Chapter Text
The Second Prince has finally awakened from his long sleep.
But this joyful news, unfortunately, had to be ruined by the outbreak of the 'Grey Plague' that spread in the capital right on the next day.
Two weeks have passed since that night, and the people around the palace wonder if the curse that the Second Prince had suffered from is looking for a new host to occupy.
But considering that Prince Morres had been the one who got involved around the cases, the rumors are shifting more blames toward him. The Idiot Piggy Prince has always invited trouble to wherever he goes after all.
“What a blasphemous rumor! Our poor Prince has yet to even step out from his bed the whole day! How could he even spread those plagues around?!”
Sean voiced his protest a few days ago while combing Oleander's hair.
“Mm.”
However, thanks to those rumors, Oleander had a reason to request that the news of his waking from the coma not be announced to the public just yet.
Until now, he still continues to hide at the Silver Rose Palace that has rejected all visitors who heard the news and wanted to visit him. All except the Emperor of course. He was the one who decided to come over during their weekly audience meeting.
Amelia also used this chance to monopolize his time. She looks more and more inspired with every story of how he pays back his enemies.
“Hehe, I will stab that damned scumbag with those spears… then take everything with me, hehe…”
She keeps mumbling that with her bright smiles.
‘I hope she doesn't overdo it and end up like Hannah in the future…’
Oleander felt a chill. He continued to sip his tea that Sean had served for him.
Not a lemonade.
It was a Melbourne tea that seems pretty common here.
He has been lazing around since morning and decided to enjoy his afternoon reading some books with his Noona on the balcony.
Amelia told him that her necklace had been sent to repairers by Mirabelle.
A few days ago, the request to repair it was finally accepted. The letter permit regarding it needs to go through a long and strict approval because it concerns a personal treasure belonging to a member of the royal family.
It will take a long time for the repair to finish.
Well, if they are able to. That’s it.
‘Afterall, a jewel that broke itself and was involved in the secret of [Regression] is not ordinary …’
Oleander was still curious about it.
He really needs to make sure if this [Regression] has no strings attached under whatever god’s involvement. It would be better for Amelia to stay far away from Them if possible.
He did not want his family to suffer from any god's selfish action.
Oleander flipped a page of his book.
Two years has a lot of news to catch up on regarding Delcross. Especially about his big family.
He remembered that Owen had decided to leave on a journey near the year before Oleander fell into a coma. He somehow ended up leading the battlefield with Varsha warriors' in the Southern Region frontline.
Owen hasn't come back even once since. But he always sent gifts and letters regularly.
After Oleander’s quiet death sleep, Logan has decided to lead a Sea Monster Subjugation across the Eastern Region near the borders to Ortona. It seems his fan group of knights, ‘Lilium’, has grown bigger and become the unit he leads there.
Their youngest, Sisley, has also decided to join the ‘Noblesse Oblige’ – like her two older brothers – on the journey of Pilgrimage. She was always eager to fulfill her duties toward the Church.
The little twins, Herna and Gades, are still the same as before. Just continue doing their own mischief.
And then, there is Morres… the Piglet Prince.
Always make trouble and open his foul mouth anywhere he goes. Unlike Billos Flynn – who looks like a useful rich piggy bank, Morres could only be described as a spoiled overweight kid.
Morres’s mother, the First Queen Consort Lizabeth, really put a lot of expectations on her son to become the Crown Prince. Oleander heard before that Morres was a good child who always wanted to please his mother.
But maybe because of those pressures and how his talents always got compared to the genius Logan, his personality became rough.
Oleander once pitied him.
It was gone the instant Morres opened his mouth to insult both Amelia and him on their first meeting. He also adores mentioning their deceased mother. Not in a good way.
Amelia told him that Morres had changed around two months ago.
He fell from a horse, got a nasty fever, lost his memories, and decided to train his chubby body after he recovered. He even finally succeeded in forming his [Aura] core after failing it for years.
Morres has decided to continue his study to learn the swordsmanship he despised much and even asked Amelia to teach him how to read.
‘How bizarre.’
It’s not that Oleander didn’t believe someone can change out of nowhere… But that just sounds like a cliche protagonist plot at the beginning of some novels from Korea that he has read before.
