<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 155>
Monday morning.
After washing Spring for the first time in a while, I bring her to kindergarten.
Spring’s face in the car looks less than thrilled. She has been throwing tantrums all morning because she doesn’t want to go to kindergarten after such a long break, and she got scolded sharply by grandma.
Glancing at the passenger seat, our Spring’s cheeks are red. She must be pretty upset.
“…I hate grandma.”
“Grandma is only thinking about what’s best for Spring.”
“…But… Spring wants to stay with Dad.”
I can’t help but laugh.
We’ve been together all weekend.
I was too lazy to move, and Spring was rolling around on my stomach.
The living room was filled with scattered toy blocks, and we watched so many cartoons that the theme songs keep playing in my head like an earworm.
But we ate well. I almost ordered food, but Jin Yu-ri came by with a knowing smile, saying, “I knew this would happen,” and brought us plenty of food.
That girl has great sense.
Despite all this, Spring, who became my little shadow this weekend, still seems unsatisfied.
Finally arriving in front of the kindergarten.
After briefly greeting the usual moms, I crouch down in front of Spring.
“…I’ll be back.”
“Pay attention in class, play well with friends, and eat a lot.”
“Okay…”
Spring looks lethargic.
Lethargic Spring… is cute.
“I’ll come pick you up when kindergarten is over.”
“…R, really!”
Spring’s gloomy eyes light up instantly.
“Will Dad come pick me up today?”
“Of course!”
“Really? Are you sure? Is that a promise?!”
“Really! Totally sure! It’s a promise!!”
It’s obvious that I would come pick her up, but Spring acts like this is a present.
It’s obvious…
d*mn…
I should stop going for a while. I feel so bad for her.
I can’t rest feeling like this.
I have to prepare that surprise a bit earlier. I need to get home quickly.
I immediately headed back home and went to the lab.
Setting everything else aside, this trip to Japan has brought me quite a few personal gifts.
Shall I recap?
“First, information on Japan’s famous bloodlines.”
Still, why do I have to come in person for them to share it with me… anyway, let’s omit that.
Actually, this was a favor for Mother for my disciple Song Saebyeok, intending to properly teach her about another bloodline she possesses—Oni.
Though bloodline information has immense value, it’s never easy to utilize it.
First of all, don’t you need to inherit the bloodline?
Because of the bloodline’s innate exclusivity, it’s often useless.
However, from Mother’s perspective, this deal allowed her to identify the weaknesses of the bloodlines and potentially use them as leverage.
But…
“The situation has changed.”
A way to utilize this information has arisen.
With Japan in this state, the bloodline information has unintentionally become significant.
“An unintended gain.”
In the basement lab, an almost gym-sized space.
Originally used as the underground training hall, it was emptied at my request. Instead, it’s completely filled with…
Corpses.
Corpses of Archangels and Saviors with white wings.
Second gain.
Corpses of Archangels and Saviors. To be exact, ‘Archangels and Saviors who were stuffed full of bloodlines.’
Though dead, the bloodline information remains.
Of course, the amount of information that can be obtained from a corpse is extremely limited. If we’re lucky, deciphering it is enough.
In this case, it’s different.
Aren’t there a lot? An overwhelming number, in fact.
Just like multiplying 0.1% by 1000 results in 100%, with this much quantity, even an infinitesimal amount of information can create something whole.
It’s definitely not impossible.
And if I restructure the information into a complete bloodline…
“To give to Spring.”
Why else would I go through all the trouble of collecting these corpses? It was all to give Spring a present.
Of course, there is something to consider here.
Spring already contains sixteen bloodlines, excluding that of the Sword Master, and is only stabilized by the ‘Fruit of Harmony’ from Yggdrasil.
Adding more bloodlines would be insane. Would I, as a father, do something like that to my precious child?
“There’s always a way.”
While I’m at it, I might as well get to work.
This is not a gift that will be completed in a day or two anyway.
“Berrie, come here.”
“Meow~!(Yes, Dad).”
