“I hope you can explain yourself, Miss Adept.” Said Albert, glaring at the woman. An oppressive aura enveloped the room, making it suffocating. The surely unnerved woman stared at the ground, unable to answer. “Should I take that as a no?”

His formal talk pattern only served to unnerve her even more, as if he was even more dangerous than he seemed.

“It seems I have been misunderstood.” Said Elena, trying to sound calmer. “I, along with two of my companions, have found some goons carrying this boy while on the way back from a quest.”

“It doesn’t seem like you’re from around these parts.” Albert stated, his cold gaze never wavering.

“No, it is true. An assassin kidnapped me from the mansion, and proceeded to using the underground tunnel to appear outside the winter mansion. These people found me on the way back to town, while I was being transported to where you most likely assume by now.” Edward said, taking a seat on one of the tables, only his head sticking out from under.

The oppressiveness in the air seemed to thicken, Elena almost unable to breathe and Edward holding his. Then it disappeared without a trace, as if it never existed in the first place. A carefree laughter came from Albert’s end as he stood up using the table as a handhold.

“It seems the Adams are making their move.” He twirled the wine in his glass, taking a sip while looking out the window. “Still, to think they were this afraid of the carcass of a lion.”

“I assume there is something about the family I am unaware of.” Edward stated, looking at his father.

“I wasn’t obliged to tell my oh so innocent son just yet.” Albert answered with a smile. “Miss Adept, I must thank you for saving my child. Who knows what those religious old-timers are up to?”

“I-it’s nothing.” Elena answered, caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere.

“Pallas, guide her to the treasury and reward her with twenty gold.” Albert said, a previously invisible guard appearing near him, dressed in rather colorful clothes consisting of a light green sleeveless shirt and violet pants. Aside from his fashion sense numbering below zero, the man had purple hair. Edward had given up about the absurd hair colors by now, after seeing a garden of revolving exotic colored grass from his room on the second floor.

The man, Pallas, nodded and started walking out the room. Elena quietly followed. Although Edward didn’t know how much twenty gold was, or even bread or anything for that matter, it sounded like a large amount. Definitely not something a fallen noble family could afford.

“Well then, it seems you were caught off guard. Even after shortening the cast time.” Albert sighed. “Maybe I should call a friend of mine to tutor you. It seems I can’t do anything about it since I tend to respect civilized people such as you.”

“That would be welcome, but I’d like to ask about your peculiar wordings.” Edward said, staring at the now seated Albert.

“Ah, that is right. I should tell you since you were most likely of age before. The thing is, there is a legend about a guardian beast of the Kyle household and a demi-god serving the Adams, albeit all but forgotten by any other than the house master and their next in line.” Albert said. “The beast is called Oilepheist, an Imoogi of great power that is said to have fought a god’s messenger for a day and a night. The demi-god is called Cu Chulainn, the son-“

His words were cut off by Edward, who surely knew better than the man. “Sun god Lugh, user of Gae Bulg.”

“Gae Bulg? What is that?” Albert asked, raising his eyebrow.

“It’s a legendary weapon said to kill with a single hit.” Edward answered.

“Is this possible? To be reincarnated in the same world. For all I am aware of the Empress is rumored to be from a world with better technology. Then again, there is the emperor of the dynasty that is from a world with a strange energy he is spreading about. But as per…” He mumbled to himself for about five minutes, shaking his head occasionally.

Edward looked at the window, and noticed something rather peculiar. It was midday, yet the sun was on the horizon. This was most likely bad.

“There is another sun, if I’m right.” Edward pointed at the window, a smirk appearing on Albert’s face.

“[Mana Barrier Activation]” Albert said, prickling his index finger and letting the blood drip on a metal disk.

A gentle blue wall of transparent light rose up slowly, enveloping the entire mansion, along with its grounds. It seemed as if hundreds of hexagonal figures made it up, darker blue colored vein-like things separating it.

“[Support: Tough Exterior], [Arcane Blood Integration]” Casted Albert, still letting the blood drip into the disk. It then evaporated, creating an impossible amount of steam that then travelled out the window to join the barrier, slowly changing its color to red.

The invisible man from before appeared at Albert’s side, bowing. “What are your orders, my lord?”

“We’ll engage the enemy in our home field. I don’t believe that old monster would be stopped by this. And Pallas, I don’t think I can take on both Flora and him. Summon Iseult. The underground tunnel to the north is open.”

The recipient had already disappeared, on his way to summon the person known as ‘Iseult’.

“So is this some kind of war?” Edward asked, surprised. Wars aren’t supposed to happen this easily. It should start by an assassination or the like and then both sides start sending troops. But in this world, it seems like the presence of these monstrous people has changed their psyche over a millennia, making charging upfront the most common way. This was just ridiculously stupid. Who even charges shining as bright as a sun? And who is ready to cast some really strong barrier spells at a moment’s notice.

