I walked through the royal palace following a woman with crimson-red hair.
My mind was still occupied by the conversation I had just had with King Altheris.
He had accepted the Valen Family without hesitation.
Not only allowing us to remain within Verilian—
but even granting us nobility.
I narrowed my eyes as I recalled the questions he had asked afterward.
"Are you affiliated with Oblivion?"
"No."
"Do you have any explanation for what the Sovereign wanted from you?"
"No."
"Do you remember any of the events that took place after the Sovereign disappeared along with you?"
"No."
I couldn't afford to make a single mistake.
After a brief silence, the king had suddenly chuckled.
"You don't need to be so tense."
Then he leaned back on his throne.
"Anyhow, I heard you wanted to meet a few people from the Astryx Empire currently in our custody?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Very well."
"You are free to leave."
Then he gestured toward a woman standing nearby.
"Mira here will guide you from here."
A woman with sharp eyes and crimson hair stepped forward.
"Yes, my lord."
She was the leader of the Phantom Knights.
The moment I sensed her mana, my eyes narrowed slightly.
Another SS-Ranker.
Verilian truly was overflowing with monsters.
And now I found myself walking through the endless corridors of the palace beside her.
The silence persisted for several minutes.
Until she suddenly spoke.
"The king seems quite fond of you."
Her voice was sharp and straightforward.
Eventually she came to a stop.
I smiled lightly.
"Indeed."
Her sharp green eyes shifted toward me.
"You're quite strange, Rio."
I didn't answer.
I simply smiled.
Seeing my reaction, she sighed.
"I'm not sure why His Majesty allowed the Valen Family to gain nobility within Verilian."
Her gaze remained fixed ahead.
"But I'm certain the Verilian Council will oppose this decision."
She wasn't wrong.
Even many citizens of Verilian would likely object.
The remnants of Astryx.
Former nobles of a conquered empire.
Being granted status within Verilian.
It sounded absurd on paper.
But did it matter?
A faint laugh escaped me.
The Verilian Council was filled with old men still clinging to the illusion that they possessed authority.
Did they truly believe they had a choice?
The king himself had openly welcomed the Valens.
And would the council truly be foolish enough to challenge him?
Or my father?
Lucivar Valen.
A Ten-Star SS-Ranker.
A monster who stood on the same stage as Alaric Ryker himself.
No.
They wouldn't dare.
Mira glanced at me after hearing the laugh.
For a brief moment, curiosity flashed through her eyes.
But she asked nothing.
Eventually we arrived before a massive set of doors.
Without another word, she pushed them open.
I stepped inside.
Inside were multiple familiar faces.
Anastisia Astryx.
William Astryx.
Joseph Valoris.
Isolde Viremont.
Vice Headmaster Christopher Nova.
Professor Evillise.
The Imperial Prodigies.
The remnants of Astryx's future.
The moment I entered, a suffocating bloodlust exploded throughout the room.
Evillise's eyes were filled with fury.
"How dare you show your face afte—"
I raised a hand and smiled lightly.
"Calm down."
"I'm sure you're quite angry after learning who I really am."
The room fell silent.
I slowly stepped forward.
"Well, I suppose a proper introduction is overdue."
I looked at every single one of them.
"My name is Rio Valen."
"Verilian knows me as Noctis."
"Astryx knew me as Zio Norken."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"But my true name..."
"...is Rio Valen."
Silence followed.
No one interrupted me.
No one spoke.
So I told them everything.
The Valen Family.
The curse.
My childhood.
How I ended up in Verilian.
How I entered Astryx under a false identity.
How everything eventually led to the War of Noctara.
Naturally—
they had questions.
Many questions.
Some of which even I couldn't answer myself.
Eventually I finished.
The room remained quiet.
Then I finally moved to the main point.
"Astryx Empire no longer exists."
The words felt heavier than expected.
I glanced around the room.
"Currently, the Verilian Council wishes to place mana contracts on all of you."
A few expressions darkened immediately.
"They want to turn you into tools."
No one seemed surprised.
Defeated nations rarely received mercy.
"But..."
I smiled.
"I managed to convince His Majesty to allow another option."
That finally caught their attention.
Their eyes focused on me.
I folded my arms.
"All of you will form mana contracts with me instead of Verilian."
The room instantly exploded.
Evillise slammed her hand against the table.
"You want us to become your slaves?"
I laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"No."
"I was thinking something closer to a boss and assistant relationship."
That only made her look more irritated.
Before she could explode again—
someone stepped forward.
A woman with brown hair and blue eyes.
My gaze softened slightly.
Eloise Astryx.
The former Queen of Astryx.
Once one of the most respected women on the continent.
Now she looked exhausted.
Broken.
The truth regarding Caelion.
The curse.
The deception.
The collapse of her kingdom.
Everything had left its mark.
Beside her stood William and Anastisia.
Eloise spoke quietly.
"We accept."
The room froze.
William stepped forward immediately afterward.
