Martha was shocked to hear that question.
She lowered her head.
Martha: "No... I don't hate you."
She looked at Arman.
Martha: "Why did you ask me that?"
Arman remained silent for a moment.
Arman: "When you injected your Mana into me, I felt your emotions."
His expression became slightly sad.
Arman: "And I realized that you weren't happy to see me here."
Martha's eyes became teary.
Martha: "Forgive me, Arman."
Her voice trembled.
Martha: "You're just a child. I shouldn't have felt this way toward you."
Tears began rolling down Martha's cheeks.
Arman looked at her silently.
Martha took a deep breath.
Martha: "I have a daughter. Her name is Reina. She's twenty years old."
She wiped her tears.
Martha: "She worked her whole life to become the Dragon Berserker. She sacrificed everything for it."
Arman suddenly remembered something.
A memory from the day he had visited the Alan household.
He remembered a young girl staring at him from above.
Martha continued.
Martha: "She was devastated when the Dragon Orb didn't choose her."
Her voice became heavier.
Martha: "As her mother, I was angry when I saw you yesterday."
She paused.
Martha: "I don't know when that anger turned into hatred."
Martha lowered her head.
Martha: "But when I saw you suffering today, I realized something."
She looked at Arman.
Martha: "It's not your fault."
Her tears continued to fall.
Martha: "You never wanted any of this to happen to you."
She clasped her hands together.
Martha: "So... please forgive me."
Nina, who had also been listening to their conversation, gently grabbed Arman's hand and looked at him.
Arman looked back at her.
After a moment, he turned toward Martha.
Arman: "Auntie..."
Martha looked at him.
Arman: "Should I call you Auntie?"
Martha nodded.
Arman smiled faintly.
Arman: "Yesterday, when I came into this house, I had many questions in my mind."
He lowered his gaze.
Arman: "And I still have many questions that remain unanswered."
He looked at Martha.
Arman: "But there was one thing I already knew."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Arman: "I'm a member of this family."
Martha's eyes widened slightly.
Arman: "You're a mother who watched her daughter's years of hard work disappear."
He paused.
Arman: "And then someone who didn't even know what any of this was got chosen in her place."
Arman smiled gently.
Arman: "If I were in your place, I would've felt the same way."
Martha's eyes became even more teary.
Arman: "So please don't blame yourself."
He scratched the back of his head.
Arman: "And you know... I've always wanted an older sister who could guide me."
He smiled.
Arman: "I really want to meet her now."
Then his expression became playful.
Arman: "Although, my little sister is kind of a jerk to me."
Martha couldn't help but smile through her tears.
Nina smiled as well and handed Martha a handkerchief.
Martha gently wiped her tears.
Outside the room, someone was standing silently.
It was Reina.
She had been listening to their entire conversation.
Reina lowered her head.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Meet me.
I'm excited for us to meet.
She clenched her fist.
Then she quietly left for her room.
A FEW HOURS LATER
It was Herald's turn.
He began injecting his Mana into Arman.
Unlike Martha, Arman didn't experience any negative emotions from Herald.
The two remained silent throughout the entire process.
Nina was still sitting beside Arman, silently assuring him with her presence.
After several hours, it was Audrey's turn.
Audrey began injecting his Mana into Arman.
Suddenly—
Arman: "AHHHHH!"
Arman's body violently trembled.
Audrey's eyes widened.
He immediately stopped for a moment, confused.
He had been doing everything exactly as the physician had instructed.
Audrey: "What's happening?"
Nina immediately rushed to call the physician.
The physicians, who had been standing by, quickly entered the room.
After hearing Arman's screams, Herald rushed into the room.
Martha followed closely behind him.
The physician immediately began examining Arman's body.
After a brief examination, he looked toward Audrey.
Physician: "Don't stop injecting your Mana."
Audrey nodded and continued.
The physician carefully examined Arman's condition.
After several moments, they finally reached a conclusion.
