I Am No Fool
The sky of Pandemonium felt exceptionally crimson today. Was it because the shock had been so profound? The thunder crashing across the red firmament seemed to echo the turmoil in Lucius's heart. Rowen was not an illegitimate son, but a legitimate one? And what was that? His mother was of imperial blood. There was only one imperial woman who fit that description. Isabel Dragonic. The eldest sister of his late father. Lucius was not such an incompetent fool that he remained ignorant of his own family's history, let alone the coup that had targeted the imperial family.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Ah."
Mio had completely forgotten that Lucius was a child of the imperial family. It wasn't so much that she had forgotten, but rather that Lucius had been utterly overshadowed by Uba's overwhelming presence. Now, however, that dynamic had flipped. Instead of Uba, her eyes were drawn to Lucius, the imperial descendant. No human would remain unfazed upon learning that their close friend was actually their cousin. If such a person existed, they would have to be entirely devoid of emotion.
"My mind is racing right now."
No, that wasn't it.
"To be honest, if Rowen is indeed the reincarnation of the legendary hero, his overwhelming talent makes perfect sense."
What truly troubled his heart was the revelation that Rowen was the child of his late Aunt Isabel. The image of her portrait flashed through his mind. She had already departed the imperial palace by the time he was born, and when he was only two years old, news of her passing had reached the imperial family. Of course, he had no actual memories of that time. He was far too young to understand language, let alone remember someone he had never truly met. Yet, he could clearly recall her distinctive gray hair and golden eyes. Even in a portrait, her upright, gentle nature had been undeniable.
"I don't know the full details either. The great Valenos was the one who said so."
"...Is that so?"
"But one thing is certain: Rowen is not Kadan's biological son. They don't look alike at all, to begin with."
"That is certainly true, but..."
Even so, this wasn't a matter that could simply be brushed aside. This feeling... it was an indescribably complex emotion. It wasn't resentment, nor was it overwhelming joy. It was a strange, tangled web of feelings. Had Kadan known all of this? Yes, there was no way he hadn't. Despite knowing Rowen was his aunt's child, Kadan had disguised him as an illegitimate son and raised him with genuine paternal love. In many ways, Kadan was an extraordinary man. He deserved nothing but respect. As Lucius pondered further, a sudden realization struck him. The reason Kadan had insisted on calling Rowen—the son of Kasion—an illegitimate child. It was likely to divert the attention of those who targeted the imperial family away from Rowen. If his aunt had lost her life due to the coup against the imperial family, and had given birth to Rowen during that chaotic period... everything fell into place.
"More importantly, Uba, how long are you going to keep wearing that miserable face?"
"...I am... I am... deeply hurt."
"You idiot. Lian was busy."
"But I thought we were best friends!"
"Maybe you were the only one who thought so."
A dark shadow fell over Uba's face. He looked on the verge of tears. Mio found the whole situation highly entertaining, but the foolish Uba was genuinely heartbroken. He fought back his tears. This childish display was a truly rare sight. After all, not just anyone got to see the raw, unmasked side of the Great Warrior.
"Mio! Are you mocking me?! If that is truly the case, I shall be deeply disappointed in you!"
"Ahaha! I'm just teasing. It's a joke, a joke. Why so serious?"
"My heart is in great turmoil right now. Do not provoke me..."
Watching this play out, Lucius could only feel an inexplicable sense of cognitive dissonance.
They walked through the forest. Unlike the mortal realm, the living, sticky leaves here writhed in a deeply unsettling, uncomfortable manner. They were not green, but a dark, blackened hue. Devoid of any vitality, the faint aura of death shimmered around them. Through this suffocating forest, the three walked in silence. There was nothing left to say. Upon hearing the news of Lian's reincarnation, Uba had fallen into a state of shock and grief, sulking like a toddler. Lucius walked quietly, lost in his own thoughts after learning the truth. Mio could only let out a heavy, worried sigh as she watched the two men. Her sigh escaped her lips and drifted into their ears.
"...Sighing is bad luck."
"He's right. They say you lose a bit of your lifespan every time you sigh."
