(one hour later)
"And that's how you and Norn were born."
"..."
I just finished telling Aisha, Eris and Ruijerd how Paul cheated on Zenith with Lilia, while Zenith was pregnant with Norn.
Starting with Lilia announcing about her pregnancy, then Paul admitting that it is 'probably' his child, Lilia telling us she would leave after Zenith gave birth, me preventing her from killing herself and Aisha by convincing Zenith to let her by us, and lastly her and Norn's birth.
After all that, I told Ruijerd and Eris about how I think that Lilia might have trained Aisha to become my personal Maid as a thanks for saving her, without my knowledge or my consent.
I couldn't tell what Ruijerd was thinking, but it must have been clear to him what Lilia might have thought.
The thoughts of a war veteran with a norm of justice will for the rest of this second life of mine, be a mystery for me.
Eris, however, had a frown on her face.
"Are all of your parents morons?"
She honestly wasn't wrong. But as someone who doesn't have any children of his own (because I'm still a virgin) I can't follow their reasoning in their parental actions.
"Eris, there is no such thing as a perfect parent, you know that. Just like me and you, they make decisions that result in something terrible. But if one realizes those mistakes soon enough, one can learn from them. So don't judge her decision based on her partner's mishaps."
She looked at me astonished, but ended up looking down.
Great. Now I reminded her of her parent's actions that she just forgot. I feel like opening her nearly healed wound again.
"..." Aisha was looking down as well, probably not being able of taking in all the information I told her. I can't blame her. She must've felt like an unwanted child, or a mistake.
"Aisha I-"
"Do you hate me now?" she said something that I couldn't comprehend with.
"Why would I hate you? You're my little sister." She still had her head hanging low, while muttering something.
"I said so many bad things about you, even though you saved me. I should be grateful to you, yet I despised you. Even though my mother nearly broke your family apart."
I see. She realized that she made a mistake and was contemplating about it. I did the same thing as her when I had my fight with Paul.
But the difference in those two situations, was that she didn't end up disappointing me at all.
As smart as she seems from the few conversations we've had, she is still a 6-year-old girl.
So instead of letting her leave the room, I went over to her on the other side of the table and put both of my hands on her shoulders.
She looked me in the eyes and I could see trails of tears appear on her cheeks.
"Aisha. I did this because I care about you. Not because I intended to make Lilia indebted to me, but because you are my younger sister, and I'm your older brother. Lilia was already part of our family before you were born. I wasn't feeling as bad about what she did with Paul. It may have been wrong for them to keep it a secret until later, but you aren't the manifestation of their mistake. Their mistakes aren't ours to burden."
Her eyes widened a bit and I used my fingers to rub away her tears from her face. After that, I cupped her face with my hands and squished it a bit while putting on a smile on my face.
"I love you, and that will never change, even if you hate me for the rest of your life."
Her eyes widened even further and she started crying.
"I-I'm sorry, Big Brother."
She broke from my grip and hugged my chest tightly and kept on crying and saying how sorry she is, while smothering tears and snot on my clothes. I could clean that up later because now is not the time to complain about such problems.
I hugged her back and patted her head while whispering reassuring words to her that everything is alright, and that I'm glad that she is fine.
I have to be careful. Otherwise, I might get too hooked into this whole older brother ordeal.
The voice that told her these things may have been Rudeus Greyrat, but the person behind it was nothing other than an imposter who barged into her family's life.
***
After she calmed somewhat down, we started to talk about each other for a while. I ended up telling her about where I got teleported to, and what happened at Millishion.
She was a bit afraid over my fight with Paul, and even more about me being the cause of the [Bright Sky Wave]. But I reassured her that everything is fine.
But thanks to my bandage covered hands, she had a skeptical and worried look on her face.
I deliberately avoided mentioning my state after casting that spell, as well that I couldn't properly talk to Paul. Well, the latter one will be revealed anyway once she reunites with him.
After that, she started to get tired, so I tucked her into bed and watched her fall asleep. But our little rough reunion made me think about something important.