– Like yours?
He ignores someone who chirps that in his head.
Masain Hyungnim, their cousin, has decided to step down from being the Captain of the Imperial Guard and stay around Morres’s side. It seems he and Morres had been running around trying to solve the 'Grey Plague'.
His family are all busy.
Oleander will enjoy his leisure time before he plays to help Amelia’s revenge. Then, he would run away to his retirement villa with his beloved slacker life.
– Are you trying to sacrifice yourself?
“Hah?”
‘Wait, that’s not what the Scary Giant Cobblestone was supposed to say right now!’ Oleander's eyes shakes when he realized what that meant.
–Boom!
Suddenly, there is a loud sound of explosion from a distance.
“What was that?!” Amelia asked in panic.
Bzzzzt!
Another sound joined from the same direction. There, they see a big green cloud in the sky coming quickly from the distance toward their direction.
‘The hell?!’
Oleander instantly activates his [Indestructible Shield] around the Silver Rose Palace.
Shing!
“Oh, Heavens!”
He heard Mirabelle and Sean gasped behind him.
“... so pretty.” Amelia whispered while looking at the beautiful shield.
The silver shield with two wings shines brightly and ready to prepare for attacks.
Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!
The cloud is coming closer. Oleander was finally able to see what that cloud really was.
It was a swarm of wasp-like creatures of colonies.
Each one of them had the size of a large dog. Their bodies are covered with green spikes and have massive black stingers on their rears. Their large compound eyes were also emitting a menacing red glow.
Bzzt! Bzzzt!
‘Huh? They're not attacking?’
The wasps kept flying above the palace and passed it without a second glance. It seems like they have a destination in mind.
Oleander made sure none of them were left behind and stopped activating his shield.
Swoosh!
He took off to the sky with his [Sound of the Wind] power and followed the direction where those wasps were going.
“Wait, Olie! Don't go there!” Amelia shouted out to him.
“I’ll be fine, Lia! I just want to make sure they didn’t hurt anyone.” Oleander answered back.
Amelia watches her twin flying far away in frustration. She would have a word with him later.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Oleander continues to fly and stop at the outermost layer of the Imperial Court’s walls.
Those wasps had already scattered to several directions that they were targeting in the capital city. Most of them are going toward the slums.
“Damn it.”
Oleander increased his speed and quickly flew across to the outskirts of the capital.
Bzzzt! Bzzt!
The wasps are preparing to swoop down and ready to attack the citizens.
Shing!
Oleander activated his shield once more. Now, it was in a larger capacity than the one he had activated at the palace.
‘Hopefully it covers most of this big area.’
Slams! Slam!
The wasps-like creatures are slamming down to his shield.
They hovered around it confusedly for a bit, but decided to attack using their black stingers in the end.
Bzzt!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Those bastards!”
Oleander cursed and swiped a few winds to push them away.
He keeps repeating this when those creatures just maneuver their bodies and dodge to another direction.
Thuds!
He heard some people land on the rooftops below him.
“Your Highness, it’s unwise of you to come here recklessly.”
Oleander glanced down at the person who had said that.
It was a paladin who wore a deep ash-grey uniform and knelt on the highest building’s rooftop. Oleander recalled that he was one of the people who was present at the night he woke up from his coma.
“Please come down and let us escort you back! The exorcist can continue to take care of this–”
“Sir. I am concentrating on protecting the citizens right now. Please shut up or help me with something else.”
Oleander cuts without turning his back to him.
His eyes are [Recording] every movement of the monsters while trying to find their weakness.
Swoosh!
He swings his arms while sending some winds to drive the wasps who split up, away from the area outside of his shield range.
Oleander held back the blood that was trying to cough out from his mouth.
– Carefull. I feel their stings contain poison, Cale.
– They felt similar to the monsters from the Demon World.
The Glutton and Scary Giant told him that.
‘Poison and Demon World. Why do troublesome things always come to me?’ Oleander grumbles inside.
The Knight stares at him for a moment. He saw how hard the Prince is working up in the sky.
Prince Oleander ordered the wind to chase away some wasps that had wandered off on their own and almost attacked some citizens. Meanwhile, the shield he produced is protecting the surrounding area from the continuous attacks of the creatures.
