Reborn As Papa Silva

Welcome Back To The Present

—

Love is an obsessive delusion that is cured by marriage - Phil Spector

—

Standing in front of Nozel's bedroom door, Dorothy sported a rare somber expression. With a sigh, she raised her hand and knocked.

Rap! Rap! Rap!

After three repeats, her fiancé's voice came from the other side. "It's unlocked. Come in, Dorothy."

Dorothy didn't waste a second. She gently turned the doorknob and pushed the door forward, stepping in and closing it behind her in one swift movement.

All this time, she never broke her gaze from Nozel, who was sitting at the edge of his bed, looking up at her unreadably.

Dorothy walked forward and crossed her arms, looking downward at her fiancé. Well, it would have been downward, but with Dorothy's very short height and Nozel's rather tall one, even sitting, they were still close to eye level.

Nozel met her gaze evenly, causing her to sigh and twirl her hair—almost casually, if not for her thin-lipped grimace. "Are you sure you want to do this? This is kind of going behind Mom and Dad's back… breaking their trust."

Nozel absentmindedly clenched his bedsheets as he answered softly. "I'm well aware, Dorothy… and sorry for asking this of you… but there are some things I need to know… I need to see… So please, do this for me."

As Nozel noticed Dorothy was on the fence, visibly struggling—on one hand wanting to help him, but also not wanting to betray his parents—he spoke again.

"Please. Father now is just too different from the one I've always known. I want to understand him better… and I need to understand why Mother stuck with him despite everything he's done."

At those words, Dorothy's shoulders slumped backward, defeated, before she nodded with an audible sigh. "Fine. But don't blame me if you see anything weird. Do remember Mom and Dad have four kids."

Nozel flushed slightly and nodded awkwardly. "I-I can handle that."

Dorothy shrugged and snapped her fingers. Instantly, both of them were encased in a swirling vortex of purple, pink, coral, and other such colors.

And then they found themselves in the infinite Glamour World, sitting side by side on a floating couch.

A moment later, just as Nozel was gathering himself, he paused as another Dorothy—one with a blank, near-lifeless stare—floated toward him, holding a decent-sized orb of orange in her hands.

The orb drifted out from her hand, floating in front of Nozel, before the clone vanished into nothingness.

Nozel raised a brow before his fiancé—the real Dorothy, seated beside him—spoke softly. "I ordered my clone to seal Mom and Dad's dream into this orb. All you have to do is touch it, and you'll see everything they did, in an instant."

Nozel paused before nodding, and with a slight gulp, he outstretched his right arm and reached for the orb.

The moment his fingers brushed against it, the orb turned into motes of light, shooting into his body. Then Nozel froze.

He went blank. Like a statue.

Dorothy waited for him to snap out of it a moment later, but he didn't. She raised a brow as Nozel remained frozen in that position.

"Nozel?" she called out.

She got no response. A foreboding feeling crept up her spine as she gave him a pat on the back.

"Nozel, what's wrong? Talk to me."

Still frozen. Still no response. She bit her lip, a feeling of inner panic consuming her. Just as she was about to jolt him to his senses, Nozel finally moved.

He sat back on the couch, slouching almost uncharacteristically, and craned his head toward Dorothy.

Dorothy's pupils dilated, and her breath hitched as she got a good look at him.

He was still—almost eerily slow—not a tremble or shiver in his body, but tears spilled from his eyes like a steady stream.

Dorothy had never seen Nozel cry. The closest thing had been their emotional talk that night when she first came to House Silva.

Nozel crying felt so wrong. Looked so wrong. Seemed so wrong. So out of place.

Dorothy felt a pang of heartache, her breath escaping her for a moment before she shook her head. "N-Nozel… w-what happened? A-are you alright?" She knew he wasn't, but she was just trying to get him to say something.

"Nozel, talk to me. W-what did you see?"

Nozel's dull gaze focused somewhat as he sobbed and choked up. "A-all this time… h-he loved me… l-loved us… and n-now he's gone. I-I d-didn't even get to give him a—ahh ahh ahh ahhh!"

Dorothy went stiff as Nozel suddenly lunged at her, bawling into her chest, weeping and shivering in a way that was reminiscent of a baby—of an emotionally unstable child.

Not Nozel Silva, the steady and unflappable young Lord of House Silva.

Dorothy abruptly wrapped her arms around his back, drawing soothing circles as she gulped and whispered, trying to seem as calm as possible.

"W-who loved you? W-who's gone? Who are you talking about—"

"Dad!" Nozel screamed into her chest, cutting her off, leaving her frozen all over again as he shivered further. "My dad's gone!"

