After Luke returned from Arinseia, at Yerna’s house.
Luke couldn’t talk to Yerna about Renie, so he had to endure a lengthy lecture.
Even if he said it didn’t matter much since he wasn’t a creation of the goddess, other people still viewed her as their creator.
If Renie’s existence were to become known, her efforts would eventually come to naught.
Moreover, there was no need to rush to meet her.
In due time, he would be able to meet her.
Absolutely.
So, despite hearing Yerna’s nagging, Luke couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Seriously, you’re not reflecting at all, are you? You’re not listening to what your sister said, are you?”
“No, that’s a misunderstanding. I am really reflecting. I was listening to everything you said.”
“Then say back exactly what I said.”
Yerna crossed her arms, feigning an angry expression.
She intended to check if he was actually paying attention.
Luke began to repeat what Yerna had said.
“You said not to go out carelessly and put myself in danger, that wherever I go I should always inform someone nearby and try to go with others whenever possible.”
When Yerna saw Luke responding sharply, she sighed as if there was no other option and said,
“…Well, you heard me well. If you do it again, expect to be spanked. It won’t matter if you cry then.”
“Ugh, uh… I understand. I will take care…”
Luke swallowed nervously.
Honestly, being spanked wasn’t particularly painful for him, but it was a humiliating punishment.
At his age… No, age didn’t really mean much to him.
Still, it was different in that it remained disgraceful.
Even though he learned he was a Circle, all the memories he accumulated as Luke hadn’t completely vanished.
He was still Luke Irush, a Circle, a Grand Mage.
To receive a punishment of being spanked by his mother was a severe loss of face.
It was also quite embarrassing in front of Pyris, who would be watching that scene.
“Then you are reflecting, right?”
“Yes, I am truly reflecting.”
“Phew…”
Yerna could no longer nag at Luke, who had his head lowered with ears drooping.
Eventually, she reluctantly uncrossed her arms and spoke in a softer tone.
“Do you really promise?”
When Yerna extended her pinky finger, Luke linked his pinky with hers.
It wasn’t particularly meaningful since he had already sworn verbally, but it seemed like Yerna wanted it.
“Then, do I have to stay at home today and not go anywhere? You’re grounded this weekend.”
“Oh my, grounded?”
Luke quickly protested.
“…But, sister… I want to go out and play the cello…”
When Luke looked up at Yerna with a pitiful expression, she turned her head sharply to the side, trying to ignore his gaze.
“No. Didn’t I always let you off? This time it’s a real punishment. You can play next time.”
Luke, undeterred by Yerna’s firm words, pinched her sleeve and said,
“But….”
“…Still, it’s no use. This time I’m really mad.”
Nevertheless, Yerna was indeed very firm.
Oh my, was there such a glaring weakness in ‘looking up’?
When the other party evades your gaze, there’s nothing one can do.
He had tried to ride along with the atmosphere, but it appeared that he had no choice but to accept being grounded.
As a punishment for worrying them by going out recklessly…
He could say it was a sense of unity in punishment.
‘…Well, it can’t be helped.’
Luke let out a deep sigh.
“I understand, I will accept that punishment gladly.”
—————-
Well, even if he couldn’t go out, there were still plenty of things Luke could do.
He needed to stabilize the Moonlight Stone necklace that linked the pocket dimension and coordinates and brew the magic herbs he brought back into ointment for Yerna’s burns.
Moreover…
Luke pulled a blue crystal from his pocket.
This was none other than the magic core of the Living Armor.
“Liv, just hang on a little longer. I’ll soon create a body for you.”
The Living Armor, which Luke had deactivated by breaking it, started functioning again as the influence of the Hourglass of Reverse Time hit it while he went down the corridor.
Seeing that, Luke couldn’t hide his joy.
So this time, he quickly separated the core before the child recognized him.
He had thought it was ‘Baal’ who had used some trick to take it away from him, but that wasn’t the case.
It was simply that it couldn’t recognize him.
Liv, that child was simply fulfilling its role of ‘striking down intruders.’
The problem was that he had also been classified as an intruder.
But that part could be dealt with through ‘re-education’, so it didn’t matter.
Luke looked around the room.
He wondered if there was anything suitable to settle Liv into.
“Let’s see…”
To insert the core of the Living Armor, it was preferable to use an object that was modeled after a life form.
Among those, it was recommended to have at least a pair of arms and legs.
If that wasn’t the case, the adjustment would become quite difficult.
