Chapter 3.20 - Wednesday, July 20th, 1.58pm
By the time we returned before 2pm, I find that man from afar.
He's on the front yard, lying on his back as he gazes on the cloudy sky.
He looks so relaxed.
…Just like dad.
"Oh… you've returned." He murmured.
He notices us as soon as Dómr went near to him.
I wondered why he had a shadow figure of dad…
"I'm hungry. Go cook for me." He demanded.
Jumping down from Dómr's back, I glared at him with an annoyed look.
"…Go cook it yourself." I retorted.
"Fine then, if you will excuse me… it's time for charcoal lunch then."
I wondered why he pisses me off so much.
"Fine, fine! You win!" I uttered.
Geez, I had a headache.
……………………………………………
Dining room.
"Here."
CLACK.
"You gotta be kidding me." He murmured while looking away with a pouted look. "I don't want cup noodles!"
For some reason, he acts like a spoiled child.
"Can't help it, that was the fastest meal I could prepare." I retorted.
"Gragh… fine! S— S— S— SLURPPPPP…"
Sitting on the chair opposite of him as I watch, with the chopsticks, he's shoving the noodles into his mouth while sipping the soup at the same time.
"Phuwah…!"
CLACK.
Finishing the cup noodles, he places the bowl on the table, with his mouth covered with soup and a small piece of spring onion, dirty like a kid.
"Here."
With the handkerchief I got from the cabinet, I throw it to his face.
"Thanks, kid."
Wiping off the stain on his face, he folds it neatly and places it on the table.
…That habit feels just like dad.
"Phew, as expected from Lucione's son. You really know what to add to make it delicious."
"……!"
…He said my dad's name.
It's as if he noticed the twitch on my cheek, he sits back and folds his arms.
…Those eyes.
He's carefully accessing the situation.
"Alright then… I said it didn't I?" He murmured. "Since I know you had tons of questions in mind, so let's take it easy with each other, okay?"
I nod my head.
He then gives a gesture, saying 'You first'.
What should I ask…?
There's no point asking him where my parents are. If he knows, he would've already looked for them himself.
Alright then… here goes.
"…I want a detailed introduction about yourself."
Somehow, he made a grin.
"…How troublesome." He said. "Because of various reasons, I can't tell you my name— you could call me 'principal'. I'm 37, but I think I look younger than that. As you can see, I had Amnesia a few days back and had just completely recovered this morning. I'm a human, and my blood type is 'N+'. I was born with a genetic disorder known as 'Albinism', that's why I had white hair in this age. If you dare call me a 'White Rabbit', I will seriously strangle you right on this very spot."
…this explains his white hair.
From his swift introduction, it seems like there's no problem with his memory.
"My turn, then." He murmured. "…What is your dad's full name?"
"……?"
I was surprised by his question.
Didn't he know my dad…? Why is he asking this for…?
"Listen here, brat. You just need to answer, okay?" He muttered. "I just recovered from Amnesia, and I need time to rearrange my memories. Now speak."
"Lucione Nightwalker von Nightmare," I answered.
"Hmm… I see."
With that, he places his fingers below his chin, as if he's thinking.
Feeling curious, I then place my hands on the table.
"What is my father to you?"
"He's… an important friend, a comrade, and a rival. What is your mother's full maiden name?"
He's asking for my mother's full maiden name instead. Seems like he even knew my mother, too.
"EveTwo P. N. Transcend."
"…I see."
He's not surprised by my mother's name. Then this could only mean he knew both of my parents.
"Did you come here by accident, or because of my father?"
"…Both."
"……What exactly happened?" I inadvertently murmured.
"Hmm… where should I start…… Sigh, you might as well listen closely."
Saying that, he scratches his head.
"Okay…?"
"Six days ago— I received a message from your father." He said. "I forgot what he wrote, but that message had a time limit, so it was deleted shortly afterwards."
It's evident that he remembers what was written. He's just hiding it for my sake because I'm just a kid.
"Since it felt like an emergency, I immediately rode my private jet to the country nearest from this island."