Huh? Huh? Huh? W-what is he talking about?! Dorothy felt the hairs on her back stand up, her stomach churning as she shook her head. "W-what are you talking about, Nozel? Dad's with Mom. I-I just saw them a few minutes ago."

Dorothy's voice came out desperate, almost like she was convincing herself. But despite her common sense telling her Sebastian was fine, Nozel wasn't lying. He wasn't the type to—not to her, not about things like this.

His emotions were fully genuine, and she didn't even need to leverage her authority as the ruler of Glamour World to verify it.

"H-he's gone, Dorothy! I-I'm telling you… he's gone…" Nozel whimpered further, collapsing in her lap.

Dorothy was like a statue—pale and lifeless—before she abruptly bit her lip to focus. Then she no longer suppressed her powers as the ruler of this space.

She needed to know—to understand—what Nozel was talking about. So she read his mind.

And then, in an instant, in a split second, she saw it. That dream. And just like Nozel, tears fell from her eyes onto his head.

He didn't move. Nor did Dorothy try to wipe them away.

"Oh… I get it…" she whispered absentmindedly. "Dad's still here, alive, with us. But at the same time… he's not really Dad anymore…"

Nozel stiffly nodded, his face buried in her lap as she ran her hands through his hair.

At the same time, both of them had the same thought, their sorrow giving way to hatred—unbridled hatred—as they envisioned a figure.

Julius Novachrono's face appeared in their minds. But now his blonde hair was black, and a sun mark adorned his right temple.

Lucius… they thought simultaneously.

One day. One day, I swear I'll kill you.

They both made a silent vow to end the person who broke their dad, tortured him, ruined his life, changed him, and ultimately took him from them.

—

In Sebastian and Acier's bedroom, the couple, having shed their fair share of tears, lay somewhat awkwardly next to each other, staring up at the ceiling.

A moment later, Sebastian bit his lip and parted his mouth softly. "If this is uncomfortable for you… I can go—"

He didn't get to finish as Acier placed a hand on his mouth, never breaking her gaze from the ceiling as she shook her head back and forth.

"No. This is just a bit of an adjustment. I'll need a little time to get used to it. Don't you dare try to put distance between us again and make something simple difficult."

Sebastian's heart raced for a moment before he slowly lifted Acier's hand off his mouth and held it gently. Seeing her not even tense, feeling not the slightest discomfort from her despite the contact, warmed his heart.

He craned his head to look at her, while Acier turned on her side to look at him, gently reaching out and placing a hand on his cheek.

Once again, Sebastian whispered, "But at the end of the day… I'm not really him… not really them… doesn't that disturb you?"

Acier never interrupted him once before she smiled softly. "Of course it does. That's why I said it's a bit of an adjustment."

"But also, at the end of the day, although you're a bit different, you are still my original Sebby. Just because your personality and mannerisms might be a bit different, you are still the same man I fell in love with. The same man I promised a lifetime with, and who promised to give me his everything. I intend to keep my promise. What about you?"

Sebastian flushed ever so slightly before nodding stiffly. "A-as long as you'll have me, I-I'm not going anywhere."

Acier's smile broadened as she nodded in content. "Good. You've escaped my grasp twice. They say the third time's the charm. So I won't let go this time, nor will I let anyone take you from me."

All of a sudden, Sebastian felt the mood change. He didn't see Acier blush dangerously or her eyes turn heart-shaped, but cold sweat ran down his back.

Forcing a smile, Sebastian nodded. "L-like I said, I'm not going anywhere… but c-could you be a dear and explain to me w-what you mean?"

Acier's hold on his cheek tightened ever so slightly as she smiled, still carefree. "Sebby, my dear, beloved Sebby. You've been through a lot, so, so, so very much…"

Sebastian's hair stood on end. He didn't like where this was going, so he tried to intervene with a forced grin.

"Hah hah hah, i-it wasn't that much, n-nothing particularly special—"

"Sebby. Don't interrupt me. I'm not finished."

Acier smiled sweetly. Sebastian didn't find it very sweet.

So he simply nodded.

Acier's soft smile returned as she carried on like nothing had happened. "You were abused and cheated by your parents. I dragged you through a lot of tough things during our youth. My grandpa tried to kill you. All this time, you had a sister you never told me about, one whose stillbirth was primarily my family's fault…"

Acier's displeasure leaked into her actions as she pinched Sebastian's cheek, making him wince in pain. She didn't care as she continued on.

"Oh yeah, you even used some of your lifespan to save my life, another stupid thing."

Sebastian, forced another smile, "I-I think I got that back though-" Sebastian cut himself off, as he noticed Acier's dark grin. With a nod she carried on.

"You endured sixteen years of hell as a parasite controlled your body, making everyone you love and care for hate you, while another part of you lived a fake life. You were targeted by forces so far above you for simply being my husband and the lord of this place."

