Morse Bloodline
'She must be pissed.'
It was understandable. The tears she'd shed back then lingered in Tiny's memory as something both guilt-inducing and bewildering.
So he bowed his head politely toward Luna.
"...Circumstances forced me to lie. I sincerely apologize. If there's anything you want from me..."
He poured his genuine remorse into the words, but...
"Brother, Morse, right? Why say that? Sis, hate me?"
Tiny frantically waved his hands at Luna's stony expression.
"N-no! That's not it...!"
"Then, why?"
"...I deceived you, sis. I'm not really blood-related. That's why I'm apologizing now."
"So, that, what does it mean?"
The conversation wasn't connecting at all, leaving Tiny flustered for a moment. Could the Reaper from this era have some intellectual issue?
Or maybe the shock hit her that hard.
Tiny bit his lip at the thought and bowed again.
"As I said, I'm not Morse blood. So..."
"But you are?"
"...Pardon?"
The exchange kept veering off-track, and now even Tiny tilted his head in confusion. Their bewildered gazes met.
"What the hell are you saying right now?"
"What the hell are you saying, sis?"
"You, Morse. Right, why say no...?"
"That's what I mean—I tricked you from the start. No malice, but..."
"You are?"
"Pardon?"
"You, why?"
"...".
"...".
Blank stares crossed again. Where had this conversation gone wrong?
Is she denying reality out of stubbornness?
Tiny struggled to respond, looking troubled, when Jenas, who'd been watching with intrigued eyes, suddenly interjected.
"Hold on, Tiny. You're saying this Shadow Leader—no, this young lady—is the true heir of the Morse family, the fake identity you used?"
"...Yes."
Tiny nodded, and Jenas's gaze shifted sideways.
"Made up, an identity? What the...?"
Luna looked even more confused by her own words. Jenas's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"But you think Tiny is the true Morse heir?"
"Not think. Is."
Her immediate reply widened Tiny's eyes too.
What nonsense is this?!
"...Why do you think that?"
His question dripped with disbelief, but her answer stunned him.
"First met, my dagger, brother's blood, got on it. Family has way, test bloodline. Did it."
"What!?"
Her words made that 'brother' bulge his eyes and shout without thinking.
"Hah... This is quite the entertaining situation, Tiny."
"Entertaining my ass... Reaper—no, Lady Luna. What do you mean by that!?"
His frantic gaze skimmed past Jenas and locked onto Luna. He couldn't help but be confused.
- Thanks, Reaper.
- Fine. Debt..., paid. Saved life.
Their exchange back then, even after saving each other's lives, had been that curt. Their relationship was one where he sometimes wondered why she hated him so much.
Blood-related?
It made no sense. But Luna, meeting his gaze, was just as baffled.
"Exactly, what I said?"
"No, I mean... that..."
"Brother, closer direct line than me. So why, fake...?"
Perplexed looks crossed as the two fell silent, staring at each other. The third party, chuckling wryly, cut in again.
"Ha, hahaha. Right, black eyes, black hair... Not common bloodline, but this is too coincidental. First time hearing this, Tiny? Nothing from birth parents either?"
"...Yes."
He had no such stories—hell, no memories of parents at all.
What ridiculous nonsense...
Bloodline detection magic for trueborn heirs existed not just in the imperial family but among high nobles too. So the Morse family having one wasn't odd.
But it was absurd. Me, noble blood? And the fake identity was real? Even if chosen for physical matches, this was too perfect.
Me, true Morse heir? Same as the Reaper?
As Tiny reeled, Jenas summarized.
"Well, if Luna insists, it must be true. But even fallen noble blood falling to the slums... You said you didn't know? Ha. Hahaha. Wow..."
He seemed fairly thrown too, but no more than the parties involved.
"Hah... What the actual...?"
"What does this all mean? Explain again?"
Tiny could only stare blankly at Luna. After early childhood, he'd never once wondered about his bloodline. In his grueling life, the future mattered, not the past.
And he'd reached the top on his own power. So noble blood now? It didn't hit home—just bafflement at the absurdity.
Then Luna frowned and pressed again.
"But why, fake it? Only I didn't know?"
"Ah... ha. ha. That is... Tiny, let's clarify properly, shall we?"
Jenas shot him an awkward glance, and Tiny finally calmed, explaining steadily.
Confusion was confusion; apologies were due.
"It wasn't intentional. Sorry, Lady Luna."
"...What?"
"Here's what happened..."
He confessed the personal reasons behind the hurtful lie and apologized sincerely again.
"...That's it. But this..."
Luna stared stiffly as Tiny trailed off awkwardly, then sighed softly.
"Lie, but became real?"
Her hollow gaze and mutter. As Tiny bit his lip to bow again, Luna nodded curtly.
"Got it, circumstances. Found family, so forgive."
To Tiny, it sounded like no true blood, no forgiveness—but he exhaled in relief anyway.
Good thing. Phew...
He hadn't expected their tangled bond to reconnect like this, but it wasn't bad—better, even. Noble origins still felt unreal, but who cared now?
I'm still me.
With that weight lifted, a new question arose.
Blood testing works? Then why in my past life...?
The Reaper who'd shunned him came to mind—odd, but whatever. To the third party, it was amusing.
"Anyway, so you suspected Tiny too?"
Luna's face chilled at Jenas's words.
"What mean?"
"Ah, I mean, you tested... haha. Sorry. Ha, haha..."
Even world-weary Jenas looked sheepish under her glare, averting his eyes.
"Anyway, not that. Evidence shown, looks too clear."
