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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Sept 23, 2022 13:56:00 GMT
One could only marvel so much at how humanity has progressed for the past 700 years. Who would have thought that castles would be replaced by tall skyscrapers almost reaching the clouds; horses and carriages by fast cars and trains; uncomfortable and heavy chainmails and armours by thin, awkward t-shirts with statements like “sugoi dekai'' or “bigger is better”. No one used parchments to send letters anymore; instead, people held a small device called “phones” which they could put easily inside their pockets when not in-use. These phones emit voices from people you couldn’t see, basically the one you intended to send your letters to, in the ancient language so to speak. The world has indeed changed, and even while Gwydion had already spent a year in this strange new world, there were still so many things to unravel and learn. He found himself still a foreigner to the Earth he once called his home. A year of travel enabled him to witness these changes, which also seemed “regional” depending on the development of the country he was in. There were still some recognisable places in Europe, albeit mostly had just been restored but that was still something. Now on this other side of the world, he wasn’t sure, but it sure looked modern. The houses, the buildings, they seemed to have been devoid of the past. As if it was something the people dread coming back into. Now dressed in a black long sleeve turtleneck appropriate for this era, the ancient prince wandered around the streets of South Kamihama, which was home to electronic devices, good food and waifu figurines Gwydion was unaware of. It was basically the shopping district with attractive neon lights alluring you to spend your hard-earned cash or beloved allowance given by your strict parents on whatever your eyes could lay on. It was only a few days since the noble accepted the contract from his companion. Nothing strange has happened to him so far. He’d use his power to keep looking for the murderers responsible for his house’s death but not at the expense of the lives of innocent people. He was taught to protect them, that much he remembered, and it was his duty to keep the Levineguard’s values even though he’s the only one left. Their old-aged traditions he vowed to uphold, as it was the remaining connection he had with his family. While he restrained himself and tried to put up a dignified face, he caught himself staring from outside a cheap but decent restaurant. A rather fast-paced one, modern people call “fast food” since they could prepare your meals in a matter of minutes. A growl he heard amidst the noise from the busy streets. It was from his stomach, demanding to be fed at this very moment. He would’ve entered the shop by now if he still had money, unfortunately, it all got spent from travels, clothes, and food the whole year. He had already used up everything he got from selling some valuable family heirlooms he could find in his pocket, and of course, trading the necklace gifted by his mother for a single meal was out of the question. He wouldn’t dare disrespect her memory to indulge in his physical needs. He can find a way. Maybe. If not, perhaps he could still survive another night without food. [570] Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Sept 24, 2022 12:04:07 GMT
The Wish was a gateway to a whole new world from which Kin, almost unknowingly so, could never return. It took him some time to get to grips with his new abilities - apparently, even without training, his body was now a fighting machine, many times faster, stronger and more durable than before, and with mere thought he could summon magic that he used to only see in cartoons and anime. He retreated during these past few days, leaving class early or sometimes skipping them entirely, to find empty construction sites or parks where he could get a hang of these new abilities. Back when Mikoto was still with him, she taught him a few things in martial arts - which she studied during extracurricular activities. With these superhuman powers, even the most complicated techniques Kin remembered from those afternoons sparring were child's play. And knowing that he can likely push these abilities even further, then... Perhaps, this quest to help humanity wasn't going to be that difficult after all. No, no, don't get overconfident. You have barely become a Warlock. You haven't met a single Hex yet. You still don't truly know what this new world will be like... and whether it's really as optimistic as it appears. This evening, Kin was not a Warlock, he was just Kin, dressed in a casual white shirt and worn down jeans, and he was making his way past the shopping district in South Kamihama. With his sister gone and his