CHAPTER 2: A Burden Accepted

The man paid little attention to what Yiren was saying. His focus quickly shifted to something else—or rather, to the small child cradled in Yiren's arms. He approached with a wide grin and exclaimed with excitement,

"Adorable! You actually did it during these three years? And here I thought we'd remain bachelors together forever, you traitor!"

Yiren instinctively took a step back, a clear look of disgust on his face. "Did what exactly? Don't be an idiot. This isn't my child. He's Henry's son. Just look at him—how hideous he is!"

The man's expression changed dramatically. His jaw dropped in sheer shock as he stared back and forth between the child and Yiren, trying to process the revelation. After a long moment of stunned silence, he shrieked,

"You kidnapped their kid?! Oh gods, you're completely insane! Henry—as in Henry from the academy?!" He continued to scream in panic.

Yiren gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to explode. Everything was falling apart around him—his meticulous plans for revenge, his dreams of justice done his own way, and even the perfect scenario he had imagined during those long three years imprisoned in the tower. And now, above all that, he had to deal with this imbecile!

"I didn't kidnap anyone!" he finally snapped, his voice erupting like a long-suppressed volcano. "Henry is dead. Henry and Janet. They left behind nothing but this child. They trusted—well, they knew how kind-hearted I am. They left him in my care because they knew I wouldn't kill him. Because I'm such a gentle, nurturing soul and—"

He was abruptly cut off as the man lifted a hand in a halting gesture, saying mockingly

"Alright, alright, enough! We get it. You're the poster child for sainthood. Now, tell me—why have you come here? You certainly didn't come because you missed me. If that's the case, the end of the world must be near."

Strangely enough, Yiren laughed proudly, as if the man's sarcastic comment had somehow added another feather to his cap. Without missing a beat, he thrust the small child toward him and said with utmost seriousness "Magnus, help me raise this thing. I have no idea how to care for children."

Magnus arched an eyebrow, replying in an equally grave tone "Of course! I'll help you raise him until he grows up, gets married, has children of his own... and we'll watch him become a happy old grandfather."

Yiren almost moved to thank him—until Magnus delivered a powerful kick to his shin, causing him to nearly lose his balance. "Did you really think I'd say that, you idiot?!" Magnus shouted. "They trusted you because you're 'good.' I, however, am not cursed with such virtues!"

Yiren, without missing a beat, retaliated with a sharp kick of his own, sending Magnus crashing across the room and smashing into a table.

After their usual bout of chaos, the two eventually sat down, attempting—if only nominally—to talk like civilized beings.

"Alright..." Yiren said, glancing at the child thoughtfully. "I'll handle feeding him. You... you will be on diaper duty. Non-negotiable."

Magnus looked at him, aghast, before crying out "What?! Me?! The genius Magnus, reduced to changing diapers? Have you lost your mind?!"

Yiren sighed heavily, patting Magnus's head as though speaking to another, much larger child "Yes, yes. You're a genius. I'm the most powerful sorcerer. And yet, here we are. Think of it as training for when you inevitably have a child of your own one day."

"What? Who said anything about me getting married?!" Magnus barked back indignantly.

Their bickering continued for a while, each trying desperately to shove the responsibility onto the other.

Finally, Magnus slumped back in his chair, pressing his hand to his forehead as if bearing an unbearable burden "Fine, fine... I'll do it. But I don't work for free, you know that. What's in it for me, my dear old friend?"

Yiren smirked, as if he'd been expecting that question all along. He extended his hand into the air—and with a flick of his fingers, a giant diamond, the size of an ostrich egg, materialized. It shimmered brilliantly, casting a rainbow of colors in the light.

Magnus's eyes widened in pure greed as he stared at the gemstone. Without a second thought, he snatched it from Yiren's hand.

"Ahh... You know me too well. I knew this friendship would pay off someday!"

He darted off to one of his bizarre contraptions, fiddling eagerly. Yiren watched him with a sly glint in his eyes, before an idea sparked.

"Hey Magnus, why don't you invent a diaper-changing machine?"

Magnus froze mid-tinker. He turned around so quickly that he almost tripped over his own feet, a wide, manic grin spreading across his face.

"A diaper-changing machine... Genius! I'll start immediately!"

He waved Yiren away with a hasty motion, as though shooing an annoying fly. Yiren shot him a look of disdain.

"Hmph.." Yiren grumbled, before turning and exiting the house.

All the while, the small child, Cardian, was fast asleep in Yiren's arms, lost in dreams of his own.