Chapter 22
Across the table, Elyra's blue eyes narrowed as she stared sharply at Derrick, who was laughing boisterously while waving his fork around in the air.
The little girl's expression grew increasingly sour with every passing moment. Her enthusiasm for the luxurious feast spread across the table seemed to diminish each time the thunderous voice of that thirty-seven-year-old old man echoed throughout the private dining hall.
This is exactly why I don't like this person.
How can someone talk this much?
Even in her previous life, she had never been particularly talkative.
I don't even talk with other members back then.
Compared to Derrick, she felt like a silent statue.
The more Derrick talked, the more exhausted she felt.
Eventually, dinner came to an end.
Cecilia stood from her seat.
Elina followed shortly afterward.
"We'll leave the children with you for a little while," Cecilia said.
The two women soon walked away together, continuing a discussion that had somehow started during dinner.
Meanwhile, Derrick suddenly stood.
"Damnern."
Damnern looked up.
Derrick pointed toward the balcony outside.
"Come get some fresh air."
Damnern frowned.
His gaze immediately shifted toward his children.
Clearly, he had no intention of leaving them alone.
Derrick sighed.
"Come on."
His playful expression faded slightly.
"There's something I need to discuss with you."
The seriousness in his voice immediately caught Damnern's attention.
"What is it?"
"It's important."
Derrick answered without hesitation.
After several seconds of silence, Damnern finally nodded.
The two warriors left the dining hall together.
The moment they disappeared—
An awkward silence fell over the room.
Ryker swallowed nervously.
This was his chance.
For several minutes, he gathered his courage.
Finally—
He stepped forward.
"M-My name ish Wyker Bewwyn."
He extended his hand toward Elyra.
His heart pounded violently.
"N-Nice to meet you."
Elyra stared at the offered hand.
Silence.
Several seconds passed.
Then an idea suddenly appeared in her mind.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
This kid...
In the future, he'll become an important figure.
Someone with influence.
All the information must be known by him
A very useful person to have on my side.
A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
Unfortunately—
The smile looked suspiciously evil.
Yes.
I should recruit him early.
Her smile widened.
"My n-na—"
Before she could finish—
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her.
"Tight."
Eldern pulled her into a firm hug.
His green eyes stared directly at Ryker.
Cold.
The room instantly became silent.
Ryker's extended hand remained frozen in mid air.
Elyra blinked.
Confused.
Eldern tightened his hold slightly.
His gaze never left Ryker for even a second.
Meanwhile...
Outside the private dining hall.
Standing on one of the highest levels of Restaurant Neltan, Damnern and Derrick overlooked the entirety of Valdwess City.
Countless lanterns illuminated the streets below.
From this height, the city almost resembled a sea of stars.
For several moments, neither man spoke.
Then—
"So."
Damnern broke the silence.
His voice was calm and serious.
"What was so important that you needed to drag me out here?"
Derrick simply sighed.
His eyes remained fixed on the city below.
"In three years..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I'll be retiring from my position as a Strongest Warrior."
"I don't care."
Damnern answered immediately.
Without hesitation, he turned around and began walking back toward the dining hall.
Derrick's eye twitched.
"Oi!"
He quickly grabbed Damnern's shoulder.
"W-Wait, you idiot!"
Damnern stopped.
Slowly.
He looked back.
His expression remained completely indifferent.
Derrick felt a headache coming.
This bastard...
He cursed silently inside his head.
"Can we talk for five minutes without you trying to leave?"
Damnern remained silent.
Taking that as permission, Derrick continued.
"Besides."
A smile appeared on his face.
"You're heading back to Willowess tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes."
The answer was short.
As always.
Derrick leaned against the balcony railing.
His gaze became distant.
"You know..."
"I still remember the first time I saw you."
Damnern raised an eyebrow slightly.
"It was twelve years ago."
"The royal palace of Valcreat."
"The day I officially became the Tenth Strongest Warrior."
The memories slowly resurfaced.
Back then, Derrick had been full of excitement.
Proud.
Ready to begin the next chapter of his life.
Then he had seen a fourteen-year-old boy standing alone near one of the palace gardens.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
A face completely devoid of emotion.
Even among nobles and warriors, the boy had stood out.
Not because he looked important.
But because he looked completely detached from everything around him.
"As soon as I saw you, I walked over and introduced myself."