uncle absent as always, he's effectively had to look after the entire house by himself, as complicated as it was - without much in the way of income, only a little bit left behind by their guardian every once in a while, it was difficult for him to make do. So, he was travelling across the district on an empty stomach, looking over to the lined up cafes, restaurants and stores with hopeful, yet defeated eyes. Still, Kin didn't lose hope. He had some cents in his pockets, and there should be more reasonable options for groceries closer to home, maybe he can find something really cheap to have for the evening. It'll still mean sleeping on a half-empty stomach, but... Kin stopped by the windows of one of the fast food restaurants. Or, maybe, the cheapest option there, even though it wasn't very healthy... Briefly, he glanced to the side, seeing another man staring through the windows into the bright space inside, seemingly just as hungry as he was. Dark-haired, about as old as him, though perhaps a bit more rugged from the experience. Kin didn't say anything just yet, but faintly flashed an apologetic smile towards the man, in recognition of their shared suffering. Gwydion Levinegard
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Sept 28, 2022 16:12:07 GMT
Having lived on the new Earth he woke up into for a year now, Gwydion already familiarised himself with the ways of this world. The most obvious and most popular cultures and stuff, at least. One, being such kinds of restaurant. It seems it was no different from inns or taverns in his day, except the food here were prepared quicker, and were rather unhealthy. It was the least option for people of today’s generation, but nothing you can do if it was the only thing you could afford. Some food chains have their branches in different parts of the world, others are still making names for themselves. Among the famous ones would be MagRonwald’s. They were famous for their burgers and mascot who was a demon lord dressed in a MagRonwald’s staff uniform. At first, Gwydion thought it was odd to use demon lords for mascots but then, there was also a Bee with anthropomorphic limbs, a green witch holding her prized pizza, an old cowboy with a bucket of buffalo wings, and many other hilarious mascots. There was nothing like it in the medieval times, and he couldn’t understand the need for it, but people seemed to find it effective for advertisement, so the ancient lad just shrugged it off. Savouring the sight of those demonic large burgers, his stomach found it harder to keep quiet. It almost felt like a thunderous growl but there was basically nothing he could do to satiate his hunger. Unless there were some kind person dropping b— Gwydion followed the burger with his eyes and when he turned, he noticed a blonde teenager smiling at him. In these busy streets, you never know when a stranger would take advantage of you. He already had a fair share of witnessing people stealing stuff from others, be it in the ancient times or in the modern times. And by the way, looks can indeed be deceiving. This lad here, for what its worth, seemed nice but you never really know. So the first thing Gwydion did, as a nobleman would, perhaps, was defend himself. At least through words. And as polite as possible. “I don’t have money, I apologise,” the prince blurted out. He didn’t return the smile, yet, his eyes did not also express any hostility. Just in case, the stranger didn’t really mean any harm. If he did, well… [404/970] Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Sept 29, 2022 19:03:22 GMT
The dark haired man immediately became defensive, telling Kin that he did not have any money, which briefly surprised the teenager, but he quickly realized what was going on. He does look slightly suspicious, appearing next to a person on the street with a smile on his face. Someone like that could be a robber, or a bandit, or trying to tell you about their newest cult. Kin generally assumed the best from people he met for the first time, but not everyone was like him - so, it would be fair to dispel that concern first.
"Ah- I wasn't going to ask for that. Certainly not now."
Kin pushed his hands back into the pockets of his jeans, his smile weakened somewhat. He had a few coins, which he still wasn't sure what he was going to do with, but, in theory, as he thought before, they should be able to buy something cheap. Whether it be from this restaurant, from one of the surrounding ones - though he certainly wasn't going to recall which of them was known for being cheaper than the rest - or from the store to make something basic back home.
Maybe... he can find a way to share? It'd be meager for both of them, but still...
"I... hope you're not hungry," Kin continued speaking. "You... looked like you were watching the restaurant with really yearning intent."
