21st Round We Really Share the Same Looks!

“Not a good time to roll your eyes.”

“Oh!”

I brought the Sword Princess back to her senses, knowing full well she wouldn’t have time to react.

My left hand wrapped around her waist between her 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae, and my right hand lifted the tip of her chin.

And our lips closed.

“Mmm.”

“Hmm?!”

FSSS!

Once her concentration was disrupted, the huge beam of light emanating from her sword, ready to destroy the entire arena, disappeared.

This show was over.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The audience was swallowed by complete silence.

Because their invincible Sword Princess finally tasted the bitter taste of defeat.

It was just the same as the 1st round.

Only the final touch remained. I used the technique of the MAX-Class Righteous Hero with 200 years of experience: the death kiss.

Of course, I wouldn’t kill her, but I sucked all the energy out of her to make sure she wouldn’t be able to resist any longer.

“Mmm.”

“Hmm… Wait a second…”

“What?”

“I recognize this technique…”

“…”

I didn’t answer. Rather I just showed her my Righteous Hero’s smile.

CLANG!

The Sword Princess dropped Eyer to the ground and wrapped her arms around my neck.

This time, she clung to my lips.

‘Give us a suitable atmosphere, Soul Spirit King.’

“Wow!”

“Parpar is the best!”

“Long live the Sword King!”

“Be happy together!”

“Whoohoooooo!”

We, the Righteous Sword King and the Cruel Sword Princess, ended our grand duel to the enthusiastic cheers of the audience.

▶ Delight: It’s really touching.

‘Romancing her was easy, Trainee Teacher!’

***

The Sword Princess’s behavior was very strange.

In the 1st round, she was a crazy bitch who almost killed me for accidentally seeing her naked. Now, however, she was behaving so aggressively that she could be suspected of being addicted to exhibitionism.

Moreover, the Sword Princess insisted that we skip the engagement ceremony, a common practice among the nobility, and get married as soon as possible.

I didn’t mind.

After all, I didn’t plan on staying here for long.

And there was more.

“Sir Parpar, could you take off this strange ring?”

“No.”

The Sword Princess didn’t like the “ring” on my 21st finger.

Even though she wanted to conceive a second child, I refused to leave behind another flawed soul in this wild world.

Every hero needed to remember to be responsible.

“I do not recognize this strange man, mom!”

Chris couldn’t come to terms with my sudden appearance in his life.

He was known to the locals as the younger brother of the Sword Princess, the illegitimate son of Duke Q.

And he was his heir.

The Sword Princess was supposed to be the one to inherit his estate, but the situation changed when she gave birth to a son early.

He grew up to be a wonderful youth.

And since some people were unhappy that Duke Q’s territory would be passed down into the hands of a woman, he decided to make my son his successor instead. The Sword Princess didn’t mind at all anyway.

At first, there were even exclamations of discontent that he was an illegitimate child, but Duke Q quickly resolved this problem, calming everyone down.

“Chris, stop shouting and listen to me.”

“No. I refuse to hear another word about this!”

“Chris!”

“It hurts me to look at him. Don’t you love me?”

“Please listen.”

“And where is your submissive tone coming from? Oh! Showing off in front of your new man, huh?”

“One more word on this topic, and I will kill you.”

“That’s more like you.”

The two quarreled.

They had already reached the point where even outside interference wouldn’t help.

However, the Sword Princess was still an adult.

She calmly reassured her son.

“Chris, listen carefully.”

“…”

“He’s your real father.”

“You’re lying! This guy doesn’t look like me at all! My father? Just tell me that you like him more than me!”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“Yes!”

“For example?”

“You said my father was the sweetest emperor in the world. How am I supposed to believe this now?”

“That’s actually true. In my dream, the one I saw was the sweetest and worthiest person in the world to become an emperor. All the inhabitants of the Northern Continent also believed—”

“Enough! I’ve heard that story a bunch of times already!”

Oh, he was at that transitional age, huh?

Chris refused to listen to his mother, no matter what she said. Their conversation was going nowhere.

I just watched them silently.

I didn’t think my intervention would resolve the situation.

This was not the first time I had witnessed my son’s rebellious nature.

When I set out to conquer the Northern Continent, I saw a young man on the side of the troops of the united Northern Continent.

I knew by his spine alone that he was my child.

