What the Fuck is This Idiot Babbling?
A pure white space. Its form warped and collapsed. Like children's building blocks being disassembled and reassembled.
The world Rowen had dipped his feet into mutated. All of it, at a single gesture from Valenos.
[Is it over?]
"Yeah. With Grandpa Kazin as the last, I've contracted with all the souls."
[Haha, that guy Kazin was pretty strong, huh?]
"Who knows? He was tough before I spun the core, but... he seemed to look down on me or something."
[So you spun the core?]
"Yeah. And one thing became clear. My power's gotten pretty damn massive."
Valenos's descendants, Rowen's ancestors, stretching back thousands of years. Their souls synchronized with him, sharing a portion of their power.
As a result, Rowen could experience their realms indirectly or directly. He naturally drew forth their strength. He knew how to wield souls.
"Gonna take some time to use the souls I need right when I need 'em."
[Don't worry too much. Soon they'll feel like part of you.]
"Good to hear."
[...Then it's the final turn.]
"Was starting to think I'd die waiting. Over a week past the deadline."
[Even that's fast.]
"Is it?"
That's how it was. No one could match Rowen's talent.
Even without using magic in his past life, he'd absorbed all that knowledge. Without his father, the swordmaster, he'd risen to the top alone. Skill worthy of the title strongest knight. The hero who protected the world from demons.
That's why no one could dismiss Rowen's talent.
Valenos's true form appeared before his eyes. Long, pure white hair. Clearly an old man's appearance, but muscles more robust than anyone's proclaimed his strength. At the same time, it indirectly revealed his past. How much effort he'd poured in to reach the pinnacle.
You could tell from his body. Innumerable scars on a frame boasting insane muscle mass, as if forcibly bulked up. Scars remaining even in his spirit form. Meaning wounds etched into the soul.
Those he once fought. The primordial demons. They were the soon-to-be Demon Kings, and Valenos was the sole one who'd waged war against them before they ascended.
Rowen knew this and inwardly marveled. 'That's my ancestor.'
In his past life, he might've been a heartless bastard who kicked him to the curb, but that was solely from Rian Rose's perspective. He only had a duty to share power with his own descendants.
Refusing Rian's plea was his own conviction. Rian's dying wish—Rowen's past life's aspiration—was to bloom the Mana Flower. It was his last hope, starved for mana as he was.
Even now, Valenos hadn't bloomed Rowen's Mana Flower. Instead, he'd demanded a direct contract. A way to grow stronger, the moment to fulfill his own wish.
Once he reclaimed the Holy Sword and ascended to angelhood, his realm would rise. Only then would he bloom the flower. Stuffing excessive power into an unfit vessel would spell disaster.
"How long you gonna drag this out?"
[You've changed a lot.]
"What has?"
[Still as reckless as your past life, but maybe a bit more mature...]
"That's 'cause I've got so many scars."
Rowen shrugged.
[Scars make you mature? Is that a saying?]
"Dunno."
[Then what the hell do you mean?]
"...Just skip it."
[Guess my illusion of maturity was wrong.]
Simple snark. Rowen had indeed grown. No more reckless charges like his past life; he'd found the optimal path and resolved it in one go.
A millennium ago, he'd have been blinded by revenge, drawn the Holy Sword, and charged. Abel and Lea always cleaned up after. Even that dumbass Uba tagging along, rampaging battlefields with Rowen.
For Mio, good for casting spells, but it must've grated. Lea could heal any wounds, but Mio wouldn't have liked it.
His eyes had changed a lot. Valenos smirked. He knew the decisive reason.
[I see. Love really does change people for the better, huh.]
"What?"
[Nothing. Time for the final step. Don't wanna get chewed out by her if we're too late.]
"Her? Who's that?"
[You know better than me. Stuck to your side like glue for a week... Youth really is grand.]
"Ah..."
Valenos's words made it clear who. Only one woman clung to him for a week with fanatical attachment.
Arahan. Top adventurer from Kalia Rune, exclusive maid of the Valenos family. Above all, Uba's disciple, she obsessed over Rowen.
Rowen shuddered a bit. A week. Not days—a full week! Guarding his side that long... Was it fierce loyalty or something twisted?
Seeing her like that, Rowen shook his shoulders.
[Scared?]
"Nah, just think I couldn't handle it."
[That's what youth is for. Enjoy it while you can.]
He gently stroked his beard. Valenos smirked and said to Rowen,
[Treat her right.]
"What're you on about?"
[No woman does this much for you. Once a chance slips away, it won't return. Don't put it off—decide now. If she leaves for good, you'll be the only one hurting.]
"...Got it."
[Why hesitate? Rowen, I can feel your emotions. You love her deep down. She loves you too. So why not confess?]
Couldn't say Mio likes me too. Rowen glossed over it.
"More importantly, why're you so nosy about others' love lives? Butt out."
[I'm your distant ancestor. Of course I'm interested.]
"You get dumped back in the day or something?"
[...Shut up! I wasn't dumped. She just left!]
"...For real?"
[Why look at me with pity? I'm not pathetic!]
"Kinda feel bad now..."
[Rowen, shut it. Let's do the contract.]
Rowen sensed it. His ancestor had a subtly idiotic side. And mentioning whoever dumped him was a trigger...
*
The spirits approached Rowen with eyes closed. Tiny sparkling particles blessed the birth of a new Spirit King.
Blessing. A simple blessing spell, yet it purified the air around him.
"This is..."
"It seems Young Master has safely completed the contract."
