Chapter 116 - Efficiency

"Was he a good kid?"

Asked the Serpent Summoner.

Yin replied with a simple nod while keeping his head down.

The depressing aura of the whole floor was definitely palpable.

"I see." Gavin opened up a book right after pulling out a chair to sit next to Yin's bed, as he was the only one out of them who was awake.

"How was Zach's first conquest, Yin?"

He wanted to know in order to gauge the rookie.

"Zach held his own and carried himself well out there. He fought his heart out and left it all on the battlefield. If a single person in our five man squad had been flimsy or unprepared, we would have all been dead by now."

Yin said while wiping away stray tears dripping down his face.

"I see that you have given Zach some high praise, given how rare that is for you two, I would assume you worked well together out there."

The C Rank Slayer nodded.

"What about you and your brother, Gavin?"

Yin asked.

"The two of us are going to proceed as scheduled, we will depart early morning and try to find potential locations for hives-"

Gavin slipped.

"H-Hives?"

Yin was curious about what Gavin was meant to say.

The Serpent Summoner sighed.

"Look, I am not supposed to tell and disclose this information as of now, but since I have already mentioned it, I might as well tell you."

He said with a sigh.

Gavin pulled his chair closer to Yin and leaned in closer himself.

He then looked around and lowered his voice.

Yin gulped.

"Angels are born from hives."

"L-Like bee hives?"

Gavin cleared his throat.

"Yes, yes, Yin. Like bee hives. And the only way to destroy these breeding hives crawling with Angels is to burn them down."

Yin was overcome with shock.

"I-Is this why you and the Commander were called away for two weeks last time?"

He asked.

"Yes. We were assembled and were led by the Inferno Garden's leader, the SS Rank Fire Slayer Ignis Silva, also ranked number three on the individual Slayer rankings. He's sort of an ass, to be quite honest."

Gavin replied while handing a slight insult to Ignis who just happened to come by earlier.

"Although our execution was messy, it was a success."

"The Wingless Angels that you fought was from that mission?"

"Precisely, Yin."

Yin could not help but feel worried for his superior.

Gavin was like the calm and gentle older brother in the group, he was always calm and acted in the best interest of the Six Blades and every member.

"Be careful, Gavin."

"I will. Do not worry too much, my brother is going with me, and even though he's a tad bit annoying, his strength is undeniable."

"The top one Slayer of the entire Corps, huh?"

Yin smiled at the thought of him earning that spot.

If only his life was not timed by the sand specs inside an hourglass.

Perhaps this would have been what Yin wanted to become.

"Hey, are you alright? I can get you some food if you want to eat anything."

Yin shook his head.

"I am fine, Gavin. I was just thinking about things."

Yin Sohaya has already survived two conquests, two more to go until he rises up in the ranks and gets a B ranking, but can he really do it in time to participate in the Slayer tournament?

This was going to be a massive undertaking which required a hundred percent of the young boy's effort.

After all, he could not make a difference just being stuck in the lower ranks, he had to rise up and take on more missions, more missions meant more chances of combating Angels and defeating them, if it did not end in his own.

And now that Yin knew where the Angels came from, he could specifically request to be deployed in conquests built on burning these hives just as Gavin said.

"Gavin, if I rise up in the ranks, I will have more say in what type of missions I can be able to take, right?"

"That should be the case, yes. Why the sudden urge to rise up in the ranks, Yin? Do you have a specific goal in mind?"

"N-No, sir. I just wanted to know more about it." Yin's own response had him feeling weak and soft, so he added onto it and changed it. "That was a lie."

Gavin's head turned to stare at Yin with a surprised expression.

"A lie?"

The Serpent Summoner was confused.

"I want to be in the missions wherein Slayers are sent to eviscerate these hives in flames, Gavin. I wish to eradicate this world of Angels as soon as possible!"

Yin replied back with a worked up tone.

"You seem to be rushing things. Keep in mind that you do not become strong by taking hundreds of missions in the least amount of time, you become stronger by conditioning and training yourself and your body. Stop being hasty, Yin."

The Serpent Summoner responded back.

"I know that…I just…"

Artorias opened the door without knocking.

"Sorry, I overheard the white haired brat yelling from across the hallway."

He said.

"S-Sorry about that."

Yin apologized.

"Judging by the fact that you mentioned the hives, it seems Gavin has already told you about it, then. Why do you think you should be in the elite squads tasked with hunting these hives down?"

Yin clenched his jaw.

"Is it because you think you are far stronger and better than the current S Rank Slayers in the Corps that you deserve a spot over them?"

He added while munching on a meatloaf.

"Or, could it be that you are rushing things because of some other reason…"

Yin was now the one who was disturbed.

"D-Does he know about the 'one year' conundrum I am currently in?"

Yin asked himself.

"I mean you are not dying soon, aren't you?"

"N-No, sir, I am not."

The Basilisk Slayer placed his hand on Yin's shoulder.

"Good, then do not rush things, plenty of fools have showed that they have the necessary skills and abilities to fight, but they lack the proper mental cohesion to actually make a difference. Keep in mind that there is a clear distinction between rushing things and doing them as fast as possible in the most efficient way possible."

The Basilisk Slayer confidently claimed.

"Can you keep your voice down, Art? You do realize there are still unconscious people resting all around you, right?"

Gavin said as he shook his head.

"Oops. My bad, Gavin. You want half of my meatloaf?"

He asked.

"No thanks."

His brother politely declined.

Artorias Khalil's attention quickly shifted back to Yin Sohaya.

"At the mentality you are currently going with, that is going to end up biting you in the back instead, kid."

Yin bit his lower lip, he wanted to let them know about his limited time in this plane of existence, but it would raise far too many questions.

"If only you guys knew…"

Yin thought to himself.

"Here. Eat."

The Basilisk Slayer cut the meat loaf in half and handed the other part to Yin.

Yin accepted the meatloaf and ate it despite him having no appetite as of now.

He thought that if he were to have declined, then the Basilisk Slayer would stuff the meat loaf right in his face and forcefully feed him, judging by how his interactions with the person have gone recently.

"It is good, isn't it?"

He asked.

Yin nodded while his face was still full of it.

"I bought it from a newly opened bakery downstairs, you guys should totally check it out!"

This guy was totally different from Gavin.

His outgoing personality was the exact opposite of how the Serpent Summoner carried himself in public.

This was very surreal for Yin.

"I have a question, sir Artorias Khalil."

Yin said as he raised his hand.

"Woah there, too long, kid. Just call me Art for short."

"A-Alright then, sir Art. What do I have to do to become stronger as a Slayer in the most efficient way and least amount of time as possible, just like you said earlier."

The Basilisk Slayer leaned against the open window, his back turned towards the night skies above as the cold air came rushing in brought upon by a gust.

"There are basically two ways you can go about it."

Yin was ready to take mental notes of whatever this person said, after all, he did not become top one for no reason.

"One!" Art said as he raised his finger in front of Yin.

"Seriously, keep your voice do-"

Gavin attempted to discipline his brother, but he was immediately cut off.

"You are going to have to be a prodigy."

Yin scratched the back of his head.

"And it really does not seem like you are one, no offense, Yin."

"It is alright sir, none taken…"

Yin replied with a sad tone, his spirit was crushed but he knew it was the truth.