If I had stayed longer or talked a bit more, would me and Paul had the same ending. Hugging each other and crying over how sorry we are. He was contemplating about all of it like I did.
'Could you? Haven't you disappointed him enough already? Sure, finding Aisha and Lilia is good and all, but is that enough for what you caused him about?'
There he is again. Watching and talking to me through the reflection in the window. But deep inside me, I know he is right. I can't face him until everyone is found.
There is also the matter of the possible future vision from my dream. Whenever that happens, I have to prevent it no matter what. It will be the least I can do for him, since I still feel guilty for taking his son's life.
But what if the original Rudeus Greyrat couldn't persuade Zenith into letting Lilia stay. Aisha and her might have been destined to die. The thought alone could end up becoming a nightmare for me.
What matters now is to get both Aisha and Lilia safely back to Paul.
But first I have to get Lilia out of wherever she is. I have to think of something, or I might be too late.
I explained to both Eris and Ruijerd about my plans. And unsurprisingly, Eris suggested storming the castle. And surprisingly, Ruijerd thought about the same thing.
I forgot that he is a war veteran who lived more than 500 years. Who knows? Maybe he invaded a castle or two in that long life?
I convinced them both to solve the matter more peacefully before we do anything extreme.
But then suddenly, we had an unexpected visitor. As a safety procedure, we kept Aisha hidden.
Opening the door, I saw a young woman, wearing what seems like a military uniform.
"Greetings, my name is Ginger York. I am Royal Knight of the Shirone Kingdom. I have come here on the request of Roxy Migurdia, to escort Rudeus Greyrat to the Royal Palace."
Something was off about her. Ever since talking to Aisha, I have been suspicious. Why would they still be in Shirone Kingdom if Roxy should have been here?
If she would have been here, she would have saved them already. So, Ginger telling me that Roxy wanted to see me, was suspicious.
"Please do step in, while I'm preparing my luggage." I gestured with my hand to let her step into our room.
She was reluctant at first, but complied.
As we went inside, I tried signaling Eris and Ruijerd that we should capture her. However, only Ruijerd understood it and nodded, while Eris just had a quizzed look on her face.
Ignoring that, I used Earth Magic to block off the door and Ruijerd immediately went to punch her in the face, while she was distracted by my spell. She wasn't fast enough to block it or unsheathe her sword, so she was knocked out unconscious immediately.
"What was that about?" Eris was simply confused over what we did.
"What happened?" Aisha came out of her hiding spot and looked at the unconscious Ginger.
"We need to question her. Something is off about what she said."
Everyone complied to my order, and we started by taking her weapons off and disarming her.
I used Earth Magic to put cuffs on her wrists and ankles, which took a while since I had to fully concentrate on not blowing them up.
As soon as everything was finished and everyone taking their position, we waited.
***
{Third POV}
When Ginger woke up from her sleep, she immediately looked around, only to realize that she has been captured.
"What the?"
"Welcome back from the world of your dream." The voice of a young boy suddenly spoke to her.
As she looked at the direction it came from, she saw 4 people.
A tall bald man, wearing tribal clothes and a forehead protector, and a three-pronged spear in his hand, leaning against the wall of the other side of the room.
Then there was a young lady, with long red hair and a sword attached to her hip. She was standing with her feet at shoulder width and her arms crossed before her chest. Her face looked like she was trying to pay as much attention as possible, making it look like it goes beyond her limits.
Next to the young lady was an even younger boy sitting on a chair while having a little girl sit on his lap, while holding an expensive looking staff in his hand.
He had white hair with some of the roots being a slight brown color and both his eyes having each their own color.
Left eye sapphire blue with a mole beneath it, and right eye emerald green.
There was barely any light in his eyes, as if he is going through some rough time.
As Ginger looked at the little girl sitting on his lap, she recognized her.
"Aisha? Is that you?"
"Hold it there. You are not in the position to ask questions first."
He aimed the tip of his staff at her. Immediately, the fist-sized crystal on the end of the staff started to glow, indicating that he was charging a magic attack at her.
