Multiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 82

Multiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 82

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Edited by: Tiny Fan Fiction

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Chapter 82 Asagami Fujino

Asagami Fujino, that was Asagami Fujino’s name once upon a time.

It’s said that the Asagami family was once a wealthy and prestigious family, like the ones in the Clock Tower of Orario.

But in her memories, it was just a family on the verge of bankruptcy, barely scraping by in Nagano Prefecture, a far cry from the grandeur of the Familia.

Even being called the Young Lady of the Asagami Family, Asagami Fujino never had the life of a true ojou-sama, unlike the privileged few in the world of DanMachi.

As for that impoverished life, she didn’t have any complaints, but for some reason, everyone in the village disliked her, feared her, and ostracized her, making it impossible for her to find even a single playmate, a fate worse than being a Prisma Illya without a Master.

…No, she did know.

It was just a small, lingering fragment of light and shadow deep within her memories, a distortion of her past.

Distortion, indeed…

Asagami Fujino only remembered that her heart seemed to be saying so, and then the tree branch in front of her would distort and fall apart, a power reminiscent of a Reality Marble from the world of Type-Moon.

And then, she would be met with her father’s disgust and her mother’s fearful gaze, a reaction not unlike that of a Master discovering their Servant’s true nature.

From a certain point on, Asagami Fujino had to take medicine every day, a routine as mundane as a daily quest in Orario.

As her sense of pain gradually faded, her eyes also returned to normal, losing the ability to distort objects, a power that was as much a curse as a blessing.

But soon, not just her sense of pain, but also her sense of taste, smell, and touch disappeared, leaving her with a world as dull as a grayscale painting, devoid of the vibrant colors of the world of DanMachi.

Eating without taste, touching without feeling, getting hurt without pain, she couldn’t even tell if she was full or not, and could only estimate, a life as empty as a hollow shell.

It was a world without pain, but also without joy, where even the sense of being human was stripped away, a fate worse than being a mere puppet.

Unable to distinguish herself from the world, she couldn’t even draw the boundaries of her own existence, a plight not unlike that of a heroic spirit without a Master.

Even when surrounded by people, Asagami Fujino felt alone, only able to act according to the actions of those around her, like a mere NPC in a game.

When the adults thought she should eat, she ate, a routine as mindless as a golem following its Master’s orders.

When the teachers thought she should take a nap, she slept, a life as predictable as a scripted event.

When her friends thought she should cry, she cried, a reaction as hollow as a puppet’s strings being pulled.

Until one time, Asagami Fujino cut her palm with scissors while playing with toys, an accident as unexpected as a critical hit in a battle.

The girl looked at the blood flowing out, but didn’t feel anything, yet her mother, who saw the scene, was so anxious that she cried and whispered words of comfort, a reaction as genuine as a Master’s concern for their Servant.

A warmth pierced through her sensory barriers, flooding into Asagami Fujino’s heart, leaving an impression that she couldn’t forget, a feeling as profound as a heroic spirit’s bond with their Master.

Although her mother said she wouldn’t feel pain after recovering, Asagami Fujino still wanted to feel more pain, a desire as complex as a heroic spirit’s wish to their Master.

Because that might mean she could feel that warmth again, a feeling as precious as a Holy Grail.

Later on, the Asagami family went bankrupt, her father took his own life, and her mother remarried into the former Asagami branch family, the Asagami family.

Asagami Fujino, once known as Asagami Fujino.

For the sake of her caring mother, and for the fleeting warmth, Asagami Fujino strived with all her might.

She studied hard, lived diligently, exercised tirelessly…

Gradually, she earned the praise of classmates, friends, and servants alike; even her stepfather would speak of her with pride to his friends, as if she had become an outstanding girl recognized by most.

But even though Asagami Fujino was a freak without tactile sensation, she could still feel the alienation behind her classmates’ smiles, the pity in her stepfather’s praise, and her mother’s growing distance.

That warmth never touched her again, and even Asagami Fujino herself believed that life would go on like this, unchanging and perpetual.

Until today, Asagami Fujino, like before, accidentally hurt herself and was at a loss looking at the ankle wound…

“Excuse me, do you need help?”

Following the voice as clear as the Wind of the Lake, Asagami Fujino looked up and saw a young man standing against the sunlight, silently watching her in the breeze.

He had silver hair that shone like Gilgamesh’s under the sun, and a more handsome face than any man Asagami Fujino had seen in movies or magazines.

But what captivated Asagami Fujino the most were his deep, bright azure eyes that were even more profound than the sky above.

There was no desire in the gaze of this boy, no pity like her father’s, and no repulsion or alienation like her friends’ smiles…

Yet within those eyes, Asagami Fujino saw her own figure reflected completely.

It was as if the dusty, dim view had been carefully wiped clean, and many details suddenly became vivid and alive.

Disheveled black hair, lifeless red eyes, pale cheeks…

Was this really what I looked like?

