Epic of Caterpillar

[Isaac Gervis Perspective] [Day 68 onward]

[Chapter 56 Human Adventurer Little Brother Perspective]

When the younger kids found out that the older kids died, they began to fear the existence of an assassin on the group.

Yet, they never expected me to be the assassin. Even now, they see me as the weakest with the only talent of stealing food…

Sooner or later they began to get closer to me once again, without the older kids, there isn't anyone they can rely on except me for food.

Although they have numbers, they are cowards and don't dare abuse me like the older kids did. They also lack companionship and most of them aren't friends with each other.

I wondered through the streets and sneakily stole some pieces of hard bread and three oranges.

Some kids wanted some, but I used my magic to scare them away.

After seeing my magic, they began to see me with different eyes… once again.

Fear… They see me with fear now.

Good. The more they fear me, the less they annoy me.

I feel like I cannot stay here for the rest of my life. These skills and classes I have obtained… I need to use them differently.

But how will I be able to do anything?

I'm still weaker than a normal mage… For now, thanks to [Magic Affinity], it seems that I can manipulate and understand magic better.

I can see things I didn't see before… I can understand magic formulas and even create magic circles.

So, this is… What magic truly is… Such an empowering feeling, it's almost intoxicating…

If I want to avenge my big brother and become someone strong and important, accomplishing his expectations… I need to understand and develop my magic.

I spent the next four days using my own magic in different ways, even to the point of learning how to cover my body with a thin cape of magic, or even close wounds and stop bleeding.

The results were more outstanding than I thought.

[Certain conditions have been accomplished]

[You learned the skill [Starlight Magic Coating]

[You learned the skill [Recovering Star Light]

As I kept stealing, my other skills also developed, increasing my strength, agility and hiding abilities. The kids around me began to see me as their "big brother" as my musculature changed a tad bit, and my size also increased, as if I had gained some years…

Even though I was 12 years old, I resembled a 16 years old young man by now. The incredible pace that my musculature and psyche increase is beyond my expectations and seems to be overwhelming.

I've heard about Demi-Humans being able to reach maturity as they get stronger, but I have never heard of a human doing it.

Even more, it seems that my mentality has matured too, as I find most of the kids my age or older very dull and incredibly stupid, being easy to manipulate.

I have taught them some tricks and now they can steal on their own for the most part, but some kids still get caught and beaten.

Due to my strength, they bring me food for free now… Things have changed incredibly fast in these days, it takes me aback.

I think some of them already found out that I was the one who killed the five older kids, and the news quickly spread.

Because the authorities in Orange Town are almost nonexistent, I won't get caught or sent to a prison for killing some nameless orphans.

Those old men on the streets most of the time beat kids to death and leave their corpses to rot and no one says anything.

[Some days later]

I decided to hunt on my own on the outskirts of Orange Town. The monsters in this place are mostly [Wood Armored Tanuki] and [Lesser Water Slime].

Using a stolen knife and my technique alongside my magic, I hunted until night.

For the first time, I was finally able to kill these damned monsters that give me so much fear on my own…

Those monsters that my big brother used to kill for me… Now I can take them on my own without problems.

The [Wood Armored Tanukis] are harder to slash, so I used my Star Ocean Ray to burn their armors and stab their necks until they died.

With the slimes, I discovered that they can easily die if I shatter their cores in the middle of their bodies.

I obtained some materials from them, which I saved on a tattered pouch.

[You gained 8834 EXP]

[You gained two levels]

[You reached level 20]

[Certain conditions have been accomplished]

[You obtained a new Class: [Survivalist]

[You obtained a new Class: [Novice Hunter]

[You learned the skill [Scavenge]

[You learned the skill [Butcher]

[Certain conditions have been accomplished]

[You learned the skill [Starlight Coating]

When I was back on the hideout, I decided to craft some basic leather robes with the items I obtained from the monsters and obtained another skill.

[Certain conditions have been accomplished]

[You learned the skill [Crafting]

These last days I have been hunting diligently while crafting leather armor and clothes. I invited other weaker kids as they joined me on the hunt and gained levels. Although some died, the ones who survived become stronger and gained different Classes.

They are following me as if we were a pack of wolves, they are incredibly loyal and I could even command them to kill each other if I wanted to.