The Knight finally comes to a decision.
“... I, Leandros, will lead the St. Terbacchia Order to help Prince Oleander fulfill his ‘Noblesse Oblige’."
Sir Leandros declared, and all four paladins behind him bow their heads together.
Chills run down on Oleander’s body.
“What are you talking about? I’m just doing what anyone else should do. Ugh! Just send some [Aura] attacks or something at them!”
Oleander really didn’t want his action counted as something grand like a ‘Noblesse Oblige’.
Sir Leandros and the other exorcist paladins start moving to attack, either slashing [Aura] with their long range weapons or shoot arrows toward the monsters.
Swish! Tak! Tak!
They keep jumping and use different tactics to attack them.
But Oleander is running out of patience.
Those giant wasps didn't look hard to defeat but there were just too many of them. They can also easily fly out of reach, but always come down like they are targeting a specific prey.
Kieeek! Slam!
A wasp that has been slashed in half, falls on top of the shield. Its corpse was still attacking his shield aggressively.
“They are not dead after that?” Oleander frowned his face.
“Ahah! It seems we need to attack the core inside them, Your Highness.” A Paladin Lady with long black hair informs him.
“Core?”
“Hehe. Yes, Prince Morres just said so.”
‘Morres… how did he tell her that?’ Oleander will note that for later.
“It will take too much time to find that on each of them. Hm, their wings seem to still have similarities with ordinary insects.” Oleander continues to think.
He cannot just go crazy and recklessly throw his destructive power around the city. He also would rather not spend some money for repairs just because he wants to get this done quickly.
The [Fire of Destruction] and [Super Rock] are too dangerous to use around the crowded capital. The fire could burn the buildings, and the rock would destroy the city roads.
So that only left him with the [Sky Eating Water].
“Could you tell me where the nearest water source is? Insects can’t fly when their wings are wet, right?”
“Oh, yes! There is a water canal near the west of the slums.” She exclaimed to him.
Oleander nodded at her.
“Good. Let's try it. I will lead and immobilize them there. You guys take care of the rest and make sure to collect their corpses to exorcise later.”
“Understood, Your Highness.” The Paladins nod in agreement.
“I will start.”
– Yes, I'm ready.
The Thief answered to him.
Oleander starts to send whirlwinds that move high above from the capital and lead them to one place near the west of slums. The winds are making a big spinning top of a whirlwind that traps the wasps inside it.
He stops flying at a place where he can see the canal under him.
'That seems enough.’ Oleander activates his [Sky Eating Water].
– My turn, now?
The Crazy Lady grinned.
– Let’s slain those damn XXX like XXXXX!
Boom!
A big pillar of water shoots upward high to the sky. The water moves like a giant spear that cuts through the center of the big whirlwind.
The giant spear continued to shoot up into the sky for a moment, then turned into a large drop of water that split into smaller spears who rained down toward the trapped insects.
Slam! Splash! Slam!
The water spears hit and stab each one of the wasps down to the ground. The wasps couldn't fly back up because their wings were wet from the water.
Kieeek! Krrh!
“Ooh…”
“O’ Lord…”
People are gawking while looking at the sky. The paladins behind Oleander were also stunned watching the spectacles.
“The Lord blessed us…” A Paladin exclaimed in awe.
They had decided to question Prince Oleander’s powers later after the situation was under control. But it’s hard to stay nonchalant while watching all of those miracles he does.
“Focus, those wasps are not dead yet.” Leandros scolds his knights.
The wasps are still falling from the sky.
But suddenly, a bright glow of divine power shines across the capital and bursts all of those wasps into tiny little pieces.
– Tch! Some XXXX dare to steal my kills?!
The Crazy Water grumbled inside Oleander’s mind.
There is only one person in this world who is capable of sending that massive [Holy Power]. His father, the Holy Emperor.
Oleander deactivated his Ancient Powers.
‘Where has he been all this time?’ Oleander rolled his eyes.
If the Emperor could handle this from the start, Oleander wouldn’t have needed to leave his palace.
– Well, we are done now. Your turn, youngest.
– Sigh… you didn't even do anything.
The old Crybaby rolled his eyes to the Cheapskate.
“Cough!”
“Your Highness!”
