The arrival of a baby into my supposed 'perfect life' was…
"Waaah! Waaah!"
"Randy! I don't know if he wants milk or his pacifier...what should I do?!" Sherly asks me that, while the baby version of Anser was whimpering on the table at MY base.
"…Sherly, he wants you to change his diaper."
I'll have to buy a new table once the baby is gone.
"Oh."
After Sherly rescued the baby, I realized that this woman, before she died, had enough strength to hide Anser, and even with the luck that Elmetron could not detect Anser's presence.
I will kill Elmetron once I see him.
«Damned useless bastard.»
"Ubaah!" A baby's warm hands touched my cheek. I didn't open my eyes, but I knew it was Sherly holding Anser in front of me. At least this time she changed his diaper correctly.
Or so I like to think, I always hated being surrounded by brats.
"Randy, what will you do with your son? He doesn't have a name yet."
"He is not my son."
"But we both adopted him!" I opened my eyes, watching Sherly carrying Anser close to his chest, and Anser looking at me with sleepy eyes. "I don't want to be a single father. How many women will want me to visit them, and I can't because of the baby?"
"…" Having a child with Sherly? That idea sounds perfect to me. "You would be the mother, Sherly." But I don't want Anser Ciro to be our son.
"Of course I'll be the father! You have long hair, I have short hair! You take care of your hair, and I don't!"
"That doesn't prove you're the father, it just proves your lack of self-care, Sherly."
"You…!"
Although Sherly is right, we must give Anser the name that corresponds to him. "Anser Ciro. That will be his name."
"Anser Ciro?" Sherly repeated, looking at the baby in his arms. "I thought you'd give it a weird name..."
"…Weird name?"
"Bjonhainer Christian Jesus Yeong-ah Min Kon Streggar Evan Ramuir Alcatraz Shin Shen Shon Bornman Kieran."
What kind of name is that?
"Huh?" Did I just hear Sherly invent more than five languages in just seconds? "And why does he have my last name? He's not my son."
"I also gave him my last name."
"Your last name is Bjonhainer Christian Jesus—"
"No! That's Anser's name!"
Oh.
So Sherly's real last name is 'Kieran'?
In no past life did Sherly ever tell me anything about his real name. He's from Aria, and at least everyone from Aria has a nickname. The nickname of the man in front of me is 'Sherly'.
It is believed that a nickname saves them from facing their true selves, and that others can never see them as weak people because they have their own nickname.
«Interesting.»
"I had planned to give you my last name, Sherly, it's a relief to know you have one." Now that I know his last name, I can go to Aria and investigate if Sherly has any family.
"Hah? You're an idiot."
He didn't understand me...
If I say 'Sherly, I want to make you my husband,' I doubt he'll understand even that.
_
Three years have passed.
I had to finish my missions earlier than usual because Sherly and I were summoned to Anser's school.
I don't even know why Sherly sent him to school! We could have taught him about the geography of this world ourselves, demons and flora and fauna!
Teaching him to read is the least of it; at least Anser is very diligent and likes to watch me write, and he even already knows a few letters.
What? No. I'm not saying this as a proud father...I'm saying it as something that bothers me.
Anser is not my son, and never will be; if I support and care for him now, it is because of Sherly.
I arrived at the line of women; mothers of colleagues from Anser whom I don't care to meet. I thought Sherly had already arrived, but I don't see him. Has he really not arrived yet?
"Your son is so cute, Sherly!"
No. He's already here and he's...flirting with women as usual, right?
I slammed my Identifier shut; I felt like it even broke, but it doesn't matter. Sherly...he has a family and dares to flirt with others?
Walk towards him, slowly.
"Eh? He's not my son! He's my nephew!" The same man who said Anser was our son, by the way... "But I'll tell my sister that you told her her son was very cute~"
"Kieran."
My voice made him jump, causing him to let go of Anser's hand. "R-Randy…! I'm glad you've arrived! How's the weather?"
He is avoiding the fact that he was flirting with a woman…
"Papa." Anser came towards me, hugging my white coat.