"...You okay? You didn't eat or drink for a week, just stuck by Rian's side."
"That week glued to Young Master's side was heaven for me. So I'm fine. Or rather, Mio—are you jealous?"
"...Hmph! Mind your own business."
"Hehe, good luck. Whatever happens, I believe Young Master will choose me."
With the two women's voices, Rowen opened his eyes. At the same moment, the Spirit King's blessing descended over Snowfall.
Memories from when Valenos first built the capital settled into the land. The snow-covered earth rejoiced.
Powerful mana infused Rowen's body. Valenos's soul. Through direct contract with the North's king and Spirit King, they became one.
More precisely, Spirit King Valenos had become Rowen's summon.
The Spirit King's authority transferred to Rowen, etching new magic into the Akashic Records.
Thus, with true lineage inherited, high spirits knelt before Rowen.
Knightly figures in mana armor, wielding massive mana spears. They supported the new Rowen.
"Young Master!"
Arahan hugged Rowen. The sudden impact startled him, but a familiar warmth washed over.
Warmth felt after a week. The week of cold frost in a mana waterfall felt like a lie.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back. I was so worried—you didn't open your eyes for a week?"
"Valenos told me."
For a brief moment. Seeing Arahan's face, Valenos's words resurfaced.
"...Young Master?"
Her clear voice snapped Rowen back. ...Weird thoughts.
Must be from lying down a week. Tired, maybe. Body rested, but mind awake the whole time.
And.
"Mio, Lucius?"
"Come to think of it, he hasn't shown up?"
"...Still? Round trip to Kalia Rune shouldn't take a day."
Something wrong? Worry flickered, but the opponent was Lucius. A man whose swiftness Rowen acknowledged. Unlikely to run into trouble easily.
Supported by spirit knights, he moved. Arahan helped. Rowen smirked, expressing thanks.
At the same time, he asked Mio to head to Valenos Castle.
"The castle?"
"Yeah, need a bit of rest."
"Got it."
Mio waved lightly. A circular magic circle drew on the ground. Red rune language flashed. Gentle light enveloped them.
All closed eyes against the glare; opening them, the ice throne came into view.
*
Lying in bed, lost in thought. Mio, Arahan, Rowen. Their relationship was complicated.
Or rather, only Rowen found it so. Mio always said,
Only she by his side. Call it greed, but wasn't that normal?
The North didn't permit polygamy. As king, Rowen could change laws, but it'd only breed chaos.
"Haa..."
"Why the heavy sigh?"
"...When'd you get here?"
"Just now. By the way, a letter from the East arrived."
"Lucius?"
"No."
"Then who?"
"From the Kalia Rune Exorcist Association."
"...Lucius after all."
Rowen read the letter Arahan handed him. Casually at first. But the content toward the end furrowed his brow.
The paper crumpled under his grip. Veins bulged on his forehead; rage encroached.
[Stay calm.]
"Hoo..."
His ancestor's coolness steadied Rowen's heart. Arahan couldn't hold back curiosity at his demeanor. He stayed composed, but his eyes burned—like when he'd heard of Kadan's death and Kael's fall to Death King.
Family matter. Who was family to Rowen now? Closest blood was the imperial side. Dragnik imperial genes leaned maternal, so Rowen's blood took after his mother.
Cousin to Lucius. Cain and Karin were relatives. Both family; she wondered whose news.
From Kalia Rune, maybe Lucius? But Miyabi, Karin, Cain were there too.
Hugging Rowen from behind, she cautiously asked,
"Young Master, may I ask what happened?"
"..."
"Young Master?"
"Cain, that fucking idiot finally fucked up."
You bastard. Head already pounding with shit to do, and now this. Couldn't resist the Demonic Seed's whispers and let it bloom.
The writer: Branch chief of the exorcist division, Sirayunsul. Did Arahan know?
"Arahan, know a Sirayunsul?"
"...I do."
"Sirayunsul's requesting an alliance."
"Did Lucius ask?"
"No, Lucius is in Pandemonium now. Chasing that fucker Cain."
"...Pardon?"
Arahan reeled. Pandemonium—hell. Demons' home, where Demon Kings' souls lingered.
Why Cain there? Why Lucius following? No info, just questions.
"Excuse me a moment."
She took the crumpled letter from Rowen's hand and read.
Shocking content. So absurd, she let out a hollow laugh.
"What'd I say? Cain that fuck—er, Young Master Cain was gonna cause trouble."
"Don't call him Young Master. That fucker Cain shamed Father's name."
"True. That bastard's beyond saving."
Only good for his dick. Rowen truly pitied him. Thought Valenos blood might improve him with growth, but big mistake.
"...Where's Mio?"
"That bitch—er, the mage is catching wind at the castle gate."
Rowen headed to the gate with Arahan. Snowy ramparts. Followed shoe prints atop.
A red-haired woman whipping in the wind greeted him.
"Rian! Rested up?"
"Mio!"
Rowen gripped Mio's shoulders hard. Faces close. Mio blushed; Arahan's eyes shadowed.
"Mio, gotta tell you something...!"
"..Uh, uh? But I haven't prepared my heart..."
"Mio, go to Pandemonium right now."
"But if it's Rowen, I... What did you say?"
Wait. What the fuck was this idiot saying?
She'd dragged him from human realm to Pandemonium, now sending her back?
'...Lost her mind?' Mio thought seriously.
"...What?"
"One more time. Go to Pandemonium. Please."
"...What the fuck is this idiot babbling about?"