Berrie, who had been watching me from the desk, goes out and soon brings back a slime much larger than her own body.
Puff puff.
A container that can hold anything—the infinite vessel.
Behold ‘Porisil’ from Spring’s Dragon Armor.
“Eat this.”
Puff puff.
Porisil slowly moves and swallows an Archangel.
A short while later, Porisil trembles slightly. Its soft surface repeatedly expands and contracts as it steadily digests the Archangel.
Using Porisil to absorb the Archangels, I plan to refine the information, collect the purest fragment of the bloodline, and gradually pass it on to Spring.
You could call this preparation for Spring’s future.
“By the time Spring is twenty, she’ll have digested all the bloodlines here.”
How satisfying.
Let me deal with this for now and move on to the third point.
The third gain consists of items lined up on one side of the cabinet—statues, mysterious books, chunky-looking necklaces, and brooches with red jewels.
Among them, there’s something extremely familiar.
An iron armor and a mace.
It was the Holy Armor and Holy Weapon worn by the Pierced High Priest.
Exactly.
Everything here is a Holy Artefact, created by Celutis.
“Be it fanatic or idol, does it matter?”
Dynamite was originally created to help humanity in quarries and construction, wasn’t it? Human greed turned it into a lethal explosive.
Similarly, objects themselves bear no sin. It is the human using them who is problematic.
“Maybe I’ll modify one into something for Spring, or craft a weapon for Saebyeok…”
If it doesn’t work, I can always use it as material for creating Dragon Armor. Holy Artefacts are versatile.
“Alright, now for the last one.”
The protagonist always appears last.
As tremendous as the gains mentioned above were, nothing compares to this.
Snap!
With a crisp snap of my fingers, Hexagram Magic Circles form on the underground ceiling and floor, connecting to form a cylindrical space.
A prison made of Apocalypse.
The entity imprisoned here.
Alpha, which signifies the beginning, and Omega, which signals the end.
Though they are two, they are practically one. Omega is essentially a part of Alpha’s body.
In truth, Omega, in the form of an Archangel, sits there expressionlessly like a soul-less figure while Alpha handles all the conversations.
“…What do you plan to do with me?”
Alpha, now transformed into a figure resembling a steel puppet.
That is Alpha’s true form. Returning to its original state while trapped in my mental world.
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“Human, allow me to relieve your troubles. Just release me. If you use me, I will grant you all the wealth and glory you desire.”
“…”
“Think rationally, Human. What benefit do you gain from eliminating me? Nothing. Neither gaining power nor enjoying wealth. Exposing my identity may grant you fleeting fame, but humans are creatures of forgetfulness. You’ll be forgotten in no time.”
“…”
“Your capture and containment of me must have been based on the following reasons. You possess power and are highly rational.”
“I am somewhat rational.”
“Yes. So, let’s team up…”
“How can I reasonably alter you so that Spring might like it?”
“…W…What?”
I’m also bewildered by the dumbfounded expression on your face.
“Why are you surprised? Surely you weren’t expecting me to leave you alone?”
“Wh…?!”
“Listen, there’s an old saying.”
People are to be reformed, not discarded.
“If that applies to people, what more for a monster like you.”
“No! I am no mere monster!”
“And what is it you aren’t? You’ve eaten humans.”
Once a monster tastes human flesh, it will inevitably seek it out again. That is the fastest way to grow, after all.
Alpha initially rages at my words but then gives in to disappointment and resignation.
Look at you. You act like a fox.
I can’t help but smirk.
“Drop the pretense. I know you plan to deceive once you’re freed.”
I’m sitting on top of your head.
A creature who escaped from Gigant’s grasp. There’s no law against it doing the same thing again.
But I intend to give you to Spring as a present,
“I’m not as malleable as Gigant. He could tolerate it because it was all part of his ‘fun’, but I am different.”
My stake lies in Spring. I can’t tolerate any risk.
A towering figure reveals itself behind me and roughly seizes Alpha.
Then,
“Let’s start with cleaning that dirty soul.”
“…!!”
