"In such a hurry?" Arina asked cautiously, testing the waters. Though she felt no connection to Muria's so-called family members, his claim that they were related to her past life made her uneasy. Considering Muria's immense power, she doubted he had any reason to deceive her.
"Not too urgent. The situation shouldn't be too bad," Muria replied, his brow furrowed slightly. He worried about potential issues, but so far, there was no indication of anything catastrophic.
When an epic being reincarnates in a cluster world like this, the governing laws suppress their original consciousness, putting it into a deep sleep. However, the persona that emerges from the reincarnated body is still subtly influenced by the original's will.
Because of this, the disastrous scenarios Muria feared were highly unlikely, though not impossible. The reincarnated forms were vulnerable due to their initial weakness and susceptibility to external forces.
"If it's not so bad, then what you said earlier still stands, right?"
"Anything I've said, I stand by," Muria replied confidently, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Alright, let me confirm something first. Are you absolutely determined to take me with you?"
"Of course. You must stay within my sight. If I'm leaving, you're coming with me."
"In that case, as compensation, you said you'd help me with whatever I want before we leave. Does that still hold true?"
The sparkle in Arina's eyes revealed that she had thought of something important. She looked at Muria with growing excitement.
"That's right."
Muria nodded firmly. He felt a deep sense of responsibility toward Arina because she was the reincarnation of his mother, Atris the Golden Dragon. Though Arina was Atris, Atris was not Arina.
The memories of Arina's mere sixteen years would pale against Atris's millennia of life experiences. When Atris's original consciousness awakened, Arina's memories would blend into the epic dragon's, like a drop of water disappearing into an ocean.
Arina's identity as an individual would effectively cease to exist—a fate arguably crueler than death.
Muria couldn't allow Atris's consciousness to remain dormant; the consequences of her staying submerged were unimaginable. But ensuring Atris's awakening came at the price of Arina's erasure.
To assuage his guilt over this inevitable outcome, Muria resolved to use his power to fulfill any wish Arina had while she still existed as herself.
"Good. Then I have a request. But it won't be easy to accomplish."
"How difficult could it be?" Muria asked with a smirk. "There are many things in this world I can't do, but when it comes to something involving you, I doubt there's anything that can stop me."
"You'll have to go up against my family—and my empire."
"Interesting. Tell me what it is. I think my current strength is more than enough to suppress your entire empire," Muria said, his tone calm but filled with absolute confidence.
"I want you to ensure that my brother and his lover, Lucia, can get married."
Muria blinked, momentarily taken aback. Of all the requests he expected, this wasn't one of them. He was surprised that Arina's wish had nothing to do with herself.
"That's it?"
"Is it a problem?"
"Not for me, but why not ask for something for yourself?"
"What's there to ask for? I was born into a family where I'll never have to worry about material needs. The only thing I want is a partner of my own, but from the way you act, it seems I don't have much say in that matter, do I?"
"Fair enough. But how is this difficult? Your brother and Lucia love each other, don't they?"
"Of course, they do! My brother would give everything for her, and she for him."
"Then they should just get married. Why care about what anyone else thinks?"
"My brother is a noble, and Lucia is a commoner. By the empire's laws, they can't have a formal marriage."
"That's it?" Muria asked, his tone dripping with incredulity.
"Isn't that enough?"
"If they love each other, what does it matter what anyone else thinks? Just have them get married."
"My brother and Lucia's marriage would be rejected by everyone in my family—except me. How can a wedding like that even happen?"
"Ah, I see what you're asking for," Muria said, nodding in understanding. "You want me to use brute force to suppress anyone who opposes their union and ensure they have a grand, widely accepted wedding, right?"
"I didn't say brute force," Arina mumbled, her voice barely audible.
"Centuries of entrenched class divisions between nobles and commoners? Breaking traditions like that can only be done with strength. Tell me, what other way is there?"
"If brute force is the only way, then use it," Arina said with a resigned shrug.
"Heh," Muria chuckled, raising a hand to point at the seemingly mild-mannered girl. "Alright, I'll do it. Go tell your father to start preparing for your brother's wedding tomorrow. If anyone objects, I'll deal with them."
"What if my father objects?"
"I'll deal with him too," Muria replied without hesitation.
"You can't hurt my father!" Arina exclaimed, her eyes narrowing.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Muria asked, tilting his head.
"Just… make him agree. But don't hurt him," she pleaded.
"Such high maintenance. Fine, I'll handle it." Muria agreed with an amused smile. After all, it wasn't anything that couldn't be solved with overwhelming power.
"You're being way too nice to me. Are you sure you're not really my son?"
"Still think I'm lying to you?"
"No… not anymore."
"Good. Let's go talk to your father about the wedding."
"Muria, what does my son's marriage have to do with you? Are you planning to meddle in every part of my family's affairs?" Duke Benedict's face darkened as he listened to Muria's request.
"It has nothing to do with me, but I'm planning to take Arina on a journey. Before we leave, I want to fulfill any unresolved wishes she has. Her first request was to see her brother marry the woman he loves."
"A journey? To where?" Benedict latched onto Muria's words, his concern for his daughter overtaking his thoughts about his son's wedding.
"Traveling the world. No fixed destination."
"I won't allow it." The duke's firm stance betrayed his growing unease. While he had been willing to tolerate Muria's presence for the family's benefit, letting him take Arina away was out of the question.
"I think you misunderstand. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm informing you of my plans."
Golden light shimmered faintly behind Muria, coalescing into the form of a massive, serpentine dragon that radiated divine majesty. The pressure of its presence filled the room, making the air feel heavy and oppressive.
But Benedict, to his credit, didn't back down. Pure white light emanated from behind him, forming the outline of a warrior wielding a sacred spear.
"Muria, I think you misunderstand as well. The Frankel family isn't the kind of house anyone can freely take members from. While I've tolerated your presence for the family's sake, I won't allow you to take my daughter."
"I don't need your permission."
Muria raised a hand and pointed at the duke. A flash of golden light illuminated the room, and for a moment, Arina thought she saw countless black cracks spreading through the air before disappearing as quickly as they appeared.
The room was silent once more. Benedict stood frozen, his expression unchanged, but something had clearly shifted.
"Start preparing for your son's wedding. I want it to happen tomorrow," Muria said nonchalantly as he turned to leave.
Arina hesitated for a moment, glancing between her father and Muria. Then, unsure of what had just transpired, she followed Muria out of the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Benedict coughed violently, blood spraying from his mouth. The once-proud duke slumped into his chair, his body trembling.
"How… How can such an existence even exist?" he muttered, the sacred light surrounding him fading like melting snow. In that instant, the full weight of Muria's power hit him.
"One strike… just one strike…" Benedict's voice was filled with disbelief as he felt the lingering effects of Muria's overwhelming strength. He had never imagined that, even at his level, he could be so utterly defeated.
"What kind of monster did my daughter bring home? Could she truly be the reincarnation of some great being? But why… Why my daughter?"
After a long pause, Benedict sighed heavily and summoned his staff. Despite his humiliation and the blood he had coughed up, he began preparing for his son's wedding.
When faced with a force that could obliterate his entire family in an instant, there was no room for defiance.
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