▶ Embarrassment: I think I’ve asked you this question before but is it really possible to deduce that through one’s spine?

‘Of course, Trainee Teacher!’

That aside…

Under the strict supervision of my mother’s tennis racket, I grew up to be a decent son.

On the other hand, the Sword Princess seemed to have failed to discipline our kid during his earlier growth stages. However, I dared not blame her.

I was never there for him as his father.

I had no right to say anything.

And yet…

“Noisy young man. Why don’t we put an end to this issue instead of constantly running your mouth? Or is your strong spine just for decoration? Fight me. If you win, I’ll call off our marriage.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’d gain nothing from lying. Did you really think a weakling can be your father? Feel free to kill me and tell everyone that I died in an accident if you so desire. If you can, that is.”

“Th-that sounds too cruel…” Chris flinched as he stared at me with a confused expression on his face.

But he knew I wasn’t lying.

He was young and naive, yes, but he was not stupid.

“So? Do you agree?”

“Alright. I’m in.”

“Good. I’ll give you until the wedding. Challenge me anytime.”

“Then let’s have a go at it right now!”

That was within my expectations.

My son inherited the Sword Princess’s impatient personality.

▶ Doubt: I don’t think that’s the case…

‘Really? Well, if the intelligent Trainee Teacher says so…’

Duke Q and the environment influenced him, then.

▶ Confusion: Oh… Sure. Let’s go with that.

Chris and I stood facing each other in the center of a special training center built specifically for the Sword Princess.

A fight between a 220-year-old and a 15-year-old.

If my son were the main character of mangas or novels, he would’ve overcome that gap in experience, allowing him to win, but his reality was far too cruel.

“I’ll let you go first.”

“You’ll regret that.”

“You talk a lot.”

“I hid my true power to surprise my mother, but to defeat you, I am ready to unleash it now!”

“Knock yourself out.”

I was curious.

What was the power he was hiding from the Sword Princess?

When I first saw him, he didn’t show anything like that.

FSHUKH!

Preparing to fight his father, Chris bared his torso.

Was he doing a striptease?

I doubted it.

KRRRR!

A pair of bony wings grew from the boy’s back.

Pale pink membranes stretched between the bones that formed the structure of his new appendages, though they resembled a spine and were completely exposed.

There were no sharp thorns that punished all evil on the tips of his bones, but still…

“This is definitely…”

“There is a legend that originates on the Northern Continent 2,000 years ago. The Hero, the first apostle of the great Master Mollan, was its MAX-Class Forerunner. (Omitted) By distributing flush toilets for the benefit of humanity, he finally defeated the Demon Lord Pedonar. However, the Demon Lord cursed the Hero, turning him into the Second Demon Lord and changing his name to Parmamon. He had no demon horns. However, his terrifying wings protruding from his back made even demons tremble in fear. With one flap of his wings, he swept away dragons, brought the Giant King of the Southern Continent to his knees, and nearly destroyed the Eastern Continent. (Omitted) They feared and trembled before The Demon Lord’s dreaded wings. Those who survived that waking nightmare must’ve had their Luck skill’s rank soaring to the skies.”

“Ha…”

Some parts of the story were different from what actually happened, making me wonder who the author or the bard that spread this legend was.

If I met him, I would like to gently touch his spine.

“That’s why you can’t be my father. I am the descendant of the Demon Lord Parmamon, who appeared in my mother’s dream. I am a symbol of misfortune, born and trampled upon the future of a girl who dreamed of marrying a prince on a white horse. You are deceiving my mother by calling yourself my father, so I can never accept you!”

“Chris! I have never considered myself unhappy! And the princes… are ugly idiots that do nothing but try to suck up to me whatever means possible…”

“Don’t lie! The princes who offered you a hand and a heart were some of the most handsome men on the Northern Continent!”

“Those pompous turkeys are not my type. Sir Parpar, on the other hand… Mmm.”

“Mom! Wake up!”

“I’m perfectly fine, but I’m surprised you kept such a secret from me.”

“Well… Tsk! Anyway!”

My son Chris turned to me after the Sword Princess defeated him in an argument.

Looking at him, I even felt pride.

▶ Race: Dual-Core Chaos Man

▷ Level: 249

▷ Job: Prince (National Power = Willpower ↑)

▶ Skills: Divinity ZZ, Dark Energy ZZ, ■■ Z, Gifted Z, Omnipotence MAX…

▶ Status: Activation, Demon Blood, Divine Blood

He had excellent stats, which meant he inherited the MAX-Class Lovable Emperor’s genes.

