Brace Yourself

Uba’s face flushed bright red. He was somewhat surprised that someone could actually catch up to him, but his main focus was on how incredibly painful Lucius’s punch had been.

"That's just too much!"

"You had it coming," Mio said flatly.

"Mio, you always side with Lucius! Instead of taking the side of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a friend you've known for a thousand years, you've gone completely senile!"

A brilliant flame swirled from Mio's staff.

"What did you just call me, you old geezer? Do you actually want to die?"

"...Tsk. The moment I meet Lian, it's going to be your funeral."

"No matter how much you curse us, we won't die. Hehe."

There was a reason they were engaging in such trivial banter. It had been three days since Lucius had gone back in to face Leviathan. They weren't just bored; they were sick of waiting.

Mio thought to herself: How on earth did this idiot, Uba, survive ten years alone in Pandemonium?

"Uba."

"Hmm?"

"...Never mind. I'd rather not ask."

He was a madman. It was obvious even without asking. He had probably just wandered around hunting demons with a foolish grin on his face. But could he really have endured on that alone?

Uba's holy power was more than infinite; it was overflowing. That was why he never grew tired, even when sharing his holy power with all of them. The day he met defeat would only be when his physical body gave out and his stamina was completely depleted—that would be the end of his destiny.

"Sigh... I miss Lian."

He was still a bit young, but now that he had reached adulthood, much of his childishness had faded. His features were even more striking than in his past life. Mio looked up at the sky, picturing Rowen.

Arahan gently placed her hand on Rowen's shoulder. A warm wave of holy power softly enveloped his body. It was a protective barrier shielding him from the magi of Pandemonium, a sensation he had felt even a thousand years ago.

"Fuck, this is exactly why I hate Pandemonium. It's damp, dark, and smells like shit."

"Young Master. Did you wash your mouth out with a rag? Excessive profanity sets a poor example for the people."

"I'm just stating facts. Besides, Arahan, you have a much dirtier mouth than I do."

"Is that mouth of yours incapable of staying still? Bring it here. I shall shut it for you once and for all."

Just as Arahan pulled Rowen by the waist, attempting to kiss him, Sirayunsul lightly flicked the back of her hand. *Smooch.*

Arahan had even closed her eyes, but what she felt was not the sensation of lips. It was a slightly warmer, rougher texture...

"...What kind of dog shit stunt is this?"

"Fufu, to think I'd get a kiss on the back of my hand from you. Truly, one must live long to see everything."

"I am currently extremely angry. Yunsul, do not interfere."

"What an ungrateful, rebellious child. Is that any way to speak to the parent who raised you?"

"I am not rebellious. Even if you raised me, I have never once considered you my mother."

"Oh my. Look at the way this brat talks."

He really should intervene... but Rowen couldn't bring himself to speak amidst the tempestuous emotions swirling between the two. *Sigh... let's just leave them. They'll follow on their own.*

"What do you want from me? If you continue to interfere like this, I will refuse to go with you."

"And do you think you have the strength to cast me aside?"

"...Are you challenging me?"

"Haha! I think that's a wonderful idea. It's only natural to discipline a runaway daughter."

Accompanied by a crack of Pandemonium's thunder, Rosbriel drew a sharp arc toward her neck.

Reading the trajectory of the approaching gravity sword with her exceptional dynamic vision, Yunsul channeled her positive energy to deflect it. A single clash. The fierce gale unleashed from that solitary collision lightly ruffled the back of Rowen's hair as he walked away.

"Both of you, cut it out and get over here!"

Too much time had been wasted. To stop Cain and Judas, who were out there somewhere, they had to regroup with Mio and Lucius as quickly as possible. If Uba was there too, it would be absolutely perfect. It had been a while since they last met; how would the guy react?

"...Ah."

He would undoubtedly be furious, complaining about why Rowen hadn't come to find him sooner. In many ways, Uba was sharp, and he valued personal relationships more than anyone. Because of that, he was also easily hurt by them. It was a trauma stemming from his childhood, when he lost his parents to magitech—the very tragedy that had driven him down the path of an exorcist.

Hearing Rowen's voice, Arahan immediately deflected Yunsul's fist. She sheathed her sword at her waist and clicked her tongue. Yunsul did the same, merely shrugging with a smirk.

Arahan scurried over to stand right by Rowen's side. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she glared back at Yunsul before studying Rowen's face. He had raised his voice. She was anxious that he might be angry with her. Though he would never abandon her, Arahan was always ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plagued by worry in the swirling vortex of her emotions—unaware that this very anxiety was slowly morphing into obsession.

"...I am sorry, Young Master."

"It's fine. We're not late yet."

"...Yes."

Sirayunsul spoke up. "Hey, bastard. Do you have any idea where the people you're looking for might be?"

"Who knows. The coordinates for Mio that Yuria showed us were quite a distance from here."

It felt almost like being underwater. By the way, how long was Sirayunsul going to keep calling him "bastard"? Everyone should know my true lineage by now. Well, whatever was comfortable for her. It wasn't a big deal, so he decided to let it slide.

They walked through the forest. Perhaps because he had no good memories of this place, irritation welled up inside him despite his holy power blocking out the magi. The squirming tree branches were grotesque. They were so repulsive that every time Rowen knit his brows, Arahan sliced them all to pieces.