"This is all because of you two, you know? Besides, I'm a Hero blessed by an angel. I won't die that easily."
"It is simply annoying."
"Indeed."
"You absolute idiots!"
They say a disciple takes after their master. Lost in deep thought, the two men looked remarkably alike. The lower-class demons and magical beasts in the forest hid their presence the moment they sensed the trio's approach. Mio was well aware of this. However, because of the two fools in front of her, she didn't even have the leisure to hunt down the fleeing demons. It was simply absurd. Lucius, she could understand. His close friend had turned out to be his cousin. But what about Uba? Instead of being amazed by the miracle of reincarnation, he was throwing a tantrum because Lian hadn't come looking for him first.
Seriously, this is unbelievable.
Come to think of it, this bastard Uba had vanished without leaving a single trace. When he had suddenly showed up at the Magic Tower to find her one day, his head had already been shaved. He claimed he had been completely absorbed in training his successor. Honestly, she couldn't care less about that. This idiot had been so preoccupied with raising his disciple, leaving absolutely no clues about his whereabouts, yet he had the selfish audacity to expect Lian to magically find him. There was no fool quite like him. It was infuriating.
She quietly sneaked up behind him and smacked him right on the back of his head. Smack!
"What was that?!"
"What do you think? It's me."
Uba scratched the back of his head, which had turned slightly red. Had it dealt no damage, or was he simply unable to feel it? He wore a dazed expression, though his mouth was twisted into a comically pathetic pout.
"That is not what I was asking! Why did you strike my precious head?"
"...I hit you, actually."
"Is that so? I did not realize. It felt like a highly unpleasant gesture, which is why irritation welled up within me."
"Whatever. Get a grip already."
"I shall not forgive Lian."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just look ahead."
Towering structures loomed before them. Flying ships constructed from black timber patrolled the skies. The air was thick with the hum of bizarre machinery. Between the wooden structures and the mechanical contraptions, various demons roamed the streets along a dizzying boundary. Unlike a thousand years ago, a semblance of order seemed to have emerged. Though, of course, they still didn't line up. These flying ships, meant for intercontinental travel, served as the primary mode of transportation in Pandemonium. In a world composed of floating islands in the sky, these vessels were invaluable. However, the concept of laws was practically meaningless to demons. Consequently, the crowds gathering to board the flying ships often glared at one another, frequently erupting into bloody brawls. Yet, because this was merely everyday life for them, no one paid it any mind. Those who did notice either snickered or joined the fray, drawing their own blades.
"What a lawless mess..."
"Get used to it, boy. This is their daily routine."
"Yes, sir."
He answered, but it wasn't something he could easily grow accustomed to just because he was told to. It felt strange to admit, but... the demons' technology was terrifying. To be precise, seeing technology that surpassed humanity's was deeply unsettling. If beings with this level of advancement were to open a dimensional gate and invade the human realm, it would be a literal living hell. They were on an entirely different level compared to the Arkanthian imperial forces that had occupied Snowfall. Arkanthia's technology couldn't even begin to compare to Pandemonium's. Centered around a massive dimensional gate, an endless stream of flying ships patrolled the skies. They were shaped like the wings of bats. At the same time, the dark red timber of the vessels was carved to resemble demonic bones, casting an eerie vibe. Two crimson moons hung in the sky. In this world where day and night did not exist, the twin moons illuminated the floating islands. Lucius realized that this environment was likely one of the reasons the Prophets had established themselves in the Pentagon. Of course, that was merely his personal speculation.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"Real combat."
"Real combat?"
"Yes. To help the boy trigger his Dragonification more easily, he needs real combat experience."
Lucius felt a wave of doubt. It had certainly been grueling, but couldn't they just continue training by having him parry Uba's attacks like they had been doing? The question rose to the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it back down.
"We are going to hijack a flying ship."
"...Huh?"
"And then, we will head to the Island of Waves."
"Do you even realize what you're saying right now?"
"I do. We are going to raid the castle of Leviathan, the King of the Deep Sea."
The words that tumbled from Uba's mouth were utterly absurd, yet delivered with a bizarrely cheerful confidence.
