Tales of the Old World Demon Lord

Chapter 46.5: Side Story – The Future of the Fallon Family

[Eternum Calendar 1972]

-Morgant Fallon’s PoV-

Staring out into the open window of my room, I feel a quiet sense of tranquility from the carefully falling snow. I couldn’t help but smile, even bitterly, at how everything went back to normal even after such a grand disaster. Looking below the small backwater city returned to its bustling state as people rushed to and from the markets, the portside was fairly lively as well after overseas trading resumed.

Well, since the town itself wasn’t damaged during that entire kerfuffle all that was really required was a return to ‘normalcy’ in the people’s minds. Of course not everything could be returned to normal, a lot of people had died after all, but even with grieving and heavy hearts they tried their best to strive past their darkness. I can only commend the strength of these citizens, this ‘new’ world may not have the strength and will comparable to the ‘old’ world, but they are still trying.

They are not human, at least the vast majority of them aren’t, but I can still see that a little bit of humanity’s will had been inherited by them. I think it’s a good thing, perhaps I was a little bit too fixated on the external appearances of a human that I failed to see what truly mattered. My own prejudice and superiority to my own kind isn’t something I can easily throw away, it has already become a core aspect of my personality, but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating the determination of the other races.

I smile once more, with my breath a small white fog, right… I don’t hate this moment at all.

“Umm… sister? Can I ask what you’re doing?”

Suddenly I feel a heavy burden being placed on my entire body, turning back with a slight glance it’s Este. She looks at me with a bright smile, her face almost reminds me of my own due to the similar colorations and features, though if I had to say she looks a lot more innocent. It’s a very odd feeling; is this what having siblings were like? Isn’t she just a female clone of me?

“Hmm? Oh, nothing… Fufu, I just thought that Morgant looked a little lonely staring out the window~ so I just… Teehee?”

She tries to laugh it off but really what is she doing? She’s already ten years old this year, though while I can still consider that as an extremely young child, she’s not only an older sibling but also an orphan. Those two characteristics are traits that should have accelerated the growth of her maturity, though if I really had to describe our relationship, it would be that she was the younger sister.

I suppose if we compare the actual length of life experience, I would technically be older, but still…

Oh well, it’s not that I particularly mind having this girl be this clingy it’s just that there is some serious competition for the ‘Morgant Cup’.

“Este! What are you doing?! You’re bothering Morgant!”

Right, the high pitched voice of a very familiar childhood friend rushes towards us. Trying to pry her away from me Alice tugs at Este’s clothes. To counter her, Este tries to put distance between them by using her longer reaching legs, since she’s older and she’s using the longest and strongest part of her body Alice obviously loses out.

I can almost see Alice’s eyes starting to tear up, but she doesn’t and tries to leap into the fray again. Their fierce competition only increases in intensity and they escalate to tugging each other’s clothes. Just what do these girls think they’re doing on someone’s back? Well, since I have the [Mk 7 Gigandoll Powerframe] implanted into me I don’t really feel that much of a burden but… still, they have way too much energy.

I suppose it’s a good thing that they’re getting along; I was actually a little worried about how Este would act after losing Sipher. The first few months were horrible, she was just a shut in, so having no choice to open her up, I told her the truth about our relationship. I’m sure she had a difficult time in believing me, considering that our personalities were like heaven and earth, but still I think over time she couldn’t deny the similarities between us. It also helps that Enrich joined into to convince her, that guy’s social skills are way too good.

As for Alice… well, I’m not really sure if I completely understand what she is. The only things I really understand about her are that she isn’t a normal human and that Dian Cecht is after her. I have come up with several theories but all of them are just mere speculation and even Alice herself doesn’t know what she is, heck she wasn’t even conscious through most of that horrible event.

But if I had to put it in one word… ‘God’. Or at least some kind of super powerful, sentient weapon. Either way, I don’t want her falling into the hands of Dian Cecht or anyone really.

“Oi, guys knock it off. Can’t you see that you’re bothering him?”

Coming to my aid were my other two childhood friends, Ren and Celina. Nothing much has changed about them, actually it’s frightening how nothing in the orphanage has changed even after all of that. Though I guess that’s a point I should be happy with.

Though if I really had to point out one notable change, it’s that Ren sometimes gets a distant look in his eyes when it’s just the two of us. Could it be that my true character really affected him to that degree? Even if that were the case that can’t be helped and is something natural. If he comes to hate me for it, I can’t blame him.

