SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will - Chapter 132

Chapter 132: The Benefactor’s Companion
With the Heretics retreating to wherever they’d come from, Moon sat down with Yara and Selene in a quieter area of the settlement. He needed to understand far more about the entire situation, not only to prepare for the upcoming conflict that seemed inevitable, but also to comprehend this hidden realm and possibly discover its exit conditions.

This realm was mysterious, far more complex than anything Moon had anticipated encountering. It was clearly more dangerous than the winter realm, but it also offered significantly better opportunities. Moon didn’t particularly want to leave just yet, the attribute enhancements from the golden fish’s blood and the potential for further discoveries made staying incredibly attractive. But he still wanted to understand the completion mechanism in case circumstances forced a hasty exit.

Yara began narrating detailed stories about the benefactor she constantly referenced with such reverence. Moon had specifically asked her to elaborate because of a growing suspicion, this mysterious benefactor could very well be the key to exiting the realm, just as defeating the Winter Beast had been the completion condition previously.

According to Yara’s account, the benefactor had arrived during a time of tremendous turmoil for her people. The Savi ancestors had been struggling desperately to survive on this island, constantly fighting each other for limited resources and territorial control. Internal conflict had been tearing their society apart.

When the benefactor first appeared, he’d been severely injured, apparently from whatever circumstances had brought him to this realm. The Savi warriors, not recognizing him as anything other than a potential threat or resource, had immediately tried to fight and capture him.

Despite his heavy injuries, the benefactor had defeated them all single-handedly without any issues. But rather than slaughtering the defeated warriors as would have been expected, he showed mercy and allowed them to live.

Yara’s voice carried deep reverence as she explained, “It was a true display of mercy. To forgive when you possess the power to punish is different from forgiving when you lack that power. The benefactor could have ended our ancestors, but he chose compassion instead.”

That act of restrained strength had apparently changed everything for the Savi people.

The benefactor stayed with them for several months, teaching them countless things. He made their ancestors significantly stronger through training and guidance. He provided them with miraculous items that enhanced their capabilities and allowed them to hunt the powerful beasts dwelling in the ocean depths that had previously been far beyond their power and reach.

Under his mentor-ship, the Savi transformed from being the weakest faction on the island to becoming one its dominant powers.

Selene leaned forward, asking the question that had been forming in Moon’s mind as well. “But why do you still believe he’ll return? What if he simply forgot about you after leaving? 6000 lunar cycles is a long time.”

Yara shook her head firmly, absolute conviction in her expression. “That’s impossible. We know he hasn’t forgotten for several reasons, but the most important is because he left us with one of his close companions before leaving,”

Moon immediately became on edge, “Close companion? There’s a being from that time that lives alongside your people? Here on this island?”

Yara’s revelation had made the situation dramatically more complicated. If the benefactor had left something or someone powerful enough to be called a “companion,” that changed everything about the power dynamics in this realm.

Yara nodded calmly. “Yes, the great golden fish that roams the waters around our island. We are never afraid of outsiders or invaders because the great golden fish protects our land. We don’t see it often, but we know it’s always there, watching. So when you arrived safely on our shores, it meant you had somehow gained its permission to enter our territory.”

At that moment, both Selene and Moon’s hearts dropped simultaneously.

This wasn’t folklore. This wasn’t exaggerated mythology passed down through generations until truth became legend.

Moon had personally witnessed that terrifying golden fish from inside its own body and again from the outside ocean. He’d told Selene about the creature’s incomprehensible size and power during their private discussions.

Yara’s stories were completely real, not just the romanticized tales of elders embellishing history, but accurate accounts of actual events. Of course, some things might be exaggerated, whilst others were real, but it was still mostly accurate, or appeared to be in the very least.

‘That golden fish was the companion of this benefactor?’ Moon couldn’t help but think with growing dread. ‘Just how unimaginably strong was this person to have such a creature as a loyal companion?’

The implications were frightening. Moon had barely survived being inside that creature, the idea that someone had tamed it, earned its loyalty, and commanded it as a guardian…

Selene couldn’t control her curiosity either, “Why would he leave the great golden fish here instead of taking it with him? If it was truly his companion, wouldn’t he want it by his side?”

Yara’s expression became uncertain, the first time she’d shown anything other than complete confidence when discussing the benefactor. “We are not entirely sure of his reasoning. The elders have debated this question for generations.”

She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Some believe the benefactor left it here because he knew we would need protection from those who wished us harm, others think the golden fish was injured or weakened and needed time to recover. A few even suggest the benefactor intended to return for it eventually but was prevented by circumstances we cannot understand.”

Moon exchanged meaningful glances with Selene. Both were thinking the same thing.

If the golden fish was this benefactor’s companion, and if completing hidden realms typically required defeating or resolving whatever central challenge existed…

Did that mean they’d eventually need to confront that golden fish somehow?

The thought was absolutely terrifying. Moon had seen that creature up close. Fighting it was suicide, and an impossible task.

Both Moon and Selene hoped that it didn’t require fighting the golden fish. But Moon wasn’t going to rely on hope only, he needed more information before drawing conclusions.

“Yara,” Moon said carefully, “do you know where the benefactor went when he left? What he said his destination was?”