On the way back, my father keeps his guard up. He still doesn't trust me.
"What's going on?!" My mother exclaims outside the door. "What were the both of you doing?"
My father pulls my mother inside the cabin to the kitchen and whispers something to her.
...
I take a seat at the table.
Although I understand it completely, it still hurts to see my father treat me like this.
My mother and father arrive at the table and take their seats opposite.
"We have time. Explain." My father says.
...Where should I start?
"My previous life...was ordinary. My prospects and talent were average. I graduated at the age of eighteen without forming my aura, staying in the apprentice realm for many years. By then, Mane and Lee started taking lessons..." I say.
I attempt to explain as much as I can remember, as vividly as possible.
"Despite all that, I try my best to improve. Life wasn't too difficult and harsh but I took all that for granted. Your death was the start of the fall."
My father furrows his brow.
"The only explanation we had was your honourable death in an expedition a year from now. Although we were compensated, I had my suspicions and wondered aimlessly for the truth. I only found scraps of rumours and information that led to the Chief Commander Zepdas. I joined the army to learn more and was exempted after Zepdas found my intentions." My gaze goes to the table and I clench my hair. "Those bastards...someone poisoned mother a few weeks later and she was bedridden. I had to take up mercenary work to sustain mother, I'm pretty sure Mane, Lee, and Christina also took up some jobs..."
...I take a deep breath. Anger was overwhelming me.
"And the bloody war only worsened everything. Fuck..."
"..." Both of my parents stare at me.
"Anyways, I died in the land of death after accepting a risky mission, the Frozen Tundra, and somehow regressed to the past with...a blessing," I say.
Or a curse from my victim's perspective.
"So that blessing amplified your talent and gave you attributes?" My mother asks.
I nod.
...
"So where is the Loi from this timeline?" My father asks.
!
"I...don't know." my vision trembles.
...
The silence tears my soul. My family is the only thing I continue to live for and I wish for everything for them. Unfortunately, I realise the current me is not their son.
I...
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I am simply an old man who took the youth of the "Loi" from this timeline.
I took away their son.
...
That thought throws my mind into an abyss. I want to cry and shout but my body refuses. A profound tapestry of melancholy weaves in my psyche.
My consciousness is ejected into a whirlpool of despair and agony.
What am I? Where am I? My body is shaking?
...
I wonder what their expression is? Anger? Sadness? I...don't have the courage to face them. Why am I such a coward?
...
...
It's cold; This is colder than the land of death. It feels as if I'm enveloped and insolated...
Suddenly, warmth embraces my body. My head is pulled towards a bosom.
"What nonsense! Whether it's Loi from that timeline or this, you are still my child!" My mother exclaims.
!!
"M-Mom..."
My father avoids eye contact with me. His eyes are watery. "I'm...sorry." He says and gets up. He leaves the cabin for some air.
"Don't worry about your father. He was about to hug you a moment ago, a coward that ran away." my mother says.
She smiles and rubs her hand across my cheek. Without noticing it, tears leaked from my eyes.
"You are still the crybaby Loi. Don't worry about anything. Just leave everything to Mama." She says as she strokes my hair.
"T-That's enough...*sniff* I'm not a baby..." I pull away, embarrassed.
"Hahaha!"
...
The reason why I worked so hard was to see this again. My mother's illuminating smile.
My true blessing is my family, an eternal priceless one.
I wake up on my bed the next day to the familiar chirps. With a huge burden off my shoulders, a feeling that I forget something sprouts.
"Ah...the sword," I mumble.
I forgot to collect it!
=================
"Benefactor! Welcome!" Ruben says when I enter the store.
"I apologize. I am late."
"No need. You gave us more time to tweak the weapon." Old Reaslz says. He goes to the back and brings out a large black case. "Hoho...this can be considered my greatest masterpiece!"
As the case creaks open, a soft ethereal glow escapes the confines, unveiling a black sword of unparalleled magnificence. The blade sparkled with a dance of ferocious hue, every light absorbed.
"Give it a try."
I slide my finger across the blade. It absorbs residual mana on my skin and perpetuates it across, effectively upgrading it.
"What the...?" I gasp.
The hilt, adorned with celestial motifs, felt weightless yet powerful in my hand. Each facet of the weapon reflects a godly energy.
I am no appraiser but even I can tell...
"This sword is a relic grade?!!" I exclaim.
"Hey hey! Don't shout that!" Ruben says.
"R-Right."
A gear, no matter what kind, can be classified into five categories: Trash, Average, Exceptional, Reverence, and Relic.
A relic weapon is inhuman enough to allow an Apprentice to slaughter a Master Swordsman. Darto kingdom only had eleven of these, now twelve.
"To be exact, it's a half-relic. I couldn't make a full relic with my current equipment and materials." Old Reaslz says.
"No! I-I am very grateful. I expected an Exceptional Sword but not this...this is out of my league!" I reply.
I try channelling mana through it. My aura displayed is a Master Swordsman's. Surprisingly, the mana conductivity is...average.
"Although the sword certainly is durable, it needs to grow alongside you as it absorbs mana. That's why it's a half-relic."
"No, this is good. Very little will realise its true value unless they physically touch it." I say. "Still, to craft a half relic within such a short time and shabby equipment, who...are you?"
The old man shakes his head. "I've long abandoned my previous identity. I'm sorry."
"My grandfather is the King of Hammer." Ruben blurts.
"Ruben!" Reaslz exclaims.
King of Hammer?!
To think this old man is a big shot that crafted three relics in Darto!??!
"Rest assured. I will not reveal your identity." I say.
"Look, he is our benefactor, trust him more!"
"Shut up! I'm going to die because of you one day!"
Now I understand Ruben's immense talent.
"Is there a limit to its growth?" I ask.
"Hm...I'm not sure. Mhythalin once matured can kill even a Lord Swordsman in its vicinity. That's how powerful the ore is, thus most don't dare extract it."
??
"Then how are the three of us alive?" Ruben says, stunned.
Reaslz shrugs.
"Give it a name."
...
"Power," I say.
!
"That's a bold and arrogant name," Reaslz says.
"Of course, it's your greatest masterpiece," I reply with a smile."
"Anyways, bring Power here." Reaslz takes out the iron I gave him a month ago. "Slash it."
I give one simple cut but a mysterious force rebounds my sword away.
*CHING!*
?!
"Not a single scratch?" I mumble and furrow my brows.
The "normal" iron ingot stands proudly without any abnormalities.
"Exceptional swords shatter upon contact. It would make an exceptional shield or armour if I could melt it. Unfortunately, it won't budge even to the depth of hell." Reaslz says.
What the hell is this iron ingot?