The paladins were shocked to see their Prince suddenly coughing blood. They quickly approached to support his body and tried to share their limited [Holy Power] to heal him in panic.
“I’m fine. We need to make sure the corpse remains didn’t hurt the citizens. It will be bad if they get hurt for touching it carelessly.”
He felt his stomach start to grumble from hunger. But his gut still couldn't shake the oddity of those wasps' behavior.
“We need to find out what attracts those monsters here. Why they are not attacking the Imperial Court and just–” “Your Highness.” Sir Leandros cut him.
“The battle is over now. Please remember that you just awakened from slumber two weeks ago. It seems your body cannot withstand the power that you just suddenly used.”
“Um…”
‘Oh, this is awkward.’ Oleander realizes his adrenaline makes him forget that only Amelia knows about his power.
Those monsters remind him of the sights he experienced during the apocalypse in Korea. His body just moved impulsively when he saw the danger approaching.
Oleander curses his own stupidity for exposing himself.
“Please return back to the palace. Just leave the rest to us.”
Oleander glanced at the slums where people are staring from their hiding spots.
‘Well, I really don't want to attract more attention than this but…’
“Are you sure…?” He asked.
‘… those corpses look like a pain to clean up.’
Leandros put a smile on his rigid face. His eyes shine proudly toward the Prince.
“Yes, Your Highness. You have done enough for everyone.”
Clip-clop. Clip-clop.
A group of Guard Knights approaches with a carriage towards them and stops before the Prince.
“I apologize, Your Highness. We cannot provide a royal carriage right now. This is an emergency.” The Knight was glancing toward the blood's trace on his chin in worry.
“It’s alright. I’ve told you guys already that I’m fine.” Oleander is kind of tired of always repeating that sentence in all of his life.
Two paladins insist on escorting him gently to the inside of the carriage.
Sir Leandros and the four Inquisitor Paladin who stayed for clean ups were looking with a familiar burdensome sparkle to him on their faces.
Then, Leandros led them to bow to their Prince.
“Congratulations on fulfilling your ‘Noblesse Oblige’, Prince Oleander.”
Oleander shakes with goosebumps on his whole body.
“Ugh, stop that! Don't treat this as something grandisome. You haven’t even checked how many casualties we get.” He gives them a sour face.
‘I'm hungry…’
He didn't feel like being nice to them with his hungry stomach. He turned his head to avoid his vision from the paladins.
“I want a full report of the situation sent to me after you finish everything. And also…”
Oleander saw a kitten in the corner of the dirty alley from his window.
“Give some bread to the people in the slums.” He ordered them at last.
“At your command, Your Highness.” The Paladins bow deeper.
After that, the carriage then hastily departed to the Imperial Court.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Nathaniel walked into the Silver Rose Palace.
His pristine robes fluttered behind him. The dramatic sight it gives is caused by the wind and certainly– totally, not by the speed of his steps.
Nate just sent Morres to the Pearl Palace after healed him, when a member of Arenja reported that Oleander had left to protect the citizens in the capital.
But after the battle was over, he suddenly coughed blood.
Nate really was unable to just take his eyes a moment away from his children.
One child was trying to explode his own body with [Aura] inside the safe palace, and the other one suffered from internal injuries outside it.
Sigh.
He stopped before the palace entrance garden.
Nathaniel could hear voices of commotion from here.
“You idiot! Reckless! Big dummy!”
“Ow! Ow! Amelia! Stop it!”
“I will hit you how many times I want! I can’t believe you just charged there alone! What if you get attacked and injured, huh? You just came back two weeks ago!”
“Haa… I want to observe them from a safe distance, but I can’t just do nothing when they decide to attack the capital. And I'm fine, see?”
“What about that blood on your sleeve?”
“That…”
Nathaniel saw his oldest twins standing beside a carriage with all attendants watching and fusing around them. Amelia was scolding and slapping Oleander’s shoulder.
Nate steps in and announces his presence.
“Oleander.”
“... Father.” The twins turned their heads toward the garden.
Nate quickly came to their sides and immediately poured [Holy Power] to his son.
“.....”
“.....”
“.....”
“......?”
Nate stoped the glow on his hand.
“You are… fine?”
“Yes. I am.” Oleander looked up to his father’s face.
