Chapter 403 - lchiro's Rank
Next Morning.
From the narrow gaps of the curtains, a bright light slowly infiltrated the dimly lit room.
A somewhat simple-looking room became visible, with a wooden desk in front of the window and a large wardrobe on the other side of the room.
Posters of different games on the walls became visible, and lastly, a bed was somewhat clear.
Below the blanket, two naked figures were hugging each other, with both seemingly deep in sleep.
But soon, a black-haired youth's eyelids trembled, and soon his gray eyes became visible as he slowly woke up.
In front of him was sleepy Azura sleeping quietly, breathing in and out calmly.
Ichiro slowly moved the blanket out of the way and sat up in the bed.
He covered Azura's naked body with the blanket.
He stood up from the bed and went to the wardrobe to put his clothes on.
Once he was dressed in a tight t-shirt and black sweatpants, he left the room and went to the bathroom to do his morning tasks.
He brushed his teeth, washed his face, and left the bathroom afterwards.
He went back to his room and closed the curtains before leaving the room and leaving sleepy Azura alone.
Once he reached upstairs, he noticed two middle-aged figures currently in the kitchen.
Azumi was making food while Eiji was sitting at the dining table with a newspaper in his hands.
''Good morning.'' Azumi heard footsteps and said without looking who came.
Eiji raised his head and saw his son entering the kitchen.
''Good morning.'' Ichiro stopped in front of the fridge and opened it.
''Oh, Ichiro.'' Azumi stopped cooking and turned around to face her son, ''Where did Azura sleep? I don't think she slept with Alena in the guest room. We gave them the largest guest room, which has enough room for two.''
''With me.'' Ichiro nonchalantly replied and grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge.
''O-Oh.'' Azumi looked surprised at the fact and blushed slightly, ''A-Alright.''
Eiji smirked and nodded with understanding.
''Ahem.'' Azumi coughed and tried to shrug it off, ''W-What are you planning to do from now on?''
''Hmm, get stronger, I guess.'' Ichiro replied, ''I am not in a hurry, though.''
She nodded and asked, ''Have you renewed your Martial Arts Card?''
Ichiro shook his head and replied, ''Not yet.'' He put his hand in his pocket and took his wallet.
He grabbed the Martial Arts Card from the wallet and threw it on the table.
Once the card landed on the table, the picture of handsome youth and words became visible.
[Name: Kurogami Ichiro]
[Age: 15]
[Rank: Martial Leader]
[City: Irio]
[Country: Gensa]
''Are you planning to renew it?'' Azumi asked and wondered why her son hadn't done it yet.
Higher Martial Arts cards can give privileges, which are very important for some.
But, Ichiro hasn't used any of the Martial Leader privileges he could receive because he simply doesn't need them.
But, Martial Commander privileges are quite massive, especially in Irio.
''I guess,'' Ichiro replied and thought that might as well.
''What rank are you now?'' She asked calmly and already knew how awesome her son was, but soon, she realized that she underestimated him.
''Martial Commander.''
''PFFT!'' Eiji spat out the drink he was sipping, and Azumi almost dropped the spoon from her hand.
''Y-You are the same rank as Police Commissioner,'' Azumi said with utter shock.
Everyone in Irio knows about the sheer strength Police Commissioner has, and for a long time, he has been the strongest in Irio and was the one who enforces rules and subdues criminals.
But, he reached Martial Commander when he was 35 years old, and he was nearing 40, soon entering the Age of Deterioration.
''Mm.'' Ichiro nodded, but he believed that he could defeat Police Commissioner.
In Irio, he was the Peak existence.
Many would feel drunk by having so much power and, like Police Commissioner, decided to stay in Irio to enjoy leisure life and not go to the bigger City, where they are nothing but a speck of dust.
Many would ponder why would Ichiro leave Irio if he could live like a king.
But, Ichiro was sure that his growth would completely stop if he stayed in Irio for more extended periods of time.
He needs a challenge.
He needs to face against enemies that make the chances of dying high.
*Step*
Ichiro and Azumi turned their gazes towards the stairs, where a little girl appeared.
Ayako sleepily entered the kitchen with eyes barely staying open.
She put her tiny hand on the refrigerator's handle and tried to open it, but Ichiro was leaning on the door of the fridge while sipping milk from the bottle.
Ayako pouted and tried to open it but didn't manage to do so.
''Dummy… Move!'' Her cheeks inflated, and she tried to push Ichiro away, but to no avail.
Ichiro calmly kept sipping the milk while looking at his little sister, trying to open the fridge like a helpless bunny.
''Dummy, dummy, dummy!'' Ayako became frustrated and started hitting Ichiro's leg, and finally, he moved to the side and allowed her to open the fridge.
Azumi wryly smiled and felt satisfied after seeing the scene.
Many parents would feel annoyed if their children were fighting all the time, but seeing the scene made her remind that even though Ichiro had become someone that was unrecognizable, he was still their son.
''Dummy…'' Ayako whispered sleepily and grabbed a bottle of juice before sleepily walking towards the table and sitting down.
Ichiro closed the fridge's door and kept sipping the milk.
Soon, another one walked down the stairs.
Alena tied her hair into a ponytail while slowly walking down the stairs.
She was wearing loose clothing that consisted of a t-shirt and sweatpants.
Her previous exhausted face had somewhat disappeared, and she looked as lovely as before.
''Good morning.'' She said with a smile and finished tying her hair.
Everyone in the kitchen replied back.
''Is Azura still sleeping?'' She asked while seeing her daughter nowhere.
''Yup,'' Ichiro replied and took another long sip of the milk.
''Ah, I see.'' Alena nodded with understanding, ''Well, I will be going to the City to visit and perhaps find a place to rent.''
''Ah, you don't need to.'' Azumi said and finished cooking, ''You can live here; it's no problem.''
Alena looked conflicted and never really wanted to rely on anyone after her daughter tried desperately to heal her disease.
She didn't really want to rely on someone else ever again.
''Mother-in-law, you should listen to my mother.'' Ichiro stopped drinking and said, ''If you don't want to rely on someone… You can always pay rent.''
''Oh.'' Alena thought it was a good idea, ''Sounds good.''