Physician: "His heart and mind are rejecting the Mana."
Herald's expression became serious.
Physician: "His Berserker Aura is acting as a shield, preventing the Mana from passing through."
Herald clenched his fists.
Herald: "So what? We let him suffer through this until his body reforms?"
He looked toward Arman.
Herald: "He'll die from the pain before that happens!"
Martha suddenly spoke.
Martha: "What if the three of us combine our Mana and send it through him?"
She looked toward the physician.
Martha: "Surely that could help."
The physician shook his head.
Physician: "You could try, but it's extremely risky."
His expression became serious.
Physician: "Even the smallest mistake could cause an enormous backlash. We're dealing with Berserker Aura."
Nina suddenly stepped forward.
Nina: "What if I help too?"
Herald looked at her.
Herald: "Nina, you have little to no Mana. You could die."
Nina shook her head.
Nina: "Sir, please let me help."
She looked at Arman.
Nina: "I can't watch the Young Master suffer like this anymore."
Herald looked at Nina.
Then he looked at his grandson, who was still suffering in pain.
After a moment, Herald nodded.
He allowed Nina to join them.
Herald: "What do we have to do?"
The physician answered.
Physician: "Place your palms against his chest and send your Mana into his heart in sync."
He paused.
Physician: "Once the Mana reaches his heart, move it toward his brain."
They all followed the physician's instructions.
Slowly, they managed to break through the shield preventing the Mana from reaching Arman's heart.
The moment they did...
A massive wave of emotions rushed through them.
They felt Arman's emotions.
His pain.
His loneliness.
His anger.
His happiness.
Everything he had experienced.
They could feel what Arman felt toward them.
And what he felt toward everyone else.
Then they began sending their Mana toward his brain.
Suddenly, Herald noticed something.
Nina's Mana was becoming weaker.
He opened his eyes and looked at her.
Herald: "Nina, remove your hands!"
Nina continued.
Herald: "You'll die!"
Blood suddenly began flowing from Nina's nose.
But she refused to stop.
She looked at Arman.
Her determination never wavered.
Herald stopped trying to convince her.
Instead, he focused on sending his Mana into Arman's body.
They poured everything they had into the process.
Finally—
BOOM!
They managed to break through the shield.
But the moment they did...
They saw something impossible.
Memories.
Arman's memories.
His entire past flashed before their eyes.
His childhood.
His parents.
His loneliness.
His struggles.
His pain.
Then—
A sudden light filled their minds.
Everything went black.
ALAN FAMILY CLINIC
Herald slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself lying on a bed.
Audrey and Martha were lying on nearby beds.
The maids of the Alan Family were tending to them.
Audrey suddenly grabbed his head.
Audrey: "AHH!"
He looked around in confusion.
Audrey: "Why are we here?"
Martha slowly opened her eyes.
Herald followed.
A maid approached them.
Alicia: "Sir, all of you fainted in the Young Master's room."
She lowered her head.
Alicia: "The physicians brought you here after examining all of you."
Alicia was one of the maids of the Alan Family.
Herald immediately sat up.
Herald: "How much time has passed since then?"
Alicia: "About an hour, sir."
Herald's expression changed.
Herald: "An hour?"
He immediately looked toward Alicia.
Herald: "What happened to my grandson?"
Alicia quickly reassured him.
Alicia: "Sir, please don't worry. The Young Master is fine now."
She smiled.
Alicia: "He's showing no signs of pain."
Martha immediately asked another question.
Martha: "What happened to Nina?"
Alicia walked toward one of the beds and lifted the curtain.
Nina was lying there.
She was still unconscious while one of the physicians examined her.
Herald, Audrey, and Martha immediately got out of their beds and approached her.
Audrey: "What happened to her? Is she in danger?"
The physician shook his head.
Physician: "No, sir. You don't have to worry. She'll make a full recovery in a few days."
He paused.
Physician: "But..."
Herald's expression hardened.
Herald: "What? Spit it out."
