Chapter 216

The training Hadaesu prepared for me was insanely tough. Sure, they pretended like they were trying to kill me… but their acting was so bad. If they really hated me, they wouldn’t even bother hanging out with me. Honestly, I just kept thinking these guys couldn’t act to save their lives.

But their acting skills and fighting skills were two different things. That lizard-looking guy split the ground just by slamming his fist, and that woman named Harkas or whatever shot out mana that was ridiculously threatening. It wasn’t even magic—just raw mana blasts—and the speed was no joke.

I chose to rely on my wet nurse’s knowledge and the power Damian left behind. My mana had definitely increased exponentially, and my knowledge of magic had grown a lot too. But the problem was, my body couldn’t keep up with the mana, and my brain couldn’t process all that knowledge.

“By the way, Young Master… unless it’s a special case, I’ve been ordered by the gods not to lay a hand on you… so even if things go south, I won’t save you. You’ll have to survive on your own.”

But this guy, he’s the father of my wet nurse, who treated me like her own child, so technically, he’s my grandfather. What kind of grandfather treats his grandkid like this?

“Seriously, this is too much! Can’t you just send your kids to wipe out the Black Round Table or something?”

“…Wouldn’t that be nice? I initially planned to do that, but some existence is blocking such interference. Unless you’re an Apostle-level being, you can’t intervene.”

“…Is it Media?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s probably not Media. Though I doubt that b*tch… I mean, that woman has the ability to break the timeline, twist fate, and cause chaos on a planetary scale.”

“Fate…?”

Hadaesu raised his hand, forcing his children to stop.

“Let me put it this way. The Felinoir of the Black Round Table you faced, Olrag, Gaius who was Tristan, Kay who was Elena… they were all destined to become your loyal allies, even willing to lay down their lives for you. But someone intervened and twisted that fate.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“The King and leader of the Black Round Table. After killing all five of my children who guarded the world’s records, she erased all records related to herself and is now scheming something unknown. Thanks to her erasing those records, even I don’t know who she is.”

“…So, if I kill her, that’s it?”

“Well, obviously, Young Master… but you seem to be misunderstanding something.”

He clapped his hands, and his children, who had been standing still, charged at me again.

“If you can’t even beat those two who are holding back, then all this is just a pipe dream. Come on, give it your all. Want me to cheer you on in your favorite character’s voice? Ganbare, ganbare!”

It was annoyingly accurate.

“Don’t overthink it. Just move according to the knowledge in your head, don’t overthink the energy flowing through your body, and release it like flowing water. It’s basic common sense.”

Easy for you to say, old man. If theory alone made everything possible, people could walk on water and pull ten SSR characters in a row, you know.

“Let me tell you, this is just the starting line. Once you defeat them… I’ll thoroughly engrave combat techniques into your body. Magic isn’t my specialty, but this old man has lived long enough to teach you without any shortcomings.”

First, I followed Hadaesu’s advice and accepted the chaotic memories and knowledge without sorting them out. Then, I let the overflowing mana, which felt like it was about to burst, flow out naturally.

And I mixed my knowledge into it. I imagined myself firing magic without incantations, like I learned from Tristan.

[Magic that steals freedom.]

I released the mana while visualizing that image and keyword in my mind. The mana twisted reality, and purple chains shot out from thin air, binding the lizard guy and Harkas woman.

The problem was… the mana consumption was no joke… but Damian’s mana covered that weakness.

“Hmm, you pass the first test.”

Hadaesu threw away his cigarette and approached me.

“Well, your attacks are passable. Now, it’s time for the defense test. I’ll go easy on you, so try to block it. Don’t worry, this is a special space where you can’t die, and even if you’re crippled, I can heal you.”

“Wow, how touching…”

Before I could finish, everything went dark. About three seconds later, the light returned.

“Don’t let your guard down. Even an old man’s punch… no matter how much I control it, can drastically shorten your lifespan.”

“You’re seriously throwing punches like that…?”

“Young Master, you seem to be misunderstanding something…”

Are you about to say, “If you don’t buy ginseng, you won’t survive, you b*tch”?

“If you don’t kill those bastards in my place… do you think I’d just leave a planet with a witch who killed three of my children and a king who devoured five of them? I’d love to turn it all to dust… but I’m holding back, so understand that.”

…Damn.

“Let’s go again.”

A fist with the speed of light and the power of a meteor came flying at me. Damn it.

—

Everyone was bewildered by Lorcha’s sudden invitation, but sensing something important, they all gathered in the reception room of her mansion.

“Everyone’s here.”

She looked noticeably haggard, having not slept for days. The reason was simple: the truth she heard from the hero Zick was too shocking.

Her son from the future, no matter how infamous he became, sacrificed his dear friends and lovers, bore all the dangers his soul would face, and saved the world. He could’ve used his limited time for himself, but he chose to change the future for his siblings, giving up even more.

Lorcha couldn’t sleep, haunted by the words she spat at her hollowed-out son. Even when not with Werner, she had crossed paths with him a few times. Each time, he was killing criminals. But to extend his uncertain lifespan, to survive until the end, even if it meant falling into hell, he absorbed their souls to change the future.

He could’ve absorbed more souls and fought more easily, but he never touched the innocent. Even as he killed the wicked, he felt a tearing guilt but endured it. He believed his emotions didn’t matter as long as his siblings and mother could have a happy future.

But Lorcha, unaware of this, lashed out at him.

[If I had known you’d turn out like this, I would’ve never given birth to you.]

[Why don’t you just die and fall into hell? I’d be happy if you did.]

[Killing people again? You’re truly beyond saving, trash.]

Tormented by those memories, she reached a conclusion.

“I called you all here because I have something to say.”

With a changed demeanor, she dropped a bombshell.

“Please break up with my friend Werner. Of course, I’ll compensate you generously.”

Naturally, everyone reacted with disbelief.

“I can’t tell if this is nonsense or a joke. Keep your absurd jokes to your sleep-talking.”

Glacia tried to shut down the nonsense.

“I don’t have the time or the will to respond to such nonsense. I get you’re confused, but calm down a bit.”

Camelia, aware of her situation, tried to soothe her.

“…Ha, this isn’t even funny.”

Even Airi, who had gained the Spirit King of Wood’s power and become arrogant.

Everyone rejected her proposal.

“Well, I expected as much.”

Lorcha chuckled lightly, accepting their refusals.

“But do you even have the right to do that?”

She looked at them with a sneer.

Camelia, who had spoken with her a few times and had sharp intuition, could feel it—the aura of something unknown emanating from her.