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 1, 2022 12:45:03 GMT
The boy was rather keen, reading in between the lines of Gwydion’s remarks. Perhaps his facial expression gave it away? Though he knows he’s usually stoic and expressionless. No matter, the blonde teenager seemed nice and friendly. He had lived the past year on his own, exploring and surviving different cities from around the world; but maybe he could use some help this time. The change in the expression of this blonde stranger was not difficult to notice. Maybe he felt bad that Gwydion had mistaken him for a criminal when he was really just concerned about him. He felt the need to take back the harsh words, “I didn’t mean to be rude, I apologise.”“Well… I am, unfortunately,” the prince answered rather shyly when the stranger noted of his hunger, “I came from a distant land. It was just a few weeks since I arrived here and I’ve already traded my stuff and the money I got from it already run out,”If it was not obvious, perhaps the manner he spoke would give it away, or the choice of his clothing, though, he already picked what seemed to be appropriate for this generation. From a distance, the two would hear a loud but weak scream coming from an old lady, and towards them, a masked man running while carrying a bag which he might’ve taken away from her. Thankfully, being a warlock meant they could endure hunger and other bodily functions for a lot longer, which would definitely be impossible for any normal human being. The only question would be whether the boys were up for some action on an empty stomach. [280/1250] Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Oct 3, 2022 9:16:24 GMT
A distant land? That was an odd way to say he is a foreigner... it's not like he should assume that a teenage student in Japan does not know that other countries exist. The sakoku hasn't been going on for over a century - and in a less troubling situation, Kin may have even tried to crack a joke about it to lighten the mood. Instead, he was considering whether he had the finances to possibly feed them both. He couldn't possibly leave someone to starve on the street, after all.
Maybe, if he's very conservative about the materials he purchases at the store on the way back, he could make something for them both...
Once again, however, Kin's train of thought was interrupted, as while the two of them were distracted by the restaurant and by each other, a robbery took place practically under their noses. "-Eh?" Someone frantically ran past them, pushing past both Kin and Gwy with a handbag in his hands - while an elderly woman some meters away from them was yelling with her hand outstretched towards the thief. It wasn't difficult to guess what had happened, and seeing that the approaching night meant that the street was getting increasingly deserted meant that they were basically the only witnesses to the crime.
By the time police arrives, the thief might be two prefectures away - but, another thought came to Kin's mind, instead.
"Stay here, please," he ordered to the hungry foreigner. There was no reason to endanger any more innocent people tonight.
Then, Kin ran, towards the fleeing thief.
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 6, 2022 12:26:41 GMT
A quizzical look was evident from the other teenager. Of course. He already realised that his language or perhaps merely the choice of words were rather peculiar for the people of this generation. Perhaps a bit too old, but thankfully not too extinct. What is one year of immersion if he couldn’t grasp some modernity it boastfully gives off? He had thought of explaining it further; however, he realised it must be an absurd one considering most people of today no longer believe in magic. Or even mysteries. People seem to be in-debted to this thing called science which apparently had given birth to the rampant technologies of this new world. A loud scream was heard a few meters behind them. Gwydion did not hesitate to look over where the noise came from and when he turned, the reason behind it had been made more obvious. A thief, about more than 6ft in height, and had a very muscular built was running in their direction, not looking back, not caring whether he’d bump with someone. The first instinct was to help, of course. He had been taught to be dauntless and chivalrous as a noble. However, there were many people in the— Huh. That was a bit weird… how come there were no more people in the vicinity? Or was he that lost in time? How long had he been staring in front of MgRonwald’s? And why didn’t nobody seem to care? Perhaps, it was a common thing? Honey coloured eyes shifted towards his new companion and surprisingly, this blonde teenager here, who seconds ago, was friendly to him, was suddenly running towards the man as if he could take him down. What was he thinking? A normal guy couldn’t possibly match a buff thug?!
Troubled that the boy would only hurt himself, Gwydion did not waste one more second and followed him, “W-wait!” If he could beat him in a race, better. He’d run past the blonde-haired stranger as if carried by the wind, and would slide in an attempt to sweep off the thief’s feet. He’d use his hands as spring to allow himself to flip into the air and deal a swift kick at the hooligan’s face. If the blonde stranger could indeed fight, now’s the time to show off. [394/1644]4 Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Oct 8, 2022 11:35:15 GMT
Kin was hungry, really hungry, but even at this poor state, he was certain that an ordinary thug would not be an issue to him - so, he ran forward with confidence, eyes focused on the fleeing thief. He was gaining distance on the man, and as long as nothing unexpected happened, he would have soon been able to grab and restrain him.
Something unexpected did happen.
