Hi guys, author here!Please share your thoughts in the comments and reviews. And if you like it, don't forget to drop some stones — they're a great motivator!
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After returning home, Sekke slept through the entire day, only waking up around noon the next day.
His parents didn't wake him, letting their son rest and recover from his exhaustion.
Waking up with a groggy look, Sekke stretched and left his room to go through his morning routine. Once done, he stepped outside to begin his training.
"What training are we doing today, my king?" asked Exodia.
"Physical training. A dark lord lacking his prime physique is unacceptable," said Sekke as he dashed forward, beginning his run.
After running fifty kilometers, Sekke stopped at an old clearing — his childhood training ground.
"This is the place I used to train when I was young," said Sekke nostalgically.
"This place oozes with greatness," said Exodia reverently.
Sekke laughed at the comment before getting to work. Forming a giant bronze boulder twenty times his size, he lifted it over his shoulders and started doing squats, followed by push-ups with the same weight strapped to his back using Vritra's absorption lines.
Like that, Sekke trained for several hours before finally stopping, his body drenched in sweat. Though his muscles weren't as defined as before, he felt stronger — faster recovery, greater stamina, enhanced immunity, and improved endurance.
As he stood catching his breath, the mana around him stirred, sending cool, refreshing wind his way.
"Thank you," said Sekke. The wind responded with a slightly colder breeze, then settled back into a comfortable temperature.
Done with his workout, Sekke decided to walk back home rather than use magic. Along the way, townspeople greeted him warmly — the hero of their town. Memories of the elf invasion and the recent incident were still fresh, and everyone was glad to see him back.
"Sekke! Want a haircut?" called the barber, noticing his long, unkempt hair and beard.
"Hm? I do need to fix this mess soon anyway," muttered Sekke as he headed to the shop.
"To have the honor of touching my king's hair... Be grateful, barber!" declared Exodia dramatically.
"Exodia."
"Yes, my king?"
"Shut up and calm down," ordered Sekke before letting the barber get to work.
Once done with the haircut and beard trim, Sekke paid the barber — the man tried to refuse, but the benevolent dark lord insisted.
Checking his reflection, Sekke nodded. The beard suited him.
"What do you guys think?" he asked.
"Looks good. A little different from before, but still suits you," said Vritra.
"THE EMBODIMENT OF PERFECTION! This look makes you seem even greater than before!" roared Exodia in excitement.
Chuckling, Sekke gave his reflection one final glance before heading home.
"I'm back," he called, walking in and heading straight to his room to grab fresh clothes before taking a bath.
Fresh out of the bath, he let the mana dry his hair — they happily complied.
"Mom?" he called as he spotted Elaine working in the kitchen.
"Sit, food will be ready soon," said Elaine lovingly.
Sekke nodded, but wandered to his parents' room to check on his twin siblings, Arthur and Artoria, who were sleeping peacefully.
"Such carefree children," he murmured with a fond smile.
"The children know they are blessed with my king's protection," said Exodia proudly.
"They're babies. They don't think much," said Vritra dryly.
"They are my king's siblings. They instinctively feel that!" shot back Exodia.
[Light Magic: Cure]
Sekke ignored their banter and cast a healing spell over the twins. He didn't know if they were sick, but considering the high infant mortality rate in this world, he preferred to be safe.
Finished, he quietly left the room so as not to wake them and headed to the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked food already pulling him in.
Sekke sat down and smiled — all his favorite dishes lined the table. He had missed them, especially when made by his mother.
'My king, do you like these foods?' asked Exodia curiously.
"Yes. They're some of my top favorites," replied Sekke.
A small bundle of light gathered on his shoulder, and a miniature Exodia materialized.
"My king's mother?!" exclaimed Exodia, startling both Sekke and Elaine.
"Wha—what is this glowing thing?" asked Elaine, blinking.
Exodia landed on the table, knelt, and bowed deeply.
"This humble spirit king is Exodia, my king's loyal subject. I greet you, the mother of my king!" he declared dramatically.
"Um… Exodia-chan, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Elaine, Se-chan's mother," she said, bowing back.
"MY LADY! DON'T BOW TO ME! YOU RANK FAR HIGHER!" wailed Exodia in panic.
Sekke sighed. "...Let me introduce myself as well. It's high time they met me too," said Vritra as Sekke's sacred gears materialized.
"Greetings, Mrs. Elaine," came a deep, resonant voice that made Elaine freeze.
"My name is Vritra, a dragon king — and your son's other half," said Vritra, his tone regal but respectful.
"Um… Vritra-chan, nice to meet you too…" said Elaine, still dazed.
"Mom, these two live inside me — long story. But don't worry, they're good and help me a lot," explained Sekke.
"I don't completely get it, but if you two keep my son safe, then thank you," said Elaine warmly.
"Such radiant kindness…" murmured Exodia, mesmerized.
"No need to thank us," said Vritra. "It's our honor to fight beside him."
"So, Exodia, why'd you suddenly pop out?" asked Sekke.
"Oh! Right — my king's mother—"
"You can call me Elaine. Or mom, if you'd like."
"I wouldn't dare commit such disrespect," said Exodia.
"Calling me 'My King's Mother' every time will get tiring," said Elaine with a smile.
"Then… Lady Elaine," said Exodia, bowing once more.
"Yes, Dia-chan," said Elaine, already giving him a nickname.
Vritra didn't know why he felt a twinge of envy after hearing that name.
"Please, teach me how to cook these dishes so I can better care for my king!" declared Exodia with determination.
Elaine blinked, then smiled and agreed to teach him next time.
"My king! Don't worry! I'll master Lady Elaine's recipes so you can enjoy your favorites anytime!" vowed Exodia.
"Hoh~ bold of you to think you can rival a mother's cooking," teased Vritra.
"You vile lizard! I will surpass myself for my king's sake!" cried Exodia.
"Still, a mother's cooking can never be copied. It's seasoned with love," countered Vritra.
"True. Mom's cooking is unmatched," added Sekke.
Reality shattered for Exodia at those words — the power of motherly love was too great a wall.
"Aww~ Se-chan, and Vri-chan" saying such sweet things.
Elaine's face beamed with happiness on hearing that praise. It wasn't everyday that people appreciated or complimented her cooking. It was mostly Sekke who did so and after his disappearacne, she unknowingly missed that.
Unkown to her feelings, Sekke focused on finshing the food while Elaine tried to ease Exodia's suffering.
After finishing the meal, Exodia took it upon himslef to clean the plates and the utensils while letting Sekke and his mother rest. He had asked Elaine to teach him, so cleaning the dishes was the least that he could do in return.
Sekke and Elaine were talking happily, with Sekke laying his head on her mother's lap. She insisted on doing it and was now happily telling him some stories that happened while he was gone while slowly but tenderly patting Sekke's head.
Sekke who had a satisfied smile on his face simply hmmd in resposne from time to time and asking some questions here and there.
Just like that the mother and son happily spent their afternoon.
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Later that day, around sunset, Sekke took a walk around town with his baby siblings in tow. The twins giggled at every sound and sight, their laughter filling the air.
Suddenly, Sekke sensed a shift in mana. In a flash of golden light, he vanished — reappearing in front of his house. After safely dropping off the twins, he blurred again, appearing in a clearing.
"You can come out now," said Sekke.
The moment he said that, four elemntal orbs started materializing. One made of fire, one of wind, one of water and one made of Earth.
The orbs then started to transform and soon four figures stood around him and immediately got on the ground and bowed to him.
"We greet you, O' Mana King." said the three in unison while the fourth one unable to speak kept his head down though Sekke could feel that he greeted him just like the other three.
"...Did you guys practice before hand to time that perfectly?" asked Sekke looking at the group.
"Wha—?! It's you!" cried one of them.
"Yuno's fairy — Bell, right?" asked Sekke, smiling.
"How can you be a Mana Ki—!" began Bell angrily, still sore about Yuno's loss in the Royal Knight exam.
Before she could finish, the other three glared at her. A watery hand smacked her into the ground while the earth molded around her, restraining her.
"We apologize for Sylph's rudeness, Mana King," said the water spirit, Undine — her form graceful and fluid.
"Let me guess — Undine, the water spirit," said Sekke. She nodded.
"Earth spirit, Gnome," he said to the rocky being, who nodded too."And fire spirit, Salamander — long time no see. Sorry for that fight before," said Sekke.
The fire spirit shook its head, indicating it bore no grudge.
"Let the fairy be." said Sekke looking towards Undine and Gnome.
The two spirits followed his orders and freed the wind spirit thought the other three still glared at her reminding her of knowing her place.
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Mana King," she said meekly.
"Wow. Since when were you this polite?" asked Sekke, amused. Sylph said nothing — the others' glares silenced her.
"So, what brings you all here?" asked Sekke.
"We came to greet you mana king. The presence of a mana king is a miracle for the world. It's only natural that we pay proper respects." said Undine taking the lead. She, who has been contracted with the royal family of the Heart Kingdom was the best option for this sort of situation.
"Oh. Nice to meet you guys. Salamander and Sylph there know me already, but Gnome and Undine are new so let me introduce myself. I am Sekke Bronzaza, the dark lord and as you guys said, a mana king." said Sekke.
The pleasure is ours," said Undine, bowing again followed by Gnome.
"Mana King, if it isn't too rude, may we ask your goals for the future?" asked Gnome.
"…Why the sudden curiosity? You're starting to sound creepy," said Sekke suspiciously.
"It wasn't our intention. We just wanted to know if we could aid you in your ambitions." said Undine trying to neutralize the situation. In truth they wanted to know what type of person the new mana king was. Whether to trust him or be wary of him.
"I don't need your help. As for my goals — haven't decided yet. I'm just taking a break to calm my nerves," replied Sekke casually.
"That's right! The only spirit my king needs is me!" yelled Exodia mentally.
"Hoh~ you are stopping my other half to gain more followers. Some loyal subordinate you are." taunted Vritra.
"You filthy lizard! You dare doubt my loyalty?!?! My King, it's not my intention to restrict you from getting more subordinates. Don't belive the words of this vile lizard." said Exodia.
"Calm down you two." mentally scolded Sekke immediately shutting Exodia while Vritra just laughed at the spirit king.
"...I see. Still, do tell us if you ever need our help." said Undine feeling complex since she was not able to get any info out of the man.
"Don't worry, I have no ideas of conquering the world or killing everything, untiil and unless I am forced to do that. This is my home as well." said Sekke understanding what the spirits were trying to ask.
"!!!"
The spirits panicked — their true motive exposed. They immediately dropped to the ground, bowing and apologizing profusely.
"Alright, alright. Calm down," said Sekke, sighing. "Anything else?"
They shook their heads.
"Good. Then I'll be off. You interrupted my evening stroll," said Sekke.
"We apologize. Do enjoy your stroll mana king." said Undine and the other and one by one the spirits started to dematerialize.
"Mana King." said Undine being the only one left behind.
"Yes?"
"You mentioned that you are currently on a vacation right? Then I recommend that you visit the heart kingdom. It's a very beautiful place, perfect for relaxing. My contractor is the queen of the heart kingdom so I will be able to ask her to set up a perfect vacation for you." said Undine immedieatly trying to gain the favour of the mana king both for herself and the queen and by extension the heart kingdom.
"You sure work fast," said Sekke with a smirk, making her smile twitch. Caught again.
"Fine. I'll tell you when I feel like it. But since you offered, I'll expect only the best treatment," said Sekke playfully.
"Of course, Mana King. I'll make sure the Heart Kingdom meets your standards," said Undine before vanishing.
Finally feeling that the spirits were gone Sekke flashed in a gold blurr once again and appeared back in Kiten deciding to continue his stroll.
"Sekke!!!!"
While walking around and snacking from nearby stalls, Sekke heard a familiar loud voice and turned around and spotted his squad mates.
"ASTA!!!" Sekke yelled back, smiling, making the muscle shorty smile in delight as well as he immediately ran towards Sekke leaving the others in a dust trail behind him.
Not even thinking twice the muscle shorty hugged Sekke tightly.
"I am so glad that you are safe!!!!" he cried, his voice shaking with emotion.
"Damn... you are making me emotional." said Sekke, eyes watering slightly.
The two hugged tightly — until Sekke realized Asta was feeling him up. His back, his biceps, his stomach.
Asta broke the hug and analyzed Sekke from top to bottom.
"Sekke..."
"Asta don't..."
"Sekke!..."
"Don't..."
"Sekke! Your muscles! Where are they?!" shouted Asta, horrified.
"You just had to hit where it hurts…" groaned Sekke, looking mournfully at his thinner frame — and then at Asta's now even more shredded body.
"Ugh… damn muscled shorty…" he muttered.
Asta only grinned and hugged him harder, nearly crushing him.
"Oi! Don't forget us!!!" yelled Magna.
"Sekke!!! You are back!!! Let's fight!!! I missed trying to kill each other so much!!!" yelled Luck with his ever present smile.
"My best friend. You cannot imagine how saddened I was when I got the news that you won't be returning. I was not able to eat, sleep, or drink for weeks. And now that you are back I am so happy that I cannot express it in words. Let's go out together all of us friends and enjoy this reunion" muttered Gordon in his signature low voice.
"Meow Meow Meow" chirped Rouge as the red-thread cat ran toward Sekke.
"La! Sekke so thin!!! This is unacceptable!!! Let's go and stuff you up with nummies!!!" said Charmy, riding on her sheep
The four of them — and Rouge — gathered around, hugging Sekke and Asta. The dark lord, crushed on all sides, could only smile helplessly.
"I'm back, everyone," said Sekke softly.