Shadows of Magitech and the Flight from Snowfall
I wanted to believe the news about the Valenos family was a lie. It was Arkanthia again. A thousand years ago, back when he was Rian in his past life, Arkanthia had eyed the other continents. So many people had died. And now they were meddling with magitech.
"Hey, Dad's safe, right?"
"...I don't know."
"You bastard...!"
Cain exploded in anger. Rowen was furious too, but he reined in his emotions. The kid in front of him was his age, but above all, he was the emperor. Yelling wouldn't change the situation anyway. He held Cain back.
"That's enough. Getting mad won't make things better."
"So you're saying we just let this runaway bastard who ditched Dad go free?"
"He said it was Dad's request."
"Ha! As if Dad would say that. This punk could be lying to save his own skin and escape. Right?"
It was a fair point. Rowen didn't know Lucius well. He could be lying. The possibility was more than enough.
Miyabi seemed to think the same. But Lucius didn't look like he was lying. If anything, he seemed hurt by Cain's words.
"I do not speak falsehoods. I swear it."
"Heh, got something to swear on?"
"That's..."
"Listen up. I hate you. To me, you imperials are just the bastards who tied up my dad in the Pentagon for nine years."
"It wasn't me! My father issued the summons."
"Whether you called him or your old man did, you're the emperor. Couldn't you have sent him back with one word?"
Lucius felt wronged. It was his father, Rudric Dragnik, who had called Kadan to the Pentagon—not him. Lucius had wanted to send him home. For the sake of this angry kid, if nothing else. But the one who refused to leave? Kadan. The one who insisted on staying by his side? Kadan. The one who helped him escape to Winterer? Kadan.
A strange emotion boiled up from deep in his chest. He wanted to protest the injustice, but Cain's vibe made words stick in his throat. Talking to someone his own age like this was new for him anyway. An unknown tension gripped him.
The endless conversation dragged on. Rowen shook his head with a sigh.
There's no confirmation Kadan is dead. Like Lucius said, he could have bought time and escaped. But something bothered him. He mentioned a massive stone statue that moved on its own words. Strong enough to overpower even Phoenix, the Guardian of the Skies. Overwhelming mana that auto-generated rune language. Rowen knew what that was.
'A golem.'
That's why it was weird. A thousand years ago, Rian's party knew the dangers of magitech better than anyone. Uba and Lea had lost their parents to it, after all. So they decided to wipe it out. They were barely holding off the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings and legion commanders. Meanwhile, humans envied each other and waged war. And magitech was always at the heart of it. Strong power always sparked conflict. To counter that power, you needed even stronger power. The humans called them the strongest: the heroes. Before heading to the Demon King's castle, Rian's party ended the wars and eliminated the magitech maniacs. A silent massacre. But no one complained. It was the people's wish to be rid of the power that started wars as soon as possible. The heroes granted it. Lea and Uba got their revenge. They overcame their grief. After that, no more human wars.
And now, Arkanthia was touching magitech again. History repeating. Invasion starting anew, laying the groundwork for war. Those who wouldn't fight would have to pick up arms anyway. To protect themselves, they'd have no choice. Rowen ground his teeth. It gnawed at him. He'd heard Kadan was strong countless times. But whether he could beat a golem? No telling. No clue what magic circuits they stuck on it. But basically, golems came pre-loaded with reflection magic. No matter how he thought about it, it was off. In his past life, Rian's party destroyed every last one. They're just magic-powered machines, after all. Kill the operator or grind them to dust without a trace—that was the fix. So how did they make a golem now? Why was magitech lingering in this world after a thousand years? His head throbbed.
If it really was a golem... 'The odds Dad's alive are slim.'
No matter how strong he was, unless he could shatter mountains with sword aura, smashing it was near impossible. That's what made it such a headache. Rowen was weak right now. He couldn't even emit black sword aura—his body couldn't take it. Too far from his past life's realm. Still too young. He wanted to save Dad, but he couldn't. In his past life, he'd have flown there and ended it in one strike. Crunch. He ground his teeth. His brow furrowed deeply. His own weakness made his head ache. His Mana Flower hadn't fully bloomed. No coming-of-age rite. Two more years till the Soul Spring. No ancestral blessing from the Valenos bloodline yet. All he could do now was Attribute Granting and crafting frost weapons. Sure, stronger than most. But against magitech? No contest. If he had the Holy Sword, maybe. But he didn't even know where his body was buried with his comrades and the sword.
