Book Eater

It only took ten minutes. Theo had Leo slung over a shoulder as an amused Rebecca followed. He hadn’t been home in three months, since his work as a Chief Tower had taken over his life. However, the Miller Mansion descended in chaos as Theo made his announcement.

His mother, Isabella Miller, was the first to recover and asked, “Just now… what did you say? Say it again, a bit more slowly?”

Theo glanced at his father, who shrugged. “I am getting married.”

“You’re not joking?”

Senior magicians were generally good at hiding their feelings. It wasn’t something he wanted to hide, but he didn’t want to show his turbulent mind. His parents thought it was a joke due to his expression, but Theo was serious.

Dennis, his father, took a few deep breaths before asking, “M-Married? You aren’t in a position to be dragged into an arranged marriage, but this is too sudden.”

Theo shook his head. “It is a normal love marriage. I’m just rushing because I don’t want to wait too long.”

“You should’ve given us some time...” It was a one-sided notice, making Isabella complain a bit. Even so, it was nice to see that her adult son had found a bride. Theo had always acted older than his age. If he was planning this wedding, then he must love his bride.

“So, when is our son going to introduce us to the bride? Do we know her? Please tell us everything from now on.”

Dennis grinned. “Yes, your mother is right. Our family is in a very special position, so shouldn’t there be a meeting?”

The couple was beaming. Their son was good looking and capable. However, he was so talented that it was hard to find him a bride. They had been watching him for years, hoping he would find someone to take care of him. They wouldn’t object if he chose to not marry, but they wanted a daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

“Hmm, this is the important part.”

His parents could tell without having to use foresight. Theo coughed as he anticipated their reactions. Dennis’ and Isabella’s eyes shone with curiosity. Eventually, a second bomb was dropped from Theo’s mouth.

“She is the Red Tower Master, Veronica-”

“Oh! The rumor that you have a good relationship with her is true.”

“- and the Blue Tower Master, Sylvia.”

“...”

“...”

The couple’s mouths dropped open. It was a marriage involving two brides, and all three people were Tower Masters? This was an event that would receive great attention from all the kingdoms on the continent. If Theo had ulterior motives, the Meltor Kingdom would one day be turned into the Miller Kingdom!

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about attention. I have already requested for it to be discreet.”

“R-Really? I’m glad. No, isn’t there another problem?”

Unlike the confused Isabella, Theo’s response was calm. “I understand what you are concerned about, but it is okay. The magic towers are the pillars of the Meltor Kingdom, not a group of soldiers to be used at their disposal.”

“Umm, your words are true, but...”

“Well, if that happens, I can just give up the position of Chief Tower Master.”

Someone else might laugh, but there was no chance Dennis and Isabella would. Kurt III was also well aware that the 9th Circle transcendent considered the crown to be little more than scrap metal. However, his parents didn’t know this and could only think he had great determination.

Dennis sighed, “... I get it. Your will is firm, so we won’t go against it anymore.”

“Father?”

Dennis patted Theo’s shoulder, and Theo stepped back with surprise from the warm atmosphere. However, his left arm was grabbed before he could move.

Isabella smiled. “I was worried because you were precocious as a child, but our Theo is also a man. I am surprised and impressed. Did you politely ask the two women for permission?”

“Huh? Ah, well...”

“Surely you didn’t hurt the two of them? I didn’t raise my son like that.”

It was just a coincidence that he had been hit just after proposing marriage, right? Theo couldn’t help sweating nervously as he struggled to answer the question. He even thought it would be better to fight the heavenly demon one more time. But once he escaped his parents’ interrogation and headed for his room, an unexpected person ambushed him.

“Brother Theo!” Suddenly, Leonardo appeared and threw his arms around Theo. “Brother! I heard from Mother! You are getting married to multiple people?”

“Leo, this...” Theo tried to say it was only two people but quickly shut his mouth. One woman was promised to him, but he couldn’t hold a wedding ceremony in the style of human society for her.

However, Leo took silence as acceptance and looked pleadingly up at him. “No matter what, you can’t have Sister Reb!”

“... What?” Theo looked down at Leo. “Sister Reb. Are you talking about Rebecca Clovis?”

Leo blinked. “Huh? Is there another person in the house with that name?”

“... Pfft! Puhuhu!” Theo couldn’t help laughing as he realized the situation. Then he whispered, “You... Do you like Rebecca?”

“Ah! Brother, I-I..!” Leo’s face turned red as Theo hoisted him up. He was quite shy for someone who had yet to experience his coming of age ceremony. “W-Why not? Sister said she would wait until I am older. That’s why Brother can’t take her!”

“Hahahaha! My little brother is already grown up. You don’t have to worry about me taking your beloved.”

“Really? Brother, really?”

Theo ruffled his brother’s hair that was just as black as his own. Perhaps Rebecca had promised him without thinking, but Leo’s eyes were serious. Maybe his relationship with her might be quite interesting in ten years’ time. What would Randolph’s reaction be if he found out?

