In the yellowed skies of the Demon Continent, Rygar read and carefully analyzed the reports he had received via the Magic Word.
There were only a few messages, and among them, only two really mattered.
The first was a message from Aisha, saying that someone had tried to break the Summoning Contract he had with Leo.
If it weren't for Aisha being there at the moment and interrupting the Summoning, the person might actually have succeeded.
That would be very problematic, in several ways. Fortunately, she was there.
Rygar wondered who could have done something like that.
To attempt to break that kind of contract, the person would need to have an amount of mana greater than his, at minimum.
And he knew very well that there were only a small handful of people in the world with enough mana to even try.
In any case, Aisha was making some preparations to protect Leo from this kind of thing in the future; there were some methods for that.
The second message was even more important.
It was Kilian's detailed report on the Technique God. Overall, the mission had ended with a very good result.
He had discovered truly crucial information — among them, the fact that the Technique God had reincarnated about three thousand years ago and, since then, had remained isolated atop the highest mountain in the world.
Almost always training. Descending only every few hundred years to learn and teach new techniques.
Kilian had also included observations about the Technique God's personality, which, to Rygar, drew considerable attention.
Curiously, the Technique God was very different from the Demon God Laplace, his other half.
While the Technique God seemed to have a friendly, carefree disposition, the Demon God was described as cruel, cold and relentless.
Perhaps that difference was a natural peculiarity of a single being splitting in two — each inheriting a distinct part of the original personality.
Rygar had no way of knowing for sure. And, to be honest, he wasn't particularly interested in that detail either.
What really interested him was the possibility of training with the Technique God. But he knew he would have to be cautious.
Perhaps it would be better to postpone that visit until the Sköllvindr Armor was completed, and until he himself had accumulated more experience and strength.
After all, in Oldgar's timeline, the Technique God had attacked Rygar with the intention of killing him, without warning and for no apparent reason.
Who could guarantee that he would not do the same here?
In his current state, he doubted he would be able to win. Probably not.
Still, it was good that, for now, relations between them were friendly. That would reduce the chances of the Technique God suddenly turning on him.
Thinking that, Rygar let out a long sigh.
----
POV: Rygar Adoldia
Currently, the five of us were flying above the clouds.
The sun was high, but the thick carpet of clouds made it feel like we were strolling through paradise.
Ezkalor's flight was smooth and steady; there wasn't a single flying monster that dared approach a beast of that size.
Skoll lay beneath the dragon's red scales, comfortable, watching the sky while his ebony fur was tousled by the wind.
Lying on him were the three of us: I directly atop Skoll — his fur serving as a huge couch for us.
Verdia leaned against my shoulder while leafing through a book, looking relaxed in her mage's attire; Eris was lying on my chest, dressed in her light swordswoman clothes. I stroked her long, vibrant red hair as she remained lying there, relaxed, thoughtful.
It was one of those rare moments in which I could admire the beauty of the world from a unique perspective — a pastime that had never lost its charm for me.
I watched the Demon Continent below contemplatively. We passed over a series of yellow canyons, the Lynar Canyons, a famous region of the Demon Continent, named after a Demon King killed in the First Human–Demon War.
Seeing that landscape from above the clouds was impressive; with my enhanced vision I could clearly see monsters fighting, the shapes of the crevices and the peculiarities of that ecosystem.
Along with the pleasant wind caused by the high-speed flight, it was all wonderful — I loved the feeling of freedom of being able to traverse inhospitable regions that only mystical abilities allowed.
After all, how many in the world could freely fly atop a dragon? Or, even if they could, how many dared to?
I took a deep, satisfied breath.
The smell and proximity of two of my wives made the moment even better: Eris had a refreshing and striking scent, like a wildflower, and some smell of sweat, which had its own charm; Verdia exuded a sweet, soft, delicate perfume, almost like a confection.
Eris traced her fingers along the blade she had received upon becoming a Sword King, her hair rippling in the constant wind. Then she suddenly spoke to me:
"Rygar."
My attention shifted from the landscape while I continued to stroke her hair. "What is it?" I asked.
"What are you going to do after you resolve everything?" she replied.
I was a little confused by the question. What did "after everything" mean? So I asked:
"What do you mean?"
Eris appeared uneasy as she answered:
"I mean… I don't fully understand everything, but we have to kill or defeat all the Seven World Powers, except you, right?"
Spoken that way, it almost sounded as if we were declaring war on the world — and, in part, it wasn't entirely wrong. I confirmed:
"That's right."
Eris went on:
"And besides that, there are heroes and monsters in our path, we have to raid legendary labyrinths, there's even a God in another world plotting against us, and in the future several people will be born who will be against us from birth, right?"
I chuckled a little at her version of things.
I had told my wives some things about the future — I trusted them and wanted them to know the dangers to come — though I omitted the most crucial points.
Eris's perspective was interesting: she mixed excitement and worry as she spoke. I had already noticed that lately she had been somewhat melancholic.
"Well, yes," I replied. "All of that is true."
At that point, Verdia had stopped reading and was paying attention; Eris concluded:
"After winning all that, you'll still be the same Rygar, right? I was talking to Nina the other day, and she told me you seemed to be treading a path to become a literal God, that you would surpass all the legends and heroic tales we've ever heard."
