Chapter 6: Ch 6: Can't you be normal? - Part 2
"Let's head home now. I think we have caused enough trouble for the night… where are you going? Raven, can't you behave yourself for one minute? Do you need to cause me so much trouble all the time?"
Shura quickly reached out to grab Raven's collar, but he was not able to make Raven budge an inch, even when he pulled with all his might.
"Aww, come on, old man! Don't be like that. It has been ages since I have been able to enjoy the night city like this. Can't you allow me to have some fun? I want to see what I sacrificed myself for."
Raven's words caused Shura to lighten his grip on his shirt, and Raven tried to dart out.
But Shura remembered Raven's true nature at the last second, and his sense of responsibility kicked in.
"Halt there, Raven! You are not going anywhere. We are going to have a talk with each other first… and Leo as well. I am sure he is shocked by what happened tonight. As for seeing the world you sacrificed so much for… I would rather not let you loose on it. It will get destroyed quicker than it was saved."
Shura was firm in his decision, and the light in his eyes told Raven he would not budge an inch.
Raven could have broken that grip on the back of his shirt and run away, but that did not feel worth it.
After all, he did need to rely on Shura for a bit before he could get back on his feet. He was also done messing around for now.
"Fine, let's head back home now. Hey, kid, you are in for some shock, so you better brace yourself."
Raven told Leo, and the kid already looked ready to faint after hearing all that.
Somehow, they reached home, and the first thing they saw was a pissed-off but smiling Diantha. She was barely suppressing her rage, and Raven quickly darted past her to get to safety.
"I will leave your wife to you, Shura. Good luck with her."
Raven disappeared into the guest bedroom and waited for things to calm down.
"Fuck! Is this real? So, you mean to say that Raven Steel, that legendary hero who sacrificed himself to save humanity, is back? And this is that hero? Dad, is this some kind of practical joke you are pulling on me?"
Leo questioned as he looked at Raven and his carefree self.
"Hey, kid, that's quite rude. Don't you remember all the hide-and-seek we played when you were young? I miss the days you used to cling to my legs and beg me to help train you."
Raven complained as he munched on his chips. He was lazily lying on the bed and eating fast food.
'God, I missed this so much. Next time I head to a dungeon, I'm gonna take a lot of snacks and food with me.'
Raven complained as he finished his bag and opened another one. His actions made the father-son pair flinch at his lack of manners.
"I know it is hard to believe, kid. And believe me when I say that I would rather not have this thing be Raven Steel either. But it is the unfortunate truth. And before you think that this is something caused by the dungeons, I should clarify—this man has always been like this."
Raven could hear the sound of Leo's expectations crumbling as he looked at Raven.
"Hey, I am not that bad! Cut me some slack. I deserve some rest after picking up others' slack all the time. Isn't it ultimately this world's fault I am like this? Why are you blaming me—"
"Ignore him for now. Anyway, now that you know the truth, I would like to ask you for a favor. Keep Raven's identity a secret. People only know his name and not what he looks like, and we would like to keep it that way."
Shura cut off Raven's complaints as he turned to his son to ask this favor.
Leo crossed his arms, frustration clear on his face.
"I still don't see why you have to hide your identity. Wouldn't it be better to let people know the great 'Raven Steel' is back? The entire world thinks you're a legend!"
Shura sighed, rubbing his temple.
"That's exactly why we're keeping it quiet. If word gets out too soon, people will panic. You have no idea what kind of chaos this will cause."
Leo scoffed.
"Chaos? Or inspiration? The moment people realize Raven is back, the landscape of the arena is going to change completely. Just imagine the kind of fights that will break out when people try to challenge him!"
Raven, who had been lazily leaning back in his chair with a smirk, sat up and waved a dismissive hand.
"Kid, listen. I have no interest in your 'kid's fight.' I don't care how big the arena has gotten, or how fancy the fights have become. I'm not joining."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"You say that like you'd just waltz in and crush everyone."
Raven grinned.
"That's because I would."
Leo bristled.
"Oh, please. The top players of the arena aren't just some random nobodies. No matter how good you were in the past, you wouldn't stand a chance against them. Tech has evolved. Combat styles have improved. You're ten years behind."
But Raven simply yawned and stretched his arms behind his head.
"If you say so. Not my problem."
Leo clenched his fists.
"Tch… What's the point of a guy like you having all this strength if you're not even going to use it?"
Without thinking, Leo took a step forward.
"Fine, if you're so confident, then fight me. Let's see how much of your so-called 'strength' is actually real!"
Raven raised an eyebrow, amused, but before he could respond, Shura stepped between them.
"That's enough. You two are not fighting in this house."
His sharp gaze flicked from one to the other.
"Leo, go to bed. And Raven, stop provoking him."
Leo grit his teeth but obeyed, storming off toward his room with a frustrated huff.
Raven, still smirking, gave Shura a sideways glance.
"Come on, old man. You're really going to deny the kid a lesson?"
Shura shot him a warning look.
"Just go to sleep, Raven."
Raven shrugged and stood, heading toward the guest room.
"Fine, fine. But you're really stifling the fun around here, you know that?"
Shura exhaled, shaking his head.
"And you're really making my life more difficult, you know that?"