The Greedy Frog
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DxD: The Plunder System Chapter 60
🕑 Added 2023-04-24 15:23:46 +0000 UTCChapter 60: Improve thy personality
Yasaka was not going to go with Kento to meet Susanoo.
From this point onward, it was up to Kento to handle everything.
"I wish you luck," Yasaka said, "May the blessing of the seven gods be with you."
Nodding at her, Kento walked inside the room.
And the moment he stepped into the place, he felt a strong pressure on him.
It was the spiritual pressure of Susanoo's, there was no doubt in Kento's mind. However, unlike the previous times when the god used the pressure to intimidate him or to test him –this time it was different.
"So, you've finally arrived."
The voice resounded in the massive room. It was calm and surprisingly solemn, contrary to Susanoo's usual personality.
The boy didn't think much and confidently walked towards the center of the room.
He guessed the god would be there, so without thinking much he went straight.
The place was big, comically huge. He wondered how skilled Kagetsuchi had to be to build something so magical.
'Control over time and space allows a person to create wonders.'
He knew of this but even with such control, one had to have extensive imagination and insight to come up with such an immaculate design.
Walking for minutes, he finally saw the silhouette of the god sitting at the center of the room.
The room's construct was not huge but it was the enchantment on it that made it infinitely large.
'No one would say that this place is big if they don't experience this themselves.'
The outside appeared ordinary which tricked many into believing the place was nothing special. But the moment they stepped into the place –Bang!– they would be trapped in an endless maze.
An open mage with nothing but empty space.
Kento kept moving towards the silhouette, figuring that it was quite close to him.
However, he forgot to consider a key factor.
'Huh?'
He walked and walked but the figure never approached closer. If anything, it felt like the figure kept moving alongside him.
"You are quite slow, my disciple."
He heard the god of storms say, "You still haven't reached me."
While he entered the place, he forgot a key factor.
It was the fact that Susanoo controlled the space and time inside the room.
'But why would he do it now?'
The boy couldn't understand why the god would make the place infinitely large. He wasn't sure what the god was trying to achieve.
'What is this test?'
As a teacher, Susanoo was responsible for constantly testing Kento. Yet those tests were always for a reason. Never did Susanoo do anything that could harm him, at least not without a reason.
'What would he gain from this?'
There wasn't really much that the god could achieve by changing the space into infinity.
Unless…
'Unless it is not infinity.'
Kento had a realization.
'What if he is not controlling the space?'
Kagetsuchi designed the place in such a way that Susanoo would be able to control the place.
But it didn't always have to be controlling the space.
'This place is a domain that he can control, that control can be metaphysical as well.'
Metaphysical control had infinite variations and one of the key factors in it was the mind.
Kento immediately halted his steps and stood looking at Susanoo.
"Giving up already?" The god's voice resounded.
"Not that easily, Kami." Kento smiled and closed his eyes, calming his mind and his senses.
It was not Susanoo controlling the space around Kento, instead it was him tricking Kento's mind and senses.
Upon opening his eyes he smiled and took slow and steady steps.
And this time, the distance decreased.
The silhouette soon turned into a whole figure with every little feature visible. And the first thing Kento noticed on the figure was the smile.
"The first requirement to stay one step ahead of your enemy is to always have complete control of your body and mind."
Susanoo revealed –getting off his seat– as his humongous figure towered Kento.
"This is the very first lesson that you have to remember," Susanoo said, "If you ever let your enemies trick your mind or your senses, you will lose even before getting a chance to fight them."
Practical knowledge was the best knowledge and Kento was happy that the god was giving him just that.
Because giving only a few suggestions often led to the pupil having poor performance.
So, the god starting with a test was a great way to hammer knowledge into Kento's mind.
"I will keep that in mind, Kami Susanoo." Kento assured.
Susanoo was pleased with Kento's attitude and his analytical ability.
"We do not have enough time to do physical training today," The god said, "So, we will focus on something that is equally important."
Kento guessed that it might be strategy making or analysis, but dismissed the idea when he remembered that those needed physical training to master.
"The mind is one of the strongest weapons that a man possesses," Susanoo continued, "But a person needs another strong thing."
The god smiled, "And that is a strong personality."
Kento knew that a strong personality was extremely important when facing adversity or even when one had to be in public.
However, he wondered what made the god suddenly bring in the talk about personality.
"Do you know what helps in the development of a personality, Kento?"
This question had multiple answers and it highly depended on the one asking the question.
But Kento went with the most accepted answer.
"Our surroundings, thoughts, beliefs, friends, family… Anything and everything can result in the development of a certain type of personality."
Susanoo smiled at Kento's answer. "Very true. There are multiple factors that are involved in the development of a certain type of personality. However, as a person grows older… It is very difficult to change their personality.
"Yet that personality can still change and it is because of a person's goals and ambitions."
Kento was aware of this and he realized that this was the answer that Susanoo was looking for.
However, there was a very specific reason that Susanoo brought this topic out.
"Kento," Susanoo called with a calm and concerned voice, "You have a personality that makes me wonder what your dreams and ambitions are."
The god asked, "What is it that you want to achieve and why is it that you are trying to climb the ladder of power so badly?"
Kento found the question extremely easy to answer.
"That is because–"
But the answer did not come out as easily as he hoped.
'I am trying my best to grow strong to survive… But why does it feel like it is not good enough of a goal?'
He was confident.
He had a reason to grow strong and that was to survive.
But when the god asked, he went silent.
Because he had a reason to get stronger but it was not a goal or dream.
The dream to enjoy his new life to the fullest had been recently overshadowed by his wish to grow strong.
'What exactly is my goal?'
For a hot moment, Kento felt confused.
'It's not like I did not have a goal…'
He did have a goal but it felt like he moved away from it as time went on and situations kept changing.
"Your current personality is confused and not strong enough," Susanoo said, "To be able to survive without burning out, you need solid goals and dreams. Even if they appear out of reach, you should not give up.
"When I first met you, you had a different personality and now you have a different one. You are influenced easily." The god sighed. "You have been losing yourself as life has gotten hectic with the increase in your strength."
He wasn't wrong.
Kento was aware that he had been moving with whatever was happening around him. Be it helping others, getting entangled in their mess or simply filfilling their wishes as he felt it would make them happy.
He wasn't following his goal, he was simply allowing others to achieve theirs.
"As my disciple, it is your responsibility to fix your personality. Rethink your purpose and your goals, don't be swayed away from them, don't run away from responsibilities and keep walking towards your dreams." Susanoo smiled, "Only then will you be able to face the opponents that are going to appear in the future. Otherwise, you will lose even before you could think of fighting them."
After all…
If a being could sway him easily, he would never win.
…
…
In the far west, the weather was rather cold. The sky was still visible but only barely.
The place was open, quite free from the big industries and population, and out in that open… sat a man with a curious look on his face.
"The stars are not aligned."
He sounded displeased as he looked at the barely visible stars.
"There are unwanted variables moving around." He read the stars, "Variables… That needs to be eliminated."
And saying this, he closed as eyes and the sky went dark.
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[[A/N: Got the visa, renovated the entire house and even built a kennel for my dog.
Got a lot of work done in these 2 days.]]