I was stunned. Shocked to hear that. Verdia began to laugh; Eris wouldn't stop:
"Nina said you could even become an incomprehensible superior being and forget ordinary people... of course, I know that's a lie... but I still wanted to ask..."
She seemed anxious. I, for my part, questioned the reality — was that how Nina saw me? Verdia was laughing even more. Eris remained uneasy; I sighed, disheartened.
"Haaaaah, I'm not going to become any kind of real God, Eris..." I finally said.
Although I said it, internally I finished the sentence: I think?
Eris didn't seem entirely convinced. I squeezed her cheeks; she tried to wriggle away, but without real effort.
"What really worries you if that happens?"
Eris stopped resisting, hesitated a moment and murmured:
"Even if I train... I can't see where I could be useful against our greatest enemies... I'm strong now, but it's not enough to keep up with you in a fight against the Dragon God, the Fighter God or even the Technique God."
My reproachful expression softened. I pulled her head back, looking into her eyes with her head resting in my lap.
"Eris, you know I can't do everything alone..." I said. "Even if I'm strong, there are still others stronger than me out there; moreover, there are many who surpass me in various aspects outside of combat."
Eris pouted and retorted:
"You say that, but you could beat all of us with one hand behind your back if you wanted, without caring about everything else."
I smiled and shot back:
"Alright, then if I'm so good, why didn't I save King Leonard Kingdragon and his family?"
Eris was surprised. But she soon countered: "Because you weren't there! If you had been, how could they have died so uselessly?"
I smiled bitterly at that, but I held my point:
"Alright, I wasn't there... so what's the use of me being strong if I can't be there? Why did so many people die in the war against Milis, before and after I returned? Why did I provoke the wrath of the Sea Race by killing their God without knowing? Why did my daughter from the future have to come back in time to warn me of my eventual destruction...? Why, my dear Eris, if I already know all the enemies that are and will be against me... wouldn't I go to them and destroy them immediately?"
The sequence of questions seemed to confuse Eris. Even as we conversed, I was still stroking her hair.
I just kept watching her red eyes; she looked away, embarrassed, but she didn't seem convinced.
Verdia interrupted with a smile:
"Eris... you may have met Rygar when he was young, and he was already very amazing, but he wasn't always like that."
Eris turned to Verdia, frowning:
"What do you mean?"
"See," said Verdia, closing the book calmly, "even when he was a child, he had to learn everything from scratch. Even being reincarnated, he made mistakes; only he learned faster from them. No one is free from the process of growth... perhaps, even in his previous life, he made many foolish mistakes as a child. He wasn't always so amazing."
Eris became pensive. Verdia continued:
"Rygar may even be a bit abnormal compared to the rest of us, a talent born once every ten thousand years, but internally, he is still just a person. He feels affection; he feels pain, anger and even powerlessness and insecurity when facing all these powerful enemies. What he maintains outwardly is a posture of strength — one that allows no weakness."
I was surprised to hear that; after all, that was exactly what I did.
It wasn't as if facing Gods and Dragons didn't make me doubt or feel fear — I was confident, but not insensitive to death.
But I simply could not show that, if I, the pillar of confidence for so many people, showed hesitation and fear, what would they show?
Still, it seemed Verdia knew my concerns, and even without speaking, supported me silently.
Eris looked at me, suspicious, trying to confirm Verdia's words; she was surprised to see me silently agree.
I took her hand and said:
"Verdia is right, Eris, I'm strong, so strong that I can act confidently and speak loudly, but... that is also considering that I have a reason to fight. You, Verdia, Ghislaine, our children... you are all the reason I fight. If not for that, why would I fight? For glory? To simply be strong? That seems cool at first glance, but it becomes empty very quickly."
I continued:
"Everyone has their talents, and everyone has a motivation to tread their path; mine is you."
Eris tried to answer, but I interrupted her:
"No 'buts'. You are part of my strength. I could never walk this path alone... I could never have achieved what I have without your help."
From an outside perspective, I had indeed been very lucky in this new life. In my past life, my only redeeming trait had been being hardworking — my mother taught me that.
Probably, without something clear to strive for even more, I would have lived an ordinary existence: college, work, marriage, routine.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but the lack of obstacles kills motivation at birth.
If I can have an easy life, why strive for an extraordinary one? That is the decision most make in the face of everyday life, unconsciously.
Here, in our world, slave traders, sacred countries wanting your head, magics capable of shaping the world and even a certain malicious god — all of this are constant motivators to improve, to protect yourself in a society where strength speaks louder.
Want to protect what is important to you? Well, then become strong.
I made the most of my new life, but I doubted I would have gone this far without having things to protect, without people constantly supporting me.
My father taught me to be a warrior. My mother gave me unconditional love and affection.
My master taught me magic, and taught me about the enormous world waiting to be discovered.
An adventurer taught me to use a sword.
Even the slave traders taught me something... they taught me to be ruthless with my enemies.
Eris pondered, thoughtful, and then finally asked:
"So... I want to know what your old life was like... can I?"
"Of course," I answered with a smile. "I'll tell you in detail, everything I remember."
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