Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.3] Quest 279- A Way Back

Up on the wall were Reiner, Zeke, Pieck, Bertholdt, and Levi.

"They are here," Cirrus spoke as the rest of them approached him.

"So these are more of the Warrior Unit from Marley." Said, Erwin.

"You…" Zeke looks at Eren. "You really resemble our father, Eren."

"Shut up! I won’t ever call you brother!" Eren shouted.

"Hmm, well, I’ll let you do what you want. If they do anything, well, they know what happens," Cirrus said, cracking his fingers, ready to toss and bash them around.

They swallow their saliva in fear.

"Thank you for your help, Cirrus," Levi said, smirking as he glanced at Zeke.

"See ya, I need to get back to my goddess." Cirrus departs, leaving them to the others.

Even as he leaves, the four of them are instilled with a new phobia of the Cirrus variety.

"You have some questions to answer," Erwin said.

Levi cracks his neck and slowly draws his box-cutter blades.

As Cirrus walked back to the tower, he could see many eyes on him.

"Hmm…"

He disliked being in the spotlight.

Cirrus moves to a dark alleyway with a brisk walk.

"Hecton, do I have any invisibility cloaks?"

Hecton quickly put it on Cirrus, and he quickly navigated through the alleyways back home to the Moonlight Tower.

"Haa…I’m tired…"

"That’s unfortunate," Artemis said, waiting for Cirrus on the first floor.

"Sorry, the day was ruined."

"It’s fine, but can you do me something to make up for it?"

"U-um sure?"

He could see a glint in her eyes.

"Wait here a second, alright! I’ll be right back!"

"So how was your day?" said Nox, coming up behind him.

"Oh, Nox it was… Eventful some people came from another world."

"Oh, that’s interesting... So yeah, um, the city knows you’re a kid, so, um, make sure you do what you have always done as a kid."

"I am a kid, and you mean sneak around through alleyways?"

"Yeah... sorry, but people are... well, they really want to see you."

"… H-how many?"

"A lot," said Rethusa. "We had to use a bit of force to get them to back off."

"It reminded me of when we returned after we—I mean, you fought the Hecatoncheires!" said Cale. "Many people wanted to join the Astraea Familia that you were in."

"How did it go?"

"… Be careful around Amazoness, alright," Cale said, leaving.

"D-did something bad happen?" Cirrus said, looking at Nox.

"… It’s best to not ask further."

"O… kay?"

"Cirrus!!"

"?"

Cirrus turned to see Circe and Eupheme. Circe runs up to him and hugs him.

"Aww!! You look even cuter than when we first met!" Circe said, running up to his face.

"Uuuuh??"

"This is Circe, the other one you made a contract with," Nox said.

Cirrus looks at her as she pinches his cheeks.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you. I really don’t know what to really say."

"It’s fine!" she said, putting her hands back behind her. "I was busy with some stuff, and then I heard the news. But you, Nox, you should have told me! I could have been helping Naaza and Miach!"

"Yeah, but then we wouldn’t have this little guy around any longer." Nox placed her hand on Cirrus’s head and messed with his hair.

"I have to agree with Nox," Eupheme said, leaning down to Cirrus’s eye level. "It has been a long time since I had to bend down like this, but I guess from your perspective, it was only a few months?"

"… I’m happy you are still around and in perfect health as well!" Cirrus said with a slight smile.

"Heh~ What a nice smile." She patted his head. "So, did those Titan things drop any material?"

"Um… no? Their turn to steam and evaporate. It is good to know you still have that material mindset."

"Some things are hard to change, and it’s a shame… We are actually in the process of smithing something."

"We are?"

"Yes, or, well, the adult you, anyway. It is slow, but any new material is greatly appreciated."

"I see. Then I’ll keep an eye out."

"That’s good; well, I need to get going, still very busy. It was nice to see you again. Oh, before I go here." She hands him a sword. "One of my creations."

Cirrus is holding it and swinging it around.

"Wow, you have really improved. If you didn’t hand it to me, I wouldn’t have recognized it as yours."

"Well, you always looked anxious without a weapon on you. Plus, I wanted to see how far I’ve improved."

"Alright, let’s go!" Artemis said, coming down with Ai.

"Eupheme, you’re here as well. Circe, are you going to help with the cure?" Ai said.

"It’s nice to see you again, Ai, but I must get going. I hope you try nothing with this little guy." Eupheme patted Cirrus one more time. "See ya Cirrus." And she took her to leave.

"Busy as always," Ai said. "Cirrus, if Artemis does anything, make sure to tell me alright?"

"Ai, please. I won’t do anything besides I’m not the one who—"

"THAT’S NOT IMPORTANT!" Ai shouted. "Ahem! Just, uh, you know, keep it safe for work, as Cirrus puts it."