“A- Alice… Miss Este? U- ummm I think Morgant doesn’t…”

Celina tries but she’s overwhelmed by the two beasts throwing a fit behind my back.

I smile bitterly once more and resume my glance out the snow blanketed city. If life could continue like this forever then even I might be a little content with that, but I know for a fact that this can’t be. Dian Cecht and his merry gang of Crimson Knights are running amok out there. For now Astaroth and her army has subdued them and the war has been going on for a year without much change, but I’m sure even that’s going to come to a stop.

‘Eventually your destiny is to go to the Demon Capital’… she even said something like that. She had confidence in those words, meaning that she probably saw something with her future vision. If the situation where I would be required to go to the Demon Capital arises then it’s all over for the demons.

So for now the only thing I can do is enjoy what little time we have left.

…

“Eh? The true identity of the [Fallon] Family? I guess they’re like kings?”

After having gone out of my way to visit him about the truth of my origins, this is the answer I get from Enrich. A vague answer that doesn’t really explain anything, also at this point ‘kings’ are kind of a weak existence don’t you think? I’ve already met a ‘slime’ king, a ‘spider’ queen, the ‘lord of death’, the ‘demon’ lord and even a God.

“Mind explaining further?”

I objected to him finishing his explanation there. I avoided asking Este about the truth out of consideration to not drag out bad memories, but the same can’t be said to this man.

“Hoh? I thought that someone of your calibre would have already figured out your origins even without my explanation. After all, aren’t you the one who drove even Demon Lord Erendel into a corner?”

He smirks as he looks down at me. That sadistic smile… this guy, he’s actually fairly weak when it comes to straight up physical confrontation, so why does he act so triumphant?

“Aha~ I see, so you wanted to die that badly, huh? Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I would’ve gladly helped you achieve this grand dream of yours~”

I say as I pick up a nearby pencil with my [Telekinesis] and flaunt it about him threateningly. His face goes a bit pale but he still tries to maintain a minimum level of dignity even in the face of death. I guess it’s because he knows I’m not seriously going to stab him just for not answering a simple question.

“Now, now, why don’t the two of you stop? If you really want to fight then take it outside of my office.”

Francisco tells us from across the room. We’re in his office- actually this place kind of became a secret lair for evil masterminds, namely Enrich, Francisco and myself. Then there’s Yvonne who’s quietly leaning against the wall without even bothering to acknowledge the chaos in front of her.

About Yvonne… it’s a bit anti-climatic but we managed to save her from dying using the technology of Gladsheim. Since she was unconscious the entire time she naturally has no knowledge of that place. It’s actually quite a frightening prospect if you think about it; having been carried off when you were unconscious then having some mysterious surgery performed on you without your permission then returned back to your normal environment. It’s like some of those stories of UFO abductions.

Though it really is amazing, that even after fighting against a god, that we were able to all return alive. However that and this are separate issues.

Releasing my telekinesis I fall back onto the comfort of the couch.

“From my knowledge there are four Tetrarchs in the Center Continent. Considering the Fallons were a family of humans the only reasonable conclusion is that they were from the center continent where the majority of humans reside.”

Even though I say that, there are also numerous other races that live in the center continent. Elves, Fairies, Titans, Dwarves, some demons, etc. but two biggest populations are of course the Humans and the Elves.

“Yes, quite.”

… That’s it? That’s the only answer I get?

Well, to speculate a little more, of those four Tetrarchy, the Fallon family wasn’t one of them, or rather we couldn’t be because we were wiped out and the four Tetrarchy are very much still standing. The only living members of our family are Este and myself, though I can’t entirely rule out the possibility of another survivor I think it’s safe to assume that it’s just us two for now.

The center continent is actually divided up into five countries. The Four Tetrarchy surrounds a fifth country that’s in the dead center of the center continent. Though rather than a ‘country’ it’s more accurate to say that it’s a city; a ‘Megalopolis’. Since it has its own autonomy it’s similar to how the ‘Vatican’ worked in the old world, only on a scale that’s many thousands of times grander.

I believe the center country was known as the ‘Grand Capital’, a really simple name.

“Then… the lords of the Grand Capital?”

I whispered out under my breath but Enrich’s eyes lightened up suggesting that I was dead on. He gave me a satisfied nod as though he were testing me or something and confirmed my suspicions.