“But I heard you cough blood–”
“You’ve coughed blood?!” Amelia shouted at her twin.
Oleander flinched.
“... you’ve heard that? I’m fine, though. There is no need for you guys to get concerned.”
“Of course I'm concerned! You are attacked after all? Did you get injured on your organs?!”
“No, nothing like that. This is just a minor thing.”
“What’s so minor about coughing blood?! Blood, Olie! Not phlegm!” Amelia shakes his body back and forth.
“Ah! It's not that important compared to other things, alright?” Oleander tried to brush the matter in a hopeless defense.
“You–!”
“... Haaah.”
Twak!
“Ack!”
Nathaniel just swiftly moved his hand to flick Oleander’s forehead. His son looked so stunned by his action.
“No matter how much you insist you are in perfect condition, suffering from internal bleeding is not something to brush aside, Oleander. Not only that! Leaving the palace and recklessly running toward danger without notice nor guards was absolutely unacceptable!”
Oleander flinched as he got startled by the scolding he did not expect. Nathaniel gave him a hard-stern look.
“If the St. Terbacchia's Inquisitors were not already on duty to investigate that area, you wouldn't get any assistance to fight those monsters.”
Oleander flinched again and faced the ground by his father's long scolding.
“So? Are you just going to keep giving your sister unnecessary worry? Or is your pride bigger than a dragon’s to admit your wrong doing?”
“.....” Oleander bit his lower lip.
“Apologize to your sister first.”
“... I, I'm sorry, Amelia… for making you worry. I apologize too, Your Majesty Father. I was… reckless.”
Roksoo Cale Oleander had never been scolded like that by his family in any of his lives.
They are always worried, yes. But never point harshly about any fault of his actions.
He fights the stings on his eyes.
But Amelia moves and hugs him.
“Huu, I was so worried! I know that you're capable of protecting people… you told me before. But that was in another world with your strong allies! I don't want to see you go alone like that! Just like–” Morres. Amelia refuses to continue.
Oleander hugs back her shaking body and hides his red face on her wavy hair.
“Mm… I'm really sorry, Lia.”
“... Hn, I'm sorry too… for hitting you.”
Nate put his hands on their shoulders.
“Sigh… Let's continue to talk inside, alright?”
They walked inside the Silver Rose Palace and settled into the drawing room.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Mirabelle poured hot tea into teacups for the royal family. She then excused herself to leave the twins alone with their father.
Click.
“Huu… what a day.” The Emperor leaned back on the sofa and rubbed the side of his head.
Amelia and Oleander fidget on their seats while watching him.
“What happened, Father? Why did these creatures suddenly appear from here, but decided to attack in the capital instead?” Oleander asks.
“Hm,” Nathaniel looked at him with his silver eyes that seemed to glint dimly.
“A rat that had been hiding from my sight decided to open a Gate to the Demon World in the Heresy Tribunal headquarters.”
‘A Gate? To the Demon World?!’ The twins wonder at the same time.
“Who is it?”
Oleander curled his palm inside.
‘Shit. Was that Gate the same as the one at Endable Kingdom? What kind of lunatic would open that in the middle of the Holy Imperial Court?!’
“It was a member of the Demonic Cult called ‘Rest’.” The Emperor told them without showing any emotion.
“He was just one perpetrator from the group that infiltrated here. But thanks to this, we don't have to wait any longer to start gathering clues of this mastermind’s plans.”
‘Emperor Father seemed to have already known the real culprit and was waiting for this opportunity.’ The twins concluded the same thing.
It was not that surprising. Afterall, their father is the Emperor of Delcross. You just learned to just accept it when he already knows about something.
“Does anybody hurt?” Oleander asked again.
“Hm, unfortunately. We lost some paladins from St. Marcia's Order, including Lieutenant Durand. Pretty much the people inside the headquarters were hurt by the falling boulders. But most of the prisoners had been killed and eaten by Monsters.”
The Emperor told them with his indifferent stoic face.
He rarely showed emotion to anything except his family. But there is a twitch visible from his eyebrow like he was holding his annoyance.
Oleander and Amelia's bodies shuddered in horror.
“... That’s a lot of casualties.” Amelia grips the hem of her dress.