His head throbbed. Cain thought Lucius ditched Kadan and ran. Not wrong. But it seemed certain Kadan bought him time to escape. No time to sit idle. Like Lucius said, they had to get out now. The enemy targeted Kadan from the start, raiding the Pentagon for him. Those initial magitech soldiers were to tie his feet. They feared the Valenos family. In his past life, Arkanthia targeted Winterer first. The Valenos power at Winterer's core threatened magitech. Leaving meant losing a lot. Forget the Soul Spring—the Mana Flower might not even bloom properly. But staying in Snowfall was wrong too. Certain death for all. Kael hadn't returned. Only about 150 soldiers left in Snowfall. All senior knights, but too much for magitech. "Damn..." Everything felt twisted. Old dreams resurfaced. His past-life father's death. Demon King Belzebub's vile grin. Splattered blood and brains. Nausea churned. Kadan's survival odds were slim. No miracle, no chance. Rowen realized it: he was the poor bastard who'd lost his father two lives in a row. The shock hit hard. No confirmation yet, but he was sure. Arahan eyed him worriedly. "Young master?" "It's nothing." Rowen thought: Arahan was strong. Magitech was dangerous, sure. But Arkanthia hadn't caught up to the old magitech yet. Time built up power. Meaning, their magitech-boosted soldiers? Arahan could handle them solo. She always held back in spars, but now she'd go all out. Rowen knew her full strength from years of swordplay. At least on par with when Rian was chosen as hero. Destroying a golem? Tough. Unless the operator's mana ran dry. Otherwise, it'd regen. Had to pulverize it completely. If they summoned a golem here, game over. But if Arahan led the soldiers, they might win. Slim hope, though. Rowen shook his head. Better no shaky plans. Imperfect ones crumbled under pressure. Golem mid-fight? All dead. Inevitable. So Rowen decided. If Kadan really told Lucius to run, they had to obey. They'd lose much, sure. But better than dying. Get strong later, take it back. Rowen knew bone-deep: stay alive, and chances come. He'd tasted death once.
"We run."
"What?"
"Don't freak out, Cain. Think rationally."
"You buying this guy's story too?"
He believed. Couldn't not. Staying meant dog death.
"Mom, say something!"
"I..."
"That bastard's crazy! Ditch the territory, then where the hell do we go?!"
Miyabi hesitated. Probably the most conflicted here. Elves lived long. Not quite widowhood, but close. She'd outlive alone for decades. Cain yelled on, clueless to her pain. What an idiot.
Rowen cut in at Cain's shout. "You're just pissed 'cause you don't wanna leave your whores behind."
"Don't insult my girls!"
"What's so great about bought hookers...? They're the pitiful ones, dealing with a shrimp like you."
"You done?"
"You're pitiful too."
"What?"
"Ever think how many guys they've been with?"
Dumbass for sure. That reaction? Totally bummed about his girls. Cain's trembling pissed Rowen off more. No home? Fair, but wrong too. Snowfall gone didn't end the North. Winterer was vastest of four continents. Survive the cold, you're good. Rowen specialized in wilderness survival from past life's hell. Body heat management? Easy. Or flee to neutral continents. Top northern nobles—money overflowed. Enough for ships. Family vessels existed, but sailing with crests? Advertising. Rowen wasn't that stupid.
Lucius broke through Cain's noise. "We have to go now! They're fast. Unlike Kadan, I didn't sense their approach..."
"Means they can sneak with suppressed presence."
"Yes. Even now, Kadan's buying time. So!"
Rowen felt Lucius's desperation. Pure truth, no lies. If Kadan lived, he'd still be fighting. Rowen gave his decision.
"Got it. We bolt."
Karin agreed. Kid at eleven, but sharp enough. Arahan followed Rowen's lead. Biden eyed Miyabi. She needed time. Rowen pressed.
"You can think on the move. Not too late."
"But..."
"Enough."
"...Rowen."
"Mother, grab only essentials. We leave now. Or we're all dog meat."
"If he's alive, Kadan will come. We could wait...!"
Rowen nearly choked on frustration. Deep love or obsession? Everyone felt the grief. Even daughter Karin held silent tears. Mother acting like this? Maddening. He nailed it shut.
"Dad's dead."
"No, he's not! He..."
"Or you want us all dead here so Dad grieves?"
"Ugh..."
Miyabi's mouth slowed. No retort. Reason returned. Rowen's red eyes calmed her. He undid his mental rune language—basic spell to steady emotions. Her state made talk impossible otherwise. He emphasized once more.
"We leave. Right now.