Enrico was in a carriage. After requesting spear training for a day, he had decided to leave now, with just two days left before returning to Astrong. He had already used alchemy magic on the necklace and had only refrained from using it on the second artifact because the required magic level for one of that size would be too much for him. Still, his blood was already better than the villain's in the original story.
The red necklace glowed faintly. Its ability was to enhance blood and physique for two whole days, and only one day remained. If he analyzed things well, by tomorrow his physical level would surpass all first-circle characters, except for the prodigies and Kai.
["We can say you've truly reached the lower level of Class S now, so congratulations on the effort."]
Enrico scoffed and looked to the side, seeing three girls sleeping under a blanket: Yumeha, Rina, and Aoi. He recalled the conversation with the emperor.
"I'd like you to look after Rina as well, since I'll be sending her to Astrong."
Rina was supposed to be sent to the academy in six months, but her transfer had been expedited. For Enrico, that was great, as it meant she could evolve faster.
"Alright, sir. But... I'd like to know why Aoi is going?"
Rina was smiling behind Enrico, and Yumeha was looking to the side, a bit dissatisfied.
"Because she's my daughter's friend."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
His face showed no lies, but what irritated Enrico was the amused smile on the emperor's lips.
"Either way, sir—"
"Call me father-in-law. You're going to marry my two daughters at eighteen."
The emperor's smile widened. Enrico had the impression the emperor wanted him to go through the same thing—having several wives.
"Oh, and my two older daughters said that if you surpass them, you can form a bond with them too."
The emperor wanted him in an even worse situation than his own, with three wives constantly around him and countless responsibilities. But seeing Enrico's neutral expression, he was left speechless by the next words.
"Sure. If my potential surpasses theirs, I accept."
Rina and Yumeha were impressed by his bluntness. Enrico didn't care if he had to marry four women to save the world and survive. So he would marry them, but first, he needed to improve his potential.
"Boy, you've got guts."
"I know."
Enrico suddenly turned more serious.
"Sir, I'd like you to reclaim the last zone stolen by Tianlong."
Renzou listened attentively.
"Why?"
"Simple, sir. I want all territories to form an alliance, at least for ten years."
The original story began when Kai was fifteen and lasted until he was twenty-five, when everyone died. That left nine years to prepare for the first Evil God. That might seem like a lot, but the weakest Evil God was already stronger than all ninth-circle mages and could only be defeated by five of them together—or the Archmage himself.
"Something big is going to happen in the future then?"
"Yes. All life in this world will end."
That surprised the emperor, who placed a hand on his chin in disbelief. But it was the boy who saved his life saying this, and he truly seemed to see the future—so he had to believe. Rina and Yumeha, on the other hand, seemed restless at his words.
"You think Tianlong will do something like that? They're already eager to claim our land."
"They will, but I have something that will make them accept the alliance."
"Your confidence pleases me, Enrico."
Yumeha nodded, already knowing her master had seen the future and had told her himself, which pleased her. Now that Rina knew, she thought about getting stronger fast—giving her yet another reason for Enrico to become her Ketsumei.
"But seriously, Enrico, can't you tell me how you see the future?"
Renzou looked genuinely curious, and Enrico thought for a moment before deciding to mix lies with truth to make it more impactful—and make them treat it seriously.
"Alright, with trust, I'll tell only the three of you here."
The three nodded, agreeing not to tell anyone.
"I didn't see the future. I was there—in every moment. I saw the world with no life left with my own eyes."
That made everyone freeze. Enrico had come from the future and lived through that? Renzou now felt he shouldn't have insisted—he might have touched a wound.
"And how I came back in time was with a relic—and that's all I'll say."
Renzou sighed and decided to follow Enrico's strategy and form an alliance, even with a territory he hated. He then looked with the most serious expression Enrico had seen on him since he woke up.
"Alright, Enrico. But know this: if they attack, even if we have an alliance, we will strike back."
"I understand, and I won't stop you."
Renzou nodded and permitted their departure, saying farewell as he watched the three of them leave. He looked at his two daughters—Yumeha, saddened, and Rina with a clenched fist—both staring at Enrico's back. Then he sighed as Enrico said goodbye to Yumeha and Rina's siblings, who begged him to come back, and also to Takeshi and Daigo.
Back in the carriage, which they took as soon as they left Tsuyokuni territory, they were now heading to acquire the fourth artifact. It would be purchased from the best store in Sanos and was currently dormant. Enrico was going to spend half of the money the emperor had given him as a reward—which hurt his soul, even though it was a lot of money—because he still planned to save more for something else in the future.
"Well, just one more artifact and I'll be ready. But I'll still have to wait until I'm at least second-circle to go to the vampire location… another reason to improve quickly."
Enrico sighed, heading toward the last artifact—unaware that back at the academy, a battle for control over Class A was underway: his friends from Class A against the princess who competed with her siblings to inherit Sanos from Class S.