A sense of reality, unlike any felt when looking in a mirror, at a photo, or pinching her cheeks, surged within her, leading Asagami Fujino to instinctively reach out, wanting to touch those eyes.

“Hm?”

Seeing the girl extend her hand without a word, Noah could only raise his hand to grasp it, applying gentle force.

Only after being instinctively grasped and helped to her feet did Asagami Fujino come to her senses.

It was too late.

The silver-haired youth looked at her ripped tights, the swollen ankle beneath, and the girl’s nonchalant rise, as if she had just realized something, her eyebrows arched.

“You, don’t you feel any pain?”

Though it was a question, Asagami Fujino, looking into his eyes, could clearly realize that he was already certain.

He had discovered something she had tried to hide for years, something that set her apart from everyone else.

The ground beneath her feet suddenly seemed to vanish, Asagami Fujino’s consciousness plunging into a fog, swirling in the void of Purgatory, where there was no up, down, left, or right.

Dazed, Asagami Fujino was led away by the youth, feeling like she was in a movie, her body having no real sensation.

When Asagami Fujino came to her senses, she found herself sitting on a stone by the roadside, with the silver-haired youth kneeling before her, already holding her leg in his right hand.

Asagami Fujino felt something was wrong.

Even at her young age, she understood some things about the differences between men and women.

Especially as the eldest daughter of the Asagami family, her future involved being married off to someone, so she had been well-educated in those matters.

However, looking at the youth before her, Asagami Fujino subconsciously pushed those ingrained ideas to the back of her mind.

All she could think about now was to let this youth see her more.

Noah gently lifted the girl’s leg, holding her calf, and took off her small leather boots.

While most children generally follow the pattern of rapid growth and development, there are still many exceptions that transcend this rule.

And this individual variation is even more pronounced among girls who develop earlier.

Some girls, at the ages of ten, 11, even 13 or 14, still retain a childlike physique, making it impossible to distinguish between male and female characteristics.

But some girls, once they enter puberty, experience a very rapid change, with noticeable changes visible every month, or even every week.

The girl before him was undoubtedly one of them.

Although her body, covered by a loose nun’s habit, was petite and fragile, her chest and hips already showed clearly defined curves, and her legs, gradually lengthening, felt soft and smooth in his hand, already hinting at the charm of an Elf female.

Her small face, although still retaining some baby fat, had a sharp, beautiful features. Combined with her silky, smooth black hair that cascaded down like silk, she exuded a classic, doll-like beauty, reminiscent of a store window mannequin.

The contrast between this childishness and body shape is easy to make people think that she will develop into such a perfect girl in a few years.

The white pantyhose wrapped around the girl’s legs was damaged and dyed with the blood left from her knees to a dazzling bright red.

However, that scrape was just a minor issue; more importantly, Noah could tell at a glance that the girl’s ankle was in a complete state of immobility due to a sprain.

To Noah, this could only be considered a light injury, on par with a simple scrape.

But for the girl in front of him, if it worsened, it could potentially threaten her ability to walk.

What was more critical was that this girl showed no reaction to such an injury at all.

This also confirmed to Noah that the girl before him was an anomaly similar to Matou Sakura.

In the world of Magecraft, exceptional talent is both a gift from the heavens and a curse bestowed by the gods.

Magical traits will similarly attract magical traits.

Those who stand out beyond the norm will inevitably draw in the same anomalies.

There is only one way to cope with such a fate: to step out of one’s own norm and carve a path forward.

Otherwise, as the years go by, the inhuman feeling brought by talent will only grow heavier, until it leads to one’s own destruction.

From the looks of it, this girl clearly had not mastered her own talent and was instead suffering from it.

Looking at the girl before him, Noah glanced back at the sleeping Matou Sakura in his arms, pondering what to do.

After all, if left like this, she would definitely be burned out by her own talent in the future.

One is to save, 2 is to carry; for Noah, there was no difference, and he could also find a sister for Matou Sakura, letting the two keep each other company.

But since it was like this, Noah couldn’t just forcibly take her away; he had to consider the other party’s subjective will.

“Your injury seems a bit serious; walking will make it worse.”

Putting the little shoes back on, Noah looked up at her deep crimson eyes.

“My name is Noah; what’s yours?”

“I, I am Asagami… no, I am Asagami Fujino!”

Coming back to her senses, Asagami Fujino transformed back into that little girl who rarely spoke to others.

“Miss Asagami, your injury on your foot is quite serious; you can’t walk anymore. Shall I take you to the hospital?”

At this point, Noah looked around and at the nearby Mifune City district, scratching his face a bit.

“Excuse me, do you know if there’s a hospital nearby? This is my first time in this city, so I’m not familiar with the area.”

“I, I was just about to go to the hospital.”

“Is that so? Then isn’t that perfect? I’ll take you there!”

Without waiting for Asagami Fujino to respond, Noah turned around and squatted down, signaling for her to get on.

Looking at Noah’s back, Asagami Fujino’s refusal rose to her lips, but remembering those azure eyes, she swallowed it back down.