"I know, I know! So let’s get going!" Artemis said, taking Cirrus’s hand.

"U-um where?"

"Somewhere a little private!"

Ai watches as Artemis takes Cirrus somewhere until a foreign scent reaches her.

"The Otherworlders… Maybe I’ll see how they are? Or maybe they are willing to trade?"

A bit later.

Ai was overlooking the district when Bell came along with Mikasa.

"Hello, Miss Ai!" Bell said.

"Oh, Bell… who is this… hm?" Ai walks up to Mikasa. "Are you from Yamato?"

"No, um, I came here to see if I could talk to Lady Artemis?" Mikasa’s eyes darted around Ai, looking at her fox ears, white hair, and purple eyes, then at her clothes, and finally at the katana by her waist.

"She’s busy with something, but I can help you if you want?"

"We wanted to know if there was a way back to our world?" asked Mikasa.

"Oh… well, come with me, Bell. You can go back."

"Hm." Bell departs, leaving Mikasa with Ai.

"So what’s your name?" Ai asks her kindly with an earnest smile.

"Mikasa Ackerman." She said it politely.

"My name is Ai Zephyr!"

Ai extends her hand, and Mikasa, with some hesitation, shakes her hand.

Mikasa then follows Ai closely as she looks around the city of Orario.

"So… tell me who you are so worried about?" Ai said, glancing at Mikasa.

"I’m worried for Eren. This place seems to make him feel… different?"

"Hm well, it’s a new place; I can’t blame him for that."

"That is true… can I ask where we are going?"

"We were to meet a god who has been here for a thousand years and has seen many things."

Mikasa felt a little nervous, but she followed her through a secret passage.

When they finally made it to the room of prayer, Mikasa could feel pressure on her, nothing like fear or intimidation but…

"Whoa…"

Grandeur as she looks to see the solemn god upon his desolate throne.

"Lord Ouranos, I have brought an outsider who is from another world." Ai then kneels. "She seeks to find a way back home. Is that possible?"

Mikasa copies Ai and kneels as well.

"There is a way; bring them back to where they came from and bring a god with you. They will use their arcanum to fix the hole."

His booming, calm voice quieted any nervous feelings.

"T-thank you, L-lord Ouranos," Mikasa said with relief in her voice.

"It is no problem. Simply take back those who came here."

They nod and take their leave.

A bit later, Mikasa calmed her nerves a bit.

"So… Is he the god in charge of the city?" asked Mikasa.

"Not exactly. He is the god who keeps the monsters sealed down in the dungeon. He has no real power, as it’s more administrative. He keeps all the other gods in line by not using their godly powers."

"Hm… I see… Can I ask what level you are? You seem very strong."

"I’m level 7!"

"If you are seven, then you are stronger than Ais?"

"Of course! That’s a given! I’m sure 1 level higher doesn’t really mean much to you, but the gap between us is massive! There are only a few people who can cross that gap between levels."

"Then could you beat Cirrus?"

"Maybe now, but when he regains his body, that’ll be hard…. Haa~ I wish I could do the stuff I usually do with him."

"A-are you two close?"

"We are married."

"!!" Mikasa stops walking as her face slowly turns red. "S-so you and—"

"He told you he was turned back into a child, yes?"

"He did, sorry, but his strength and appearance really stuck out. I fear what kind of man he becomes."

"Oh… You wanna see what he really looks like?" Ai reaches into her clothes and pulls out a picture of Cirrus at age 20 after a spar.

"…" Mikasa remains silent as she sees Cirrus as a handsome man with long hair and various scars on his sweaty, muscular body. "Ooh." Mikasa said, impressed.

"Yeah… He was trying out having long hair. He got rid of it when summer came." She then put it back.

"Um… You look young. When did you marry him, and if I may ask, how old were you?"

"4 years ago, but we have been together since we were 14, or was it 15? It’s been a bit of a blur with how time flew by."

‘So young!’

"Um… Do you have any—"

"Just go for it." Ai said, cutting Mikasa off. "Judging from how you are, you aren’t the most emotional of people, yes?"

Mikasa nods her head.

"Then you need to have him alone and confess. Boys are extremely dense unless you make the first move or give them a big hint."

"What did you do?"

"I kissed him. Can’t be more direct than that."

Mikasa’s face turned bright red.

"D-do you have to be so direct?"

"It’s easier that way, that way you make your feelings clear as day."

"… I will take your advice to heart."

"Oh, if it’s not too much trouble, could I get one of those blades? It would be a good gift!"

"Um… sure? But why as a gift?"

"Cirrus is a craftsman, and having new material is precious to him! Plus, he is working on his grand masterpiece, so he could use the metal of your blades for something."

"Hm… Well, would it be alright if I just gave you Reiner and Bertholdt’s?"

"I don’t mind."