The dark haired man he was talking to a moment prior rushed back at Kin after calling out to him - and in spite of the blonde teenager's head start, caught up and outpaced him. His sudden sweep kick tipped the thug over - before he knew it, he was falling to the sidewalk. Not only that, but the dark haired man leapt to the air and was about to slam his foot down at the thug. Whatever he was clearly wasn't average.
A martial artist, travelling the world, perhaps? Or, possibly... No, Kin did not endeavour that thought just yet.
Suddenly, a hand caught the descending kick, stopping it from striking the thug's face. It was Kin's - and even though it belonged to a scrawny looking teenager, the hand held with the strength of a top athlete.
After letting go of his teammate's leg, Kin looked down at the thug, shooting a glare at him and speaking:
"There's nowhere to run. Give back what you stole, and we won't hurt you."
If the thief realizes that he's messing with a bit more than two hungry teenagers, he should hopefully understand what's the best course of action - and it's always better to resolve a situation like this without violence. At least, that was what Kin thought.
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 11, 2022 10:42:53 GMT
He was sure the kick would land on the thug’s face. Without a doubt, it would even knock the poor guy out. However, he found himself hung up in the air, his feet barely touching the mask covering the hideous man’s dreadful expression. It was the blonde stranger who blocked the attack and prevented Gwydion from hurting the thief. It was quite frustrating that this lithe figure here would have the strength to do so. A normal human being defying a warlock… wait… that can’t possibly be! First, it was impossible for this guy to catch up with his speed since he used a little help from the wind. Second,the grip on his legs, was too strong even for a top athlete. That powerful kick would just hit him too, if he were just a regular human being. Thus, the blonde, intercepting the blow, would only mean that he too, was not ordinary as he seemed to be. Gwydion met the stranger’s golden eyes, his eyes curious, albeit his face stoic as ever. He’d let the silence intimidate the lad, as well as the thief, but would eventually enquire: “And what do you think you’re doing? This man deserves to be punished,” the tone was rather firm, different from the friendly and reserved attitude earlier. Of course, it was obviously nothing personal against the boy. Their conversation was going pretty well earlier, in fact. However, it seemed that they boy had a soft spot even for evil doers. Surely, the right thing to do was to beat the thug up and not show any hint of mercy. It was his own undoing after all. And yet, oh boy, he wasn't finished with being the good angel, promising the freedom he'd certainly wouldn't dare miss in exchange for the bag. But desperate people can be stubborn at times, thus, rejecting the kind offer without any hesitation. “NO!” The bloke shouted at the top of his lungs, whilst trying to get up. Gwydion was quick to deal another kick however, the other teenager wouldn't be able to react in time should he make another attempt to save the man from his own demise. The prince’s foot stomped on the guy’s chest, pinning him down to preempt his escape. “Mercy finds the deserving. This one, let it fly. There’s no helping it.”[399/2043] 5 Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Oct 12, 2022 7:56:37 GMT
The foreigner man did not take Kin's intervention into the fight well. After Kin let go of the leg, he shot back - explaining that the thief, having made the decision to steal someone's purse, deserves to be punished. His expression was much more hostile and serious than before - however, the blonde teen did not allow himself to be intimidated by it. He held onto his own convictions, and he wasn't going to abandon them just because someone spoke back to him with a raised tone.
The thief, unfortunately, held a little less situational awareness than Kin initially gave him credit for - or, perhaps, he imagined that getting caught and tipped over by two teenagers was merely a fluke and he could take them on in a fight. This time, he didn't get rescued out in time, the other teen moved too fast for Kin to react - one powerful kick sent the thug to the ground and a stomp pinned him down.
He may have been proud of dispatching of the thug, but Kin was not. Staring at the foreigner, dissatisfied, Kin shot back:
"Who are you to decide who deserves mercy and who does not?"
No one is a perfect judge of character, after all, Kin did not see himself as one either. Life put them and this thief as enemies today, sure, but perhaps, in another circumstances, in another life, they could have talked him down and seen that he did not deserve to be punished.
