"What's the secret?," asked Kairos.

"Yes."

"I borrowed it."

"Huh?"

"I borrowed strength from the future me."

"What nonsense is that!"

Otto yelled out.

"What, is strength like money now? Are you just borrowing it on loan?"

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"Yes."

"You speak bullshit."

Otto growled at Kairos.

"If you don't want to tell me, then don't. You expect me to believe that?"

"I have never lied!"

Despite Otto's distrust, Kairos did not waver from his claim.

"It's true."

Elise stepped in and put Otto's doubts to rest.

"The elder absorbed the energy of nature to replenish mana and further strengthen his body."

"Really?"

"Look."

Elise pointed to the surroundings.

"The grass and trees are all withered."

"Huh? Is that so?"

"I've heard of a mana manipulation technique that replenishes mana by absorbing the energy of nature in this way."

"Ah?"

Then Kairos said, incredulously.

"You scoundrel! You don't believe my words but you believe your fiancee's!"

"N-No. It's not that."

"I simply absorbed the energy of nature by force using my own mana manipulation technique. Moreover, I have already achieved a great level in the past, so becoming stronger in a short period of time is not that difficult!"

"S-Sorry."

Otto apologized.

"I just don't understand how you can get stronger in such a short period of time."

"It's possible because it's me! Other mediocre people can't even dream of it!"

"Well, I guess."

"Of course, since I forcefully absorbed the energy of nature, there will be significant side effects. After fighting Argon, I will inevitably return to my original state."

"I-Is that so?"

"That's right."

Kairos nodded in response.

"Since I can't defeat the Argonne by normal means, I'll have to resort to this."

"That's true."

Otto agreed with Kairos.

How bad would Kairos feel if he were to get beaten up by Argonne?

‘Well, if it were me, I probably would have sold my soul to a Devil.'

Argonne the Great is Kairos's arch nemesis.

Kairos couldn't help but want to defeat Argonne the Great in a one-on-one duel and show everyone his victory.

To achieve this, as Otto noted, Kairos would be willing to sell his soul to the Devil.

Regardless of the side effects.

"Can you help me for a few more days?"

"Of course."

Elise gladly obliged Kairos's request.

"Thank you. Then, while I replenish my mana, you can spend some time with your fiancé."

"Okay, Elder."¹

Saying that, Kairos went into the forest and began absorbing mana.

The result.

"Eh? Huh?"

Otto was alarmed to see that the trees in the forest in the distance were withering at a rapid rate.

That wasn't the only thing.

"What? Even me?"

Even though he was nearly a hundred meters away, he could feel the mana in his mana hole gradually draining away.

Kairos was sucking up all the mana around him like a vacuum cleaner.

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Elise stayed for a week, assisting Kairos with his training.

Of course, Kairos wasn't the only one she helped.

Elise also sparred with Otto, helping him improve his skills.

As a result, Otto and Kairos spent many nights in constant pain.

Since neither Kairos or Otto could escape from Elise's grasp, they would often collapse at the end of the day's training.

And so, after a week had passed…

"It's unfortunate, but I'll see you in a month."

"Be careful. And take this."

Otto handed Elise a pouch filled with something.

"What's this?"

"A few moisturizers and some snacks, I thought you might not be able to pack them yourself."

Otto was concerned that Elise couldn't even properly prepare common skincare products.

Beyond that cold and harsh barrier, her skin was prone to dryness, so she needed to apply moisturizing products frequently.

"T-Thank you."

Elise blushed.

"As a token of your gift, I'll make sure to diligently apply them with all my heart and effort, no matter how busy I am!"

"U-Uhh."

Otto was taken aback by Elise's determined expression.

‘Why does she look like she's about to complete a mission?'

Even when dancing, Elise could be unnecessarily combative.

Perhaps it was because she had been raised with a sword since childhood.

"Actually…."

Elise said shyly.

"I have something prepared too."

"What is it?"

"Just a moment."

Elise excused herself from Otto and pulled a large sack from her horse's saddle and presented it to him.

"What is this?"

"I've gathered some of the flame bear's gallbladders."

"Huh?"

The Flame Bear was a terrifying monster that lived beyond the Northern Wall, a beast that could reach ten meters in length.

They breathe flames hot enough to melt steel, and their bodies are constantly engulfed in fire, making them fire-elemental monsters.

"The gallbladder of a flame bear… Umm…?"

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"That's right."

"Why gallbladder?"

"J-Just."

Elise shifted slightly, ever so slightly.

The subtlety of it was so minimal that someone with very poor eyesight would never notice it.

"I thought it might help your health."

"Wait."

Otto said, as if he'd remembered something.

"Isn't gallbladder… good for one's stamina?"

"I, I just."

Elise averted Otto's gaze.

"I was just concerned for your health, my fiancé. I never meant it as an insult. In no way."

"….."

"I only got it because I've heard that a fire bear's gallbladder increases resistance to cold."

"R-Right."

Otto decided to pretend to believe Elise.

‘She brought them to me because they're good for virility.'

It seemed that Elise's desire to have many children and form a large family was genuine and not just empty words.

"I hope you're eating them all the time."

"Uhhh."

"Oh, and."

Elise added.

