Uba and Rowen
The chill of Snowfall was stronger than expected. No, it was more accurate to say it had grown worse. It was a sign that the Demon King of Frost was gradually reclaiming his physical form.
Inside the office of Castle Balenos in Snowfall, Rowen clutched his head in deep frustration. He felt like he was going crazy. He had failed to kill Kain.
Although Barbatos's destruction was confirmed, Kain had survived. He might not pose an immediate threat right now, but he still possessed his authorities. Fuck. Fuck... Motherfucker.
He had failed to kill him. He had failed to eliminate the entity threatening the peace of humanity. Yet, to his horror, he caught himself feeling a twisted sense of relief.
Arahan had tried to comfort him by his side, but this wasn't a matter of comfort. It was proof that his resolve, once thought to be ironclad, had wavered.
According to Mio, Abel had let him copy his techniques because he was absolutely certain Rowen would be able to kill Kain. Rowen had wondered what kind of bullshit that was, and apparently, Mio hadn't understood what he meant either. There was definitely some other motive at play.
The bastard had vanished. Though it left a bitter taste in his mouth, they had at least succeeded in their primary objective of preventing the Demon King's descent. Even if they had botched everything else.
The next step was clear. It was to slay the King of Frost—the task entrusted to him by his beloved older brother, Kael. They had to journey to the northernmost edge of the continent. His heart grew impatient.
"...We need to form an expeditionary force."
"It's too soon. You just got back."
"The King of Frost will lead an army of the dead to blanket Winterer. We have to tear his physical vessel to shreds before that happens."
"...Rowen, listen to me. Your soldiers are exhausted."
Sira Yunseul's sharp rebuke silenced him. Kael's voice, whispering incessantly in his ear, had become a curse that drove his impatience. It was Kain who had shattered his peace of mind in the first place. Rowen gnashed his teeth at the baton pass from Kain to Kael.
"...What the hell do they want me to do?"
He should have succeeded. If only his family had to bear the sorrow, humanity would look forward to a bright future, wishing for happiness.
I ruined it. Because I let him slip away, so many people will be slaughtered.
The thoughts fractured in his mind like a stuttering reel of film. Arahan quietly stepped up behind Rowen and wrapped her arms around him. His burden was far too heavy.
It would have been much easier back when he was just an ignored illegitimate child. Now, countless lives relied on him. The weight pressing down on his shoulders, crushing him bit by bit without his realizing, had become suffocatingly immense.
Tragically, she couldn't comfort him. No matter what she did, she couldn't calm the current Rowen down. That realization only fueled Arahan's frustration. In her vexation, she glared at her annoying master. But before their eyes could even meet, Uba was already striding forward.
Thwack!
"Rian! Get a grip, you dumbass!"
"...Do you want to die?"
"Come outside. It's been a while since I've knocked some sense into you."
Uba spat those words, and Rowen spat out blood-tinged saliva. The corner of his mouth was stained red. Rowen glared at Uba, his brow furrowed in deep irritation.
No one even tries to understand me.
Uba was no different. Everyone just assumed he was throwing a temper tantrum. But he had things he had to do. The North was in grave danger. He carried a mission he had to protect, a duty to fulfill Kael's dying wish... Why did no one understand?
So, he answered. If he could vent this boiling frustration, would he finally find the answer?
CRACK!
"Bring it on, you motherfucker...!"
Rowen drove a fist cloaked in explosive flames straight into Uba's face.
The thick veins on Uba's face twitched all the way to his hairline. He was furious. His dumbass friend was letting a single mistake crush him under an unbearable weight. Therefore, Uba had to sacrifice his own body to beat that anger out of him. It was the best a simple-minded brute like Uba could do.
He provoked Rowen, egging him on to stoke his fury even higher. Rowen knew exactly what he was doing, yet he accepted the provocation anyway. And now...
"Ugh...!"
"Ngh!"
They traded blows, fists slamming into bellies and heads. The heavy, solid thuds rang sharply in their ears. Uba's head recoiled slightly, but it wasn't a devastating blow. Rowen endured the pain. He had to bear this agonizing, miserable sensation. Even if it hurt like hell, he had to charge forward.
Uba had spent a thousand years honing his strength. Rowen, currently weaker than his past self, was no match for him. Yet, this fight was necessary. It was a way to unleash his raw, unthinking fury. They traded blows relentlessly. Whenever Rowen struck Uba's head, Uba retaliated with a heavy punch to Rowen's abdomen. It hurt. His internal organs convulsed as if jolted by electricity.
"Get a grip, Rian!"