“As you’ve correctly speculated, the Fallon family has been the lords of the Grand Capital for many decades. It wouldn’t be wrong to call them the true rulers of the entirety of the center continent of Ariadyne… That was until seven years ago…”

He spoke those last few words with a heavy tone. This guy, just what’s his backstory anyway? From the fallen Fallon clan to the previous Demon Lord, those are some extraordinary connections. He looks back up at me and smiles- creepy…

Still, seven years isn’t exactly a long time.

“So? What exactly happened seven years ago that lead to the collapse this mighty family?”

I asked him with an extremely indifferent tone, but to be fair they really were strangers. To me the only real family I had were those rowdy bunch at the orphanage and Este, at this current time I didn’t care too much about what happened to the rest of my family since I never knew them. The only point of interest was that they were lords of the Grand Capital, but the only reason it piqued my interest was so I could understand the political climate.

Enrich looked up at me with a rather surprised expression, he probably thought I’d be sad or something. Then he returned to his usual false smile after understanding why I was so indifferent.

“A rebellion… no, I suppose an invasion is closer to the truth. It happened only in a single night, but men cloaked in ghastly black robes raided the Fallon castle and a small scale war broke out. Through fire and blood every trace of the Fallon family was destroyed and well… I guess you can figure out the rest, right?”

Este escaped with Sipher… no I suppose he was already Dian Cecht by that point. If that’s the case then the instigators of the raid were probably members under Dian Cecht’s command. The enemy of a God… just what did the Fallon family do?

Or could it be…

“Then who are the current rulers of the Grand Capital?”

I asked, just to make sure.

“Eh… I believe it was the [Noire] family that took over. They were the family with the second most power in the Grand Capital so it was only natural for them to step up when all of the members of Fallon allegedly perished.

“Then any chance that they conspired with the raiders in order to gain the seat of the lord that way?”

However Enrich shook his head.

“That’s not possible, or at the very least unlikely. The Noire family sent a lot of aid to prevent the Fallon family from perishing, to the point that the Noire family almost perished themselves. As a result they’re extremely weak, and they’ve only barely managed to maintain control over the Grand Capital out of the populace’s respect for the Fallon family. In order not to ruin everything they’ve built the entire city is miraculously helping each other.”

What a nice story, though I guess that in itself has some serious problems with it. Namely concerning the relationships with the other four Tetrarchy. Perhaps it was obvious by my facial expression as to what I was thinking but Enrich seems to have caught on.

“By that look you’ve figured it out then.”

I nodded. A battle for true succession.

If everything Enrich has said is true then the best the Noire family can do is hold onto a status quo that will eventually be destroyed with even a small hint of a shake. Someone else has to step in and finally solidify the ruling party in order to secure the country’s future and it seems all four Tetrarchy are willing to take that role.

From my knowledge the Grand Capital is the center of economics, trade, innovation, inventions, class and etc. Basically it’s a utopia and is in perfect geographic location to spread whatever it develops. This kind of place, it’s natural that any country would want to get their hands on it.

Enrich nods.

“Right, because of this the relationships between the four Tetrarchy have started to break down. With the increase in animosity between each other small skirmishes have also erupted.”

“Well, obviously.”

As I answer indifferently, Enrich stares at me with a smile.

“What is it? You’re creeping me out.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, I was just wondering what you were going to do about it.”

“What I’m going to do about it?”

I parroted his words and thought to myself. Remaining impartial and watching as the situation unfolds itself might be entertaining in its own right but I suppose I can’t just sit this one out.

Ever since I found Gladsheim I’ve been wondering what I wanted to do with my life and this power. If there was anything I wanted to do it was probably best to take advantage of this turmoil to promote my own agendas.

Looking back at Enrich, then at Francisco who was quietly working on his own and finally to Yvonne, I sighed.

“Honestly I don’t have the slightest bit of interest in taking revenge or anything like that, just so you know. Whatever I do next is purely because I want to.”

“Is that so? Then what is it that Morgant wants to do?”

Enrich asked, smiling. Glancing to the side I could also sense that Francisco and Yvonne were subtly smiling as well. Eagerly waiting for my reply, well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to let them in on my plan.

“The Grand Capital’s geographic location is too good to pass up for the fruition of any of my other plans, I’ll conquer it eventually.”

Right… I’ve been thinking this past year about what to do and there is only one conclusion I’ve come up with…

I’ll revive the [Union States of the Sovereign Confederacy].