Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 762: Returning [3]

"....Hm!"

The outline of a book appeared before my very eyes. I wasn't even sure about what I was doing, nor knew if it was possible, but thinking about the description that I read before, I started to think that this was perhaps the right path to achieving Domain Integration.

But I wasn't entirely sure.

This was a step that not many had taken, and I had still fully developed my own domain. There was still a lot of work that I needed to put in.

"H-hoo."

Fixing my gaze on my hands, I watched as the orbs gathered before me, fusing one after another, their light swelling brighter with every passing second. The outline of a book soon appeared before my very eyes, and the mana inside of my body started to drain rapidly.

I paid this no mind and remained focused. 'Almost. Almost...'

And then-

**Swooosh!**

A bright light flooded the surroundings.

It pierced through the darkness around me and nearly caused me to stagger back as the mana inside of my body drained even more rapidly. But amidst it all, I could feel something solid starting to form in my grasp.

And when the light finally faded, a book-like shape hovered before my eyes.

Its form and weight mimicked a real book, yet it was anything but ordinary. The shifting outlines pulsed through different colors, while the center remained eerily transparent.

The surroundings grew quiet as I held onto the book.

What had once been a void alive with orbs of every color was now swallowed by absolute darkness.

It was eerie to some extent, and as I stared at the book in my hand, I took a deep breath.

**Fwap! Fwap!**

The book immediately opened, the pages flipping as the book opened at a certain page. The book turned red.

Immediately, the surroundings quaked.

Red hands began to form from beneath the dark world, all shooting up in different directions.

But that wasn't all.

**Fwap! Fwap!**

The pages continued to turn.

A new color.

Green.

Thin green hands shot out from beneath the ground, shooting rapidly all over the dark world as I took in the sight before me.

**Fwap!**

I closed the book.

Everything faded.

I opened it again, and new hands began to appear.

'This...'

There wasn't much of a difference compared to the past. It was practically the same, but as I looked at the book in my hands, I knew that this wasn't all that the book could do. The possibilities with my domain were endless as the book suddenly glowed once more.

Suddenly, it started to take real form.

An old leather case began to take shape, the weight of the book growing heavier with it. The pages turned lifelike, and a faint smell of rot spread through the air, followed by the book itself beginning to decay.

**Fwap! Fwap!**

As the book opened once more, new hands began to emerge.

They were dark green in color, but there was a certain life-like element to them that made me pause for a moment, as it almost felt like I was looking at real hands. Holding onto the book, the outlines turned red.

Immediately after, the outlines of the dark green hands also turned red.

The hands grew in size, but they retained their decay-like properties.

"H-ho."

I had to gulp for air, my mind straining to keep focused as I explored all of the possibilities before my very eyes. Lifting my head, it was almost as if I could see it.

The tall wall that stood before me.

Waiting for me to climb it.

The book in my hand was the first clue to climbing the wall as the domain started to solidify further. I was still missing something, but I was now closer than ever.

**Fwap!**

Closing the book in my hand, the darkness that engulfed my surroundings faded.

In its place was a relatively sized training room.

Looking around, I grabbed a towel and wiped my face with it.

"...I've made some progress here. However, there are still more things that I need to practice."

In particular, the strange sword style that I had caught a glimpse of back in the Rite.

The one related to emotions and the old style that I used to use.

"But it's not like I can rush that one."

I wasn't good with the sword. Even if I was talented with it, I just wasn't good at it. My basics were terrible, and with all of the things that I needed to take care of, I didn't have the time to practice them.

Thankfully, I didn't have to.

"The more I recover my memories, the more the basics will return to me. In fact, I probably don't have to train. I just have to wait for the memories to slowly return to me. In the meantime, I should focus on what I can control."

"That's a good plan."

Amidst my practice, a certain voice echoed.

I slowly raised my head and looked towards the door.

I soon opened my mouth.

"...I figured that while using the sword might bring me some advantages since it was something that we used to practice in the past, at the end of the day, I'm not the same as I once was. It just no longer suits me as much."

"That is perfectly fine. I had expected this to happen."

"I know."

When did I not expect anything?

I momentarily closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"You're not going to tell me who the traitor is, right?"

"...I would if I knew it myself. They're being protected by 'them.'"

"So I take it that I'm not the traitor."