I hold Sherly's shirt collar. "I even went to the trouble of dressing like a normal person to come with you and Ciro...and I find you flirting with a woman? What kind of wife are you?"
The woman behind Sherly covered her mouth with one hand, accompanied by a giggle, but I ignored her.
"Me? Flirting? No! Of course not!" You suck at lying, Sherly! "I was just telling her how much I was looking forward to seeing that turtleneck sweatshirt I bought you for your birthday! Look! It makes your chest look so sexy!"
"…"
"…And why do you call me wife? I am the husband and you are the wife."
"…"
All the women's eyes were suddenly on us.
I let go of Sherly's shirt collar, and instead, I picked up Anser.
Sherly also noticed the stares, so he stood with his arms crossed next to me.
For the first time, I knew that Sherly was thinking the same thing as me.
«…We look like a married couple.»
And unfortunately, weddings don't exist in this world, but I would like to marry Sherly someday.
_
"How quickly time flies…"
"Hm."
"Ciro looks stronger every day."
"Hmh…"
"He will soon be sixteen."
"Hmh."
"…" Sherly turned to look at me; I was reading reports about missions of my sect members. "YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME AT ALL, ARE YOU?! I'M LEAVING MY JOB TO COME AND TAKE CARE OF CIRO WITH YOU, AND YOU'RE READING YOUR STUPID REPORTS!"
"Ah…sorry Sherly."
I recently returned to the ruins of Clan Vulpecula to retrieve Anser's sword; Astral, that way, he won't feel so unprotected once I send him on his first mission and he dies out there.
He'll be of age soon. Just two more years, and once he turns eighteen, it's very possible Sherly will want to bring him into my sect.
And really, I hate Anser too much to let him belong to my sect.
"You should talk to him."
"Hm? Why?"
"He seems a bit sad lately. Maybe he's having an existential crisis."
"…"
Many young people about to turn 17 experience existential crises because they don't know what to do with their future; use their pure energy to die in battle serving a sect, or to live but risking being killed by a demon.
In both cases you die anyway.
Why so much trouble in deciding?
Although, perhaps it's a good opportunity to...indirectly order Anser's assassination. "I will do my best."
Just as I was about to get up, I heard Sherly say something else.
"At least you've accepted your role as his father."
I turned to look at him. "What?"
"Today you didn't say 'I'm not his father', and instead, you're going to do what I suggested."
I figured he'd say that. "I am not his father."
"Ha! Only because I reminded you what you had to say!"
"Besides, you were the one who wanted to take responsibility for him, I don't understand why you want me to go talk to him?"
"I know you're older than me, Randy," Suddenly, I felt afraid. Does he know? Does he know about the deal with Agares? Does he know everything I went through? "Layla said that she saw you looking seventeen when she was just a child, you were born before us, but still...you maintain the appearance of the age you look."
So, that's what he meant.
"My existence is independent of my mother's womb. Yes. I was born first. And is there anything wrong with that?" Perhaps my tone was too harsh, something I never used with Sherly so seriously.
"No," But in his usual nonchalant tone, he stretched out in the chair. "I just wanted to remind you that you're an old man."
This brat!
"…"
Better yet, I'll just go talk to Anser...
If I stay with Sherly any longer, he'll make me melt.
Anser was training with Astral when I went down to see him at the training field. Seeing him alone in a giant place suddenly reminded me of Elmetron. "Anser, are you okay?" I said, remaining standing behind him, and once he turned around, he dried his sweat with a towel. "Sherly told me he's noticed you're sad."
He remained silent for a second, and then he spoke. "…I don't know what's causing it...is it...something bad?"
"Oh no, of course it's not wrong to be sad, Anser," In fact, it's better for me. The sadder you are, the less likely you'll ever have the courage to kill me. "I know what causes it, and I can help you."
Take the bait, Anser Ciro.
"…Really?"
He's taken the bait; curiosity.
