“Do you mean the Mana Oath?” Ryuk asked, noticing Valhale’s mistake. He stood without any support, fully restored to his peak condition, a fact that did not escape Valhale’s attention.
“No, I meant the Mana Path,” Valhale corrected, folding his hands behind his back and fixing his eyes on Ryuk’s narrowed gaze. “It’s a flow predetermined by mana, the fundamental source of any being, guiding one toward a destiny.”
‘….’ Ryuk glanced at Esme, who was tracing her fingers vigorously on his palm, trying to dissuade him from accepting the mana path her grandfather intended for him.
Indeed, she was aware of her family’s tradition. Except for her father, everyone had taken a mana path that required complete submission of their bodies to protect Titanora, never leaving the land until their end.
She also knew that the young man beside her was only here temporarily.
He was like an illusion, uncertain of when he might vanish.
Binding him to protect this already ruined continent with a mana path would bring his journey to a complete halt.
“And what destiny do you want me to have?” Ryuk asked with a visible smile, tilting his head and looking at the old man with a white mustache, already amused by the thought of what destiny might have in store for him.
“Protect Titanora until your last breath,” Valhale stated firmly.
His granddaughter was bound to live here due to orders from a higher power, and he shared the same belief.
Noticing his granddaughter’s growing affection for Ryuk, Valhale intended to use this opportunity to secure a guard like Ryuk Devereaux for his continent.
It was a marvelous opportunity to secure Ryuk Devereaux, Regina Devereaux, and her entire battalion for Titanora, elevating its status to a high-level continent.
‘Sly old man,’ Ryuk thought, observing Valhale’s stoic expression and firm posture. He saw through the facade to the frail body within.
There was no hatred, only admiration for the old man’s cunning in using Esme as his weakness.
Ryuk knew this would become common once he accepted her as his partner, adding to his amusement, first person to use Esme against him was her own grandfather.
“Fine then,” Ryuk nodded, stepping forward.
‘?!’
“W-wait!” Esme, feeling his hand leave her skin, tried to stop him.
“Liege, please reconsider,” Regina also stepped between him and Valhale, adding, “This will hinder your path of growth. Don’t accept this.”
“Move aside, Regina,” Ryuk commanded firmly. A slight tremble passed through Regina’s pupil as she understood his intentions, nodding softly as she stepped aside while trusting him to not take unexpected choice.
“I respect your decision, Ryuk Devereaux,” Valhale said, moving forward with a smile. He approached a huge book placed on the floor and added, “If you choose the path I bestow, then you can have this book.”
“Not only this book, but I will also allow you to marry my granddaughter,” Valhale continued, looking at Ryuk with the pride of a founder. Though broken, it was enough to bind someone as strong as Ryuk Devereaux even if he used his granddaughter in doing so.
‘Has he lost his mind?’ Esme thought, her mouth twitching in disbelief at her grandfather’s shamelessness.
His decision about whom she marries didn’t have value due to her Tenebri Bloodline.
“…I am thankful,” Ryuk said, maintaining his calm until the book fell into his hands. He kept a soft smile as he stretched his hands forward.
“Hm, you’re an eager one,” Valhale remarked, mistaking Ryuk’s eagerness to follow his path. But before he could continue, Ryuk interrupted.
“Hand over the book first, then I will follow your mana path,” Ryuk said calmly, meeting Valhale’s eyes. A slight twitch in Valhale’s expression revealed his dissatisfaction.
“Huh? Do you not trust me, young man? HOHOHO,” Valhale laughed, dismissing Ryuk’s words.
“No,” Ryuk replied sharply. “You used my helplessness against me to cut off my path of growth by binding me here. Do you expect me to have a biT OF TRUST IN YOU?”
‘?!’
The sudden rise in Ryuk’s tone took everyone by surprise, seeing him lose his composure for the first time.
Even Drishti appeared confused, witnessing such a reaction from someone usually so calm and composed.
[Host, it’s working, just push him more.]
“Old man, I had a bit of respect for you since you were Esme’s grandfather, but now, you’re just a pathetic person who can’t even protect his own land and has to offer his granddaughter in exchange for protection,” Ryuk continued, his words harsh and uncaring of the old man’s feelings even though whole thing was about having thesis not Esme.
Ryuk observed the subtle tremble, the hint of hesitation, and the eyes that once held strength now reduced to this level.
“I-I, this,” Valhale stammered, his confusion growing. Though he couldn’t deny the truth in Ryuk’s words, they stung his pride, making his eyes tremble and his anger build.
He was helpless, but was it so wrong to prioritize his land’s safety?
Over time, he’d seen many things his way. Yet, deep down, his care for his land remained steadfast.
After all, wouldn’t all founders protect their land?
‘Not all, old man,’ Ryuk thought, already guessing the turmoil in Valhale’s mind.
He glanced at Drishti, who smiled while watching the drama, her demeanor betraying none of the gravitas her title suggested.
“So, hand over the book first, and I promise to fulfill my side of the deal,” Ryuk said, stepping forward until he was just two hands’ distance from Valhale, his eyes blankly staring at him.
Valhale glanced between Ryuk and his granddaughter, feeling ashamed of himself. Yet, his priority was this land, not his own family.
“Here, but it’s up to you to open its pages,” Valhale said, removing his hand from the book, giving Ryuk permission but averting his eyes from Esme. “Now you take the path’s acceptance.”
“Why would I?” Ryuk raised an eyebrow, a small smile forming as the huge book vanished into his inventory.
“What!? Are you kidding me?” Valhale exclaimed, enraged at being deceived, his anger manifesting as an aura that shrouded his body.
“Yes,” Ryuk replied calmly, maintaining the same smile.
“Sorry? You mean you were just joking?” Valhale’s face turned yellow with confusion, unable to decipher Ryuk’s intentions.
“Leave it. How about we just get this over with,” Ryuk said, abruptly changing the topic.
‘What is he trying—?!’ Valhale felt a foreign sensation shroud him, causing his body muscles to stiffen. Understanding dawned on him.
Due to his advanced age, Valhale had developed methods to prolong his life, such as solidifying his muscles only when necessary, allowing them to rest at other times.
Unlike normal veterans who saved their mana for emergencies, Valhale had several abilities like Regeneration, Roar of Valor, and 1 strength stat increment every minute.
However, these abilities, while powerful, had hit their saturation point.
His muscles, though stronger, had lost their lifespan over time, breaking and losing muscle memory much earlier.
Thus, his strength would rise with one muscle only for it to break, with Regeneration healing it, creating new muscles that would lose memory—a process slowly destroying his strength and pushing him to this weakened state.
He realized that no one is stronger than time.
One can push it back and struggle, but in the end, time is the sole victor.
To preserve his strength, Valhale kept his muscles active for a definite time when necessary.
But Ryuk’s words had made him lose his composure momentarily. ‘I have to be on guard from now on,’ Valhale thought, composing himself.
[Host, Grimoire successfully infused with target’s body]
‘…here goes another one,’ Ryuk thought, a sharp glint passing through his eyes as he saw his plan unfolding perfectly.
Valhale’s body was like a shell, protecting his soul and making it impossible to break him through physical pain alone, knowing how strong Valhale was physically.
Ryuk realized he had to exploit the old man’s weaknesses.
Until Ryuk could infuse the Grimoire into his soul, he had to use the vulnerabilities he detected in Valhale the moment he punched him.
It wasn’t just Valhale analyzing Ryuk’s weaknesses; he had also discovered a significant flaw in the old man.
And with this, Ryuk secured someone like Valhale for his upcoming plans.