Luna seemed a bit confused herself. Thought it was real, but lied? Her face said it all.
But.
"Wanted check how direct. Ambiguous."
"Ambiguous?"
"Direct line, blood thicker, shorter height."
"What!?"
As her words continued.
"'Shadow Blood', ancient magic chain, bondage and power. Branches too, black hair black eyes, manifests strong."
Her shaky gaze steadied.
"But fourteen, that height, thought blood thin. Result opposite."
Her eyes now pierced Tiny unwaveringly. Though for him, it was the opposite.
He ground his teeth unwittingly.
Damn it. What cursed bloodline...!
His tiny frame had landed him in the beggars' crew, always robbed by higher-ups. That grudge fueled his past life's bulk—strength equals size. Hell, his name Tiny came from being puny compared to peers.
Rage bubbled up just thinking of it.
But.
"Brother. Eyes now...?"
Tiny, surging with ire, caught Luna's sharpened gaze and hastily schooled his face.
"Ah, ha. ha. Just... sis kinda tall for girl..."
"Me, elf blood mixed. So girl, tall."
Right. Damn it, not the point now.
One mystery solved, though. In his past life, seeing his giant frame.
...No way she'd suspect blood then.
A black-haired, black-eyed titan might repulse the Reaper. Explained her distant, antisocial vibe—especially toward him.
Still.
"How did this even...?"
Too shocking to accept. Magic-infused bloodlines rare even among nobles.
True nobles boasting 'mana-laced blue blood,' distinct from commoners. Now only clear in Aslan imperial or Selden royal lines—extremely rare.
How'd my parents end up in Philes slums?
Even fallen, they'd have skills, right?
A question never pondered—except in childish resentment—sprouted anew.
Luna, noting his expression, continued slowly.
"Grandpa, clan wipeout, youngest son. Took secrets, relics, escaped. Brother probably direct heir line, 'Shadow Blood' thick."
"Eh?"
"Height weird, but result says so."
"...".
"Shadow Blood makes 'Shadow Law' easier. Relic designates heir, passes blood stronger."
"No, I..."
"Shadow Law easier, stronger. Want, can teach. Pass successor position."
Luna barreled on, pulling a black dagger with ornate runes—mana faintly pulsing—from her bosom. Tiny waved frantically.
"N-no! Absolutely not needed, sis."
Whatever the case, better this way. Her arts clashed completely with his style—past or present. Forcing it wouldn't help, especially if it weakened her.
So now.
"...Actually good. Easier to say then. Had something to tell you awhile."
Focus on how this made spilling the regression truth simpler.
So he thought.
"Condition."
What?
"Not time for conditions..."
"Call sis, not Lady Sis. Speech casual. Half-speak."
"Uh..."
"No, won't listen."
She scowled, plugging ears and turning away. Her mystical look made it cute, pretty even—but to Tiny remembering past Reaper, it chilled him.
Agh, that psycho bitch Reaper...
Youth? His ignorance? His change? Either way, baffling.
But.
- Fine, call her sis. Already half-forced(?) in this life, blood aside. And if true kin, Erina sis in heaven wouldn't mind.
"...Got it, sis."
Words came easier than thought, something tight in his chest loosening. A long-stifled stuffiness fading, an awkward smile rose.
Opposite him.
"...Yeah."
Luna grinned ear-to-ear, cheeks flushing happily. That un-Reaper-like sight made him avert eyes slyly, but time for truth now.
"Glad too, but hear me first. About our future. And my past... meaning..."
Words he'd held back amid unease now flowed long.
Some time later.
Blink, blink.
Luna stared blankly with big eyes, then slowly spoke.
"So, De...mon... King...?"
No finger-twirl, but her tone screamed you're nuts.
"That ancient, Ma-yeok, Great Labyrinth, made?"
"...Yeah."
Ah, shit. Tiny's eye twitched.
Comrades who'd saved each other, but thin bonds—no compelling tales to earn trust.
What to do...
No ideas, pondering.
"Hard believe. But believe."
"Hm?"
"No reason brother lie to me. So believe."
He'd just confessed a lie minutes ago—what blind faith?
Really the Reaper? What happened in twenty years?
But allies' personalities differing from past? Familiar since Sword Emperor. Now, her sparkling amethyst eyes just stirred guilt and thanks.
And then, Sword Emperor's helpful tip flashed.
"Ah, tell you future combat tech you used. Help growth ahead. That'll..."
Make her believe more. But facing her trusting gaze, Tiny just chuckled.
"...Nah. Anyway, wanna hear?"
"Yes!"
Instant reply. Unlike Sword Emperor, no aura yet. Describing superhuman fights wouldn't yield much.
For normal folk.
But her talent—already a stage up since last meet—meant gains likely.
That moment.
"Ahem. I'll step out."
Jenas, listening quietly, coughed and exited the tent.
Knight hearing assassin tech descriptions? Useless. But manners.
Stuffy guy.
His courtesy let Tiny explain her past-life tech—effects, forms—in detail, relaxed.
Long tale ended.
"Ah..."
Luna nodded, already grasping something. Tiny smiled warmly.
Tell Zerik too.
Forgotten amid Zerik's fast Aura Exceeder rise. Organizing thoughts, then tent outside buzzed noisily.
What?
Snapping focus outward.
"Tiny! Big trouble!!"
Jenas burst in, pale-faced, yelling. Rare outright casual from him startled Tiny briefly.
"Attack on Bator! Relic Cor gone!"
Stunned by unforeseen news, Tiny's face hardened like stone.