Chapter 680

The first thought that came up to Davey was whether he actually had a child of his own whom he wasn't aware.

'No way'

Although he had bullied some people and openly flirted with women, he had never engaged in a relationship he wasn't going to be responsible. So what then? Had something gone wrong when he was intoxicated? Davey?

Wordlessly, he continued to pour power back into Perserque.

"Let's see," he muttered to himself before trying again with his attempt. Davey changed his wording to how Perseque's child was going to receive a blessing when she conceived Davey O'Rowane's second child. "

Shh...

Light seeped into Perserque as if feathers were fluttering. It seemed as though Davey, having gone beyond simple engineering and alchemical knowledge, had pioneered a new realm as a necromancer as he started to meddle even with the spirit.

But that was not the important part.

"What?"'Using the words first child failed, but using the phrase second child didn't...'

This solidified the certainty that either his first child had already been conceived or had been born somewhere in this world. But where exactly? And by whom?

"I haven't been unfaithful... The only person I've been with is Perserque."

Davey had always told her that a relationship between a man and woman should be equal and considerate. He had believed he had to be loyal to Perserque as she was to him. So how could something like this happen? He began to suspect that for some unknown reason, a child had been conceived in her womb without his knowledge. But he knew better than anyone that was not possible. He was also constantly monitoring her body, and it was impossible for him to miss anything.

'If not Perserque, then who? Who is carrying my child?'

Time went by with no answers found for these questions.

"What is this? A virgin birth?? What? Do I have a Virgin Mary or something??"

While it was frustrating him to no end, he had to focus on the task at hand. Whatever the outcome, Perserque was the priority, and so, his questions about his first child could wait.

At first, Davey transferred the Metamorphosis Stacks to Perserque. Then he melted several mana fusion stones from the lab where Rinne was found and used them by letting them fuse into her.

Eventually, her body began to change as it was enveloped by light. Black translucent wings sprouted from her back, only to disappear later on, as if they were shattered. While there was no external change in Perserque, Davey could still clearly feel that there was a shift in her. So now, her powers would not go berserk, even with Overmind's emergence. She would be able to control her power subconsciously.

The impurities that had accumulated inside of her started to flow out like steam at the same time as her already beautiful skin became clearer and began to emit a sweet and peachy scent. There were precedents that already existed—a ridiculous culture where someone was raised solely on peaches since childhood[1].

Smiling at the stimulating fragrance, Davey covered her body with a robe to replace the blanket that had completely burned. He then quietly turned away.

Goddess Freyja's blessing still dwelled in the Sanctuary of the Demon God, and as it was the most sacred place for demons, the blessing also lingered on Perserque.

Having successfully completed the Metamorphosis, Davey turned around with Perserque being carried on his back.

He had already solved Perserque's problem, and so it was time to fulfill Princess Davey's request.

"Prince Sullivan, you owe me one."

***

"Hmm~ Hmm~"

A pleasant humming filled the air. The girl's ears that peaked through her teal hair perked up, and her eyes twinkled as she exclaimed, "It's done!"

She was so delighted.

What she made were small shoes and clothes for a child. Although a bit crude, they were made with silk, wool and a lot of affection. And while it would certainly be damaging for her image if rumors circulate about her making such clothes as she was an unwed princess, she did not care at all. Because she had Emperor Deorte and Prince Alberth by her side.

She happily smiled down at her flat belly.

"What should the baby's name be?"

What was inside her womb was close to a miracle and blessing from the goddess for successfully remembering him on her own after losing her memory. There was a life that slept inside her womb; she had conceived a child without having slept with a man. On top of that, she also instinctively knew who the father of the child was and whether it was a boy or a girl.

The love she received from him was enough, even though the two of them might never meet. She was content as long as she could control the instinct of the Ninetails and avoid bothering him.

At that moment, a sweet scent drifted, making her turn her head. Her hand then flew up to cover her mouth as she felt like throwing up.

"Oh, dear," she said with a chuckle.

She then opened the window and caressed her belly.

"You may not know, but this is enough for me because I have received enough of your love."

During the time she had lost her memory, she knew one thing that Davey wasn't, which was that Goddess Freyja's power was close to a miracle. With that miracle, she had received a gift—a child— and along with it was a very happy dream. And that was enough for her.

She had no intention of revealing the father of the child. But what she didn't know was that something entirely unexpected was making the child's father start to notice.

"Oh, by the way, Millia, do you remember where I put the scarf I made for Prince Davey?"

"Eh? Ah, that... His Majesty has..."

"His Majesty has arrived."

In the middle of her trying to look for the scarf she intended to give Davey, there was a sudden intrusion by an elderly man, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

"Ah... Father!"

"Oh, Aeria. I'm glad to see that you're smiling often nowadays.."

Though a stern and daunting emperor, he was a warm father in her presence.

She had grown accustomed to the unconditional love of Emperor Deorte now that she truly felt it. Her father was a dearly beloved family member to her... But then, there was a scarf wrapped around Emperor Deorte's neck.

"Ah... Father? That... That's..."

"Hmm? Haha, I did not know you had prepared a gift for me. Thank you very much."

The expression on her face froze as she looked up at him, exclaiming, "Eh?"

"Hmm?"

"That... That was supposed to be for Prince Davey."