She did not expect the disaster that happened so quickly would actually cause so many victims.
When she insisted on going to follow Olie, the paladins stopped and told her that the disaster had already been resolved. They suggested she wait for the knights to escort the prince back to the palace.
“There were casualties that could not be avoided because they were in the area of the incident. But thanks to Oleander, we can prevent the citizens at the capital from being included as well.”
Nathaniel gives a smile to his son.
“I’m proud. You did a good job fulfilling your ‘Noblesse Oblige’.”
“Haaa… would everyone stop calling it that?” Oleander let out a sigh.
“I just did what anyone capable should be doing.”
“Of course. You are one of the capable people among the nobles who has an obligation toward our subject afterall.”
“Ugh…”
Oleander cannot believe that his father just teased him in a worse way than Crown Prince Alberu. The reminder that he is also a royal right now only makes him become more annoyed.
Amelia is holding a chuckle beside him.
“Huff… seriously. But, Father? The wasps that I fought in the capital were targeting something. Especially around the slums.”
Oleander finds this odd.
Even when there are people who foolishly come out from the building outside of his shield, the wasps choose to just ignore them. They only attack some who throw random things in fear and panic.
“Why are they attracted to go there…?”
He cannot think of anything special around there.
“Mm, it’s because of the 'Grey Plague'.”
“The 'Grey Plague'?”
The twins asked simultaneously.
“Is it not the case that Morres had been poking around lately?” Amelia asks with a frown.
Oleander got intrigued by this.
“Yes. Morres’s investigation seemed to push and make that pawn move hastily. Morres has already collected some evidence and was looking for a way to treat the infected victims.”
“Huh. That rascal really did that?” Oleander raised his eyebrows.
Smack!
Flinch.
Amelia had lightly slapped his thigh. It actually didn't feel hurt at all. Only loud.
“I’ve told you that Morres have changed. You can stop calling him with bad names. He is a lot cuter now.”
She then decided to lift two teacups and offered his share. She did without even touching the one near their father. The tea is almost cold.
“Haa… you don’t need to smack me.” He grumbled at her while receiving the tea as his sister's silent apology.
“Morres was going to check the infected prisoners at the Heresy Tribunal. But that only rushed the pawn to open a rift there.” Nathaniel continued.
“Morres were there?! Did he get hurt?” Amelia asked loudly.
The Emperor looked like he was holding back his tamper. “Haaa… that child.”
Slam!
Nathaniel slammed his hand to the armrest in exasperation. Poor sofa gains a fresh crack on it now.
“He recklessly charged alone and forced his [Aura] outward through his body as a weapon to fight a Monster. That impulsive nature of his almost blew up his arm from abandoning his cultivation method.”
The room fell into silence after that.
“... Morres is a damn idiot.”
“.....”
Oleander decided to sip his tea at his Noona's quick change impression of their Dongsaeng.
“Right. A paladin told me, Morres said that we need to destroy that creature’s core to kill it. How did he know and inform her quickly?”
Oleander had been wondering about this. That lady did not seem to hold any communication device at the time.
“Huff, Morres didn’t tell her that exactly. A member from a special task force that had been monitoring him, heard what he shouted to Masain during the attack. That information was sent to her, Dame Sharon, via [Channeling].”
“[Channeling]?”
“A Spiritual Ability to send messages using a soul wave. Only some rare people are capable of doing that.”
“Like telepathy?”
“Something like that.”
“Hm.”
People of this world can hold [Holy Power] and [Aura], but there is no evidence of someone using [Mana]. Instead, [Magic] was used only either by Beasts or Dark/Demonic Cult.
But the Emperor just said that there are some rare people who are capable of using Spiritual Ability to telepath in this world?
Oh well, Oleander had found weirder magical things in his life.
“On that note, they have informed me that you didn’t even get a starch when you were battling the monsters. So how come you coughed blood after that?” Nate stares at him intensely.
“Ah.”
He really shouldn't be surprised that his father is one of those rare people.
‘Damn that punk Morres for getting him scolded again.’
“It’s um… one of my Ancient Powers.”
His father stared at him to continue.
Oleander realizes his attempt to drag this question was useless.