"You were going to teleport from there…?"
"Originally, yes. However, I was ambushed by six elite spies from an enemy's country, disguised as my close aides. I wasn't aware of it because of your father's message. Thus, I let down my guard and was drugged by poison, tied up and stabbed on the abdomen."
"You don't need to hide it. I already knew the enemies you said of— they are from the Regalia Empire."
"Ah… because of the knife, huh." He muttered. "It's because of that disgusting knife, my magic was sealed…"
BAM!
All of a sudden, he smashed his fist on the table with a pained look.
"Those bastards killed my pilot right in front of my eyes… I will never forgive them…!!!"
"…Calm down", I said.
Hearing that, he slowly retreats his fist and backs away.
"…Before they escaped, they set my jet into auto-pilot mode, allowing it to steer directly into the 'Bermuda Triangle' region."
"How did you escape…?"
"They left the door open. I could only crawl my way out towards the exit before the jet crashes."
"How did you survive from drowning?"
"I just happen to find a dagger right at the bottom of the ocean."
"…You gotta be kidding me. How long have you sunk!?"
"Not sure. Maybe around half an hour but I'm sure it's not that deep."
He's definitely not normal at all.
"By the time I cut off the retrains on my hands, a sea monster just happened to bump me by accident, that's why I was unconscious." He said. "As I woke up, I just happen to find you, your little sister and that hungry-looking wolf."
"This means… you had Amnesia after that sea monster bumped you…?"
"Hitting the right spot on the head could be lethal, brat. Not to mention Amnesia."
"You are just unlucky enough to have Amnesia right at that moment…?" I said.
"…seems like it."
He then folded his arms, shifting his gaze onto the bowl, looking annoyed and disappointed.
He's annoyed and disappointed because he's testing me, and I know that. But I couldn't figure out the purpose and reason for his test.
So, first things first.
"Erm… I know it might be late asking this… but from where did you came from…?"
"Hmm?"
It's as if I managed to pique his interest, he immediately lifts his head to look at me.
"Where, you say? From the place your father likes the most." He added.
"You mean, you are from Central Imperial Island…?"
"That's right."
It's just as what Dómr assumed. But come to think of it, I don't know any of dad's friends except Mattanarafa's parents.
"Why are you testing me…? Could it be you actually had a status high enough to persuade the king of Central Imperial Island…?"
"Oh… well done noticing it." He said. "I know what your concern is— and yes, indeed. To enter Central Imperial Island, you need permission from the king. As for my status, I will only tell you after the test."
He then places his hands on the table, staring at me with a serious look.
"Tell me, how did you know I was testing you? Is there something wrong with my statement? I think I said it perfectly."
"There's nothing wrong with your statement," I replied. "I can understand drugging and tying you since you are so powerful… However, why is there a need to stab you on the abdomen while not killing you straight off the bat…?"
"Good point. Then, what do you think about that?"
"Erm… You claimed that they were 'elite' spies, not normal spies."
"Okay…?"
"Since you claimed it as such, this means there really are six spies from the Regalia Empire— unknown people, successfully infiltrating into Central Imperial Island. They are spies, their jobs are mainly classified into two— information gathering or assassination."
"… That's right. The reason why they could infiltrate is because of the event we have every year— and that is known as the
It seems if I'm correct, he will tell me the answer.
"I see," I murmured. "The reason why six of them could infiltrate into your personal jet at the same time is that because they are using your close aides' appearance and their numbers as a blind spot."
"Hmm… what do you mean?"
"They are your close aides— this also means you knew them well enough inside out. If there's only one spy hiding among them, I think either of you could easily find out. But if it's six of them at the same time, you might be thinking you are not feeling well today."
"Haha, if it's isn't for that one sip of drugged coffee that paralysed me, I wouldn't realise that all six of them are spies. This is really a bold and nasty move."
I'm surprised. How could he laugh at a time like this when Central Imperial Island is at a crisis…?
"What's wrong? Go on." He said.
