Chapter 186: The Early Guest

[ Name: Ren Arken

Age: 14

Race: Human

Strength: 400,000 (+4,300,000 [Mana])

Agility: 500,000 (+7,300,000 [Mana])

Vitality: 1,000,000 (+10,200,000 [Mana])

Mana: ~~~

Spiritual: ~~~

Intellect: 700, 000

Unique Skills:

-Magic cards -Appraisal -Evil gaze -Strengthen -Leap -Basic magics -Magic mastery -Grimoire of death -Real Clone [Heavenly Slime] -Eye of Wisdom -Sword God -Fenrir Arken -Reo Arken -Predator of the sky -Wild Beasts Skills -Knight’s soul -Defiler of the banished, Ataraxia -Slime Soul Diversion -Slime technique: Split -Tarot Emperor -Master of The Dragon King, Atlas]

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The next day, Claria went to Druid Oz’s house very early in the morning without bringing Charnia with her.

“Morning, Claria. It’s rare for you to come here so early. Where is Charnia?” Asked Druid Oz.

“That girl is still sound asleep so I came here alone,” (Claria)

“I see… Then come in,” Druid Oz kindly welcomed Claria to his house.

But something is strange.

(Hm?) (Druid Oz)

Druid Oz caught that Claria’s face is slightly flushed.

(Did something happened? But it seems that it’s not a bad thing, though) (Druid Oz)

Druid Oz set aside the slightly flushed Claria from his thought and proceed to the couch and continue to observe the map in front of him.

“Are you already continuing to monitor your familiars since this early?” Asked Claria as she saw Druid Oz stared at the Eastaria continent’s map with a great focus.

“Um… Well, I have no many things to do anyway. Ah. Thanks, Gor,” (Druid Oz)

As usual, Gor brings the hot chocolate, but today, he strangely brings three hot chocolate cups with him.

(Three? I-Is there someone else here!?) (Claria)

Druid Oz notices Claria looking at the three hot chocolate cups with a face full of questions.

“Ah. The third cup is for Gor. He also enjoys drinking hot chocolate. Have you taken breakfast yet, Claria? The breakfast is ready,” (Druid Oz)

“I see… I-I haven’t,” (Claria)

“Then good. Let’s eat together then,” (Druid Oz)

*Clap!* *Clap!*

Druid Oz clapped his hands and several small wooden golems steadily walked towards their direction. The golems brought some dishes on top of their hands and put them on top of the table while the rest of the golems continue to walk towards the magic beasts’ children that are playing with each other.

“W-What are they?” Asked Claria.

“They are wooden golems I made, they’re convenient for bringing things and other simple things. They’re Gor’s direct subordinates,” Explained Druid Oz.

“Now, let’s eat. Kids! Stop playing and let’s eat as well!” (Druid Oz)

Of course, there are no Owlfolks kids or human kids inside the house. Druid Oz’s words are meant for the small magic beasts that are playing with each other cheerfully.

The wooden golems put their breakfast on the floor, and following Druid Oz’s command, they obediently eat their breakfast and stopped playing.

“T-That surely is a rare sight to behold…” (Claria)

“Sit, Claria. Let’s eat,” (Druid Oz)

“O-Okay,” Following Druid Oz’s invitation, Claria approached the couch and sits.

Right next to Druid Oz.

(W-Why is she sitting next to me again??) (Druid Oz)

“T-This is?” Asked Claria as she saw the dish in front of her.

“It is a Fiery Bird’s egg omelet. It’s one of my empire’s dishes, try it,” (Druid Oz)

“Hm… D-Delicious!” Exclaimed Claria as her eyes shimmer because of the dish’s delicacy.

The omelet vanished from the dish in a blink, looking at Claria’s joyful expression made Druid Oz ate the omelet slightly faster than he usually did as well.

“F-Forgive me. It’s just that the foods and drinks you gave me here are always delicious that it made me forget my self-composure,” said Claria as she wipes her mouth with a handkerchief.

“That’s a good thing to hear,” (Druid Oz)

“Hehehe! Eh?” Exclaimed Claria as she stared at the rare sight before her.

“Oi… I can’t move, you know…?” said Druid Oz towards the magic beasts’ children that climbed all over his body.

“Full made you sleepy again, huh…? Sorry, Claria. It seems that I pampered them too much,” said Druid Oz with a wry smile.

“Pfft! Looks like they love you very much, Ren,” (Claria)

“I don’t know that… Oi! You guys! I’ve made your bed so go sleep there! I’m not your bed!” Druid Oz attempted to drive them away, but the attempt ended in failure.

*Sigh!*

Druid Oz let out a sigh.

“Well, isn’t it fine. Let’s all of us take a brief rest as well, I guess?” (Claria)

“Eh?” (Druid Oz)

As coincidentally Druid Oz’s left shoulder is uninhabited by any of the magic beasts’ children, Claria took the opportunity and seize it first and leaned.