“Huu, It’s called the [Vitality of Heart]. It restores and slowly heals any injury I received. Including the drawback from overusing my powers. I just need to cough up the impure blood it produced.”
– Sob! Someone knows! He finally told someone to understand about me!
– Finally! No more using our Crybaby for dramatic misunderstanding!
– Yeah! Justice for him!
– I’m still hungry!
Oleander deadpan on their antics.
‘You guys… stop trolling me.’
He understands that his Ancient Powers were just being bored. Except Glutton.
Oleander finally remembers that he is still hungry. So he took one butter cookie from the plate on the table.
“You have seven of them. But there is still more, isn’t it?” Nathaniel continues to stare with his glowing eyes.
“Your soul holds a big container for them. And it seems to be sturdy enough to handle your multiple abilities. Did you reinforce it with something?”
Chills.
Ever since he knew the Emperor, Oleander has tried to ignore some abilities that his father possessed. But still… that attempt couldn't stop the chills at the reminder, that the man beside him was someone who is close to a Demigod being.
– It must be because of the dagger.
The [Super Rock] decided to piped in. He was talking about the dagger that the World Tree had given him last time.
– Since that dagger was the oldest root of the World Tree, its power must have reinforced your Plate after it stabs to your body and used it to kill the White Star.
That Giant shared another one of his scary theories to him.
– This crazy punk. That's why you are able to take over that Sealed God’s temple.
Nathaniel stared at his son blankly.
“Did you stab your heart with the World Tree’s root?”
‘Gasp!’
– Gasp!
‘How did he know about that?!’ Oleander and the Ancient Powers asked simultaneously.
‘He shouldn't know about something that specific, right?’ Oleander wondered nervously.
'It seems I need to send gifts to a certain tree. The 'Council' has been a bit boring lately.’ Nate nodded grimly in his mind.
“... Stab? Your own heart?”
A dark aura enveloped his twin sister who always radiated with enchanting beauty.
“Olie. Did you kill your self and died because of that?”
“Ah, no, Lia! I have a healing power, remember?” Oleander denies it.
Sweat was flowing down at the back of his neck. He did not want his twin to be upset at him again.
“Is that enough reason to do it?” Amelia asked again with her hollow eyes.
He pursed his lips. “... I have to.”
‘Because White Star was a [Reincarnator]. A Variable. Like me. Us.’
“The enemy I was facing… he was someone who did awful things for a thousand of years. I’m the only one who can kill him with my powers. And… that was the only method.”
He really, really did not want to make his Noona worry. But he cannot bear to not tell his twin anything.
He already did once. And she suffered in her future because of it.
Amelia stares longer at his face. She takes a deep breath and stands from her seat.
“Uh, Lia…? Where are you going?” Oleander asks confusedly to her back.
“Training. I need to let out some steam!”
Slam!
Oleander flinched by the slamming door.
.
.
.
“.....”
“... why did you say that?” Oleander asks his silent father.
“.....”
“No. How did you know about it anyway?”
He grip his teacup and wonder if the Holy Emperor would continue being silent.
“... The state of your soul.”
“.....!”
“There is a trace of scar that is brighter right over your heart.”
“... a trace… of scar…?”
Crash.
The tea he was holding fell to the floor.
“Ah.”
‘He can see it…? On my soul…?’
He grips his own upper arms.
‘It left a trace there? Don't tell me…? My old scars too…?’
Oleander’s mind quickly hypothesized.
If his father really did have the ability to see a person's soul and saw the scar on his stabbed heart… Oleander doubts the scars that were caused by [Instant] or his other Abilities won't be there.
The Emperor stares with his glimmering silvery eyes.
“... S-stop looking.”
Oleander Cale Kim Roksoo He couldn't bear the stares from his father.
“Please… t-they are ugly!”
‘I hates everything about my scars.’
“It’s disgusting, Father.”
“.....”
Distancely, he could hear that his Ancient Powers are trying to calm him down. But he was far too terrified of what his father thought about his scars.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Nathaniel carefully moves and kneels beside his son who curled up as if trying to hide at the end of the sofa. He gently wipes the cold sweat on his son’s cheek.
“They are not ugly.”
“... lies.”
His son refutes with a trembling voice.
“I’m not. I’ve never lied to my children.”
