SSS Awakening: Creating Primordial Beasts To Be My Summons-Chapter 28: Godfather’s Tale

A wave of emotions passed between Cohen and Captain Farid.

The last time Cohen had seen Farid was when the man, along with Cohen’s father and one of the strongest Awakened back then, had ventured into the Heavenly Spire’s Null Dungeon.

Memories resurfaced—because that night had marked the beginning of everything falling apart... and everything changing.

Cohen was speechless. He didn’t know where to start.

Farid understood how he felt.

"You must have a lot of questions. I’ll explain what happened."

Cohen sat properly. "Alright."

"You are aware of the nature of the Null Dungeon. A dungeon that doesn’t have a level, signifying that there are various possibilities of monsters there.

"But that place is more than just what you might think. It’s a patchwork of various worlds, with as many dangers as there are treasures."

"So... multiple dungeons stitched into one?" Cohen asked, wanting to have a better idea.

"Exactly," Farid said.

"Eight years ago, like every other dungeon—though still different—we had to clear it before it threatened our still-recovering city.

"Your father and I were part of the pioneering party that entered that dungeon, and to those of us who fought in that dark world, your father was our light and spear. Our party really valued him."

"That sounds like Dad alright," Cohen joked.

Farid laughed before he said:

"Anyways, while the other key Awakened of that time were rebuilding the city, we found ourselves crossing into a door, falling into the dark depths of that wretched place.

"Time passed by faster than we knew and we didn’t even know our way back, we were losing people gradually. And when we found an exit, it was guarded.

"The entire party died there... buying time with their lives because they believed your father and I were the ones who had to survive."

Farid heaved a sigh, stretching his hand forward into a small black and white gate that had appeared.

From it, he brought out a cup of coffee and took a sip.

"Pardon the lack of courtesy. It’s been ages since I had a valuable guest. Do you want some?"

"I’d appreciate it."

Farid nodded and closed his eyes, this time putting his two hands in the gate.

He was pouring the coffee into a cup. After he was done, he passed it to Cohen.

After they both took a sip, Farid continued:

"After we escaped that door, we realized that we had released something way beyond what anyone could handle. Moreover, we saw that thing in its weakest state, having just been unsealed.

"Herman and I knew if we gave it time, it would be difficult to kill even with today’s awakened. We couldn’t leave because that thing. It was going to follow us out.

"So Herman, convincing me that he was more capable in direct combat and because my research in that world was so valuable, he stayed returned to stop it.

"Your father used all the last-resort techniques that threatened his life to contain that beast, letting me escape.

"It’s almost been six years I escaped and chose to not reveal myself publicly. Instead, I’ve made it a gradual process."

Cohen looked down to the floor, a turmoil of emotions brewed within him.

His fingers tightened around the cup until the heat bit into his skin—but he didn’t let go.

"What did my father send you to do to me?"

"Your father had me promise that I would take care of his family...

"He said to tell you all that he’s sorry that he wasn’t there when you needed him. And to you specifically, he said sorry for dumping all his burdens on you."

Cohen rested his back on the couch.

Farid let the young man process his internal turmoil quietly.

"Do you know if he had any regrets?"

Farid said, a sense of sadness in his low tone. "Your father’s greatest regret... was that there was no way to choose sleep over death."

Cohen laughed at that.

"I can guess why."

Farid shot an interested glance.

"Dad didn’t make mistakes... so what would he regret? He chose to venture into the dungeon to raise money to take care of my mom who was at her lowest and became a victim of the unexpected.

"The only mistake he made was not calculating his risk well. So instead of regretting that, he was proud of his decisions and and instead regretted not seeing all his dreams realized."

"He also had a trustworthy man like you to take care of his family, so I believe he was satisfied with his end."

Cohen exhaled slowly, as if releasing a weight he didn’t realize he’d been carrying.

Farid smiled and nodded gladly.

"I envy you and your father—no, I envy the relationship of your family."

"It was built through pain," Cohen said lowly.

The two stayed silent for a while, sipping the coffee in their hands in unison.

Cohen had a realization.

"You were responsible for the second reimbursement the Heavenly Guild sent? The extra pay the Boss always gives occasionally was also from you?"

Farid replied:

"You’re catching on. If you had awakened, things would have been easier.

"But surprisingly, you didn’t and the tension in the city was growing and I didn’t want to attract attention, so I could only tell Haru to promote you and give you more."

’I had a normal life and I thought the Boss only gave me extra due to pitying me... My gut believing it was strange was right!’

"Should I call you my god father now?" Cohen asked jokingly.

Farid shrugged. "If you want."

Cohen was surprised as he chuckled dryly.

He changed the conversation by saying, "Thank—"

"Ay ay," Farid cut him off. "Don’t do that. In fact, I’ve not done as much as I’d want to. Better days are only beginning."

Cohen smiled. "Alright then."

Farid leaned forward, the softness in his expression fading into something sharper.

"Let’s leave the past for the present. This current conflict, what do you know about it?"

Cohen also turned serious, putting his cup down.

He explained how he knew of the Guild War based on the rumor back in the facility that Haru oversaw.

Then, he felt like the Outliers were somehow being used as tools in this War.

And lastly, he threw in the fact about how the stalker in the underworld, the red-eyed outliers Amad and Stein all had weird airs around them to solidify the fact that there’s a faction linking them.

He didn’t specify that it was an odd energy they had because that would not only reveal the potency of Cohen’s perception but might implicate him as he had a similar energy too.

’Not that I don’t trust you... but some truths are better kept,’ Cohen added in his heart.

Farid processed what Cohen had explained and said.

"You have a good idea of the matter, the only thing you don’t understand is the actual plans of each party and their capabilities."

Cohen nodded.

That was the problem. He didn’t understand what was going on due to knowing so little and that unknown could suddenly endanger him more than expected.

"Before I explain that though, let me correct you. The boy you call stalker, he’s not a member of Vanguard...

"He’s from another guild that’s present here. He’s a member of Ophelius."

’So I’ve been blind this whole time...’