Sebastian didn't like the self-blame in Acier's voice. He was about to make that feeling known, but she shook her head.

"Like I said, Sebby, I'm not done. Even if my family was responsible for much of what you've been through, that doesn't mean I'm going to divorce you or let you go, despite it probably making things safer for you. After all, I really, really, really, really, really love my Sebby and need you in my life."

Sebastian shivered and gulped. "S-so, w-what are you going to do, then?"

Acier smiled brightly. "The outside world is just too dangerous for you, Sebby. I'll keep you where it's safe—in my basement, in the dungeon, locked up, where no one can get to you but me… Oh, and our children every now and then, when they want to see their father."

Sebastian froze before laughing with visible strain. "Hah hah hah, t-that's really funny, Acier—"

Sebastian's laughter died in his throat as he took in his wife's carefree smile. He gulped again.

"T-that was a joke, right?"

Acier ran a hand through his hair, never losing her smile, as she whistled in a honeyed tone. "Guess."

Sebastian blinked, before his eyes dulled, defeated. He understood that one of the goals behind the dream dive—the one to get to the bottom of Acier's obsession with him and hopefully resolve it—was an utter failure.

I made things worse.

Sebastian wanted to find Azazel and squeeze the devil to death. I feel like I got scammed.

Wordlessly, he rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling once more. Acier smiled and rested her head against her husband's chest, drifting back into pleasant sleep, looking forward to tomorrow.

Sebastian didn't.

Sebastian felt tired, but he wouldn't be getting any sleep as his thoughts consumed him.

Sebastian found himself dreading the day Acier was back to full health. I feel like I just saw my future… and my freedom… slipping away.

His newfound confidence in his improved strength went down the drain as quickly as it had come.

I need to get a good grasp on my new powers as soon as possible… I need to be ready for Acier if she tries anything extreme.

Unfortunately for him, fate had never been kind.

Acier's complete recovery would come much sooner than he could predict.

—

A figure, their appearance obscured by a heavy brown cloak, ran.

They ran from the arctic, frigid north of Spade, across the world to the warm South.

They ran through the grand magic zones, following the voice in their head—an ancient yet youthful voice—guiding them, leading them away from their pursuers and toward where it claimed they both wanted and needed to be.

The voice helped them dodge magic beasts—beasts they had once slain as easily as breathing, but which now posed a fatal threat to them in their current condition.

The voice helped them evade Diamond scouts and pass through undetected.

The voice helped them navigate through the Witch's Forest without stirring a soul or drawing the detection of any gaze or patrol.

The floating golems and sentinels didn't even seem to notice the figure, despite them being right under their eyes.

The cloaked figure continued to run, gasping for breath, starving. The voice in their head guided them to food, water, sustenance—enough to get them through the journey.

The voice led them to shelter, safe places to sleep during the nights.

And then, at last, the voice led the figure to their supposed destination—a quaint village where the skull of an ancient demon sat.

The voice led them deep into the village, where they spotted a church, visibly under construction and renovation.

And then the voice in their head went silent.

Finally, the figure spoke, his voice distinctly male. "H-hey… a-am I s-supposed to go in there?"

The voice in his head—the mysterious voice that had brought him back and saved him—didn't respond. It was gone.

The man bit his lip and clenched his fists before running up to the door in the dead of night and knocking—politely.

A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man with black hair and a goatee, dressed in priestly robes and wearing a golden cross around his neck.

Father Orsi's pupils dilated as he took in the face beneath the hood, his shock consuming him. "Y-you're…"

The man let out an inward sigh of relief at the stranger's reaction. It seemed the voice hadn't lied to him—this was indeed where he was supposed to be.

As Father Orsi stepped aside, the man, offering a polite nod, stepped into the church.

—

"Sebby…" Acier groaned.

"No!" Sebastian shook his head like a petulant child. "She's mine! Get your own!"

"But she's mine too! It's my turn—hand her over!" Acier argued.

"No!" Sebastian shook his head again. "I haven't held her in twenty years!"

"Neither have I!" Acier bit her lip.

"Don't care!" Sebastian shook his head once more. "Get your own!"

"Then give me one!" Acier hissed.

Sebastian scrutinized her up and down before shaking his head. "First, get healthy again. Then I'll try my best. But no promises—this is out of my control."

Acier smiled, satisfied. "Don't care. I'm considering it a promise."

Sebastian shrugged indifferently and went back to squishing Noelle's cheeks as the baby sat in his lap at the dining table, munching on her breakfast.

That's right—Sebastian and Acier were fighting over Noelle and who got to hold her.