"...I am perfectly sane."
"No, you're not! The Rowen I know would be looking for a way forward after a mistake like this!"
"A way? What fucking way?!"
How was he supposed to find a way when he had no idea where Kain was? He didn't have a shred of information. He didn't even know where that gate led. He had to find him. Yet, Uba claimed he would have found a way? The old him?
"I am Rowen!"
He might be Rian Rose, but he was not Rian. He was Rowen Balenos. The Rian Uba knew belonged to the past—a man vastly different from who he was now. Perhaps the past him had been calmer. Perhaps he had been someone who could remain composed even without relying on the power of spirits. But Uba needed to remember one thing: even back then, he hadn't looked for alternative paths. He had simply slaughtered demons and challenged the Demon King entirely on his own.
"What the hell do you know about me!"
A barrage of bone-crushing blows rained down on Uba's face. Thud-thud-thud-thud! Uba couldn't block them all with his arms. Rowen was moving at the speed of sound. So, Uba decided to match his pace and throw his own barrage. Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! Massive bruises began to bloom across Rowen's face. Uba was in no better shape; red and purple welts rapidly spread across his skin.
Uba endured it. Honestly, watching his friend fall apart was painful. In his past life, Rian had been bright, but he occasionally walked through an endless, suffocating darkness. It was happening again. Rowen was trying to tread the exact same path as before. The crushing helplessness of failing to act. The poor judgment that let opportunities slip away despite having the strength. Yet, because Rian had always marched forward along the righteous path despite it all, Uba had chosen him and decided to stand by his side. That was the duty of a hero's companion.
"Rian! I don't regret hitting you...!"
"...Please. Just shut the fuck up, Uba."
"Stop thinking only about yourself! Look around you!"
Because he refused to look around, he remained blind to what his companions felt, what they thought, and what they wanted.
"...Did you ever even know what Leah felt for you?"
"...! Please, Uba. Shut up."
Don't talk about her.
"I knew it long before you died."
"...So what do you want me to do about it?"
Her death was his driving force. He was already holding back tears every single day.
"Look around you!"
"...You don't know how I feel!"
"Yeah, I don't! Because I'm not you! But let me tell you this—I know better than anyone that you're pushing yourself past your limit!"
Uba's roar froze Rowen's fist in midair.
"Look around. No one is blaming you or pointing fingers."
"..."
"There's no reason for you to suffer alone. We are right here beside you. My disciple apparently adores you. Not that I care, but it means there are people who love you that much."
So...
"Stop trying to carry it all on your own."
You always laughed and called me a dumbass.
"Who's calling who a dumbass? Rian, you're the biggest dumbass of them all! You're a dumbass for drowning in your own self-pity without even looking at those around you!"
Uba's finishing blow was devastating. It wasn't a physical strike, but the sheer force of his words. Speaking from the bottom of his heart, Uba only hoped his feelings would reach Rowen.
When Rowen opened his eyes, he was in an infirmary. He had been beaten until he collapsed and passed out. Mio was attending to him, while Arahan had cornered Uba against the wall, forcing him to kneel as punishment. She was undoubtedly threatening him with something related to his "pores."
"How... how on earth could you let the Young Master end up like that?!"
"I-I was only trying to open his eyes!"
Arahan's eyes had already darkened ominously, and her hands were coiled with golden chains.
Gulp. Uba swallowed hard. It wasn't that he couldn't beat her, but there was something far more terrifying waiting for him if he did. He must not talk back. Past mistakes had a way of snowballing into much bigger disasters.
"That's enough, Arahan."
Rowen slowly sat up and touched his face. It seemed he had been completely healed with recovery magic. At his voice, Arahan delivered a swift kick to Uba's stomach before rushing over to Rowen. She cupped his face, frantically asking if he was hurt anywhere. Her love was heavy. He knew he would have to return her feelings someday, but he also knew better than anyone that now was not the time.
"I'm fine. I'm all healed up."
"...I-if you say so, then I am glad."
Rowen got out of bed and walked over to Uba, who was still clutching his stomach in pain. He sat cross-legged in front of him and met his gaze. Uba let out a smirk. Look at this guy, grinning like an idiot because everything went exactly as he planned. Still, gratitude was gratitude. He had to thank him. Rowen placed a hand on top of Uba's head, a bright smile spreading across his face.
"Heh, no need to thank me—"
"Thanks, you motherfucker. But did you really have to beat me until I passed out? A king, no less?"
If you were anyone else, you'd be executed. Rowen left a massive bump on Uba's head before flashing a satisfied grin.