Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2790 - 2791: Dinner With Everyone

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"Oh, Heisuke, Uzuki, and Takamura! Welcome, welcome!" my father said. "You were tasked with teaching my daughter many things, but since that incident, you haven't been able to help her much as I put her to train... My apologies. Soon, you'll resume your work by her side."

"Ah, boss, don't worry about it!" Takamura said. "We can wait until she gets stronger."

"She was already pretty strong, boss," Uzuki said, smiling calmly at me. "Hello, young lady."

"Hi! Come sit here! Oh, right! Is this the first time you've met her?" I asked. "This is Franky!"

"Franky?! Woah, you're all stitched and stuff! Are you a zombie gal? I dig zombie gals! Especially if they're cute gyarus," said Takamura.

"E-Eh?! I-I am not a zombie...!" Franky said, blushing as Takamura ran toward her.

"She is a homunculus, Takamura, and get your hands off my daughter or you'll miss having arms for the rest of your life," the Doctor said, quick to react to Takamura's flirty personality.

"Ahhh! You're the Doctor's daughter?!" Takamura exclaimed. "I-I'm so sorry! I messed up!"

"You did, big time," Uzuki said, glaring at Takamura with a bored expression.

"H-Hahah... oopsie?" Takamura laughed heartily.

"Sorry about that, Doctor," Heisuke said. "I'm still teaching Takamura some things, even though it's been years since we joined the group."

"Ah, Heisuke, you're among the rising stars of the organization, right? You only joined a couple of years ago," the Doctor said. "I can tell you're strong, hm?"

"Thank you for your remark! But I consider myself someone who is still growing," Heisuke smiled.

"I've heard you're the kid favored by Buddha, right? Or one of the Bodhisattvas," asked Wasp.

"Lord Wasp...!" Heisuke muttered. "Well, they're mostly baseless rumors... I'm not entirely sure about the true origin of my powers, but I know they come from someone watching over and protecting me. The stronger I grow, the more I unveil, but it's still nebulous."

"Huh, interesting kid," Wasp said. "Come on, sit down. We should talk. I'm quite interested in how you fight by manipulating Fortune and other things. That's fascinating."

"Thank you. I'd love to receive insights from a Master of Martial Arts like you," Heisuke said, sitting by Wasp's side as they began discussing martial arts.

Wow, I had no idea Wasp could be this talkative!

"So, you're Uzuki? You're younger than I thought," Medea said. "Hello, I'm Medea. I directly serve your 'boss,' though to me, he's my great lord. I don't just call him boss, fufu."

"Y-You're the Great Witch Goddess Medea?" Uzuki, as a magician, was amazed. "It's an honor!" He showed more emotion than usual, lowering his head in a Japanese greeting.

"Haha, your Japanese mannerisms are always cute. No need to go so far, dear," Medea giggled, sipping wine. "I've heard you're a master of Dream Magic? And you can temporarily materialize a special Dream Domain to trap enemies in tangible dreams, is that right?"

"I... well, that's a very simplified explanation of my magic," Uzuki said. "What I actually do is combine a series of formulas, runes, and energy fluctuations. I also take advantage of the dimensional walls created by Domains that manifest during fights."

"That's amazing! Not many could figure out such power in a million years!" Medea said with amusement. "Tell me more about your magic! How does it work? How do you conjure it? Who taught you?"

"Ah, well..." Uzuki began, happy to meet someone he admired.

"This is the first time I've seen so many people gathered at my dining table, haha!" my father laughed. "Thank you, dear. I was feeling pretty bored today, but you lifted my spirits."

"It's nothing, Father!" I said. "I just felt like bringing the family together... well, the people I consider close to me."

"Hm, I see... the people you consider your family, huh?" he said, smiling warmly. "Thank you, dear. And speaking of family, I believe your aunt and nieces will arrive tomorrow!"

"Really?! Wow, well, I... um, I'll gladly welcome them!" I nodded.

"Heh, I bet you're excited! This'll be the first time you meet your aunt and everyone else," he said with a pleased smile.

"Yes... yeah!" I said. "I can't wait."

Ismena and Acelina arrived, bringing today's food: filet mignon with carrot puree and salted mini potatoes, accompanied by caviar, grilled salmon, and many more dishes to satisfy everyone's appetite.

As we enjoyed the food together, we talked and had fun. Our dinner extended longer because everyone was so talkative. Even Mirabilis joined us, with her massive appetite.

The dinner ended late at night. Everyone felt exhausted, so once it was over, we walked back to our rooms to sleep.

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The next morning, I felt dizzy and tired, dragging myself to the bathroom for a few minutes before taking a quick warm shower and getting ready for the day.

I consumed the items I made yesterday and began exercising, swinging my sword, punching the air, and constantly combining Mana Strands with my Consciousness, expanding its volume rapidly.

After two hours of intense training, I managed to create a hundred Mana Strands!

And the change was... noticeable.

FLUOSH!

"Hm?"

I felt my Consciousness expand threefold, spreading farther than I imagined, covering a radius of almost a hundred meters around me.

This was a combination of Martial Arts Consciousness methods and the Arcane Path's Mana Cultivation, using the special Method Lady Medea taught me.

The resulting effect was greater than the sum of both, as if the Martial Arts Path and the Arcane Path complemented each other.

"Just what is this? It's amazing..."

My Consciousness could expand many meters around me, helping me detect everything within that radius and enhancing all my senses. It could also detect other Consciousnesses and potentially cut them.

By combining these two and using magic or martial arts, I could perhaps pierce through Consciousness the way Noah did!

I felt great quantities of Mana flowing through my body. It was amazing, unlike anything before.

Cultivating without the System was the best thing I did.

My Consciousness was now permanently merged with the Mana, stitched together.

This meant it could supply me with additional Mana more easily, increasing my regeneration.

And regarding Martial Arts, I had learned a couple more moves, each helping me regulate Ki through my body and release it through attacks.

Each technique was a stance, a movement, and a strategy in combat, designed for a specific purpose and circumstance.

Some moves were for starting a fight, while others were for resisting damage, prolonging a series of attacks, evading, or defending.

It was fascinating the more I thought about it. Before, I simply used Skills and waited for their effects to work.

But now? I knew exactly what each thing did, and they became extensions of my body over time, ways I fought and defended.

And this was just the beginning. As I grew stronger, I could advance to a greater form of Martial Arts.

And even create my own personal Martial Arts techniques.

Not Skills or "techniques" from Skills, but my own philosophy embodied in my fists and weapons.

To infuse myself into my attacks, to expand my Consciousness beyond my limits and spread my existence around me.

This, combined with the Arcane Path, was amazing.

And somehow, it felt like both Paths could complement each other!

The Arcane Path provides more energy, helping my Martial Arts progress faster while also aiding in expanding, understanding, and training my Consciousness.

Meanwhile, Martial Arts help me train, refine, and forge my body, giving me more vitality and strength to exert more magical power without breaking.

Although people often choose one or the other, combining both Paths is the ideal way to grow stronger!

And Alchemy supplements them with precious elixirs to boost the body and mind.

Yeah, it was all coming together now...

I finally understood why this was so necessary for me to learn in this world.

Only by mastering these Paths will I be able to evolve and reach the next stage.

So I can stand against the powerful cosmic beings trying to ruin my life.

And...

My "sisters," beyond the boundaries of this dimension, entities of such immense power that, even now, I cannot fully grasp.

I'm finally beginning to see a clear path ahead.

My mind has cleared, and I now feel somewhat confident.

There's a way.

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