Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 468

The Emperor’s Thunder Cage Dome seemed to be held back; its tips were dulled, and none of them pierced me.

However, the impact of countless iron masses colliding was immense. I couldn’t stay standing, and I fell to my knees, gasping for breath.

Then, whether the Emperor ordered it or not, I was surrounded by many demons, but they were all erased without a trace by a rain of light.
I don’t know what happened, and I can’t keep up with it.
What the hell happened?

“You’re all beat up. You took quite a beating, Yamato.”

The moment I heard that voice, a jolt ran down my spine.
No way… no, that couldn’t be…
But… but, that voice…!

“F-Father…?”

I managed to turn around and, squinting through my blurry eyes, saw that it was my father, Asuka Mikami.
Why was Father here… at the Helios Orb…?

“I don’t know about those wings, but the mechanical parts are likely magical tools, right? You succeeded in Engraving Fusion without us having to teach you. Well done.”

Tears welled up in my eyes.
It wasn’t that Father rarely praised me, but he rarely praised me for engraving magic.
He was quite strict, and he’d give me assignments as if it were obvious, making me think he was a demon.
But my Father was praising me?

“I don’t understand the situation well, but that person is your enemy, right?”

I couldn’t form words properly, so I nodded to affirm it.

“I-Impossible… To my forces, so easily… No, could it be you… I haven’t forgotten that face! Asuka Mikami!”
“You know my name. But I don’t know you?”

At Father’s words, the Emperor’s forehead must have been throbbing with a large blue vein.
The Emperor was certainly strong, but he was far from Father’s match.
He probably understood that himself, but the Emperor must not have expected Father to appear here, so he was definitely bewildered.

“You…! You almost killed me once, and yet you’ve forgotten me?! Then I’ll remind you with this!”

However, the Emperor, filled with rage, unleashed the Thunder Cage Dome at Father.

“You feinted an escape and blocked their way, and you create metal from the earth to inflict physical damage. It’s not a bad strategy, but once the trick is revealed, it’s easy to deal with. Like this.”

However, Father, on the spot, created a similar magic array against the Thunder Cage Dome and intercepted it all.
I had no choice but to run, but was this technique insignificant to Father?

“I-Impossible…”
“If you’re satisfied with this level of magic array, you’re at best third-rate. Why would I remember someone like that?”

Father’s words were quite harsh, but he didn’t usually speak like this.
He was usually strict but kind, and he even lectured on engraving magic at domestic high schools several times a month, earning him a good reputation.
However, I had heard that he became incredibly ruthless only towards his enemies.
Though I couldn’t imagine it from his usual demeanor, Father now exuded the exact aura I had heard about.

“Yamato!”
“Yamato! Wh-What terrible injuries!”

That voice was Mako… and Mother?
I hadn’t expected not only Father but also Mother to come to the Helios Orb.

“You… Mako, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s been a while, Asuka. But we can talk about it later. Yamato’s consciousness… is there. So he’s fine.”
“But! But!”

Mother is a worrier.
But as Mako said, if he’s conscious, he’s fine.

“Just watch. ‘Extra Healing’.”
“Huh? Eeh!”
“This is!”

It was no wonder Father and Mother were surprised.
I was engulfed in light, and when it faded, all my injuries, including my fractures, were healed.

“You’ve lost quite a bit of blood too. ‘Blood Healing’. How is it?”
“I’m sorry, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I could see you weren’t being careless, but you should pay more attention to your surroundings. This, though, was also unexpected for me.”
“Yes, I was too focused on him.”

The Emperor’s Thunder Cage Dome was difficult to dodge even by concentrating on it.

“Impossible… Those injuries, healed in an instant!?”
“It seems Abaricia has no healing or recovery magic. Well, that’s only natural.”
“I don’t know who you are, but you’ve hurt our son that much. Do you think you’ll get away with it?”
“We will absolutely not forgive you!”
“Eek!”

The Emperor, glared at not only by Mako but also by Father and Mother, collapsed as if his legs had given out.