"We'll sign it."
Anastisia nodded.
"Mother has already decided."
There was no hesitation.
No resistance.
Only exhaustion.
The desire for peace.
I nodded slowly.
Seeing the royal family accept first—
the others gradually followed.
Joseph Valoris stepped forward.
Then Isolde Viremont.
Both signed without much resistance.
Eventually Christopher Nova approached.
Unlike the others—
his mind was clearly elsewhere.
His eyes remained fixed on me.
More specifically—
on my chest.
On my core.
His voice trembled slightly.
"You..."
"You actually created an Arcane Core?"
The room instantly became quiet.
My hand unconsciously moved toward my chest.
"Yes."
"The Sovereign of Oblivion found a way to solve Ignition's final problem."
Christopher's eyes widened.
He had witnessed it personally.
The heavens opening.
The divine punishment.
The Arcane Core.
Everything.
"And..."
"And he survived the divine punishment afterward..."
His voice sounded almost hollow.
"I see..."
Even Evillise had become silent.
Christopher stared at me for several more seconds.
Then eventually signed the contract.
Now only one person remained.
Evillise.
She folded her arms.
Huffed.
And deliberately looked away.
Like a stubborn child refusing to admit defeat.
Before I could speak—
another figure stepped forward.
A young man with purple hair and sharp features.
His expression held an awkward smile.
"Please understand why my mother is upset."
I recognized him immediately.
He glanced toward Evillise.
"My mother has... history with Verilian."
That was putting it mildly.
Verilian had once shattered her mana core.
Ruined her future.
Destroyed everything she had worked for.
Yet despite all that—
he bowed slightly.
"We are willing to sign."
I nodded.
Soon enough—
the contract was complete.
Only Evillise remained.
The professor clicked her tongue.
Glared at me.
Then at the contract.
Then back at me.
Finally—
with the most unwilling expression imaginable—
she signed.
I couldn't help smiling.
The former elites of Astryx.
The future of a fallen empire.
Had just become part of my faction.
And somehow—
I had a feeling this was going to cause me endless headaches.
...
I slowly left the royal palace.
Before leaving, we had agreed on a place for our next meeting.
Now—
I stood before a massive mansion located on the outskirts of Solmere City.
The evening sun painted the estate in shades of gold while servants moved about the grounds busily.
"Hm."
I glanced at the nameplate beside the gates.
Valen Estate.
A small chuckle escaped me.
Even now it still felt strange.
Home.
I pushed open the gates and entered.
The moment I stepped inside—
my eyes widened.
No.
Shock was an understatement.
A black cat sprinted through the main hallway with an entire fish clenched in its mouth.
Several maids desperately chased after it.
The cat hissed proudly.
[The fish belongs to me!]
Haah...
I immediately placed a hand over my forehead.
"Astarax."
The cat froze.
Its ears twitched.
Slowly—
it turned toward me.
The mighty Chaos Dragon currently trapped inside a tiny black cat body.
I pointed at the fish.
"Can you please put that down?"
Astarax immediately puffed out her chest.
[Shut up mortal.]
[This divine food is mine and mine alone.]
The nearby maids looked moments away from crying.
Astarax hissed at them again.
The maids instantly retreated.
Victorious.
The dragon proudly trotted over before leaping onto my shoulder.
The stolen fish still hanging from her mouth.
The maids finally noticed me.
Their eyes widened.
Immediately—
they bowed.
"Welcome back, Master."
I nodded awkwardly.
"I really need to get used to this..."
Being called master still felt bizarre.
As I walked deeper into the mansion, I glanced toward them.
"Do you know where my sister is?"
One of the maids immediately nodded.
"Lady Lucinda should be upstairs."
She paused.
Then smiled awkwardly.
"In your room."
I blinked.
"...My room?"
"Yes."
The maid looked slightly amused.
"I believe Lady Helena is there as well."
"I see."
Now I was curious.
I slowly made my way upstairs.
The moment I reached the hallway—
I heard laughter.
Lots of it.
Confused, I stopped before the door.
What exactly was happening inside?
I pushed it open.
And immediately understood everything.
"..."
Lumine.
Rumine.
Sumine.
The three girls were currently running around the room wearing identical white bunny outfits.
Their silver-white hair bounced as they giggled endlessly.
Lumine was trying to catch Rumine.
Rumine was hiding behind Sumine.
Sumine herself seemed to have absolutely no idea what was happening and was simply following the others.
Meanwhile—
Lucinda sat nearby looking completely defeated while trying to brush Lumine's hair.
And beside her—
Helena calmly patted Rumine and Sumine's heads.
The scene was pure chaos.
Domestic chaos.
The moment the door opened—
everyone froze.
The three girls turned toward me simultaneously.
Three pairs of eyes lit up.
"Rio!"
"Rio!"
"Rio!"
Before I could even react—
three small figures launched themselves directly at me.
My eyes widened.
"Wai—"
Too late.
BOOM.