And that meant Amara, Nozel, Dorothy, Nebra, Solid, Aurelia, Florian, Mimosa, and Kirsch were forced to watch.

Solid blinked before his face lit up with excitement. "D-does that mean we're getting a new baby?!"

Acier smiled at her youngest son and nodded. "Yeah. Your father and I will work hard, and following the pattern, we'll give you a little brother."

Solid looked ecstatic. So did Nebra. Kirsch spouted something magnificent, while Amara, biting her lip, glanced at her daughter across the table and whispered,

"Acier, mind your nuance! Can you not say something so shameless? Y-you're a proper lady!"

Aurelia nodded heavily. "Yes, Sister! Please behave!"

Acier stuck out her tongue.

Meanwhile, Nozel, seated on his grandmother's right, looked at his mother and barely held back a sigh.

You're wrong, Grandmother… Nozel thought inwardly, his neck flushing as he recalled the dream. M-Mother is anything but proper…

Dorothy mirrored that thought as she and Nozel cast Sebastian, who sat at the head of the table playing with Noelle, a complex look.

Their gazes held a mixture of emotions—love, regret, sorrow, nostalgia—but right now, the most prominent were pity and understanding, especially for Nozel.

Father… all this time, I misjudged you… I'm sorry! Nozel declared passionately in his head.

Sebastian, feeling the weight of their stares, turned to his son and daughter-in-law with question marks in his eyes—only for his confusion to deepen when they quickly looked away.

The Silva and Vermillion family ate in silence for a while before Florian broke it.

Looking up from his plate, he coughed into his fist to grab attention, then nodded.

"Well, Brother, Sister, I got a rundown of what you were trying to do from Aurelia. I just have to ask—did you achieve what you set out to do?"

All attention shifted to Sebastian and Acier. The two exchanged a look before Sebastian nodded with a soft smile.

"I suppose we did. Thank you for asking, Florian."

Florian returned his smile and nodded before resuming his meal. "That's wonderful."

Breakfast continued as normal—except for the nearly imperceptible glances Dorothy and Nozel kept sneaking toward Sebastian.

They weren't imperceptible to him.

Or to Acier.

Both of them suppressed their heavy frowns.

—

Sebastian, Acier, Dorothy, and Nozel sat in Sebastian's study, waiting for the Fausts and Agrippas to arrive for Acier's appointment.

Sebastian and Acier exchanged a look, taking in Nozel's and Dorothy's awkward expressions and subtle squirming.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes and spoke up. "You saw it."

It wasn't a question—it was a statement. One that made the two teens freeze, their blood running cold. Slowly, they met Sebastian's gaze and nodded stiffly.

Silence filled the room before Nozel bit his lip and gritted his teeth. "I—I was the one who asked D-Dorothy. She's not at fault—"

"I'm not mad," Sebastian interrupted.

Nozel froze, but Sebastian's next words made both teens stiffen again.

"Both of you deserve to know what happened in that dream. Especially you, Nozel—you deserved to know more than anyone. I just wish you had consulted us and done it in our presence before looking."

Nozel's and Dorothy's eyes watered. Nozel nodded. "I—I'm sorry."

Sebastian sighed and nodded before standing up. The teens tensed as he stepped over the coffee table and knelt in front of them.

"Nozel. Dorothy. Look at me."

They had been averting their gazes somewhat, but at his words, their eyes locked onto his—only to widen at the sight of his soft smile.

"I know this might not have been the outcome you wanted for me, and I'm sorry for that. But I need you both to know—I love you. Nothing will change that. If anything… perhaps I love you both even more than before. So, just give me a chance, alright? I'm still your Dad. I'm still your father. Just as I'm gone… I'm still here."

Tears streamed down their faces, making Sebastian choke up as he wrapped his hands around their necks and pulled them into a bone-tight hug.

"W-why'd you have to fuse?!" Nozel bawled against his father's chest. "W-why couldn't the old you have just absorbed the other?!"

Sebastian's voice was soft. "Did you not like the other me?"

Nozel shook his head violently. "N-no! I—I loved him, b-but the o-old you… the real you… w-was my… my—" His voice broke into choked sobs.

Sebastian held him even tighter, placing a kiss on Nozel's head while Dorothy trembled beside them.

Then, Sebastian whispered again, softly.

"Yes… the old me was your Dad. But the other me… was Dorothy's."

Nozel froze. He knew that. But he still didn't like it. He gritted his teeth and rasped hoarsely, "T-then why couldn't you just not fuse? Nor absorb the other? Both of you could've continued existing…"

Sebastian sighed. "You know the answer to that, Nozel. You're a smart boy. That's not a fair or ideal solution for anyone."

Not to Sebastian, who would have had two souls vying for control of the same body, with no certainty they could endure it forever—taking turns, sharing, constantly struggling for balance.