Theo foresaw that he wouldn’t be bored for at least a decade and laughed. It was a good day.

***

After a cheerful dinner, Theo returned to a room and stared out the window.

The hills that rolled away from the mansion left the entire territory in sharp relief. At the outskirts of the estate, plump wheat heads were rustling, and warm light leaked from the homes of people who had finished their work for the day. There were no homeless people on the streets, and the guards were patrolling the alleys.

“Even if it isn’t luxurious, everyone is living well. Well, the people weren’t starving even when we were in a barony.” 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

His rustic, peace-loving father, Dennis Miller, wasn’t an outstanding leader, but he was a good lord. He might not have the ability to multiply money or command troops, but he wasn’t lacking the ability to rule a territory. In fact, the expressions on the faces of the people wandering around the streets at night were bright and satisfied.

“Times of peace.”

The warring history of the Northern Continent had come to an end. Andras and Meltor were ending their old grudges and were starting a new era. The scars left behind by the war were great, but the resilience of life went beyond them. Even if there were severe injuries, new flesh would grow. People returned to the devastated cities, built new homes, and grew crops in the devastated fields. It wasn’t possible to immediately erase a long history, but it would fade as generations flowed. The role of fighters could be said to have ended.

- Not yet.

A voice bluntly interrupted Theo’s thoughts.

- An existence that destroys civilization... There is a possibility that 99% of the human race will be annihilated if Wrath falls. If you can’t stop it, this village will disappear.

Theo frowned at the unlucky words. “... Why are you mentioning that situation again?”

- Hmm, User seems to have relaxed a little too much. I have to say it in case you have forgotten. Don’t forget.

“How can I forget? Why are you complaining?” Theo snorted.

Glutton’s mouth moved on the palm of Theo’s left hand.

- It isn’t enough to build up magic power and prepare countermeasures. Don’t you realize how serious this threat is? Yet you are planning a wedding? Are you going to throw it all away and enjoy the end of your life?

“Hey, didn’t you say that you were sending my data in real time to Wrath? Why do I have to prepare more than I already have?”

- Umm.

Theo was correct, and Gluttony fell silent. There wasn’t much of an answer to Wrath.

It can’t be defeated with common strategies.

Gluttony had weakened the power that would destroy the planet and reset civilization, but it was a super destructive weapon which would perform its own reinforcement and crush any creature that resisted. Additionally, Theo was registered as a user of the Seven Sins. So, Gluttony’s and his data was being transmitted in real time. Whatever Theo prepared, there was no way to hide it from Wrath as Gluttony was in his body.

Thus, he decided not to prepare anything. If he built up magic power, Wrath would increase its magic power. If he obtained artifacts, it would add more power to its output.

- ...?I acknowledge that you can’t act in a reasonable way. However, the strategy that User has set up as a countermeasure is crazy.

Theo exhaled slowly. “I know. The problem is that I don’t have any other paths. If you have a plan that has better odds than my strategy, I’ll gladly follow it.”

Theo hadn’t seen a path forward no matter how he calculated. Strategies and preparations were pointless before a violent weapon that increased in strength in response to the opponent’s strength. It was a numbers game that would ever end in defeat, even if he added or subtracted any variables.

In the end, Theo had to accept those odds of 0%.

It will never miss whatever I prepared or any magic I develop. It is a weapon that grasps my limits thanks to the data it receives from Gluttony.

The rational judgment of a magician had already sentenced him to death. There was no chance. Even if a god descended and even if he used Fafnir, Theodore Miller still had no power or means to block this destructive existence. Thus, Theo chose madness. He abandoned the duty of a magician to maintain reason until the end. Forgetting about resistance, he just looked at the future.

“What I need now isn’t preparation or research. If there is a grain of potential left, I will bet on it in that last moment.”

If he could awaken at that moment and go beyond the limitations that Wrath knew, there would be a light in the future.

“I need an instrument to help me jump over myself. Family, lovers, friends. It doesn’t matter. In preparation for the moment I clash with Wrath, I have to build up more bonds that allow me to go beyond the limits of Theodore Miller.”

He didn’t resign himself to it. He didn’t give up. He was in a hurry, yes, but not to keep his fears away, rather to avoid leaving regrets behind. That was why he had hastened the wedding with his two loved ones. Thus, he would love them more and dream of a future with them. In order to not give up and to overcome his limitations, Theo decided to be faithful to his own life.

He was interested to see how Leonardo and Rebecca would progress, and he felt a sense of responsibility toward his parents. Everyone would live for the tomorrow that he hadn’t seen. It was for a future that hadn’t arrived.

Even Theo, who had cast off the bonds of cause and effect, couldn’t be freed from the cycle of life. No, he chose to entangle himself. He was a transcendent who could slip away to another dimension, but he refused to turn his back and decided to fight against the destruction.

“I will smash Wrath.”

In order to protect the world where everyone lived and to live with the people who loved him, Theodore Miller clenched his fists while gazing up into the sky, at the apocalypse that was making its way to him.

“―Definitely,” he vowed.