Chapter 636: June

Oren was shocked to hear their conversation, as he never knew that Master Ronin had a wife. Furthermore, it seems that the two of them have just met. Melania was also there, standing frozen on the side, holding her right arm with her left hand.

"Master Ronin," said Oren as he glanced at Melania. "We are sorry to barge here unannounced, but the city is being attacked… and… my mother disappeared."

"Ah, you are the little brother," said the one Master Ronin called June. Oren turned to her, and he could see that she was as old as the man in front of her, with ashen hair and age wrinkles. "I know where your mother is. My men have held her captive."

"… what?" blanked out Oren before turning to Master Ronin. "Is she joking, sir?"

"I am afraid not, Oren," said Master Ronin with a shake of his head. "This woman is the same at the calamity in the middle of the city, an invader."

The three of them were silent, and the little kids seemed unable to fathom what was happening. Then, finally, Melania turned and walked toward them before crouching beside the little kids, patting their heads.

"How about I take you to a nearby shelter, where you can meet your family?" Melania asked the two kids, who nodded with fear. "Then, let's go," she said warmly before holding their hands and escorting them away.

"Do you not miss your mother, dear daughter?" said June toward Melania, who stopped walking without turning back. "It is the first time we meet after so long, and yet you are so cold."

"It is exactly because this is the first time I have met you," said Melania with no emotions. "I never thought I had a mother, only a doting father."

After that, Melania left with the two kids. Oren followed her lonely figure as she walked away and then turned toward Master Ronin. After breaking from Maryam's support, he took a step forward, walking toward the elderly couple.

"Ma'am," called Oren toward the mother. "Why do your men have my mother, and do they also have another person my age?"

"You mean the red hair brat," said June with a nod. "The two of them are held captive by my soldiers and are being escorted back to Alka as we speak."

"… but for what reason?" his rage took hold of him, and Oren's voice barked harshly. However, June seemed unaffected by that and merely sipped from her tea. "No, the reason does not matter. Please bring them back, or tell me where they are."

"It is futile, child," said Master Ronin with a sad expression. "This woman is not an ally but an enemy."

"… with all due respect, sir, I believed she was your wife from what you said," frowned Oren with confusion. "And if she is an enemy, then my demands remain the same. The means, however, can be different."

Oren's body burned with mana, despite its scarceness in his body. Although he has never been such a threatening character, this situation called for it. However, the old woman merely laughed it off.

"You will die, child," said June without a threatening tone but merely stating a fact. "Men of your family are all the same, and even the girls. They are all unafraid of death."

"Do not harm this child, June," warned Master Ronin. "He is the dear brother of the creator. If anything happens to him, then the creator will lose control."

"A delicate bomb, that creator is," smiled June as she placed her cup down. "However, we need him now, after the madness he has committed. Listen, boy," said June toward Oren. "Tell your brother that the two women will be in my kingdom until he undoes what he did. I don't care whether he can pull that feat, but he must. In one year from today, the two women will die."

"… I will never let you leave this place without bringing them back," said Oren as his body was covered with metal, and his rage turned into a black greatsword. "Sword of Wrath, Alamndos."

"It seems you have more than just a cub here, Ronin," said June with surprise as she stared at the black greatsword that materialized in Oren's hand. "However, if he dares to attack, I will respond with the same."

"Oren!" shouted Master Ronin in a low voice. "You need to hold back this rage, as not even I can save you."

"Are you expecting me…" asked Oren hoarsely, "to back down when she has kidnapped my family?"

"Attacking her is not the solution here," said Master Ronin. "There is still time to intercept her men before they leave Earth. Go toward Avarice."

"Their fates will be just the same," said June, as she rested her chin on her hand. "Those soldiers are my kingdom's finest. If these green twigs can take them down, then they are free to rescue the two women. I will not interfere."

"If you attack her, Oren, then death is certain," said Master Ronin as he turned toward him. "However, if you can win without a fight, you can save your family."

"You are sending him away, even though your ability lets you see misfortune," smiled June mincingly. "Maybe you cannot see him losing? Should I be worried, Ronin?"

"You are not a person who would go back on her words, June," said Master Ronin while combing his beard with his fingers. "You know that my ability is not without flaws."

"That is true," smiled June before waving her hand at Oren and the rest. "Leave, young ones. Let us old monsters discuss the past and the future."

Oren looked at Master Ronin, who nodded at him. Then, he subsided his rage, and his sword dissolved. Then he walked out with his friends before June called out to him. Oren turned around at the backyard door to see the old woman smiling.

"Aren't you going to ask about your brother?" smiled the woman at him before raising her hand. A bracelet on her wrist glowed before a screen appeared in front of it. "This was earlier when your brother fought against Amelio."

"… Alexie!" muttered Maryam in a low voice as Alexie appeared on the screen, enraged and full of killing intent. Oren realized that this must be his brother's current appearance, but he didn't hear what they were saying.

Arthur attacked Amelio before the calamity sent him flying toward the skies. After diving back toward the ground, Amelio sent a punch that tore earth and heaven apart, and Arthur did not dodge. Instead, he attacked too.

"Your brother seems to have reflected some of the attack to harm Amelio, but it was not enough. I captured what happened to him after receiving what remained of that attack."

The screen zoomed in on Arthur, slammed by the explosion, and hurled back toward the sky. His skin was disintegrated, and his bones broke, making Kody and Maryam look away.

Oren stared at the screen without blinking, his eyes piercing through the woman's calm gaze. Then, after the screen showed Arthur flying upward toward the unknown, the video ended, and the woman smiled at him.

"This means that you have very little time to save both of your family members, Oren Silvera," said June. "If you save your mother, your brother will die, and vice versa. I will leave that decision to you."

"Tell me, old lady," muttered Oren, gazing at her. "Why are you doing this? We have never lived a good life, but things were being better. That is… until all of you attacked us. What have any of us done to deserve this?"

"Life isn't about what you deserve, nor are my actions," said June as her smile disappeared. "I am not here to make you suffer, but it happened my goals do. So are yours, and if there ever comes a day where you have to kill me, I will accept it."

"I never wanted to take revenge, or kill someone, in the entirety of my life. However, if that day ever comes when my sword is against your throat, I will not hesitate, nor will I be forgiving."

After leaving those words, Oren and the two left, which now only had the old couple sitting together. Master Ronin watched Oren go and turned toward his ex-wife in confusion.

"You never leave loose ends," muttered Master Ronin after the three youngsters left, going to pursue the kidnappers. "Wasn't the motto: if you strike, then strike to kill."

"I told you that about our pry," smiled June at him. "It was his face. He reminded me of someone I know, which I have failed before. That made it easier to accept that he might kill me one day."

"Then why are you doing this to him?"

"Ronin," she sighed. "If you were asked to choose between saving a city and saving Melania, what would you do?" she asked, but Ronin had no answer. "That is right. It is an impossible choice. However, I can choose, and my decision has been made."

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