Astre's body fell to the ground in front of Colt's eyes.
Colt looked around, only to see his grandfather and Anit running towards him.
The middle-aged man approached Colt instead of checking on his son, Astre, like Anit did.
"Sir, I am sorry that we mistreated you! I didn't know you were from the Luminous Order. I sinned greatly!" his grandfather almost grovelled.
But Colt had a lot on his mind. Firstly, Astre. "What happened? Why did he fall?" Colt asked Anit.
But his grandfather answered instead, "It must be because of the accumulated fatigue and the shock of being injured."
"What? I saw something-" Colt stopped. Did I really see something? He wasn't sure. He couldn't think anything could make Astre faint without leaving an injury.
Anit also raised his head after the family doctors, who were already prepared, took Astre away. "Forgive my forwardness, Sir Colt, but why did you conceal your connection to the Luminous Order?"
And this was the second issue. Colt raised his hands and looked at them. There was no doubt, his mana channels had started opening.
I can feel the pulse under my skin. How, though?
And more importantly, why are they making the Luminous Order such a big deal? Ah! I see...
Colt didn't know everything happened before he was born. But one of the things he knew was that the Luminous Order was a religious order accepted by most of Gaite, the world they lived in.
"I am not a full member yet. I was actually on my way to the Order," Colt changed his answer. The Divine Power was more than enough proof for his claim.
"Ah, I see. We must have delayed your job. Please feel free to stay for the night and continue in the morning."
Colt shook his head. "I must go. I am already late as it is." He wasn't worried that his lie would be revealed. He was worried Astre would try to fight him again.
"I see... What a pity. Then, please at least let us somehow make it up to you," the middle-aged man said sincerely.
At the mention of making it up, Colt's face reddened a bit without anyone realising.
---
Outside the Vera family mansion, Colt was walking with his ears red.
I need an inn. Somewhere far from the mansion, he thought as he walked through the broad streets of the city's noble quarter.
A merchant's cart came from the opposite side and passed near him.
It is already dawn...
Merchants were already rolling out their carts, probably getting ready to open shop. The earlier they woke up, the more they would prosper.
Thinking of merchants, he looked at his waist. The money bag tied to his clothes made him aware of his shameful previous request.
Since he had regressed to this time so suddenly, he had no money. Even if he was prepared, he couldn't bring money made in the future anyway.
So, he went ahead and asked for a loan from the Vera family as well as a set of clothes.
Of course, they didn't see it as a loan. But Colt had every intention to pay it back.
He would need this money until he got used to this timeline...
Then, thinking that, everything seemed real for the first time since he regressed in time.
Shit! I am in the past.
He looked around. He was in the middle of a city.
The morning light had begun to seep through the misty air, carrying the faint smell of damp stone.
As he left the noble quarter and approached the parts where commoners lived, he saw cracked stone walls lining the streets, patched again and again over the years.
Also, stone roads stretched between tightly packed houses. Their wooden windows were hardly holding the morning cold back.
I can't believe my father turned this whole city into our house in the future.
In the future, this city would be turned into ruins by the strongest demon, only to be built as the new Vera family mansion Colt grew up in.
And the city would be moved further away.
He also realized that Astre was really here. At the moment, due to the heat of the moment, he hadn't realized he had let go of his father, the murderer of his mother, after he collapsed.
Maybe I could have gotten away with killing him...
His hand twitched toward the hilt out of habit… then stopped.
No, this isn't the correct way.
He wasn't even sure about his revenge. Right now, his father felt like someone else. He wasn't the Hero or the murderer.
He wasn't even his father yet.
Is it correct to take revenge on him?
He had gone back in time just to run away from his murderous father. If he had gone back to the year 16 or something, he had planned to talk to his mother, or even father, and plan ahead.
But this was too far into the past.
A man with his father's face… but none of his sins.
Of course, Colt had no intention of letting it all go. But now, he had other things to think about.
If I kill him right now, who will defeat the strongest demon?
It wasn't just about the strength. Colt wasn't sure if his interference would cause a butterfly effect, and thus the end of the world.
I need to get strong. Stronger than him. That way, I can kill him whenever needed.
Even if it is after he becomes the hero...
---
At the same time, in the Vera family mansion, a middle-aged man was sitting behind an office desk.
The boy with black and white hair in front of him, Anit, asked, "Father, about his story-"
But his words were interrupted by his father, "Don't worry about it. He probably wanted to hide the fact that he belonged to the Order. He may be on a secret mission."
"But he doesn't seem to be 20 yet. What if he is lying about it?"
"Didn't you see his power? Some powers could make one seem younger. Also, do you think anyone can use sword energy at the age of 15? Astre is a rare exception. He was also using divine power. It is even more impossible before 20."
Anit opened his mouth to talk again, but his father raised his hand. "Enough. It was a really tiring night. We can talk about it later."
"I understand, father," Anit said, obviously unsatisfied. And then, he stepped out of the room with light steps.
"Come," the middle-aged man said with a stern voice after making sure Anit left the corridor.
Suddenly, a shadow fell from the ceiling.
"Find someone to tail his movements until a second order," he ordered with visible anger. "Had he not shown Divine power, I would have disposed of him. But I don't need the Order coming into this house. Now, there is someone who knows more than needed!"
The shadow didn't answer and waited silently.
"The Hero, huh? I see, so that is the way he chooses. But, at least, I now know that it works. Start the procedure on that child."
"Yes, my lord!" With that, the shadow understood it was the end of the order. So, he left after confirming the order.
"Let's see how it will proceed..."