The physician lowered his head.
Physician: "She will never be able to use Mana again."
Everyone fell silent.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Herald looked at Nina.
His expression softened.
Herald: "I will never forget what you've done for us."
He clenched his fist.
Herald: "I will make sure you're repaid for this."
He looked toward the others.
Herald: "Let her recover."
He turned toward the door.
Herald: "Let's go. We should check on my grandson."
They left the clinic and headed toward Arman's room.
As they walked, Audrey looked at Herald.
Audrey: "Father... did you see his memories too?"
Herald's expression became heavy.
Herald: "Yes."
He looked ahead.
Herald: "No child should have to go through what he has been through."
Martha lowered her head.
She was still deeply affected by what she had seen in Arman's memories.
ARMAN'S ROOM
They arrived at Arman's room.
The moment they entered, they froze.
Arman was doing push-ups.
One of the physicians was desperately trying to stop him.
Physician: "Young Master, please stop! You're not supposed to be doing this yet!"
Arman continued.
They immediately noticed something different about him.
His body had changed.
He had become taller and more muscular.
Even his hair had grown longer somehow.
Herald's eyes widened.
Herald: "What are you doing?!"
Arman stopped and looked at him.
Herald: "Go and rest! You're not in any condition to do physical activities right now."
Arman stood up.
Arman: "It's fine. I'm feeling as good as new."
He looked around.
Arman: "By the way, where is Nina?"
Herald paused.
Herald: "She's fine. She'll recover in a few days."
Arman nodded.
Arman: "I see."
Herald looked toward the physicians.
Herald: "Leave us."
The physicians bowed and left the room.
Herald then looked at Arman.
Herald: "Sit down."
Arman sat.
Herald: "There's something we need to talk about."
Everyone sat down.
Herald took a deep breath.
Herald: "The reason I didn't visit you or your sister after your father's death was because of the portals."
Audrey nodded.
Audrey: "The portals to other universes only open once every fifteen years."
Herald continued.
Herald: "When the portal to your universe opened, the Dragon Orb flew straight to your universe and chose you."
He lowered his head.
Herald: "I had already learned about my son's death before the portal opened in your universe, with the help of the Order."
Arman remained silent.
Herald: "I was ashamed to face you."
His voice became heavy.
Herald: "And to be honest... I didn't want you or your sister to come into this world."
He looked at Arman.
Herald: "Because the things we do here bring nothing but death."
His voice trembled slightly.
Herald: "And I don't want—"
Audrey placed a hand on his father's shoulder and continued.
Audrey: "But when the Dragon Orb chose you, we were left with no choice but to bring you here."
Everyone looked at Arman.
Arman remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
Arman: "I know you were all trying to protect me."
His eyes softened.
Arman: "I sensed your emotions."
He lowered his head.
Arman: "Forgive me for doubting you."
Martha shook her head.
Martha: "No. You don't have to apologize."
She looked at Arman.
Martha: "We also saw your memories."
Arman's eyes widened.
Arman: "What?!"
Martha's expression became sorrowful.
Martha: "I can't even imagine how much you've suffered throughout your life."
She gently smiled.
Martha: "So please... don't hesitate to ask for help."
Her voice softened.
Martha: "We'll all be there for you."
She paused.
Martha: "You can share anything with us, and we'll do the same with you."
Audrey smiled.
Audrey: "Son, you are not alone."
He placed a hand on Arman's shoulder.
Audrey: "You have us. Rely on us, and we'll rely on you."
Arman looked at them.
Tears slowly filled his eyes.
He felt like he truly belonged there.
The only word he could say was—
Arman: "Yes."
PRESENT TIME
Arman suddenly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry.
Tears were running down his cheeks.
He touched his face.
Arman: "What... am I crying?"
He quickly wiped his tears.
After taking a deep breath, Arman left his room.
He headed toward the family gathering.
When he entered, he smiled.
Arman: "Hey, guys. What are you talking about without me?"