"…If it's assassination, there's no point to infiltrate your private jet. They could've just blown up your jet at the centre of the ocean. This means what they want is gathering information by interrogation. And that person is none other than you, who owns a high status in Central Imperial Island."
"Unfortunately, my mouth is so tight-lipped that they did not get anything— so they killed my pilot in front of me since he doesn't have any useful information. I had no choice, so I need to stall them for about twenty minutes or so."
"Because the flight course is heading towards 'Bermuda Triangle'…?"
"At a time like that, that's the only choice I could come up with." He murmured. "They forgot to kill me because they are leaving in a hurry— and since my arms and legs are restrained behind me, I had no choice but to crawl my way out to the emergency door in that shaking jet. That fall is really scary…"
…I could only feel pity for him, and nothing else.
"Then…? You fell into the sea and sunk to the bottom of the ocean?" I said.
"Yup. I thought I was going to die— until I managed to find a really sharp dagger just right under my hand at the last minute."
"Ah… I guess you were lucky, then. That dagger was mine."
"Yours…? You are the one who dropped that dagger? Man, you are a lifesaver— this must be fate, huh."
"But… I don't understand."
"About what?"
"Your body is injected with seven types of poison— and they are deadly. How is it possible for a human to survive that long…?"
"You know, my body is born special. As long as the poison that doesn't kill me within less than an hour, my body would gradually become immune to it. If you didn't remove the excess poison, I would've died sooner or later."
"…Who exactly are you…? Not only magic… even martial arts, swordsmanship and even your strength… you are probably even stronger than my dad…!"
"HUH?"
Perhaps I said something wrong— for some reason, he glares at me.
"……………"
I couldn't help but flinch.
"…I thought I mentioned before. He's a rival to me."
"But… even if mom and dad's mana were to add up… it's not even half of yours…"
"Data are just data, brat. Your dad is a rival whom I could never beat no matter how hard I try. Understood?"
Yeah, I understood now.
"This means all that mana you have is just for show…"
His forehead popped a vein.
"…OI. YOU WANT ME TO STRANGLE YOU TO DEATH RIGHT NOW?"
"Ugh, did I say something wrong…!?"
"YOU AIN'T WORTH A THING WHEN YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO ME, YOU STUPID BRAT…!"
"Eh… Then I'm glad I'm not you instead." I retorted.
"……………"
He seems to be surprised by my remark.
"After all, I don't want to have an old man's white hair like yours," I added.
"……YOU ARE PISSING ME OFF." He uttered.
"Urk, but I'm just telling the truth…"
Seeming to have gotten a headache, he places his hand on his temple as he furrows his brow and grits his teeth in anger.
"Endure me, endure… he's just a stupid kid… he's just a stupid kid…!"
You don't have to say it twice.
"…I can hear you loud and clear, you know. And if I really am stupid, you would've died on that beach long ago."
Somehow, he heaved a sigh with an exhausted look.
"…you really are Lucione's son." He muttered. "Though I really hate to admit it, you passed with flying colours."
"You mean—"
"A-Ah." He extended his hand, stopping me from making my assumptions. "Only you."
"W-Why…!? What about my little sister— what about Ruby and the others!?"
"Central Imperial Island doesn't need mediocre peoples. However, I will make an exception if you make a deal with me, brat."
"If it means to help them, I will do it!"
"Oh…? I will take it as a deal, then."
At that time, I deeply regretted my rash decision to accept his deal.
After staring at his evil-looking grin, then and only then, I realised.
"…Hold it. 'I' will make an exception…?" I inadvertently muttered. "Wait— don't tell me— you are—"
When I realised, I had already backed away with the chair I'm sitting on, sticking at the wall.
"… That's right, brat."
It's as if the song of an orchestra is reaching its end, the man, who claimed himself as 'principal' gracefully stood up at some point.
I will never forget the words he said afterwards...
"As the King of Central Imperial Island, I hereby congratulate the birth of the future king candidate— Lucifer Nightwalker von Nightmare."
...with a graceful bow.