“C-Claria?” (Druid Oz)

“…..” Claria didn’t reply to Druid Oz’s call.

“Kukukuku…” Gor let out a strange laugh as he stared at Druid Oz and Claria.

(What are you looking at, Gor!?) (Druid Oz)

“Kukukuku…” (Gor)

Somehow, Druid Oz felt like he could understand Gor’s words. Maybe it’s because of the [Druid’s Sevant] skill that he could interpret what Gor’s saying.

‘The master is such a guilty man, huh~’

(W-What am I guilty for!?) (Druid Oz)

“R-Ren…” Claria suddenly called Druid Oz’s name with a small voice.

“Hm?” (Druid Oz)

“A-Actually… Yesterday… When we’re having the big conference with all of the nobles and generals of the kingdom…” (Claria)

“My father declared an unexpected thing…” (Claria)

“An unexpected thing?” (Druid Oz)

“Y-Yes…” (Claria)

“H-He declared that you are my fiance… And will be the next r-ruler of the kingdom…” (Claria)

(W-WHAT!? F-FIANCE!?) (Druid Oz)

Druid Oz is too speechless to be able to reply to Claria as he’s still trying to process whether he heard it right or not.

“B-But of course… Some of the nobles o-opposed it… But after reconsidering how much you’ve helped the kingdom lately… I-It’s said that the last decision will be left for me to choose…” (Claria)

“So that’s the reason why I come here this early. I want to tell you, Ren,” Claria lifts her head as she stared at Druid Oz right to his eyes with her face flushed red.

Druid Oz could saw the determination from the general princess’s eyes.

“I-I love you. S-So, not only for the kingdom, I-I personally, want you!” (Claria)

(I see… As you’ve said, Gor. Maybe I am guilty…) (Druid Oz)

Druid Oz recovered his composure as a faint pain lingers inside his chest.

With a serious face, Druid Oz faced Claria.

“Claria. I’m overjoyed for your words. But as I’ve told you, this body is only a clone, while my original body is still in a state in the middle of death and alive,” (Druid Oz)

“Yes, I know,” (Claria)

“This is just a clone, but yet, the reason why I could behave just like a normal person and could still stay conscious without the original body is that the original’s soul split several small pieces of it and grant it to the clones like me,” (Druid Oz)

“But the reality won’t be so kind to let the other clones and I linger in this world and replace the original for that long. The soul inside our body, is slowly returning to the original body. Because of that reason, this artificial personality and emotion will slowly disappear. What you’re seeing is nothing more than a mirage, an illusion,” (Druid Oz)

“It won’t be that long since I completely lost all of my emotions. Sadness, happiness, and other emotions that are crucially needed by a living being, let alone love. Do you understand? I don’t-” (Druid Oz)

“I know!” (Claria)

“Eh?” Druid Oz was slightly flustered by Claria’s response.

“A-At least I know you’re thinking that, I guess. Since one time you’ll smile when you saw things, while at the other time you will furrow your brows and suddenly look like you’re feeling guilty of something,” (Claria)

“I know you mean that you said that you might have no emotions anymore in the future. I know you mean that there might be no future for you with anyone since you don’t even know the original you will be alive or not. But if there is no future with the original you, why can’t I at least spend my time with this form of you!?” (Claria)

“Don’t you understand!? I’m not the-” (Druid Oz)

“You’re wrong! You’re here, aren’t you!” Claria holds Druid Oz’s hands as she stared right into Druid Oz’s eyes.

“Ren Arken. Even though it is just a small fragment of his soul that is residing inside this body. But you’re here, aren’t you!? It’s not just about the soul and the emotion! But the memories! Isn’t it’s the one that will continue to fill the gap of the remaining soul!?” (Claria)

“Then what is different from you and the original!?” (Claria)

Claria’s words are like a great tsunami that hits the city filled Druid Oz’s concerns. It completely washed it clean, and destroy all it encounters.

It’s the question that not only Druid Oz, but a question that resides inside all of the clones inside the other clones.

The question about their existence.

The question about their feelings.

The question about the reason why they exist and who are they.

Are they Ren Arken?

Or are they just his shadows that have no right to make any emotional decisions?

It’s a matter that they have been avoiding to think. No-

They’re too scared to think about it.

Even though the magician is an expert when it’s about the psychology of the others and could easily comprehend their thoughts, it seems that comprehending the feelings of his own self is still a task too difficult for him to accomplish.

“Y-You’re right… Seems like there is still a room for me to improve…” Druid Oz scoffed at his own pathetic state.

“Since it’s shameful for my pride if a woman to take a lead in my stead. Then Claria Galhala, *Flick!* Druid Oz flicked his fingers, and a small tree appeared from the ground, breaking the wooden floor again, and a beautiful wooden ring appeared right at the top of the small tree.

Druid Oz took the wooden ring, and hold Claria’s hand.

“Are you fine with me?” (Druid Oz)

“Yes!” (Claria)