After walking a bit further, the capital city began to come into view, just as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expected. Flying ships sailing through the sky were clearly visible. At the same time, a cliff loomed right before them. Pandemonium was a celestial world formed from shattered fragments of rock. It was far too advanced to be dismissed as a mere wasteland of demons, and humans, fearing this progress, labeled it "demonic technology." While that was true, Rowen couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

"Let's go."

"Where to, Young Master?"

"I have a rough idea of where they're headed."

The Island of Waves. He didn't know why Mio's coordinates pointed to such a place, but she must have had her reasons. The real problem was how to get there... Right now, they were in a secluded forest, but once they stepped out, demons in suits would be roaming the streets. If they were spotted, they would be attacked.

If it were Uba, he would have charged in and hijacked a flying ship, but Rowen wasn't stupid enough to come up with such a reckless plan. Above all, didn't he have the most useful forces at his disposal? As a sly smirk spread across his face, Valenos shrieked inside his head.

"Who said I was asking you? Why, does your conscience prick you?"

Of course, he had no intention of using the great Valenos. The spirit king needed to think deeply about Judas anyway, so summoning others would be the best course of action. Spirits could fly freely through the air, so it didn't matter who he summoned.

"Casiel, Karlena. Stop hiding and come on out."

"I know. You are my proud grandfather and grandmother, after all."

"You know I always trust you guys, right?"

Casiel gently swept Arahan up into his arms so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Karlena placed Sirayunsul onto her shoulder.

"Well, I've lived long enough to ride on the shoulder of a great spirit."

"I agree," Arahan murmured.

Yunsul burst into laughter. Delighted, she patted Karlena's shoulder.

"Hahaha! Then is this a first experience between the two of us?"

"What's with this lady? You must have gotten married and had children in your lifetime."

"Then it's fine! Let's go! Time to meet the foolish emperor!"

The "foolish emperor" was undoubtedly Lucius. Yunsul didn't know about Karlena's past, which was why she could speak so lightheartedly. It was fortunate that Karlena laughed it off; if it had been Judas, she would have already been kicked a few times by those swift legs. Even Rowen couldn't match Karlena's speed yet. He still needed time to fully make her power his own.

"Let's move."

She felt his arrival. It wasn't her imagination. Mio knew. Having felt the presence she had yearned for so long, she was absolutely certain.

"Uba, it's Lian."

"Hmm?"

Uba sprang to his feet and looked around. He stomped on a human-faced fish leaping from the water without even looking at it, his eyes searching frantically.

Thud! The ground shook. Uba's expression was a mix of anticipation and annoyance at the prospect of meeting his old friend. Was he still sulking because Lian hadn't come to find him? Mio shook her head with a sigh.

"Where is he? I don't see him!"

"Listen to me until I'm finished. I said I only felt his presence."

"...Mio, speak clearly. You're confusing me."

"You're the one throwing a fit all on your own!"

A fierce wind whipped up the waves. The waters around the Island of Waves were always violent, but now they raged like a tempest. High in the sky, a shadow hurtled toward them. Wings. Those were dragon wings.

Whoosh! The waves crashed, sprayed by the wind, creating a thick mist. The view became hazy. Mio blocked it with a simple barrier, but Uba didn't bother, spreading his arms wide to welcome the spray.

"Lian, is that you?!"

The reply that came back was:

"Long time no see, dumbass."

"Puhaha! Finally, my lackey has arrived!"

"Lackey, my ass. I was actually planning to make your hair grow back, but I guess you don't want it?"

Huh? Panicking, Uba quickly clutched his bald head. The voice echoed through the mist. As the spray gradually cleared, Rowen's figure came into view.

A boy of the Valenos family stood before him, with ash-white hair and odd eyes—one gold, one red. He commanded great spirits, possessed the awakened power of the dragon race, and wielded a core of undeniably immense power.

"..."

Rowen tilted his head. He had expected Uba to leap forward in joy, but there was no reaction. The words that finally came out of Uba's mouth were:

"Mio, who the hell is this kid?"

"...What?"

"Lian didn't look like this! He had way more muscle! Who is this shrimp?!"

It was a truly idiotic remark. Rowen didn't know whether to be grateful that Uba hadn't changed at all or to just smack him on the head. After a brief hesitation, he replied with a smirk.

"Haha. This bastard is talking absolute shit again."

"Fufu, I agree," Arahan chimed in.

Arahan? Uba's eyes widened. He had heard that his disciple was traveling with Lian's reincarnation. Was this kid really Lian? But he looked so completely different!

"Do you even know what reincarnation means?" Rowen asked.

"It means being born again!"

"Right, so you do know."

"But your face is different! You are not Lian!"

This guy... Does he seriously think reincarnation means being born with the exact same face? Wow. Unbelievable.

"Arahan. Cast a slightly stronger curse on him."

"Yes, Young Master."

"But before that, let me just punch him once."

Unlike Mio, who had recognized him instantly after his death and rebirth, Uba couldn't even tell who he was? Even after he had revealed his identity, a guy who called himself a friend still doubted him? It was incredibly irritating.

"Huh? Wait, are you really Lian—"

"Yeah, it's me, you son of a bitch."

One hit of this should jog his memory.

"Brace yourself."

Here comes the fist.