He grinned proudly.
Mika stepped forward.
"Prīora, remember to take care of yourself, and look out for your comrades!"
"I will, big sis!" Prīora replied boldly.
Mika smiled proudly and nodded.
"...Kutcher, even though you're following Tuziku now, never forget your own goal."
"Of course I won't, Mika!" he replied.
Mika nodded in approval.
"And lastly... Tuziku."
Her expression hardened.
"I know you vowed to never use your Abyssal ability again..."
"But..."
"If the day ever comes when you need to use it again..."
"You'd better have mastered complete control over it!"
Tuziku gazed at the palms of his hands.
Sailou...
He clenched his fists.
"...I swear... I will become strong enough to protect my comrades without using this power!"
He looked toward Mika, his expression filled with courage and confidence.
...
"That's great to hear, Tuziku," Juzio said from behind Mika.
"However..."
"Don't just say it..."
"Do it."
Tuziku nodded firmly.
...
"Guys... take care of yourselves," Mika said.
"And look out for each other!" Juziō added.
Juzio and Mika waved as the trio began walking away.
At last, Tuziku, Kutcher and Prīora departed the ship.
As Juzio watched them disappear into the distance, he thought to himself—
Captain...
Is this what you wanted to happen...?
And thus, the trio set out on their journey.
But first—
Tuziku, who had abandoned his Abyssal ability, now had to seek another source of strength if he wished to protect his crew from the dangers that lay ahead.
And so, they began their journey toward the Hakashi Village on foot.
"Prīora, where exactly is your village located?" Tuziku asked.
"...It's in the Land of Shiriku," she replied.
Tuziku looked at her in confusion.
"...The Land of Shiriku...?"
Prīora stopped walking and stared at him.
"Don't tell me..."
"You don't know the Land of Shiriku?!"
"I don't..." Tuziku admitted.
She blinked.
"Do you even know which land we're in right now?"
...
Tuziku remained silent.
Prīora sighed.
"You can't be serious..."
"You're definitely not boosting my confidence in you at all, Tuziku," Kutcher muttered.
Prīora clapped her hands together.
"Well, it can't be helped. He's still relatively new to all of this."
"I'll explain as we walk."
"Listen up, Tuziku."
She raised a finger.
"The Land of Hinkon is divided into four major regions."
"First, the land we're currently in is called the Land of Daīfugi. It's located on the western side of Hinkon."
"Daī...fugi..." Tuziku repeated quietly.
"Next is the eastern land, Kariyu."
"Then the northern land..."
"...Rumpus."
The moment Tuziku heard the name—
Rumpus...?
Where have I heard that before...?
...
That's right!
It's my homeland!
"And lastly..."
"My homeland—and our current destination..."
"The southern land, Shiriku."
"Each land also has its own unique terrain."
"Did you get all of that, Tuziku?" Prīora asked.
Tuziku slowly lifted his head.
"...The Land of Rumpus..."
"That's my homeland."
Prīora gasped.
"So that's where you're from!"
"I guess that kind of makes us neighbours," she chuckled.
"Oh, that reminds me!"
"Kutcher, which land are you from?"
"Hmph."
He simply grunted.
"Geez!"
"This is exactly why you and I don't get along, Kutcher!" Prīora shouted.
"That's perfectly fine by me," he replied coldly.
Kutcher walked several steps ahead before turning back toward them.
"Listen up, you two."
...
"We've officially formed our very own crew."
"And as much as it pains me to admit it..."
"Tuziku..."
"You're our Captain."
He clenched his teeth.
"So far it's only the three of us."
"So let me ask you something."
"What exactly is your plan moving forward?"
...
Tuziku remained silent.
"You boldly claimed you're going to change the lives of people like us."
"But how exactly do you plan on doing that?!"
Kutcher stepped closer.
"Kutcher, stop—" Prīora interrupted.
"Stay out of this, Prīora!" Tuziku said.
"Tch."
Kutcher clicked his tongue.
"...First, I'm going to travel to Prīora's village and learn the Hakashi Technique."
"After that..."
"We'll begin searching for more people to join our crew."
"And then what?!" Kutcher snapped.
"How do you intend to change the very nature of our world?!"
...
"It's just as I thought."
"You don't have the answer."
Kutcher rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Tuziku..."
"This isn't some game we're playing."
"...There's only one place where people like us can even hope of accomplishing what you're aiming for."
"The place every Underdog dreams of reaching..."
"The place countless Underdogs risk their lives trying to find..."
He slowly drew his sword and raised it toward the sky.
"...NEKŌBASHI."
His expression hardened.
"More commonly known as..."
"...THE UNDERWORLD!!"
The wind blew across the open path.
Tuziku's eyes widened.
His jaw slowly dropped.
"The... Underworld?" he whispered.
Kutcher lowered his sword before returning it to its sheath.
"For the Underdogs strong enough to survive..."
"For those willing to stand against the Sovereign Apex..."
"And for those brave enough to challenge FADA..."
"It's a land overflowing with riches..."
"...Freedom..."
"...And opportunities."
"But only for the strong."
Tuziku stared in complete amazement.
A place like that actually exists...?
Prīora stepped forward.
"Kutcher..."
"You forgot to tell him the most important part."
She looked toward Tuziku.
"There's more to it."
"Only the strongest among all Underdogs ever reach the Underworld."
"And among those powerful Underdogs..."
"There are five individuals who each rule over a section of Nekōbashi."
"They keep the rest of the Underworld in check."
She folded her arms.
"They're called..."
"...the UNDERLORDS."
"They're essentially the rulers of Nekōbashi."
Prīora smiled confidently.
...
"I see..."
Tuziku's expression grew serious.
"After hearing all of that..."
"The Underworld isn't simply a place where Underdogs escape to..."
"It's a world where only the strongest Underdogs can survive."
He slowly lifted his head toward the endless blue sky.
This...
This is the final piece my journey has been missing.
Right now...
I don't have the slightest right to dream about reaching the Underworld.
But...
A grin spread across Tuziku's face.
"...After I've mastered the Hakashi Technique..."
"...And after we've finished forming our crew..."
He looked ahead with burning determination.
"...We're heading straight for the UNDERWORLD!!"
!!!
CHAPTER 32 END