This was because Liv’s design was made for the Living Armor.
He might have to unintentionally touch on the personality while adjusting it.
That was something Luke would not wish for.
Liv was his creation, practically like his child.
Anyway, the only things in the room that could fit Liv were the incomplete large cat doll named ‘Kate’ and a small teddy bear received as a birthday gift for the kids.
“Hmm, but Kate won’t do.”
Moreover, it already had the name ‘Kate.’
Although Kate’s personality wasn’t fully formed yet, it had some semblance of a self.
This meant killing the self that was ‘Kate.’
Since it had a self inserted, Kate was also his child.
There was no way he could do such a thing.
It was unsuitable to insert ‘Liv’ into Kate.
So, the remaining option was just that small teddy bear.
“Hmm, where did Yerna put the sewing kit?”
———
“Alright, it’s all done.”
Finally, Luke completed the stitching.
Unlike Kate, who was so big that he would have to shoulder it, this was a small teddy bear that fit snugly in his arms.
Luke poked the teddy bear with his finger and said,
“How is it, Liv? Can you move your body?”
At that moment, receiving magical power from Luke’s finger, the teddy bear suddenly raised its head.
Soon, Liv started looking around a few times, then glanced down at its hands before rising up.
Confirming that there was no problem with the activation, Luke internally sighed in relief and rested his chin on his arm.
To be honest, transplanting Liv, made to the specifications of a Living Armor, into a teddy bear was quite exhausting for Luke.
“5000 years have passed, Liv.”
Luke warmly welcomed Liv.
He was welcoming a guest who had crossed over a time span of 5000 years.
But Liv had no time to receive such greetings from Luke.
Tilting its head to look behind it and quickly inspecting its tiny arms and legs,
It looked like it was panicking, as if asking, ‘Where is my armor?’
Luke couldn’t help but laugh, thinking it resembled his own presence.
After all, it had awakened trapped in a mismatched body from 5000 years ago, hadn’t it?
Luke understood Liv’s feelings better than anyone.
As Liv continued to panic and examine its body, it soon locked eyes with Luke and then grabbed the needle resting on the desk (How Liv could grab it, considering it had no fingers, was a mystery.) and took a stance towards Luke.
It resembled the response of a Living Armor that came face to face with an intruder.
Not only that, the tip of the needle was glowing with a blue light.
It was a sword aura, a blade of spiritual power.
‘Hmm, even in such a body, is it still recognized as a Swordmaster…?’
Compared to how bewildered he had been when he regained his senses without the Circle and all, Liv’s condition was relatively better.
Though, to be honest, it was quite a dangerous situation to be thinking so casually about.
At first glance, it was just a cute teddy bear poised with a needle, but in reality, it was a scene where a Swordmaster was releasing sword aura before him with vigilance.
However, Luke didn’t panic and calmly continued speaking.
“Liv, it’s only natural that you can’t recognize me. But.”
‘…?’
As Liv adjusted its stance, as if asking what he meant, Luke quickly moved his hand, snatched the needle surrounded by sword aura, and immediately embraced Liv.
Being a teddy bear, it felt quite fluffy.
However, Liv was still struggling in his arms.
Perhaps it was wary of becoming incapacitated.
Luke gently patted Liv, as if to reassure it.
“Liv. Feel this Circle. Doesn’t it feel familiar?”
Though Luke Irush from 5000 years ago and the current Luke were entirely different in every way, there was one thing that remained absolutely the same.
That is, the pattern of the Circle.
That was the proof that he was once Luke and Liv’s father.
Soon, Liv seemed to realize this as it stopped struggling and began to focus on the sound of its heartbeat.
Luke held Liv like that for a while before looking into the eyes of the teddy bear and then placed it back on the desk.
At that point, Liv was quivering on the desk, unable to even think about standing up.
It looked as if it was asking, ‘Really…?’
Luke smiled at Liv and said,
“Indeed, it has been a long time, little one.”
Then, Liv immediately stood up, picked up the needle again, and aimed it at Luke once more.
However, this time, it was a little different in meaning.
It was not a guard against an intruder but rather an oath from a knight to its master.
Luke looked at Liv’s demeanor with satisfaction, then waved his hand.
“Let’s not do that. You are no longer a Living Armor, and I am no longer a Grand Mage. Today, let’s simply…”
After a short pause, Luke extended his hand and said,
“Shall we celebrate our reunion after 5000 years?”