Not to Acier, who wouldn't be able to tell which Sebastian she was loving at any given moment.

Not to their children.

Acier choked up, walked around, and hugged both teens from behind, making them stiffen all over again as she buried her head between them and whispered,

"I know it's complicated. But the man in front of you is real. He is your Dad. Your father. I swear it—I promise."

Dorothy and Nozel only looked slightly better—less uncertain, but not yet convinced.

Sebastian sighed.

Sometimes, when you try to accommodate everyone, to give everyone everything… you end up giving no one anything.

The Sebastian in front of them was both Dorothy's and Nozel's fathers.

And at the same time… he was neither.

He wasn't simply whole again—his soul had changed. It had expanded. Its density, its purity, its essence—both the original Sebastian and the other Sebastian existed within him, and yet… he was something more. Or perhaps, something less.

It wasn't 1 + 1, leading to a bigger 1,  but 1 × 1.

A fusion that still resulted in 1—but a different, unrecognizable 1.

Dorothy slowly raised her head, her eyes puffy and red. "I—I'm trying to get used to this, b-but it's so weird. I—I don't know how to feel about you."

Sebastian didn't look hurt. He just smiled—shaky, but genuine.

"And that's fine. That's completely normal. You're perfectly in the right to feel that way. All I ask is that you give me a chance. And give me time. I'll prove that I'm still your Dad. Both of yours."

Dorothy's lip quivered before she meekly nodded. "A-alright, D-Father."

Sebastian smiled. He felt a slight pang of heartache, but only slight.

"Good girl. Don't force yourself to accept anything you're not comfortable with."

Dorothy nodded again and buried her head back into his shoulder.

Sebastian placed a hand on her head, while Acier ran her fingers through her hair. Then, the two of them looked at Nozel, who slowly raised his head, his eyes still red.

He shivered and shook. "I—I n-never g-got to tell h-him… that I love him. That I was sorry…"

Sebastian gently wiped away Nozel's tears. His own eyes grew misty.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. And as for loving him—trust me, he knew. He still knows. You don't have to say the words I love you to get the message across. You proved it with your actions. By forgiving him. By standing by his side."

Sebastian smiled softly.

"He knew. And he's always known."

Sebastian's voice wavered slightly, but it remained steady as he cupped Nozel's cheek.

"He loved you, Nozel. And I—I always will."

Nozel shivered, then buried his face against Sebastian's chest again.

Sebastian and Acier wrapped their arms around the two teens—their kids—holding them in a tight, warm embrace.

As Dorothy and Nozel's trembling slowly settled, Sebastian and Acier exchanged a look.

A broken, dark look.

One filled with a promise.

A promise of blood.

Of pain.

And of vengeance—on a certain black-haired, sun-marked, piece of goddamn shit.

—

In Glamour World, Acier sat in the middle of a floating sofa, with Dorothy and Nozel seated on either side of her.

Across from them, on another floating sofa, sat the Fausts and Agrippas.

Sebastian wasn't here—he had said he had something to do.

Draven scratched his little goatee, looking bewildered as he studied Acier in devil union.

Acier smiled. "Something wrong, Draven?"

Draven paused before shaking his head. "No… rather, I'd say something is right."

Nozel crossed his arms, frowning. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Everyone turned their attention to the Faust Patriarch, making him freeze for a moment before he intoned curtly,

"The mark—Megicula's curse on Lady Acier's soul—it has… how should I put it? It's softened. It has grown significantly more docile and less erratic."

A pause followed his words. Then, Acier's smile bloomed.

"This," she said, "is the power of love."

Everyone stared at her blankly.

Weirdly.

Including Draven.

Then, suddenly, he froze.

Azazel's voice echoed in his mind.

She's not lying, Master.

Draven blinked.

—

House Silva Private Gym

"Hahaha! Finally! You've kept me waiting long enough, you bastard!!!"

Mereoleona, once again dressed in loose-fitting House Vermillion training robes, grinned ferally as she smacked her fists together, sparks of flame igniting from the impact.

Sebastian, wearing similar robes belonging to House Silva, stood on the other side of the arena, looking at her blankly.

"I merely skipped a day."

"Tch!" Mereoleona frowned in displeasure. "Every second wasted was a second you could've gotten stronger. You wasted a day—that's 86,400 seconds! 86,400 chances and opportunities! What were you doing, sleeping?!"

Sebastian blinked.

Actually, I was… Now, how would you feel if I told you I got stronger by sleeping?

Wisely, he kept that thought to himself and shrugged. "Alright, my fault. Let's start."

Mereoleona smiled victoriously as her crimson grimoire floated in front of her, while Sebastian's blue one did the same.