No matter what, she still wanted to stay by his side, to see her own existence reflected in his eyes.

“But, Mr. Noah, aren’t you still holding a child?”

“You’re underestimating me, carrying you two little girls is a piece of cake, I can lift you up with one hand, how about giving it a try?”

Even Asagami Fujino, who didn’t have a strong sense of being alive, couldn’t help but feel a chill of shame when she imagined herself being lifted like a small chick in his hand.

“I-I understand! No need to trouble you!”

As Noah felt the soft body covering his back, he couldn’t help but reveal a subtle dead fish eye.

“Ryu-ryu, although you’re an Elf, your development is still worse than a ten-year-old human girl.”

With his left hand holding Matou Sakura and his right hand supporting Asagami Fujino’s buttocks, Noah slowly stood up.

Meanwhile, Asagami Fujino, who had come to her senses, instinctively held her breath, using a technique reminiscent of the breathing exercises used by the heroes of Orario.

She had hardly ever spoken to any man outside of her father and stepfather, and being carried in such an intimate manner was even more unthinkable.

Despite the lack of tactile sensation, her heart was still filled with a sense of unease.

The suspension of her field of vision made her instinctively wrap her arms around Noah’s neck, a gesture that would be familiar to the likes of Mikasa from the world of Titans.

“Cough, I mean, Miss Asagami, although I’m strong enough, being choked like this makes it a bit hard to walk.”

“Ah! I’m very sorry!”

Filled with shame, Asagami Fujino quickly released her grip, only to almost fall off Noah’s back.

After some commotion, Asagami Fujino finally grasped Noah’s shoulders, adjusting her position to a more stable one, much like the firm stance of a knight from the DanMachi.

The afternoon sun cast its glow on the long slope, coating the distant horizon with a layer of white, as the rustling of dry grass and twigs being blown by the wind filled the air.

A man’s body was indeed different from a woman’s, a fact that Asagami Fujino was well aware of, much like the differences between the physique of a hero like Bell Cranel and that of a powerful warrior like Ais Wallenstein.

Even without sensation, Asagami Fujino could feel the difference from the deformation of her palm and Noah’s shoulder, a sensation that might be familiar to the likes of Rin Tohsaka, who had experience with magical constructs.

Broad, solid, and unyielding, his shoulders seemed capable of withstanding any burden, much like the unshakeable resolve of a hero from the world of Fate.

His back was the same, seeming to provide a sense of security, shielding her from the turbulent world outside, much like the protective instincts of a powerful Servant.

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but whisper a gentle “Flame breath” in Noah’s ear, a term that might be more commonly associated with the magical abilities of mages from the world of Type-Moon.

“Noah-san.”

The warm breath in his ear made Noah feel a tickling sensation, causing his eyebrows to twitch slightly, a reaction that might be reminiscent of the interactions between Shiroe and his companions in the world of Log Horizon.

If it were Ais or Matou Sakura, he would have thought they were just teasing him, a sentiment that highlights the complexities of relationships between characters in anime and light novels.

However, thinking of Asagami Fujino’s condition, Noah endured it silently, like a Dungeon delver facing a formidable foe.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’ve noticed, haven’t you? I don’t feel pain, it’s because I’m a Monster…”

After revealing the secret she had kept hidden for years, Asagami Fujino immediately felt a pang of regret, like a Master of the Night of Wallachia facing the dawn.

Accompanying it was tension, the kind a gambler feels when they bet everything on a single roll of the dice, like a high-stakes game of Fate.

How would Noah react to this?

Would it be mockery or pity, like the scorn of a Servant towards a mere mortal?

But what Asagami Fujino heard was Noah’s laughter, a carefree sound like a gentle breeze on a summer day in Orario.

It was a laugh that was even more nonchalant than scorn, more casual, like a hero gazing out at a sunset after a long adventure.

Because people only show contempt towards others, but towards ants at their feet or butterflies nearby, they merely glance and look away, without investing more attention, like a hero dismissing a minor foe.

Asagami Fujino felt this nonchalance from Noah’s laughter, like a weight lifting off her shoulders.

“Miss Asagami, you say you’re a Monster, and the only thing that proves it is that your body can’t feel pain? Is there anything else?”

Asagami Fujino subconsciously thought of her ability to distort objects, but hesitated and didn’t say it out loud, like a hero holding back their Noble Phantasm.

This made Noah think she had fallen silent, like a stillness before a storm.

“Miss Asagami, there are some things I don’t think I can explain to you directly, but one thing I can say is: you and I are the same kind of people, like 2 adventurers in a party.”

After thinking for a moment, Noah shook her head, like a warrior reconsidering their strategy.

“No, I should say, compared to me, you’re incredibly normal, your abnormality and mine are like a drop of water and an ocean, so to me, you’re all the same, like a group of adventurers facing a common foe.”

You’re all the same……

For her, who had been isolated from the world, this was a more beautiful evaluation than any pity or praise, like a hero’s welcome after a long journey.

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