"Now talk. Where is Roxy, and what are your actual orders? Lie to me and I will kill you without hesitation." His face was dead serious.
Ginger knew that this boy is a talented magician, so she had no other choice but to answer.
"You are Rudeus Greyrat, disciple of Roxy Migurdia. Lady Roxy left the royal palace 2 years ago since she couldn't handle Prince Pax's harassment anymore."
His face turned into one of understanding, since that is a good reason to leave. But he noticed Ruijerd, Eris and Aisha looking at him with narrowed eyes, in which he could only smile meekly.
'Curse you my early perversion. Is that what Paul feels, when he's getting reprimanded for his deeds as a former-womanizer?'
That course of thought was cut short as Ginger proceeded with her explanation.
"However, prince Pax wants to take revenge on her, for leaving him. So, he decided to keep Lilia and Aisha captive, since they have a connection to her, hoping she will come find them."
Aisha was shifting in Rudeus's lap, as her face showed how worried she was about her mother.
But Rudeus put his spare hand on her head and started patting her, not taking his eyes away from his target.
"Well, we only found them coincidentally. How was he expecting her to find them?"
Ginger could only narrow her eyes in shame as she answered.
"He thought that she would find out about it anyway."
Rudeus's eye twitched at those words. He couldn't believe how incompetent that prince was. But he shook his head, trying to gather his composure again.
"Next questions. What did he plan to do now? And more importantly, why are you serving someone like that?"
Ginger started to move and so did everyone else in the room. But they soon all stopped after seeing how she went down to push her forehead against the ground.
"He is holding my family as hostages, as well as the families of his other soldiers. Because we don't want to risk their lives, we have no other choice but to obey him. As for what he wants to do now. He plans to capture you as another hostage. He already prepared a King class Barrier trap to imprison you."
"Is that so?" Rudeus started closing his eyes while putting the hand he was aiming at Ginger to his chin.
He was in deep thought over what to do next. His mind wandered over how to save Lilia. He didn't care about what will happen with Ginger's or the soldiers families. It may sound cruel, but he simply prioritizes Paul's family over others.
Once he came to a conclusion, he opened his eyes and voice out his plan in the room.
"Alright, let's do that then. Ginger, you are going to escort me into that trap."
Absolutely everyone but him in the room was speechless.
***
(30 minutes later)
Presently, Rudeus is being escorted by Ginger into the royal palace of Shirone. They were both prepared over what will come soon.
And before they arrived before the entrance of the prince's room, they stopped.
"Sir Rudeus, are you sure about this?" Ginger was understandably worried. Rudeus wouldn't talk to her ever since they departed from his inn.
Turning around a bit, he looked her dead in the eyes. Still not having light in them.
"Like I told you in our discussion, I don't care what happens to any of your families. They are just an obstacle in my path of rescuing Lilia."
Ginger couldn't rebuke his answer, since it's not just her family that is at risk. So instead, she just knocked on the door.
"Who is there?" the male voice asked out.
"It's Ginger. I have brought Sir Rudeus Greyrat."
"Bring him in."
And so, the door opened, and Rudeus stepped into the room where he saw a short, chubby young boy and two maids.
One maid was just standing over there and the other Rudeus recognized on the spot.
It was Lilia, and she was tied up, laying on the ground. The sight made Rudeus slightly angry, but he had to keep his head cool in order for his plan to work.
"So this is Rudeus Greyrat."
The chubby kid was sitting on a chair arrogantly, as if trying to look down on Rudeus.
'I've seen better.' But compared to Eris and Sauros, he did a terrible imposing impression.
Looking back at Lilia, and then the prince again, he asked:"What is this about? Where is Roxy?"
"Drop him." is what the chubby prince said as the other soldiers in the room pulled the ground beneath him. Rudeus was falling down into the trap set by the prince.
As he landed with a thud, he laid there for a sec before sitting up right and look above himself.
It's like Ginger told him. And when he looked down as he saw the dim light of a circle carved into the ground. Supposedly, it's a King class Barrier Magic that renders magic useless inside it.
