“Sandora huh?”

Augustus said as he sat on the bed.

He looked at Alec.

“Where is she right now?”

“I don’t know. I thought you could give me some clue.”

Alec replied.

“How would I know? I’ve just returned to this world less than two decades ago, there’s no way I can guess her thoughts after 10,000 years apart. One year is enough to change someone much less 10,000.”

“Even though she’s your wife?”

Alec sounded a bit skeptical.

“Hey, she should’ve told you that our marriage was purely political. We didn’t have any romantic feelings for each other and didn’t even consummate the marriage.”

“But she said that you were best friends? Don’t you at least have an idea of anywhere she would be?”

Augustus shook his head.

“There are too many unknown variables involved. Trying to guess her position is harder than guessing the amount of sand on a beach.”

Alec looked depressed when he heard.

“Hm? There’s nothing to be depressed about you know. Sandora clearly values you enough to make you her successor. I’m sure she’ll make contact with you when she’s ready.”

Augustus stood up.

“Wait. Could it be that you’re in love with her?”

“……..”

Alec didn’t answer and looked away.

This action caused Augustus eyes to lit up.

“Oh. Oh. Oh.”

He started to circle around Alec in a playful manner.

He stopped and patted Alec on the shoulder.

“I get it I get it. Sandora is a very beautiful woman. Even a saint would turn into a sinner to become her lover. And not to mention that body. I won’t lie, friends or not I wouldn’t hesitate to hit that if she gave me the chance.”

Augustus said with a laugh.

“….You know you’re not like I heard. I heard that you were pretty much heartless.”

“Wha?! Who is the bastard that spread such lies?! Was it Sandora?!”

Alec shook his head.

“Sandora didn’t really talk about you much.”

“You know, for some reason that pisses me off too.”

Augustus growled.

“I read that you were a cold hearted manipulator who would do anything to achieve victory.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Augustus easily admitted.

“But that’s the only thing I’ve found out about you, which I found extremely strange.”

Said Alec.

“Why is someone who trampled over countless Higher Beings despite being human, practically unknown outside of the Dragna Clan? Shouldn’t your name be engraved in the history of the world? But instead when the Dragna Clan is mentioned, people think of the clan of Tiamat’s descendants; they never say the clan of the Divine Conqueror.”

Alec paused before continuing.

“It’s like you were erased from history.”

“Because I was.”

Augustus answered.

“I mean, think about it. I walked over the dignity of countless gods and demons. I’ve embarrassed some of the greatest heroes the world have ever seen. What would happen if the future generations knew that such a person existed?”

“The Higher Beings would lose all of their prestige while you would be hailed as the greatest to ever live.”

Alec answered.

“That’s right. And which person would want their name and legacy trampled on for someone else’s to raise?”

“So they erased all traces of your existence outside of our clan.”

Augustus nodded.

“But I guess that works out for me as well.”

“What do you mean?”

“With my existence erased from history it gives me a chance to create a legend far greater than the one I could’ve had before.”

“You’re going to let Miko create that legend, or will you do it yourself?”

Augustus didn’t answer and just smiled.

“Can I ask you something?”

Alec asked after a while.

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you suppressing your (Miko’s) power? I mean Miko should be far stronger than he is now. The only explanation is that something or someone is suppressing his growth.”

“And you believe I’m that something?”

Alec nodded.

“Well, you’re not wrong. I’m the one who’s been limiting Miko’s rapid growth.”

“Why?”

Augustus smiled.

“Do you know what I’m referred as among higher beings?”

Alec shook his head.

“The Irregular.”

“Irregular?”

“It’s something that’s born outside the laws of the world. A glitch in the system if you will.”

“And that’s you? A glitch in the system?”

Augustus nodded.

“I’m the first human to pave his way to godhood with his own strength. That was something that shouldn’t have happen no matter what. Hence I’m considered a glitch or an irregular in the system that governs the world.”

Augustus stretched out on the bed.

“Well, it’s not like I was the first Irregular to be born. It’s just that I’m the first to take a human shape. Because of that, the Higher Beings feared me.”

He looked at Alec.

“Someone like you must know how desperate people get when they’re afraid.”

Alec nodded.

“I’ve experience first hand what a desperate Higher Being is like. Trust me, it isn’t pretty.”

He lifted his hand in front of his face and looked at it as if admiring it.

“If I had left Miko, who is myself but with a different personality, alone then he would’ve become a monster that would draw the unwanted attention of certain Higher Beings. Because of that, I tuned down his growth to match the level of the so-called geniuses of this era. Well, there were times I had to let him experience a sudden increase because he tends to always pick troublesome fights.”

Augustus said the last sentence with a sigh.

“Anyway it isn’t anything that would convince the Higher Beings that he’s another Irregular like myself.”

“I see. So that’s why.”

Said Alec.

Then he suddenly thought of something else.

“But why let Miko be the main personality? If you wanted, couldn’t you've suppressed your power and keep yourself hidden? So why stay locked away?”

“You sure have a lot of questions. But I guess it’s fine. I haven’t had a conversation partner in years.”

Said Augustus.

“But let me ask you this first. What determines one’s personality?”

“Their memories.”

Augustus nodded.

“A person’s personality depends on their memories and how they perceived them. For example let’s say you have twin boys living in the same house around the same people for the same number of years. Let’s say that they both ended up with completely different personalities. Why’s that?”

“Because they saw things differently.”

Alec answered.

