If someone were to ask Kevin who, after all these years in this world, he respected the most and felt the most gratitude toward, the answer would come without hesitation.
It was the man standing before him—his father, the god of light and sun, Luger.
Luger, with his gentle smile and handsome features that bore a striking resemblance to Cu Chulainn's, looked down at Kevin, whose face lit up with joy upon seeing him. "Long time no see, Kevin," he said softly. "Congratulations on completing your graduation exam."
Kevin took a couple of steps forward, standing directly before Luger, who was slightly taller than him. "Father, you know about that too?" he asked in surprise.
Luger smiled but offered no reply.
"Wait a second…" Kevin furrowed his brows, realization dawning on him. "You let me walk straight into the tiger's mouth knowing everything, didn't you?"
"Wasn't it your own choice?" Luger replied, his voice as soft as ever, reaching out to pat Kevin's head.
"It's because I didn't know anything!" Kevin grumbled, a trace of frustration in his tone.
Luger chuckled but didn't press further. "Why I'm here," he said, addressing the unasked question, "is simply to see my child. Does a father need a reason?"
"That's not it…" Kevin hesitated, his voice tinged with confusion. "But if you were coming, why not let Cu Chulainn know too?"
The bird perched on Kevin's shoulder glanced at him silently, as though suppressing the urge to ask who was truly the biological son in this situation.
After a brief silence, Luger sighed. "Kevin, I think you've already guessed Cu Chulainn's future, haven't you?"
Kevin remained silent.
"When you were training under Scathach," Luger began, his tone heavy, "I transformed myself into different figures—a bard, an old man—and appeared before him."
Passing by Kevin, Luger gazed into the shadows of the distant forest, his voice laced with sorrow. "I warned him about the future I had seen.
I even went to King Conchobar, pleading with him not to allow Cu Chulainn to become a warrior.
But…" Luger turned back toward Kevin, his expression helpless, "he just laughed at my warnings. When the king placed restrictions on him, he dismantled every spear in the city, destroyed the chariots, and threatened to attack the king himself.
He was only ten years old at the time."
Kevin blinked, at a loss for words.
"He only knows how to solve problems through violence, never using his brain to think things through. I have no idea who he takes after…" Luger sighed, then reached out to ruffle Kevin's hair, his expression softening. "You're more like me."
Kevin's lips twitched. Father, you adopted me…
"But no matter what, he is my child," Luger said, his gaze shifting toward the Shadow Kingdom Castle. His voice carried a mixture of pride and concern. "Watching him grow day by day into the hero others will sing of fills me with joy...
And immense worry."
"Father…" Kevin began, wanting to offer some form of comfort, but Luger stopped him with a question.
"Kevin, do you hate me?"
Kevin froze. The question caught him completely off guard.
"You're smart," Luger continued. "You must know the real reason I took you in, made you my child."
Kevin nodded slowly. "Yes, I know."
The reason Luger had adopted him and given him the magic sword was simple. Kevin had no predetermined destiny, no set future. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could change Cu Chulainn's fate.
"But I don't hate you," Kevin said firmly. His gaze met Luger's, clear and unwavering. "You're the person I respect and love the most!"
Luger's eyes softened as a smile spread across his face, one that bore a resemblance to Cu Chulainn's usual carefree grin, but with an added depth of emotion.
"Good boy," Luger murmured, rubbing Kevin's head once more. "Now I truly feel that my decision was the right one."
Pausing briefly, Luger continued, "I heard you've been seeking dragon blood or water from the Styx?"
Kevin tilted his head, caught off guard. "How did you know about that?"
Luger listened as Kevin recounted his conversation with Scathach, nodding thoughtfully. After examining Kevin's body by pinching his arms and face, he frowned slightly.
"Your body is indeed fragile," Luger remarked. "No wonder she insisted on keeping you here—to teach you the primordial runes of the Aesir."
"The Aesir?" Kevin echoed, his curiosity piqued.
"That's not important," Luger said, dismissing the question. "But I do know of several places that could transform your body. Are you willing to go?"
Kevin hesitated. "How long would it take?"
"I can't say for sure," Luger admitted. "But if you're interested, I can ask the Aesir for their assistance. There's even a demon wolf whose blood could change your body entirely."
"No." Kevin shook his head firmly. "Not now, at least."
Luger raised an eyebrow.
"If I leave, Cu Chulainn might surpass me in the meantime," Kevin explained. "With how hard he's working, it won't be long before he graduates. I need to stay."
Luger nodded, a glimmer of pride in his eyes.
"Kevin, give me the Flagrak," he said suddenly.
Without hesitation, Kevin handed over the magic sword. Luger ran his hand over the blade, muttering a soft incantation before returning it to Kevin.
"I've removed its final seal," Luger announced. "From this moment, it is yours completely."
"Wait, Father…" Kevin stammered, wide-eyed. "Isn't this—"
"Take it," Luger said firmly, though a flash of pain flickered in his eyes.
The Flagrak was no ordinary weapon—it was one of the four great treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Letting it go was no small sacrifice.
"From now on, it will nullify almost all special abilities in the world," Luger declared with pride. "Even the power of gods!
Child, take this and make your enemies tremble in fear.
I swear, in the name of Luger, god of light and the sun, to protect you forever!"
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