As much as I was curious as to what my mother might spew out to the girls while I wasn't around, I was not insensitive enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. To kill some time, I followed my father deep into the woodlands to a place where the sky was reflected on the earth by a serene lake, a place that was quiet and peaceful.
Dad looked back at me and gestured for me to sit by his side. And as I nestled down on a nearby rock, I first noticed the size difference between us.
When I was crippled and frail, Dad always seemed like a giant. From my weak perspective, his bulging muscles and indomitable figure were akin to a bear. Yet, as I sat by his side, I didn't feel the same suppressing pressure as I usually did.
One reason for this change was my growth in size. When I was crippled, my growth was heavily stunted, and I couldn't reach my maximum potential. However, now that I had turned into a Vampire and a Progenitor no less, I could now measure up to my bear-like father.
That change made me chuckle a little inside.
Come to think of it… When was the last time Dad and I had a proper conversation? Mom has always been the one leading the relationship, and she was always the one making the decisions for the family. While Dad had some say, he would always fade into the background and did everything in his power to keep the family happy.
Even if it meant… sacrificing his own happiness.
"Dad, what are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts? About what?"
"Everything…"
I knew that all of the news was sudden, and my parents had to take some time to digest it all. But I really wanted to know! How do they feel about me regaining my powers? How do they feel about me turning into a Vampire? How do they feel about being dragged into my issues just because they share the same blood? How do they feel about joining my Vampire House and becoming immortal beings of the night?
I wanted to know…
"Hmmm, it's a hard thing to ask." My father gazed into the distance and let out a bitter smile. "You know… I've always felt sorry for you, Jin."
"Sorry for me?"
"Yes," the bulky man seemed so feeble at this moment. "We weren't really planning on having you, Jin. Our careers as Hunters took too much time off our schedules, and we didn't think having a child would be the wisest decision. So, when I first heard that your mother was pregnant… I didn't know what to feel."
"I was an accident?"
"You could say that."
Oh? Now, this was news to me.
"Due to our busy and risky careers, we didn't know if bringing a child into our lives at that moment was smart. However, we didn't want to waste the gift that was given to us. So, we tried to make it work. I was willing to quit my job if it meant that we could raise you into a fine human being."
"..."
"So imagine our surprise when we realised how talented you were!" My father couldn't help but reminisce on the past. "Before you could even walk, you were doing maths! When you started to talk, you finished reading the dictionary in a year and surpassed most middle-schoolers in language. And when it came to magic… You were the most talented child we had ever seen!"
Yeah… Those were memories that I vaguely remember. My parents often brag about how talented I was in the past, so somehow, those memories stuck to me like glue.
"We'd thought that we could train you into a superb Hunter. So, Elna and I took turns teaching you our crafts. Elna with her magic, me with my martial arts. We believed that you could one day surpass humanity's best Hunters and stand at the top of the Hunter's Association!"
"Haha, those days were quite tough…"
"But you've never once given up…" My father laughed while tapping my back.
"You know… The thing that made me proud of you… It wasn't your genius-level intellect. And neither was it your immense talent that went beyond your years… It was your mental resilience that came at such a young age. It was innate to you."
"..."
"We were always proud of you, Jin. Which was why… We'd forgotten that you were just a child." A look of regret was soon plastered all over my father's face as his voice carried a tinge of despondence.
"We continued on our Hunter missions, trusting that you would be okay. We thought… Jin's a responsible child; he can take care of himself! Not realising that you were just ten years old."
Ahhh, I guess that's why my parents were okay with leaving me alone in the house. They trusted me enough to leave me without supervision, as they knew my style. I wouldn't wander about, and neither would I get into trouble. Alas, fate intervened when Irina stumbled onto my doorstep.
"So, when you were critically injured by an Outer Demon… We hated ourselves. We hate ourselves for putting so many expectations and burdens on you… Even though you were merely a child."
"Was that why you quit being Hunters?"
"Yeah," my father sighed. "We felt like we wronged you. And since we were too late, we wished to make it up to you. To make you enjoy the remainder of your life in peace."
"Haha, I guess fate intervened in that as well."
"It sure did!"
I exchanged glances with my father, and we both let out a firm chuckle.
"Perhaps… Everything is predetermined by fate… I was prepared never to see you healthy again, and I was willing to help you live a comfortable life even if it meant inconveniencing mine. Who would have guessed that you would become such a fine man?"