The blonde teen knelt down and pulled the stolen bag out of the defenseless thief's hands - he may have struggled and clutched on, but his strength was well below Kin's, so it was a futile effort. With the bag at hand, he made his way towards the robbed old lady - who, hopefully, was not too shaken by the incident and the beatdown happening in front of her.
"I'm sorry, miss - this is yours, correct?"
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 15, 2022 11:00:18 GMT
“Nobody…” Gwydion remarked, unapologetic of what he just did, “I am just a nobody… but do I have to be someone to tell whether one thing is evil or not?”
This blonde guy probably lived a comfortable life. A peaceful world, where he did not have to worry if the enemies would attack by day or by night, where… He probably did not experience a time when it was not safe to run around in the town square of your own city… when everyone, perhaps even those who you thought were loyal subjects, cannot be trusted… a night when you fear you wouldn’t see another daylight by tomorrow… a calendar, where everyday was marked with blood. “You haven’t seen terrible times it seems. You haven’t lived a life of uncertainty, where you fear for your life every waking moment.”The war was a painful thing to remember, and every time he saw evil, he remembered those awful days, when women and children got robbed, not only of money, but of dignity, even of soul. If this blonde guy was keen, he would be able to tell, not just from Gwydion’s words, rather even from his sorrowful golden eyes, that he had suffered much; and if he was as heroic as he seemed to be, he would probably understand where the young prince was coming from. “I am sorry for the trouble we caused, Ma’am,” “Oh, not a problem at all. Thank you, you two…” she didn’t seem bothered at their extraordinary strength, but it was perhaps because her vision was too weak to notice what was really going on. “Here, please… take this a little token of appreciation,” the grandma would reach out and give the two boys a few bucks. Finally, an answer to their hunger. "We would rather not take payment, ma'am. After all, we were just in the vicinity, and we thought it was just natural to help," of course, the offer was tempting, especially that he had not yet eaten today. So, it was up to the other lad to take the offer, but if not, they would probably let go of their chance to eat a somewhat decent meal. [370/2413] Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Oct 16, 2022 16:54:12 GMT
As gratitude for having her bag returned, the old lady began offering Kin and the dark haired teen money as a small gift for their favor. His peer was the first to refuse the cash, so, the woman's attention was drawn towards Kin instead. For a second, the blonde looked at her, and the yen in her trembling hand. It wasn't much, but if he uses it wisely, he could make enough food for today and tomorrow with it alone - long enough to get another stipend from his uncle.
Still...
"No, keep it, ma'am. We just offered some help to someone in need, you need this money more than either of us do," Kin answered and nodded to the woman with a smile. After a second of pause to confirm that the boys really weren't going to take the cash she generously afforded, the old lady nodded as well, and put the money back in her bag. Instead, after she departed, Kin turned to the black haired man, speaking:
"Sorry for what happened... If you want, we can drop by my house instead. I'll be able to make a little for both of us from the leftovers," He was already stepping back and getting ready to go home, and waved to the man. "Oh, and my name's Kin!"
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 21, 2022 13:38:44 GMT
The police took care of the rest of the crime, arresting the thief and asking the old lady to come with them for a few questions. They had insisted for the boys to come with them as well but the lady pleaded against it, arguing that their parents might be looking for them since it was already a bit late in the evening. Once they were alone, Gwydion’s stomach would resume complaining of a lack of food. For the third time, a loud growl would echo in the now-empty streets of Kamihama South. Gwydion admitted to himself, the lady’s offer was a missed chance to finally have a decent supper. He should have figured the other boy wouldn’t take it considering how righteous he acted earlier. Yet, as he thought about it further, he also had not the guts to take the money himself. As a Levinegard, he was taught to act noble whenever possible; and helping others is certainly one way to act honorably. “You need not worry,” the medieval prince answered the blonde stranger with a weak smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Kin. I am Gwydion from the House of Levinegard. I would like to apologise for the unnecessary trouble. But I am indeed in need of food. I will take note of this kindness and repay in whatever way I can.”Noticing the man was about to leave, Gwydion would follow and catch up with him. Gwydion couldn't seem to forget what had just happened earlier, taking note of how Kin fought. He certainly had the strength and speed a normal human being would not be able to possess, considering that he used a bit of magic to capture the thief. "You were stronger than you looked. I apologise for misjudging you. Where did you learn to fight? You don't seem to be the type who makes trouble all the time. You even defended the thief from getting hurt."[331/2744] Nishimine Kin
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Post by Nishimine Kin on Oct 22, 2022 18:09:39 GMT
The dark haired man introduced himself as "Gwydion from the House of Levinegard", and repeated Kin's name as "Sir Kin", both facts immediately telling the teen that he was an outsider, and an odd one at that. Tales of fantasy castles and heroic knights came to his mind, fancy names which embellished ancient noble houses and referred to warriors as "sirs" were frequent there.