“That’s right. Two persons might experience the same things but that doesn’t mean they come out the same. Let’s say that the boys grew up around thugs, drugs lords and other criminals. Boy 1 grew up admiring these kind of people, envying the women they got, the things they owned, and the respect from fellow criminals. Boy 1 expectedly started to act like them and later became one of them. Now Boy 2 saw the same things as Boy 1 but he also saw the sleepless nights, the constant paranoia, constant risk of dying a dog’s death. Because he determined that the women, the wealth, and the cred wasn’t worth all that, he chose a different path. That’s the perfect example of personalities being influenced by memories and perception.”

Augustus explained.

“Now look at me and Miko. We’re similar but different because of the things that we’ve experienced. Now, what do you think would happen if we were to become one? We’ll turn into something with immense experience in life and greater wisdom than we would have alone.”

He smiled.

“In simpler terms, I want to experience life in a way I never had before. But considering who I am that’s a bit impossible.”

“And this is where Miko comes in.”

Said Alec.

Augustus nodded.

“I want Miko (me) to live life in a different way than how I lived. I want him to experience the good and bad and gain an understanding that I couldn’t come by.”

He smiled.

“I want him to live and die like any other person. Until then I won’t interfere too much.”

“In other words, you’re using Miko to live the life you couldn’t?”

“You can say that.”

Alec sighed.

“I really don’t understand the thoughts of someone like you.”

He said.

“I get that a lot actually.”

Augustus laughed and said.

“But I gotta say, Sandora sure picked an amazing heir. You were even able to create the Blood Flame that she and I came up with.”

“Sandora mentioned once, an idea to create an all powerful flame out of blood, but she said that she wasn't able to manifest that idea in reality. Hearing that, I decided to give it a try when I was bored. I didn’t expect to succeed though.”

Alec said with a laugh.

“You should be proud. Not even the great me was able to do it. Not even Sandora who was one of the oldest and strongest vampires couldn’t do it. That says something.”

Even Alec couldn’t help but puff his chest out in pride when being praised by Augustus.

“Ah, I just remembered something I wanted to ask you about.”

He suddenly said.

“Although she didn’t talk about you much, Sandora said this once. Augustus’s true love wasn’t Tiamat but his master Rias. I already heard from her that Rias was the name of the Queen of the Phoenixes. Then does that mean that you know Phoenix magic?”

“That’s right. I even had Phoenix blood implanted in my veins.”

“Then can Miko use Phoenix magic?”

Augustus shook his head.

“I sealed my Phoenix blood a long time ago so that it wouldn't draw unnecessary attention.”

“You sure hide a lot.”

“Don’t worry. Once Miko is satisfied with life then I’ll fuse our souls and run rampant on the world without holding anything back.”

He said while laughing out loud.

“But let me clarify something. Both Rias and Tiamat are irreplaceable to me and I love them both. But Rias is my sole goddess while Tia is the love of my life.”

“Translation: You love them both but because of your admiration and worship towards Rias you couldn’t start a romantic relationship with her because you didn’t think you were good enough.”

“Oh!”

Augustus started clapping.

“Impressive. That’s exactly what I meant.”

He then stop clapping and put on a complicated expression.

“I promised myself that until I become someone worthy to stand beside her I won’t answer her feelings.”

“Pussy move, man pussy man.”

Said Alec.

“Ah, shut it. I might haven’t married her, but she was still the first woman I slept with. And I’ll have you know that I’ve slept with over 10,000 women; including goddesses and demons. The most notably one outside Tia and Rias, is Aphrodite.”

“I take that back! You are my ancestor! Let me worship you!”

Alec started bowing in front of Augustus like he was really worshipping him.”

“As long as you understand.”

Augustus remained arrogant as ever.

“Oh, yeah.”

Alec suddenly stop bowing and looked at Augustus.

“You were someone who was able to suppress the world with a flip of your hand, so I always wanted to know, just what killed you?”

Records stated that Augustus died during the rebellion lead by his second son, Judos.

However, what was the actual cause of his death was never mentioned.

“Ah, believe it or not I was cursed.”

“Cursed?”

Alec couldn’t believe that there was a curse strong enough to kill an Irregular like Augustus.

However Augustus nodded.

“It was when I had just started to venture in the world. I came across the ruins of a nameless evil god and got cursed. It was this curse that became the inspiration for Deus Malum. Oh, but my descendants were able to receive some cool abilities from it."

He said nonchalantly.

Alec could tell that he didn’t view being cursed to death as nothing serious. He wondered if Augustus was telling the truth.

“Hm? It seems that I’m running out of time.”

Augustus suddenly said.

Alec could see blood flowing down his nose.

“This body doesn’t seem to be able to contain my presence any longer. If my soul was whole, it wouldn’t be a problem though.”

He muttered.

“I guess this is it, Alec. Ah, you don’t need to worry about anyone eavesdropping on our convo. I took care of that. You only need to calm Tia down if she gets anxious.”

“Wait! Quick question: Can you use your strength while possessing that body?”

Augustus smiled.

And then-

*Boom!*

Alec suddenly found himself pressed down on the floor face down.

No matter how much he tried he couldn’t even breath much less move a finger.

‘W-What power! To think that he could completely suppress with a simple thought!’

He exclaimed in his mind.

After a few seconds, his body was freed from the godly pressure and he could finally breathe again.

Augustus smiled at him before closing his eyes.

Alec could tell from his breathing that the one on the bed was Miko who was still sleeping.

At that moment, Tia appeared out a beam of light and glared at Alec.

“You have some explaining to do, Alec.”

Alec gulped when he saw her.

“Well, fuck.”