THE ADVENTURER OF EDEN
4.10 "Big Port Incident"

"I am a sinful woman, who killed everyone on Paradise Island, your hometown."

Reina reveals a "sin" to Shiki. His sins. It is Reina's sin that caused Shiki to lose everything.

Reina looked up at the sky, 13 years ago, when she was only 5 years old and a year after meeting Alicia when they were kids.

"It must be a lie."

Reina did not want to see the face of Shiki at this time which must have hurt her. Shiki's voice also sounded distrustful of Reina's words.

"It doesn't matter if Shiki-san doesn't trust me. But that is the truth."

"I.can't believe..." Shiki's face looked very painful. He held her head and Reina still threw away her face, talking to Shiki. "I remember everything back then, the reason why I destroyed the place."

"But I won't tell you, and I want you to hate me. I don't want feelings to grow between us because of me-"

BUKS! A loud falling sound rang out and Shiki fainted before him. Reina was certainly very surprised, she was ready earlier if Shiki was angry with her.

Shiki falls unconscious and Reina has no idea why.

"Shiki-san...?"

💠💠💠

13 Years ago was a disaster.

I don't remember anything in Paradise's time of destruction. But my father, my foster father told me.

"Paradise was destroyed by the Kingdom of Asteria and everyone on the island was killed."

The first time I heard it I asked "Really?" I need to look with my own eyes so I have a reason to have negative feelings, feelings of hate and anger.

When I was with the Haruna clan, several times my father had doctored that the Asteria Kingdom was evil. My memory before 13 years ago explains it indeed.

Several times the "noble" of the Asteria Kingdom came to my island. My father, the bastard, is from Asteria and my mother is a native of Paradise.

My father often hurt my mother, beating her when she was helpless.

That bastard, I will never forgive him.

Despite the injury, my mother can still smile. My foster father told me that my mother was a very strong woman, she was a Valkyrie when she was young.

But...but why does it look so weak...?

"UGH, shit..." My head hurts when I remember again.

"Govie!"

"Damnec!"

The voices of the two women, I heard them clearly. Ah that's the voice of both of them. Thank you for waking me up from that painful dream.

You guys are the best.

***

"Thank you." Shiki thanked them both upon waking up.

"Uh..." The two of them looked worried, but their faces were relieved Shiki was fine.

"What happened to me...? Last night, I talked to Reina near the waterfall and my head suddenly hurt when I heard what Reina said..." Shiki held her head in pain.

Yui and Alicia look at each other. Yui replied that, "Reina left us, aniki. He left the letter that Alicia had torn out with annoyance."

"Uhhhh! The letter just said "i'm gone, thanks for everything", and of course it pisses me off! There is no serious reason! He didn't tell me anything about this!" Alicia was furious, Shiki smiled and of course all would be annoyed reading it.

But Shiki knew the reason Reina left them. This pertains to the twenty-year-old woman regaining her sealed memories.

"Alicia, did you know that Reina was a Valkyrie?" ask Shiki

"I know, from the beginning and that's one of the reasons why I... I envy her." replied Alicia.

"What is Valkyrie?" ask Yui.

"uh? You don't know?" Alicia must be shocked.

"I guess it's natural that Yui doesn't know. I heard that the Haruna clan has never gotten the Valkyrie, despite being known as an extraordinary fighting clan." Shiki said that.

"uh? You know that?" Alicia was surprised Shiki knew so much about the Valkyrie.

Shiki nodded. "That's because my mom used to be a Valkyrie."

"Valkyrie is a term for women who are very strong fighters, endowed by the "world" with a great magical energy in their bodies." Shiki explained that. "I think the Valkyries have a special magic on them, right?"

"Yes, special magic like Mira's magic." Alicia nodded.

"Special magic, means that divine light is Reina's special magic?" ask Yui again.

"It may be so, but the Divine Light itself is one of the noble weapons. You could say no..." Alicia still had doubts about that. "But maybe the reason Reina could use it so well, is because she's a Valkyrie."

"It makes sense." Shiki agreed with Alicia.

Shiki did not tell Alicia that Reina had lost her memory, she had promised Reina. But Shiki was still worried about whether he should tell the two if Reina destroyed Paradise.

Shiki herself was still in disbelief, and even if it was true, she wanted to know what reason Reina did it. Shiki also could not remember everything that happened at that moment and if she remembered it, her head would definitely hurt a lot.

"Daughter Alicia, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's two people coming to see you."

...

"That's it, so Leonard sent you to ask for my help and my three heroin. I think the situation is bad enough that Leonard asked for my help, huh?" Shiki crossed her arms.

They were the arrival of Sarah and the Duma, the twelfth-seat Star Knight and the eleventh-seat Star Knight.

"True, I'll contact him and you list your magical energy into this Call Chip to connect with Sir Leonard."

The Duma gives Call Chip, and Shiki registers his magical energy into that two-way communication device.

Then Leonard was contacted, the redhead man was relieved as well; "(I'm relieved the Duma and Sarah have found you, Princess Alicia! My guess is right that you're in Metra now!)"