"What did you just say?"
Mio flared up. Uba didn't even blink, looking completely oblivious to what the issue was.
"Is something wrong?"
"Of course there is!"
"Hmm. I fail to see the problem. What is wrong with raiding a Demon King's castle? Mio, we are Heroes. The conditions to torment him have been met."
Leviathan, the King of the Deep Sea. One of the seven Demon Kings, a magical beast that took the form of a water dragon rather than a human. An ancient evil that had ascended to the throne of a Demon King through sheer, overwhelming power. Uba was proposing to raid the very place where Leviathan's soul lay dormant. And in the process, he planned to throw Lucius right into the thick of it.
"Is that the only issue? Stealing a flying ship is a massive problem in itself!"
"You are being uncharacteristically moral, Mio."
"I have always been moral! No, that's not what I mean! Stealing a flying ship means you're actively looking to cause a massive scene!"
"Bwahahaha! Exactly!"
In truth, Mio found herself momentarily agreeing that it wasn't a bad idea. She felt a sudden wave of shame. Spending too much time with this idiot was clearly causing her own brain to rot. But more important than her dignity was Lucius.
"Does my opinion not matter at all?!"
"Hmm? Lucius. Do you not wish to become stronger?"
"It's not that, but..."
"Experience is everything. Conveniently, Leviathan's subordinates take the form of water dragons, so there will be much for you to learn from them."
Was he telling him to mimic the enemy to grow? Well, it wasn't a terrible idea. It was just that the execution was incredibly crude and violent. He was literally suggesting they raid the docks visible in the distance. Was this idiot blind? Whether by quantity or quality, that was clearly a demonic army stationed there. Feeling a deep sense of unease, Lucius turned his gaze toward Uba. ...Or at least, he was about to.
"You absolute fucking idiot!"
"Uba?!"
Boom! Having already wrapped his entire body in holy power, Uba unfurled golden wings from on high. Wings of holy power. The energy of the great Kaliaarun instantly coiled around his arms.
"Muscle—Kick!"
"...That is so lame."
"And that's not even a kick."
It was a punch. A massive, pumped-up lump of muscle slammed mindlessly into the docks.
The ground shattered as a thick cloud of dust and smoke billowed into the air. Mio shook her head, trying to steady her reeling mind. Lucius could only watch with his jaw hanging wide open.
"Bwahahaha!"
"A-A human?!"
"Look upon me! Come at me! Try and hunt me!"
"W-What is wrong with him? He's terrifying..."
His sheer aura, powerful enough to make even demons tremble, reverberated through the area. Sensing his presence, high-ranking demons began rushing toward them. In the distance, pale, human-like figures with crimson horns drew their Demonic Blades. These were true demons. Unlike the mindless beasts they had encountered in the forest, these were intelligent beings possessing distinct egos and personalities. They drew their swords to enforce at least a modicum of order.
"...Keke."
Or maybe not. Mio let out a sigh and raised her staff. The crystal atop it flashed brilliantly. Crimson runic letters began to orbit her. A massive clock hand projected into the sky. The flow of mana surged through Mio's magic circuits. *Tick, tock.* The clock hands began to spin backward, and the world ground to a halt. She couldn't maintain this for very long. She was only helping because that idiot had charged in without a single thought. It had always been like this in the past. Whenever Lian and Uba acted on impulse, it was always Mio and Lea who had to clean up their mess.
"Bwahahaha!"
"...Ha."
Lucius was utterly speechless. Quite some time had passed since he had been rescued by the man, but the image of the legendary warrior in his mind was rapidly plummeting into the abyss. Down, down into the deepest depths... His childhood admiration shattered into a million pieces. And then.
"...Huh?"
"Why are you just standing there? Get moving."
Mio levitated Lucius's body and launched him toward Uba. With a light flick of her staff, he was instantly by Uba's side. Grinning brightly, Uba grabbed Lucius by the scruff of his neck and dashed toward the flying ship.
"...What?"
Lucius's brain still couldn't keep up with the sheer speed of everything happening around him.
What is wrong with these people...
They're completely insane.