[Mass Release]
In Rinji's eyes, his father had always been a simple, goofy man.
Or rather, his father had always worked hard to maintain that image.
Silly, sometimes ridiculous, often careless. He wore a constant grin, seeming carefree and friendly to everyone.
Though Rinji often mocked him, he thought of his father as a well-meaning fool of average intelligence.
But his father's former subordinates thought differently.
To them, his father was a man they respected deeply—cold, merciless, and almost inhuman.
Even now, though retired, he was still revered. And their descriptions of him were consistent:
A being who could make even demons tremble.
Though Rinji had traveled with his father often as a child, those tales never matched his impression of him. His father's men said marriage had changed him gradually.
But there had indeed been a period when his father was feared by the world—terrifying as a natural disaster.
And the era Rinji had arrived in… was exactly that cold, ruthless period.
…
"You're the one who hacked the IW satellite, aren't you? You look young." The black-haired youth stared at him. "I don't know why you didn't bother hiding your address, but you don't seem like you're laying a trap. What is it—absolute confidence in your own strength?"
"…"
"If you choose silence, I'll tell you—that's not wise."
While his father spoke, Rinji stayed silent, lost in thought.
He had to make a choice.
He had never once defeated his father, no matter how many times he challenged him. But this was his father's younger self.
Maybe now, when they were nearly the same age… he had a chance.
"Hey…"
"Defeat me."
"…What?"
"Let's fight." Rinji grinned at his younger father. "If you can beat me, I'll tell you everything—my purpose, and where I came from."
"If this is supposed to be a joke, I can laugh along." His father smiled coldly. "But you should value your life a little more."
"Tch. If you kill me, you're the one losing out."
"You've got some nerve, brat."
The younger Isaac Rinji's father let his smile twist into something feral.
"Let's at least get introductions out of the way. Name's Isaac Takamine. What's yours, kid?"
"I'll tell you if you win. But I think… you already know."
"Fine by me."
The moment the words left his mouth, Rinji's nerves went taut.
He didn't know exactly how strong his father had been at this age. But he was sure of one thing—his father didn't recognize him now.
Which meant…
He might actually be fighting for his life.
As he thought this, his father's young figure suddenly vanished from sight.
And in the next instant—
He appeared right behind Rinji.
"When!?"
Out of instinct, Rinji threw an elbow strike backward. But before his elbow could land on the opponent's face, his head suddenly went dizzy. The other party had already stomped his neck, kicking him away.
Boom!
Rinji's body shot out like a cannonball, slamming into the ground, creating a sizeable crater in the concrete. When he tried to sit up to counterattack, he found his wrist already locked, and his father's other hand clamped around his throat.
"Kid, I have to say your strength and reaction speed are impressive, but you seem to rely on instinct to fight. In terms of experience, the gap between us is far too great."
That was the truth.
Rinji's combat skills were excellent, but since childhood he had never encountered any enemies that truly threatened him. He always crushed opponents with sheer strength. Now, facing a father whose strength was nearly equal but whose technique and experience were leagues above his, Rinji felt powerless for the first time.
However…
"You think I've lost?"
"Hm?"
The young father didn't notice Rinji's pupils suddenly glowing crimson. He broke free from his father's grip, turned, and punched him square in the chest. This time, the father was the one sent flying. The immense force sent him skidding backward, his feet gouging two deep trenches into the concrete. Steadying himself, the young father wiped his mouth, his palm stained with a trace of blood.
"It's been a while since I've been hurt. Looks like you really do have some skill, kid." He grinned. "That's fine then. Seems I don't need to hold back."
"What!?"
Rinji was shocked. Since it was his father, he had been fighting with full power from the start. Yet his father hadn't even been serious.
While he was still processing this, the young father vanished again. Before Rinji could react, pain exploded at the back of his head, followed by spinning vertigo. If his father got serious, even in his youth, he could end the fight in one move. With that thought, Rinji's eyes slowly closed.
---
"Ugh…"
When Rinji opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up in bed and turned to find his younger father sitting at his side, covering his face, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Damn, never thought you'd turn out to be my son."
"…How do you know?"
"I checked your phone closely."
The father sighed, then smiled. "But this is a good thing. At least I won't end up alone."
"…Don't you want to know who your future wife is?"
"Looking at your face, I already know who she is. Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied."
His once-cold expression softened as he gently stroked Rinji's head. "Hey, I didn't hit you too hard just now, did I?"
"…Afraid I'll tell Mom?"
"Your mother would never blame me. I know her well." He chuckled. "Anyway, seeing that my son grows up healthy puts me at ease. Even if your looks aren't as manly as mine, overall I'm satisfied."
"…."
"By the way, why did you travel twenty years back in time? Even I haven't mastered time travel technology."