A nostalgic smile appeared on Derrick's face.
Then he laughed.
"You ignored me."
Damnern remained silent.
The memory sounded accurate.
"You didn't even look at me."
"You just walked away."
Derrick shook his head.
"At the time, I couldn't understand it."
"Something about you felt wrong."
"Not dangerous."
"Just..."
He searched for the correct words.
"Empty."
The wind blew through his orange hair.
"Even then, I hoped we'd meet again someday."
Damnern frowned slightly.
"Why are we talking about me?"
Damnern immediately regretted staying.
Ignoring him, Derrick continued.
"Then four years later..."
"We met again."
"The Valcreat Colosseum."
His smile slowly disappeared.
The memory was still vivid.
Thousands of spectators filled the arena.
The final match had just ended.
An eighteen-year-old Damnern stood in the center of the battlefield.
Victorious.
The defeated champion lay unconscious at his feet.
The entire colosseum had fallen silent.
No one could believe what they had just witnessed.
An eighteen-year-old had become champion.
At that moment, Derrick finally recognized him.
That boy...
I know that boy.
"The rumors about you were everywhere back then."
Derrick laughed.
"'A genius born once every hundred years.'"
"'The undefeated prodigy.'"
He glanced sideways at Damnern.
"But I never expected the person everyone was talking about to be you."
Damnern looked away.
Derrick continued.
"When I saw you standing in that arena..."
"I honestly believed you had been born for battle."
His voice became quieter.
"A weapon."
"A weapon without emotions."
The night breeze grew colder.
For a brief moment, neither man spoke.
"I tried talking to you countless times after you became a Strongest Warrior."
Derrick laughed bitterly.
"You always looked at me like you wanted to kill me."
Damnern considered correcting him.
Then remembered he actually had wanted to kill several people back then.
So he remained silent.
"Then came your first mission."
Derrick's expression became serious.
"The Fallen Warriors."
Even now, the name carried weight.
Seven warriors who lost in Colosseum.
Each powerful enough to threaten entire regions.
Together, they had become one of the kingdom's most dangerous criminal groups.
"When I heard you had been sent alone..."
"I panicked."
Derrick shook his head.
"I rushed to Valcreat and practically forced Quares to use his Teleportation Sigil."
The memory remained crystal clear.
The moment he arrived.
The battlefield was already over.
Seven dead Fallen Warriors.
Not a single survivor.
And standing among them—
Damnern.
Without emotion.
Without even looking tired.
"The aftermath of your battle was so ridiculous that it permanently changed the landscape."
Derrick pointed toward the distance.
"A river literally formed because of your attack."
"It became known as the Solv River."
Damnern looked completely unimpressed.
"I only used 100% of Judgement Sword's power."
His voice remained flat.
Derrick stared.
Then sighed.
"See?"
"Normal people don't say things like that."
Damnern ignored him.
"I remember looking at all those bodies."
Derrick's expression darkened slightly.
"And then looking at you."
"You had killed seven infamous criminals."
"And yet..."
His eyes narrowed.
"You didn't feel anything."
Silence.
"I mean you just killed someone for the first time"
The city lights flickered below.
For the first time, Derrick's smile disappeared entirely.
"That bothered me."
"A lot."
"I kept wondering what happened to you."
"What kind of life creates someone like that?"
Damnern remained quiet.
His expression unreadable.
Eventually, Derrick sighed.
"So I gave up."
"I accepted that you would never change."
A small smile returned.
"But then I met you again yesterday."
He laughed softly.
"You have a wife."
"You have children."
"You laugh."
"Sometimes."
The smile on his face widened.
"And honestly?"
"I'm happy."
Damnern froze slightly.
The words caught him off guard.
For several moments, neither man spoke.
Then Derrick grinned.
"So."
His eyes sparkled mischievously.
"How did you meet Elina?"
Damnern's eyes widened.
"Cough!"
"Cough!"
He nearly choked on his own saliva.
His face immediately turned red.
Derrick stared.
Then burst out laughing.
"Oh?"
"Interesting."
A wicked grin spread across his face.
"Here I was thinking your marriage was some kind of political arrangement—"
"WAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
A loud child's cry suddenly echoed from inside the dining hall.
Both men froze.
Damnern's expression immediately changed.
Derrick's smile vanished.
Without exchanging another word—
The father figures rushed back inside.
End of Chapter 22