Was something like this what played here? Anime was chock full of stories where someone from one time period gets lost in another, more fantastical age, but those usually involved people from the modern day getting thrust into the past or fantasy, not the other way around. Perhaps that's not what happened here, then - maybe Gwydion was just from a far away land. Like Europe. Kin mulled this over his mind while the two teens made her way through the streets.
After introducing himself, Gwydion asked about Kin - he was interested in how the blonde teen was able to stop his blow, and whether he already knew how to fight. Indeed, Gwy was much stronger than he looked himself - he could outrun Kin, even though Kin was moving as fast as he could, and his kick's power was nothing to scoff at either. Still, he wasn't sure whether he could reveal his other, recently gained side to someone he only just met. They might call him crazy, or insane.
"My sister taught me how to fight. We used to train in martial arts, and I picked it up from her," Kin explained. Aikido was not much, certainly not as violent or flashy as other common martial arts, but it was useful nonetheless. With a slightly dejected voice, he finished. "She was a lot better at it than I was, though."
Instead, he moved on to another topic. "Are ya European or something, Gwy? I didn't know you still had princes and sirs over there. You don't have to call me "Sir", by the way - I'm not a knight or anything."
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Post by Gwydion Levinegard on Oct 26, 2022 15:39:55 GMT
The two boys continued walking, making their way to the blonde teen’s home. Of course, to break the ice, both of them tried to get to know each other with Gwydion starting off on his observation about his host’ fighting skill. Kin told him his skills were taught by his sister. Something that the medieval prince found a bit radical compared to the women during his time. Surely, there were people like Jeanne Dark, or other women in the knighthood but they were taught by men. Not the other way around. Women definitely had their own strengths, but fighting was not one of them, except for the rare breeds. Of course, he had already been acquainted with this generation’s radical ideas and modern way of perceiving things. Traditional and conservative stuff were usually considered “outdated” and irrelevant compared to the novel way of thinking; and he did not want to offend the boy by saying things he might find inappropriate in these changing times. “I see..” there was a slight pause, perhaps a moment of curiosity. “Is she waiting for you then? Would it not be rude to disturb your family?”How did he not realise Kin had a family? Not every kid was like him, a lonesome orphan, with no family to turn to… Surely, most people, most kids in this age, were living a more stable and peaceful life. Unlike during his era, when every day was full of uncertainty, as if being played with in the hands of death. For some reason, however, the blonde teen diverted the topic, instead focusing on the foreigner. “Uh.. yes, United Kingdom,” as people of today called the small but glorious island in the North. By this time, he noticed Kin was perceptive of his use of archaic language. Well, it was not that easy to adapt. A lot of words, and manner of speaking had been lost in time and he was still making sense of the modern language. It seemed that some honorifics were still being used at least, and he thought it would be appropriate to use it since he wanted to express his respect to the man. “Oh. Do you not use “Sir’s” to address the people you respect? I suppose it’s different from one country to another. How would you like me to call you, then?”Gwydion intentionally avoided talking about his nobility, as it would potentially unlock the mystery of his existence in this world. Sure, he had a feeling Kin was no ordinary kid, but that didn’t mean he should let his guard down about his true identity. It would certainly be hard to believe for a man from the past to exist in the future. Wouldn’t it? [460/3204] 8 Nishimine Kin
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