And as to prove that, Rudeus tried to cast a spell with as much mana as he could muster. But it failed. The mana wouldn't take shape.
"Don't try even think about it, it's useless." Pax came down from the stairs of the pitfall room and went by to stand before the walls of the barrier.
"Might I ask who you are, sir?" Rudeus actually knew who he is, but he needed to play the dumb one for their plan to work.
"Hnn. Third prince of the Shirone Kingdom, Pax Shirone."
"Then might I ask what you are planning to do?"
"As if I would tell you. But since you have no hope to escape anymore, I will tell you. You are gonna be bait to lure Roxy in. After she is captured, I'm going to enslave her. Ah, but don't worry, I will let you watch when I violate her. But at the second time, I will chop off your head and let her watch into your dead eyes, since you are her little lover."
Rudeus couldn't help but have a blank face that slowly turned into a twisted one as the chubby prince, Pax, talked.
"Alright, I have multiple things to say about what you just said." He then proceeded by holding up his right hand and curling it up to a knuckle. Afterwords, he pointed out his index finger up straight.
"First. I didn't find any information about Lilia being here. Even if we are talking about Roxy, she won't come if there aren't any information to come leak out."
He then stretched his middle finger upwards.
"Second. You really are a nasty guy for being so cruel. I won't ask why you hate her, but you are gonna get in trouble with not only me, but with your father once that happens."
Then he stretched his thumb to the side.
"Third. 'Lover'? I do not know what you mean by that. Master Roxy and I are just master and disciple. Whatever it was that let you think I'm her 'lover', it's wrong."
Then his thumb went back into curling into his palm and the rest of his fingers stretch upwards.
"And fourth and lastly. You are gonna regret it, if you harm my parent and sister again." At the end of his words, a wave of killing intent went flooding the room of the basement.
Pax even stumbled back and landed on his butt, getting startled at Rudeus. He was terrified over his murderous stare. His eyes were a dark shade before, but now they were glowing. Right eye lime green and left eye icy blue.
If looks could kill, then Pax would have been dead the moment he looked at Rudeus again.
"Y-you fool. I-I know that you are her lover. I have seen the letters you sent her, look."
He then pulled out the letter Rudeus sent out only yesterday. It had the special sealing, which had the outlines of the pendant she gave him.
"So you lure me in, knowing that I was looking for my master. Simple but an effective move."
The killing intent stopped as he nonchalantly said these words.
Pax then got up and ran up the stairs, not being able to take another flood of this monster's wrath.
Rudeus then sat down in his meditation position and closing his eyes, listening to their conversation.
"Ginger, come in here."
"Yes, my prince."
"Why haven't you found Aisha yet?"
"My apology, my prince. We haven't been able to locate her yet."
"Then go look for her. Or do you not care about your family?"
"Yes, of course. I will go right away."
Ginger went outside the room, heading for the inn Rudeus was staying at.
'Good. Everything will go as planned.'
This was part of Rudeus's plan. He was to play dumb and get himself trapped. Ginger is actually going to the inn to give Ruijerd the signal to free the hostages.
If Rudeus himself went with the others to free the hostages, nobody knows what Pax would have done to Lilia.
And while Ruijerd is out rescuing them, Ginger and Eris are supposed to watch Aisha in the meantime.
When Rudeus told them about his plan, Aisha was the first one to protest. She begged him not to do something so dangerous as falling into the bait on purpose.
But Rudeus reassured her that he will be fine, and that it is to save her mother from any more harm.
"Hey. What are you doing? Why are you removing her gag?"
"I'm sorry. I thought it would be-"
"I beg of you, your highness. Please don't harm him." Lilia's voice reached Rudeus's ear, and he snapped his eyes open.
"Shut up."
A dry smack could be heard in the room as it echoed to the wrong person. The killing intent from before came back and stronger than before.
*BOOM*
A loud impact sound vibrated through the floor, coming from below. Pax went to the hole to see what did this.
He saw Rudeus clutching his right fist that dripped some blood coming through his bandages.