“He’s an advocate for the supremacy of engravers. He knew Mako, so perhaps he fought them when Father and Mother were younger?”
“Is that so?”
“It seems so. I don’t remember him either, and I’ve never seen him before, so it was probably after I transferred to the Helios Orb. Oh, right. Can you two track down all those enemies with magic power similar to the ones we just defeated at Assur?”

Suddenly, Mako said something strange, but what was she trying to get Father and Mother to do?

“We can do that. Ah, I see.”
“There are still some left, so you want to wipe them out?”
“Yes. I still have some power left, but it’ll be faster if the two of you do it.”

She wanted Father and Mother to wipe out the remaining demons?
Well, they did have Engraving Divine Artifacts, so they could probably do it easily, but I hadn’t intended for them to get involved.

“Shall we then?”
“I’ll do it. Failnaught, please.”
“Understood.”

I was surprised when Mother’s bow suddenly spoke, but Engraving Divine Artifacts do have consciousness, and I had spoken to one before.

“My lady, the tracking is complete.”
“Understood. Then, here I go~!”

With a vigor unbefitting her age, Mother unleashed Tristan, a Light-Attribute Mythological-Class Tactical Wide-Area Destructive Annihilation Magic Array.
I saw it for the first time, and light arrows similar to the rain of light from before accurately pierced the numerous demons on the battlefield, causing them to vanish into existence.
Mako could cover the entire battlefield, but she didn’t have the destructive power to defeat High Demons comparable to Ancient Classes.
Yet Mother disposed of them with such ease.
I believe Valkyrie was also the god of death who determined the living and the dead on the battlefield.
This sight was truly that of a war goddess carrying death.

“All done.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but Mythological-Class is still amazing. Oh, good work. Sorry to trouble you, Maoh.”
“It’s alright.”

This casualness added to the terror.
Speaking of which, Mako, have you seen a Mythological-Class magic array called Tristan before?

“Yamato, you’re seeing it for the first time, weren’t you?”
“Ah… Yes. I’d heard of it, but I didn’t know it was this amazing…”
“Yamato, are those dragon-like creatures enemies?”
“Dragon-like creatures?”

While I was surprised by Mother’s Mythological-Class magic array, Father prompted me to look towards the sky.
There, Mina, Lydia, and Ludia, who were standing in front of Athena and Eos to protect them as they struggled to maintain their dragonic forms due to Mana Depletion, were surrounded by dragons.

“What!”
“The red dragons are the enemy. The silver and green ones are our precious comrades, so don’t hurt them, okay?”
“Understood. Caladbolg.”
“Tracking is complete. Whenever you wish, master.”

After hearing from Mako that the Red Dragons were the enemy, Father called out to Caladbolg and swung it casually.
With just that, five Red Dragons attacking Athena and the others were split in half at the torso and fell to the ground.
Two of them seemed to be Burning Dragons, but he took them down in one strike?

“…Huh?”
“Fergus, the Light-Attribute Mythological-Class Tactical Target Attack Interference Magic Array. Has its precision improved since I last saw it?”
“How many years has it been since you disappeared? We’ve also grown stronger to some extent.”

No, no, no, no, with just “some extent,” it’s impossible to cleave O-rank dragons, let alone A-rank, in half!
If I aimed for the neck, I could do it, but I’m not confident I could cleave such a massive body in half even with Blading.
I recall Fergus being the wielder of Caladbolg, and there was an anecdote about him cutting through three mountains at once, but even so, this is too incredible.

“They’re more fragile than I thought. I expected dragons to be harder.”
“That’s something you can say, Asuka.”

Mako was looking at Father with extreme exasperation, but I was just trying to comprehend what had happened.
When I looked up at the sky again, Mina and the others were also looking at us, their faces filled with confusion about what had just happened.
Of course, they would be.

“Still, you’re fighting quite a troublesome opponent, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“From the dragons cut by Fergus, I felt a disturbance in their imprints, similar to the ones Mother defeated. Isn’t that right, Caladbolg?”
“That is correct.”

