Bonus Short Story

Hatori’s Wish

A man lay prostrated before Dolstar in his office, somewhere he normally used to tend to affairs in the slums and, more recently, meet with other Yenitian citizens. The man’s name was Hatori, and he had been reincarnated just like Luciel. He was also yet another victim of Illumasia, tempted to crime by the empire’s enticing promises.

Hatori truly believed himself an envoy of the gods. He dreamed of honing his skills as a ninja, obtaining power, and becoming a great hero worthy of awe, much like those in the stories he had read in his past life.

But reality was not so simple.

No matter how many skills he honed, how much power he obtained, he never became a hero. He never attained honor in the eyes of the people. And Hatori only came to realize the true depths of his powerlessness when he reached rock bottom a month ago after collapsing, his stomach rumbling.

Hatori made for the Adventurer’s Guild immediately after reincarnating in Yenice. But he had no weapons and no fighting experience to speak of. Still, Hatori convinced himself that the weaker monsters wouldn’t be too much trouble, even bare-handed, although he never found so much as a single goblin or slime to get his fists on. Eventually, he gave up on extermination contracts and turned his sights to herb gathering. Those jobs, too, though, proved too much when he learned that he would need to enter the forest that not even high ranking adventurers dared approach.

And so Hatori’s final and only option fell to miscellaneous labor, most of which was physical in nature and paid just enough to let him eat and sleep for the day. It wore on his heart, little by little, but he had little choice if he wanted to live to see the next day.

One day, Hatori fancied he could pull himself out of his swamp if he could put his ninjutsu skills to use on an extermination contract. But this turned out to be arrogance.

Hatori slew his assigned target, but not without sustaining severe injuries. And although he recovered, the potion he needed to do so cost more than the reward for the job, and he never forgot the fear. Any time he faced a monster, he remembered the pain. Before long, he was back to menial labor. But every day was a struggle to find motivation, every day he found it harder to justify even eating to see another.

It was Dolstar who picked him up off the ground that day. It was Dolstar who filled his empty belly, no questions asked. And all he wanted in return was for Hatori to join his organization.

Hatori agreed.

From then on, Hatori was Dolstar’s eyes and ears, aiding his intelligence network and sharpening his ninjutsu along the way. He learned to use greater abilities and powers, until he began to attract the attention of others seeking to learn from him. He began to provide instruction in exchange for pay.

Through this, Hatori grew stronger.

It wasn’t long until the Illumasian Empire set their sights on him. After all, humans didn’t normally associate with the half-beasts like Hatori did. So they investigated him, and offered a deal. A very convincing one.

Hatori was skeptical at first, but he would have been a fool to turn down the amount of money they were promising, and the empire was a very consistent client to have. So he threw his lot in with them. It was a no-brainer as far as he was concerned.

As Hatori’s finances improved, the life of a slum dweller became more and more degrading. He decided it was time to say goodbye to his comrades, and so he faked his own death in the labyrinth.

After that, Hatori spent his time as an agent, passing information from Yenice to Illumasia and spreading rumors whenever his client requested it.

His dreams of heroism remained just that, until they were forgotten entirely.

And then came Luciel. Hatori’s contacts, including the slaver and even the vice guildmaster of the Doctor’s Guild, began to disappear one by one. And in this newcomer, in Luciel, he remembered his dreams. He saw a hero in him.

Hatori hated Luciel with a passion. But only after failing to assassinate him, and becoming Dolstar’s slave, did Hatori at last realize what he had become.

Hatori had been obediently working for Dolstar for some time. And now he was here, prostrated before his master.

Dolstar regarded him carefully. “This won’t change what you did.”

“I am keenly aware,” Hatori said.

“Then why are you groveling? If you have something to ask, spit it out.”

“I wouldst lend mine assistance to the school.”

Dolstar frowned skeptically. “The school? And teach what? Have you heard yourself talk before?”

“I have long been a well-studied individual,” Hatori prattled. “I know how to handle children. Mine ninjutsu shall lend itself well to earning their admiration.”

“All right. Now let’s hear where this is coming from.”

“You see.” Hatori was silent for a moment. “I have been smitten. I want to be closer to her.”

Dolstar snorted. “And who’s the girl?”

“Creia. The slave of Mister Luciel’s.”

“You know you won’t be getting out of the job if she turns you down.”

“But of course! I need not even confess myself to her.”

“Sure,” Dolstar sighed. “I’ll see what they say. But you’re prioritizing work here above anything else.”

“As you wish. Thank you, Master Dolstar.”

“I’d save your thanks for Luciel,” Dolstar groaned.

“Well said, and I shall! No one is more deserving than he, a saint purer and holier than any. I will take my leave now.”

“You do that.”

The moment the door shut behind Hatori, Dolstar could contain his laughter no longer. He reached for his pen and began to write a letter to Luciel.