Chapter 32
Austin, Texas.
"Okay, let's get started. We have a guest in the studio today who I've heard a lot of strange stories about. He's No. 62 on the US Pro Heroes list. He's now a teacher at UA. It recently came to light that he came from another world or dimension. Please welcome Pro Hero 'Viper'."
Letho just nodded. Joe continued.
"Thank you for coming to our studio in Texas. There are many things I want to talk to you about, but you're probably jet-lagged, so today we'll talk about the most important thing... Vesemir. People have been sending me messages asking me to do a podcast episode about him. I've seen those videos from his memory. Who is he? He doesn't act like a typical 15-year-old."
"You can't think of him as a teenager, Joe. At eight, he killed for the first time in self-defense. He's a highly trained monster hunter... aka a witcher."
"If I'm not mistaken, you're also a witcher. What does that mean? Who, or perhaps what, are witchers?"
"As I said, witchers are monster hunters. In the world we come from, monsters are an everyday occurrence. I understand you saw that video of the endregas in the park in Japan?"
"Shit... the kid fought like a demon. Hey Jamie? Pull that up. That video from the park."
*A 15-second clip of Vesemir fighting the endregas before he even went to hunt the endrega queen.*
Joe started shaking his head slowly left and right.
"That's insane, dude. Are you telling me, Viper, that's normal for him?"
Letho just shrugged.
"For you, Joe, it's a fight to the death. For us, it's a typical Tuesday at the office."
"Holy fucking shit, dude... Who in their right mind forces a kid to train like that?"
"Someone who has no choice. Vesemir had no choice. You've probably heard about his mother, right?"
"That Vigilante from Japan who disappeared a dozen years ago?"
"Yes. Here's the thing. His mother has some influence in our world. Many people want to control her. The best thing they could do is kidnap and torture her son."
"Holy fucking shit... sorry to repeat myself, but this is fucked..."
"That's our world, Joe. Is there anything specific you want to discuss?"
"Yes, I do. Tell me... what was the worst situation you saw this kid in? Something that showed you he was different from the rest?"
"Hmm... We'll do it differently. I'll tell you what I heard myself. I haven't seen it, but I know the information is reliable."
"Come on."
"There's a city called Novigrad. A young man massacred a group of soldiers there who raped some girl."
Joe looked shocked.
"So where were the Pro Heroes or the police?"
"We don't have any police or Pro Heroes here. The closest thing we have is the 'Knights,' but we'll get to that later."
"Okay, okay... so tell me what the White Wolf did."
"He massacred the bastards without mercy. He did it quickly, but so they knew they were dying. He sent a message so bluntly that no one even touched a woman for a year afterward."
Joe ran his hand over his face.
"Jesus... how old was he then?"
"I don't remember exactly. 12? Maybe 13."
"A 13-year-old killed a group of armed soldiers without a problem?"
"Yes."
"Holy fucking shit dude. Okay... now tell me how he even functions in school? Because don't tell me he sits at his desk, does his homework, and listens to the teacher after something like that."
"For now, he's on an individualized curriculum. People don't understand that he has more blood on his hands than most heroes have in their entire careers."
"So there's a Vigilante in your world?"
"No. Remember when I mentioned knights?"
"Are you telling me this kid is a full-fledged medieval knight like from 'Game of Thrones' or Tolkien's books?"
"Tell me, Joe, what do you imagine a knight to be?"
"You know... armor, a sword, honor, rescuing princesses from towers, and slaying dragons."
"You're right about one thing. Honor. Do you know what it means to receive a knight's word of honor? It means that this knight will do what he promised or die trying."
"Viper... if I remember correctly, Vesemir swore an oath to hunt down those Yakuza men. The ones who killed two people."
Letho nodded slowly.
"They're already dead, they just haven't accepted it yet."
Joe leaned across the table.
"You mean Vesemir will hunt down the people who did this?"
"No. I mean Vesemir will hunt down the entire Shie Hassaikai group. The young man will kill them all. There will be no mercy."
Joe leaned back in his chair, momentarily silent, as if trying to determine if he had just heard a promise of massacre or just a colorful metaphor. Letho spoke again.
"That's not bragging, Joe. My... nephew has... a very particular set of skills."
Joe shook his head in disbelief, resting his elbows on the table.
"Holy fucking shit... and I thought he was a kid with an interesting quirk."
Joe moved forward, leaning forward slightly.
"Okay, but tell me straight... what exactly does 'he has a very particular set of skills' mean?"
Letho leaned back in his chair, his voice calm, but his satisfaction palpable.
"That means he can track a target for days almost without a break, fight in any conditions, use melee and ranged weapons, and knows dozens of ways to kill a person or monster. He's a master swordsman. He's killed hundreds of monsters that were far more dangerous than any Yakuza member."
Joe blinked, as if trying to process what he'd just heard. He exhaled with a soft whistle.