When I reached level 30, the strangest and most bizarre of notifications appeared since I have memory…

[You reached level 30]

[Several conditions have been accomplished]

[All the scenarios have been completed]

[Brother's Sacrifice], [Internal Conflicts], [Survival of the Fittest], [Five Shadows Menace],

[Assassination and Revenge], [Awakened Perception], [Self Awareness Acquisition],

[Leader of the Group], [Survivalist], [Breaking your Limits] have been completed]

[Due to the Divine Intervention, the user has been granted the full effect of its [Legendary Epic]

[Therefore, its sealed power has been unsealed, and the user's body and mind will be strengthened according to these effects]

What does all of this mean? Is my whole life a book…?

[You have unsealed the skill [Supreme God of Star's Ocean Divine Protection]

[You have unsealed the skill [Blessing of the Supreme God of Star Ocean]

[The skill [Legendary Epic of Isaac Gervis: The Star Juggernaut Hero] has been unsealed]

[Your [Legendary Epic] has been upgraded]

[New Scenarios have been unlocked]

[Complete Scenarios for your [Legendary Epic] to advance, while gaining further rewards]

E-Epic? Hero…?

[You obtained a new Class [Young Starlight Paladin]

[You learned the skill [The Star Juggernaut Divine Talent]

[You learned the skill [Apostle of the Sea of Stars]

[You learned the skill [Advanced Environment Perception]

[You learned the skill [Awakened Legendary Hero Bloodline]

…

As I kept looking at the system window, more and more skills were obtained without stopping. I suddenly felt as if my entire body was enveloped on a new power. My body felt like something completely different as if it was carefully refined by the gods themselves.

This power… What is it?

When I woke up, I found my body that has already changed once again, my once thin and slim complexion became stronger and sturdier. Even though I remained looking young, my body became muscular and flexible.

I did some basic exercise around to adapt to this new strength and then began to practice magic for the next days.

As I stole and hunted outside of town, I became stronger and stronger, and thanks to my new abilities, my power quickly grew as if I were a completely new person.

The group of orphan kids have reduced quite a lot, as most of them died hunting or where caught stealing and made into slaves. The strongest ones that survived and remained with me were a group of five, with two being the strongest and the subleaders bellow me, these two didn't have any names, but they called themselves Ray and Ana.

Ray has developed his body beyond his limits and became a strong warrior, although he's only 13 years old, he became very strong and his body showed an incredible muscle mass, his appearance resembled that of a young man over his 18's.

Ana was the only woman on the team, she was always good at shooting things, so I ended up creating a bow for her. She repaid me with new stolen things and prey. Her development with the bow gave her unique techniques and classes.

I've recently heard that a noble has come back from an expedition, as his son was lost on it. It seems that he died just like my big brother, by those monsters on the Grand Forest.

There are rumors about a Monster Overlord commanding the rest of the Grand Forest and creating a pseudo-Monster Kingdom, which is qualified as a menace for humanity.

I haven't changed my mind since then… When I have the power… I will burn the Grand Forest to the ground… Nothing will remain…

There is a small bandit group that has infiltrated on the nearby villages and has been trying to sneak in. However, I gathered my group and with new armor and equipment that I crafted using materials from monsters and stolen goods, we went to confront them.

They were quite surprised after seeing a group of kids beat them to the ground. My group is merciless and does my every command.

Bandits are worse than scum, so I didn't have any regret as I killed them with the strength that I've been building.

We made quick work of them, although we were five versus thirty, these old men were absurdly weak. My group is well organized and we have been diligently training every day, most of the bandits were old and weak, only relying on their cheap tactics and skills to win.

After killing them, we gained a lot of levels as I looted their goods and burned their corpses, leaving almost no traces.

Some months ago, I would still be attending my school and reading books intensively to learn nothing. Even though the death of my big brother was a tragedy, due to this, I have experienced the worst and also have experienced the feeling of gaining strength and being rewarded by my efforts, something that I never experienced before.

Although I am destined to be a hero, for now, I am no more than the leader of a band of thieves and assassins.

For the very first time, I have felt quite relaxed. I don't know how to describe this feeling, but I felt as if my life as finally reached something close to stability. Even though I am a thief and an assassin, those things don't matter anymore as I did what I did for survival.

I still carry your lucky pendant, big brother… Perhaps this is what has helped me get through those difficult situations…

Because I felt that we needed to celebrate our victory against those bandits, we celebrated on the Orange Town, using the money from those bandits I invited my whole group to a big feast.