"Ha, did you really think you could punch your way out? That barrier isn't just rendering magic useless, but also physical attacks."
Pax tried to rebuke at Rudeus attempt to escape. But Rudeus only looked up, and Pax saw the murderous glowing eyes from before.
"When I get out of here, you are gonna need more than just simple soldiers to stop me."
Rudeus's voice came out angered and cold, making Pax tremble at the monstrosity he just captured.
"D-don't think those words will intimidate me, you-"
Pax suddenly went flying backwards as a transparent fist went upwards to the sealing.
*Boom**Crash*
The sealing was only slightly damaged, but the impact the transparent fist had with Pax was more damaging.
"Owowowowow. I think he just broke my noes. Get a healer immediately and sent Lilia in her room again."
"Yes, our prince."
Everyone in the room was shocked over what had happened.
One of the soldiers who went next to the hole saw Rudeus standing with his left fist held upwards. But soon after, Rudeus sat back down slowly into his meditation pose again.
The only one who wasn't as shocked as the others was Lilia. She already knew her lord's talent and was only surprised to see him improve so much.
After Lilia was taken to her confined room, a lid was put on top of the hole, giving Rudeus only the dim light of the magic circle on the ground.
***
{Rudeus POV}
Calm down me. He will get what he deserves soon enough. You just gotta wait for Ruijerd and the others.
Ginger should inform the other soldiers what we are planning so that they would join us.
What irritated me the most was his remark about me and Roxy being lovers.
Sure, I like Roxy. Or rather, respect her. But lovers? This one is not worthy for such a thing.
Although it sounds tempting, since me and her are the same age, if you sum my current and previous age together.
But my feelings for her are more in the form of respect and gratitude. She was the one who tough me so much and helped me get over my fear of going outside the house.
Albeit, she might have not even noticed it like Paul. Nevertheless, that doesn't change the fact that she did something great for me.
What made me the most furious however was when he slapped Lilia.
I don't know what came over me. My body went into berserk-mode and started punching at the wall of the barrier with that strange layered mana around me.
It was powerful, but I ended up cracking the bones in my knuckle. It wasn't because of the impact at the wall, but rather something like recoil damage from using that technique or whatever.
My right hand still hurts, and I can't use Healing Magic in here.
I wonder why I was so furious just now? What happened to the calm me? The one who would have kept a cool head and handled the situation with ease.
That last spell was ominous as well. I think I formed an extension of my own arm out of my mana. I got to say that startled me from the inside a bit.
"Am I losing myself?"
'You are feeling guilty about this.'
Kagami's voice came out again. Since there are no reflective surfaces down here, only his voice came out.
"What do you mean?"
'This whole ordeal happened because you couldn't keep yourself low enough.'
"Get to the point already and stop talking in riddles."
I swear, the way he makes me think so much about things get annoying sometimes. It's as bad as talking to Htogami.
'He was Roxy's second student. Maybe you forgot about it, but she mentioned that he was like you.'
"I am not like him. He is just-"
'A pervert like you are.'
That struck hard. I do have to admit that I had the tendency to watch Roxy bathe often. But I never laid my hand on her like he probably did.
'Although, it might have been that he did all these harassments because he wanted attention from someone he looked up to.'
He is right. Pax might be just like Eris. Someone who was only seen by his status and became rotten to get people's attention. Not for his status, but for his person.
"But what does that have to do with me?"
'Maybe Roxy had it too easy having you as a student. She did compare him with you allot in her letter, remember.'
"I...see."
I can see now what Kagami means. I certainly made it too easy for Roxy, and she might have that mindset of a student being better than her even after she left the village.
This certainly shows just how abnormal I was as a child. Acting like an adult most of the time and using my superior knowledge to learn fast and impress everyone around me.
'All because you took everything for granted and took life too easy.'
Again with that sentence. I realized what actions has cost to others. But hearing those words might stop me from doing too many abnormal things...for now, I hope.
Soon after, I dozed off into my meditation and fell asleep.
///