From across the ring, Mereoleona pulled her arm back like a slingshot, encasing it in roaring flames—her own mana, augmented further by the ambient mana she controlled through Mana Zone.

Then, she punched forward.

A flaming fist rocketed toward Sebastian, producing an audible crack as it tore through the air.

Unfazed, Sebastian mirrored her motion, his own arm encased in swirling water.

His mana reserves were now as vast as Nozel's—still lagging behind Mereoleona's or Acier's, but formidable nonetheless. With his heightened sensitivity to mana, he drew in the countless invisible particles from the atmosphere, letting them sink into his arm, strengthening his strike.

Then, he thrust forward.

A water-clad fist launched to meet Mereoleona's attack.

Hers was clearly larger, fueled by her superior mana reserves and mastery over Mana Zone, but water suppressed fire.

When the two fists collided, neither overpowered the other. Instead, the impact shook the gym with an explosive blast, a cloud of steam billowing out as a byproduct.

Learning from their first match, Mereoleona didn't give him a chance to use that steam as a smokescreen. She clapped her hands together, producing an explosive shockwave that instantly cleared the air before it could obscure anything.

Then, flames burst beneath her feet like rocket thrusters, launching her forward in a split second. Her fist wound back for another explosive punch.

Learning from their second battle, she had expanded her Mana Zone even further, preventing Sebastian from freezing her for even a fraction of a second. Not only that, but she had widened her territory to the point that he would have trouble using magic inside it.

Despite everything, Sebastian remained unphased.

He closed his eyes and concentrated.

As Mereoleona's fist tore toward him, her pupils subtly dilated—she could feel the ambient mana responding to him.

It was small, barely noticeable, almost mistakable for a mere mana skin. But he had done it.

He had pulled off a Mana Zone.

A tiny one, within hers.

He made a territory inside a territory.

Nothing big. Nothing overwhelming.

But that was all he needed.

Sebastian never relied on explosive spells to begin with.

And just as Mereoleona's fist was about to slam into his flesh—

—it went straight through him.

Sebastian glowed blue, his body liquefying into thousands of tiny water droplets, scattering in countless directions.

Mereoleona's punch detonated against empty space, the explosive force reducing a massive chunk of the stadium to rubble and ash.

High above, the droplets gathered and reformed, merging mid-air until Sebastian stood once more—his body whole, his feet seemingly planted on an invisible platform.

Sebastian took a slow breath, steadying himself once more.

From within the smoke, Mereoleona shot upward like a rocket, a feral grin stretching across her face as she neared him.

Sebastian remained unphased.

This time, he tried something new.

Hundreds of water droplets floated around him before shooting toward Mereoleona like beams of light.

But unlike his usual attacks—straight, pressurized jets of water cutting through the air like lasers—these ones behaved differently.

Some curved and twisted, slithering through the air in smooth arcs, following the principles of laminar flow. Others were erratic, gushing like a high-pressure hose turned to full blast—wild, turbulent, and chaotic.

Some were simple—small, bullet-like projectiles. Others were large orbs lagging behind, intended to throw off her timing and further divert her attention.

In an instant, Mereoleona found herself surrounded by attacks from every angle—hundreds of water-based strikes converging on her from all directions.

She didn't care.

No—she looked even more pleased.

Flames ignited beneath her feet, and she shot forward through the air, completely ignoring the homing water missiles tracking her from behind and assaulting her from the front.

She burned hotter, quite literally setting herself ablaze, her Mana Zone morphing into a visible sphere of flame that moved with her at its center.

Sebastian's attacks never even reached her. The moment they entered her sphere, they evaporated instantly, reduced to harmless steam.

And then, once again, she was upon him—thrusting a Mana Zone-amped fist toward his face.

Once again, Sebastian was unphased.

He met her strike head-on.

Fist to fist.

His right hand, encased in the Gauntlet of Pontus, collided with her burning knuckles.

The impact sent a violent burst of steam in all directions before an explosion shook the arena, launching both of them backward.

Sebastian landed with poise, sliding smoothly to a stop.

Mereoleona landed differently—perched on all fours like a cat.

Then, like a lion, the moment her hind legs touched the ground, she exploded forward in a blazing blur.

She closed the distance in an instant, throwing a burning right hook.

Sebastian met her strike with a casual parry, flattening his palm against her arm and pinning her elbow downward.

Mereoleona scowled as she tried to push against him—only to feel a strange, slippery sensation.

It was as if her arm were sinking into jelly. Like she was wrapped in soft cotton, her impact dulled, her intensity smothered.

And then Sebastian struck.

A right hook—clean and precise.

His fist connected audibly, digging into her face.

Mereoleona spat out a slight mouthful of blood.