"Sherly and I told you about your origins…but that's not all," Perhaps I can use Anser's mother's death to my advantage; no one knew she died except me and Elmetron. "The demons took your home from your mother and you, your heart has been stained by all of that, Anser. Your mother is still alive, she's looking for you, she wants to see you, and yet...it's difficult to find her, since the moon will never tell us where she is, except you, her son, her beloved son."
The power of words is the strongest power that exists.
"…"
And I could see Anser sink deeper into the thought that his mother was still alive.
«Idiot.»
"You should...seek revenge, that way at least your heart will feel less heavy," The more he delves into the world of demons, the greater the chances of his death. "Sherly and I will support you, you seek the revenge you need, seek it, Anser."
"…I will do that."
I smiled, "You will find peace, Anser."
And also death.
But, after that conversation, when Anser turned sixteen, Sherly brought him into his sect.
"That you do...what...?"
"He said he would seek revenge in his mother's name, so I brought him into my sect to make sure he doesn't die so young."
I won't get angry just because I love Sherly.
But...
"Oi. Why are you crying?"
My plan has been completely ruined!
_
However, it was a year later that Anser suddenly left Sherly's sect of his own accord.
"Oh?" Apparently, I didn't have to manipulate him to get him to leave the sect; something that relieves me quite a bit. "Why?"
Sherly sighed; I can tell how worried he is about that brat. "He said he wanted to form his own sect."
What? Even after everything that happened...?
"…I see."
In past lives, Anser formed his own sect after Sherly placed many restrictions on him in his, but in this case, Sherly gives him complete freedom.
Why have a sect then?
[That boy has no soul.]
Agares' voice made me open my eyes; my whole office turned black and white; Sherly, who was about to eat a cookie, was left with his mouth open.
"Sherly?"
[No.] So she's referring to Anser Ciro... [Sherly and the others in this world have a fragmented soul in this story, but Anser Ciro does not seem to have a soul tied to this story, unlike in past lives.]
"So, this Anser Ciro was left without a soul?"
Agares gave a little laugh.
[Rather, I would say that someone swapped Anser Ciro's old soul with his own.]
Swapped? Who?
"…Was it a demon?"
[No. I would say he's an...■■■.]
What did she say?
"…Show me what I cannot see." I want to know what's behind this censorship I've heard so much about. I want to know what Anser Ciro said that time.
「"■■■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■."」
Agares laughed. [Little by little, you will begin to understand that what is hidden behind those ink stains are just messages that you will never understand.]
Ink stains?
[Although I wouldn't be so sure,] Her orange eyes opened in front of me, behind Sherly. [I see that, very soon, you will be the next ■■■ of this story. And perhaps, this time it's you who wants ■■■ to see the ■■ behind this page.]
…
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, I felt like time flew by, and the day of the show arrived.
Everyone would be busy celebrating the five major sects.
I didn't see the need to kill Joakim Hans. In fact, his people turn out...useful for me.
I watched the carts from my window; I wouldn't attend, I have more important things to do. A small bird tries to infiltrate the beehive. And I need to get rid of the intruder once and for all.
Since there were no guards around, I resorted to using my psychic abilities to control the minds of the demons.
And there it was.
Elmetron.
And once I managed to kill him, I could rest in my office.
As long as Anser Ciro remains occupied, and especially as long as he's only with Liam Yoon Hee, he'll never feel the need to kill me; I haven't committed any crime, after all!
I am but a humble god.
A god who this time, will not die.
At least, not without making a sacrifice in return, and that sacrifice will be the greatest of all…
***
"This moment brings back many memories that I had taken care to bury according to my reincarnations, Ji Noo."
Randy walked slowly towards Ji Noo, while Ji Noo remained in the corner of the room, bleeding from the mouth after being subjected to so many blows against the wall.
"My name...is not Ji Noo..." He said, getting up from the ground. "I'm Jeon Kwonoo! The writer of this story!"