Edward concluded it as: his common sense wouldn’t work in a world like this where lives are cheaper than dirt.

Not betraying Edward’s expectation, the said sun crashed into the barrier, but surprisingly it bounced right back, as if a ball hit a wall. The sun dimmed considerably, the figure of a male emerging from it.

“Albert, give me my grandchild!” The man’s voice resonated thorough the town, as loud as a lightning strike.

“Oh, excuse me. I thought he went by ‘cursed child’ in your household!” Albert shouted back, flying through the air and floating right before the man.

“Give him to me, or face the wrath of god!” The man threatened, creating a giant sword made of light, most likely solid. “You know you can’t face me, yet why do you bother?”

“Ahaha, such big words from an old fool who is scared of his own daughter.” Albert spit back.

“Your arrogance knows no bounds. Now, FACE JUDGEMENT! [JUDGEMENT BLADE]!” The man said, swinging it down.

Albert merely chuckled, taking on the blade that cut through the barrier not unlike a warm knife through butter. Surprisingly, he punched it away with his bare hands, knocking it off course.

“Well shit, even mages are this violent.” Edward mumbled to himself, watching the fight like it was the best form of entertainment. In a way, it was. Or rather, it was better than all the movies he ever watched. If only he could watch from a better angle.

“What’s wrong, father? It seems your blade has gone lukewarm.” Albert mocked the man, resulting in a maddening charge. He merely stared at him with cold eyes, shooting him down with what appeared to be… a gun?

Edward’s eyes opened wide as he stared at the antique gun in his father’s hand, with a wooden handle and the figure of an animal made from iron. It was just like what pirates used in movies.

“You should know, the Empress has bestowed upon me a title. And with it a weapon, no?” He said, the man reverting back to his original form of a frail old man, too old to be even living anymore. “And you should know without faith, you are nothing but a puny old man. It seems it just ran out before you hit me.”

Then he proceeded to incinerating the body of the old man, staring at the far distance with a wide smile

“Geez, if he tried to stop his daughter, he might have won. Well, not my problem. I wonder if she got stronger.”

Lightning stroke right behind Albert as he turned his back, the sky instantly covered in dark clouds. The form of an azure haired woman appeared from the striking point, the woman Edward recognized as his mother.

“Ah, Flora, my love. It seems you are here to see how our child has grown.” Albert said, the smile never leaving his face.

“Don’t play innocent. Where is my father?” Flora asked, clutching her hands tight.

“It seems he was fed up with you killing his oh so precious servants, and decided to kill you. I just happened to stop him from harming my wife.” Albert explained nonchalantly, a blatant lie leaving his mouth.

“[Thunderstorm]” Flora said, the clouds above crackling and countless lightning bolts raining down from the sky, destroying everything in its wake. “You shall pay for your crimes!”

“My only crime is brainwashing the guardian beast, just as you’ve devoured the demi-god’s power.” He said, the ground quaking beneath his feet as a giant worm no appeared, no thinner than 10 meters and infinite lengths, its body flying in the air graciously and fending off the countless lightning.

A spear appeared in Flora’s hand, an ornate spear, the tip as long as a human torso and the handle thrice the size. It burdened her movement as she charged towards Albert, answered by two shots, one hitting her shoulder and the other missing.

Albert’s flight speed looked sluggish compared to Flora’s, albeit burdened by the giant spear. In her desperate attempt, she threw it at Albert, aiding its movement with a piece of earth. Edward easily moved aside from the trajectory, dodging in the process.

“I thought you could control metal. Why not control this weapon of mine or the spear?” Albert mockingly asked as he danced through the lightning strikes. As Edward’s sight turned to the town which was being destroyed by the battle, he noticed it was unscathed. As if an invisible barrier had enveloped it.

“None of your business!” She shouted, flying towards Edward. Albert’s speed wasn’t remarkable by any means, losing his child to the wretch.

Edward’s eyes widened as he fell down onto his butt, watching the giant ball of blue flame appear above his mother’s hand. All the while Albert hastily tried to reach him.

In his desperate moment, he charged up all his mana into a single shot, not caring about the consequences.

“[Zauberei Pfeil]!”

He was sent back from the recoil, his body breaking through the concrete and hitting his head. Edward’s eyes closed, falling into the gentle embrace of darkness.

Flora’s eyes widened as she stared at her body, her chest pierced with what appeared to be his father’s solar blade. Even with the mage armor and the arcane blood, her defenses weren’t enough. The ball in her hand disappeared as a bullet travelled right through her head, from behind.

“Well, well. Look at that. He even killed a Magus. That is quite startling.” Albert remarked as he noticed the gaping hole that had taken away most of Flora’s chest. His eyes opened wide. “He might actually be a blessed child instead. But it seems he is suffering from mana exhaustion. Well, he wouldn’t mind wasting a few years anyways.”