The giant, a giant the size of a house,
has engulfed Alpha’s head within its body.
Kkuaaaakkk-!!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Tick-tock.
With every movement of the thin hour hand, Spring’s heart beats faster.
3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second.
Finally, the class is over!!
Hooray~!
Spring rushes out first.
Though the teacher calls out to be careful, it’s too late. Sorry, teacher. Spring is in a real hurry right now.
Shoes are quickly slipped on. Spring’s dainty feet are firmly placed inside.
Dad is waiting beyond that door.
I’m sure of it. Can’t you already smell him? Spring knows her dad better than anyone.
“See you tomorrow, teacher!”
With a cute bow, Spring pushes the door open and dashes out.
Thump thump thump-!!
“Dad!”
“Spring!”
Spring runs into Dad’s embrace all at once.
It feels like I’m flying.
It’s not just a feeling; it’s because I’m already halfway in the air. Gigantic Park Ki-hyuk has lifted Spring so high.
Of course.
“Dad is the best!”
“Is Dad the best?”
“Yeah, Dad is always the best for Spring.”
Happy. Spring in Dad’s embrace.
Dad’s comforting scent envelops me. The best. It feels like I possess the entire world.
Yet, there’s a saying: there’s a higher heaven above the sky.
Even greater happiness came when Park Bom grabbed Dad’s hand and opened the door.
“Wha…! Whoa!!”
What on earth is this?! What’s happening?!
In front of Park Bom are Angels. They are not just spoken-of Angels; they have real white wings.
And there’s not one, but two! Two of them!
Spring, who can’t believe it, keeps rubbing her eyes. Yes, they’re definitely Angels resembling Angel Tiger!
Spring beams at Dad with sparkling eyes.
“Is this my present? Say it’s true, please! Begging you!”
Park Ki-hyuk smiles.
“I said, didn’t I? Expect it! From now on, these guys are your ‘wings’.”
“KYAAAAHHH!!!”
Park Bom rushes into Park Ki-hyuk’s arms.
“I’ve wings now! When I grab a sword, I’ll be an Angel Dragon too!”
“Hey, I’ll make you a sword soon.”
“Really?!”
“Really!”
“Is that true!? Did we promise?”
“Totally! We promised!!”
“KYAAH! Dad!”
Cupcupcup.
A series of lip punches follow.
Too overwhelming, Park Ki-hyuk collapses unconsciously on the ground.
“Do you like it, Spring?”
“Yes! Very much!”
“Because you like it, Dad likes it too.”
“Hehe. I like it even more!!”
Spring smiles widely.
If she’s not an Angel, who is? She’s on a completely different level than the Angel-like dolls in front of her.
“Ugh! No good. I have to get up. We can’t stay here all day.”
“If I’m with Dad, Spring is fine.”
“…Spring has grown stronger while I wasn’t looking.”
“Hehe.”
“But it’s still not allowed. You need to wash your hands and eat dinner. But after you’ve finished eating, I’ll teach you how to use your ‘wings’.”
“Yes! I want to do it.”
Park Bom sticks to Park Ki-hyuk’s broad back like glue.
No sign of letting go.
…
…
<Spring's Diary>
Spring loves Dad.
Dad gave me a present, which I love too.
We play together, and because it’s Dad, I love it.
As long as I am with Dad, everything is good.
Spring thinks Dad is the best ever.
-The End-
*
Meanwhile, Song Saebyeok is lying in bed lost in thought when…
– Saebyeok, how are you?
A call today during lunch. The caller was her master, Park Ki-hyuk.
She was glad to hear from him.
After all, she wondered if her involvement had caused trouble with Japan. Learning everything was fine relieved Song Saebyeok greatly.
However, the controversial statement came next.
– You once said you wanted to show them, right? The ones who abandoned your parents…
“I will make those who abandoned my father and mother see clearly. I will show them how strong the children they abandoned have become.”
– Leave some time tomorrow. I’ll show you how sweet revenge can be.
Revenge.
The time of revenge…
That night, Song Saebyeok spent her time wide awake.