"Fuck... that sounds like a cross between Batman and John Wick."
"Because it is. Vesemir saw things that would make most people in this world shit themselves. He went through a massacre that would break most pro heroes. The difference between Vesemir and the pro hero in this world is that Vesemir couldn't take a vacation on demand. He couldn't go to a psychologist. He didn't have time to doubt himself because that would be an unnecessary luxury he couldn't afford. He just got up and kept going."
"This isn't life, this is... a war without end."
"Yes, Joe... this isn't life. I only understood what it means to truly live when I came to this world."
"Okay, let's change the subject a bit... so how the hell does a fifteen-year-old even become a knight? That sounds like something that in your world should take a lifetime."
"He was 13 when he was knighted. He and his team won a tournament in the Duchy of Toussaint... and immediately afterward, they participated in a battle where they demonstrated deeds worthy of knights. The Duchess personally knighted him."
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"
Letho nodded slowly, as if he were recounting something completely ordinary. He waited for Joe to calm down.
"You have to tell me about it!"
Letho just shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because that's not my story to tell. I can tell you that there was a lot of bloodshed, and Vesemir emerged unscathed... but you should hear the rest from him if he ever shares this knowledge. You've interviewed various pro heroes and soldiers on your podcast. Do you remember them talking about their experiences?"
Joe nodded slowly.
"Sure, many of them had this emptiness in their eyes... As if a part of them had been left behind on the battlefield."
"Exactly. But with Vesemir, that part that others lose... is the foundation on which he was built. He knows no life other than fighting. There's no point of reference where he's just a teenager."
"Oh shit... So if I invited him here, to the studio, and asked him about that event, then..."
"He'd look you straight in the eye and answer... maybe with one sentence. Maybe not at all. Or maybe you'd get the whole story, but so raw you couldn't broadcast it without a graphic warning."
"If he really is a knight... what will he do when he gets the chance to fulfill his oath to the Shie Hassaikai?"
"What do you think, Joe? What will happen to murderers and rapists after what I told you?"
Joe raised his eyebrows, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.
"You sound like you're saying he won't leave a single survivor behind..."
Letho rested his elbows on the table, looking directly at the host.
"You must understand that the law in our world is different from yours. Vesemir is a 'Knight' with a capital K. I have never seen him break his word to anyone. If Vesemir has sworn revenge, there is no salvation for any of them. Anyone who participated in this, who helped them, who stood by and remained silent... everyone will pay."
.
.
.
Nezu's Office
Vesemir was invited to a meeting in Nezu's office. As soon as he arrived, he was met inside by the Headmaster, his father, Hound Dog, and Midnight. He immediately felt the weight of their gazes on him. Everyone was already seated on the sofas around the table. Nezu spoke first.
"Hello, Vesemir. Please sit with us. We want to talk to you. Don't worry. You're not in trouble."
Vesemir approached slowly, feeling the atmosphere thicken with each step. He sat down across from Aizawa, who was watching him with the same, inscrutable gaze that instilled fear in many a student. Hound Dog rested his elbows on his knees, leaning slightly forward. Midnight sat sideways, one leg over the other, her gaze filled with apprehension.
"If I'm not in trouble, why do I feel like this is an interrogation?"
Aizawa spoke first. His voice was filled with barely concealed anger.
"Your training was interrupted by… someone. We want to know who it was."
Midnight leaned slightly toward him. She didn't try to touch him. She tried to speak in a gentle voice.
"We saw the recording, Vesemir."
Vesemir was silent for a moment, leaning back against the arm of the sofa. He knew any word would trigger a barrage of further questions, and he didn't need that right now.
"It's just that in a moment of danger… I used… my mother's quirk… that's all."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes, never taking his eyes off him.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you'll get."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly.
"You have to tell me immediately what happened there. Who were you talking to? O'Dimm? Did he demand something from you? Did you make a deal with him?"
Vesemir looked at him coldly, without fear, but with defiance in his eyes.
"I already told you I was training."
"You must answer me immediately what happened there. You are my son. You have a duty to be honest with me."
Vesemir snorted quietly, without a trace of amusement.
"Don't ever dare tell me anything about duty again. I understand such a burden better than you do."
Aizawa straightened, his gaze hardening even further.
"It is my duty to keep you safe. I will not do so if you do not cooperate."
Vesemir leaned forward, his voice lowering and sharpening.
"In my world, safety is an illusion. I can prove it to you at any moment."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes even further.
"You sound like someone intent on proving a point in the worst possible way. I will no longer tolerate such games."
"Then stop talking nonsense and do something about it or back off."
Midnight looked at Vesemir and Aizawa in shock.
"Vesemir! Aizawa! Stop it!"
Aizawa didn't move, though the atmosphere in the office had grown tense.
"If you think I can let it go, you're dead wrong. I've had enough of your disrespect."
Vesemir slowly lifted the corner of his mouth in something between a smile and a sneer. He couldn't contain himself any longer.