"Haha, thank you for that!"
I rubbed my nose in embarrassment. Even though I was twenty-six this year, even though I had become a Progenitor, I was quite likely one of, if not, the strongest being on the planet… It still felt good to receive praise from my father.
… But fate, huh?
I was never one to believe in such a thing. However, Sora, the Spirit of the World Tree, mentioned it once before. I was fated to be injured by the Outer Demon that day. I was fated to ascend to the level of the Progenitor. And I was fated… to give the World Tree eternal life.
What was fate? Was everything in my life predestined? If so… Who was altering it this way?
There were a million questions that came to my mind. Much of my life was too convenient to be true. It felt as if… someone was guiding me to this ultimate destiny. But alas, there was much I didn't know.
And there was too much… I didn't want to risk.
"Dad… How do you feel about becoming a Vampire?"
"Hmmm? Why the sudden question?"
"No, you may not know it, but my mere existence as a Progenitor has placed Mom and you in significant danger," I elaborated. "Vampires, humans, Werewolves… They will all target you. Although I know the two of you are strong, you aren't immortal like Vampires."
A-Ranked Hunters are, without a doubt, humanity's best fighting force. While my parents hadn't been in action for over a decade, their skills hadn't rusted a single bit. In fact, it might have become more refined over the years as they had much more free time to train while tending to my needs.
Therefore, my father wasn't one to perish so easily. However…
"Now that I have become a Progenitor, I've seen the River of Life. How souls return to it once you pass on, and how… fragile life can be. Once you die, there's no coming back. And… I don't want you two to die just yet."
"You little brat, since when did you have to worry about us?" My father snorted and ruffled my hair. "Though tempting… Your mom and I have lived as humans for over fifty years. To tell us to become Vampires all of a sudden… It's a tall ask, don't you think?"
"I agree with that, but…"
"I know you're worried about us… But it's a decision that we should make."
"I understand…"
Yeah, I can't be selfish. If my parents wanted to live as humans, I must respect their choice. But there was one other thing that I could do.
"Dad… If you don't want to become a Vampire, would you at least join the Valter House?"
"The Valter House? What's that?"
"It's my Vampire House," I smiled back in response. "Now that I have become a Progenitor, I am entitled to my own Vampire House. While it won't be as prominent as the Guardian Houses, you can be protected just by using its name. At least, Vampires won't openly target you unless they wish to risk war against me."
"HAHA, a war against you? Big words, my son!" My father laughed heartily as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Amusing! So do I have to do anything to join this Valter House that uses my surname?"
"Of course not!" I shook my head and pressed my finger on Dad's chest. "I'm going to cast a spell, Dad. Don't resist."
As if in response to my will, my Soul Armament appeared with four of the five rings lighting up. Magic power flowed directly from my inner core into the majestic rings, which then turned into a complex spell that took me well over a minute to conjure. Other than crafting the jewels I'd fed to my four lovers, this might be the most complicated spell I've created yet.
After a brief few minutes, the glorious light subsided, leaving behind my father, who was wholly confused about what had happened.
"What did you do?"
"A protection spell," I casually explained. "It's embedded into your soul, so you don't have to worry about it running out. Once it senses danger, the spell will automatically activate."
"Hoh? What kind of protection does it give me?"
"Several things…"
A spell that required all four of my rings to conjure couldn't be weak. Firstly, it had a location signal, which basically works as an SOS beacon to call for me if Dad were ever to run into trouble. When that happens, my Spacetime powers will either warp Dad to me or teleport me to him.
Next, it gives him a version of the Purple War God I'd created to protect and defend against threats. While it won't defeat stronger opponents, it could at least defend for a good few minutes before I got there. And if that didn't work, a simple destruction spell that could level a mountain would activate and deter any attackers.
Finally, there was a strengthening spell to enhance my father's soul and physique. While he rejected being a Vampire, I could at least improve his body to a higher level for now. It was essentially the same spell I'd used for the jewels to empower the girls, just many times weaker.
And perhaps it was due to the strengthening spell, but my father's thirst for battle had soared quite a bit.
"Hey, Jin… Your magic has improved, but what about your martial arts? Have you been neglecting the moves that I'd taught you?"
"I would never."
"If that's the case…" Dad shot me an expectant look. "It's been a while since we last sparred, right?"
"..."
Tch… Maybe I shouldn't have given him the protection spell after all…
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