Seriously? Is that true?
The fact that Father felt a disturbance in their magic power, similar to the demons Mother defeated, suggests that those dragons were also used with Demon Crystals.
But Father couldn’t possibly know about Demon Crystals, yet Caladbolg could even grasp the disturbance in their magic power.
Are Engraving Divine Artifacts capable of anything?

“Now, the only ones left are you and the Red Dragons behind you. What will you do? If you want to continue, I’ll be your opponent next. Well, if you want to run, I’ll let you go this time.”

Even after being healed, my Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green was broken, so I was far from my best.
However, Mako seemed to have evolved into an Element Human as her magic power increased, and her compatibility with the enemy seemed better than mine.
One reason I struggled was the existence of the Blood Ruby Dragon, but in perfect condition, I could probably defeat it.
I’d like to return the favor if possible, but I wouldn’t mind defeating them outright if I could.

“D-Don’t regret this!”

The Emperor climbed onto the back of a surviving Red Dragon and fled towards the eastern sea.

“Aren’t you going to pursue?”
“It’s fine this time. I want to repay the debt with my own hands, you know? Right, Yamato?”
“Of course.”

I have a desire to settle this myself if possible, and even if I defeat the Emperor in the Philia Continent, it probably won’t mean anything.
For some reason, I feel that to truly settle this, I’ll need to go to Abaricia.
It’s a vague intuition, but I believe Mako felt the same way, which is why she let the Emperor escape.

“I see.”

Father nodded with his eyes closed, as if he understood something.
Perhaps Father and Mother were looking for me, but with my words, they must have understood that I had no intention of returning.

“Yamato, are you alright? Your injuries… are properly healed, right?”
“I’m fine. It was the worst injury I’ve ever had, but they’re properly healed.”
“Oh, good…”

Mother placed her hands all over me, her face full of worry, but she relaxed when I moved my arms and legs properly.
This overprotectiveness… brings back memories.

“Yamato!”
“Are you alright?”

At this timing, Mina, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, and Eos, who had reverted from their dragonic forms, flew in.
Looking towards the main camp, I saw Raus and Rex and the others heading this way as well.

“I’m fine. It was close, though.”
“Oh, thank goodness…”
“So… um, who are these people?”

After showing relief at my safety, their gaze towards Father and Mother turned a little stern.
They suddenly appeared on the battlefield and wiped out both demons and dragons in an instant.
Even I, who saw it directly, couldn’t quite grasp what had happened.
Furthermore, Mother was clinging to me, so it was understandable that their gazes were stern.

“This is my Father, and this is my Mother.”
“…What?”
“Eh? Yamato’s Father and…?”
“Mother? Eh?”
“Um, seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Seriously.”
““““EEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!””””

Yeah, they’d be surprised.
I never thought I’d see them again, let alone here.

“Yamato, who are these children?”
“Ah… um, well…”

Here, I faltered.
If I honestly introduced them all as my wives, Mother would certainly turn into a grim reaper.
Having just seen her power up close, I was genuinely scared.

“They’re Yamato’s wives. Including me.”
“…What?”
“Wives…?! Yamato, what’s going on! And Mako too!?”
“Calm down, Mother! I’ll explain everything!!”

Mother grabbed my shoulders and shook me with all her might.
She’s incredibly strong for her small stature!

“Calm down, Mother-in-law.”
“Being called Mother-in-law by Mako feels really strange!”

I’ll bet.
I heard from Mako that she’s the same age, but when she transferred to the Helios Orb, there was a time lag, so her actual age is four years older than mine.
On the other hand, Mother must have been 46 this year.
She looks young for her age, but it was the same on Earth, and she hasn’t changed much since coming to the Helios Orb, which is puzzling.
No, maybe she’s looked a little younger?

“Yamato, you’ll explain things in detail, won’t you?”
“That’s the plan. So can you let go of my shoulder? It’s digging in, and it really hurts!”

Father, on his end, was gripping my left shoulder with immense strength.
It hurt so much I thought my shoulder would be crushed!
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme!
Seriously, let go!