"You're wrong if you think you'll get it just because you suddenly decided to be a father."
Hound Dog rose from his seat and stood between them, his frame filling the space above the table. He growled in a low, firm voice.
"Enough."
Aizawa, without even looking at Hound Dog, replied coldly.
"This is a conversation that needs to be had. He's just avoiding the answer."
Vesemir stood slowly. Midnight did the same, ready to use her quirk on him. Vesemir looked at her with cold calm, a warning glint in his eyes.
Midnight narrowed her eyes but didn't lower her hand, which she had already raised, ready to act. She shook her head slowly and spoke in an amicable tone.
"Vesemir, please... I don't want to do this..."
Vesemir replied in a whisper.
"Then don't do it."
After a moment, he added louder so everyone could hear him.
"It's never ended well when I let others decide for me."
Nezu slowly placed his cup on its saucer, and the gentle clatter of porcelain sounded surprisingly loud in the tense silence.
"Vesemir... I see you perceive our questions as an attack, perhaps even an attempt at control. But understand that we're looking at this from a different perspective."
He folded his paws on the table and looked him straight in the eye.
"When someone interferes with your training, we don't know if they're friend or foe. It's not just you, it's the entire school. It's our duty to make sure you're safe… and that you don't carry a burden you don't have to bear alone. We don't want to imprison you or force you into obedience. We want to help you. Even if sometimes our methods seem different to you."
Vesemir stood still for a long moment, as if weighing whether to respond or simply leave. There was no open anger in his gaze anymore, but rebellion still smoldered.
Vesemir was silent for a few seconds, then he slowly exhaled through his nose.
"I don't need anyone's help. I can handle myself perfectly well."
Nezu didn't take his eyes off him.
"Perhaps. But in my experience, those who believe they don't need anyone… are precisely those who need it most."
"Then your knowledge doesn't apply in this case."
Nezu raised an eyebrow. Aizawa leaned forward slightly toward Vesemir.
"You say that because you've spent your whole life learning to fend for yourself. But here… you're not alone anymore. And sooner or later, you'll realize that what worked in your world doesn't always work in this one. You have to accept that you're just a teenager here."
Vesemir narrowed his eyes.
"I warn you..."
Midnight immediately extended her hand toward him, her voice taking on a sharp, decisive tone.
"Vese..."
The knife stopped just at her throat. She hadn't even noticed Vesemir pulling it out.
Midnight froze, her eyes widening in shock. Hound Dog immediately moved forward, but stopped mid-step.
Vesemir blinked a few times. He slowly pulled the blade away from Midnight.
"I'm so sorry, Lady Midnight."
Midnight held her breath, but there was no anger in her eyes, only understanding. She slowly lowered her hand, taking a step back.
Hound Dog looked at the boy intently, like someone seeing a familiar mechanism.
"It wasn't an attack, was it? It was a reflex."
Vesemir didn't answer, still holding the knife in his hand, though its blade was already lowered. He stared blankly at Midnight.
Midnight took a tiny step toward him, but without extending her hand.
"You don't have to explain yourself. I know you wouldn't hurt me."
Nezu sighed softly and shifted in his seat.
"Vesemir… none of us wants to take away who you are. But we need to understand how to live alongside you, and you need to understand how to live alongside us. That requires trust, and trust can't be built if you keep everyone at a distance."
"I don't keep everyone at a distance."
Midnight nodded.
"Yui and Nejire, right?"
Vesemir shifted his gaze to her, this time more consciously. He didn't respond. He simply turned toward the exit. He sheathed the knife and left Nezu's office.
Hound Dog only sighed heavily as the door closed.
"PTSD. And it's severe."
Midnight's voice was sad but calm.
"Did you see his eyes? It was… like he'd been transported to another place for a moment. Like he wasn't here."
Hound Dog nodded.
"He didn't even think. It was a reflex."
"And yet… he pulled the knife away. Even in this state, he found the control not to hurt me."
Aizawa, still staring at the closed door, spoke quietly but firmly.
"It shows that he's still fighting for control, even at his worst. But also that he's constantly on edge."
Nezu folded his paws on the table and nodded slightly.
"And that's why we need to change our approach. Aizawa. Stop antagonizing your son. It won't help."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not trying to antagonize him. I'm trying to force him to tell the truth."
Hound Dog growled.
"He's not ready. If you push him at the wrong time, he'll shut down even more… or respond with aggression he can't stop."
Nezu leaned back.
"We're changing our strategy. We're building trust gradually. We're not forcing a response. We're learning his boundaries and avoiding breaking them… until he pushes them himself. Midnight, can you arrange for Yui to move? We'll find her a school near UA."
Midnight looked at Nezu, slightly surprised.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Yes. He needs an anchor. Having Yui closer will create a safe space for him where he can start opening up on his own, without pressure."
End of Chapter 32