Flames danced in her eyes as she opened her mouth wide.

Sebastian's pupils dilated.

He could see it—he could feel it.

Mana swirled violently in her maw, gathering like a cannon preparing to fire.

Then, Mereoleona breathed—

A jet of fire roared forth, point-blank, engulfing everything in front of her.

Like a dragon.

Sebastian barely ducked in time.

A sharp sizzle reached his ears, and his face darkened as he caught the faint, acrid scent of singed hair.

Damn it. This girl loves burning my hair—AGHHH!

His internal complaint was abruptly cut short by a sharp, crushing pain.

Something slammed into the side of his face.

He barely registered what it was before his body was sent flying across the arena.

Mereoleona, merciless as ever, had thrown a brutal roundhouse kick while he ducked.

Sebastian's body glowed blue, his injuries vanishing in an instant as his magic took effect.

But the pain lingered.

He winced as he skidded to a stop at the very edge of the arena.

Mereoleona clapped her hands together, grinning wildly.

"Ha ha ha! I'll take it back—you weren't slacking off! You're a hell of a lot stronger than you were two days ago, you bastard!"

Sebastian blinked.

No, I was definitely slacking off…

Of course, he didn't say that out loud. Instead, he simply shrugged. "It's clear I'm not the only one who's gotten stronger."

Mereoleona crossed her arms, smirking with pride. "I'm always surpassing my limits!"

She flashed a dangerous grin.

"I can see that." Sebastian sighed, dusting himself off as he stood. His legs creaked audibly in protest.

He studied her for a moment, suppressing another sigh. Well, she was the strongest pure human in the series for a reason…

From start to finish, all of her strength was hers—nothing borrowed, nothing gifted. No outside sources, no magical tools. Even without using Mana Method or Zetten, she became one of the strongest.

It'd be strange if someone like that didn't show visible growth…

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, relieved that his water-based physique allowed him to regenerate it just like any other part of his body.

Still, it annoyed him.

"Spare the hair, will you?"

Mereoleona snorted. "That's what you get for ducking like an idiot, you bastard."

A vein popped on Sebastian's forehead.

He scowled. "And do something about that mouth of yours. You're not a beast—or some uncouth peasant. Stop calling me a bastard."

"A bastard is a bastard." Mereoleona grinned. "If you want me to stop, prove me wrong. Beat me."

Sebastian's expression shifted into something eerily familiar—like Nacht's future not-a-smile smile.

"Fine." His voice was calm, almost pleasant. "Let's make a bet."

Mereoleona raised a brow, intrigued. "Oh?"

Sebastian's smile widened ever so slightly.

"If I win, you'll stop calling me a bastard and treat me with proper respect whenever we cross paths."

Mereoleona smirked. "And how exactly would that work?"

Sebastian's voice remained light, but his words dripped with mischief.

"From the deepest pits of your spirit and soul—you will call me Uncle Sebastian."

Mereoleona froze.

Her face darkened like he'd just suggested she drink swamp water.

She looked like she was going to retch.

"No way. Change your demand."

That ticked Sebastian off even more.

This was the same woman who would eat anything that moved when training in the wild. She'd sleep anywhere, bathe anywhere—but calling him Uncle disgusted her?

Fuck you!

Sebastian shook his head. "No. That's what I want."

Mereoleona gritted her teeth before throwing her head back in a boisterous laugh.

"Ha ha ha! Fine, then! I guess I just can't afford to lose! That's just another reason to surpass my limits!"

Sebastian maintained his not-a-smile and nodded. "Good. And what do you want?"

Mereoleona paused, tapping her cheek in thought. Then, her eyes lit up.

"When I win, you'll use all of House Silva's connections to find my brother a mate—so my folks will finally get off my case."

If you win! Sebastian screamed inwardly.

Outwardly, he remained composed, nodding politely. "Fine. It's a deal."

As he spoke, his grimoire flipped to the end of its pages.

Mereoleona's grin widened. Without hesitation, she dashed forward, a blazing blur of fire—

And then, her pupils dilated.

A brilliant blue glow erupted around Sebastian, nearly blinding her.

It was something simple—yet strange, esoteric, and utterly unfamiliar.

Her instincts screamed.

"Oi, oi, oi! What the fuck is that?!"

She didn't get an answer.

The spell engulfed her.

Once again, the House Silva stadium was obliterated.

Once again, the gym was left in ruins.

And once again—

It would need to be closed for repairs.

—

Sebastian's Office

Humming in satisfaction, Sebastian opened the door to his office—only to pause mid-step.

Acier sat at his desk, glasses perched on her nose, calmly working through a stack of paperwork.

Sebastian blinked.