I didn’t think he would inherit even the Black Box, though.

With such abilities and talent, he would be able to surpass me in 5,000 years.

It was scary.

My son, at 15, achieved what I achieved at 50.

▶ Denial: I don’t think so. He only followed the path that cadet Kang Han Soo paved. I’m not turning a blind eye to Chris’s efforts, but the day he’ll overtake you will never come. If I’m wrong, I’m ready to go on a date with you and console you~

‘Oh, son! Pull yourself together! Do your best to become stronger than your father, even if that means completely wearing out your spine and grinding it to dust!’

▶ Admiration: Haha! That being said, I’m actually pretty surprised. I thought you were joking about the similarity of your spines, but the moment I looked at his wings, I just knew you two were related.

‘That’s what I’ve been telling you, Trainee Teacher!’

However, I did not know that he would inherit the wings of a just Hero.

▶ Interest: Are you going to show him your wings now and say, ‘I am your father.’?

‘Beautiful Trainee Teacher seems to have seen too many dramas like my cowardly wife!’

I wasn’t going to show him my wings to make sure he’d fight in full force, driven by the thought of saving his mother from a random rogue.

It was time to start raising my son.

“What wonderful wings.”

“These are the wings of the cursed Demon Lord.”

“Appreciate the power you inherited from your parents even if it is useless baldness. Honor them the best you can.”

“… Let’s just begin.”

Unable to oppose my logic, Chris rushed forward sharply.

Fshuh!

He even sped up using his wings.

His efforts were all in vain, however, considering I had the spirits on my side. Air resistance would slow him down.

Or so I thought. At that moment, the First Spirit said something strange and surprising. “My children can’t decide who to help, Drug Hero!”

“Hmm?”

It seemed that he even inherited my hormones, which were so attractive to spirits.

I was proud of my son, who had the same spine as I did, but he was beginning to seem more like an identity thief.

The time had come to demonstrate the strength of his father.

This wasn’t a sword fight, so I didn’t need a weapon.

My right hand was enough.

He copied me, but he didn’t have enough experience.

After absorbing the heroes’ souls at my infernal senior’s house, my combat experience grew so much that it became worth hundreds of thousands of years.

That was a fundamental difference between us.

“You’re too arrogant.”

“Ah?!”

“That’s probably because you haven’t met a master who can’t be defeated yet, no matter how hard you try. It’s time to show you…”

The ravine that divided our leagues.

Our battle ended in no time.

I didn’t even have to use my strength. I did a pirouette like a ballerina, grabbing Chris by his wings and tossing him to the ground.

“Pha?!”

He had no idea how to use them.

For him, it only strengthened his skills.

But our wings were an absolute weapon, especially against punishing evil.

Of course, knowing how to use them wouldn’t have changed the outcome. For me, the messenger of justice, they posed no threat.

Bang!

With my elbow, I hit the joint where his wings and spine connected, ending his struggle.

“You’re too inexperienced.”

“I’m not done yet— Khhh?!”

Trying to get up, he screamed and fell again.

I watched him in silence.

However, he couldn’t rebuild his spine on his own as the Sword Princess did.

“Before arguing who your father is, learn first from your mother.”

“Ah, my loins…”

“You lack faith. You wouldn’t have lost so quickly otherwise. All you do is suckle on your mother’s breasts… It’s time I put a stop to it. Leave her boobs to me and focus on praying earnestly to Mollan.”

“Stop joking around… Aaaghhh?!”

I had finished disciplining and educating my son.

I walked out of the training center, hugging the Sword Princess around her waist.

It was a sunny bright day in the yard, but this wasn’t an obstacle for the MAX-Class Demon Lord, who ruled the darkness.

When I snapped my fingers, the world was plunged into darkness, almost as if a solar eclipse occurred.

Now that the world could no longer see me, I unfurled my wings with pride.

Fshuh!

The wings of the righteous hero.

I soared into the skies, still holding the Sword Princess in my arms.

“Your wings… are the ones the legends speak of…”

“I supposed you’re delighted to meet the sweetest emperor in Fantasy again, Sword Princess?”

“… Do I have to say it out loud?”

“It was a rhetorical question.”