Its been very long since they had eaten so much. They were rather happy. Some even cried as the cooked food reminded them of their parents cooking.

A strange group of foreigners from a distant land have been wandering around town for some time.

They wear pure white armor and capes, decorated with wings and golden paintings. Their auras are majestic and their demeanor stoic and calm. These guys are too strong.

Because I don't want to deal with them or even come across them, I've bee dedicating myself to hunt outside with my group, we have managed to hunt various new monsters on the Vast Plains. I am very close to reaching level 50 by now.

With my new strength, I'm sure I could easily kill all those damned Noble brats that made fun of me or my big brother on the magic school…

However, killing the children of a noble is akin to suicide, as the noble will easily find out who killed their children with their superior intel and information network and quickly send hundreds of paid assassins for my head.

I've been currently unlocking more scenarios on my [Legendary Epic] skill when I complete one, I am rewarded with EXP or a prize. The first prize was a golden longsword named [Shining Starlight Blade of Constellations: Aries], a sword cataloged as [Legendary Relic], however, it is on a weakened state and can further evolve as I get stronger.

With this new weapon, I felt confident enough to register as an adventurer, just like my brother. My whole group was also more than qualified. We created our own Guild Card as it took a lot of the money that we got from the Bandits.

I named our mercenary group: Retribution of the Weak.

After three days, a lot of new members joined my mercenary group as new rumors about my strength and my weapon began to spread. A lot of promising and reliable warriors were added to our group and our old hideout wouldn't do anymore.

After some days of taking difficult missions and exploring the nearby dungeons, we have gathered enough money to buy our own facility. As my power keeps growing, so does my mercenary group.

It seems that one of my skills grants an increased growth on power to my subordinates, this is probably why they can become stronger at a fast pace.

Big brother, I have reached very far, please keep looking forward to me, whenever you are.

Today the strange group of foreigners appeared on our mercenary group facility. Because of our prestige, we were used to dealing with people asking for us to do their requests.

However, these men came with a different purpose. They raised their hands and showed what they called a "Holy Decree".

These men, in actuality, come from the central continent of Eden, an incredibly far away region of the world, originating from the Holy Kingdom of Helgen…

What do such people want with us?

Such a strong Kingdom… What are those knights doing in here?

They said that they came for me. As I was an awakened [Legendary Hero].

How did they know!?

Although I asked them several times about how did they know that, they remained silent.

They told me that the Heavenly Mother of the Helgen Holy Kingdom, which is an equivalent to an Empress, has called over me, as she was going to give me the title of [Heavenly Hero] and help me get stronger to battle against an enemy I am predestined to fight in the future.

They said that it was for the better of the whole world and that there wasn't much time left, every day was precious before the disaster finally showed itself…

All of this is way too sudden… And I can't stop thinking about all of this as very fishy.

However, these men are incredibly strong, if I don't obey them, I may end up being forced against my own will anyway, while my whole mercenary group gets killed.

Because of this, I decided to go with my original group of five, while leaving the other members of the mercenary group in charge.

The two knights told me that my mercenary group would receive a monthly payment for my efforts, so there wasn't anything to worry about…

They were on quite a haste, as they called on their familiars, two gigantic white wyverns with golden eyes and horns as they invited us to mount on their wide backs.

And so, like this, my life came across another turn of events, now I was being escorted to the strongest Kingdom on the whole world…

Save the world? Me?

Can I… Save it?

While flying the knights described the demon as the embodiment of all sins, a disaster personified...

Will I ever be able to do it…?

Me?

As I looked at my rough and hardened hands, which have become like this due to my hardships, my companions patted my back.

"We will be at your side, Isaac"

"Hm! Count on me"

"Just as the lady said, we have been through a lot together already"

"There is no point in running now, "Legendary Hero"…"

"I know that big brother can do it!"

Such sudden words filled with kindness warmed my heart.

"Everyone…"

It's true…

I can do it… I've accomplished so many things by now…

If I can work hard… I can do it!

Watch me, big brother! I will go even beyond your expectations…

I will save the world and I will protect my companions…

I will make sure to not commit the same mistakes as before, I will protect those close to me and I won't let my dreams shatter either.

Big brother Roland, I won't disappoint you!

And I will also make sure… To avenge you…!