"Possibly."

"Possibly...?"

"Your memories are my memories. What you remember is what I currently remember. We're both the

same person."

"I... see."

I looked back, only to see that the space was empty.

I stood and walked toward the door. I'd had enough training for today. I needed to get ready for the upcoming announcement.

I was soon going to be officially engaged.

***

The next day.

There was only one day left until the announcement.

News of the announcement had already made a buzz throughout the entire Empire. Be it those from this

Empire, or those from other Empires, everyone was curious.

This was only natural.

After all, one of the strongest people in the entire world was about to be engaged.

Everyone was curious.

I looked at the newspaper in front of me and read the headline out loud.

"Mystery fiancé! Who could it be? After digging through, we've found an answer! It is speculated that the

mystery fiancée is none other than the Prince himself-"

I tossed the newspaper across the living room table before finishing it. Just looking at it made my

stomach turn.

Leon stood next to me, barely holding onto his laugh.

"What's so funny?"

Linus, on the other hand, looked confused.

"If you think about it, he's the most likely candidate to be the mysterious fiance. Not only is he handsome,

but he's also a prince. He's also fairly tal-Hm!"

Linus's words came to an abrupt halt as Leon appeared behind him, holding onto his mouth.

This caused Linus to flay his hands in protest, but Leon didn't let go, keeping hold of his mouth and

preventing him from speaking.

"Just stop speaking."

Leon warned him, pulling him back.

"Hmm! Hmmm!"

Linus didn't seem to get the clue as he continued to protest, but I soon stood up and calmly walked in his

direction.

"Linus."

Leon looked at me and shook his head.

"No, he's still your brother. You-"

"Do you want to go to the comedy club again?"

"...!?" "...!"

Leon's face paled. Linus's, too.

I smiled then.

"So let go of him. I'm just going to have a nice talk with him."

"You may do as you wish with him. Kill him. Skin him alive. I'll turn a blind eye to it."

"Heeey." Linus protested, looking at Leon as though he were a maniac. I just smiled and placed my hand over Linus's shoulders. I had this entire lecture planned in my mind, but before I even had the chance to speak

it, someone entered the room.

"Family Head!"

One of the family's butlers rushed in, panic written across their face. One look was enough to wipe the

smile from mine, and I knew the situation was serious.

Or at least, that was what I initially thought.

"The guest... He's gone!"

"Gone?"

I looked at Leon as he looked back at me.

The smile eventually returned to my face as I looked at the butler.

"If it's just that, then there's no issue."

"Is there not...?"

"Yes, no problem."

The butler's expression shifted several times as he tried to mask his confusion, much like Linus at that

moment.

I explained the situation to them.

"He left late last night. Leon was the one to tell me."

"Yes."

Leon nodded and unsheathed his sword, showing it to Linus. The moment it caught the chandelier's light,

it gleamed brilliantly, though he quickly sheathed it again. One look was enough to know it was razor-

sharp.

"Wait, he made the sword...?"

Linus traced the sword with his eyes.

"When did he-"

"He did it right after we agreed to the deal. He only handed it to me yesterday."

"And you just let him leave like this?"

"Yes. Since he's fulfilled his end of the deal, there was no need to keep him here. Our job was to help him

escape. Since we did that, and he also gave me the sword, I didn't see why I'd keep him here."

"...Oh.

At that, Linus had nothing else to say.

I was also like this yesterday night, but Leon's words made sense.

"I did put a couple of tails on him, but I'm sure they're going to lose sight of him eventually. He's pretty

sharp with this stuff!"

I had experienced it firsthand.

'...It's also a pity that I couldn't get my ring fixed, but it's not like I can force him to do it. I'm also not sure

if I should be wearing this. Might be a little dangerous.'

As I turned to focus my attention back on the newspaper, the butler walked up to me again.

"Family Head."

"Yes...?"

"Here."

The butler handed me an envelope. I stared at it with a blank look before looking at the butler.

"This is...?"

"It was left on the guest's bed. It was left for you to read."

"Me?"

"Yes."

I frowned, looking at the letter. Eventually, I nodded and opened it. But the moment I did, my expression

changed as I crumbled up the letter in my hand.

"Fuck."

This letter...

It came from the Emperor of the Aetheria Empire. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)