Absolute Ark, age fifteen.
Finally, Absolute turned fifteen.
Starting this spring, he would be attending the academy in the royal capital for three years, and his entrance there marked the start of the original story. Preparations to fight the Hero were steadily progressing.
Chris and Lady Cruel had been mediating, and his relationship with the nobles under the Ark House was good. In the original story, Maria Stella, who was supposed to be a companion of the Hero, had become his slave and was now by his side. Their relationship was also good, with Maria barging in whenever she pleased, and they always took baths together.
How lewd.
Even more significantly, Prince Michael had been removed from his position as Crown Prince. This meant he could no longer mobilize large armies.
After that, the plan was to crush the Hero’s growth events at the academy and interfere with him while working on the Saint.
Now fifteen, Absolute had to fight his father, Villain, today to inherit the Ark family’s Unique Magic.
The father and son faced each other in the indoor training ground inside the Ark House’s mansion.
As if it were the calm before a storm, the air was tense.
“The Ark family’s Unique Magic, 【Spirit Summoning】, is a magic that summons and controls high-level spirits. This magic was passed down after the first head of the Ark House formed a bond with the Spirit King. To inherit it, you must kill the current owner and seize the 【Spirit Crest】 embedded in their body. Of course, I don’t intend to just let you kill me. Absolute, prepare yourself.”
(I never thought the Ark family’s magic was so messed up. Was the reason Villain didn’t appear in the original story because he was already dead from the inheritance? The Ark House is steeped in blood, isn’t it?)
“Father, I am prepared. If I recall correctly, the last time we sparred was when I was ten years old.”
The two glared at each other, trying to gauge the right moment to strike.
As the arena fell silent, Absolute made the first move.
“【Dark Hole】.”
Absolute used his signature magic right from the start. Countless arms of magic power emerged from the darkness and attacked Villain.
But Villain didn’t flinch.
He drew his sword and imbued it with magic.
“Black Flame Slash!”
Villain wrapped his sword in black flames and launched a flaming slash that cut through the arms of magic power.
Absolute was surprised. Absolute’s level was currently over 90. And the average level of soldiers in this world was 20. In the original Rainana Kingdom Story, Absolute was the only character he knew of who was above level 50. But he felt that Villain’s power was definitely above level 50.
“Absolute, even from a parent’s perspective, you’re strong. But I’ve been through more battlefields than you. It might be harsh to say to someone so young, but… Now, it’s my turn!”
Villain held his sword overhead and closed the distance in an instant, slashing at Absolute. Absolute parried with his own sword, and the two blades clashed.
Keeeeeeeeen!
Their strength seemed evenly matched.
But Villain was on the offensive.
He sent a sweeping slash toward the lower part of Absolute’s body, which was difficult to defend against.
Absolute kicked off the ground and dodged into the air, but as if Villain had anticipated this, his thrust attacked Absolute.
“【Dark Hole】!”
Using the magic arms, he forcefully pushed his body away, dodging the thrust. Villain’s thrust cut through the air, and the lost thrust pierced the wall.
It was an attack boasting power that wouldn’t leave anyone unscathed if it hit.
Absolute didn’t think his father, who should have been at a lower level, would be this strong.
(He’s the man who has been protecting the Rainana Kingdom from behind the scenes for many years. I knew he was strong, but I never imagined he’d be this strong…)
Until now, their powers had been balanced, but gradually Villain began to be pushed back. Absolute was serious, but still had some reserve strength, while Villain had to use all his strength against Absolute’s overwhelming power. In other words, he was running out of stamina.
“The momentum is on my side. Here I come!”
Absolute’s overwhelming difference in power unleashed a barrage on Villain.
♢
“You’ve become strong… Absolute.”
His heart warmed at the sight of his son displaying strength beyond what he had expected.
Absolute’s mother had left the Ark House soon after giving birth to Absolute. He, as his father, had been too busy with work to spend much time with him. In the special household that was the Ark House, he had been forced to stand on the battlefield from a young age.
Even though it was to protect the country and territory from the forces of other countries, he was filled with a sense of guilt toward Absolute.
Villain felt a parent’s heart, honestly rejoicing at Absolute’s growth, as well as a sense of guilt for making him bear the heavy responsibility of the Ark House from a young age, forcing him to become strong.
Villain’s heart was complex.
“This is the end! Surpass me, Absolute!! Unique Magic 【Spirit Summoning】—【Ark Summon】! Appear, 【Creation Spirit】!”
The Unique Magic to summon and control spirits, 【Spirit Summoning】—【Ark Summon】.
The summoned spirits were chosen from among the twelve spirits under the direct control of the Spirit King, known as the 【Spirit King's Lineage】.
Their rank as spirits was second only to the Spirit King, and their power was immense.
However, many spirits couldn’t be summoned depending on the individual’s aptitude and compatibility with the spirit, and Villain could only summon up to three of the twelve spirits.
This time, the 【Creation Spirit】 was summoned. It was a spirit specialized in combat.
With its release, the spirit summoned by Villain revealed itself. It had a humanoid appearance, like a white knight. It was an existence with beauty that humans couldn’t match.
The Creation Spirit deployed numerous magic circles and launched advanced magic one after another.
【Burning】, 【Aqua Call】, 【Earth Crush】, 【Meteor One】
Hellfire, tsunamis, giant rocks, and balls of magic power like meteorites attacked Absolute.
“Is this… a disaster, or something? A high-ranking spirit from the 【Spirit King’s Lineage】… This is too unfair.”
The lawless technique of being able to deploy high-level magic that only those with high levels could use at the same time.
The overwhelming magic power that made that lawless technique possible.
This was the power of a high-ranking spirit.
“【Dark Hole】.”