Randy smiled, a mischievous glint in his yellow eyes made Ji Noo shudder. "Jeon Kwonoo died years ago," Randy knew all about the secret investigations. He could see through the demons' eyes as Renato and Joakim killed all the nearest demons in the areas where they were doing excavations. Why? To remove old rubble and hidden archaeological treasures. "Respect for the name of someone you no longer are should always be maintained; for me, you were always Ji Noo, since I never considered you to be the writer you once were." Then, he lifted Ji Noo by the neck. "You are not Elmetron either, you are merely...a threat to this world. You have so much impure energy within you that it has always attracted misfortune to you."
And perhaps that explains why, as soon as Ji Noo entered this world, everyone tried to kill him.
And Ji Noo realized that.
"Y-You're...just a fictional character...Randy!"
"But I did something you couldn't do, Ji Noo," And he smiled. "I perfected palingenesis in fiction itself."
And with that, he sent Ji Noo back to the wall again.
The wall broke, and Ji Noo went flying through it until he landed on the roof of the building next door.
"This moment is so nostalgic, Ji Noo!" He said, stepping out of the hole in the wall, as he walked on air, his footsteps marked by a yellow light. "Do you know how many times I died in this place? Unlike before, at least this time I'll be able to fight properly! With no weak humans in the entire city, I'll be able to unleash my full power!"
But just as he was about to take another step, he felt a presence behind him; pure energy, as pure as that of— "Renato!" Ji Noo's scream confirmed that Renato, Layla's pet, was indeed his sect leader. Renato Doblevida.
"Magic of Eternal Life and Leadership Skill:…" Upon hearing about the magic combined with Layla's leadership skills, Randy trembled for a moment, opening his eyes in surprise. It was impossible to cast that kind of spell without dying unless...unless you were as old as the world itself! "…Life Cycle and Mana Zone!"
The birdsong in unison intensified in the sky; several parrots were at strategic points; around the city of Anarxie, at the base of the Third Round, the base of the Sect of the Moon, and the base of Wisdom and Redemption.
The birds turned into flowers, and a blue light connected them, and finally, a great shield covered all those areas.
"If you leave this area...you will be forced to reincarnate again, Randy," Renato said, who was on the roof of the Rosicrucian base, and then wings sprouted from his back. "It's best if you give up, and stop forcing yourself to change this story once and for all."
Randy stared at him, surprised, when he turned to Ji Noo; he had already disappeared.
"…"
«A trap.»
"This is the first time I will face you, Lord Eternal." And yet, that made Randy smile, as he climbed invisible stairs in the direction of Renato. "Let me tell you, if you were in my place, and you saw yourself betrayed in the same way I was...you would know that what I am doing is a measure of desperation…to be happy."
"You had the opportunity to make this life a peaceful one; without murder, without threats, without manipulation..."
"I tried."
"No, you didn't." And the accusation made Randy stop. "You were afraid that Anser would kill you again, weren't you?"
Yes. He was afraid of making a mistake, and that the vigilante Mr. Detective would kill him.
"So you never really tried, because you're still afraid."
Afraid.
Of course not.
"The only time I felt scared…It was when the person I sacrificed so much for died." Even when he thought his life would finally be perfect, it wasn't. "If he had never died, I wouldn't have cared about changing the story; and right now, in this life, I will make sure to change the whole world so that I never have to see him die."
Renato frowned.
"Once I accomplish that...my purpose in this life will be fulfilled, and I will stop reincarnating...wasn't that your blessing, Renato?"
Randy was right.
That was the blessing he gave Randy.
「The repetition of your life will end once you find your purpose in life without hurting anyone.」
"…" Renato never imagined that the blessing he had bestowed upon him would become Randy Bornman's curse. A man destined to reincarnate until he finds his purpose in life. "You forgot the last condition of my blessing."
"That's why in this life, I'll make sure I don't have to do all this again in the next life."
But reason was something Randy Bornman lost centuries ago.
"Magic of Eternal Life: Life Cycle!"
"Pure Energy: Unleash."