"I've heard it's quite potent, but good medicine is often bitter. You have to chew it well and take it. Understand?"

"I-I will."

It was a gift from Elise.

Otto vowed to eat the flame bear's gallbladder with all his might, no matter what it tasted like.

‘But will she be good at parenting?'

Otto suddenly wondered.

He couldn't easily imagine Elise as a mother.

But one thing was certain.

‘I wouldn't have to worry about them going through a phase.'

If Elise was the mother, it was clear to Otto that he wouldn't have to worry about his children's stormy phase.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that even a child born with exceptional talent would never surpass Elise in their lifetime.

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That evening.

"Hey, tomorrow…."

Otto visited Kairos' barracks and saw a strange sight.

"ॐ मणि पदमे हुं… ॐ मणि पदमे हुं."

Kairos, sitting cross-legged, was chanting an incantation, and his appearance was truly eerie.

"W-What!"

Otto was horrified.

Kairos's face was dripping like candlestick.

"Hey! What's happening! Are you okay!"

"…Quiet down."

Kairos said, and continued to chant.

"ॐ मणि पदमे हुं… ॐ मणि पदमे हुं… ॐ मणि पदमे हुं… ॐ मणि पदमे हुं… ॐ मणि पदमे हुं…."

The result.

*Squirm*

Kairos's face transformed, and soon he became an entirely different person.

"Huh?!"

Upon seeing Kairos's transformed face, Otto was utterly shocked.

He had seen this face before.

It closely resembled the portrait of the tyrant once called the Cannibal Emperor from the past.

"Huu!"

Kairos dusted himself off and stood up.

"Pansy? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"W-Who are you?"

"Kekeke! This is what I really look like! Isn't it great!"

Indeed, with his original form restored, Kairos's face appeared much more robust and dignified than before.

Moreover, thanks to the significant increase in muscle mass over a short period, his physique had grown considerably, making him now truly a man among men.

"You were able to change your appearance as well?"

"Is there anything impossible for me? I can overcome anything with sheer mental power!"

"Sure, Okay. Whatever."

Otto had completely grown tired of Kairos constantly boasting about his willpower.

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"What is it, anyway?"

"I've decided it's time to take on the forces of that bastard Argonne."

"Finally."

Kairos' eyes shined as if expecting the moment to come.

From his eyes, a cerulean fire radiated out.

"Wait, did you turn back to your old appearance because of that Argonne bastard?"

"Of course."

Kairos said, as if that were a question.

"This would make Argonne more certain of my return."

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"That is true."

Just then.

"T-This?"

Ariel, who had visited Kairos' barracks at that moment, dropped the bottle in her hand with a thud.

"Kai… ros?"

"Y-You're here?"

Kairos broke out in a cold sweat.

As usual, he was a mouse before the cat in front of Ariel.

"You're back to your old self?"

"I-I have."

"Fuck."

Ariel cursed and stalked toward Kairos, pouncing on him like a wild lioness.

"You're so fucking hot."

"Mmph! Hmph!"

"Be quiet."

Arya couldn't bear seeing Kairos return to his old self and seemed completely indifferent to whether Otto was present or not.

"P-Pansy! Help me out here! Pansy!"

Kairos yelled for Otto to help him.

But Otto refused to lend a helping hand and backed away.

He didn't want to intervene and risk a beating from Ariel.

"Alright, then, Have a great time."

With these words, Otto left the barracks, leaving Kairos behind…

"Heeeeook!!!"

Further detailed explanation is omitted.

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The next day.

The reorganized forces of the Kingdom of Lota immediately began to advance on the territory occupied by Argonne the Great.

Meanwhile, The Great Emperor Argonne also received this news through his spies.

Argonne was no fool, so he had spies planted in every corner of the Loredin Kingdom to gather information.

"Damn it all!!!"

Argonne was enraged upon hearing the news that the Kingdom of Lota was advancing.

He had hoped to bounce back by taking over the Kingdom of Loredin and establishing a dynasty, but the Lota Kingdom's intervention would ruin all of his plans.

If Lota's forces had defeated the other warlords first, it would have given him time to build up his power.

However, reports indicate that the Lota Kingdom forces are pushing steadily toward the territory occupied by Argonne.

The news couldn't have been worse for Argonne, who needed more time.

With the forces that Argonne currently possessed, he would never be able to fight and defeat the forces of the Kingdom of Lota.

"Your Majesty."

Just then, a messenger arrived and knelt before Argonne the Great, delivering news.

"King Otto de Scuderia of the Lota Kingdom has sent a letter to Your Majesty," the messenger reported to Argonne the Great.

"What? Otto de Scuderia?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Read it."

"T-That…"

The messenger couldn't easily read the letter from Otto.

"Hurry up and read it," Argonne commanded.

"Kill me, your majesty."

The messenger dropped to the ground and implored, refusing to read the letter.

Seeing the messenger's behavior, Argonne guessed the content of Otto's letter at once.

"Did Otto de Scuderia… recommend that I surrender?"

A smile appeared on Argonne's lips as he asked the messenger.

** ** **

TL/N:

1. 어르신 – Elder – Is the (Polite Form) When addressing one's father's friend or an elderly person older than him. (Someone asked why Kairos often time gets called Senior – Camille, Elder – Elise)

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