Absolute defended against it with countless arms of magic power. The magical abilities of both the spirit and Absolute were evenly matched.
“You have strong power, but you don’t know how to fight. You can’t win just by firing off strong magic. 【Creation Spirit】.”
The spirit was too preoccupied with the magic arms and had left Absolute unattended. Absolute closed the distance with the spirit and punched it away.
“……”
“It’s over. 【Dark Hole】.”
The spirit was restrained by the arms of magic power where it had been punched away, and the battle with the spirit was over.
“It’s come to this, huh? You’ve become strong… Absolute.”
“Since the outcome has already been decided, I don’t want to do anything like kicking a corpse. In the first place, what’s the inheritance system like?”
“How naive… I see. I can’t bear to make my son shoulder such a burden. Was my father feeling the same way?”
Villain tried to pierce his own heart with his own sword.
“What?! Why?”
Villain was about to pierce his chest, but Absolute’s magic arms prevented his suicide.
“What are you doing, Absolute! If I don’t die, you can’t inherit the Unique Magic!”
“…Father. You’ve thrown away your own life for the sake of this country. And yet, you’re going to end your life just to pass on the Unique Magic? I don’t want power that I’ve gained by sacrificing my own parent.”
The Absolute from the original story probably didn’t hesitate to inherit this power because death had become commonplace for him. But the current Absolute, who possessed the values of his previous life, couldn’t accept it.
“…You’re really naive. But what are you going to do? You can’t form a contract with the spirit unless I die.”
Absolute already had a solution.
“I’ve thought about that. Please let me directly contract with the spirit that Father summoned. Compared to the Unique Magic, I can only control the contracted spirit, but let’s consider that the inheritance ceremony. As for the Unique Magic, I’ll inherit it after Father dies of old age.”
“It takes a tremendous amount of magic power to contract with a high-level spirit. It’s impossible for a human… No, you, with your abnormal amount of magic power, might be able to do it.”
Villain laughed at the idea that he had never even considered.
“I see… The loser will obey what the winner says. Absolute. You haven’t been able to perform a full-fledged inheritance, but you will certainly gain the power of the spirit. Three years from now, at the same time as you graduate from the academy, you will be the head of the Ark House.”
“I humbly accept.”
In this way, the Unique Magic inheritance was settled by quasi-reproducing Ark Summon by making a contract with the spirit.
◆
◇Villain’s perspective
Villain Ark was currently meeting with the King at the Royal Castle.
“To think I’d see you alive again… In any case, I’m glad you’re alive, Villain.”
The King and Villain exchanged a firm handshake. The two were childhood friends who had grown up together since they were young.
“Ah, I failed to die. I never thought I, who killed so many people and even laid hands on my own father, would survive.”
Villain mocked himself.
“Don’t say that. You, the Ark House, are contributing more than anyone else for the sake of the country. Just because we’re childhood friends, you’ve helped me many times. I’m really happy that you’re alive, Villain!”
The two had been together since they were young. It was a relationship of friends to bind the Ark House to the royal family, but even so, the two were certainly friends.
“Actually, I wanted Michael to get along with Absolute like me and Villain did. Even from my perspective as king, Absolute is too talented. Michael’s inferiority complex and prejudice mean that a good relationship with Absolute can no longer be hoped for. Have you thought about a marriage between Absolute and my daughter Haniel?”
The King wanted to tie Absolute to the royal family at any cost. He gave up on building a friendship with Michael and was planning to welcome him as a son-in-law to his daughter Haniel.
“Sorry. I was planning to die soon, so I forgot. I was going to hand it all over to Absolute after I died.”
Villain laughed nonchalantly, but the King’s shoulders slumped at that answer.
“Well, Absolute doesn’t say it, but he’s disgusted with getting his hands dirty behind the scenes for the royal family and the country like I am. When Absolute becomes the head of the house, he won’t work for the royal family, who have nothing to do with him. If the royal family can’t provide a reward that Absolute is satisfied with, the back-end work will be discontinued in my generation.”
The King clutched his head at Villain’s words.
The next head of the Ark House, who was secretly protecting the national defense of the current Rainana Kingdom, was dissatisfied with the royal family. There was also the failure with Michael’s case.
The King was plotting to have Absolute and his daughter engaged at any cost.
◆
Absolute was finally able to contract with a spirit. This power would be a great asset in fighting the Hero in the future.
Absolute chose one of the three spirits out of the twelve that his father could summon with 【Spirit Summoning】—【Ark Summon】 and contracted with it.
Absolute checked the abilities of the spirit he had contracted with.
“The type of spirit is 【Devotion Spirit】… A spirit specializing in support. Its abilities are magic range expansion, body enhancement, and devotion? Is it possible to fight with this? By the way, do you have a name?”
The spirit shook its head.
The spirit could understand his words, but couldn’t speak in the human world.
He wanted to go to the spirit world someday and have a conversation.
“I see. Then I’ll name you Toa. Can Toa shrink?”
Toa changed to about the size of a coin.
“I see… I want you to always be with me from now on. When you’re outside, make your body small and stay on my shoulder. I’m going to be busy after entering the academy, so I’m counting on you, Toa.”
Toa nodded slightly.
※Absolute Ark
15 years old
・【Charisma】V9… Greatly corrects charm.
・【King’s Rule】V9… Increases own stats.
Reduces enemy stats.
・【Absolute Evil】V9… Stats are easier to grow.
Worsens the impression on others.
Special correction for the holy.
Stats
Level: 91
Physical ability: 500
Magic power: 3400
Intelligence: 100
Contracted Spirit
【Devotion Spirit】 (Toa)
Abilities
Magic range expansion Body enhancement Devotion
Acquired Magic
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Recovery, Darkness
Skills
Swordsmanship, Torture, Gore Resistance, Spirit User