Emperor Deorte's expression hardened at her words. He then asked, "What... What do you mean? So you did not make it for me?"

Aeria gazed at him with a pout on her face, making the emperor anxious.

"Oh dear, I really am sorry. I was too hasty," he said, expressing his regret.

"Ah... No, it's fine."

Of course, being the kind-hearted and innocent princess that she was, Aeria could never harbor anger for her father.

"It's okay, Dad. It really suits you, doesn't it? Besides, we can always make another scarf."

Despite her words, Emperor Deorte's expression was still far from pleased. He then replied, "Oh dear. I made a mistake. Please, forgive me..."

Aeria began to gag as soon as the sweet scent wafted in the air and hit her nose. A chilling silence then filled the entire room.

"Alberth... Alberth!!!" Emperor Deorte, with an instinctual burst of energy, urgently called for the Crown Prince.

***

In the capital of the Pallan Empire, Crown Prince Sullivan de Pallan, who was frowning deeply, was plagued with complex emotions. The Pallan Empire stood as a central hegemonic nation, leading a coalition of countries on a global scale. And given that the Pallan Empire had proclaimed itself to be the guardian of justice, it was essential that it looked beyond itself and paid attention to others.

The issue at the moment was with the relations with a region named the Heins Territory. Currently, the Heins Territory regularly purchased a significant amount of goods from the Pallan Empire. Meanwhile, the Pallan Empire maintained a mutually beneficial relationship with the Heins Territory by buying special products from them.

"Your Highness, our relationship with the Heins Territory is too close. It might be better to put some distance between yourself and Prince Davey..."

"I'm aware," Sullivan answered with a frown.

While the empire's growth would become faster as its relationship with Davey became closer, such relations could potentially render the values the empire had been seeking meaningless.

"To begin with, we should aim to reduce our reliance on the Heins Territory. We can start by rejecting all requests coming from Prince Davey."

"Let's do so."

"In addition to that, Your Majesty, in order to maintain balance, it would be wise to decrease the amount of our trade with the Heins Territory and do the opposite with other nations.."

As he listened to the advice of the subject, Sullivan's expression became complex.

"Your Highness!!" someone urgently called him out. "Your Highness!! Prince Davey requests to see Your Majesty!"

Sullivan and the subject's eyes quickly darted toward the chamber's door.

"What?! Now?! Prepare some tea!" Sullivan instructed the subject.

"Of course, Your Majesty!"

Nobody could have predicted how quickly they shifted their stance of severing their ties with Davey and the Heins Territory.

***

In the dark, a giant eye opened.

[At last... I awakened.]

Its gaze flashed with intent as dozens of more eyes lit up on its numerous tentacles.

[My mother, my queen, my... goddess.]

A creature swam continuously in the darkness as it slowly unleashed its strength. It was one of the enormous shards of the Abyss that had been sleeping for ages.

[Now that I have awakened, the power oppressing you will dissolve. I shall go and serve you.]

A sinister voice echoed as the creature, which was a special entity of the Abyss, moved. It was Overmind—a special being made up of a few combined large Abyssal entities, making it different from the Princesses of the Abyss, which were amalgamations of billions of Abyssal entities.

"Prepare. We go to the disgusting realm of Freyja."

Given the numerous failures of the Abyss against Davey, caution was necessary. Retreat was no longer an option in the face of Sleesia's and Isildi's defeats and the deaths of several other Princesses of the Abyss.

After using its tentacles to capture an approaching Princess of the Abyss and beginning to manifest its power, Overmind's birth empowered the queen. All it had to do now was go to Freyja's realm and use its own power to strengthen the queen's. To do so directly meant dealing with the human named Davey. And with the several breaches that already existed between Tionis and the Abyss, crossing over posed little trouble.

Shh...

With Tionis being its aim, Overmind gradually blended into the darkness, making the surroundings appear burning and ripping apart. The destination was clear, and it didn't matter that the place most suitable for the manifestation of its power was beneath a human palace; it was still the perfect place.

"Better be careful."

At that moment, someone approached the newly awakened Overmind.

[Urd...]

"Do not underestimate that human named Davey. You should be careful."

[I am different from defective, useless entities like you.]

"..."

[I'll bring his demise. Useless ones like you have failed, but I will cause the collapse of Tionis.]

Despite the scorn, the woman said nothing. After all, Overmind was truly capable of doing what it intended to do.

"Yeah, it may be possible if he doesn't know you've crossed over to Tionis."

[He will never know. He would be too busy dealing with all the changes across the continent.]

Urd remained silent.

Then, through a torn space, Overmind left the Abyss and emerged into a vast underground altar, where it saw a young man with black hair waving at it.

"Welcome. It's your first time getting ambushed, isn't it?[2]"

A terrifying smile spread across the man's face, which was tinted with an ominous light.

"How could this be?"

"The altar itself has been corrupted to make the crossing from the Abyss a lot easier. Anyway, ready to get beaten up, you bastard?"

1. This is actually not a culture. The origin is unclear, but there is an urban legend that if a person was raised solely on peaches, then the person's body scent and fluid will smell like peaches. ☜

2. This is a Korean meme. Image. It doesn't have a special meaning, but it became a meme because the person who said it made it sound funny. ☜