Chapter 164 - Relief

The morning after, Niflheim had received the grim news of the SSS Rank Basilisk Slayer's passing. Although he was not the most popular and sociable of all Slayers, his loss was still felt across the country. Young aspiring children who wanted to become the top one Ranked Slayers wept their eyes out as some of the netizens did as well. "Who is going to protect us now?!" They cried out. Most were hypocrites who simply denied the fact that Artorias Khalil was doing everything he could while he was still alive.

Green streamers bearing the insignia of the Khalil family were decorated on the Grand Castle's walls. The rain poured hard and drenched everything in the country, it was Gavin and Art's mother who wept the hardest. As the entirety of the Six Blades were inside the manor of the Khalils, Gavin personally asked them to accompany him at their residence so that his mother would be able to meet the Six Blades young core trio, but also because he did not want her to be alone.

Yin asked the Serpent Summoner where the training room was, or if there was somewhere open where they could practice in. Gavin led them towards a gigantic room with all sorts of weapons and armor. "This is where you can train, though I think you all should rest up and take everything in for a moment, specially you, Yin." Gavin said with a concerned tone. "Nah, that is fine, thanks, Gavin." Yin responded back with a heartfelt thank you. Together with Suna, Zachary, and Oliver, they were going to train here for a while. "So, Yin, you saw how people treated the Basilisk Slayer when he was still alive, right? Despite being the top one Ranked Slayer, not everybody saw him as a hero, in fact, they were doubting whether he was actually doing everything he could at his position. Do you still want to be a 'hero' after witnessing how some of them are being treated?" Zachary asked as he wanted to know what it was that Yin wanted to do next.

"I realized something after our fated battle against those many Seraphims back then. I do not need to be the rank one Slayer in the whole Corps to be a hero. If Fen Kaori was not there, I am pretty sure the Water Seraphim would have overpowered me. Sometimes, doing everything by yourself is not a sign of being independent, it can also be a detriment. With what power and strength that I have right now, I will still aid in eradicating these Angels from the face of the world." Yin Sohaya said with such sureness. His eyes glinted with determination and poise that had never been there before.

Suna placed both of her hands on their shoulders, as if to assure them that they are going to do it together in the end. "Less talking, more training, guys. Heh." She said with a chuckle, but she noticed that both of them were still down because of the Basilisk Slayer's demise. Even though they have only known him for a short amount of time, but he was as genuine as a person could ever be. "Artorias would not have wanted us to grieve his death this much. Come on, let us train!" Suna was tearing up but she desperately held it back in. So were Yin and Zach. 

"Thank you so much for being there for Gavin as always, Luken." The Khalil family's matriarch, Gavin's mother held his hand as she said it. She has known Luken ever since they were kids as the Commander and the Serpent Summoner were both like two peas stuck in a pod back then, not a whole lot has changed in the present. They talked for a bit as the three of them waited for dinner to be served. In the table, Yin and the others said the story of when Artorias treated them to eat outside after a mission, and how delicious the food was. She smiled as she heard her son showing that side of his to a bunch of young Slayers. After eating, they were introduced to where they would sleep. Suna was offered a room of her own which she would stay in but she politely declined the offer, saying that it would be a hassle for them to prepare another room just for her and that she would be fine staying with the others.

Meanwhile Gavin went to his own room in the house and slept as he cried one more time for the death of his brother and everything surrounding that all around shitty situation. Luken was by the window once again, he was not his usual humorous self, but it was understandable given what just happened. He walked towards where Yin and the others were, they were playing cards together with Oliver who actually did not know what he was doing, he just felt happy to be included. "Yin, a moment?" Luken asked the white haired Slayer. "S-Sure, Commander…" Yin complied and went to the spot where Luken was smoking earlier. "What was that about?" Suna asked Zachary. "I have no clue at all. But the Commander seemed pretty serious." He said.

Luken leaned by the window and asked Yin to sit on a chair. With his back turned towards him, Luken turned around and faced Yin. "The System." He uttered out. Yin was visibly uneasy. "W-What the hell?" Yin said to himself as he was in complete shock. "You have the System as its holder right now, correct?" The Commander's question now made it clear to Yin Sohaya, his secret was out. But he still wanted to wiggle his way out of this one. "I-I do not know what that is, sir." Yin stuttered on his words. Luken sighed. "You are a bad liar, Yin, it is fine, I am not going to tell everyone about it. So far, only me and Gavin are the only ones who know of your power's origins, Art knew as well, but he is not here anymore, so he does not count." Luken was not being pushy or being interrogative at all. He spoke seriously but it was not like he was angry at Yin at all. "I know you are probably confused as to why we know about it. Adam Rosa told us." Yin was still silent and was trying to think of what the proper thing to do would be in this situation.

"We know why the System is built the way that it is, Yin." After hearing that Yin had an expression of shock. "It also seems that we know a lot of things about the System more than you, judging from your reaction, let us work together on this one, Yin. You can trust us. I do not want to let Art's life to just go down the drain for nothing at all." 

A long silence clouded the place as Yin was trying to bide his time as to what the proper response would be. "If I tell you everything, Commander, what is going to happen next?" Yin was worried that he might be sent to the dungeons and to have his body picked apart like some kind of sick research subject. "We are going to go forward without telling anyone at all, as long as we know what you know and exchange information, nothing is going to change, Yin. You are still a member of the Six Blades and I am not going to let anyone else take you from us. An organization is not just a mere group that you can put in your name, it is much more than that for us. Nobody is taking you away, Yin. We are staying with you no matter what, you do not have to worry about that at all." Luken said with a resounding smile. And just like that, Yin cried more than he ever had in all his life. It was a collective burst of emotions and sadness that he kept bottled into himself with nobody else to tell. 

The Commander hugged him and assured him that all will be alright. "You have been carrying something heavy in your heart all this time, huh? I am sorry Yin, I could not have known just how much you have been enduring all this time." He said. "Do you think we should tell Zach and Suna?" Yin asked the Commander. "You have known Suna ever since you were children, right? And even though you and Zach might not have gotten off to a friendly start, I am sure that you two have your backs when it comes to fighting. That was what the Specter said, anyway." Yin nodded. It was like a wooden spike was taken out of his heart. For the first time in months after he received the System back in the farm, the opportunity to tell the people he referred to as his family 'everything.' But deep inside the recesses of his mind, the Creator was looking on with anger and disgust on his face at what he just saw.