Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Days passed since his battle against his sister.

Days Kaden spent preparing for his travel to the east of Darkcore. He couldn't find any useful mount, so he simply chose a good horse from his family's ranch and decided to just stick with it.

Things would've been far better if Rory had already reached Master Rank—because apparently, besides her Illusionist skill, Rory also had a Transformation skill too. And that explained why her crow appearance always looked so real.

Unfortunately, she was still too weak to transform into anything big enough to be mounted.

Feeling dejected about not being able to help her master, Rory returned to Fokay and this time, to complete her evolution quest.

Kaden, of course, managed to get her an evolution stone by asking his family.

Apparently, they were fine giving those stones to outsiders but not to their own blood—pretty crazy if you ask me.

But Kaden didn't shy away, he took multiple evolution stones at Unique Rank, fused all of them together to form a Legendary-ranked evolution stone, and gave it to Rory without a second thought.

You should've seen how Rory was looking at Kaden at that moment—it was hilarious. She looked at him like he was the most noble and holy being sent by the heavens for her and her alone.

And maybe…it was?

And so, she went back, and Kaden continued his preparation and now, he was ready to go at any time.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

But the most unnerving thing right now… was the small purple letter that crackled with subtle silver ice in his hand.

An invitation from Meris.

To visit her family. To meet her mother.

"Troublesome. Very troublesome," Kaden muttered under his breath, reading the letter for what felt like the hundredth time. It was undoubtedly written by Meris herself—she couldn't stop telling him through every line just how much she missed him.

It was cute, really.

But Kaden's mind was elsewhere, he was more preoccupied with the fact that he had to meet the matriarch of the Elamin family. Meris's mother.

'What did that girl say to her mother to make her want to meet me?' he couldn't help but wonder but if he had to base it on what he knew about Meris, then surely… surely, she would dare to say something along the lines of: "I love Kaden Warborn."

Kaden instinctively paused on that thought, his face twitching because,

'I can actually picture her saying that.'

He sighed and fell on his back on the bed, his eyes closed but a subtle smile slowly rose to his lips.

He was becoming more and more convinced that Meris truly loved him and that it wasn't just some spark of infatuation that could fade at any moment.

Because if she even dared to say that to her own mother, so much so that she wanted to see him—well, that he assumed—then truly, he shouldn't doubt her love anymore.

And let's be honest, men love when women show them they love them.

They love it when a woman is not too proud or too ashamed to openly say she's in love.

They love it when she makes the first move, when she doesn't cling to that outdated idea that only men should approach first.

Those kinds of women are rare.

And that's why…

They never miss.

Have you ever seen a woman take the first step and a man say no? Well, yes, probably—but hear me out—it's rare.

Exceptionally rare. Exceptions to the damn rule.

That's why right now, Kaden's heart was fluttering a little.

An easy man, you'd say?

Come on!

Meris is just too cute and too devoted. Anyone would've fallen at this point.

But… that wasn't the subject, was it?

We were talking about Kaden meeting Meris's mother, and well—

That meeting…

…was today.

"Why did I receive the letter on the very same day I'm supposed to go?" Kaden asked his maid, Sabine.

She bowed slightly and responded, "It seems they want this meeting to be held in secret, young master," she said in her usual soft and respectful voice.

Kaden immediately understood without needing any other explanation.

A Warborn going to the Elamin family, especially in these turbulent times when the Cerveau were especially sensitive, would be problematic for both families.

So yes, keeping things under the radar was smart and he completely agreed with that approach.

"Prepare me something simple but formal to wear," he ordered.

Sabine nodded in acknowledgment before leaving silently to complete the order.

At that exact moment—

DING!

[You have received a Quest.]

[Quest: Your Lovelife I.]

[Description: You are a Warborn. The child of blood. The Envoy of Death. Cool. But in this life, where setbacks, pain, and endless battles will wear you down, you'll need someone to lean on—someone who can reset your soul. But clearly for you, it won't be just one.]

[Objective: Obtain the accord of the Matriarch of the Elamin to marry Meris Elamin.]

[Rewards: Depends on performance.]

[Penalties: None.]

Kaden's lips twitched.

'Can't you just stay in your role as Death and make me stronger? Why are you playing matchmaker now? Do you want me to call you Cupid next?'

[A good woman by your side can be a source of strength.]

Death's response came simple and direct, completely unbothered by Kaden's sarcasm.

He sighed softly as he read the panel again.

But truly, convincing the matriarch to accept…?

'This meeting will be quite something,' Kaden thought.

And coincidentally, Sabine returned to the room silently, carrying a set of black formal clothes.

"No one saw you?" he asked.

"No one," she answered.

"Perfect."

And with that, Kaden began preparing himself to meet his mother-in-law.

Potentially.

All of that… while already having one fiancée.

What a man!

…

Time blurred, and soon Kaden found himself standing inside the mansion of the Elamin family, in front of a massive door that crackled with purple lightning that led to the place where the meeting would happen.

Behind him stood Lari, the one assigned to accompany him.

How did he get there?

Great question, folks.

Elemental magic is pretty incredible, you know?

An Earth Master buried Kaden into the ground and simply transported him to the Elamin territory like a package.

It was a ride so rough Kaden almost cursed out loud—numerous rocks and debris slammed into his face along the way.

But he forgave his driver.

He was a good man.

"Young master, you may enter," Lari's voice echoed softly beside him as the door opened automatically.

Kaden nodded…

…and took a step forward.

—End of Chapter 134—