While Renato's spell was meant to remove the blessing from his members, both their memories and their abilities, the unleashing of pure energy caused his spell of instability; having so many dots, it didn't know which one to pursue.
They both stepped back, but Renato was the one who rushed to seal Randy's pure energy. "Magic of Eternal Life: Translation!" He placed one hand in front of Randy in the distance, and with the other hand, using his index finger and thumb, he grabbed a small golden dot, placing it all the way up.
Translation allowed him to change the point of pure energy to another part of Randy's body, so it would take him a while to figure out where Renato had put it.
That way he could have more of an advantage.
"I didn't know you liked to play dirty, Lord Eternal…" Randy said, dodging the tackle that Renato was about to give him. "That means I can do it too, right?"
Renato frowned; he knew of Randy's abilities, but he had never seen them in use, until now.
However, during those minutes Randy spent his time dodging Renato's melee attacks; dodging every pure energy attack at an unparalleled speed.
Randy was always the fastest, after all...
So, Renato would pull one more trick.
He placed his hand on Randy's face and used his clairvoyance on him. He could see it; see Randy's next attack.
No, it wasn't an attack…
"…!"
Randy had been dodging their attacks all this time because he was looking for something; the rose on the mountain.
And when he removed his hand, Randy had a smile on his face.
"It's useless, now you can't move your birds, can you?" Renato already knew where the rose was. "Now, tell me where it is."
"Never." They had to destroy it before Randy could absorb the rose's powers. "Magic of Eternal Life: The Dawn of a New Life!" He clasped his hands together, a blinding light appeared, and he threw it at Randy, paralyzing him for a few seconds, which Renato used to float in the sky and look for his ally. "Joakim! There's a rose on the mountain at point A1, right at the top! Destroy it!" He spoke through his communicator, and when he turned around, he saw a light approaching him, so he dodged it in the sky.
"This isn't over yet, Renato!" Randy appeared at the top, almost at the edge of the barrier, and smiled. "Leadership Skill: Reincarnation!"
Renato's eyes opened in surprise.
So, all those members of his who died...including Mandeleine...no reincarnation because only Randy could make them reincarnate?
He swallowed hard.
Randy had many members...that meant...he had an army!
"My children...the time has come for you to pay for the good deeds of your god..." Renato looked at Randy; he was speaking to his members, whether living or dead; to all of them. "Kill anyone who does not belong to the Rosicrucians, without mercy."
"Shit…" This was bad; all the Rosicrucians were...formidable as allies, and now they would be a nuisance as enemies.
_
"Ha! I beat you!"
"No, I was the one who killed your king, July 14."
"Huh?!"
Everyone was preparing for the signal; the barrier that Renato would raise. With that, Gene could help them fight Randy, ensuring their victory, with an unlimited mana zone, she could use the magic of all the witches she had previously consumed.
"…"
But Anser was very worried. About Ji Noo.
"Don't worry, Mr. Detective," Liam said, handing Mayu over to Anser. "Ji Noo will be fine."
He had no doubt about that, but for some reason...
He had a bad feeling.
The birdsong was the signal they needed; the barrier had already been lifted. They all looked at each other; July 14 and Frederick stood up, Gene took his only grimoire, and walked to Liam's side.
The time has come.
A crack suddenly appeared in front of them; opening up, until someone came out of it; Yanshan.
Anser immediately drew his sword and pointed it at his neck.
"Wait!" July 14 was the one who intervened, removing Anser's sword from Yanshan's neck. "He's Yanshan! He's with Enver!"
"I know." So, that's why Anser pointed his sword at him...
July 14 sighed, and then Frederick intervened as well. "We have a peace treaty with them; Enver said Yanshan would protect you..." Then he looked out the window. "The barrier Renato put caused his ghostly figure to vanish, so..."
"Is he momentarily alive?!" Liam asked, surprised.
Frederick nodded.
"Mr. Renato's power...is incredible." Gene said.
Seeing everyone so relaxed, Anser sheathed his sword...
Perhaps he worried too much about a ghost, when what he should be worrying about is the battle that is coming.