Closing the door behind him, he walked up to the desk. "You're already handling household duties? You don't need to rush yourself."

Acier looked up, her smile blooming. The simple expression sent a flush creeping up Sebastian's neck as she softly replied,

"I want to."

Sebastian nodded, scratching the back of his head. "Why here? You have your own office."

"I want to be here." Acier twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "Can't I?"

Sebastian didn't even hesitate. "Of course."

Her smile brightened as she stood from his chair and gestured for him to come closer.

Sebastian raised a brow but complied, walking around the desk and settling into his seat—only to freeze as Acier climbed onto his lap, straddling him.

Arms looped around his neck.

Sebastian's throat went dry.

They had done plenty in the dream world, but for her to pull something like this in reality… it was almost too much.

Still, he forced himself to gather his composure, hands settling tentatively at her waist. The moment he did, Acier's smile softened, turning warm, genuine—affectionate.

"Good boy, Sebby."

Sebastian clicked his tongue. "I'm not a dog."

Acier nodded, completely unfazed. "Of course not. But you are mine."

Sebastian scoffed. "Nope. Not at all."

Acier only smiled. "Agree to disagree."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "No. No agree to disagree. I'm not a dog. Not yours. Not anyone's."

Her expression didn't waver. If anything, her grin turned even more playful.

"Well, you could've fooled me with the way you were practically wagging your tail just now." She tilted her head. "Did something good happen?"

Sebastian's train of thought momentarily stalled before he let out a small, satisfied smirk.

"Yes. Something very good happened."

Acier raised a brow and leaned in, whispering,

"Oh? Are you going to tell me what?"

Sebastian shook his head. "Not anymore."

He expected her to pout, or maybe scoff like the tsundere she was—not to smile almost mischievously.

Before he could react, she leaned in, her breath warm against his ear.

Then—

A sharp nip at his earlobe.

Sebastian stiffened.

And not out of arousal.

For some reason, the gesture sent a creeping sense of foreboding down his spine.

Acier's voice dropped to a whisper, her lips brushing against his skin.

"Well, something really good happened for me too. Want to hear it?"

Sebastian gulped.

The sinking feeling in his gut intensified, but he forced a nod. "Y-yeah. W-what happened, My Love?"

Acier nuzzled against his neck, placing a soft kiss against his skin before breathing out, her voice barely a whisper—

But when Sebastian finally processed her words—

He froze.

"We successfully treated a few batches of my clone… using the method of turning curse into power and strength. Tomorrow, I'll be cured. The day before my birthday. Isn't that great?"

Sebastian's body went rigid.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Slowly, very slowly, he forced a smile and nodded. "That's… lovely."

Acier's smile turned sweet.

"I think so too."

Sebastian barely had a chance to respond—before her expression shifted again.

Broader smile.

Eyes narrowing.

Oh no.

"Count your last few hours of freedom, My Love."

Acier's voice was low, almost singsong.

"And then—" she traced a finger along his jaw, her grin widening, "—you're mine. All mine. Forever and ever. Till the day you die."

Sebastian barely had time to react before a silver chain materialized in her hand—

And with a snap, it locked around his throat like a collar.

He stiffened.

A metallic clink drew his eyes downward.

A tag dangled from the chain, engraved with an ominous message:

Property of Acier Silva. If lost, please return to Owner—or die.

Sebastian blinked.

Acier beamed.

Like a sweet angel.

Sebastian bit his lip before carefully, very carefully, voicing his concern.

"Honey… t-this is a bit extreme. And, um… unhealthy, don't you think?"

Acier simply smiled.

Softly caressing his cheek, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Our love has always been, always is, and always will be—" she whispered, eyes shining with an unsettling fondness,

"—toxic and possessive, my dear Sebby."

Her fingers curled beneath his chin, forcing his gaze to hers.

"Let's not pretend it's anything it's not."

Sebastian swallowed.

He really hoped this was some kind of joke. A prank. At worst, a brief moment of instability.

Because if not…

His future looked very bleak.

Loving Acier Silva was a challenge.

But being loved by Acier Silva?

That was dangerous.

Unfortunately for Sebastian—

He ticked both boxes to the highest extremes.

And now?

He'd have to face the consequences.

Most of which… were entirely his own fault.

—

Author's Notes:

[1] I'm going to say it from the get go, for those who skipped the dream arc, don't expect me to go into a tangent explaining things for you guys, if you don't understand something. The dream arc wasn't filler, yet you treated it as such. If you don't understand something from now on, that's your problem, ain't mine. 

I'll of course do some explanations, but not summaries, and paragraphs, info dumps, or recaps that disturb the flow of the writing. 

[2] Oh, how wrong you were Phil Spector

[3] Feel free to join the discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar