A Duel of Conditions

Mofimod suddenly spoke to Domu, “Lord Domu… to be honest, my opinion of you has changed significantly. If it’s you, I believe we truly could become friends.”

Before Domu could respond, Mofimod continued with words that left Domu utterly bewildered. “However, I have two conditions. If you can meet them, I am willing to assist you, and even secure greater honor and status for you before Her Majesty the Empress.”

Mofimod’s icy gaze fixed intensely on Domu as he delivered these two incredibly outrageous demands, like blows from a colossal hammer. “First, cease all attempts to find your other relative; regard Lady Soronna as your only kin, and treat her with all your heart. Second, entrust Dora to me. I will arrange for the Norachi Kingdom’s finest tutors to educate her, and I will treat her as my own daughter, passing on everything I possess to her. The sole condition is… from this day forward, you are forbidden from ever seeing her again.”

“Mr. Mofimod… while I am very willing to befriend you, I am afraid I cannot accept either of these two demands,” Domu replied.

He could not comprehend Mofimod’s intention in appearing and presenting such preposterous requests. Even though Domu had a rather favorable impression of Mofimod, such conditions provoked a surge of anger within him.

“Is that truly the case? If Lord Domu cannot accept these two conditions, there is another option: leave Lady Soronna’s side and never appear before her again. If Lord Domu can do this, my previous promise to you still stands,” Mofimod stated.

He showed no surprise at Domu’s answer. Although Mofimod’s perception of Domu had shifted somewhat—this man possessed a unique personal charm and was perhaps not the deceitful, unscrupulous individual he had initially imagined—if Domu had no lover or child, Mofimod might have even supported a romance between him and Princess Soronna.

However, the dignity of the Norachi royal family was inviolable, and the Princess of Norachi could absolutely not be involved with a married man. Mofimod felt he had to prioritize Princess Soronna’s welfare.

If he could persuade Lord Domu to leave Princess Soronna through communication, that would be ideal. Otherwise, he would have to resort to special means to ensure this man departed from the princess’s side.

“Mr. Mofimod, while I deeply respect you, all three of your demands are simply too outlandish! My relative is lost on this continent, and unlike me, she lacks powerful strength. She might be in danger, and she is someone I must protect. My daughter is a being I swore to guard for life; I will never break that vow. And Soronna? She is my best friend!”

“Although I don’t understand your intentions, Mr. Mofimod, I’m sorry. If becoming your friend means sacrificing these three people, then such a friendship, I do not need.”

Had it not been for the lingering effects of [Holy Suppression], Domu’s [Dark Valkyrie’s Majesty] would have uncontrollably amplified to its highest level upon hearing Mofimod’s final ultimatum.

He felt a long-forgotten rage. Perhaps Mofimod meant well, but Na’er, Dora, and Soronna were Domu’s absolute bottom line—a boundary no one could ever cross.

“That is truly a pity, Lord Domu,” Mofimod said, seemingly sensing Domu’s anger. Though his eyes remained cold, his tone conveyed a profound sense of regret.

He truly felt it was a great pity. Lord Domu, your choice is commendable. If Lord Domu had readily accepted the first two conditions, Mofimod would certainly have honored his agreement and treated Domu’s daughter, Dora, as his own. However, he would have harbored contempt for a man who abandoned his wife and daughter for wealth and status. Thus, Domu’s refusal earned Mofimod’s praise; this man was indeed different from his initial perception, not driven by riches. Yet, regarding Princess Soronna, Mofimod had to remain vigilant.

The two demigod-level powerhouses beside the seats fell silent, seemingly absorbed in the masked men’s performance on stage. No one spoke, and the previously tense atmosphere calmed.

Breaking the brief tranquility was Mofimod Rigles, the Second Legion Commander of the Norachi Kingdom. “Lord Domu, you must have heard about the special devices placed around the stage, yes? These are magic energy barriers produced by Monkacru, capable of defending against all attacks from demigod-level powerhouses. They are high-tech products used for duels and arenas.”

“Yes, Mr. Tule introduced me to this magic energy barrier. I heard there’s a charity arena competition for mercenaries later,” Domu replied politely, despite still feeling some dissatisfaction over Mofimod’s earlier words.

“Lord Domu, I wonder if you might be interested? After this musical, how about you and I kick things off with a duel exhibition? Since we have these magic energy barriers that can defend against demigod-level powerhouses, we can both relax and fight without any worries after dinner, ha ha ha. You know, since I became the Second Legion Commander and took on the responsibility of instructing the Princess, it’s been many years since I’ve fought at full strength.”

Mofimod spoke to Domu casually, all while enjoying the musical performance.

Upon hearing Mofimod’s suggestion, Domu’s eyebrows rose high beneath his helmet, his eyes wide in surprise. He shifted his gaze from the stage to Mofimod.

“Is that truly permissible? Will it not disrupt Mr. Tule’s arrangements for this charity event?” Domu genuinely wanted to understand the power hierarchy of this world, especially since he knew virtually nothing about it.

He had encountered a man named Soron, who possessed demigod-level strength, but Domu hadn’t sensed any particular actions from him before he was seemingly consumed by his [Seven Sins Armament – Glutton’s Offering]. Perhaps Soron had been caught off guard; after all, bosses in games usually had multiple, increasingly powerful phases.

As a cautious individual, Domu desired a better understanding of the strength of this world’s powerhouses. However, if a sudden duel between him and Mofimod disrupted Mr. Tule’s plans, Domu, who disliked inconveniencing others, felt a bit uneasy.

“Heh heh heh, Lord Domu, please rest assured. I believe neither Mr. Tule nor the guests present will be disappointed by this plan. You see, demigod-level battles are exceedingly rare, even across the entire Klaham Continent,” Mofimod genuinely chuckled.

“Then, after the performance, I look forward to your guidance, Mr. Mofimod!” Domu considered it, found Mofimod’s words reasonable, and then nodded, relieved. He was truly looking forward to it, wondering about Mofimod’s strength.

Since arriving in this other world after constantly completing a series of Goddess Rebirth quests in ‘Tears of the Goddess,’ Domu hadn’t engaged in PvP activities for quite some time. His hands felt a little rusty, and this would be a perfect opportunity to test his growth.

“Now, let us continue to enjoy the performance, Lord Domu.” ‘My apologies, Lord Domu, but I must make you leave Princess Soronna’s side. While Mofimod disdained such methods, the honor of the Norachi royal family and its princess was at stake. Even Mofimod was willing to do something he considered dishonorable for their sake.’

“Mm!” Domu nodded to Mofimod. However, what Domu was truly thinking about was why Soronna hadn’t returned yet. The performance had been going on for a long time. Had something happened?

‘But it should be fine,’ he mused, ‘after all, this is the City Lord’s manor.’ Despite his reasoning, Domu still felt uneasy, looking up and glancing around. Due to the effects of [Holy Suppression], Domu couldn’t cast detection spells. After not seeing Soronna anywhere, Domu had no choice but to focus on the stage performance.

At that moment, no one noticed that the gray longsword, [Rotten Dragon Blade], at Mofimod’s waist was subtly trembling. Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous part of the City Lord’s manor, the colors of the decorations, flowers, and grass were gradually fading, turning into vast swathes of simple gray, as if everything had been painted with gray oil, slowly transforming into a black-and-white scene.

In a lavishly decorated small room within the City Lord’s manor, two people stood. One was Soronna, who had been absent for some time, and the other was a masked man wearing a weeping mask, dressed identically to a member of the Despair Symphony Orchestra.

“Princess Soronna, what have you decided regarding that matter?” The weeping masked man’s voice sounded like a very young man. He bowed slightly to Soronna, showing respect, then asked.

“Do not use that title… Besides, I told you… if I make a decision, I will find you myself, but you are absolutely forbidden from interfering with my life. Have you forgotten?” Soronna’s demeanor was completely unlike when she was with Domu. If Domu had seen her, he would have been utterly astonished, for Soronna at this moment showed no resemblance to someone caught in a “completely real” state.