"It's me." Shiki tells, and Leonard is shocked; "(YOU?!!)"

Leonard was preparing with his entourage right now. "Curtain, fine... I don't think there's any other choice but to tell you, there's no point in hiding all this."

"This is the tragedy that happened yesterday, "The Great Port Incident" his name..."

Leonard began the story, the day before, the group of Count Erick who was escorted by three Holy Knights and dozens of soldiers arrived at the Great Port which was already in a terrible state, all the places were destroyed and many corpses lay lifeless.

"Impossible... What's going on...?!" Count Erick as the owner of the Great Port was extremely shocked, speechless and wondering;

"Everything! Ready to protect Count Erick!" GroB shouted; "Aticipate all the enemy's moves!"

GroB believes this is an act of NARAKU, which is why they should anticipate. But GroB's conjecture isn't entirely true, with Braun sensing the incredible magical energy coming from the harbor's direction.

"This incredible magical energy...! He's coming, GroB!" Braun "The fourth-seat Holy Knight" told his junior to prepare.

"Take Count Erick away! Evacuation! She came...!" GroB shouted, the man ran over with a large sword towards them; "...Sir Rackham!"

"Rackham.and he uses... Madness Enhancement?!" Erick was taken away in shock.

Sir Rackham aka the Berserk Knight darted towards them, brandishing his greatsword and smashing the ground; the three Holy Knights managed to dodge while carrying Erick, however, some of their soldiers were attacked by Rackham until defeated.

Braun panic; "Damn! He used his great sword! Plus Madness Enhancement, she became a crazy fighter!" Braun tried to fight the Berserk Knight in front of him.

"Are you seriously fighting him, Braun?!" GroB shocked.

"We must prioritize Count Erick's safety!" Albert told me that.

The Berserk Knight moved in on Count Erick, and Braun replied; "I'm fourth seat! I must fight him, and you must ensure the safety of Count Erick! Hurry along!"

GroB and Albert understood, they brought Count Erick back to the horse cart. Braun extended his sword and pierced the Berserk Knight's right abdomen;

"Burn to ashes! The Flame of Anaconda!" Braun's white long sword unleashed a huge flame radiating like a snake and burned the Berserk Knight directly to death.

But... The Berserk Knight appeared directly before Braun from the flames, who looked on in shock;

Braun remembered Sir Rackham being strong, and he smiled due to the obvious difference in strength, very clearly, even with Madness Enhancement, making Braun and Rackham's position like heaven and earth.

"TWO!" The Berserk Knight struck Braun fiercely using his greatsword. GroB and Albert could not believe Braun was killed.

Berserk Knight called it "Erick... Erick... Erick..!"'s search...!"

Count Erick shouted in annoyance; "Rackham! Goddamnit! Be aware!"

GroB stepped forward, took out a chain of spiked balls "Morning Star" and told the thirteenth-seat knight; "Quick! Take a retreat to the capital! I'll hold it here!"

"Guh! You intend to die too?!" Albert is upset, but has no choice but to comply with GroB.

"Come on Count Erick!"

"No, I'll be here"

"Lullaby Dust!" Albert put Count Erick to bed with sleeping powder, then took him away after a look at GroB who was fighting Berserk Knight with a panicked face of course.

....

Leonard finished the story. "That's what happened in the Great Port yesterday and the appearance of a Berserk Knight is a huge threat!" leonard said; "Sir Rackham aka Berserk Knight.if he is not stopped, the entire Asteria Kingdom will be destroyed!"

"I beg you, Shiki! Me and the Holy Knights can't stop Sir Rackham alone!" Leonard tells Shiki to ask for his help;

"Sir Rackham is a Berserk Knight at the moment, and if he is not stopped, the entire Asteria will be destroyed!!"

Shiki is certainly surprised to hear Leonard, his rival who he defeated two years ago asked for his help. Well, Leonard probably felt this situation was impossible for him to stop alone given their extremely powerful enemy who had killed two Star Knights "fourth seat" and "sixth seat" that incidentally is a high position.

"Of course I'll help you, Leonard. But discussing here wastes a lot of our time" said Shiki, he was ready to help.

"(You're right, let's meet in the woods near Rouf Town on the border of West, South and Central. Yuren and Albert led Sir Rackham there with Count Erick as his lure.)"

Leonard explains his plan. "Hibari himself has a plan to defend Berserk Knight until we come later."

"Well, I'll come first there and defeat that Berserk Knight before you, and that means I managed to defeat you twice, Leonard...!" Shiki challenged his rival and said that.

"Huh??" Leonard was shocked to hear that. Alicia and the others were shocked as well, what did Shiki think at a time like this he was challenging Leonard instead???

"(I get it, so you want a rematch! It's rare that the winner challenges his rival again, and I myself intend to do that if it's all done." Leonard accepts Shiki's challenge of course.

"However let's do that." Leonard agreed, the red-haired man was full of vigor now.

"Just take this as a substitute for a duel in the Star Tournament! This is our final, Shiki!"

"(Really...!)" Shiki agreed. "Who manages to defeat the Berserk Knight and save Asteria, then he will win!"