Nate pats the head of his rosebay prince.
His kind and selfish son.
He had hoped that this child won't have any more need to sacrifice himself out there. But it seems that this one wish was another thing that couldn't be granted in Nathaniel damn life.
However, Nate can state his next line with full confidence to reassure this child.
His gaze met a pair of silver ones that matched his.
“Those are part of your brave soul.”
He held his gaze with his son’s. But the child evert his teary eyes as he refuted him again.
“... you're wrong. I’m just a coward.”
“Ha. Someone who just flew toward danger today, said that to me?” Nate scoffed.
His son clams up by this. The Prince’s hands fidgeted at the hem of his sleeves.
“Hm, should I give scars on myself for you to believe me?”
Nate spoke as if consider doing it seriously, all the while slowly gathering his [Aura] around his fingertips.
“Huh? Why would you do that?!” His son snapped disapprovingly.
‘Is he crazy? How could he casually say that? What kind of sane person wants to scars themselves?’
There would be a sea of tears if someone heard that the Holy Emperor's pristine body gets marred even by a paper cut.
Nate chuckled.
“It's just an example of curiosity. But would it really look that bad on me?”
“... what are you even saying? Of course you’ll still look good no matter what.”
“Pfft, then. Why did you stubbornly deny it to yourself? Surely my son would look good no matter what, just like me?”
His son looks like he wants to run or hide his head. He mumbled something before Nate poked his forehead with a chuckle.
“Ah!”
“So stubborn.”
Nathaniel stood up.
He thought this child might distance himself more if he continued, so he chose to change the topic.
“The spectacles you made today really stirred the whole capital. Now, everyone knows about your awakening from coma.”
The Emperor glanced at the Prince.
“How should we share the information about your abilities?”
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Prince Oleander tried to get back his bearings.
A red blush still colored the tip of his eyes and ears. But he quickly grasped what Nathaniel is truly concerned about.
The one who wants Oleander to disappear.
It would be troublesome if that fucker tries any attempt towards him again.
“That… you could announce that my slumber was a test from god.”
“A test?”
“Ehem. Yes.”
Oleander just got this inspiration from the Sealed God’s test.
“That bas– I mean, the God of Death, had sent my soul to another world to save it from destruction.”
This is not a lie.
It’s a fact that was unfair enough for Cale and obviously can be used to sue that bastard god. And don’t forget all of that god's hidden debts that Cale has caught all this time.
This story surely would intrigue that fucker and hold him to try any funny attempt to get rid of him again.
“In that world, I did some trials to gain my abilities.”
It’s kind of a shame that those he caught with [Embrace] were not here with him.
“The powers I've gained are mostly in the shape of nature. Like the shield I used today. It can be used to purify evil and protect myself.”
Oleander glanced to the position of Glutton’s tattoo on his chest. He continues to explain his five other Ancient Powers to his father.
– Wow, he really explained about us without skipping.
Oleander ignores the piping voice in his head.
“I’ve also used these powers to help some people defeat the bas– ehem, person who planned wars to destroy the peace of (my slacker life) that world.”
– Pfft. He is still on with that daydream.
“The God of Death asked me and my allies to complete some tests to defeat the shi– hem, evil god who wants to use that person as His vassal. We managed to defeat both of them in the end.”
– Kid, just continue your curse! They XXX deserve it!
– Haa. He skipped a lot of parts again.
– Mn. But that's basically it.
Oleander ignores his Ancient Powers again and proudly finishes his scam story.
Nathaniel just nodded blankly to his son.
“I… will work something with it.”
He suddenly winces and looks a bit nervous.
“We’ve been having this conversation for a while. And it seems, I cannot delay my duty for any longer.”
Oleander was startled to find how long the time had passed.
'This man… did he use me all this time as an excuse to avoid his paperworks?’ Oleander deadpan.
He realized why the Emperor chose to have a chat with his twins instead of dealing with the aftermath of today’s incident. Looks like someone has finally scolded him via that [Channeling].
Nathaniel walked reluctantly toward the door but then stopped. A sudden thought came to his mind.
“My Son, one more thing.”
“Yes, Father?”
“Start your [Aura] training tomorrow.”
Oleander’s face stiffen.
“... pardon?”